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Sony Xperia XZ3 Smartphone Review

Videos in 4K HDR. The Sony Xperia XZ3 is the company’s latest premium smartphone and one that has numerous features that are designed to enhance camera quality, sound, system performance and make the device easier to use. The XZ3 has a 6-inch OLED display, the likes of which we have seen in many other modern high-end smartphones, but its lack of a notch distinguishes it from its 2018 cohort. Read on to find out how else Sony has attempted to make the XZ3 stand out from the competition in our review. Update: Additional brightness values added with new test device.
Sony Xperia XZ3

Sony has already shown with the Xperia XZ2 that it can bring new features to the market that do not follow market trends. The XZ3 refines on its predecessor and represents Sony making a more conscious effort to challenge its competitors.

The XZ3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC that integrates an Adreno 630 GPU, which is the same SoC used in most flagship Android smartphones that have been released in 2018. Sony complements the SoC with 64 GB of storage and 4 GB/6 GB RAM, while the XZ3 has a brand-new display. The company has equipped the XZ3 with a 6-inch OLED panel that runs at a native 2880x1440 resolution, which is a noticeable upgrade over the 1080p 5.7-inch IPS display that Sony used in the XZ2.

We have chosen to compare the XZ3 against other equivalently priced smartphones including the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL, the HTC U12 Plus and the LG G7 ThinQ. We have included the iPhone X in our comparison tables too, as the base model now costs around $900, which is on par with the XZ3. 

Sony Xperia XZ3 (Xperia Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 8 x 2.8 GHz, Cortex-A75 / A55 (Kryo 385)
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
, 4 GB/6 GB
Display
6.00 inch 18:9, 2880 x 1440 pixel 537 PPI, Capacitive touchscreen, OLED, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash, 64 GB 
, 50 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: USB Type-C, Card Reader: Up to 512 GB microSD cards, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Barometer, Compass, Colour spectrometer, USB Type-C
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, 1,800, 1,900. UMTS: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19. LTE Cat. 18: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66., Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.9 x 158 x 73 ( = 0.39 x 6.22 x 2.87 in)
Battery
3300 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
Camera
Primary Camera: 19 MPix f/2.0, 25 mm, 1/2.3”, 1.22 µm
Secondary Camera: 13 MPix f/1.9, 23 mm, 1/3”, 1.12 µm
Additional features
Speakers: Mono speaker, Keyboard: Virtual keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, USB charger, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, 3.5 mm jack to USB Type-C adapter, 24 Months Warranty, SAR values: Head – 0.868 W/kg, Body – 1.07 W/kg, fanless
Weight
193 g ( = 6.81 oz / 0.43 pounds), Power Supply: 54 g ( = 1.9 oz / 0.12 pounds)
Price
800 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The XZ3 has an almost borderless design and comes in a choice of Black, White Silver, Forest Green or Bordeaux Red. The device still has top and bottom bezels, but the XZ3 looks more elegant overall than its predecessor. The front and back of the device are made from glass, and both sides have curved edges that taper into the frame. The XZ3 feels good in the hand and we noticed no edges or uneven gaps when holding the device. Moreover, the touchscreen works even at the edges of the curved glass like the Galaxy S8 or S9.

Sony has kept the fingerprint sensor in the centre of the back glass, which we still find awkward to locate with our fingers when using the device. We often found ourselves accidentally placing our finger on the rear-facing camera instead as it is in the same place as where many other manufacturers put fingerprint sensors.

The XZ3 has no notch though, which bucks the market trend of the last 18 months. Overall, our test device is well-built, and its design is noticeably different to those of other current premium smartphones. The shiny back glass looks pretty but is not practical as our test device tends to slip off tables and other surfaces if it is not lying perfectly flat. The XZ3 is IP68-certified against dust and water though, so it should survive a few drops in a sink or a spot of underwater photography.

The XZ3 has a comparatively large footprint. The device is narrower than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL and the HTC U12 Plus, but it is thicker and heavier than all our comparison devices. Officially, the XZ3 weighs 193 g (6.80 oz), but our test device weighs 3 g (0.10 oz) more, which makes it around 8 g (0.28 oz) heavier than our heaviest comparison device.

Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ3

Size Comparison

158 mm / 6.22 inch 73 mm / 2.87 inch 9.9 mm / 0.3898 inch 193 g0.4255 lbs156.6 mm / 6.17 inch 73.9 mm / 2.91 inch 9.7 mm / 0.3819 inch 188 g0.4145 lbs156.4 mm / 6.16 inch 77.4 mm / 3.05 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 172 g0.3792 lbs153.2 mm / 6.03 inch 71.9 mm / 2.83 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 162 g0.3571 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

Connectivity

The XZ3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC that integrates an Adreno 630 GPU, 64MB UFS of flash memory and a choice of 4 GB/6 GB RAM. The XZ3 is a dual-SIM device and supports up to 512 GB microSD cards too. However, there are only two slots in its card tray, so you must choose either dual-SIM functionality or microSD card expansion. The device can also only format expandable storage as external memory, which means that you cannot save any apps or data to a microSD card if you run out of internal storage. 

