Tag: sony xperia

Sony Xperia XZ3 Images Leaked Showing Entire Design

The Sony Xperia XZ3 has been the subject to a lot of attention and hence a lot of “leaks”. With the most recent leak containing an image which shows the entire phone- from the front and the back. If this latest image is to be believed, then we sure are in for some surprises from Sony. The rising incidents of leaks, counting this one has many guessing that Sony is going to make a big announcement at the upcoming IFA 2018.

The images show something that defy two of the biggest trends in the flagship smartphone segment right now. The Sony Xperia XZ3 apparently lacks a notch or a dual camera setup, rendering it very close to the Xperia XZ2 in design. The device has not-so-thin bezels at both the top and bottom. The back houses a single camera lens and the fingerprint scanner. We can also see that the sides of the display might go edge-to-edge.

Alleged spec sheets of the device are out, which gave us an insight to what the device packs. The Xperia XZ3 will house a Snapdragon 845 SoC with an Adreno 630 GPU. It has a 5.7-inch Full HD screen which will be protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The big question this spec sheet raises however is that of the camera setup. A Japanese website put out the spec sheet and has been continuously leaking tremendous amounts of information about the device.

The latest images show a single camera setup while the spec sheet talks about a dual camera one. We had seen a dual camera setup in the Xperia XZ2 premium, not including it in the XZ3 will be a step backwards for Sony. Google however has proven with the Pixel that a dual camera setup isn’t require for amazing performance.

Also Read: Sony Xperia XZ3 With 18:9 Aspect Ratio And Running Android 9 P Spotted On Geekbench

While the anticipation for the device is high, the leaks might tell a whole new story. Considering this leak, we are getting a device which is extremely similar to the XZ2, launched in February this year. This could mean either of two things. We are not getting a new flagship from Sony and it is an upgraded version of the Xperia XZ2. This is possible because the design and features are to similar for a new phone and also the fact that the XZ2 is fairly new.

Another explanation could be that the leaks are wrong and what we are getting is completely different. This can be true because if Sony is making another flagship device, it would not bring out one with just a few minor upgrades. Considering the state in which Sony’s smartphone market is in right now, we hope that a much better phone is coming our way.

August 25, 2018
Sony Xperia XZ3 Leaked Renders and Benchmark Suggest 48 MP Camera

Sony might release the Sony Xperia XZ3 in its IFA 2018 press conference scheduled for 30th August. However, before the launch, the leaks for the smartphone reveal that it might have an all glass or at least a glass back design and no headphone jack. We speculate that this smartphone could feature the Corning Gorilla Glass 6, which launched on 18th July.

There is no doubt that Sony is one of the top camera sensors manufacturers. Many smartphone brands use these sensors for their devices. However, its own smartphone lineup has not been doing so well. While the company had a relatively profitable year in 2017, the profits made were because of the price cuts. Sony does not lack behind when it comes to bringing innovation with its smartphones. With the Xperia XZ2, Sony became the first brand to introduce a 4K HDR display on its device, along with 960 fps slow-motion video recording capabilities. Even with such innovative features, Sony has not been doing well in the market. The reason could have something to do with the lack of design changes in its smartphones. The new leaked renders for the Sony Xperia XZ3 also seem to hint at the same design the company followed with the Xperia XZ2 lineup.

Left: Xperia XZ2, Right: Xperia XZ3

If the image above is anything to go by then, the company has again decided not to dwell into design changes with the Sony Xperia XZ3. Apart from curved edges on the display not much seems to have changed in the new smartphone.

Xperia XZ3

While this image shows the device in a black colour variant, other renders reveal white/silver variant as well. What is worth noting, is that in any of the renders, we could not find a headphone jack. Apart from the design, this is also something that the smartphone has in common with its predecessor. The renders of the Sony Xperia XZ3 also show that the smartphone has a single rear-facing camera. Right below the camera, you will find the fingerprint sensor.

Xperia XZ3 Renders

It is clear from the renders that the design changes will be to a bare minimum if any. What remains to be seen is what new features the Sony Xperia XZ3 would bring which we haven’t already seen in 2018. Although very little is known about the smartphone but we speculate that it will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Chipset and have AI capabilities in its camera. A benchmark with a model number H8416 has appeared on GFXBench featuring a camera with whopping 47MP resolution. We expect this to be the Sony flagship cameras for future smartphones, and yo may see major brands utilise this. Sony recently launched the 48MP IMX586 sensor which could be this very sensor.

