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Sony Xperia XZ2 Smartphone Review

Everything in HDR. HDR is the key term for Sony's new high-end smartphone Xperia XZ2: The display supports HDR 10 and is able to upscale content to HDR, while the camera can record videos in HDR. Can this be seen as a real innovation? Have they done enough to compete on the market?
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2

Whenever a new Sony flagship is released, we can be sure it picks up a new trend for displays and/or cameras, and then it will anchor this trend in the world of smartphones by being one of the first devices to use it. The same is true for the Xperia XZ2, our current test device: The display supports HDR 10 and can even upscale non-HDR content. Furthermore, the camera can record super-slow motion videos in Full HD for the first time and is also able to record videos in HDR. So Sony offers plenty of features here, but they also had to face criticism in the recent past: The Japanese company slept through the trend for 2:1 displays with sleek bezels and even the Xperia XZ2 still has not quite caught up to the competition in this regard.

We will compare the device to the Xperia XZ1 to find out if an upgrade is worth it for owners of the predecessor model. We will also include other high-end devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9, the Apple iPhone X, and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro in our comparison.

Sony Xperia XZ2 (Xperia Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 8 x 2.8 GHz, Cortex-A75 / A55 (Kryo 385)
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
Display
5.70 inch 2:1, 2160 x 1080 pixel 424 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, TRILUMINOS display for mobile, Dynamic Contrast Enhancer, X-Reality for mobile, Bravia TV Upscaling to HDR, HDR 10, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash, 64 GB 
, 50 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: audio output via USB-C, Card Reader: microSD up to 400 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: acceleration sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, USB-C 3.1, DLNA, Miracast, USB OTG, aptX, aptX HD
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM (850/​900/​1800/​1900), UMTS (800/​850/​900/​1700/​1900/​2100), LTE (B1/​B2/​B3/​B4/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B12/​B13/​B17/​B19/​B20/​B26/​B28/​B29/​B32/​B38/​B39/​B40/​B41/​B66), LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11.1 x 153 x 72 ( = 0.44 x 6.02 x 2.83 in)
Battery
12.08 Wh, 3180 mAh Lithium-Ion, Quick Charge 3.0
Operating System
Android 8.0 Oreo
Camera
Primary Camera: 19 MPix f/​2.0, contrast AF, laser AF, phase-shift AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, videos @2160p/​30fps, videos @1080p/​960fps
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix f/​2.2, videos @1080p
Additional features
Speakers: front-pointing stereo speakers, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, USB charger, USB cable, adapter USB-C to 3.5mm, headset, 3D Creator, Skizze, Playstation App, AVG Protection, 24 Months Warranty, bandwidth (download/​upload): 1200Mbps/​150Mbps (LTE); SAR value: 0.56W/​kg (head), 0.94W/​kg (body); wireless charging (Qi); IP65/​IP68-certified, fanless
Weight
198 g ( = 6.98 oz / 0.44 pounds), Power Supply: 71 g ( = 2.5 oz / 0.16 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - New Design without Tradition

The manufacturer breaks new ground with the case of the Xperia XZ2. As mentioned, this was sorely needed, too, seeing as the last Xperia smartphones already had a slightly outdated appearance. This time, we receive at least slightly sleeker bezels and a trendy 2:1 display. The back no longer has the matte surface used for previous generations, but instead a curved 3D glass surface that is glossy and smooth. The design is reminiscent of HTC's current Liquid Surface design with flowing forms and it is a rather radical breach of Sony's former design tradition that favored matte surfaces and angular forms, bestowing it a certain uniqueness within the smartphone market. Maybe an evolutionary advancement of the previous design might have pleased the fans more.

Even so, thanks to its rounded back, the smartphone lies comfortably in the user's hand, but the smooth surface is rather slippery and prone to fingerprints. The build quality and the haptic are at a high level, but the transition areas between the back and the lateral metal frame feel different depending on the position on the smartphone. The available color options are black, white, pink, and teal. The device is dust- and waterproof according to IP68.

The Sony XZ2 is not a sleek smartphone: The rounded back gives it a thickness of 11.1 millimeters (~0.44 in) at the thickest point. Because of its broader bezels, it is also wider and longer than the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the iPhone X. Its weight of 198 grams (~0.44 lb) makes it also one of the heaviest devices.

Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2

Size Comparison

153 mm / 6.02 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 11.1 mm / 0.437 inch 198 g0.4365 lbs154.2 mm / 6.07 inch 74.5 mm / 2.93 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 178 g0.3924 lbs147.7 mm / 5.81 inch 68.7 mm / 2.7 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 163 g0.3594 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 73.4 mm / 2.89 inch 7.4 mm / 0.2913 inch 156 g0.3439 lbs143.6 mm / 5.65 inch 70.9 mm / 2.79 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 174 g0.3836 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Features - Plenty of Ports in the Xperia XZ2

4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage match not only the predecessor's values, but also those of most of the other high-end smartphones in our comparison. However, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro offers both more RAM and more storage space, and the iPhone X is available with more storage space as well.

