The best Sony smartphones according to customer reviews. Smartphones Sony Xperia Buy sony xperia latest model new

Is it difficult to surprise you with the latest in mobile technology, and do modern gadgets seem boring and of the same type to you? The original and stylish line of electronic devices from the manufacturer Sony will help you change your views on gadget shopping once and for all. Especially for you, we have compiled a complete collection of the most popular and powerful Sony mobile phones, presenting it in a convenient and pleasant format of the Tsifrus online catalog!

Just a few years ago, Xperia was a real “Windows phone”, but now the invincible Android has penetrated Sony phones. To date, the collection of these original recognizable phones includes almost 30 varieties of devices. Surely you can find among them the gadget that you like.

For several years now, Sony has been producing exclusively monoblocks, and almost all of them have the same "surname" - Xperia. So, why are Sony's new generation phones so good? The main idea that developers adhere to is perfectionism of the highest standard. According to meticulous Japanese, perfection is the only possible way of development. Of course, this approach to life affects the products they produce. Sony phones are really beautiful, like a cherry blossom. These are elegant and intelligent devices that can satisfy the most demanding taste.

Stimulus for creativity

There is an old saying: "If there was butter and a chicken, a fool would cook it." No offense will be said to anyone, but this playful phrase is fully consistent with what Sony's phone is like. Cameras based on ultra-modern matrices and processors make it easy and simple to take almost professional photos, wherever you are - even at dusk or underwater! The footage can be immediately placed in the "cloud" to show to anyone who wants to. In addition, the developers have taken care of additional gadgets that can improve Sony's mobile phone so that taking photos and videos brings maximum positive emotions: removable lenses, sensitive microphones, smart tripods. Realize your creative potential to the fullest!

Reason for joy

Despite the outward rigor, any Sony cell phone is packed with the latest technology to turn an ordinary mobile phone into a real star of the gaming world. Sony mobile phones are seamlessly compatible with the PlayStation, making the game experience a new, unexplored experience. For example, you can see on your display how your friends are playing - their gameplay can be reflected on the phone screen.

Another Sony achievement is the excellent sound unit. The Walkman® trademark is well known to fans of perfect sound. To achieve almost Hi-End sound on a mobile device is actually a great achievement!

The most pressing problem for anyone who spends most of their time in headphones is external noise, which makes it very difficult to enjoy your favorite music. Sony cell phones are equipped with digital noise reduction technology that can reduce noise attack by 98%.

In addition to these delights, Sony also pleases its consumers with branded services for music lovers: the MusicUnlimited service allows you to download an unlimited amount of music, and the Walkman application helps organize music libraries on devices. The ease of control of the device allows you to easily connect your Sony phone with branded speakers.

All colors of life

Surely you will want to buy a Sony phone in the Tsifrus online store after you get acquainted with BRAVIA technology. This is actually an impressive development!

Perfectionists from Sony know a lot about details. And therefore, a high-quality picture that does not fade in different lighting conditions has become a fixed idea for them. The efforts of engineers were crowned with dizzying success - now any Sony phone, which you can buy without leaving your computer, is equipped with technology that allows you to enjoy the highest quality image. BRAVIA initially served faithfully in television systems, and now it is finally implemented in phones. It doesn't matter what you're viewing - a Hollywood blockbuster or your own photos that you just shot in your backyard. The picture will be incredibly realistic!

By the way, Sony programmers have prepared another pleasant surprise for movie fans. Video Unlimited lets you watch your favorite movies anywhere, anytime. What's more, if you haven't finished watching the movie, the app can play the movie from the episode you want, and on any device that supports Video Unlimited!

Highly intelligent solutions for your comfort

Sony - mobile phones are smart and neat. They understand their owner literally from a half-word. And all thanks to the technological stuffing, which was provided by Japanese developers. This is fundamentally important for the company's specialists - all Sony's new products are instantly used in their advanced devices.

The Tsifrus online store could not ignore such vivid examples of mobile intelligence. Therefore, you just need to type "Sony phones catalog", and you will be taken to a page where all the phones of the famous brand that are available in our store are presented. Choose whichever you like and make your purchase online!

