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Introduction
Sony has always had its own, rather unique approach to mobile design. Whether you liked the boxier look of old, favour the curves of the new "Ambient Flow" concept or don't really find either appealing, it is hard to ignore one irrefutable accomplishment of the Japanese design team - continuity. It's a hard thing to describe but it basically boils down to some kind of core aesthetic that has been preserved year over year, making most every Sony phone instantly recognizable in a sea of "slab" sameness.
Naturally, that's the predisposition we approached the new Xperia XZ3 with, expecting it to be new, yet somehow familiar. In a lot of ways, that's true, but if we have to be perfectly frank, it's probably the first Xperia that didn't instantly give off that distinct "Xperia" vibe, once placed in the hand and turned on. Of course, whether or not that's a positive change or not is strictly a matter of personal taste. However, another irrefutable fact about the XZ3 and probably the most apparent one is that a lot has changed.
Sony Xperia XZ3 Specs
- Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 back and front; IP65/68; 183 x 73 x 9.9mm, 193g.
- Screen: 6.0-inch, 18:9, QHD+ OLED, HDR, TRILUMINOS and X-REALITY tech
- Rear Camera: 19MP, 1/2.3" Sony IMX400 camera, f/2.0 lens, predictive hybrid laser/phase detection/contrast AF, burst AF, IR sensor for white balance, LED flash, dedicated hardware shutter key, Smart Launch, BIONZ for mobile image-processing engine; ISO 12,800
- Video Recording: 4K video recording @30fps, HDR video up to 4K, 1080p @60fps, 1080p @960fps, 720p @960fps, Steady Shot; Stereo audio recording; Predictive capture; ISO 4000
- Front Camera: 13MP, f/1.9; 1080p video
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Kryo 385 (8x custom Cortex-A75 @ up to 2.8GHz), Adreno 630GPU
- Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS + microSD (up to 512GB)
- OS: Android 9.0 Pie
- Battery: 3330mAh; USB PD; Wireless Charge (QI)
- Connectivity: Hybrid dual SIM (4G), 4G VoLTE, 5CA LTE Cat.18, 4x4 MIMO, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS, NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C
- Audio: Dynamic vibration system, High-res audio, DSEE HX, LDAC, Stereo speakers with S-Force surround, aptX HD audio
- Misc: Fingerprint sensor, SIDE SENSE, 3D creator scan with back and front cameras, SDR to HDR video upconversion
No one can remain oblivious of the trends of the day in a market as volatile and harsh as the smartphone one. The decisions that do into each and every new handset design stretch far beyond any personal preference. So, like it or not, Sony deemed it best to make the jump to OLED in the Xperia XZ3. The dive is clearly head-first, when you take into account the curved sides of the panel, splashing over seamlessly into the sides of the device, in keeping with the modern Samsung-inspired fashion.
Sony Xperia XZ3 on top, Samsung Galaxy S9+, on bottom
Coming in as sort of contrast, the internals of the XZ3 seem oddly familiar. That's because these are mostly borrowed from its XZ2 predecessor. That is hardly surprising, given the short time span between the release dates of the two. Both are based on the still flagship Snapdragon 845 platform and even share their main camera hardware (with a few tweaks). In fact, calling the XZ2 a predecessor might not be entirely accurate, since Sony will continue to sell the XZ2 and its Premium and Compact sibling in its current lineup.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ2, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3
That, in turn, offers a rather interesting alternative perspective on the Xperia XZ3. Despite the name, it could easily be considered a branch-out effort on Sony's end? Perhaps, an ambitious experiment and potentially the start of a new line? But, all this is purely speculation, and only the future and the market success and fan reception towards the XZ3 can shed some light on the matter.
In the meantime, we were lucky enough to spend some early hands-on time with Sony's latest flagship. Join us on the following pages as we explore what has changed, what it borrows from the rest of the Xperia line and how the XZ3 fits into the Sony family and future.
Design
To reiterate our original point, the Xperia XZ3 clearly represents a new and trendy design for Sony. Definitely a bold step, if nothing else. We stand by the lack of instant apparent familiarity as well. But, we wouldn't go as far as to claim there is no continuity in design.