Our test sample is a single-SIM device, identical to the model offered by the provider in combination with a contract. Both the single-SIM and dual-SIM variants are available over the counter and support a microSD card, although it occupies one of the two SIM slots for the dual-SIM variant. It is not possible to format the microSD card as internal storage and apps cannot be outsourced there.

DLNA, USB OTG, NFC and Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX HD are a solid starting point for a high-end smartphone. MHL, meaning the possibility to conduct video output via the USB port, is sadly not offered.

top: SIM drawer, microphone
top: SIM drawer, microphone
right: camera button, standby button, volume rocker
right: camera button, standby button, volume rocker
left: no connectivity
left: no connectivity
bottom: microphone, USB-C port
bottom: microphone, USB-C port

Software - Sony's Software Is Extensive and High-Quality

Sony has a good reputation in terms of software – the Android operating system is still rather fast with Sony's modifications and comes with a variety of additional features. It has detailed explanations on how to get the hang of this system for new users, and it can be heavily individualized thanks to numerous settings. Sony also shows that they have a heart for modders, supporting the development and installation of different operating systems on their devices in a separate area of the Sony Developer World.

On the other hand, many of the apps installed on Sony phones might be unnecessary. For instance, the apps of an online retailer were pre-installed on our test device. There are also exciting apps to be found on the smartphone, though, such as the 3D Creator App that enables the user to scan objects in 3D. The data can then be exported to a 3D printer or it can be used for custom 3D projects. Scanning one's own face works relatively well under good lighting conditions, but the result for complex objects, such as a glass fruit bowl, is still in need of improvement. Overall, though, it is rather impressive for a free smartphone app.

Software Xperia XZ2
Software Xperia XZ2
Software Xperia XZ2
Software Xperia XZ2

Communication and GPS - Many Connection Options, Exact Localization

Support for all current Wi-Fi standards is basically a necessity for high-end smartphones, and the Sony Xperia XZ2 does not show any weakness here either. In addition, the transfer rates in our standardized test with the reference router Linksys EA8500 are much faster than they were for the predecessor model, even outdoing the Samsung Galaxy S9. Our test device even takes the lead for transmission speed. Near the router, websites are loaded quickly and images do not take long either. At a distance of ten meters (~33 feet) to the access point and even through walls, we still had full reception and websites loaded only minimally more slowly.

Superfast 4G with transfer rates up to 1.2 GBit/s and over 20 supported LTE frequencies turn the Sony Z2 into a global player and make it a fast smartphone in terms of Internet usage – as long as the mobile network allows it. The reception should not prove an obstacle in any case: Our test device always had at least 3/4 LTE reception in the well-developed German D2 network while we were in the inner city, even inside concrete buildings.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Sony Xperia XZ2
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
633 MBit/s
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Mali-G72 MP12, Kirin 970, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
627 (490min - 666max) MBit/s -1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Mali-G72 MP12, Kirin 970, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
225 MBit/s -64%
Samsung Galaxy S9
Mali-G72 MP18, Exynos 9810, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
519 MBit/s -18%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
500 MBit/s -21%
Apple iPhone X
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, 64 GB eMMC Flash
456 MBit/s -28%
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple iPhone X
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, 64 GB eMMC Flash
939 MBit/s +40%
Sony Xperia XZ2
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
669 MBit/s
Samsung Galaxy S9
Mali-G72 MP18, Exynos 9810, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
652 MBit/s -3%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
489 MBit/s -27%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s -44%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Mali-G72 MP12, Kirin 970, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
355 (105min - 550max) MBit/s -47%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Mali-G72 MP12, Kirin 970, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
338 MBit/s -49%
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test near window
GPS test near window
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors

The GPS module supports the Russian Glonass, the European Galileo and the Chinese Beidou as navigation systems. The Sony phone was able to locate us with an accuracy of 5 meters (~16.4 feet), even within buildings. Near a window, the localization is even more accurate at 4 meters (~13.1 feet), and outdoors at 3 meters (~9.8 feet).

But how accurate is the localization in continuous use, such as during a bike ride? We wanted to find out and brought along a Garmin Edge 500 as a comparison device, since this professional navigation system usually has a rather accurate localization. The measured track differed by only 40 meters (~131 feet) and the Sony smartphone showed a somewhat edgier track when looking more closely. This indicates that there was no localization point for longer stretches, forcing the system to draw a straight line to the next localization point. As these edges were not too common and not even the Garmin Edge 500 is perfect in this area, we still recommend the Sony Xperia XZ2 as a navigational device, as long as you do not demand extremely high standards of your GPS device.

GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - overview
GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - overview
GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - lake
GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - lake
GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - loop
GPS Sony Xperia XZ2 - loop
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - lake
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - lake
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - loop
GPS Garmin Edge 500 - loop

Phone and Call Quality - Sony Has Done Better in the Past...

Sony uses the Android app for the smartphone's telephone functions, which is completely fine because the app has a clear layout and offers all the necessary features.

The call quality is okay, as long as the volume is not turned up too high: At maximum volume, a buzzing noise can be heard from the earpiece and there is noise interference. The microphone transmits our voice well, even when we speak quietly. It is not fond of loud voices, but even then it does not boom all that much. The same is true for the integrated hands-free mode: It is best not to raise the volume to the maximum to avoid booming. The speaker's sound is generally rather thin, but our voice is transmitted relatively clearly by the microphone.

Cameras - The XZ2 Takes Great Photos Despite Single Camera

Picture taken by front camera
Picture taken by front camera

The rear camera still has the same resolution as the predecessor Xperia XZ1, but it has a wider aperture, which should enable it to take better pictures in low-light situations. New options to record videos in HDR and to record short slow-motion videos at 960 frames per second in Full HD have been added. It is no longer necessary to switch to a separate app for 4K videos, but a 60-fps recording is still impossible. Samsung's Galaxy S9 is clearly ahead here. An overview of the exact differences in terms of video recording for the Galaxy S9 and the Xperia XZ2 can be found in this article.

Also remarkable: Opposing the current big trend, Sony does not install a dual- or even triple camera in its high-end model XZ2, instead opting for a single lens on the rear. A dual camera is only available for the flagship Xperia XZ2 Premium. A single camera does not necessarily pose a disadvantage, as long as the quality is sufficient. At 19 megapixels, the Xperia XZ2's camera does have a relatively high resolution. Sony attains high details in pictures taken with this single camera, and even extremely detailed surfaces and fine lines are captured well. However, dual-camera devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus have a much faster lens speed. Surprisingly, Sony's camera also performed better than its competitors in low-light situations. Not even Sony's camera can avoid visible image noise, but the brightening is rather strong. Furthermore, the camera takes relatively long before it triggers. Sony explains this with the memory that has been integrated into the image sensor to ensure a good image quality in low-light conditions, as data can be read and processed significantly faster.

In comparison to the Xperia XZ1, the front camera's resolution has suffered noticeably and the aperture is lower, too. In normal lighting conditions, the front sensor still does its job well, showing vibrant colors and good dynamics in both dark and bright areas.

Videos recorded with the main camera are sharp and highly detailed, especially in 4K. The optional HDR mode works, but differences are only really noticeable in situations with high contrasts. The image stabilization works only at up to 1080p and 30 fps.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3

Under controlled testing conditions in our lab, we noticed slight impurities in large, colored areas, and the contrast was a bit too low. The sharpness remained very good throughout the entirety of the image though. The color representation was one shade too bright in comparison to the reference color space.

Photographed reference card
Photographed reference card
Reference card details
Reference card details
Photographed colors in ColorChecker. The original color is displayed in the bottom half of each patch.
Photographed colors in ColorChecker. The original color is displayed in the bottom half of each patch.

Accessories and Warranty

Other than the charger and a USB cable, the box also includes an adapter from USB-C to 3.5 mm audio jack and a headset with a good sound. A SIM tool is unnecessary as the SIM tray can be opened with one's finger. This time, the included charger is an actual Quick Charge 3.0 device, which had to be bought separately for 50 Euros (~$60) for the predecessor smartphone. Take note: For those interested in the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact: The Quick Charger is not included here.

Sony offers a warranty of 24 months for its smartphones. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Handling - Where Is the Fingerprint Sensor?

Sony does not use Google's GBoard as the virtual keyboard, which is normally delivered with Android, but instead they installed SwiftKey. This decision is mostly a matter of personal taste. In our opinion, both apps have a broad variety of settings and designs. Those who prefer an entirely different app can install it from the Google Play Store.

The touchscreen is rather sensitive and fingers glide easily on its surface. It responds with a high accuracy even in the corners. An inactivity display is available as well as a glove mode for the winter season.

The menu buttons can be found on the display. This smartphone does not offer an alternative, as all hardware buttons have been placed on the right side of the case: the volume rocker, the standby button and Sony's famous camera button, which can even be used for the focus thanks to having two pressure levels.

The fingerprint sensor has been placed on the rear and it works reliably, also capable of waking the smartphone from standby mode. However, it is relatively hard to tell apart the sensor and the main camera just above it by touch. Even after long exposure to this smartphone we still kept wondering why the fingerprint sensor was not responding until we realized that the finger was touching the camera instead of the fingerprint sensor. This in itself is already rather inconvenient, but we also had to constantly clean the lens because of accidental touches.