Sony has included Qi wireless charging too. There is also an NFC chip, Google Cast support, Wi-Fi Miracast, aptX HD audio and numerous USB On-The-Go (OTG) features.

Right-hand side: volume rocker, power button, camera button
Right-hand side: volume rocker, power button, camera button
Top side: card slot, microphone
Top side: card slot, microphone
Left-hand side: No connections
Left-hand side: No connections
Bottom: USB Type-C, microphone
Bottom: USB Type-C, microphone

Software

The Xperia XZ3 ships with Android Pie 9.0 at the time of writing. Sony has kept changes from stock Android to a minimum, which ensures smooth system performance. Our test device has extensive tutorials to explain how some features work, including one for a feature that allows users to switch to frequently used apps by tapping twice on a sensor at the top right-hand corner of the display. Sony calls this “Side sense”. We found little practical use for it during testing and often found ourselves accidentally activating it when we picked up our test device.

Sony also preinstalls a few third-party apps. Our test device has Facebook and Netflix preinstalled, and it is only possible to deactivate these apps and not uninstall them. The XZ3 has a suite of Sony apps preinstalled too. These can only be disabled as well, but they are mostly useful. The 3D Creator app, for example, allows users to scan objects in 3D and then export them to a 3D printer. We needed good lighting and a little patience to get decent results, but it is still a useful app nonetheless despite being rather niche.

The XZ3 default home screen
The XZ3 default home screen
The XZ3 default home screen and a look at some of its preinstalled apps
The XZ3 default home screen and a look at some of its preinstalled apps
More of the XZ3’s preinstalled apps
More of the XZ3’s preinstalled apps
The Side sense pop-up menu
The Side sense pop-up menu
Quick Settings
Quick Settings
Quick Settings customisation
Quick Settings customisation
Quick Settings customisation
Quick Settings customisation
Storage information
Storage information
Device Information
Device Information
Xperia Assist
Xperia Assist

Communication & GPS

The XZ3 supports GSM, 3G and LTE Cat. 18 networks, the latter of which theoretically provides up to 1,200 Mb/s download and 225 Mb/s upload speeds. The device can also use a wide range of LTE bands, which should be broad enough for near-worldwide LTE coverage. The XZ3 has VoLTE connectivity too, but this feature will only work when your device is connected to a network that supports VoLTE on the XZ3.

The device has Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and supports all modern Wi-Fi standards up to IEEE 802.11 ac, which means the XZ3 can connect to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Our test device achieves solid transfer speeds in iperf3 Client Wi-Fi tests that put it mid-table among our comparison devices.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
LG G7 ThinQ
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
651 MBit/s +35%
HTC U12 Plus
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
573 MBit/s +18%
Sony Xperia XZ3
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
484 (382min - 499max) MBit/s
Apple iPhone X
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, 64 GB eMMC Flash
456 MBit/s -6%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
Adreno 530, SD 821, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
75.5 MBit/s -84%
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple iPhone X
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, 64 GB eMMC Flash
939 MBit/s +50%
LG G7 ThinQ
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
656 MBit/s +5%
Sony Xperia XZ3
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
624 (593min - 636max) MBit/s
HTC U12 Plus
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
579 MBit/s -7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s -40%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
Adreno 530, SD 821, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
70.4 MBit/s -89%
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630Tooltip
Sony Xperia XZ3; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø624 (593-636)
Sony Xperia XZ3; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø481 (382-499)
GPS Test: Outdoors
GPS Test: Outdoors
GPS Test: Inside
GPS Test: Inside

The XZ3 uses BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS and QZSS for location services, the accuracy of which we tested using the GPS Test. Our test device can find our location with up to three metres accuracy outside, but it cannot find a satellite fix when tested inside. The latter is rather disappointing given how well some of our comparison devices perform in the same scenario.

We also took the XZ3 on our compulsory bike ride to test its navigation accuracy against the Garmin Edge 520, a professional navigation system. Our test device recorded a 330-metre (1,082 feet) shorter course than the Garmin did, which is comparatively good. Moreover, the XZ3 accurately tracked us along straight portions of our test ride. However, our test device cannot keep up in corners though, which it regularly takes shortcuts through as demonstrated in the screenshots below. Overall, the XZ3 is accurate enough for simple navigation tasks, but it is not good enough for instances where you need precise tracking or location data.

GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 - Overview
GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 - Overview
GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 - Loop
GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 - Loop
GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 – Cycling through a grove
GPS Test: Sony Xperia XZ3 – Cycling through a grove
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Cycling through a grove
GPS Test: Garmin Edge 520 - Cycling through a grove

Telephone Features & Call Quality

Dialler
Dialler

The XZ3 uses the standard Android Contacts and Phone apps to handle telephony. The Phone app provides quick access for call history, contacts and a keypad for entering phone numbers. Our test device has good call quality, but the maximum call volume is too low for our liking. We particularly noticed this when making calls from noisy environments, during which we struggled to hear our call partner. Both sides of the call sounded clear and free of background noise throughout testing though.

