Sony's Xperia line has always offered a unique blend of features and design. Today, we're pitting two popular models against each other: the flagship Xperia Z5 and the mid-range Xperia XA2 Plus. Which phone delivers the best experience for your needs?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XA2 Plus emerges as the overall winner thanks to its significantly longer battery life and improved sunlight visibility. While the Z5 boasts a more powerful chipset, the XA2 Plus offers a more practical and user-friendly experience for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E6603, E6653 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - E6603, E6653 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps (E6603), LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps (E6653) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4493 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, September 02. Released 2015, October 02 | 2018, July. Released 2018, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in) | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 154 g (5.43 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~428 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 73.2 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 508 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5.1 MP, f/2.4 | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted; EU model only), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Music play | Up to 87 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 520 h (2G) / Up to 540 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green, Pink | Silver, Black, Gold, Green |
| Models | E6653, SO-01H, SOV32, E6603, 501SO | H4413, H4493, H3413 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 48h
|
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 986 (nominal), 2.88(sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1580Basemark X: 24941 |
AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8)
GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia Z5
- More powerful processor
- Premium build quality
- Slightly better camera detail in good light
- More manual camera controls
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Snapdragon 810 prone to thermal throttling
- Older design
- Less sunlight visibility
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Exceptional battery life
- Excellent sunlight visibility
- More affordable
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Modern design
- Less powerful processor
- Camera not as detailed as Z5 in optimal conditions
- Plastic build (less premium feel)
Display Comparison
The Xperia XA2 Plus takes the display crown. While the Z5's contrast ratio is impressive at 986:1, the XA2 Plus boasts a superior 1522:1 contrast ratio and significantly better sunlight readability (3.445 vs 2.88). Both phones feature excellent color reproduction typical of Sony.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the Z5 generally produces slightly more detailed photos in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is comparable. Video recording quality is similar on both devices. The Z5's camera app has more manual controls.
Performance
The Xperia Z5's Snapdragon 810 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge over the XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the Z5, especially in demanding games. However, the 810 was known for thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
This is where the XA2 Plus truly shines. Its endurance rating of 104 hours vastly surpasses the Z5's 48 hours. This difference translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the XA2 Plus a clear winner for battery life.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Z5 is ideal for users prioritizing raw processing power and a slightly more premium feel. The Xperia XA2 Plus is a better choice for those seeking exceptional battery life, comfortable daily use, and a more affordable price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 810 in the Z5 still a good processor?
While powerful, the Snapdragon 810 is an older chipset and can experience thermal throttling under heavy load. The XA2 Plus's SDM630 offers a more consistent experience for everyday tasks.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The Z5, being a flagship, often featured more robust materials and water resistance (though this varied by region). The XA2 Plus is less rugged.
❓ Can I still find accessories for these phones?
Yes, but availability may be limited. Both phones are older models, so finding new accessories might require searching online retailers or marketplaces.