On the contrary. Even with the massive changes, implemented in the XZ3, Sony's design team managed to preserve some staples of the design, to the best of their abilities. Starting with the overall look and footprint - the "Ambient Flow" curves are still very much present all throughout the phone. Going off the lines, set by the curved display, the lines appear to be bent even further, making the XZ3 one of the "curviest" Xperias to date. This is especially noticeable near the top and bottom ends of the front panel, which almost have a Google Pixel-like appearance, in the way they flow into the side curves.
Left: Google Pixel 2 XL, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3
Bolder curves on the front also mean a thinner frame on the XZ3. Compared to the XZ2, that is. The bill of materials has also changed a bit. The middle frame might be thinner but is now made of 7000 series aluminum. There is no flex in the chassis of the handset, whatsoever.
Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2
Since we're already on the subject of the frame, we can take a look an the controls. Their number and layout is practically unchanged from the XZ2. Nothing on the left and a volume rocker, power button and dedicated shutter key on the right-hand side. However, a narrower frame has necessitated significantly slimmer buttons.
Thankfully, Sony did a good job making these smaller controls pretty much identical in terms of responsiveness, tactile feel, travel and "clickyness" to the ones on the XZ2. That is to say, they are not perfect, but definitely not worse in any way.
Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2
Just to round the controls tour up, the hybrid SIM tray is still found on the top of the XZ3. It can either house two nano-SIM cards, both with LTE and VoLTE. Or, you can swap one out for up to 512GB of microSD storage. Just like with the XZ2 family, we appreciate the toolless entry to the tray, but we still can't get over the fact that every time you pull the part out, the phone has to restart. Come on Sony, fix that already!
Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2
On the bottom - the main microphone and a Type-C port. The latter looks unchanged in any way and, indeed, it still supports a USB 3.1 connection. However, according to Sony's specs, charging is now done in accordance with the Power Delivery standard. We are yet to get any clarification on what this means, exactly, but our best guess is that Sony simply enabled the Quick Charge 4+ standard, which, in itself, is capable of talking to USB-PD power sources. We will definitely investigate further once we get a unit in the office for a full review and can check out the charger it ships with, as well.
If there is one thing Sony's design theme definitely preserved almost entirely intact in the XZ3, it is definitely the back. Besides being a bit taller, for obvious reasons, it looks almost identical in its glossy finish and curvature to the one on the XZ2, when compared side by side.
One thing we do have to wonder about is a small portion of the metal frame, near the bottom of the XZ3 that extends into the Gorilla Glass 5 back. The reasoning behind it eludes us, but we can't help to refer to it as a "back notch", chuckle and move on with the hands-on review.
We do have to commend Sony on making the infamous bulge or hump on the XZ3 that little bit smaller. The absence of the dual camera setup from the XZ2 premium definitely helped and so did the taller body of the unit. Still, at 9.9mm, in its thickest point, the XZ3 does feel a bit thinner. A feeling further enhanced by the thin frame.
Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Middle: Sony Xperia XZ2, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
We do, however, wish that Samsung would reconsider the fingerprint placement. Don't get us wrong, we have no issue with the reader being on the back. Nor with its performance, as it is just as snappy and accurate as ever. We do, however, sorely want it to be quite a bit higher. Ideally, right where the camera is positioned, since your finger seems to be so naturally drone exactly to that area, while reaching for the scanner. Seeing how the XZ3 is quite a bit taller, why couldn't all the module be shifted up, vertically, at least a little bit? But, we digress.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ3, Right: Sony Xperia XZ2
Just to finish the hardware tour off, another quick swing to the front of the phone. Compared to something like Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S9+, the curvature on Sony's OLED seems a bit more pronounced - sloping at a higher angle. This could be the reason why we say a bit more color shift in those tapered-off areas. Definitely not as bad as on the Nokia 8 Sirocco, though. We'll reserve final judgement for the full review.
