We compare the latest Sony flagship phone, the Xperia XZ, with all of the biggest phones of 2016 so far. How does the Xperia XZ stack up against the Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10, OnePlus 3, iPhone 7 and more?
Sony’s Xperia XZ is its most premium mobile of the year, cramming in all kinds of fantastic features like an all-new 23-megapixel camera and a sleek water-resistant design. But 2016 has been a strong year for smartphones, which means stiff competition for the Xperia XZ from Samsung, HTC, OnePlus and Apple.
So which flagship phone of 2016 is best for you? We’ve compared the Xperia XZ with the Galaxy S7, OnePlus 3, iPhone 7 and even some of Sony’s other mobiles, so you know which handset is worthy of your wallet’s contents. And we’ve also done a camera comparison and speaker comparison, to show how the Xperia XZ’s individual features stand up against the competition.
Read next: Sony Xperia XZ in-depth review
Sony Xperia XZ vs Samsung Galaxy S7
| Phone | Sony Xperia XZ | Galaxy S7 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.2-inches | 5.1-inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 | 2560×1440 |
| Weight | 161g | 152g |
| Water resistant? | Yes | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 820/Exynos |
| Memory | 3GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 32/64GB |
| MicroSD | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 2900mAh | 3000mAh |
| Rear camera | 23-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Front camera | 13-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
One of the biggest rivals to Sony’s new Xperia XZ is the mighty Galaxy S7, Samsung’s own 2016 flagship phone. Like the XZ, the Galaxy S7 is also a water resistant mobile boasting a strong camera experience and nippy performance. Samsung’s mobile boasts a sharper screen, but images are just as crisp in both cases and you can use Sony’s Super Vivid mode to match the S7’s vibrant visuals.
Check out our full Xperia XZ vs Galaxy S7 comparison review for more info.
Sony Xperia XZ vs iPhone 7
| Phone | iPhone 7 | Sony Xperia XZ |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 4.7-inch | 5.2-inch |
| Screen resolution | 1334×750 | 1920×1080 |
| Water resistant? | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | A10 Fusion | Snapdragon 820 |
| Storage | 32/128/256GB | 32/64GB |
| MicroSD? | No | Yes |
| Cameras | 12MP + 7MP | 23MP + 13MP |
| Price | From £599 | £549 (TBC) |
Apple’s iPhone 7 launched just a week after the Xperia XZ and boasted many of the same bonus features, including a camera that’s geared towards low-light photography. This is the first water resistant iPhone too, so both of these handsets can survive a dunking in the bath.
However, while the iPhone 7 has the advantage of a more compact design, making it easier to use one-handed, the Xperia XZ is better for music lovers. Not only do you get a headphone jack, something missing on the iPhone 7, but Sony’s smart audio tech can boost compressed tracks and make Hi-Res music sound truly amazing.
Check out our full Xperia XZ vs iPhone 7 comparison review for an in-depth side-by-side.
Sony Xperia XZ vs HTC 10
| Phone | Sony Xperia XZ | HTC 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 161g | 161g |
| Screen size | 5.2-inches | 5.2-inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 Full HD | 2560×1440 Quad HD |
| Water resistant? | Yes | No |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 820 |
| Memory | 3GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 32/64GB |
| microSD? | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 2900mAh | 3000mAh |
| Cameras | 23MP + 13MP | 12MP + 5MP |
Sony’s Xperia XZ and the HTC 10 are great all-rounders, boasting impressive hardware and camera tech. The HTC 10 feels like more of a rugged, full-on phone with its chunky metal unibody, but they’re both solid handsets – and the Sony mobile is the only one here that’s water resistant.
Both the Xperia XZ and the HTC 10 are solid media machines, offering crisp, colourful visuals and decent built-in speakers. Performance is super smooth and you can easily get over a day of battery life with both blowers. As for camera tech, they’re quite evenly matched; the Xperia XZ is better in low light condiitons however, thanks to its five-axis image stabilisation.
Take a look at our full Sony Xperia XZ vs HTC 10 comparison review.
Sony Xperia XZ vs OnePlus 3
| Phone | Sony Xperia XZ | OnePlus 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.2-inches | 5.5-inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| Weight | 161g | 158g |
| Water resistant? | Yes | No |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 820 |
| Memory | 3GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 64GB |
| MicroSD | Yes | No |
| Battery | 2900mAh | 3000mAh |
| Rear camera | 23-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Front camera | 13-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
OnePlus really brought the smartphone game to the big boys in 2016 with the excellent OnePlus 3. This £329 handset not only boasts super-smooth performance but also the kind of premium features you’d expect from a mobile twice its price.
Sony’s Xperia XZ delivers a better camera experience than the OnePlus 3, but the cheaper device gives you better battery life and faster charging (via the excellent Dash Charge feature). In both cases you get crisp, colourful visuals too, via the Full HD displays.
Check out our full Xperia XZ vs OnePlus 3 comparison review for more details.
Sony Xperia XZ vs Xperia X
| Phone | Sony Xperia XZ | Sony Xperia X |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.2-inches | 5-inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| Weight | 161g | 153g |
| Water resistant? | Yes | No |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 650 |
| Memory | 3GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 32/64GB |
| MicroSD | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 2900mAh | 2620mAh |
| Rear camera | 23-megapixel | 23-megapixel |
| Front camera | 13-megapixel | 13-megapixel |
The Xperia XZ is a step up from the cheaper Xperia X in most regards. You get a slightly bigger screen, added water resistance, and a bigger battery for improved longevity. You also get Sony’s latest optics; while the camera is still a 23-megapixel effort, you now have a laser-guided autofocus and five-axis image stabilisation, for improved low light shooting.
Of course, you’ll have to pay for those extra features, with the Xperia XZ rocking a more expensive price tag and boosted tariff costs.
Take a look at our Xperia XZ vs Xperia X comparison review.
Sony Xperia XZ camera review and comparison
So, how good is Sony’s new 23-megapixel rear snapper, with five-axis image stabilisation and a bit of laser-guided autofocus action?
We’ve used the camera for a good few days now and we’re happy to report that it’s a solid all-rounder, offering a simple user experience and dependable results on full auto mode. But how does it stand up against the excellent Samsung Galaxy S7 snapper, and the iPhone 7’s new and improved camera tech?
Take a look at our full Xperia XZ camera review and supertest for photo samples, video footage and side-by-side analysis with the best camera phones of 2016.
Sony Xperia XZ speaker comparison
If you’re wondering about the Xperia XZ’s stereo speakers and how effective they are, have a watch of our full speaker review and comparison with some of the best mini blasters from 2016.
Check out our Sony Xperia X family hub for full reviews, comparisons, guides and more on Sony’s big 2016 smartphones.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is available on a range of O2 Refresh tariffs, along with the other big Android phones of 2016. With O2 Refresh, you can upgrade early from another handset by paying off the remaining value of that phone, potentially saving hundreds of pounds. And if you want to keep your phone after two years, you will only pay your monthly airtime package from then on.
Leave a Reply