The included headphones have a higher maximum volume than the earpiece or speakers and have good enough sound quality for making calls. We would recommend using better quality headphones if you regularly listen to music or watch videos though.

Cameras

A photo taken with the front-facing camera
A photo taken with the front-facing camera

The XZ3 has two cameras. The front-facing camera is a 13 MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, while the 20 MP rear-facing camera has a smaller f/2.0 aperture. The former takes detailed selfies, with fine structures and details visible even when looking closely at photos. Different colours and objects are well separated too. The default camera app has settings that can change colour temperature and image brightness, while a separate "portrait selfie" app uses AI to adjust image settings. The dedicated selfie app beautifies people, giving them larger eyes, softer skin and a narrower chin. Moreover, the app also has a bokeh effect that works relatively well.

The main camera can take colour-accurate panoramic photos that capture plenty of details while objects in focus are clearly delineated. By contrast, background objects and colours gradients look washed out. Macro shots look great though, with good contrast, vibrant colours and sharply focussed foreground objects. Unfortunately, background objects not only look washed out but also look noticeably grainy.

Low-light performance is surprisingly good, by comparison. Objects are captured clearly, and colour reproduction is strikingly accurate in night shots. The default camera app also has a Pro Mode that has settings for focus, shutter speed, ISO, Lighting and White Balance.

Our test device takes decent-looking videos in up to 4K and with HDR. The image stabiliser works well and ensures that tracking shots look smooth. The Pro Mode cannot be used for videos, but the default camera app can adjust brightness and colour temperature should you need to. Sony has included its Super Slow-Motion feature too that we have seen on other Xperia devices, which can record video in up to 960 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
click to load images
ColorChecker: The lower half of each area of colour displays the reference colour
ColorChecker: The lower half of each area of colour displays the reference colour

We also checked the main camera’s colour accuracy with ColorChecker Passport. As demonstrated by the chart below, our test device reproduces colours too darkly compared to the reference colour, especially grey and black tones.

Our test chart also looks too dark when photographed in controlled lighting conditions. Moreover, there is some slight blurring of the chart in the lower corners of the image. Our test device manages to capture details and fine structures though.

A photo of our test chart
A photo of our test chart
Our test chart in detail

Accessories & Warranty

The XZ3 comes with a charger, a USB Type-A to Type C cable, a set of headphones and a USB Type-C to 3.5 mm jack adapter. There is also a pack of earbuds should the default ones not fit well in your ear.

Sony sells numerous general accessories for its smartphones on its website from Bluetooth headphones to car chargers. The company also sells an XZ3-specific stand and a flip case that Sony calls the “Style Cover Stand SCSH70” and the “Style Cover Touch SCTH70,” respectively.

The XZ3 Style Cover Touch SCTH70
The XZ3 Style Cover Touch SCTH70
Accessories that Sony includes in the box
Accessories that Sony includes in the box

Input Devices & Operation

Our test device has SwiftKey preinstalled as its default keyboard app. The app has numerous settings to customise the look and feel of the keyboard. Others are downloadable from the Google Play Store should you wish to change it.

The touchscreen worked well throughout testing and reliably reproduces our inputs onscreen. The display has a smooth, glossy finish that is easy to use, particularly with multi-finger gestures. The XZ3 also has “Side Sense”, which allows users to switch to one-handed mode and have quick access to apps by double tapping at the top right-hand corner of the display. This is a novel feature, but one which is poorly executed currently. We often found ourselves accidentally activating “Side Sense” when picking up our test device, which just ended up being frustrating. The XZ3 has a camera button too, but this did not always bring up the camera app during our tests. The positional sensor worked well though, although you must first activate auto-rotate from within the Settings menu as it is not enabled by default.

The fingerprint sensor is on the back of the device, which is much lower down than on other devices. The sensor is so low that we regularly found ourselves placing our finger on the camera lens, so there is a degree of acclimatisation here. The fingerprint sensor works well though and reliably unlocks the device quickly.

Using the default keyboard in portrait mode
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode
Using the default keyboard in landscape mode
Using the default keyboard in landscape mode

Display

Sub-pixel array
Sub-pixel array

The XZ3 has a flagship-level display. The display is a 6-inch OLED panel with a 2880x1440 resolution and a 2:1 aspect ratio. The display is 98% evenly lit, which is significantly higher than most of our comparison devices. However, our test device only reaches an average maximum brightness of 358 cd/m² according to X-Rite i1Pro 2, which is noticeably darker than our comparison devices.