Sizing-wise, the side bezels, on the left and right of the screen are a bit wider than those on the aforementioned Samsung. However, the difference is hardly worth mentioning due to the nature of the design. As in, you probably won't notice those either way.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ3, Right: Sony Xperia XZ2
The bottom chin of the XZ3 is noticeable thinner than the one on the XZ2. Still wide enough to house one of the two front-facing speakers. Our initial impressions of these are that they sound just as loud an crisp. The on-paper specs confirms the units are unchanged, as well. Even Sony's rather unique Dynamic Vibration System is present and accounted for. The fake bass still feels a bit weird to us, but your mileage may vary.
The top chin, on the other hand, is quite a bit wider on the XZ3. The extra space appears to be put to good use, though, considering the upgraded 13MP, f/1.9 selfie snapper. Plus, there is the other speaker in Sony's stereo setup.
Display
OLED is debuting on an Xperia phone and what a gorgeous sight it is. The overall benefits of the texh are clear, but it might just be up to Sony to convince its users to take the plunge as well, considering the long years of LCD-only diet, accompanied by frequent praise for the benefits of the IPS liquid crystal technology.
We're pretty sure this will be a point of controversy among fans in the near future, but OLED definitely gets our vote. For anyone that needs some convincing, we would recommend just watching one of Sony's HDR demos, pre-loaded on the Xperia XZ3.
Most of these clips we had scene time and time before, but never like this. The incredibly vibrand colors, perfect blacks and infinite contrast. The pixel response times and fluidity of it all. Sony also made sure to imbue it new shiny panel with its patented set of familiar display optimization tech. Namely, TRILUMINOS technology, X-REALITY and a Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. So long-time fans don't have to feel like they are missing out. In fact, Sony claims it made quite a few AI-driven improvements to its SDR to HDR enhancer for the XZ3.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ2, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3
Speaking of HDR, Sony gave the new display its full HDR treatment, even sprinkling a few cherries on top. Just like many of its siblings, the XZ3 supports 10-bit colors and is certified for the BT.2020 standard. The display is also certified for HDR10 playback, which is the defacto standard for HDR streaming, on platforms, such as Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.
Supporting just the right kind a amount of HDR is somewhat of an issue in 2018, with segmentation and competing standards all throughout the tech realm. In an effort to address this, Sony is now recording HDR content in accordance to the HLG standard. This effectively makes for a more flexible format and plays well with YouTube video uploading. It does more than that, as well, but more on HLG in the camera section.
With a QHD+ resolution, the XZ3 also sits nicely, in the middle ground between the FHD+ XZ2 and the insane 4K resolution of the XZ2 Premium. It's an incredibly sharp display. All this definitely makes us wonder exactly where Sony's OLED panel comes from. Certain supply chain relations with LG are know to exist for Sony's OLED TV models. Then again, the company is also known to deal with Sharp, as well as Samsung (mostly for LCD panels).
Regardless of the panel's origin, we can't wait to run it through our full set of test to see just how good it actually is in numbers. In the meantime, we can only say it looks perceivably quite bright, is pleasant enough in direct sunlight, but really shines in a cozy dark room, streaming Netflix in HDR.
Always on display settings
Oh, and there is one more benefit to be gained from the OLED technology as well. Sony did its homework diligently and wasted no time in implementing an always on display option for the XZ3. It's called "Ambient display" and already comes with a selection of five different clock styles, extensive notification controls, music controls, as well as some user-customizable graphic content.
Stickers allow you to place a static image from a pre-loaded set or your gallery near the bottom of the display. There is also a Photo playback option, which surfaces round windows with your photos in random sizes and locations on your lock screen. The XZ3 typically selects the most recent shots you have taken, but if it finds shots of the place you are currently at in your gallery, it will start cycling those. Neat!
Familiar 19MP MOTION EYE camera
Sony has decided to stick to what it knows in the camera department, equipping yet another generation of devices with the familiar IMX400 ExmorRS, a.k.a. Motion Eye camera. 1/2.3", 1.22µm, behind an f/2.0 lens. Its field of view is still quite wide at 25mm (in 35mm equiv).