Horizontal keyboard
Horizontal keyboard
Vertical keyboard
Vertical keyboard

Display - Great Color Fidelity and Brightness in the Xperia XZ2

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

Sony still cannot be dissuaded from installing Full HD displays in its high-end smartphones: While the Samsung Galaxy S9 already has a display with a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels, Sony still uses the Full HD 2:1 variant with 2160x1080 pixels. Sony installed an IPS panel that is even slightly brighter than the already bright predecessor model. At 96%, the brightness distribution is rather exact as well: Colored areas appear as having homogenous brightness throughout.

646
cd/m²
630
cd/m²
635
cd/m²
646
cd/m²
630
cd/m²
618
cd/m²
632
cd/m²
626
cd/m²
629
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 646 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 632.4 cd/m² Minimum: 6.73 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 630 cd/m²
Contrast: 1432:1 (Black: 0.44 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.17
Sony Xperia XZ2
IPS, 2160x1080, 5.70
Sony Xperia XZ1
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
Samsung Galaxy S9
Super AMOLED, 2960x1440, 5.80
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
OLED, 2160x1080, 6.00
Apple iPhone X
Super AMOLED, 2436x1125, 5.80
Screen
-54%
1%
-2%
11%
Brightness middle
630
620
-2%
529
-16%
629
0%
600
-5%
Brightness
632
610
-3%
527
-17%
636
1%
606
-4%
Brightness Distribution
96
93
-3%
96
0%
94
-2%
94
-2%
Black Level *
0.44
0.79
-80%
Contrast
1432
785
-45%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.5
4.2
-180%
1.4
7%
1.7
-13%
1.2
20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.3
5.8
-35%
4
7%
3.6
16%
3
30%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.1
3.9
-86%
1.6
24%
2.4
-14%
1.6
24%
Gamma
2.17 101%
2.02 109%
2.16 102%
2.15 102%
2.23 99%
CCT
6513 100%
7086 92%
6358 102%
6337 103%
6707 97%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 2315 Hz ≤ 28 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2315 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 28 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 2315 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Because of its backlight, an IPS display can certainly never reach the perfect black of an AMOLED display, but the black value of the Xperia phone is actually quite good at 0.44 cd/m². The same is true for the contrast at 1432:1. We detected screen flickering when the brightness was set to less than 28%. However, the frequency of the flickering is high enough that it should not pose any problems for the user.

Various profiles as well as manual settings can be selected on the Sony Xperia XZ2. We tested all presets and a variant that has been optimized by us with the software CalMAN and with a spectrophotometer. We were able to eliminate the violet tint in our optimized settings, but the tint is visible in all other modes, especially in "super lively" mode. According to CalMAN, this mode also had the highest deviations of some colors to the reference values, but it had the highest color space coverage as well. The software's measurement method is not quite exact in this area, however.

The color deviations can also be minimized without optimized settings, which can be found in the screenshot below. This way, you can get a rather accurate color representation on this display.

CalMAN standard color accuracy
CalMAN standard color accuracy
CalMAN standard color space
CalMAN standard color space
CalMAN standard grayscales
CalMAN standard grayscales
CalMAN standard saturation
CalMAN standard saturation
CalMAN super lively color accuracy
CalMAN super lively color accuracy
CalMAN super lively color space
CalMAN super lively color space
CalMAN super lively grayscales
CalMAN super lively grayscales
CalMAN super lively saturation
CalMAN super lively saturation
CalMAN professional color accuracy
CalMAN professional color accuracy
CalMAN professional color space
CalMAN professional color space
CalMAN professional grayscales
CalMAN professional grayscales
CalMAN professional saturation
CalMAN professional saturation
CalMAN professional optimized color accuracy
CalMAN professional optimized color accuracy
CalMAN professional optimized grayscales
CalMAN professional optimized grayscales
Optimized settings
Optimized settings
 

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
40 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 9.2 ms rise
↘ 30.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Outdoors, the smartphone does a good job thanks to its high maximum brightness. The ambient light sensor usually selects a suitable brightness level, but we had to adjust it manually a few times, especially in very bright surroundings.

The viewing angles are good from any angle, but there is a visible shift in the brightness to the top and to the bottom of the display.

Outdoors – minimum brightness
Outdoors – minimum brightness
Outdoors – medium brightness
Outdoors – medium brightness
Outdoors – maximum brightness
Outdoors – maximum brightness
Outdoors – ambient light sensor
Outdoors – ambient light sensor
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - The Xperia XZ2 Is Superfast

The new Snapdragon 845 comes with 8 cores at a maximum clock speed of 2.8 GHz. This leads to impressive performance values, which surpass the Samsung Galaxy S9's performance. Even Apple's iPhone X is not always faster. In comparison to the predecessor, the processor performance boost of about 25% is clearly noticeable.

