After parting ways with Ericsson, it seems as though Sony had been avoiding facing up to other top models from competing camps with its Xperia series. However, it finally decided to return to the big leagues with the Xperia Z, a device which is setting new standards and which equals the very pinnacle of smartphone technology.
In practice, this device is almost equally impressive as its list of features would indicate. That said, its biggest flaw is in the element where I had the biggest expectations: its screen.
The Sony Xperia Z is the first commercially-available 5-inch smartphone with a full HD screen, which is a feature defining it to such an extent that it was the sole reason why it became such a big hit at last January's CES. Still, the device includes a whole lineup of other impressive characteristics, like a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm S4 Pro Snapdragon processor as well as a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, NFC, MHL, and a body that is water and dust resistant.
Build and Design
If there is an area where Sony has never lagged behind the competition, and often surpassing it, it is surely product design. The Xperia Z is no exception to this rule, because this is a supremely crafted device that will turn heads. Despite a 5-inch screen, Sony has managed to keep this smartphone's dimensions within reasonable limits, and it is just a millimeter wider than the 4.7 and 4.8-inch flagship models from other companies released in 2012. Even its mass of 146 grams is not a particular burden for the hand or pocket.
It has a very sharp, masculine design where curves (very discrete ones) are used only on the edges. This makes the phone seem unique on one hand and modern on the other, leaving the impression of an evolved version of previous Xperias. The front and the back side are covered in glass, attracting finger prints, but it is also very easy to clean.
The device's edges are made from polyamide with glass fibers, with a whole line of rubber covers for various slots (to make the device waterproof), making it seem solid and convincing. Even though trying it seems crazy -- the Sony Xperia Z can actually be immersed under water, which I did try. There were no consequences.
It is practical that the phone's edge is 1/10th of a millimeter thicker than its front and back, protecting the device from scratches when put on a flat surface. Rest assured that no Xperia Z purchaser will have the need for a protective (or a less decorative) casing.
Display
The most interesting part of the Xperia Z is its 5-inch 1080 x 1920-pixel (Full HD) display, which is the maximum seen on smartphones at this time. This combination of screen size and resolution results in a record pixel density of 441 ppi, promising unprecedented imaging sharpness. In practice, the sharpness really is above average, leaving the user breathless at first glance.
That said, even though the difference between the HD screens on various smartphones is clear, it is not big enough to be a deciding factor. The difference can easily be spotted on a text written in slimmer fonts and on slim slanted lines, especially while the text is moving. However, keep in mind that the HD resolution on screens of this size (even on bigger dislays, like on Samsung Galaxy Note II's) is more than sufficient for pleasant viewing, and does not tire the eye at all.
It is important to pay attention to several other imaging features that will affect the smartphone experience even more than sharpness. Unfortunately, this is where the Xperia Z is disappointing. The classic 16M color TFT screen provides very poor contrast: its black tones seem washed out and white seem soiled, almost to the point of being tinted as cafe latte. Such poor contrast results in a weaker dynamic range of colors, which seem poorly saturated and unrealistically interpreted.
Even compared to older Xperias, especially the ones with different technologies (particularly AMOLED displays), the Xperia Z's imaging is undoubtedly poorer -- even though it is sharper. Furthermore, the impression is ruined by the small viewing angle -- as soon as the user is not watching the phone straight on, the colors fade even more, the black becomes even brighter and the white becomes even darker.
Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine 2 is comforting, to a certain degree, as it corrects the imaging during multimedia playback, software-wise, which means watching videos or previewing photographs is an above-average experince.
To sum up, the screen is disappointing, especially if considered that this model is being advertised more than any other Xperia because of the screen.
Other Buttons and Controls
With such a minimalist design, not much can be seen outside. The back only bears the Xperia logo and a 13-megapixel camera lens with a LED flash situated under it. It also has a tiny back-facing microphone for eliminating surrounding noises while talking or recording videos. The front includes the main microphone, a speaker, a 2.2-mega pixel camera, and the ambient sensor.
The device's right edge has a cunningly positioned power key which is just within thumb reach when held in the right hand, irrespective of the size of the user's hand -- just a tad above the phone's center. The volume control switch is located just under it, while there is a cover hiding the microSIM card slot above it.
The cover revealing a 3.5-milimeter audio jack is situated on the upper side, while the left reveals the covers hiding the microSD card slot and the MHL equipped microUSB slot. All the covers are for the water-proofing I mentioned earlier.
Performance
The Sony Xperia X certianly does not disappoint when it comes to performance. It seems that Sony got more out of the latest Qualcomm chipset with a quad-core Krait CPU running at 1.5 GHz and Adreno 320 graphics than anyone else. On synthetic benchmarks, this device shows impressive results, better than all current flagships with quad-core processors and can be concluded -- even on paper -- that this is currently the fastest smartphone in the world.