Would you like to choose a smartphone from a reliable and trusted manufacturer? Then the Japanese brand Sony will be an ideal choice. The products of this company always receive high marks from experts and buyers. However, in addition to high-quality performance, Japanese devices can also boast an individual style, which is especially true for mobile phones of a famous brand. Given these factors, we decided to rank Sony smartphones that are the best for 2019. When choosing phones for the TOP-7, we focused on the reviews of real users, the cost and parameters of the devices, which will allow you to have no doubts about the quality of the given devices.

The best Sony smartphones with a good camera

The Japanese manufacturer is one of the main suppliers of sensors for many manufacturers of mobile devices. This fact alone allows us to be sure that photographic capabilities in Sony devices are at the proper level. Most users will be satisfied with the camera of any phone presented in this rating. But for users who love to take pictures and edit pictures, just good sensors are not enough. Taking into account the needs of all our readers, we have selected two devices whose cameras can be a good alternative to amateur cameras.

Read also:

1. Sony Xperia X

If you want to buy the best smartphone under 20,000 rubles, then the Xperia X model is an ideal candidate for purchase. Sony has invested all its skill and many years of experience in this device, so the phone justifies its price by 100%. The device is based on the Snapdragon 650 processor with two cores at 1.8 GHz and 4 cores at 1.2 GHz. The Adreno 510 video chip, which operates at a frequency of 550 MHz, is responsible for the graphics in the Xperia X, and 3 and 32 gigabytes of RAM and permanent storage are installed here, respectively. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not take care of installing a sufficiently capacious battery for such a “hardware”, therefore, with active use, you will have to recharge your mobile phone quite often. At the same time, the fast charging function is not provided here, although the SoC supports this option. But the main 23-megapixel camera and the speed of the fingerprint scanner are pleasantly surprising. In reviews of the smartphone, users also highlight a 5-inch matrix with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and an NFC module as an advantage of the Xperia X.

Advantages:

• productive hardware platform;
• stylish design and high-quality assembly;
• excellent cameras and good screen;
• durable metal case;
• one of the best front cameras;
• many useful self-developed applications;
• high precision fingerprint scanner;
• the presence of an NFC module.

Disadvantages:

• no fast charging
• battery capacity, taking into account the characteristics.

2. Sony Xperia X Compact

Sony takes a responsible approach to the creation of each of its products, therefore, adding the word “Compact” to the name of a previously released smartphone, the Japanese brand really means a reduced, not a simplified version. For example, the Xperia X Compact is almost a complete analogue of the device described above, but the large screen of the smartphone has changed to a 4.6-inch display with HD resolution instead of Full HD. Among other differences, one can also highlight the change from a 13-megapixel front camera to a 5-megapixel module, a slightly increased battery capacity up to 2700 mAh and the introduction of a fast charging function. Otherwise, we still have the same inexpensive, but good smartphone with excellent build quality.

Advantages:

• productive "stuffing";
• excellent main camera;
• quality assembly;
• attractive strict design;
• battery life;
• fast charging function;
• fast fingerprint scanner.

Disadvantages:

• average quality screen;
• relatively quiet speaker.

Sony Xperia X Compact video review

The best dual SIM smartphones from Sony

In Western countries, dual SIM devices are not in great demand. But in Russia and the CIS countries, such devices are considered the most popular. The presence of a tray for two SIM cards in the phone allows you to use the most favorable tariff plans that provide maximum convenience when communicating with friends, colleagues and relatives. Thanks to the same option, travelers can not give up their main mobile operator by purchasing a card from a local company. Sony perfectly understands such needs of the target audience, releasing almost every model in the dual SIM version.

1. Sony Xperia XA1 Dual

In the first place in the review of smartphones with 2 SIM cards, we placed a high-quality phone with a price of up to 15,000 rubles. The Xperia XA1 Dual is available in black, white, gold and pink body colors. The device is running Android 7.0 Nougat, and the Helio P20 and Mali-T880 processor is responsible for computing and graphics in the mobile phone. RAM and permanent memory in Xperia XA1 Dual installed 3 GB (LPDDR4X, 1600 MHz) and 32 GB (eMMC). Buyers call the camera one of the key advantages of the reviewed model: the IMX300 module with a sensitivity of 100-6400 ISO, f/2.0 aperture and a resolution of 23 MP. The Sony smartphone supports fast charging and is equipped with a USB Type-C port. Of the minuses of the Xperia XA1 Dual, one can single out the lack of a fingerprint scanner, the low sensitivity of the touchscreen along the edges of the display, and the plastic back cover.

