Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact review

17 March 2018
It's once again peak smartphone season and Sony is next to join the annual spring race. But while others do regular and plus-size models, Sony, as usual, is going towards the other end of the spectrum with the new Xperia XZ2 Compact.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • LkA
  • 18 Mar 2018

Anonymous, 18 Mar 2018Use camera potruding a bit.. doesn't justify that thickness... moreXZP has 2cm more of height.

Iphone 8 has less than 2000mAh

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • Icb
    • 18 Mar 2018

    Lovely phones Sony keep going on .. Don T stop or slow down like last 2 year .You are coolest among all

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • ixu
      • 18 Mar 2018

      Kangal, 18 Mar 2018Bad review. The only upgrades seem to be the better qual... moreI don't disagree with all your points but you do seem a bit too negative or at least not quite understanding the purpose of the phone. You listed the small screen as a negative, on a compact phone that is kind of the point don't you think? It's not meant to be as large as other phones so screen size needs to come down accordingly. And to be fair when iphone upgraded from 7 to 8 and it was basically all the same stuff but with wireless charging (something that was long overdue and not everyone will use) it seems they got a free pass as well. Maybe it's partly about the overall package and not just the improvements alone? The phones are still pretty good and have some good features but it's not got anything amazingly unique (as do no phones really, even compared to iphone x my Samsung galaxy s9 has facial recognition, bezelless screen, wireless charging, stereo speakers etc. what is the justification for an iphone x price when Samsung can do the same for much cheaper and with better in-box contents like better earphones and charging wires etc.?) but as you'd expect no phone is truly unique at the moment. Even the whacky stuff like squeeze gestures in HTC is on the google pixel if I remember right.

      I agree on the 3.5mm port but there is a solution to that in the box itself.

      I understand there's some bits could be better but your obsession with symmetry for example, it can be nice but it sounds a bit more like ocd to care too much about that. If a phone is ugly then fair enough you might want to avoid using it for 2 years or so but I don't see the problem with asymmetry except where it's very visually distracting and not just a minor quip. Lack of OIS is a bigger problem for me but I've not tried a phone without it so can't really complain how big an effect it has.

        • s
        • sm4rt4ss
        • pFU
        • 18 Mar 2018

        "So, the "old" XZ1 Compact has a superb rating of 108h, while the "new" XZ2 Compact has a mediocre 88h...just great, Sony."

        It has a 5.0 inch screen with full hd + resolution. What did you expect?

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • kAF
          • 18 Mar 2018

          Hayaan Mo Sila, 18 Mar 2018None of those phones you've mentioned have: -1/2.3" 19mp M... moreUse camera potruding a bit.. doesn't justify that thickness
          Apple has had vibration motors in iphone 7 onwards for haptic feedback in 7 mm phone.. besides wasn't space saved due to lack of Jack?
          Still LCD as it's predecessor. Don't think that adds to thickness. Xzp was hdr compliant. Nowhere close to this thick..

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            • AnonD-234961
            • 0Cc
            • 18 Mar 2018

            So, the "old" XZ1 Compact has a superb rating of 108h, while the "new" XZ2 Compact has a mediocre 88h...just great, Sony.

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              • AnonD-251354
              • t7X
              • 18 Mar 2018

              dont compare Sony to other company with bigger battery but not properly optimized. that would be useless

                jrharbort, 18 Mar 2018Not going to deny the thickness isn't well optimized. I'm j... moreThickness on a small phone is actually very well preferred for ergonomic reasons, on big phones it increases weight but there is nothing worse than holding a 5.5"-6" inch thin phablet like iPhone 7 Plus. Completely ridiculous.

                  • g
                  • gringo
                  • rXR
                  • 18 Mar 2018

                  sim slot is a big big fail on all sony models !
                  i didn't buy from sony since my bad experience on z1 z1 compact (battery + sim slot) and z2 (sim slot)

                    Kangal, 18 Mar 2018Bad review. The only upgrades seem to be the better qual... moreI hate the fact that all of your claims are either false or have no proof.
                    This phone's camera already beats the Pixel 2 XL's. Try it in the Photo Comparison Tool chart. No way a S7 would beat this mini monster. Maybe in your dreams it can, but we're not interested in that.

                    How can it be fragile when it's just the sae GG5 on the front? Might as well just say every single smartphone is fragile because they have glass on the front.
                    Again it hasn't been proven by anything, so Idk where the heck are you getting these.

                    If you read the article, GSMArena posted a report about why Sony removed the jack. I disagree with their justification, but man, THERE IS A REASON.

                    I am handling a 10mm thick phone and I don't find it thick or something. 11mm should be of no problem, given our hands could handle even a 100mm thick brick.
                    If you have small hands, then this phone isn't for you, but it doesn't make it a bad phone by any means. That's just like saying that the S9+ is a bad phone only because I don't like it.