523
cd/m²
526
cd/m²
552
cd/m²
525
cd/m²
543
cd/m²
571
cd/m²
535
cd/m²
536
cd/m²
563
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 571 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 541.6 cd/m² Minimum: 2.17 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 361 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.7 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 1.835
Sony Xperia XZ3
OLED, 2880x1440, 6.00
HTC U12 Plus
Super LCD 6, 2880x1440, 6.00
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
AMOLED, 1920x1080, 5.70
LG G7 ThinQ
IPS, 3120x1440, 6.10
Apple iPhone X
Super AMOLED, 2436x1125, 5.80
Screen
28%
15%
26%
41%
Brightness middle
543
395
-27%
464
-15%
974
79%
600
10%
Brightness
542
402
-26%
468
-14%
975
80%
606
12%
Brightness Distribution
92
90
-2%
85
-8%
96
4%
94
2%
Black Level *
0.37
0.49
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.6
1.6
76%
3.2
52%
5.4
18%
1.2
82%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11
3.4
69%
10.5
5%
13.1
-19%
3
73%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.7
1.1
77%
1.4
70%
5
-6%
1.6
66%
Gamma
1.835 120%
2.14 103%
2.27 97%
2.31 95%
2.23 99%
CCT
6817 95%
6536 99%
6590 99%
7480 87%
6707 97%
Contrast
1068
1988

* ... 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 240.4 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 240.4 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 240.4 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

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.

The OLED panel can individually switch off pixels, which gives the XZ3 a theoretically perfect black value and an infinitely high contrast ratio. Unfortunately, OLED displays do not have a backlight like their LCD counterparts, so manufacturers use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate brightness, which can cause eye strain and headaches for some people. Our tests show that the display flickers at 240 Hz, which is low enough to affect those who are PWM sensitive.

According to CalMAN analysis software, the XZ3 also achieves 100% sRGB colour-space coverage. There is a slight blue tint to the display though, but users could try to adjust the colour temperature or use one of the colour profiles to reduce this if it is noticeable.

CalMAN: Colour Accuracy
CalMAN: Colour Accuracy
CalMAN: Colour Space
CalMAN: Colour Space
CalMAN: Greyscale
CalMAN: Greyscale
CalMAN: Colour Saturation
CalMAN: Colour Saturation

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
8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 3 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 16 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 3 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 15 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The XZ3 is easy to use outdoors if you use the device in the shade. However, the display gets overpowered in direct sunlight as it simply does not get bright enough. The display is comparatively unreflective though thanks to its anti-reflective coating. 

Using the Xperia XZ3 outside
Using the Xperia XZ3 outside
Using the Xperia XZ3 outside
Using the Xperia XZ3 outside

The XZ3 has stable viewing angles thanks to its OLED display. We did not notice any colour or image distortions even at acute viewing angles. Hence, the device is usable from practically any angle.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

Sony equips the Xperia XZ3 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, which integrates an Adreno 630 GPU. The XZ3 also packs 4 GB/6 GB of RAM and has 64 GB of UFS flash memory. In short, the device should be powerful enough for demanding applications and games and is on par with our flagship Android comparison devices.

Our test device performed well in benchmarks, equalling the results of our Snapdragon 845-powered comparison devices overall. The order of our comparison table varies between benchmarks, but generally, the XZ3 finishes towards the top. Our test device dominates in 3DMark for example, but it slips back to mid-table in Basemark OS II.

Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
2272 Points
HTC U12 Plus
2429 Points +7%
LG G7 ThinQ
2448 Points +8%
Apple iPhone X
4265 Points +88%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2272 - 2500, n=27)
2416 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +123%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
7934 Points
HTC U12 Plus
8812 Points +11%
LG G7 ThinQ
9029 Points +14%
Apple iPhone X
10255 Points +29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (7754 - 9231, n=27)
8705 Points +10%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +71%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
13194 Points
HTC U12 Plus
12493 Points -5%
LG G7 ThinQ
13497 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10876 - 14489, n=25)
13578 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points -20%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
11474 Points
HTC U12 Plus
10264 Points -11%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
4940 Points -57%
LG G7 ThinQ
9503 Points -17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (7998 - 13211, n=26)
10123 Points -12%
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +32%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
65330 Points
HTC U12 Plus
62152 Points -5%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
34290 Points -48%
LG G7 ThinQ
56669 Points -13%
Apple iPhone X
64169 Points -2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (34855 - 65330, n=27)
61139 Points -6%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
83927 Points
HTC U12 Plus
81726 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
40761 Points -51%
LG G7 ThinQ
80534 Points -4%
Apple iPhone X
112489 Points +34%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (53794 - 85487, n=27)
80548 Points -4%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
36794 Points
HTC U12 Plus
33810 Points -8%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
22044 Points -40%
LG G7 ThinQ
27817 Points -24%
Apple iPhone X
25633 Points -30%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (15614 - 37475, n=27)
33322 Points -9%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
6300 Points
HTC U12 Plus
4585 Points -27%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3668 Points -42%
LG G7 ThinQ
5799 Points -8%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4363 - 6454, n=27)
5811 Points -8%
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 XZ3
8014 Points
HTC U12 Plus
5637 Points -30%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
4694 Points -41%
LG G7 ThinQ
7633 Points -5%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (5637 - 8312, n=27)
7763 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points -52%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
3603 Points
HTC U12 Plus
2774 Points -23%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2078 Points -42%
LG G7 ThinQ
3150 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2124 - 3668, n=27)
3115 Points -14%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points -17%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
6517 Points
HTC U12 Plus
4882 Points -25%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3806 Points -42%
LG G7 ThinQ
5877 Points -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4034 - 6568, n=27)
5761 Points -12%
Average of class Smartphone (704 - 23024, n=115, last 2 years)
9014 Points +38%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
8369 Points
HTC U12 Plus
6419 Points -23%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
4948 Points -41%
LG G7 ThinQ
7882 Points -6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (5228 - 8451, n=27)
7671 Points -8%
Average of class Smartphone (607 - 45492, n=114, last 2 years)
15728 Points +88%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
3672 Points
HTC U12 Plus
2656 Points -28%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2106 Points -43%
LG G7 ThinQ
3109 Points -15%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2110 - 3763, n=27)
3094 Points -16%
Average of class Smartphone (1075 - 8749, n=114, last 2 years)
4327 Points +18%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
4700 Points
HTC U12 Plus
3419 Points -27%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2682 Points -43%
LG G7 ThinQ
4471 Points -5%
Apple iPhone X
3138 Points -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3197 - 4734, n=27)
4388 Points -7%
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 XZ3
5092 Points
HTC U12 Plus
3488 Points -32%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2944 Points -42%
LG G7 ThinQ
5006 Points -2%
Apple iPhone X
3463 Points -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3488 - 5246, n=27)
4919 Points -3%
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 XZ3
3703 Points
HTC U12 Plus
3197 Points -14%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2046 Points -45%
LG G7 ThinQ
3255 Points -12%
Apple iPhone X
2361 Points -36%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2118 - 3703, n=27)
3217 Points -13%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points -16%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
5184 Points
HTC U12 Plus
3997 Points -23%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2893 Points -44%
LG G7 ThinQ
4735 Points -9%
Apple iPhone X
3198 Points -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3512 - 5200, n=28)
4607 Points -11%
Average of class Smartphone (317 - 20131, n=175, last 2 years)
6514 Points +26%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
5810 Points
HTC U12 Plus
4450 Points -23%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3253 Points -44%
LG G7 ThinQ
5322 Points -8%
Apple iPhone X
3625 Points -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4133 - 8206, n=28)
5439 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (267 - 33376, n=174, last 2 years)
9281 Points +60%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
3764 Points
HTC U12 Plus
2947 Points -22%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2085 Points -45%
LG G7 ThinQ
3416 Points -9%
Apple iPhone X
2262 Points -40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2185 - 3764, n=28)
3088 Points -18%
Average of class Smartphone (938 - 8480, n=174, last 2 years)
4150 Points +10%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
60 fps
HTC U12 Plus
59 fps -2%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
59 fps -2%
LG G7 ThinQ
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 XZ3
152 fps
HTC U12 Plus
98 fps -36%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
96 fps -37%
LG G7 ThinQ
144 fps -5%
Apple iPhone X
177.4 fps +17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (98 - 152, n=28)
142.5 fps -6%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +61%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
50 fps
HTC U12 Plus
35 fps -30%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
48 fps -4%
LG G7 ThinQ
41 fps -18%
Apple iPhone X
58.5 fps +17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (33 - 75, n=27)
54.4 fps +9%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +42%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
83 fps
HTC U12 Plus
72 fps -13%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
49 fps -41%
LG G7 ThinQ
63 fps -24%
Apple iPhone X
88.2 fps +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (54 - 83, n=27)
73.1 fps -12%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +66%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
31 fps
HTC U12 Plus
31 fps 0%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
32 fps +3%
LG G7 ThinQ
26 fps -16%
Apple iPhone X
44.1 fps +42%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (21 - 59, n=27)
45.3 fps +46%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +93%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
57 fps
HTC U12 Plus
39 fps -32%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
32 fps -44%
LG G7 ThinQ
51 fps -11%
Apple iPhone X
48.9 fps -14%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (32 - 61, n=28)
53.9 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +70%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
19 fps
HTC U12 Plus
20 fps +5%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
19 fps 0%
LG G7 ThinQ
17 fps -11%
Apple iPhone X
27.7 fps +46%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (13 - 37, n=27)
27.7 fps +46%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +126%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
35 fps
HTC U12 Plus
35 fps 0%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
19 fps -46%
LG G7 ThinQ
33 fps -6%
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%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
21 fps
LG G7 ThinQ
20 fps -5%
Apple iPhone X
23.1 fps +10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (16 - 40, n=17)
29.1 fps +39%
Average of class Smartphone (3.6 - 123, n=219, last 2 years)
43.2 fps +106%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
37 fps
LG G7 ThinQ
37 fps 0%
Apple iPhone X
27.9 fps -25%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (29 - 38, n=16)
35.2 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone (2.3 - 229, n=219, last 2 years)
63 fps +70%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
14 fps
LG G7 ThinQ
13 fps -7%
Apple iPhone X
22.5 fps +61%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (12 - 25, n=17)
18.6 fps +33%
Average of class Smartphone (2.8 - 105, n=219, last 2 years)
32.2 fps +130%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
14 fps
LG G7 ThinQ
14 fps 0%
Apple iPhone X
12.3 fps -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (11 - 31, n=17)
15.6 fps +11%
Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 94, n=219, last 2 years)
25.1 fps +79%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
292268 Points
HTC U12 Plus
255739 Points -12%
LG G7 ThinQ
256276 Points -12%
Apple iPhone X
256297 Points -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (246366 - 299878, n=27)
277434 Points -5%
AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
226853 Points
HTC U12 Plus
221971 Points -2%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
154126 Points -32%
LG G7 ThinQ
223464 Points -1%
Apple iPhone X
197851 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (162183 - 242953, n=23)
225534 Points -1%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
3804 Points
HTC U12 Plus
4252 Points +12%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2501 Points -34%
LG G7 ThinQ
4257 Points +12%
Apple iPhone X
3737 Points -2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3291 - 4693, n=26)
4111 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +50%
System (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
8135 Points
HTC U12 Plus
7862 Points -3%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3763 Points -54%
LG G7 ThinQ
8070 Points -1%
Apple iPhone X
10281 Points +26%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4417 - 8613, n=26)
7644 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +18%
Memory (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
2317 Points
HTC U12 Plus
3641 Points +57%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
2051 Points -11%
LG G7 ThinQ
3744 Points +62%
Apple iPhone X
1219 Points -47%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2193 - 5296, n=26)
3649 Points +57%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +169%
Graphics (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
7989 Points
HTC U12 Plus
7945 Points -1%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
4467 Points -44%
LG G7 ThinQ
7906 Points -1%
Apple iPhone X
9248 Points +16%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (5846 - 8001, n=26)
7797 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +74%
Web (sort by value)
Sony Xperia XZ3
1390 Points
HTC U12 Plus
1437 Points +3%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
1136 Points -18%
LG G7 ThinQ
1374 Points -1%
Apple iPhone X
1682 Points +21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (1009 - 1613, n=26)
1344 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +7%

