Sony Xperia Z4 Compact vs Xperia XZ3: A Clash of Compact Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner. While the Z4 Compact boasts a powerful Snapdragon 810, the XZ3's Snapdragon 845, improved display, wireless charging, and overall modern features make it a more compelling choice despite the Z4 Compact's smaller size.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia Z4 Compact | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Exp. announcement 2015, Q3 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Shatter proof glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~469 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 16GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| ANT+ | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | - | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | - | About 510 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia Z4 Compact
- Extremely compact size
- Decent performance for its time
- Water and dust resistant
- Outdated chipset
- LCD display
- No wireless charging
- Limited availability
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Modern design
- Excellent OLED display
- Powerful Snapdragon 845
- Wireless charging
- Good camera
- Can be difficult to find new
- Relatively large for a 'compact' phone
Display Comparison
The Xperia XZ3 features a larger 6-inch OLED display with a 18:9 aspect ratio, offering a more immersive viewing experience compared to the Z4 Compact's 4.6-inch LCD. While both offer excellent contrast, the XZ3's OLED technology provides richer colors and deeper blacks. The XZ3 also has a higher resolution, resulting in sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
The XZ3's camera system is a notable upgrade. While both phones offer capable cameras, the XZ3 benefits from improved image processing, better low-light performance, and features like 4K HDR video recording. The XZ3 also has a wider aperture lens, allowing for more light to enter the sensor.
Performance
The XZ3's Snapdragon 845 is significantly faster and more efficient than the Z4 Compact's Snapdragon 810. The 845's 10nm process allows for better power efficiency and reduced heat generation. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance on the XZ3.
Battery Life
Both phones are reported to have endurance ratings of 90 hours, however, the XZ3's more efficient chipset and larger battery capacity likely contribute to slightly better real-world battery life. The XZ3 also supports wireless charging, a feature absent in the Z4 Compact.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia Z4 Compact? Users prioritizing a truly pocketable phone with decent performance and a lower price point (if found used) might consider it. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ3? Those seeking a modern, feature-rich compact phone with a great display, capable camera, and wireless charging will find the XZ3 a better fit.