Sony Xperia X Compact battery life test

George, 21 September 2016

We reviewed the Sony Xperia X Compact recently, but due to time constraints we couldn't finish the battery testing procedure in time for the publication date. Well, we're done now, and the results are in.

First off, though - some preliminary numbers. The Xperia X Compact is powered by a 2,700mAh battery, which is the same capacity as the one fitted in the Z5 Compact. The Xperia X proper, meanwhile, packs a marginally smaller 2,620mAh battery, while the Xperia XA manages with even less - 2,300mAh.

In our proprietary test routine the X Compact posted very good scores overall, perhaps with the exception of talk time. That said, the 14 and a quarter hours that we got on a 3G call match Sony's promise in the X Compact's documentation - that's simply what the phone is capable of, and apparently it can do it in the real world just as well as in the lab.

Talk time

Meizu m3 note
48:35h
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
46:44h
Gionee Marathon M5
38:07h
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
34:40h
vivo Xplay5 Elite
33:20h
Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
33:20h
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
33:19h
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
32:54h
Xiaomi Redmi 3
32:53h
OnePlus 3
32:48h
Oppo R7 Plus
30:46h
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
30:29h
OnePlus 2
30:29h
Motorola DROID Turbo
30:09h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM
29:46h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Dual SIM
29:46h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
29:46h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE
29:46h
Huawei Honor 5X
29:40h
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
29:17h
vivo V3Max
28:47h
Nokia Lumia 1520
28:34h
Samsung Galaxy Note5
28:34h
HTC One (M8) for Windows
28:34h
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
28:31h
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
28:25h
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
28:23h
Asus Zenfone Max ZC550KL
27:47h
Huawei G8
27:44h
Samsung Galaxy S5
27:37h
Sony Xperia Z1
26:53h
Huawei Mate 8
26:45h
Samsung Galaxy S6 active
26:29h
Motorola Moto X Play
26:28h
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
26:01h
Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
25:45h
LG G3
25:38h
LG G Pro 2
25:37h
LG G Flex
25:19h
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
25:16h
LG G2
25:15h
Samsung Galaxy A7
25:12h
Huawei Ascend Mate
25:12h
Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos
25:12h
BlackBerry Passport
25:12h
Motorola Nexus 6
25:03h
Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
25:02h
alcatel Hero
25:02h
Samsung Galaxy A8
25:02h
Oppo N1
25:01h
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
24:52h
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
24:32h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
24:29h
LeEco Le Max 2
24:24h
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
24:23h
Huawei nova plus
24:12h
Xiaomi Mi Max
24:09h
Oppo R7s
24:03h
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
23:49h
Samsung Galaxy Note7
23:45h
Xiaomi Mi 4s
23:25h
Motorola Moto X Force
23:22h
LG AKA
23:20h
Sony Xperia Z3
23:13h
Meizu PRO 5
23:10h
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE
23:09h
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual SIM
23:09h
Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
23:09h
Oppo R7
22:58h
Samsung Galaxy S7
22:57h
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
22:51h
Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
22:42h
Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
22:36h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
22:32h
Motorola Moto X Style
22:23h
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
22:23h
ZTE nubia Z9
22:20h
Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
22:16h
Sony Xperia Z2
22:13h
HTC One Max
22:13h
Lenovo ZUK Z1
22:13h
Nokia Lumia 1320
22:13h
Nokia Lumia 1020
22:13h
Samsung Galaxy Core LTE
22:13h
Sony Xperia C3 Dual
22:11h
Yota YotaPhone 2
22:09h
Meizu MX4 Pro
22:09h
Samsung ATIV SE
22:05h
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
22:02h
Motorola Moto Z Force
21:46h
Xiaomi Redmi Note
21:41h
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
21:39h
Motorola RAZR MAXX
21:18h
Oppo F1 Plus
21:07h
Xiaomi Mi 4i
21:02h
Sony Xperia X Performance
20:56h
Meizu m2 note
20:55h
Huawei Nexus 6P
20:50h
Samsung Galaxy Note7 (USA)
20:48h
LG Optimus G Pro E985
20:45h
HTC One M9
20:44h
Sony Xperia X Compact
14:14h

Move from calls to screen-on tasks and the Xperia X Compact does a better job. In Wi-Fi web browsing it's good for 11 and a half hours, with the 9 minutes by which it outlasts the Z5 Compact easily within the margin of error. That's still 2 hours longer than the Xperia X's 9:34h - so our initial logic that a smaller lower-res display would help the X Compact outlast the X holds true here, at least.