Sony has suffered in the market due to poor pricing decisions, especially in a price sensitive market like India. The company also has been late to the market with its smartphones. And lastly, the specifications Sony chooses for its devices are seldom up to the mark, especially the design. If the company can make the necessary changes, it can potentially give the likes of Samsung and Apple a run for their money.

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July 25, 2018
Sony Xperia XZ3 With 18:9 Aspect Ratio And Running Android 9 P Spotted On Geekbench

In February 2018 at the Mobile World Congress, Sony finally unveiled a smartphone with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Since then, the company has launched a few budget devices and even announced another flagship device, the Xperia XZ2 Premium. The next in line will be the Sony Xperia XZ3 and it has been leaked a couple of times in past few days. A new Geekbench listing reveals the possible specifications of the upcoming flagship device.

According to the listing, the Sony Xperia XZ3 will carry the model number H8416. Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 since it is the latest flagship chipset on the market right now. This claim is further solidified by the listing according to which, the Adreno 630 will handle the graphics for Xperia XZ3.

Interestingly, this will be the first Sony smartphone with a 2880 x 1440 px resolution. The listing reveals a 5.9 inch display which has become increasingly common among smartphones these days. The resolution also indicates that the device will have a top and bottom bezel and Sony would not go the notch route. This will be a good news for the notch haters.

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As has been with Sony smartphones in the past, the Xperia XZ3 also appears to be running the latest version of Android. The smartphone will launch later this year which means it could be one of the first few smartphones to run Android 9 P out of the box. This will be a great move by Sony especially considering how Android smartphones are criticised for running on older software, unlike Apple iPhones.

Most of the details in the Geekbench listing corroborate with previous leaks except in the optics department. The listing reveals a 19MP rear-facing camera. It is possible that the software didn’t recognise the secondary sensor, which is believed to be 12MP. Another possible reason could be that the software was run on an early pre-production unit that skips the secondary sensor.

It is still early days for the Sony Xperia XZ3 but, the leaks appear to be inline with each other. These are usually telltale signs of accuracy, however, it is still adviced to take this information with a pinch of scepticism.

June 20, 2018
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium With 4K HDR Display Launched

Sony kicked off 2018 with the launch of two flagship smartphones, the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact, both running on the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. About two months later, Sony has now unveiled the new Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium with a few significant upgrades. The Xperia XZ2 Premium will be available later in the summer but, its pricing details have not been revealed yet.

The Xperia XZ2 Premium has the new curvy design that Sony showed off with the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact. It is a departure from the rectangular boxy design that Sony smartphones have sported for a long time.

One of the biggest upgrades over the Xperia XZ2 is the display. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium now has a 5.8 inch IPS LCD display with a 4K resolution. The regular Xperia XZ2 has a 5.7 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium also supports HDR. Sony also introduced a new vibration system with the XZ2 at Mobile World Congress. The feature basically provides a rumble feedback to match whatever is happening on the screen.

Powering the Xperia XZ2 Premium is a 3540 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.0 and wireless charging. The 3.5mm headphone jack is also missing, which seems to be the new norm.

For the first time ever, Sony has also introduced a dual-camera setup on a smartphone. The primary camera is a 19MP RGB Exmor RS sensor with an f/1.8 aperture while the second lens is a 12MP Monochrome sensor with an f/1.6 aperture. This implementation is different from the likes of Apple and Samsung which have used a telephoto lens for portrait mode shots.

Sony claims that apart from the monochrome lens helping in better black-and-white shots, it will improve low-light photography as well. During still photography, the XZ2 Premium can reach a maximum ISO of 51,200 and for shooting videos, as high as 12,800. To avoid graininess in the pictures with such high ISO, Sony claims its “AUBE fusion image signal processor” can combine the data of both sensors, optimize for low light, and reduce noise. Features like portrait mode and monochrome bokeh shots will be introduced via a software update in Q3 of 2018.

There are no details about a possible launch of the Xperia XZ2 Premium in India. However, we expect the phone to launch in India end May or early June.

