Finding a smaller than 5 inches device these days has become a tough journey. Only a small number of manufacturers are considering this, given the fact that users mostly prefer at least 5.2-inches. Samsung and Sony are the exceptions, and we’re about to see a comparison between the two.
Design
The first difference is obviously the shape; we all know by now Sony’s sharp-angled and monolithic phones and Samsung’s curved ones.
The second difference is the material: Galaxy A3 (2017) chose glass and metal, and the Xperia X Compact chose plastic, but for some more elitist users this is not fancy enough.
Xperia X Compact doesn’t come with the waterproof feature, and Galaxy A3 boasts an IP68 certification.
Both of them have fingerprints readers. Regarding the size, Xperia X Compact is a bit smaller (129 x 65 x 9.5 mm) than Samsung Galaxy A3 (135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm).
Display
X Compact measures 4.6 inches diagonally, and Galaxy A3 is 4.7 inches. Both of them have the same definition: 720 x 1,280 and Samsung uses AMOLED, while Sony uses IPS LCD.
Software
Both smartphones run on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, but for Xperia X Compact we have the Nougat update already available, while the Samsung lacks it. Both of them can be used fluidly and intuitively, and they also come with preinstalled apps.
Performance
Sony Xperia X Compact has 3GB RAM, running on a Snapdragon 650 hexa-core processor with a maximum frequency of 1.8 GHz; it also has two Cortex A72 cores. The Samsung Galaxy A3 has 2GB RAM, an octa-core processor, and its Exynos 7870 runs at 1.6 GHz. No matter which one you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Camera
X Compact has a 23 MP lens and an f/2.0 aperture and Samsung has a 13 MP lens and f/1.9 aperture. The X Compact’s front camera offers a resolution of 5 MP and a f/2.4 aperture and Samsung has 8 MP and 1.9 aperture.
Battery Life
X Compact has a larger battery of 2700 mAh than Samsung’s 2350 mAh.
It seems quite a hard choice, but maybe the price will convince you: the Galaxy A3 is around $289, and the Xperia Compact X usually costs $499.