Still, smartphone benchmarks are a long way from reality, due to a lineup of other factors affecting the devices' performance, besides the chipset itself. The Xperia Z is one of the fastest smartphones in the world, but not at every task. While multimedia playback, like Full HD video and fast-forwarding a video clip without any lags runs immaculately, running several applications at the same time can take a long while, which is unexpected.
This particularly goes for starting the camera -- I saw far faster smartphones when it comes to this action with much older and 'poorer' chips, but I must admit that the photo application which comes with Xperia Z is significantly more complex than any other.
I also noticed imprecision while scrolling and zooming in and out of more complicated web sites -- there were no lags or glitches, but the scrolls did not run as expected while moving the page with a finger. This can be solved if Chrome is not used, which is the default browser of this phone, so it can be concluded that the browser is causing the trouble, not the chipset.
Everything else runs at a fantastic speed. I especially loved playing games on Xperia Z. With such a resolution, imaging sharpness, Bravia Engine 2 and a large screen, plus a processor which handles this type of actions well, this Sony model provides immense entertainment.
As it supports MHL, as well as the option of NFC connection with other devices, including Full HD TV sets, the difference of practicality while playing games is vast. This is, convincingly, the most entertaining smartphone in the world currently available.
Software
This is the first Sony device with Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean). Sony representatives promised to upgrade the version to 4.2 once it is available for sale. What makes this device different from the competition, from the software perspective, are the modifications made to Google's standard user interface.
Firstly, it should be pointed out to everyone who knows older Xperia models that Timescape and Mediascape have (finally) been omitted from the OS. The device comes with a launcher with five homescreens (they can be added or removed), filled with various Sony widgets and application icons. Then there are five icons at the bottom of each homescreen. The center includes an icon that turns on the applications drawer, while two can be hand-added on each side. Under these icons are the control keys (back, home, tasks).
The lock-screen is modified to enable fast camera access (swipe to left), i.e. Walkman -- the defualt application for music playback (swipe to right). While listening to music, the lock-screen also includes the music player controls. Conveniently, mini applications can be turned on at any moment which using the device (much like with Samsung's devices), which pop up in a separate window. These include the Calculator, Timer, Notes and Voice Recorder. Sony has also added its own Backup & Restore options to the Android OS settings.
Still, the biggest modifications refer to those on the camera, video and Walkman application. The latter is familiar from the older Xperia models -- this is a fantastic music player with an abundance of options and an equalizer. Sound quality is above average, even with provided headphones, and the feeling of music is even 'softer' than on most other smartphones.
Camera
The application for taking photographs and recording videos also provides a great many options. The rear-facing camera has a maximum resolution of 13 megapixels (4128 x 3096 pixels), but when HDR photographs are taken or the Superior mode is turned on, the maximum resolution will be 12 megapixels (3920 x 2940). This is because the device might be moved while taking multiple shots, so the image is software stabilized and the edges are trimmed.
Even though the application is slow to start, the trigger is very fast. The rapid shutter works fantastically and can shoot several dozen consecutive shots in full resolution. HDR is supported even with video recording, while photographs can also be taken during video recording, even thought the resolution will be significantly poorer.
Image quality drastically varies, depending on the shooting conditions. The images are immaculately sharp with natural lighting, with exceptionally precisely interpreted colors, without any noise -- as if they were taken with a compact camera. The same thing goes for videos.
With poor lighting conditions and the use of a flash, Sony's software has too much work and the images, even though quite sharp and without noise, end up unrealistically interpreted and overly saturated colors. This is a good thing for previewing images on Xperia Z's screen, but if you wish to post the images on Facebook or print them out, you won't like the way they look.
Battery Life
The 2,330 mAh battery can handle the energy demands of the processor and the huge screen fairly well. With average use, this device needs to be charged only once every two days. However, more frequent usage of the 3G or LTE antenna drastically reduces battery life, and demands the smartphone to be charged every night.
Conclusion
Sony wisely decided to present its flagship model of the year at CES, nearly two months before MWC, using this period to improve the purchasers' concept of the Xperia series. Aware of the fact that it offers a technologically superior device, Sony has returned to the brotherhood of phone makers who set the bar higher. The company also enjoyed a great deal of attention which it would not have enjoyed if it had made its annoncment in Barcelona next week, among the more aggressive competition, as rival device's displays will surely not have the same contrast and viewing-angle difficulties.
Despite the stated shortcoming regarding the display, the Xperia Z is a device that offers fantastic performance, excellent imaging sharpness, and outstanding multimedia applications and connection options with other devices, making it the most suitable smartphone on the market for entertainment enthusiasts and one of the best smartphones in general. There is clearly room for improvement... as there is clearly room for Sony on the market.
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