Sony Xperia XZ2 vs Apple iPhone X: which is the best all-screen phone?

Apple’s iPhone X currently sits at the top of the smartphone price scale, dangling its dazzling design and top-end specs above the competition. But you can get a lot of smartphone for a lot less money than that – and that’s the category where Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 is likely to fall. So if you’re considering one of these phones in the coming months, should you splurge big on the iPhone X or be responsible and consider Sony’s latest? Here’s how this comparison shakes out right now based on the specs and our hands-on time with the Xperia XZ2.

DESIGN: MAJOR DIFFERENCES

Both of these handsets are obvious, top-tier flagships: they’re glass and metal monoliths with front and back glass, along with aluminum on the XZ2 and stainless steel on the higher-end iPhone X. But the XZ2 has a much more common look. We like the shift away from Sony’s old boxy aesthetic, but it looks a bit anonymous among today’s Android flagships. That’s certainly not true with the Apple iPhone X, which might be divisive for its camera notch on the front but wows with its gorgeous all-screen front.

SCREEN: A NOTCH ABOVE

These screens aren’t that far off in resolution, although Apple has a slight advantage: the iPhone X screen is 2436×1125, while the Xperia XZ2 comes in at 2160×1080. And the 5.8in iPhone X screen also has the benefit of being an OLED panel – and a stunning one at that, thanks to manufacturer Samsung. Sony’s screen can’t help but pale a bit by comparison, as a 5.7in extra-tall (18:9) LCD that looks a bit ordinary alongside the iPhone X.

CAMERA: WAIT AND SEE

The iPhone X has not only the best of Apple’s smartphone cameras, but also one of the best you’ll find on any phone today. That’s thanks to the twin 12MP setup, which has f/1.8 wide-angle and f/2.4 telephoto sensors, both now with optical image stabilisation. In contrast, we’re not yet sure what we’ll get from the Xperia XZ2. It has a single 19MP sensor on the back, but we’ll only know how it fares once we’ve done a full review. Still, Sony’s phone has the edge on slow-motion video footage, capturing it at a staggering 960 frames per second.

PERFORMANCE: NO SLOUCHES HERE

Sony’s phone opts for the latest go-to Android processor, the new Snapdragon 845 – and with 4GB RAM within, it should be no slouch with games, media, and more. But Apple’s own A11 Bionic chip remains unparalleled in sheer horsepower, beating anything that Android can offer – iOS 11 is silky-smooth. Ultimately, we suspect that the Xperia XZ2 will also provide a plenty swift everyday experience with Android Oreo, but it seems like Apple has a bit extra raw speed available to tap into as needed.

BATTERY AND PERKS: VARYING EXTRAS

Apple’s iPhone X is a pretty capable all-day handset with its 2,716mAh battery, plus wireless charging is handy for quick top-ups. The Xperia XZ2 manages to pack in a bit more capacity at 3,180mAh and also has that lower-resolution screen to power, which could save a bit of power throughout the day. It also offers wireless charging. In terms of capacity, the iPhone X offers 64GB and 256GB varieties, while the XZ2 sticks with 64GB of internal storage – but has a huge perk with the ability to add cheap microSD storage to expand upon that tally.

INITIAL VERDICT: TOUGH TO COMPARE

These are two very different phones. The iPhone X is offers top-tier luxury, with flashy good looks, a gorgeous display, and plenty of power. And it costs £999/US$999. Based on our time with the Xperia XZ2 so far, it doesn’t seem to hit the same heights. The design is common, the screen seems a step behind, and there’s a bit less processing power. But it’s close enough in many respects, and we suspect that it will be at least £300/US$350 less than the iPhone X. And for many people, that’ll be enough of a difference to make this decision a lot easier.