The same module that appears on the XZ Premium, XZs, as well as the XZ1 pair and the XZ2 Family. There is still no OIS, either, The camera relies solely on EIS to keep things steady. What is part of the package, however, is Sony's excellent, stacked RAM ship solution. It's the exact same module, we are already familiar with, that lets the sensor reads out the full 19MP resolution really fast, which prevents the nasty rolling shutter in photos of fast-moving objects. The extra fast memory is also vital for proper HDR video recording at up to 4K.
It also enables the headline feature - 960fps slow-motion video. Thanks to the Spectra 280 ISP, inside the Snapdragon 845 and the RAM chip, the XZ3 can also record 960fps slow-motion video at 1080p resolution - still higher than the competition. The size of the RAM chip, however, sadly hasn't been increased yet, leaving the legth of the 1080p slow motion bit still at just 0.09 seconds. Quite hard to work with.
Predictive capture algorithms do help out a lot in the quest towards perfect slow motion capture. Speaking of which, Sony's camera improvements for the XZ3 are mostly confined to the realm of software, which shouldn't be misconstrued as criticism. On the contrary, anyone can make good photos with a huge sensor and lens setup. Getting a great shot from a small mobile module is an endeavour which requires immense software work and talent.
It's also a lengthy process that takes time and iteration. Which is why we appreciate the latest iteration on Sony's BIONZ processing algorithm, as introduced in the XZ3. Sony tends to undersell these improvements, rather unintentionally, while trying to explain them. Still it does make things a bit easier to understand.
BIONZ for the XZ3 addresses two main issues. The first is detail under low-light conditions. That sounds pretty straight-forward enough and easy to test. We will be sure to grab an Xperia XZ2 and the new XZ3 and do a side by side shootout, once we get the review unit in the office. Until then, we'll just have to take Sony;s word for it.
The same goes for the other improvement, which Sony rather descriptively calls: "Exposure control by Deep Learning". Obviously, since AI is involved, the inner working are going to be hard to grasp. However, the explanation and samples were simple enough - Sony found that most people ruin shots that have a bright sky in them - that lead to under-exposure of other objects in the frame. Conversely - shots of greenery, which tend to get over-exposed. So, the new AI simply jumps in, recognizes the particular scenes and applies proper exposure and/or HDR, as needed. As simple as that!
Camera UI
Manual mode
Simple seems to be an ongoing there with Sony's camera improvements. The camera app UI has been reworked for simple operation. Switching between photo and video mode is a one click operation and all the corresponding modes and settings are well contained within menus, in those modes. The camera app also now supports Android quick actions, which allow you to create shortcuts to photo, video and manual modes, right on your home screen. We definitely think the new UI is an improvement.
Smart Launch is another new AI-powered feature, found on the Xperia XZ3. It is anew gesture for launching your camera. Taking the XZ3 out of your pocket and holding it horizontally (the only orientation to properly take a photo or record video) brings up the camera. After that, you just need to tap the screen once and you are ready to shoot.
The rule-based detection logic and deep learning that that go on behind the scenes to enable this feature are quite impressive. Still, we have to wonder about the actual practicality of the gesture. It's not that quick, plus it requires an extra press on the display. All the while, a double press of the power button will also get you in the camera app.
Speaking of new gestures with dubious usefulness, there is Sony's new Side sense interface. It is based on taps on the curve of the XZ3's display and actually does a few things, across different parts of the OS. We ill go into more detail about its other uses in the software section, but as far as the camera app goes, it currently doubles as a shutter key. So, what you have to do is double tap on the edge of the screen to take a still or start recording.
To convenience part stems from the fact that you can tap anywhere on the edge. However, you better make sure you won't introduce too much shake to the phone while doing so for too long. There is a time-out between executing the tap and the XZ3 actually triggering the shutter to address this issue. But the very fact Sony had to implement this workaround leads us to believe the whole gesture was implemented to show off Side sense in its current early stage, more than anything else.
Of course, no proper hands-on article would be complete without some sample shots.
Sony Xperia XZ3 camera samples
Sony Xperia XZ3 camera samples
We were lucky to get plenty of sunshine in Berlin. Still, we didn't skip on some night shots either.
