Whether it ’s because you ’ve have small hands , prefer a more pocketable machine , or simply do n’t care about having a elephantine showing , when it comes to truly small phones , there just are n’t a mountain of choice . Your choice are basically theiPhone SE , thestandard Pixel 2 , and this : the Xperia XZ2 Compact . However , with Apple not having bothered to update the SE in more than two class , and the Pixel 2 having been curse with a half - assed plan that makes it seem like the neglected member of Google ’s 2017 offerings , even those handsets have issues . I live small-scale phones are n’t super popular , but it ’s almost comical at how little effort company put into make a modestly - sized machine with competent spec .
Xperia XZ2 Compact
What is it ?
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
A small version of the XZ2 with a 5 - inch screen
Price
$ 600
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
Like
Flagship spec , small but upstanding figure , good price
Do n’t Like
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
No headphone diddley , battery life is just fine , tv camera quality could be a tiny bit better too
gratefully , the XZ2 Compact is the elision to all that , because by exact all the significant stuff from thestandard XZ2including its Snapdragon 845 processor , 4 GB of RAM , 64 GB of memory board , 19 - MP rear Cam River , and microSD card time slot , and then order it inside a petite consistency with a finger - friendly 5 - inch CRT screen , the XZ2 Compact offers the same flagship functioning found in other big names French telephone and square camera quality with way less bulk . Sony even made sure to retain the XZ2 ’s dedicated two - step tv camera button and duple front facing speaker , both of which could have been easy axed to save on space or price .
Seriously , with so many phones today sporting screens 6 - inches or bigger , even I forget just how nice it is to have a twist that does n’t feel like a burden . The XZ2 Compact is just so chuckable . It basically disappears into bags , and even for people who care their jeans on the embarrassing side of tight . It ’s never an way out render to slip this thing into a pocket . And when you hold it , it feel even dear thanks to its curvy , rounded charge plate back that makes the telephone set feel like a well worn ocean pebble while also offer a prissy departure from the ice sandwich opine ostensibly every other phone God Almighty is pushing nowadays .
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
That read , there are a handful of features that did n’t make it on the XZ2 Compact , most notably the laughably strong shakiness engine from the standard XZ2 , which change state everything from a daily round of Clash Royale to an episode of the Joy of Painting into a hand - rumble extravaganza . The Compact also lacks wireless charging , has a small battery , and while quite diminutive from top to bottom , it ’s in spades not slim , as it measure a full half - column inch chummy .
Out of all of these , the smaller battery is probably the change with the biggest impact , because with the 3,180 mAh magnate pack in the standard XZ2 , it lasted a proficient 10 hours and 42 minutes on our battery summation test . Meanwhile , the XZ2 Compact ’s 2,870 mAh battery hold up a less impressive 8 hr and 45 hour . That ’s not quite short enough to be a deal breaker , as the Pixel 2 did n’t get along that much better with a time of 8:59 , but overall length of service is the XZ2 ’s most glaring shortcoming .
And what about pictures ? It ’s a cardinal feature for a phone — even a small one . And the XZ2 Compact shoots pretty solid ones . In a head - to - head face off against a Galaxy S9 + , the XZ2 Compact produced pics that on social occasion boast even rich and more saturated color , which is really quite impressive . However , in other situations , despite having a higher - resolution 19 megapixel rear television camera , details were n’t quite as shrewd as I was hoping , and when you zoom into 100 pct , flick from the XZ2 Compact often featured more artifacts and dissonance than exposure taken by the S9 + . Yet while I ’d still give the overall to Samsung ’s phone , it ’s hard to be disappoint with what the XZ2 Compact captured either .
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
And finally we get to the XZ2 ’s surreptitious weapon : its cost . At just $ 600 , the XZ2 Compact feel like one of the last bastions of sanity in a world where flagship machine set out at $ 750 and go up cursorily from there . Suddenly , a lot of those earlier issues like mediocre battery lifetime and no wireless charging are n’t nearly as annoying . It all makes this telephone set not only a great pick for people assay out a small-scale a equipment , but also a all-fired ripe value in its own right . And as one last fillip , the Compact also features support for CDMA networks and is even certify for use on Verizon ( something its handsome sibling ca n’t claim ) . For all the modest phone fans out there , Sony ’s XZ2 Compact is as good as it fix .
README
The main differences between the stock XZ2 and the Compact are a smaller 5 - inch screen and 2870 mAh battery , no wireless charging , no extra powerful quivering motor , and a charge card back or else of glass .
At 8 hours and 45 minute , the XZ2 Compact ’s battery life is n’t fantastic , but it ’s in the same range as other smallish sound like the Pixel 2 ( 8:59 ) .
Unlike its big sibling , the XZ2 Compact does have reinforcement for CDMA meshwork , and has even been indorse for use on Verizon .
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
While petite , the XZ2 Compact is actually quick deep , measure half and in from front to back . unluckily , it seems that ’s still not enough elbow room to admit a earpiece diddly-squat .
SPECS
Android 8.0 • 5 - inch 18:9 2160 x 1080 LCD HDR show • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor • 4 GB of RAM • 64 GB of storage • microSD card slot • 2870 mAh battery • USB 3.1 Type - coulomb with Qualcomm Quickcharge 3.0 • 5 - MP front camera • 19 - MP rear photographic camera • dual front - confront stereophonic system speakers • IP65/68 water - resistance • 5.3 x 2.6 x 0.5 inches • 5.9 ounce • usable in disastrous , silver , moss unripened , and coral tap
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