Galaxy S9 vs. Xperia XZ2 shootout

02 April 2018
Samsung has the Plus, Sony has the Compact, but the two companies see the base size differently. It's these regular versions that we'll now be taking a closer look at - this is the Galaxy S9 versus Xperia XZ2 camera comparison.

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Nick, 03 Apr 20181. Then what is the point of having 19MP sensor? It's not l... moreWell:
1. A sensor it's about these: 7.87 mm (1/2.3") 1.08 microns. Megapixels are just a specific implementation for specific device marketing. (If you were for some time in photography, you would have known that already).
2. Sony always had different processing on zooming, front camera, and manual settings. In this case (Sony smartphone camera processing) reducing resolution, zooming, changing Api2 (for Api2 Sony stock camera does not allow that - at least for now) is very effective and results are better even best compared to samples seen in this review. (If you were a true Xperia user you would know that by now).
3. EIS in Sony's implementation is better than OIS is SOME CASES. Sony implementation for smaller sensors/processors is most important and better than the lens itself.
4. Shots were better took with tripod and manual shutter in XZ2 case. That means that the processor is better in Sony. Its driver might be unstable but Sony will do somethig about it.
5. In my opinion Sony managed well (in a weird way) to avoid using OIS. Best example in this case is XA ultra. It had a very well balanced EIS on the back being same in quality of the OIS of the front at least on shooting pictures.
Sony did it well, reviewers didn't.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • LQv
    • 03 Apr 2018

    Panino Manino, 03 Apr 2018Good point, but there's no arguing with these Xperia fans. ... moreYou make bias comments, I see them.since last year.
    You hate on sony

      • J
      • Jingle Bells
      • LQv
      • 03 Apr 2018

      I have a S7 that I like a lot.

      I dont understand why some ppl here judge based on brand and not the photo/videos skills.

      I like Sammy stuff but XZ2 was better in most of situations here.

      If you dont like Sony, Samsung or both it os okay. But bias comment do not add anything to the chat.

        Anonymous, 03 Apr 2018Now another thing. Why is it in the lowlight portion the S9... moreGood point, but there's no arguing with these Xperia fans.
        If you want to consider all that these two phones can do on manual, then with the S9 you can not only force low ISO with longer shutter speed, you can also lower the aperture to have a deeper deep of field to have a noise free (or the contrary you can increase a bit the ISO to make the photo "richer") photo without lost of texture. And with the OIS you can achieve a sharper result with out without a tripod.
        The Xperia advantage is the tripod, the S9 advantage is the phone itself.
        You can contour the S9's noise reduction but you can't contour the Xperia's limitation and artifacts, it's really so hard to understand this?
        I like Sony and the Xperias, and I don't think that insisting that it's all good enough will help the line improve.

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          • HuLk
          • 6Qf
          • 03 Apr 2018

          Anonymous, 03 Apr 2018Unsurprisingly the S9 did overall objectively better in mos... moreHahahaha.........are you trying to tell yourself, Samy Fanboy? Please read the conclusion again. :D

          I m not a Sony Fan......I m HTC user. But none can deny (except the usual Samsung fan) that Sony did it this time. It's flagship definitely beat Samsung's flagship this time.

          Let's wait for U12 guys.

            joy, 03 Apr 2018be it iPX or XZ2, the S9 is the king of smartphone cameras.Haha lol.. Huawei P20 pro is king of camera 109 DxOMark benchmark...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 4S0
              • 03 Apr 2018

              AnonD-258449, 03 Apr 2018Unsurprisingly the XZ2 did overall objectively better in m... moreSo true,,, Lol

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                • AnonD-248131
                • LaK
                • 03 Apr 2018

                Why are not you up and running on Samsung? The pictures made with Samsung, compared with Sony, are with 1 zoom back. It is clear from the comparison that the photos taken with Sony are more unclear. What is not true

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • I8m
                  • 03 Apr 2018

                  AnonD-481725, 03 Apr 2018Samsung is becoming more like noisophobic, their aggressive... moreNo. Sony has 7mp more and used more aggressive sharpening

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • I8m
                    • 03 Apr 2018

                    Amidamaru212, 03 Apr 2018It's sad how fans are just fighting. Both devices have thei... moreActually objectively the s9 pretty much did come out overall ahead.
                    The issue here of course is like you said with people having their favorite... but more so is the Sony followers. If you've been to any Sony pages you would see what I mean. It's worse at times then some apple followers act.
                    And they build and fuel the fire on many pages.

                      It's sad how fans are just fighting. Both devices have their own features and take different approach. Sony's definitely improved a lot compared to the lheir line, so much that I'd say they're already pretty close to S9. Of course, Samsung fans cannot approve. The same for Sony fans, which just cannot really see that it's not the XZ2 which won. And it's not completely win of S9 either, as at least two categories depends on personal preference.

                      But yeah, it's always gonna be only fight of trolls and fans blinded by their brand and nothing else. Feel sorry for such people, who cannot even judge objectively.

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                        • AnonD-258449
                        • uW{
                        • 03 Apr 2018

                        Anonymous, 03 Apr 2018Unsurprisingly the S9 did overall objectively better in mos... moreUnsurprisingly the XZ2 did overall objectively better in most ways.
                        Of course no Samsung fan agrees.

                          • k
                          • kobresia
                          • L1H
                          • 03 Apr 2018

                          very happy sony goes the right direction. I am just sad, because sony change design. I still admire brick.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • kXE
                            • 03 Apr 2018

                            Unsurprisingly the S9 did overall objectively better in most ways.
                            Of course no Sony fan agrees.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • kXE
                              • 03 Apr 2018

                              Now another thing. Why is it in the lowlight portion the S9 chose iso 640 in auto... But when you were comparing it the second time with the xperia going into its tripod mode...The S9 image is up to 1200???? Doubel for the same scene.
                              And when you went into manual for the final round...Why didnt you just do like iso 50 or 100 with a 0.5-1 sec shutter? Why separate comparing auto and manual and not use manual??

                              And why did manual look so grainy on both? Even my S7 get get clean shots in manual if the shutter is 0.3 or higher.

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                                • AnonD-749384
                                • sXE
                                • 03 Apr 2018

                                Whackcar, 02 Apr 2018Why is Sony still stuck with F 2.0 Aperture? It's been stuc... moreI'm leaning towards sony then I'm not, sony loves to impress on paper, example large mega pixel count but on a small sensor is mindless, noise and artifacts blocks is what come with it, Sony knows this but its all down to market sale's strategy

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                                  • AnonD-481725
                                  • StN
                                  • 03 Apr 2018

                                  Samsung is becoming more like noisophobic, their aggressive noise reduction is killing the details.

                                    Anonymous , 03 Apr 2018And Samaung still buy parts from other suppliers like Apple... moreI didn't say all but "mostly". Which part of "mostly" you couldn't understand?

                                      I will choose XZ2 over the S9 even if there's a lot of noise on the picture at least I can see the details.

                                        samsung just smudge the ...t out of everything to cover up noise. Not having a go at GSM, but these comparisons are nonsense

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