Sony Xperia XZ3 low-light camera samples
Sony Xperia XZ3 low-light camera samples
Upon first glance, the samples seem to be about on par with the Xperia XZ2. Buy, you know the drill - early hardware and software in a random setting do not lead to proper conclusions. We'll reserve our judgement for the full review.
For comparative purposes, we also did an impromptu camera shoot-out, of sorts. We brought the Samsung Galaxy Note9 and the Sony Xperia XZ2 for the task.
Sony Xperia XZ3 • Sony Xperia XZ2 • Samsung Galaxy Note9
Sony Xperia XZ3 • Sony Xperia XZ2 • Samsung Galaxy Note9
Sony Xperia XZ3 • Sony Xperia XZ2 • Samsung Galaxy Note9
Sony Xperia XZ3 • Sony Xperia XZ2 • Samsung Galaxy Note9
Sony Xperia XZ3 • Sony Xperia XZ2 • Samsung Galaxy Note9
All the shots were naturally taken at the same time of day, replicating the conditions as close as possible.
13MP selfie snapper
One clear camera upgrade the XZ3 offers over the XZ2 is the selfie camera. The XZ3 offers a 13.2MP autofocus enabled snapper. It's a new and improved module, as well, since it has a brighter aperture of f/1.9, compared to the f/2.0, the XZ2 Premium is rocking.
Still, we can't exactly bring ourselves to call the selfie "new", since the Xperia XZ1 already featured a similar camera. It's just that the XZ2 pair downgraded it quite a bit, with a 5MP module. So, we consider this righting a wrong on Sony's part, more than anything else.
Since the unit we are dealing with is rocking non-final software, we will, once again reserve final judgement on quality and operation for the full review. What we will do, however, is bring attention to some improvements and features Sony is marketing for the XZ3 selfie, which add up to what the Japanese giant is boldly referring to as the "best-in-class 13MP Selfie camera". Come to think of it, though, that is a pretty specific category.
Anyway, selfies get the benefit of a new beauty system, complete with 5 distinct components: Face slender, Eye enlargement, Skin brightness and Soft skin. The intensity of these can be fine tuned and adjusted individually. There is also a Bokeh effect, with variable strength, which Sony is throwing into the beauty mix, along with the other portrait improvements.
We took a self portraits for you, our and about in Berlin, as well.
Sony Xperia XZ3 selfie camera samples
Naturally, we had to test out the portrait mode, real quick. These end up in a rather funky aspect ratio by default.
Sony Xperia XZ3 selfie portrait camera samples
Last and probably least, the 3D creator app has also seen some improvement and now apparently works even better, with both the main and selfie camera. Sony talks about some new face animation options, which will likely make the whole experience even creepier.
4K and HDR video recording
Sony has some notable bragging right when it comes to video capture. These are still, very much present on the Xperia XZ3 and are mostly enabled through a combination of the memory-stacked Motion Eye camera, the powerful Spectra ISP, inside the Snapdragon 845 and the skilful way Sony camera engineers have leveraged it.
Video UI
Sony's approach to HDR video is rather interesting. Format and quality-wise, it combines up to 4K resolution, with a 10-bit depth, a rich BT.2020 color space and HDR. The latter is implemented in a particularly flexible way.
One the one hand, the Xperia XZ3, like a few of its flagship siblings, is certified for HDR10 playback. This is, pretty much, the defacto standard for consuming HDR content online, from the likes of Amazon, Netflix and YouTube. Still, sharing HDR content to platforms, like YouTube is a bit trickier still.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ3, Right: Samsung Galaxy S9+
That's where the Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) standard comes in. Without getting too technical, the gist of HLG is better compatibility than competing standards, like HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Unlike those, at the core of HLG is an SDR signal, which makes it backwards compatible with unsupported devices. It also help to make HLG a lot more usable for streaming content - an issue HDR10 and Dolby Vision have. The actual high dynamic range part of the video is encoded as an extra logarithmic curve on top of the regular SDR gamma curve. Hence, the "log" and "gamma" parts of the name.