Web browsing

Gionee Marathon M5
30:51h
Asus Zenfone Max ZC550KL
20:22h
Xiaomi Mi Max
19:25h
Huawei Mate 8
17:05h
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
16:41h
Sony Xperia E4
16:40h
Samsung Galaxy S6 active
16:25h
Xiaomi Redmi 3
15:11h
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
15:05h
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
14:52h
Meizu MX4
14:06h
Huawei Ascend Mate7
13:53h
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
13:47h
Huawei P8
13:32h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
13:32h
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
13:26h
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
13:14h
HTC Butterfly 2
13:11h
Meizu m1 note
13:05h
Huawei Honor 6
12:59h
Apple iPhone SE
12:55h
Meizu PRO 5
12:51h
Xiaomi Mi 5
12:50h
Sony Xperia C
12:45h
Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
12:42h
Nokia Lumia 1520
12:40h
Acer Liquid X2
12:39h
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
12:37h
HTC One (M8) for Windows
12:31h
HTC Desire 700 dual sim
12:30h
HTC One (M8)
12:29h
Apple iPhone 6s
12:27h
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
12:21h
Samsung Galaxy A8
12:18h
ZTE nubia Z9
12:18h
Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
12:18h
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
12:17h
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
12:08h
Sony Xperia Z3
12:03h
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
11:55h
Nokia XL
11:54h
Motorola Moto X Play
11:52h
Sony Xperia Z3+
11:51h
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
11:51h
Huawei P9 lite
11:51h
HTC Desire 816
11:48h
Apple iPhone 7
11:48h
Sony Xperia C3 Dual
11:47h
LG G2
11:42h
Samsung Galaxy A5
11:36h
Samsung Galaxy A5 Duos
11:36h
Meizu m1 metal
11:33h
Meizu m3 note
11:33h
Sony Xperia Z2
11:32h
Sony Xperia E4g
11:32h
Huawei nova plus
11:31h
Motorola DROID Turbo
11:31h
Sony Xperia E1
11:30h
Sony Xperia X Compact
11:29h
HTC One Max
11:20h
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
11:20h
Sony Xperia ZR
11:20h
Motorola Moto G4
11:18h
Samsung Galaxy Note7
11:08h
HTC Butterfly S
11:07h
Asus PadFone X
11:07h
LG G2 mini
11:02h
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
11:01h
Nokia Lumia 1320
10:58h
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
10:56h
Samsung Galaxy S6
10:56h
HTC Desire 510
10:53h
Microsoft Lumia 532
10:52h
Motorola Moto G 4G
10:52h
Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM
10:52h
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
10:50h
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
10:50h
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
10:50h
Motorola Moto Z Force
10:48h
Lenovo ZUK Z1
10:46h
Samsung Galaxy Note5
10:43h
Huawei Honor 8
10:40h
Oppo R7 Plus
10:39h
LG AKA
10:38h
Huawei Honor 7
10:38h
Nokia Lumia 830
10:36h
vivo V3Max
10:31h
Apple iPhone 6
10:29h
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
10:25h
Meizu MX4 Pro
10:24h
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual SIM
10:23h
Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
10:23h
Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE
10:23h
Nokia Lumia 630
10:18h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
10:14h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Dual SIM
10:14h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM
10:14h
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE
10:14h
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
10:12h
BlackBerry Passport
10:12h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
10:09h

Not quite in video playback, where the X Compact posts virtually the same (already good) result as the regular X. The Xperia Z5 Compact could last a good 3 hours longer while playing videos. It's worth keeping in mind, however, that the Z5 Compact was tested before we adopted the standardized 200-nit brightness, and it was instead set at 50% of maximum, which meant 106 nits in its particular case so we shouldn't be quick in drawing direct comparisons for this specific test.