April 16, 2018
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

Sony has officially launched the Xperia XZ2 Premium, which the first dual camera smartphone from the company. The smartphone also boasts a 5.8 inch 4K display with HDR support. The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is also the first smartphone to offer ISO 51200 sensitivity.

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April 16, 2018
Next Sony Flagship Will Have The Snapdragon 845 Chipset

Sony and its upcoming flagship phones have been in the news for the past few days. Various image leaks are pointing towards a design overhaul for the Sony flagship lineup and it appears that the company will take it up a notch.

A new Geekbench listing reveals the Sony H8266 device being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. Apart from the chipset, the listing reveals that it will have 4GB of RAM which has become standard for all flagships nowadays.

The news about it sporting the Snapdragon 845 chipset is a welcome surprise as it was widely speculated that Samsung will have exclusive early access to the new flagship chipset.

The image reveals a design similar to the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 with three sides of the device having minimal bezels and the top housing all the sensors and the secondary camera. Although the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has a thicker chin, the Xperia phone has a thicker forehead. The phone appears to have the power button on the side, most likely with a fingerprint scanner embedded. There is also a volume rocker and dedicated camera button on the right side.

Leaked Image Of The Alleged Sony Xperia Phone

Just like any other leaked image, it is fair to assume that this could easily be a doctored image and the real device could have a completely different design. But, until the time Sony announces the device itself, it is a good design cue for the company. Recently, images of two Sony Xperia phones were leaked along with a few specifications. Just like the image, these images also reveal the design shift that Sony will make in 2018 for all its flagship phones in 2018.

Leaked Image Of The Alleged Sony Xperia Phone

The next Xperia device could be unveiled at the upcoming CES or MWC event where a lot of other smartphones are also expected to be announced, most notably the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.

December 23, 2017
Image Of The Bezel-Less Sony Xperia Phone Leaked

Sony has stuck to its trusted rectangular design for smartphones over the years even when the tall display and thin bezels became the norm in 2017. However, there have been several reports and leaks that have hinted at a major design shift in the upcoming Sony Xperia device. Recently, specifications of an upcoming Xperia device codenamed H8541 were leaked which revealed a tall display with 4K HDR resolution.

The image reveals a design similar to the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 with three sides of the device having minimal bezels and the top housing all the sensors and the secondary camera. Although the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has a thicker chin, the Xperia phone has a thicker forehead. The phone appears to have the power button on the side, most likely with a fingerprint scanner embedded. There is also a volume rocker and dedicated camera button on the right side.

Leaked Image Of The Alleged Sony Xperia Phone

Just like any other leaked image, it is fair to assume that this could easily be a doctored image and the real device could have a completely different design. But, until the time Sony announces the device itself, it is a good design cue for the company. Recently, images of two Sony Xperia phones were leaked along with a few specifications. Just like the image, these images also reveal the design shift that Sony will make in 2018 for all its flagship phones in 2018.

Leaked Image Of The Alleged Sony Xperia Phone

The next Xperia device could be unveiled at the upcoming CES or MWC event where a lot of other smartphones are also expected to be announced, most notably the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.

December 19, 2017
Sony Bezel-Less Xperia Smartphones For 2018 Leaked

Sony has followed a similar design language for all its flagship phones since the launch of the Xperia Z. There were reports that Sony was working on a smartphone with a tall display and thin bezels and new leaked images appear to shed some more light on the design of the phones.

The leaked images show two phones with two different design aesthetics but, both with front-firing stereo speakers. It appears that stereo speakers are gaining popularity with the Pixel 2 and Razer Phone having front-firing stereo speakers as well. Of the two phones, one has a more recognisable Sony Xperia-like box shape while the other one has more rounded edges.

The back of the phones is where it gets even more interesting. It appears that Sony will be re-imagining its whole smartphone lineup come 2018. At the back of the phones, the device with squared off edges has a mix of glossy and matte finish. The matte finish on the back forms two semi-circles at the top and the bottom while the middle area is covered with a glossy finish material. The two camera modules are oddly spread apart, which probably means one is just a depth sensor as this much spacing would result in much larger parallax for any other arrangement. It also appears that this phone will have a fingerprint sensor housed inside the lock button like previous Sony Xperia phones.

