Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specs comparison

Sony just announced their newest XZ flagship at IFA 208 dubbed the Xperia XZ3. With the Snapdragon 845 high-end market filling up real quick this year, we compare Sony‘s latest frontrunner to the recently released Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Is the XZ3 something to look forward to? Let’s find out in this specs comparison!

Summary of advantages

Xperia XZ3

• Higher front camera resolution
• Android 9 Pie out of the box
• Qnovo Adaptive Charging

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Slightly larger display
• Higher RAM options
• Bigger storage options
• Dual rear cameras
• Heatpipe cooling
• Larger battery capacity

There isn’t much of a major difference between the two flagships as seen above. Although let’s take a closer look at their advantages. Starting with the display. Both phones feature OLED panels with QHD+ resolutions, though the Note 9 has a slightly taller aspect ratio and size. This makes it the better choice for those who want more real estate when watching videos or even just in normal operations.

The XZ3 though will have denser pixels thanks to the smaller display and aspect ratio. Albeit only slightly and it won’t really be that noticeable in real-world instances.

Performance is a mixed bag. In terms of overall CPU raw power, the 845 on the XZ3 wins by a slightly wide margin. GPU-wise is a close battle as both the Adreno 630 and Mali-G72 have almost the same overall performance. Either way, both phones are more than enough for intensive tasks and gaming. So, it’s a win-win situation.

RAM and storage-wise the clear winner is the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with 6 or 8GB RAM options and 128 or 512GB storage options.

On paper, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has more features on the rear camera side thanks to its dual setup. However, Sony still has a reputable 19MP shooter and a higher front camera resolution. Again, camera performance isn’t always about pixels and number of shooters. Sadly, we’ve yet to have an idea of the XZ3’s shooting capabilities as we haven’t tested it yet. As for the Note 9, you can see our sample shots here.

The battery is another on-the-paper battle for now since we’ve yet to test the XZ3’s longevity. Although, theoretically, the Note 9 will last longer thanks to it’s larger 4,000mAh compared to the 3,330mAh of the Sony flagship. Yet, in terms of charging gimmick, Sony takes the bag with support for Qnovo adaptive charging.

Feature-wise is yet another hot battle. The Note 9 flaunts its upgraded S-Pen, heat pipe cooling, Bixby 2.0, and highly regarded facial recognition sensors. The XZ3, on the other hand, fronts its Hi-res Audio, Stereo speakers with S-Force front surround sound, and Side Sense gesture system. These are different gimmicks which may or may not make or break your choice.

Lastly, on the software side, the newly announced XZ3 will come with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is still running Android 8.1 Oreo. Although being a fresh flagship, it’ll only be a matter of time before Samsung updates the Note’s OS.

It really is a very tight battle indeed. On one hand, you have a refined 2018 flagship with more RAM, Storage, and battery while on the other you have a new fresh flagship with a ton of exciting new features.

The Galaxy Note 9 is priced at Php55,990USD 954INR 80,883EUR 909CNY 6,948 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model, and Php75,990USD 1,295INR 109,775EUR 1,233CNY 9,430 for the 8GB RAM + 512GB storage while the Sony Xperia XZ3 is priced at $900PHP 52,817INR 76,275EUR 857CNY 6,550 (¬Php 48,204USD 821INR 69,635EUR 782CNY 5,982).

Where’s your money at in this specs comparison? Is it with the Sony Xperia XZ3 or Samsung Galaxy Note 9? Let us know in the comments section below.