Video playback

Gionee Marathon M5
26:24h
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
20:54h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
20:08h
LG G Flex
19:57h
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
18:36h
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
18:18h
Oppo R7 Plus
18:04h
Samsung Galaxy S6 active
18:03h
Meizu PRO 5
18:02h
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
18:01h
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
17:52h
Xiaomi Redmi 3
17:50h
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
16:54h
Samsung Galaxy Note7
16:46h
Xiaomi Mi Max
16:42h
Motorola RAZR MAXX
16:35h
Samsung Galaxy J7
16:22h
Motorola Moto Z Force
16:10h
Asus Zenfone Max ZC550KL
15:40h
Samsung Galaxy Note7 (USA)
15:23h
Motorola Moto X Force
15:07h
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
15:03h
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
14:58h
Samsung Galaxy E7
14:57h
Samsung Galaxy S7
14:50h
Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
14:17h
Apple iPhone SE
14:17h
Lenovo ZUK Z1
14:14h
Oppo R7s
14:05h
Huawei Ascend Mate7
14:04h
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
13:57h
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
13:53h
Xiaomi Mi 5
13:52h
Samsung Galaxy Note5
13:51h
Motorola DROID Turbo
13:41h
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
13:32h
OnePlus 3
13:15h
Nokia Lumia 1020
13:12h
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
13:12h
Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
13:12h
HTC One Max
13:11h
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
13:08h
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
13:04h
Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
13:04h
Acer Liquid Jade Primo
12:53h
Sony Xperia C
12:53h
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
12:51h
Huawei Honor 6
12:51h
vivo Xplay5 Elite
12:51h
Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260
12:51h
Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
12:45h
Samsung Galaxy A8
12:45h
Acer Liquid X2
12:42h
Meizu MX4 Pro
12:41h
Huawei Mate 8
12:34h
Nokia Lumia 1520
12:31h
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
12:30h
BlackBerry Q5
12:28h
Sony Xperia C3 Dual
12:22h
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
12:21h
Huawei Ascend Mate
12:18h
Sony Xperia Z2
12:16h
Oppo F1 Plus
12:13h
Samsung Galaxy S6
12:12h
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
12:12h
Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
12:10h
Motorola Moto X Play
12:06h
LG AKA
11:54h
Sony Xperia Z3
11:47h
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
11:38h
Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
11:37h
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
11:33h
Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL
11:32h
Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
11:29h
Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
11:27h
Huawei Mate S
11:26h
OnePlus One
11:23h
Meizu m3 note
11:18h
HTC One (E8)
11:16h
Oppo N1
11:15h
HTC One (M8) for Windows
11:15h
Samsung Galaxy S5
11:15h
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
11:15h
BlackBerry Q10
11:15h
Meizu m1 note
11:09h
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
11:02h
Asus PadFone X
11:01h
Huawei P9 lite
10:58h
Xiaomi Mi 4c
10:47h
BlackBerry Passport
10:46h
Apple iPhone 6s
10:46h
vivo X5Max
10:44h
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
10:41h
vivo X5Pro
10:41h
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
10:38h
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
10:38h
Samsung Galaxy J2
10:35h
LG G Flex2
10:35h
HTC Desire Eye
10:35h
Xiaomi Mi 4s
10:35h
HTC Desire 816
10:34h
Sony Xperia X Compact
9:52h

The individual scores above (plus the standby draw) add up to a combined endurance rating of 73 hours.

The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.

The Xperia X Compact comes with a load of battery features as well. There's the Qnovo charging tech, designed to preserve the battery in the long run, Battery Care smart charging, plus Sony's iconic Stamina modes. You can read about these in more detail in the battery section of the X Compact review.