But, we might have gotten a little bit sidetracked here. What's are practical benefits from all this? Simple enough - through a collaboration with YouTube, Sony has enabled the XZ3 (among other devices) to upload the HDR HLG content it captures straight to YouTube in 10-bit HEVC format. YouTube digests that and converts it over to 10-bit VP9, which can then be delivered to a wide range of HDR devices. That helps you share your HDR creations with the world, instead of having them stuck on your device alone and worse still, having them look bad and washed out on a non-HDR display.
Of course, Sony's stacked memory sensor solution plays a big part in properly capturing HDR content. Since the entire sensor can be read out so fast, you don't need to capture two consecutive frames to blend in final HDR one. Instead, you get two simultaneous captures.
The stacked memory solution also enables the 960fps slow-motion recording feature, at up to 1080p resolution - a stand-out Xperia feature.
Quality-wise, we expect few notable improvements in video capture in the XZ3, compared to the XZ2. We can only confirm, for sure, in the full review. In any case, any potential improvement should be purely software based, meaning that it probably won't stay exclusive to the new flagship for long.
Xperia on Android Pie
The Xperia XZ3 might represent a radical new design step in the Sony family, but its OS is all too familiar. Well, at least the Xperia launcher is. If continuity is your thing, the Ui delivers plenty. Sony has really streamlined its app package and overall UX quite a bit, in recent OS iterations , making for a rather neat and clean experience.
Xperia launcher • Settings • Notifications • Quick toggles • App drawer
The more astute among you, however, might have already notice from these screenshots, that something is obviously different. That is mostly the new Android 9 Pie core, shining through to the familiar Xperia UI. That's right, the XZ3 ships with Google's latest and greatest in mobile OS. Customized to Sony's taste, of course.
If you look close enough, the signs are clearly there, only scattered about. Like, the new and improved volume controls and the slider placement, on the side of the UI. Of course, Sony's own Dynamic Vibration adds and extra layer of settings on top.
Volume slider • Volume slider • Volume controls • USB Preferences
Some other small additions are present and accounted for, as well. Like the in-depth USB Preferences menu.
Speaking of advanced settings, there is no shortage of those for the display of the XZ3. Besides the always on interface, we already mentioned, color and contrast are subject to tweaking. There is even a custom white point adjustment. These might just come in handy in easing long-term fan transition from LCD to the particular feel of an OLED panel.
Display settings
Another Android Pie feature, that seems to be making an appearance on the XZ3, of sorts, is the suggested apps interface. However, instead of in the app drawer, it has its own UI, dubbed Side sense. Or rather, the Side sense menu, since Side sense refers to all the features, enabled by Sony's new edge gesture tech. We already mentioned the integration within the camera app.
The menu is called upon by double tapping anywhere on the curved part of the display. Like we already mentioned, its contents are basically a list of "predicted" apps, as well as some settings shortcuts and toggles. These could, indeed, be powered by the new Android Pie recent apps APIs, then again, it could be a proprietary Sony algorithm entirely.
Side sense
In its current shape, the menu is convenient enough, but it does lack depth and polish. You can manually add apps, though, which is nice. Side sense can also detect swipes on the display edges, which are currently mapped to the back button. It's an interesting concept.
3D Creator app
We kind of feel obliged to mention the 3D Creator app as well, since Sony seems to still be pouring quite a bit of effort into it. There are now some improvements under the hood and apparently some animations for facial expression, which we couldn't test out at this point in time. Frankly, we don't really feel like we missed all that much.
Performance
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and 4GB of RAM. That all sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? As far as internals go, the Xperia XZ3 basically borrows its from the Xperia XZ2. So, no change in performance then?
Left: Sony Xperia XZ2, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3
Well, we kind of expected that to be partially true, as far as raw horsepower is concerned. After all, Sony hasn't been marketing any fancy new internal design or optimization. No fancy new vapour chamber, that can allow the chipset to go full throttle for longer. Or, at least, none that Sony is marketing.