Legend

 
Sony Xperia XZ3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Qualcomm Adreno 630, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
HTC U12 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Qualcomm Adreno 630, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 Pro, Qualcomm Adreno 530, 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
 
LG G7 ThinQ Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Qualcomm Adreno 630, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Apple iPhone X Apple A11 Bionic, Apple A11 Bionic GPU, 64 GB eMMC Flash

The XZ3 achieves similar scores in browser benchmarks to those of our comparison devices too. The XZ3 finishes mid-table overall in these benchmarks, but the difference among devices is negligible.

In daily use, web-browsing on the XZ3 feels smooth and fast. Websites load quickly, and there is no waiting around for media content to load either.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.1)
224 Points +155%
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +122%
LG G7 ThinQ (Chrome 66)
88.1 Points 0%
Sony Xperia XZ3 (Chrome 70)
87.9 Points
HTC U12 Plus (Chrome 66)
87 Points -1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (22.5 - 90.9, n=25)
80.3 Points -9%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL (Chrome 55)
59.8 Points -32%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.2)
35255 Points +108%
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +97%
Sony Xperia XZ3 (Chrome 70)
16982 Points
LG G7 ThinQ (Chrome 66)
16720 Points -2%
HTC U12 Plus (Chrome 66)
16285 Points -4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (3991 - 18275, n=28)
15153 Points -11%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL (Chrome 55)
10007 Points -41%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (2154 - 11204, n=28)
2905 ms * -27%
LG G7 ThinQ (Chrome 66)
2484 ms * -8%
HTC U12 Plus (Chrome 66)
2410 ms * -5%
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL (Chrome 55)
2400 ms * -5%
Sony Xperia XZ3 (Chrome 70)
2295 ms *
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +28%
Apple iPhone X (IOS 11.1.2)
718 ms * +69%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=119, last 2 years)
131.8 Points +34%
Apple iPhone X (Safari Mobile 11.3)
130 Points +33%
HTC U12 Plus (Chrome 66)
101 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XZ3 (Chrome 70)
98 Points
LG G7 ThinQ (Chrome 66)
97 Points -1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (19 - 103, n=17)
90.2 Points -8%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Apple iPhone X (Safari Mobile 11.0)
354 Points +49%
HTC U12 Plus (Chrome 66)
257 Points +8%
LG G7 ThinQ (Chrome 66)
252 Points +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (96 - 291, n=23)
246 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XZ3 (Chrome 70)
238 Points
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL (Chrome 55)
107 Points -55%

* ... smaller is better

The internal storage is about as fast as our best comparison devices, according to AndroBench 3-5. By contrast, the microSD card reader has considerably slower read and write speeds than our comparison devices. We tested all devices using our Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference card.