Advantages:

• high-quality 5-inch HD matrix;
• balanced hardware platform;
• excellent main camera;
• high build quality;
• fast charging support;
• excellent autonomy;
• carefully thought out design;
• small size and weight.

Disadvantages:

• there is no fingerprint scanner;
• the screen does not respond well to touches on the edges;
• The plastic back cover scratches easily.

2. Sony Xperia XZs Dual

Another good smartphone model from Sony is the Xperia XZs Dual. This device costs an average of 25,000 rubles, which is a good offer considering its capabilities. It uses a high-quality IMX400 main camera with good sensitivity, a shutter speed of 1/4000 s, an aperture of f/2.0 and a resolution of 19 megapixels. The main module boasts optical stabilization, wide-angle lenses and the function of recording HD videos at 960 frames / s. The front module in this device is 13-megapixel.

The hardware of the Xperia ZXs is represented by the Snapdragon 820 processor and the Adreno 530 video chip. The RAM and ROM in a high-quality smartphone with 2 SIM cards are 4 and 64 gigabytes, respectively. Thanks to the 5.2-inch Full HD matrix installed in the reviewed device and a 2900 mAh battery, the user can count on excellent autonomy. It supports fast charging through the USB Type-C port. However, the standard of the latter is only 2.0, which is unforgivable for a phone released in 2017.

Advantages:

• amazing camera quality and stabilization;
• excellent color reproduction and high screen brightness;
• powerful hardware platform;
• support for fast charging;
• long battery life;
• the presence of an NFC module;
• nimble operation of the system;
• fast fingerprint scanner.

Disadvantages:

• no critical remarks found.

Sony Xperia XZs video review

The best Sony smartphones with a powerful battery

In an effort to make their phones as thin as possible, many manufacturers install small-capacity batteries in them. As a result, the device has to be charged daily, and with the active use of a smartphone for movies, games, navigation or surfing the Internet, the battery may even run out in the middle of the day. In order not to face such an unpleasant situation, you should look closely at smartphones with powerful batteries. There are many devices of this class in the Sony lineup, among which, in the opinion of our editors, the following three phones deserve special attention.

1. Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Any experienced user knows well that Sony is a good smartphone manufacturer. But with the Xperia XZ Premium model, the manufacturer has managed to exceed all the expectations of its fans. In stores, this device is offered at a price of 34 thousand rubles. For such a price, Sony offers users a powerful hardware platform represented by a modern Snapdragon 835 processor, Adreno 540 graphics and 4 gigabytes of RAM, a capacious 3230 mAh battery with support for fast charging, as well as a USB Type-C 3.1 port and dust and moisture protection of the case according to the IP68 standard. .
There are no complaints about the mobile phone Xperia XZ Premium and in terms of multimedia capabilities. Thanks to the 4K resolution of the 5.5-inch matrix and the high brightness of the display of 700 cd / m2, the device is ideal for lovers of games, photography, TV shows and movies. Moreover, high-quality stereo speakers contribute to maximum immersion in all types of entertainment.

Of course, traditionally for Sony, everything here is excellent with cameras. The main sensor in the smartphone is the IMX400 with an f/2.0 aperture and a resolution of 19.2 MP. This module not only captures first-class pictures, but also boasts laser autofocus, optical stabilization and the ability to record HD video at an impressive frame rate of 960 fps. The front camera is represented by a 13 MP Exmor RS sensor, which makes excellent selfies.

Advantages:

• dedicated audio chip;
• powerful hardware platform;
• excellent cameras;
• stylish appearance;
• quality assembly;
• fast charging support;
• USB-C port 3.14
• IP68 protection;
• bright Ultra HD screen with 138% sRGB coverage;
• convenient control buttons;
• update to Android Oreo "over the air".