The installed graphics solution is an Adreno 630 with DirectX 12 support. This graphics unit sets new standards as well, ranking first of the whole comparison field.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
225663 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
167748 Points -26%
Samsung Galaxy S9
217950 Points -3%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
177341 Points -21%
Apple iPhone X
197851 Points -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (162183 - 242953, n=23)
225534 Points 0%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
9319 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
7056 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy S9
5736 Points -38%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
8439 Points -9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (7998 - 13211, n=26)
10123 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +62%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
8069 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6443 Points -20%
Samsung Galaxy S9
5291 Points -34%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6932 Points -14%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (7360 - 9868, n=27)
8368 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +35%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
3738 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2909 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy S9
3285 Points -12%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3147 Points -16%
Apple iPhone X
3737 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3291 - 4693, n=26)
4111 Points +10%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +53%
System (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
8402 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
5840 Points -30%
Samsung Galaxy S9
6234 Points -26%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
5244 Points -38%
Apple iPhone X
10281 Points +22%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4417 - 8613, n=26)
7644 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +15%
Memory (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
2193 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1752 Points -20%
Samsung Galaxy S9
2669 Points +22%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
4142 Points +89%
Apple iPhone X
1219 Points -44%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2193 - 5296, n=26)
3649 Points +66%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +184%
Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
7868 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
5923 Points -25%
Samsung Galaxy S9
6373 Points -19%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3657 Points -54%
Apple iPhone X
9248 Points +18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (5846 - 8001, n=26)
7797 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +77%
Web (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
1346 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1181 Points -12%
Samsung Galaxy S9
1099 Points -18%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1234 Points -8%
Apple iPhone X
1682 Points +25%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (1009 - 1613, n=26)
1344 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +10%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
2464 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
1856 Points -25%
Samsung Galaxy S9
3688 Points +50%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1898 Points -23%
Apple iPhone X
4265 Points +73%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2272 - 2500, n=27)
2416 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +105%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
8510 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6493 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy S9
8786 Points +3%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6792 Points -20%
Apple iPhone X
10255 Points +21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (7754 - 9231, n=27)
8705 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +59%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
14362 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
7979 Points -44%
Samsung Galaxy S9
6219 Points -57%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
8572 Points -40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10876 - 14489, n=25)
13578 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points -26%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
62926 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
31618 Points -50%
Samsung Galaxy S9
41093 Points -35%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
30590 Points -51%
Apple iPhone X
64169 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (34855 - 65330, n=27)
61139 Points -3%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
80233 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
47857 Points -40%
Samsung Galaxy S9
48433 Points -40%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
34008 Points -58%
Apple iPhone X
112489 Points +40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (53794 - 85487, n=27)
80548 Points 0%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
35856 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
23046 Points -36%
Samsung Galaxy S9
26851 Points -25%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22629 Points -37%
Apple iPhone X
25633 Points -29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (15614 - 37475, n=27)
33322 Points -7%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
6378 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
4649 Points -27%
Samsung Galaxy S9
3911 Points -39%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3239 Points -49%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4363 - 6454, n=27)
5811 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points -45%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
8122 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
6057 Points -25%
Samsung Galaxy S9
4569 Points -44%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
3353 Points -59%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (5637 - 8312, n=27)
7763 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points -53%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
3642 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2564 Points -30%
Samsung Galaxy S9
2600 Points -29%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2896 Points -20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2124 - 3668, n=27)
3115 Points -14%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points -18%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
4693 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
3673 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy S9
3244 Points -31%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2850 Points -39%
Apple iPhone X
3138 Points -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3197 - 4734, n=27)
4388 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points -43%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
5122 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
3961 Points -23%
Samsung Galaxy S9
3553 Points -31%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2844 Points -44%
Apple iPhone X
3463 Points -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3488 - 5246, n=27)
4919 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points -48%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
3630 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1
2928 Points -19%
Samsung Galaxy S9
2486 Points -32%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2871 Points -21%
Apple iPhone X
2361 Points -35%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2118 - 3703, n=27)
3217 Points -11%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points -14%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
60 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
60 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy S9
60 fps 0%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
60 fps 0%
Apple iPhone X
59.4 fps -1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (58 - 89, n=27)
62.1 fps +4%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +38%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
150 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
111 fps -26%
Samsung Galaxy S9
144 fps -4%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
112 fps -25%
Apple iPhone X
177.4 fps +18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (98 - 152, n=28)
142.5 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +63%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
59 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
52 fps -12%
Samsung Galaxy S9
45 fps -24%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
56 fps -5%
Apple iPhone X
58.5 fps -1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (33 - 75, n=27)
54.4 fps -8%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +20%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
82 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
56 fps -32%
Samsung Galaxy S9
73 fps -11%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
54 fps -34%
Apple iPhone X
88.2 fps +8%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (54 - 83, n=27)
73.1 fps -11%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +68%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
55 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
42 fps -24%
Samsung Galaxy S9
24 fps -56%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
38 fps -31%
Apple iPhone X
44.1 fps -20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (21 - 59, n=27)
45.3 fps -18%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +9%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
60 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
41 fps -32%
Samsung Galaxy S9
46 fps -23%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
37 fps -38%
Apple iPhone X
48.9 fps -18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (32 - 61, n=28)
53.9 fps -10%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +61%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
33 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
25 fps -24%
Samsung Galaxy S9
14 fps -58%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22 fps -33%
Apple iPhone X
27.7 fps -16%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (13 - 37, n=27)
27.7 fps -16%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +30%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
35 fps
Sony Xperia XZ1
24 fps -31%
Samsung Galaxy S9
28 fps -20%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
21 fps -40%
Apple iPhone X
31.8 fps -9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (25 - 35, n=27)
33.4 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +67%
AnTuTu v7
Total Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
266981 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9
243861 Points -9%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
212278 Points -20%
Apple iPhone X
256297 Points -4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (246366 - 299878, n=27)
277434 Points +4%
CPU (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
94648 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9
88577 Points -6%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
72307 Points -24%
Apple iPhone X
99873 Points +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (62210 - 97035, n=27)
89259 Points -6%
GPU (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
106371 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9
91292 Points -14%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
81761 Points -23%
Apple iPhone X
94618 Points -11%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (58602 - 128264, n=27)
115172 Points +8%
UX (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
56292 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9
55698 Points -1%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
44584 Points -21%
Apple iPhone X
50699 Points -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (45765 - 64444, n=26)
58329 Points +4%
MEM (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ2
9670 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9
8294 Points -14%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
13626 Points +41%
Apple iPhone X
11107 Points +15%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (915 - 17441, n=27)
10620 Points +10%