Even so, the chassis on the XZ3 is quite a bit different, which can have an effect on thermals and performance. But, even if you think that;s a bit far-fetched, there is also the matter of the resolution bump, up to QHD+, on the Xperia XZ3. That means the Adreno 630 has to work that much harder to push pixels to the screen. Hence, on-screen GPU tests are definitely going to be different.
Throwing the XZ2 Premium into the mix might be an interesting experiment in scalability for the Adreno 630. Since, rough match tells is the XZ3 is roughly rocking a 4.15MP resolution, on screen, while its 4K sibling has to deal with practically double that, at 8.29MP.
GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- vivo NEX S
9160 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
9026 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
9003 - HTC U12+
9001 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
8883 - LG G7 ThinQ
8865 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
8681 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
8509 - Xiaomi Mi 8
8494 - Sony Xperia XZ2
8466 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
8349 - Oppo Find X
8018 - Huawei P20 Pro
6679 - Honor 10
6591 - Google Pixel 2 XL
6428
In pure CPU tests, the Xperia XZ3 appears to perform in the general Snapdragon 845 ballpark. That is to say, there is definitely more to be squeezed out of Qualcomm's flagship offer, but, in real-life terms, there should be no perceivable performance difference.
GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S9+
3771 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
3642 - vivo NEX S
2466 - HTC U12+
2456 - Sony Xperia XZ2
2454 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
2438 - Xiaomi Mi 8
2431 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
2419 - LG G7 ThinQ
2395 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
2343 - Oppo Find X
2322 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
2199 - Google Pixel 2 XL
1915 - Huawei P20 Pro
1907 - Honor 10
1894
Interestingly enough, the single-core performance of the XZ3 seems to lag a bit behind its siblings, like the XZ2 and the XZ2 Premium. This could, very well, come down to software optimization.
More compound benchmarks, like Basemark OS 2.0 paint a pretty similar picture. The Xperia XZ3 seems to be lacking a bit behind. Still, it is a rather old benchmark, at this point, which more than likely means that it can't take advantage or appreciate the Android Pie optimizations and new APIs.
Basemark OS 2.0
Higher is better
- HTC U12+
4300 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
4196 - vivo NEX S
4167 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
4152 - Sony Xperia XZ2
3859 - Xiaomi Mi 8
3858 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
3713 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
3675 - Oppo Find X
3636 - Google Pixel 2 XL
3379 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
3354 - Honor 10
3337 - Huawei P20 Pro
3252 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
3064
To illustrate our point, to some extent, here is what the latest version of the frequently updated AnTuTu benchmark thinks of the Xperia XZ3.
AnTuTu 7
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
291866 - Oppo Find X
291218 - vivo NEX S
287081 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
265314 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
264734 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
264044 - HTC U12+
263696 - LG G7 ThinQ
259393 - Sony Xperia XZ2
259244 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
248823 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
246660 - Xiaomi Mi 8
217298 - Huawei P20 Pro
209884 - Google Pixel 2 XL
203119 - Honor 10
200440
We're not saying this is exactly an accurate representation of its performance, but AnTuTu appears to be taking Android Pie into account, if nothing else.
Graphics performance, with older GFX 3.0 tests on Android Pie has been a rather interesting topic. Back when the Google Pixel 2 XL received the final version of the Android 9 update, we re-tested all of its performance metrics and observed a rather odd trend, where Android Pie would perform worse under GFX 3.0 loads.
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
83 - vivo NEX S
83 - Sony Xperia XZ2
82 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
82 - Oppo Find X
82 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
76 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
75 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
74 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
70 - LG G7 ThinQ
66 - Huawei P20 Pro
66 - HTC U12+
64 - Xiaomi Mi 8
64 - Google Pixel 2 XL
61 - Honor 10
57
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2
59 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
59 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
59 - vivo NEX S
59 - Oppo Find X
58 - Xiaomi Mi 8
57 - Huawei P20 Pro
55 - Honor 10
53 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
51 - HTC U12+
50 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
46 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
45 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
45 - LG G7 ThinQ
43 - Google Pixel 2 XL
36
It seems the Xperia XZ3 is in the exact same boat. Of course, only the off-screen tests can be used for comparative purposes with other devices. Still, the trend is there.