Disadvantages:

• missing.

2. Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

The next line is occupied by the stylish model Xperia Z5 Premium. In terms of price-quality ratio, this smartphone is the best in this category. However, it cannot be called an ideal choice, which is to blame for the hardware chosen by the manufacturer. Of course, the Adreno 430 graphics and the Snapdragon 810 processor handle any heavy games well. Sufficient can also be called 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. All this ensures that when using the device for movies, music, the Internet and communication, the user will get the most out of it. But in resource-intensive applications, the 810th "dragon" heats up very much, which should be taken into account by fans of mobile gaming. Fortunately, this is the only significant drawback of the Xperia Z5 Premium for the price set for it. Otherwise, according to customer reviews, the smartphone is ideal for any task. So before us is one of the few devices with a resolution of 4K, which with a diagonal of 5.5 inches provides an impressive pixel density of 801 ppi. Pleases and the main 23-megapixel camera with 5x optical zoom. The battery in the reviewed model has a good capacity of 3430 mAh. But the device is charged through an outdated micro-USB port. However, this minus for a mobile phone is forgivable, because it was announced more than 2 years ago.

Advantages:

• the quality of the main camera;
• the presence of an NFC module;
• excellent autonomy;
• fast fingerprint scanner;
• Clear Audio+ function;
• optical zoom 5x;
• stunning 4K display;
• water protection;
• smart and functional.

Disadvantages:

• easily soiled case;
• aggressive brightness control;
• CPU overheating.

3. Sony Xperia XA Ultra Dual

Closes the rating of Sony smartphones model Xperia XA Ultra Dual. This is a stylish model with a tray for two SIM-cards, a 6-inch Full HD matrix, and an NFC module. A 2700 mAh battery is installed here, which is quite enough for the hardware installed in the device. However, Helio P10 and Mali-T860 can't handle all modern games, so fans of mobile entertainment should take a closer look at one of the above models. What buyers will definitely not have complaints about is the amount of RAM. The 3 GB installed here will be enough for any tasks, which is not least ensured by excellent optimization. But 16 gigabytes of built-in storage, some of which is occupied by the system, may not even be enough to install all the necessary programs. The popular smartphone will delight fans of mobile photography. The main camera in this device is represented by a high-quality 21.5 MP module with f / 2.4 aperture and optical stabilization. For the front panel, the manufacturer has chosen a 16-megapixel sensor, which guarantees excellent selfies.

Advantages:

• large diagonal;
• amazing cameras;
• quality assembly;
• comfortable shell;
• good autonomy;
• NFC support.

Disadvantages:

• the amount of built-in memory;
• plastic back cover;
• sound quality.

Which Sony smartphone to buy

When choosing a smartphone from Sony, experts recommend determining several key parameters that are of paramount importance to you. Among them, we can distinguish the number of SIM-cards, the quality of the camera, the resolution and diagonal of the display, the power of the hardware platform, battery capacity, case materials, and so on. Thanks to the vast range of smartphones from the Japanese manufacturer, you can purchase a device that perfectly matches your requirements at a reasonable price.

Smartphones Sony Xperia, all models of which have their own characteristics, appeared after the termination of the agreement with Ericsson.

Sony Mobile (formerly known as Sony Ericsson Mobile) is a division of electronics giant Sony Corporation.

Xperia is a unique lineup of the company, which was originally released under Windows Mobile OS.

Then the technical management decided to switch to .

At the moment, this line occupies a solid niche in today's market.

Some of the company's smartphones can compare favorably with water resistance and moisture resistance.

Smartphones Sony Xperia - all models

All Xperia models

The Japanese giant is one of the world's largest manufacturers of mobile devices, every year they completely update their line.

Their sleek, sophisticated design, serious technical features attract new fans year after year.

Over the past few years, this manufacturer has often experimented with its new products, delighting its adherents with both premium flagships and very budget models.

Everyone could find a sample for every taste and budget.

In the last 2 years alone, the company has launched 12 models on the market. Not to mention the light versions.

At the beginning of 2016, at MWC 2016, the company announced that it was completely restarting the line of gadgets loved by many.