Legend

 
Sony Xperia XZ2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Qualcomm Adreno 630, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Sony Xperia XZ1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung Exynos 9810, ARM Mali-G72 MP18, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Huawei Mate 10 Pro HiSilicon Kirin 970, ARM Mali-G72 MP12, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Apple iPhone X Apple A11 Bionic, Apple A11 Bionic GPU, 64 GB eMMC Flash

Users also do not have to worry about a lack of speed when browsing the web: The Xperia XZ2 places in one of the first ranks for all benchmarks and the high surfing speed was noticeable during our practical usage as well. Even complex HTML5 sites load really fast and run smoothly.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.1)
224 Points +150%
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +118%
Sony Xperia XZ2 (Chrome 65)
89.5 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (22.5 - 90.9, n=25)
80.3 Points -10%
Samsung Galaxy S9 (Samsung Browser 7.0)
67.7 Points -24%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
61.3 Points -32%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
56.6 Points -37%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.2)
35255 Points +110%
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +100%
Sony Xperia XZ2 (Chrome 65)
16774 Points
Samsung Galaxy S9 (Samsung Browser 7.0)
15233 Points -9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3991 - 18275, n=28)
15153 Points -10%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
10406 Points -38%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
10096 Points -40%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
3591 ms * -50%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
3268 ms * -37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2154 - 11204, n=28)
2905 ms * -21%
Sony Xperia XZ2 (Chrome 65)
2394 ms *
Samsung Galaxy S9 (Samsung Browser 7.0)
2078 ms * +13%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +31%
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.2)
718 ms * +70%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Apple iPhone X (Safari Mobile 11.0)
354 Points +35%
Sony Xperia XZ2 (Chrome 65)
262 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (96 - 291, n=23)
246 Points -6%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
170 Points -35%
Samsung Galaxy S9 (Samsung Browser 7.0)
163 Points -38%
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Chrome 61)
158 Points -40%

* ... smaller is better

Unfortunately, Sony's high-end smartphone did not perform quite as well when reading from and writing to our reference microSD card Toshiba Exceria M501 Pro: Even the predecessor had a better performance in this area. The internal storage test results were not impressive either, but they met our expectations for UFS 2.1 storage.

Sony Xperia XZ2Sony Xperia XZ1Samsung Galaxy S9Huawei Mate 10 ProApple iPhone XAverage 64 GB UFS 2.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
24%
50%
217%
97%
520%
Sequential Read 256KB
679
679
0%
815
20%
732
8%
696 ?(392 - 895, n=52)
3%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
116%
Sequential Write 256KB
198.7
204.4
3%
206.9
4%
208.7
5%
224 ?(132.7 - 512, n=52)
13%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
442%
Random Read 4KB
149.4
156.6
5%
131
-12%
132.3
-11%
137.2 ?(78.2 - 192, n=52)
-8%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
61%
Random Write 4KB
17
14.93
-12%
23.07
36%
164.4
867%
84.7 ?(8.77 - 208, n=52)
398%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
1459%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
34.25 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
65.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
91%
79.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
131%
68.6 ?(18 - 87.1, n=33)
100%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
30.12 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
47.71 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
58%
67.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
123%
52.2 ?(17.1 - 71.9, n=33)
73%

Games - 60-Fps Gaming Is No Problem for Sony's Smartphone

Of course, gaming is an area of importance for a declared entertainment smartphone as well, especially for a manufacturer such as Sony that owns a significant gaming brand with its PlayStation. Aside from the pre-installed PlayStation app, no increased gaming ambitions were noticeable at first glance, though. The games we tested ran very smoothly at 60 fps without exception, no matter if the settings were high or low. Given the fact that some of the most demanding games to date were included in our test, there should be no problems with gaming on this smartphone in general, making the Xperia XZ2 a future-proof choice.