The other phone has a more uniform matte finish at the back with a fingerprint sensor in the middle and a dual-camera setup at the top left corner. Both the phones are touted to have a 5.7-inch 18:9 4K displays. They’ll also be one of the first devices to have Snapdragon 845 and have 6GB of RAM and run Android 8.0 Oreo.

The credibility of the leak can be questioned but, the bizarre design of the two phones almost validates the leak. It does seem questionable that the two phones will have the Snapdragon 845 chipset since Samsung will have early access to the chipset similar to last year. Sony might unveil the two devices at MWC 2018 but, that will mean that the devices will have to make do with the 2017 Snapdragon 835 chipset.

December 8, 2017
Sony Smartphone With Dual Cameras Spotted On GFXBench

So far in 2017, Sony has launched some impressive premium devices as well as capable mid-rangers. The company has however, strayed away from the growing trends of thin bezel phones and dual cameras. It looks like Sony will give in to one of those trends with a smartphone which will have dual front facing cameras.

According to a GFXBench listing, the Sony phone with the model number Xperia H3213 Avenger will have dual cameras on the front of the device. The listing reveals that the new Sony will be equipped with a 16MP + 8MP camera setup. Front facing dual cameras are not as common but, recently there have been phones like the Honor 9i which also sport a similar setup. The front facing cameras will also record 4K videos. The back of the phone has a 21MP camera.

Honor 9i with dual front facing cameras

Other specifications listed include a 6-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 px display. The resolution means that even though the phone will have a big display, it will not be a tall and bezel-less display.

Despite the dual camera setup, the Sony Xperia H3213 Avenger will not be a flagship smartphone. It has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset, along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB onboard storage. It is safe to assume that the onboard storage will be expandable via microSD card.

There is no word from company that it is working on mid range smartphone with a dual camera setup at front so it is hard to know when the phone will be launched. The device will be an interesting entrant in the sub-20K category in India which already has some great devices like the Xiaomi Mi A1 and the Moto G5s Plus.

November 15, 2017
Sony Flagship Device With A Bezel-Less Display Leaked

Sony recently launched its new flagship, the Xperia XZ1 at IFA 2017 in Berlin. Although the phone has top-notch specifications and a promising camera, the design of the phone is still reminiscent of all Sony devices since the 2013 Xperia Z. When all the big smartphone manufacturers are moving towards a bezel-less display, the Sony Xperia XZ1’s design looks dated. However, it seems like 2018 will be the year when Sony finally ditches the top and bottom chins and launch a flagship Android smartphone with an 18:9 aspect ratio display.

A recent leak on GFXBench reveals that the new Sony smartphone, named Sony H8151 will have a tall display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone will have a 5.8 inch 2160 x 1080 px display. In the display column, there is another 11.5-inch 4320 × 2160 resolution display listed, which will be a 4K display and succeed the Xperia XZ Premium next year. The smartphone will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The CPU column mentions a 2.6GHz octa-core processor, but, the Snapdragon 835 is clocked at 2.4GHz. This means that the new device might have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset, should Qualcomm change their mind and announce the chipset before the launch of the Sony smartphone. The phone will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage.

On the camera front, it looks like Sony will continue producing smartphones with a single camera. On the back will be a 17MP camera which will record 3840 x 2160 px (4K) videos. The front camera will have a 12MP sensor with 4K video recording capabilities as well.

The design of the smartphones will be marketed as the ‘Mirai’ design, which means ‘the future’ and will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2018.

September 19, 2017
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus Launched With Helio P20 Chipset And 23 MP Rear Camera

Sony has launched the Xperia XA1 Plus at IFA 2017. The company pitched the third smartphone in the Xperia XA1 series as a ‘super mid-tier smartphone’ with a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 px display, 23MP rear camera, and a 3,430mAh battery.

In terms of design, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus inherits the traditional all metal, thick bezel design as seen in its earlier variants. The smartphone’s power button on the right-hand side also doubles as a finger print scanner. The XA1 Plus features a 5.5-inch 1920×1080 px display, whereas the earlier models, the Xperia XA1 and the XA1 Ultra featured a 5-inch display and a 6-inch display, respectively.

