As phone manufacturers release new smartphones, one of the most inevitable outcomes is the head-to-head comparison, and this time, out of the numerous possible pairings of phones to put in direct combat, we'll take a side-by-side look at the new Sony Xperia XZ and Google Pixel.
Sony and Google aren't often put in juxtaposition, or if they are, not many people ever witness it. This is because buzz hovering above the smartphone competition has largely clung onto Samsung and Apple, two companies often subjected to sparring, egged on by a number of trusty reviewers on the web. To see other phones get the same treatment is a welcome and refreshing change of scenery.
So without further ado, let's compare the Sony Xperia XZ and the Google Pixel.
Sony Xperia XZ vs. Google Pixel - Specs
Google is yet to officially unveil its Pixel-branded smartphones, the Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL. But ahead of its Oct. 4 launch event, Carphone Warehouse has already published the respective specs of the two Google phones.
If the published specs are to be believed, then the Pixel is expected to sport a 5-inch full HD display, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera and a fingerprint sensor, something that the Xperia XZ doesn't have. In comparison, the Xperia XZ sports a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display with a 1080p resolution, slightly larger than the Pixel's. It has a 23-megapixel rear camera, easily beating out the Pixel in terms of resolution and detail.
The Pixel will also sport an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, while the Xperia XZ gets a beefed up 13-megapixel camera. Xperia XZ is the clear winner in terms of camera specs. Keep in mind that megapixels don't always mean better pictures. It simply means a larger resolution.
In the battery life department, the Xperia XZ has a 2,900 mAh battery, compared to the Pixel's lower 2,770 mAh battery. The Xperia XZ clearly packs a little more juice than the Pixel.
The Pixel will be powered by the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, while the Xperia XZ will be powered by 821's predecessor, the Snapdragon 820. The Pixel will have 4 GB of RAM, 1 GB larger than Xperia XZ's 3 GB of RAM.
There's not a lot of noteworthy elements at play here in terms of processing power since the 820 and 821 aren't dramatically different, and Qualcomm even stated that it shouldn't replace the 820. But Google easily beats Xperia XZ because of its larger RAM. These days it's criminal for a flagship phone to go below 4 GB of RAM, and the Xperia XZ is slightly disappointing in this aspect.
Both smartphones will come with 32 GB of on-board storage, and both will be expandable up to 256 GB of external storage.
The Pixel weighs in 143 grams, or about 5 ounces. The Xperia XZ, on the other hand, weighs a little heavier at 161 grams, or about 5.7 ounces. The Xperia XZ is a little thinner at 8.1 mm compared to the Pixel at 8.6 mm.
Since Google hasn't officially unveiled the Pixel and the Xperia XZ became available only recently, we can't really test the two for their performance. But since the Pixel is powered by the Snapdragon 821, it should prove to be a tad bit more powerful than Xperia XZ's Snapdragon 820. Once the public gets a hold of both these phones, stress tests should pop up shortly, with reviewers subjecting the phone to various physical endurance experiments to see how far the devices can go without breaking.
The Sony Xperia XZ was revealed at this year's IFA, Europe's biggest tech show. You can now purchase it on Amazon for a whopping $699.99.
Meanwhile, Google is expected to launch the Pixel and Pixel XL devices during its Oct 4. launch event, along with a bunch of other announcements. Google is expected to sell the Pixel for around $650, more or less. Here's a handy roundup of every rumor circulating the web about the Pixel and the Pixel XL.