The operation via touchscreen and position sensor worked very reliably.

Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
Battle Bay
Battle Bay
Shadow Fight 3
Shadow Fight 3
Shadow Fight 3
 SettingsValue
 high60 fps
 minimal60 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!
Arena of Valor
 SettingsValue
 min60 fps
 high HD60 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!
Battle Bay
 SettingsValue
 half resolution60 fps
 full resolution60 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!

Emissions - Cool Head, Cold Ears

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

Sony had problems with case temperatures in the past, but the Xperia XZ2 shows only a marginal warming, up to a maximum of 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) under a protracted full load. In idle mode, the temperatures are noticeably even lower all over the case.

The SoC cannot maintain its full performance under load. Throughout the 30 iterations of the GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 battery test, the performance dropped steadily until it was about 1/4 lower at the end than it was at the start of the benchmark.

Max. Load
 39.7 °C
103 F
39.1 °C
102 F
36.3 °C
97 F
 
 39.3 °C
103 F
38.6 °C
101 F
38.2 °C
101 F
 
 36.3 °C
97 F
37.3 °C
99 F
38 °C
100 F
 
Maximum: 39.7 °C = 103 F
Average: 38.1 °C = 101 F
33.3 °C
92 F
35.3 °C
96 F
37.4 °C
99 F
32.9 °C
91 F
34.8 °C
95 F
37.3 °C
99 F
32.9 °C
91 F
33.9 °C
93 F
35.7 °C
96 F
Maximum: 37.4 °C = 99 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  27.2 °C = 81 F | Room Temperature 20.1 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.1 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.7 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.4 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat map front
Heat map front
Heat map back
Heat map back

Speakers

Pink Noise speaker test
Pink Noise speaker test

Sony has quite some experience in terms of sound, as the Japanese company produces not only headphones and hi-fi systems, but also car stereos, speakers and basically everything concerning audio reproduction. Consequently, Sony's smartphones should offer a decent sound experience for their users as well, right? Well, the Sony Xperia XZ2's stereo speakers are at least pointing to the front, which is a start. Sony also installed software that offers various audio improvements. We absolutely recommend ClearAudio+, which prevents any speaker boom and heavily optimizes the sound in general.

Supported by this software tool, the sound is decent overall, but only up to about 90% of the volume bar. Any louder than this and the highs are amplified too much, which causes them to stick out unpleasantly. As the speakers can get rather loud, this is acceptable, though. Still, even though this phone has objectively better test results than the predecessor Xperia XZ1, we cannot quite warm up to its sound: too shallow and too treble-prone, despite bass boost and automatic adjustment. A funny gimmick included by Sony is the vibration support for the phone's sound, simulating bass vibrations. This is rather amusing, but still does not improve the sound quality. In direct comparison, the OnePlus 5T has a much warmer and fuller sound despite having only one speaker.

The USB-C port can be used for audio playback via external headphones or speakers, while devices with a headphone connector can be used with the included adapter. The sound playback is clear and can also be improved with some installed software tools. For audio playback via Bluetooth, users can utilize the current standard 5.0, but it can still pose a bit of a problem to find speakers or headphones supporting Bluetooth 5.0. The standard is backward compatible, though. In addition, aptX and aptX HD are supported for a higher music quality. The sound is actually quite good connected to a Bluetooth speaker or to a car stereo.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.2422532.937.23137.232.14031.738.65039.640.36328.332.98027.328.710026.932.812526.730.41602433.320020.939.425020.947.231519.554.740018.559.150017.565.863017.569.980015.773.3100015.876.7125016.674.4160015.873.5200015.476.7250015.577.131501674.7400015.868.350001666.6630016.369.6800016.374.31000016.2711250016.4621600016.452.5SPL28.685.6N1.162.7median 16.4median 68.3Delta2.210.535.234.832.932.637.230.531.73139.635.128.329.927.32826.922.626.723.32426.120.934.120.940.719.550.518.557.217.56417.565.115.768.215.869.416.668.215.867.915.473.715.572.71670.615.8651666.616.364.116.364.716.263.616.460.916.455.228.680.91.146.3median 16.4median 64.12.210.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSony Xperia XZ2Sony Xperia XZ1
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Sony Xperia XZ2 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 41% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 60% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Sony Xperia XZ1 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 42% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 69% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management - Situationally High Power Consumption, but Good Battery Life