                    Z5 Compact is just as thick, and has smaller battery, smaller display, smaller speakers, smalled vibration motor, and is boxy (less comfortable to hold for a long period of time). I like that phone, but the XZ2 Compact is clearly better in every possible way.

                    Sony doesn't need Synaptics. They have JDI, who recently patented a glass-embedded fingeprint scanner that works for any type of display, not just on OLEDs.

                    The new BIONZ software post processing algorithm, along with the Qualcomm Spectra 280 ISP on this phone is doing exactly the same thing as Google's own software. Having the Pixel's camera software to this phone would yield little to no difference, and it can be worse as the software is optimized for a completely different phone.

                    The loudspeakers are loud and clear on this thing, unless you need an ambulance siren from a smartphone.
                    18:9 is the future for smartphone screens.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • uCj
                      • 18 Mar 2018

                      AnonD-170381, 18 Mar 2018The dimension is 151 x76 tho . So now you prefer bigger bezel .i own and have used a thick and large bezel phone. the so called large bezel is smaller than sony equivalent smartphone. Look at sony flagship, from z1-xz how big is their bezel compared to other flagship e.g samsung?

                      the xz2 series remind me of my xperia neo which is thick. bezel? not a problem. thick smartphone are problem once you put inside your pocket plus the bulge makes you feel like carrying a brick in pocket.

                      If sony really want to make a curved back phone, they shoyld used the xperia zl design. slim top and bottom bezel and just slightly curved on the back side. PLUS its not as thick as this xz2 compact! well they could even shave a milimeter from the xperia zl to make it better. if only they "could". ;)

                        Anonymous, 18 Mar 2018zuk z2 has 3500mah in 8.5mm thick. Even xiaomi has few 4k m... moreNone of those phones you've mentioned have:
                        -1/2.3" 19mp Motion Eye™ camera that can compete with the S9/S9+ in low light, and can record 960fps videos at 720p or 1080p, as well as HDR videos up to 4K
                        - Dynamic Vibration System that takes viewing experience to the next level
                        -loud and clear dual front facing stereo speakers
                        -FHD+ HDR display with BT.2020 compliance

                        3100mAh inside a 11mm thick phone with all of those humongous hardware is already an achievement, even without a jack. Chinese OEMs would require at least 20mm thickness to do the same.

                          • s
                          • sm4rt4ss
                          • pFU
                          • 18 Mar 2018

                          I currently own Z3 Compact and this is my next phone. Or maybe XZ1C. I love them both. To thick? Nah, I have a case and a protective glass on my Z3c and I'm used to it. Fingerprint sensor on the back? I don't even have a fingerprint sensor on a Z3c, so I don't have a pet peeve on the location. No 3.5mm jack? I don't even use headphones, I only listen to music when I run on a mp3 player. And if I get some wireless headphones with the XZ2 compact? I wouldn't complain. I thought of buying a Samsung phune but their version of Android annoys the hell out of me, same with Huawei.

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                            • Finophile
                            • mHr
                            • 18 Mar 2018

                            You write
                            "Plugging in a pair of headphones dropped the loudness to only average"

                            I thought it had ditched the jack

                              • D
                              • AnonD-170381
                              • X}Q
                              • 18 Mar 2018

                              Anonymous, 18 Mar 2018zuk z2 has 3500mah in 8.5mm thick. Even xiaomi has few 4k m... moreThe dimension is 151 x76 tho . So now you prefer bigger bezel .

                                • D
                                • AnonD-170381
                                • X}Q
                                • 18 Mar 2018

                                Bonji, 18 Mar 2018The concept is brilliant. Many want a handy phone with good... moresay like iphone 8 or 7 has ois .

                                  Junk again from Sony. If I really need a compact phone, I'd take the old iPhone SE or wait for the new one.

                                    • B
                                    • Bonji
                                    • uuY
                                    • 18 Mar 2018

                                    The concept is brilliant. Many want a handy phone with good performance , something close to Apple. This could have been best but it fails miserably.
                                    No OIS , come on Sony??? Its the heart of Camera department. No Lighting conditions are perfect even indoor lighting conditions vary so ultimately OIS makes sure weather you get a blurred shot or not. Even with SND 835 and 6gb ram if Lighting is imperfect you will get only a blurred shot and that just spoils everything. What is the use if you buy and 40000+ Rupees.
                                    Sony smartphones are gonna die off soon.

                                      • R
                                      • Ragna
                                      • M{n
                                      • 18 Mar 2018

                                      The XZ2 Compact design is still better that the XZ2, not sure why the designer made this model bit heavy and that too a flagship phone. Even though the finger print scanner is moved to back why did Sony miss to add their signature power button. The beautiful design of Sony is missing this time on these latest edition phones.
                                      Sad to see that Sony is giving freebies on their phones in the European region.

                                        This time Sony really make me impressed with this new flagship. The xperia ui and the hardware so worthy to buy. I prefer buy this one than s8 or even s9 duo. Sony unstoppable now!

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