Sony claims that the XZ3 supports up to 512 GB micro SD Cards. We did not test the validity of this, but we did notice that our test device can only format microSD cards as external storage. This limitation means that users can only store their data on the card, while apps and app data can only be saved to the internal storage.

Sony Xperia XZ3HTC U12 PlusAsus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KLLG G7 ThinQAverage 64 GB UFS 2.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
103%
17%
39%
79%
434%
Sequential Read 256KB
681
709
4%
409
-40%
695
2%
696 ?(392 - 895, n=52)
2%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
115%
Sequential Write 256KB
196.1
195.8
0%
163.1
-17%
176.4
-10%
224 ?(132.7 - 512, n=52)
14%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
449%
Random Read 4KB
135.7
118.1
-13%
100.9
-26%
110.5
-19%
137.2 ?(78.2 - 192, n=52)
1%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
78%
Random Write 4KB
22.22
104.2
369%
14.55
-35%
23.26
5%
84.7 ?(8.77 - 208, n=52)
281%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
1093%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
34.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
84.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
146%
77.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
127%
84.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
148%
68.6 ?(18 - 87.1, n=33)
101%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
30.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
63.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
109%
59 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
94%
62.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
106%
52.2 ?(17.1 - 71.9, n=33)
72%

Games

The Adreno 630 is powerful enough to handle even the most demanding games at high graphics. Moreover, load times are comparatively short, so games should start quickly, and you should not be left waiting for levels to load.

We tested the XZ3’s gaming capabilities with Asphalt 9: Legends and Arena of Valor, both of which ran smoothly throughout testing. According to GameBench, our test device achieved a consistent 30 FPS in Asphalt 9 and 60 FPS in Arena of Valor.

The touchscreen worked well throughout our games testing. We had no issues with the positional sensor either.

Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legends
Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
 SettingsValue
 min60 fps
 high HD60 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!
Asphalt 9: Legends
 SettingsValue
 High Quality30 fps
 Standard / low30 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!

Emissions

Temperature

GFXBench - Manhattan OpenGL ES 3.1
GFXBench - Manhattan OpenGL ES 3.1
GFXBench - OpenGL ES 2.0
GFXBench - OpenGL ES 2.0

Surface temperatures idled at around 28 °C during our tests, and they noticeably rose under load to an average maximum of 36 °C. Some areas of our test device exceed 40 °C though, which will feel warm to the touch. However, the XZ3 remains comfortable to hold even when it is running at its hottest.

We also subjected our test device to a looped GFXBench benchmark to test how well the XZ3 can maintain its performance. Our test device handles the less-demanding OpenGL ES 2.0-based test with ease, but performance drops by around 10% by the end of the more complex Manhattan 3.1 benchmark. The XZ3 performed comparatively well in the latter benchmark, with some other Snapdragon 845-powered devices like the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 performing up to 44% slower by the end of the benchmark. Overall, users should only see marginal thermal throttling in particularly demanding applications.

Max. Load
 41.5 °C
107 F
37.6 °C
100 F
33.2 °C
92 F
 
 40.9 °C
106 F
37.6 °C
100 F
34.7 °C
94 F
 
 38.9 °C
102 F
36.3 °C
97 F
33.7 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 41.5 °C = 107 F
Average: 37.2 °C = 99 F
30.4 °C
87 F
33.7 °C
93 F
42.6 °C
109 F
30.7 °C
87 F
33.3 °C
92 F
40 °C
104 F
30.6 °C
87 F
34.3 °C
94 F
38.3 °C
101 F
Maximum: 42.6 °C = 109 F
Average: 34.9 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  42.2 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 21.5 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.2 °C / 99 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 41.5 °C / 107 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 42.6 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Thermal imaging photo of the front of the device under load
Thermal imaging photo of the front of the device under load
Thermal imaging photo of the back of the device under load
Thermal imaging photo of the back of the device under load

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The XZ3 has a comparatively quiet speaker, which reproduces largely mid-range frequencies. The speaker gets loud enough for occasional audio playback in quiet environments. We would recommend using external speakers or headphones for longer listening sessions though. 