The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus has the same MediaTek Helio P20 chipset with Mali T-880 GPU used in the XA1 and the XA1 Ultra. The smartphone is available in two variants, a 4 GB RAM variant and a 3 GB RAM variant which will only be available in the US and South America. The XA1 Plus has 32 GB of onboard storage which is expandable up to 256 GB via a microSD card. The smartphone runs Android 7.1 Nougat, unlike the newly launched Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 compact, which run the latest Android 8.0 Oreo. The Xperia XA1 Plus is powered by a 3,430 mAh battery and comes with Qnovo adaptive charging and Pump Express+ 2.0 quick charging support.

On the camera front, the XA1 Plus features Sony’s 23MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture, same as the one found on its XA1 siblings. On the front, the smartphone has an 8 MP camera.

The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is available in three colour variants, black, blue and gold. Unlike a lot of smartphones from Sony itself, the Xperia XA1 Plus misses out on water resistance.

Sony is yet to announce the price for the mid-range Xperia XA1 Plus, which is due to go on sale globally in late September.

September 1, 2017
Sony Xperia XZ1 And XZ1 Compact Officially Launched With Android Oreo

Sony has officially unveiled its high-end flagship, the Sony Xperia XZ1, and its smaller sibling, the XZ1 Compact at the IFA 2017 in Berlin. A successor to the Xperia XZ Premium, both the Xperia XZ1 and the compact variant with a full metal frame, hasn’t strayed too far away in terms of design.

Both the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will be amongst the first devices to launch with the latest Android OS.

The newly launched smartphones are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, similar to the one found in XZ1 Premium. Both the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact have 4GB RAM with 64GB and 32G onboard storage respectively. Both the phones are powered by a 2,700mAh battery.

The Xperia XZ1 has a 5.2-inch, 1920 x 1080 px HDR display(while the XZ1 Premium featured a 4K display), while the smaller variant, XZ1 Compact has a 4.6-inch 1280 x720 px display. Both the smartphones feature Gorilla Glass 5 for durability and are rated IP68 for water resistance. The devices sport a boxy all-metal design which helps with antenna performance, claims Sony.

Sony has used its “Motion Eye” camera system in both the devices. According to Sony, “Motion Eye” system uses a 1GB memory-stacked camera which has five times faster image processing that other smartphones. Ditching the trend of the dual camera setup, Sony went with a single camera at the back with a 19MP 1/2.3″ Sony IMX400 camera lens with an f/2.0 aperture. It includes features like Predictive Capture which will click the picture seconds before you actually hit the shutter button. Sony has used SteadyShot electronic stabilization for video instead of optical image stabilization for images.

The primary camera can also record super slow motion 720p video at 960fps in addition to recording 4K videos at 30fps. On the front, the XZ1 has a 13MP camera, while the XZ1 Compact has a wide angle 8MP camera.

An additional camera feature in the Xperia XZ1 is the 3D scanning mode, which allows the camera to scan an object and save the image as a 3D image.

Sony will be launching Xperia XZ1 and the XZ1 Compact with Android 8.0 Oreo, making them the first phones aside from the upcoming Google Pixel 2 devices and Nexus lines running the OS. The smartphones will be available in Black, Snow Silver, Horizon Blue, and Twilight Pink. The Sony XZ1 will be available for purchase from 19th September at a price of US $699.99 via Amazon or Best Buy, while the XZ1 Compact will be available for sale from 4th October at a price of US $599.99.

September 1, 2017
Sony Xperia XZ Premium Goes on Sale in India

Sony’s flagship for 2017 the Xz Premium has officially gone on sale on Amazon.in for a price of Rs. 59990, available in a luminous chrome and a Deep Sea Black colour, the Sony Xperia XZ premium is the first phone ever with a 4K HDR display. The Sony Xperia XZ premium is also the first phone in India to be powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset which was left out by Samsung when they launched their S8 and S8+ in India.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium also highlights the company’s 19 MP motion eye camera capable of 960 FPS super slow motion video. The phone also boasts of other primary camera features, but highlights 5 axis image stabilisation, along with a Triple Image sensor and Predictive Hybrid autofocus.