Power Consumption

In comparison to the predecessor Xperia XZ1, the power consumption is at a similar level, but the average consumption under load is much lower. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro do an even better job with their energy management, though.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.04 / 0.16 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.72 / 2.21 / 2.22 Watt
Load midlight 4.6 / 9.34 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Sony Xperia XZ2
3180 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S9
3000 mAh
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
4000 mAh
Apple iPhone X
2716 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-6%
35%
19%
-1%
1%
5%
Idle Minimum *
0.72
0.51
29%
0.65
10%
0.85
-18%
1.03
-43%
0.862 ?(0.42 - 1.8, n=26)
-20%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
-24%
Idle Average *
2.21
2.16
2%
0.81
63%
1.15
48%
2.4
-9%
1.728 ?(0.67 - 2.9, n=26)
22%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
34%
Idle Maximum *
2.22
2.23
-0%
0.92
59%
1.23
45%
2.6
-17%
2.07 ?(0.87 - 3.5, n=26)
7%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
27%
Load Average *
4.6
7.45
-62%
4.76
-3%
4.12
10%
2.96
36%
4.87 ?(3.56 - 7.41, n=26)
-6%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-21%
Load Maximum *
9.34
9.28
1%
5.16
45%
8.42
10%
6.6
29%
9.27 ?(6.2 - 12.3, n=26)
1%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
11%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The battery runtimes of the Sony Xperia XZ2 are good overall: They are slightly above those of the predecessor model and easily beat the Galaxy S9. The smartphone lasted for 11:19 hours in our Wi-Fi test before we had to charge it. Because of its high power consumption, the smartphone falls behind under full load, though.

Via Quick Charge 3.0, the smartphone can be fully charged in less than 2 hours. Wireless charging via Qi is possible as well.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
23h 22min
WiFi Websurfing
11h 19min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
12h 02min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 39min
Sony Xperia XZ2
3180 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S9
3000 mAh
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
4000 mAh
Apple iPhone X
2716 mAh
Battery Runtime
-2%
-15%
56%
-6%
Reader / Idle
1402
1612
15%
1182
-16%
1744
24%
1292
-8%
H.264
722
580
-20%
609
-16%
929
29%
634
-12%
WiFi v1.3
679
601
-11%
474
-30%
818
20%
564
-17%
Load
159
172
8%
164
3%
398
150%
180
13%

Pros

+ blazing fast smartphone
+ 60-fps gaming is possible
+ bright display with vibrant colors
+ main camera with numerous features...
+ ...and really good image quality
+ 3D scans are possible
+ case protected according to IP68
+ very exact touch input
+ fast LTE with many bands
+ exact GPS
+ good hardware
+ extensive, high-quality software

Cons

- some bloatware apps
- prone to fingerprints
- fingerprint sensor can't be felt easily
- earpiece booms for loud voices
- moderate speaker quality
- relatively slow access to microSD
- situationally high power consumption
- relatively broad bezels
- no 3.5 mm jack
- throttling under load

Verdict - The Xperia XZ2 Is Not Perfect, but Fast and Well-Equipped

The Sony Xperia XZ2 in review, courtesy of Sony Germany.
The Sony Xperia XZ2 in review, courtesy of Sony Germany.

Oh, Sony... we want to praise your smartphones just because they are daring and you know how to present them well. But then we remember that you overlooked the trend for bezel-less smartphones and that you are now releasing a new phone that entirely ignores any design traditions of your brand. In addition, you are always slightly behind with the memory installed in your phones. The reason for the continuous drop of call quality and earpiece sound quality ever since the Xperia Z3 is unknown to everyone but yourself.

We cannot praise the Xperia XZ2 without reservations, even though it is still a good smartphone: The cameras with HDR support for videos and the option to scan objects in 3D shine, and not just on paper. Even though the front camera's resolution is significantly lower than that of the predecessor phone, it still takes good photos. The smartphone's performance is excellent, permitting 60-fps gaming, and the emissions are acceptable as well. The battery runtimes are good, but could be improved by lower power consumption.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a high-quality smartphone. Its performance and its great cameras are strong reasons for a purchase.

Despite some impediments, the Sony smartphone still delivers really good reasons for a purchase recommendation. The great hardware and blazing fast performance are only two of those reasons.

Sony Xperia XZ2 - 04/23/2018 v6(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
92%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 91%
Pointing Device
95%
Connectivity
48 / 60 → 81%
Weight
88%
Battery
94%
Display
91%
Games Performance
70 / 63 → 100%
Application Performance
72 / 70 → 100%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
61 / 91 → 67%
Camera
87%
Average
81%
89%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Florian Wimmer, 2018-04-25 (Update: 2019-03-20)