The included headphones connect to the XZ3 via the included USB Type-C to 3.5 mm adapter. We would recommend using higher quality headphones for frequently listening to music as the included ones are only good enough to make calls with. The XZ3 supports High-Resolution Audio, LDAC and DSEE HX for improved audio quality over headphones, the latter of which improves the sound of compressed audio.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.947.22536.546.63137.241.64037.639.65031.740.16323.834.18024.430.810023.632.112519.928.316023.328.320018.43725018.242.831515.848.440014.656.250015.5606301364.880012.368.6100012.169.2125011.969160010.764.6200010.769.2250010.570.4315010.365.3400010.762500010.557.9630010.559.6800010.655.81000010.661.51250010.558.11600010.655.5SPL60.863.572.461.552.561.424.178.2N1316.225.514.68.214.50.639.3median 12.1median 59.6median 49median 38.1median 30.3median 37.9median 12.3median 58.7Delta5.39.823.423.522.123.511.819.439.638.233.633.131.232.130.832.130.734.3343530.939.428.736.426.247.92651.925.354.82557.223.359.622.362.521.164.820.167.719.568.120.166.219.669.318.8731874.817.877.317.67617.675.517.773.517.873.81871.417.765.417.853.517.848.531.285.31.661.7median 19.5median 66.22.38.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSony Xperia XZ3Apple iPhone X
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Sony Xperia XZ3 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 44% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 49% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 63% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple iPhone X audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 17% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life

Power Consumption

The XZ3 is more efficient than all our comparison devices. Our test device consumes an average of 1.2 W at idle and a maximum of 6.2 W under load, which is significantly lower than average and all our comparison devices.

Sony includes a 7.5 W charger. The charger is powerful enough to recharge the device even when it is operating under sustained load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.8 / 1.2 / 1.5 Watt
Load midlight 4.8 / 6.2 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 XZ3
3300 mAh
HTC U12 Plus
3500 mAh
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3000 mAh
LG G7 ThinQ
3000 mAh
Apple iPhone X
2716 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-44%
-18%
-35%
-34%
-28%
-18%
Idle Minimum *
0.8
0.77
4%
0.85
-6%
1.16
-45%
1.03
-29%
0.862 ?(0.42 - 1.8, n=26)
-8%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
-11%
Idle Average *
1.2
2.18
-82%
1.2
-0%
1.98
-65%
2.4
-100%
1.728 ?(0.67 - 2.9, n=26)
-44%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
-21%
Idle Maximum *
1.5
2.21
-47%
1.25
17%
2.07
-38%
2.6
-73%
2.07 ?(0.87 - 3.5, n=26)
-38%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
-9%
Load Average *
4.8
6.25
-30%
6.97
-45%
4.51
6%
2.96
38%
4.87 ?(3.56 - 7.41, n=26)
-1%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-16%
Load Maximum *
6.2
10.16
-64%
9.74
-57%
8.3
-34%
6.6
-6%
9.27 ?(6.2 - 12.3, n=26)
-50%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-33%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The XZ3 has a 3,300 mAh battery, which delivered disappointing battery life in our tests. Our test device lasted just seven hours in our Wi-Fi battery life test, which is less than half what the LG G7 ThinQ achieves with its 10% smaller battery. Overall, the XZ3 finishes bottom of our comparison table in three of our four battery life tests. This is a rather surprising result given how efficient the device is.

The device also takes a long time to recharge fully with the included 7.5 W charger. Our test device took almost four hours to charge from flat to 100%, which is frustratingly slow.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
21h 10min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 59min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
7h 00min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 22min
Sony Xperia XZ3
3300 mAh
HTC U12 Plus
3500 mAh
Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
3000 mAh
LG G7 ThinQ
3000 mAh
Apple iPhone X
2716 mAh
Battery Runtime
15%
21%
54%
19%
Reader / Idle
1270
1452
14%
1393
10%
1662
31%
1292
2%
H.264
420
464
10%
799
90%
908
116%
634
51%
WiFi v1.3
419
507
21%
463
11%
591
41%
564
35%
Load
202
230
14%
149
-26%
260
29%
180
-11%

Pros

+ USB 3.0 Type-C
+ Bluetooth 5.0
+ fast Wi-Fi
+ good one-handed mode
+ solid system performance

Cons

- short battery life
- slow charging
- fingerprint sensor is oddly placed
- Sense mode starts unintentionally
- slippy glass back

Verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ3 smartphone review. Test device courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.
The Sony Xperia XZ3 smartphone review. Test device courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is suitable for almost any task. The device takes good photos and has solid system performance. Our test device also handles complex apps and games well too. The one-handed mode is hit or miss, particularly as we frequently activated it while just picking the device up. 

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is a flagship device that fares well against its competitors without having to jump on market trends.

Our test device has disappointing battery life though, while the positioning of the fingerprint sensor will take some getting used to. Moreover, we would advise holding the device carefully as it is liable to slip out of your hands. Overall, the Xperia XZ3 is a great smartphone that looks and feels different than many of its competitors.

Sony Xperia XZ3 - 11/18/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
92%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 91%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
44 / 60 → 73%
Weight
89%
Battery
89%
Display
84%
Games Performance
65 / 63 → 100%
Application Performance
75 / 70 → 100%
Temperature
89%
Noise
100%
Audio
64 / 91 → 70%
Camera
86%
Average
80%
88%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Mike Wobker, 2018-11-12 (Update: 2018-11-21)