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
61 - HTC U12+
60 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
60 - Oppo Find X
60 - vivo NEX S
60 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
58 - LG G7 ThinQ
57 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
56 - Sony Xperia XZ2
55 - Xiaomi Mi 8
53 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
47 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
45 - Google Pixel 2 XL
42 - Huawei P20 Pro
40 - Honor 10
37
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
57 - vivo NEX S
55 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
53 - Sony Xperia XZ2
51 - Xiaomi Mi 8
50 - Oppo Find X
50 - Honor 10
37 - Huawei P20 Pro
37 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
34 - HTC U12+
33 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
31 - LG G7 ThinQ
30 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
25 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
24 - Google Pixel 2 XL
21
As test difficulty ramps up, the variances in the Adreno 630's performance on the XZ3 and other non-Android Pie handsets seems to shrink more and more. An odd thing, indeed.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
35 - Sony Xperia XZ2
35 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
35 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
35 - LG G7 ThinQ
35 - HTC U12+
35 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
35 - Oppo Find X
35 - vivo NEX S
35 - Xiaomi Mi 8
33 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
28 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
28 - Google Pixel 2 XL
25 - Honor 10
23 - Huawei P20 Pro
23
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
37 - vivo NEX S
34 - Sony Xperia XZ2
33 - Xiaomi Mi 8
33 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
31 - Oppo Find X
28 - Honor 10
21 - Huawei P20 Pro
21 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
20 - HTC U12+
20 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
19 - LG G7 ThinQ
18 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
15 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
14 - Google Pixel 2 XL
13
Still, our observations for the phenomenon come from only two devices, at the moment and are hardly conclusive. As more and more older models start getting Android Pie, we will definitely look into the matter of older OpenGL ES 3.0 loads.
In the particular case of the XZ3, it could all, very well come down to software optimization. Perhaps BasemarkX and Basemark ES 3.1 offer a more accurate representation of the overall graphical fidelity of the Adreno 630.
Basemark X
Higher is better
- HTC U12+
44390 - Sony Xperia XZ2
44097 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
44013 - LG G7 ThinQ
43833 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
43826 - vivo NEX S
43810 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
43652 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
43596 - Xiaomi Mi 8
43285 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
42134 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
41994 - Oppo Find X
40537 - Huawei P20 Pro
39945 - Google Pixel 2 XL
39143 - Honor 10
29435
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy Note9
1482 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
1481 - vivo NEX S
1208 - Sony Xperia XZ3 (IFA2018)
1193 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
1187 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
1177 - HTC U12+
1177 - Sony Xperia XZ2
1176 - Google Pixel 2 XL
874
While looking at these early performance figures, do also keep in mind that the XZ3 unit, we tested is still an early release. The software is bound to go through some extra refinement and optimization, prior to the full review. Plus, it's based on Android 9 Pie, whereas all of its contenders on the chart are still running older version of Google's OS.
Left: Sony Xperia XZ2, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3
Our experience shows that the latter can actually tip the scale in either direction, either improving of hurting pure-numbers performance for a number of optimization and compatibility reasons, which we won't get into. Bottom line, don't take these initial numbers to heart quite yet.
Conclusion
The Xperia XZ3 raises more than a few interesting question. Unfortunately, most of these can only be answered from the fans and the general market reception of what is undoubtedly the most different device to join the Xperia smartphone ranks, in recent memory.
Having spent some time with the XZ3, it really seems like everything is there and works well together, if that makes any sense. The particular hardware choices are logical and worthy of a flagship. Software improvements are incremental and based on years of experience. Sure, there are arguably, some gimmicks, like the new Side sense or the camera launch gesture, but nothing to hinder most people from properly enjoying the XZ3 as a whole.
And that's where the real question comes in - does it all work for an Xperia? Is the altered formula a good one? Is it going to stick and is it even intended to? We feel like those are the important questions the Xperia XZ3 will be faced with in the coming months. If nothing else, the whole situation will definitely be worth keeping a close eye on.
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