While the phone is not the easiest on the pocket, Sony has managed to get some unique things in place . To get a full idea of the specifics of the phone visit our hands on with the Sony Xperia XZ

Unboxing Video :

Gaming and Benchmarks

June 12, 2017
Sony Launches the Xperia XZs in India | Unboxing
Sony has launched it’s Xperia XZs in India today. The Phone was recently announced at the Mobile World Congress 2017 and is a significant update to the original Xperia XZ which was launched last year. The XZs adds subtle yet important improvements to last years XZ and offers up interesting features thanks to their new memory stacked sensor which can now soot 960fps Slo-mo video.

The phone has been launched in three colors including the Matte Black along with Ice Blue and Warm Silver. The phone will go on sale primarily in the offline market. The Sony Xperia XZ also has an IP68 certification along with PS4 remote play. While Sony hasn’t changed the design much it remains one of the most premium looking handsets today, despite lacking the wide displays shown off by Samsung and LG.

The Xperia XZs has a 5.2 inch display with the X-Reality engine and TRILUMINOUS display tech from Sony with a sRGB coverage of 138%. The main camera is a 19MP memory stacked 1/2.3″ Exmor RS sensor with inbuilt caching which allows the camera to shoot and record 960fps video on the phone. The camera sensor has a Pixel Pitch of 1.22?m Triple image sensing technology along with Predictive Hybrid Autofocus a 25 mm G Lens with an F2.0 and both the front and rear camera have SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode (5-axis stablization). The front camera has a 13 MP sensor with 1/ 3.06” Exmor RS sensor .

The Sony Xperia XZs has been launched for Rs.49990 and will go on pre-order from the 4th to 10th of April, those who preorder the phone will get a free SRS-XB10 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker worth Rs. 4499.

The Xperia XZs runs on Android 7.1.1 out of the Box and features Sony’s UX on top , a whole set of themes and customisations are available to users along with Android Nougat features like the Google Assistant and Multi-window.

Inside the box
- One unit of Xperia XZs
- Instruction Manual
- Quick Charger worth UCH12 bundled in the box
- USB Type-C Cable
- In Ear Headphone MH-750
- You also get 3 months free subscription of Sony LIV worth Rs.349/-
The matte black Xperia XZs has one of the best colors in the lineup, with Matte black being the feature of this generation of smartphones, mixing it up with Sony’s Alkaliedo material makes for a good blend of look and feel .

See Also : OnePlus 3T Matte Black Unboxing and First Look
April 3, 2017
Hands on with the Xperia XZ

The minute you put your hands on the Sony Xperia XZ you are reminded of the premium feel of the Xperia Z series phones. The Xperia XZ is a flagship in the true sense and Sony has launched it as a replacement of the Xperia Z5 which is a good thing.

The in-hand feel of the handset is brilliant thanks to the use of the new material called Alkaleido, which allows the phone to be a lot more robust than traditional aluminium chassis’ and is less prone to damage.

The premium build handset from Sony also features IP68 water resistance much like the Samsung Galaxy S7 or Note 7 and is also completely sand proof. The Sony Xperia XZ is the only smartphone from the company launched this year with that certification.

The display on the Sony Xperia XZ is just a Full HD 1920 x 1080px resolution display but has great colour and brightness and is easily viewable indoors and outdoors. The viewing angles on the screen are great too.

The phone runs Android 6.0.1 with a beta software at the moment so we did see some glitches and issues with the software builds. Sony has assured that the final retail units will come with a finished user interface.

The camera which is the hero features 5 axis image stabalization and 4k video recording. You also get subject tracking and predictive autofocus, which works great. However, getting around the camera menu and UI is a little mind boggling and to shoot 4k video you need to jump into a specific app.

Hopefully Sony updates the camera software in a coming update, because it needs much work to leverage the many features that this great camera hardware has. Sony has cleaned up the UI to quite an extent and you can disable the non wanted apps from the UI. The overall software seems snappy.

Battery is a low 2900 mAh, however bundled with quick charge 3.0 so that you can easily get a few hours of talk time in 10-15 minutes of charging via the USB Type-C port. The phone works over 4G on both SIM-cards and has VoLTE, we however were not able to test it just as yet.

All three colours of the Xperia XZ look great and feel great in the hand, the back is easy to wipe clean and the front houses a curved Gorilla Glass 4 which will deliver the needed frontal protection.

September 29, 2016