With people always searching for phablets and big-sized displays, compact phones became extremely hard to find, especially when it comes to flagships. Almost every actual flagship has a display above 5.5 inches. The most powerful exceptions in the actual market are Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, Google Pixel 3, and the new Sharp Aquos R2 Compact. This is a comparison which will help you discover who is the best.
Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Google Pixel 3
| Sharp Aquos R2 Compact | Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact | Google Pixel 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 154 x 73 x 8.8 mm, 146 grams | 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm, 175 grams | 153 x 75.7 x 7.9 mm, 155 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.2 inches, 1440 x 2992p (Quad HD+), 536 ppi, OLED | 6.21 inches, 1080 x 2248p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, 19:9 ratio, Super AMOLED | 6.2 inches, 1080 x 2246 pixels, 402 ppi, 18.7:9 ratio, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 2.8 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 2.8 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 2.8 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie | Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI | Android 8.1 Oreo, Zen UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | 22.6 MP 8 MP front camera |
Dual 12 + 12 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 + 8 MP f/1.8 and f/2.0 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3130 mAh | 3400 mAh, Fast Charging with Quick Charge 4.0 | 3300 mAh, Fast Charging with 9V / 2A |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
In order to offer these devices at a more affordable price compared with normal flagships, Sony and Sharp decided to cut costs for the design releasing their compact flagships with a plastic back. Given that Google Pixel 3 is the only one with a glass back and it is also waterproof with the IP68 certification, it wins the design comparison. But note that Google Pixel 3 is less compact than its opponents.
Display
All of these handsets are equipped with amazing displays, even though they do not have the highest resolutions. You will get a great color reproduction in each case as all of them are HDR10-compliant, but the one that we prefer is the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact because it also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate. But someone may like Google Pixel 3 more due to its bigger display size and the P-OLED technology.
Specs & Software
These devices all come with the most powerful Qualcomm’s processor of this year: the Snapdragon 845. So you will always get awesome performances in every scenario, gaming included. But Google Pixel 3 is treated with faster updates and it comes with Android 9 Pie out of the box, and these are important added values. On the other hand, Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact gets updated fastly as well: indeed, you can already get Android Pie on it. Sharp Aquos R2 Compact has just been announced, so Android 9 Pie is already installed here too.
Camera
I prefer Google Pixel 3 even when it comes to cameras. It has an amazing rear sensor with a 12.2 MP resolution, a bright f/1.8 aperture, and OIS. Its autofocus is very accurate and the color reproduction as well. And this device even offers a dual front camera which captures a lot of light and includes an ultrawide secondary sensor.
Battery
With a bigger battery and a very optimized energy consumption, Google Pixel 3 probably provides a longer battery life than both its opponents. We do not believe that Sharp Aquos R2 Compact will be at its level, while Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is not a surprising device when it comes to battery life, even though it is more than sufficient.
Price
The listing price of Sharp Aquos R2 Compact is not known yet, and its availability will be probably limited to Japan, at least for the initial period. So, unless you are from Japan, it will be hard for you to get it. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact can be easily purchased at a price under €500, while Google Pixel 3 carries a price tag of €860. If we base on the price, it is actually a wiser choice to grab a unit Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact. And we believe that Sharp Aquos R2 Compact will carry a good price tag as well. But overall, Google Pixel 3 is the best phone of this trio with its better design, faster updates, a better camera department and even a bigger battery.
Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Google Pixel 3: PROs and CONS
Sharp Aquos R2 Compact
PROs
- Great display
- Amazing hardware
- Original aesthetics
- Android Pie
CONS
- Plastic back
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
PROs
- Flagship hardware
- Good display
- Affordable price
- Stereo speakers
CONS
- Plastick back
Google Pixel 3
PROs
- Great hardware
- Always updated
- Stereo speakers
- Great cameras
- Good display
- Great design and build
CONS
- Higher price
- Less compact
