Sony Xperia Z5 vs Xperia XZ3: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner, offering significantly improved battery life, a more modern chipset, and a brighter display. While the Z5 remains a capable device, the XZ3's advancements in performance and longevity make it the superior choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia Z5 | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E6603, E6653 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - E6603, E6653 | 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 (E6603), LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps (E6653) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2015, September 02. Released 2015, October 02 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in) | 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 | 154 g (5.43 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP65/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) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 73.2 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 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 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 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 | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | 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 | HDR |
| Single | 5.1 MP, f/2.4 | 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted; EU model only), 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) |
| 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 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green, Pink | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | E6653, SO-01H, SOV32, E6603, 501SO | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 510 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 -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 48h | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 986 (nominal), 2.88(sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1580Basemark X: 24941 | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia Z5
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Decent camera for its time
- Water and dust resistant
- Outdated chipset
- Shorter battery life
- Lower display quality
- No wireless charging
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Excellent battery life
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
- Bright and vibrant OLED display
- Wireless charging
- Modern design
- Can be pricier than older models
- Design may not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
The XZ3 boasts a significant advantage in display technology. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (effectively OLED) provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the Z5's LCD. Sunlight readability is also considerably better on the XZ3 (4.502 vs 2.88), making it easier to use outdoors. The Z5's display is still adequate, but lacks the modern vibrancy of the XZ3.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the XZ3 generally produces better results. The XZ3 benefits from Sony's advancements in image processing and often captures more detail and dynamic range. Low-light performance is also improved on the XZ3. While the Z5's camera is still good, the XZ3 provides a more consistent and refined photographic experience.
Performance
The XZ3's Snapdragon 845 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Z5's Snapdragon 810. The 845 offers significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency, resulting in smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better overall responsiveness. The Z5's chipset, while capable at the time, struggles to keep up with modern demands.
Battery Life
Battery life is a major differentiator. The XZ3's 90-hour endurance rating far surpasses the Z5's 48-hour rating. This means the XZ3 can easily last a full day or more on a single charge, while the Z5 requires more frequent charging.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Z5 is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a compact design and a decent camera, and don't mind older technology. The Xperia XZ3 is ideal for those seeking a longer-lasting battery, faster performance, wireless charging, and a brighter, more vibrant display, even if it comes at a slightly higher price.