As conceived by the company, Xperia (which stands for experience) smartphones should provide users with a unique experience of interaction between gadgets and their owners.

It is these updated devices that our review will be devoted to.

First, let's break them down by years. Separately, it should be noted that we will not separate them by colors and modifications with different memory sizes.

Xperia 2016 models

• Xperia XZ
• Xperia X Compact
• Xperia X
• Xperia XA Ultra
• Xperia XA
• Xperia E5

2017 Xperia models (list current as of end of April)

• Xperia XZ Premium
• Xperia XZs
• Xperia XA1 Ultra
• Xperia XA1
• Xperia L1

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Those who expected to see a revolution in the design of the XZ Premium will be disappointed.

Over the years, the design has become more refined, and loyal fans have realized the high value of corporate recognition. It's not just a recognizable trademark, it's a brand.

The company has certainly focused on the details for the new XZ Premium.

The main innovation is support for 960fps video playback.

This frame rate is still unavailable for many manufacturers.

At MWC, not many could boast of this advantage.

The FDR-X3000 was required to manage such a high frame rate video that clearly outshines the performance of other devices and even last year's own flagship 4K action camera.

This is the patented know-how of the Digital Imaging Department.

Cameras such as the RX1000 IV are famous for its use. It's all about its memory and a set of sensors that allow you to capture images more quickly.

The XZ Premium is powered by the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC.

At first glance, the XZ "Premium" looks like last year's Xperia XZ. To give it a more expensive look, the engineers used .

Moving on to the specs, the XZ Premium features a 5.5-inch 4K (2160x3840) Triluminos HDR display.

The gadget is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (Gigabit LTE speed is achieved through the use of X16 LTE modem).

Also, the device has a video chip Adreno 540 GPU and 4 GB. 64 GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD cards (up to 256 GB).

The front of the device received a 13-megapixel camera with a 1/3.06-inch Exmor RS sensor. Phone OS - Android 7.0 Nougat, battery capacity 3230mAh.

In fact, we can talk about this excellent flagship for a very long time.

On the Internet, there are photographs of copies that showed more than 150 thousand points on the Antutu test. This is a very impressive result.

Without a doubt, this flagship will haunt the minds of users of modern gadgets for a long time to come.

Surely it will be compared with similar, in terms of characteristics, devices. But it's safe to say that at the time of writing this review, it's the best.

Specifications

• Display Size: 5.5
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
• Rear video camera: 19 MP with Motion Eye technology
• Front camera: 13 MP
• Memory capacity: 64 GB

Sony Xperia XZs

Smaller version of XZ. Both devices use the same flat top and bottom design with rounded sides.

On the right side of the device is the power button, which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

The XZs features a 5.2-inch (1080×1920 pixels) Triluminos display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with an Adreno 510 GPU and 4GB of RAM.

The internal memory is 32 GB and 64 GB expandable thanks to the slot (up to 256 GB).

Specifications

• Display Size: 4.3
• Processor: Qualcomm MSM8230
• Rear video camera: 23 MP with Motion Eye technology
• Front camera: 8 MP
• Memory capacity: 8

Sony Xperia Z1

It seems that with the release of this smartphone, the Japanese giant may have finally learned its lesson. This time they are the first to launch a 5″ smartphone with 1080p support.

The specification makes it clear that the Z model is half a millimeter larger than, say, the Samsung Galaxy S III. It was a technical necessity, the smartphone has a fairly powerful battery.

The Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait chipset chipset is fully capable of handling all of these pixels.

Summing up this smartphone, I would like to say once again that Sony is a broadly oriented company.

By releasing a line of their products, they try to fully cover the market.

At this point, it's a near-perfect premium mobile device, offering everything you'd expect from a flagship phone.

If you have not had a smartphone of this Japanese giant before, you should think about purchasing it.

findings

Turning to the line of smartphones in 2016, it became clear that they are easier to divide into subgroups.

We will not dwell on them in our review in as much detail as on the representatives of 2017. We will simply provide comparative tables with the most significant characteristics.

• X, X Compact
• XA Ultra and XA

Comparing X and X Compact is much easier with the help of a table.

