We compare the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and the Sony Xperia X, to see if Sony’s cheaper flagship can take on the mighty 5.7-inch Note for performance, battery life, camera tech and more. Here’s our full Note 7 vs Xperia X review.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 is absolutely crammed with great features including the excellent S Pen stylus, an innovative iris scanner and one of the most gorgeous HDR-ready mobile screens of all time. Add in the best bits of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and you’ve got a big but bloody brilliant blower. However, the Note 7 also packs a hefty £700 asking price and costs a packet on contract, so you’ll need to be pretty well off to afford one.
By comparison, Sony’s Xperia X can be picked up for just £400 and a lot less on a typical contract. For that cash you still get some excellent camera tech, impressive media credentials and plenty more besides. Here’s our full Note 7 vs Xperia X comparison review, so you can see how these Samsung and Sony smartphones stack up.
Read next: Sony Xperia X vs Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 vs LG G5
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Sony Xperia X: At a glance
| Phone | Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | Sony Xperia X |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 169g | 153g |
| Screen size | 5.7-inches | 5-inches |
| Screen resolution | 2560×1440 Quad HD | 1920×1080 Full HD |
| Water resistant? | Yes | No |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor, iris scanner | Fingerprint sensor |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820/Exynos | Snapdragon 650 |
| Memory | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB | 32/64GB |
| MicroSD? | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 3500mAh | 2620mAh |
| Cameras | 12MP + 5MP | 23MP + 13MP |
| Price | £700 | £400 |
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Sony Xperia X: Which is best?
First off, there’s a clear difference between these two phones when it comes to dimensions. The Xperia X is pleasingly compact and can comfortably be used one-handed, thanks to its dinky 5-inch screen. Meanwhile the beastly Note 7 is a 5.7-inch behemoth, making it a real handful.
Thankfully Samsung has added a one-handed mode which squashes down the screen to make it more accessible with one mitt. And we prefer the design of the Note 7, which boasts beautiful curves – although that glossy back gets scuffed up all too easily. Samsung’s Note 7 also has the benefit of being water resistant, unlike the Xperia X.
Sony’s Xperia X may only have a Full HD screen, compared with the Note 7’s super-crisp Quad HD display, but images are still bright and pleasingly detailed. With Sony’s super vivid mode activated, colours really pop on the Xperia X’s panel too. Likewise, Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen tech makes for wonderfully vibrant results.
The Note 7 is a clear winner for performance, thanks to its much more powerful Snapdragon 820/Exynos chipset. By comparison the Xperia X’s Snapdragon 650 processor is a middle-weight, although both phones offer up a smooth everyday experience. The Note 7 is capable of multi-tasking however, and should last much longer before showing signs of ageing.
Both phones are evenly matched when it comes to storage, with microSD memory expansion available on the Xperia and the Note. Battery life is marginally better on the Xperia X, however, despite Sony’s phone packing a smaller cell.
The Xperia X has a fast and accurate edge-mounted fingerprint sensor to keep your confidential data secure. However, while the Note 7 also boasts a fingerprint sensor, on top of that you get an iris scanner which provides dependable backup when your hands are wet or dirty. Samsung has also packed in some bonus security tools such as Samsung’s Knox software and the new Secure Folders feature.
As for camera tech, it’s a close call in this comparison review. The Note 7 packs in the same dependable snapper as the Galaxy S7 and that 12-megapixel rear camera is particularly good in low light, capturing plenty of detail with limited grain. The Xperia X also performs well but results aren’t quite as crisp when the lights go down. The Note 7 can also shoot 4K video, while the Xperia X maxes out at Full HD.
That said, the Xperia X’s brilliant 13-megapixel selfie snapper is better in low light than the Note 7’s front-facing lens, capturing sharp photos with natural skin tones. Check out our Note 7 camera review and Xperia X camera review for samples.
Of course, the Note 7’s big boast is that super-accurate S Pen stylus, which makes sketching, editing docs and loads more besides a comfortable and accessible experience. Creative and business users will get a real kick out of the Note 7, even if their wallets are smarting.
Check out our full Note 7 vs Xperia X comparison review video below.
You can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from O2 right now.
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