In addition to the obvious difference in size, the following characteristics allow you to see a more complete picture.

Also, many users may be interested in a more complete comparison of the smartphone line.

Considering that as many as 12 devices of this line entered the market last year, I would like to compare only the most remarkable ones in terms of characteristics.

Comparing the E5 and Z1, we came to the conclusion that they are similar in many ways.

E5 wins only in terms of battery capacity, in terms of other characteristics, Z1 turned out to be more powerful, and we'll talk about it later.

After all, in fact, if we consider the entire model range, it is easy to get confused in the variety of processors and other hardware stuffing.

The Sony Xperia X may be the most comfortable Sony phone I've ever owned. It retains many of the best design elements of the Xperia Z, but also has a lot of new stuff. Unfortunately, its price is simply too high, because you can get better (or similar) smartphones, but for a couple of hundred dollars less.

Smartphone Sony Xperia X — Reviews

Sony has really improved its design with the Xperia X

What's good about the design of the Sony Xperia X

At first glance, the smartphone looks like the older Xperia Z, but it has some nice upgrades that make it much more comfortable to hold the phone in your hand. The first change is in screen size, it's shrunk from 5.2 inches to 5.0 inches, and the smartphone itself is much more comfortable in the hand (depending on hand size, of course), making it a good alternative to many of the giant phablets on the market. .

Brittleness, slipperiness, fingerprints on the back of the case, they will no longer be here, because the glass was replaced by a metal back panel. The sides are curved and made of polycarbonate, which strongly resembles metal. These plastic sides eliminate almost all seams and allow for a softer grip on the Sony Xperia X. Despite the presence of a 23-megapixel camera, the module is located almost on the same level with the panel in the upper left corner of the phone. On the front panel, the glass is hidden behind the edges. This helps the device look much better than previous versions, and makes it more durable.

Weak processor power

The Xperia X is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chip with 3GB of RAM. In our 3D Mark tests, the X scored about 18,200 on the unlimited test and 850 on the newer Slingshot, putting it on par with high-end 2014 devices, including the HTC One M7/M8 and LG's G3. On Geekbench, the Sony Xperia X received scores that put it on par with last year's Galaxy S6. This worries us, as it means that the morale of the Xperia X, despite its high price, may be shorter than other comparable smartphones.

The Xperia X looks good, runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and feels good in the hand

Some positives: A microSD card slot means storage space isn't such a big deal, and the display has a 5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 pixel IPS LCD screen. There is simply no real need to have more pixels here because they hurt battery life. And on that note, the 2,620mAh non-removable battery life is pretty good! After several days of stress testing, the battery still ended the day at 13 percent. On a typical day, you should finish at 20-40 percent, and Sony's boost modes seem to really help in a pinch.

The call quality is ok, although we had a few confusing calls in the first few days, but this is not a problem with the device, but rather with the operator.

Sony Xperia X Warranty

Sony offers the usual one-year limited warranty, which only covers manufacturing defects, not problems caused by use of the phone.

Outcome

The Sony Xperia X is a beautiful smartphone that has Android 6.0 Marshmallow and is comfortable to hold in your hand. The camera isn't perfect, but it's still very good, so the shutter button feels nice to touch.

But for 40,000 rubles, you can buy a much better phone. The Snapdragon 650 processor is weak compared to other devices in the same price range. The performance of the X might be better if you opt for the Sony Xperia X Performance version, which starts at $50,000 and has the new Snapdragon 820 processor, although it will look the same as the reviewed smartphone.

Advantages

• More durable construction;
• Comfortable to hold in hand;
• Pure Android 6.0;
• You can remove applications and viruses;
• There is a microSD card slot.

The Japanese company has launched a new smartphone Xperia Z on the mobile market, which will be a very serious competitor to the current and future flagship devices. It is the first major manufacturer to use a 5-inch 1080p screen. In our review, we will try to tell you about the features of this smartphone.

So, let's start with the appearance of the Sony Xperia Z. It comes in a compact package that contains the smartphone itself, a USB cable, headphones, a 2 GB AC adapter (availability will depend on the region of delivery).

The gadget is easily recognizable as a Sony device with its angular design. Glass covers the front and back of the device, blue plastic is used on the sides, and the edges are rubberized. There are several covers that make the machine waterproof (IPX57 standard) and dustproof (IP55 standard).

The choice of materials also has its downsides. So the glass is quickly covered with fingerprints and loses its brightness, but at the same time, you can always wipe it.

The build quality is excellent: it seems that no squeaks, other sounds or backlashes were found during operation. Since both sides are glass, the smartphone is reliably protected from scratches.

The Xperia Z has a very standard set of functional elements above the screen - a speaker, a front camera, touch sensors and a company logo. Beneath it are touch-sensitive navigation buttons, which are part of the display, and a microphone.

On the right side are located - the volume control key, the power / lock button and the microSIM card slot, which is covered with a plastic cover. Unfortunately, there are no camera controls here. On the bottom right is an external speaker.

A 3.5 mm audio jack is hidden at the top end under a plastic cover.

On the left, you can see a microUSB port and a microSD card slot under the covers, and a docking station connector under it.

The lower end of the gadget is completely devoid of functional elements.

Finally, on the back cover you can see a 13-megapixel camera, an LED flash and a second microphone that serves for noise reduction and for capturing stereo sound.

The dimensions of the device are 139x71x7.9 mm, and the weight is 146 grams.

Performance and Software

Sony Xperia Z is based on the Snapdragon APQ8064 S4 Pro chipset with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Krait processor and an Adreno 320 graphics accelerator. The smartphone also has 2 GB of RAM. In general, the gadget will not disappoint in terms of performance and speed, resource-intensive games and applications just fly on it.

The device is running Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Built-in memory - 16 GB (there is a slot for microSD cards).

In the BenchMark Pi test, which reflects single-threaded performance, the device under test takes first place. The same results are shown in LinPack, which focuses on multi-threaded performance.

Let's move on to the GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt (1080poffscreen) test, which will allow us to check the graphics capabilities of the device. Sony's novelty did not disappoint here either, almost catching up with the Find 5.

But most games will probably run at native resolution, which is why we tested Epic Citadel, which uses Unreal Engine 3, which is hugely popular among mobile game makers. So this is a very important test. It was held at high quality settings and, surprisingly, the gadget was again in first place.

We already thought that all the tests would pass the smartphone perfectly, but the browser tests were not very successful for the Sony Xperia Z.

So in the SunSpider test, the device was at the bottom, overtaking only Nexus 4 and Oppo Find 5. But in BrowserMark 2, the gadget took second place, losing only to Optimus G, which has a similar chipset, but lower resolution. In the Vellamo HTML5 test, the device also came in second, losing only to the Galaxy Note II.

So, let's move on from the tests to the communication capabilities of the Sony Xperia Z. The gadget has Wi-Fi, GPS / A-GPS / GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0 modules, supports FM radio, 3G and LTE networks.

There is a rich pre-installed software: a browser, an email client, programs for integration with, navigation applications, audio and video players, etc.

Screen

Sony Xperia Z became the owner of a 5-inch TFT display using Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and 16 million colors.

The pixel density is 441 ppi.

You can really see the advantage over 720p displays with the naked eye, but the difference isn't that big.

The new Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology will also improve video and image playback performance, and work better in bright sunlight.

Below is a specialized sunlight sharpness test:

However, the screen is by no means perfect. First of all, the viewing angles are not very large. Of course, a step forward has been made compared to the Sony Xperia T, but a very small one. So in this direction, Sony needs to work more carefully in order to catch up with competitors.

We also note that the display does not have a very good contrast ratio and not very inspiring colors. Below is a test.

Camera

Sony Xperia Z is equipped with a 13.1-megapixel camera that allows you to take pictures with a maximum resolution of 4128x3096 pixels. If you use the default improved automatic mode, then get a photo with a resolution of 3920x2940 pixels.

The difference between advanced auto mode and normal mode with all auto settings is that the unit first tries to guess what scene you are trying to capture and adjusts all image parameters accordingly. This includes color saturation, contrast, exposure metering mode. In normal auto mode, only the exposure is set, but you can experiment with the rest of the settings.

The Sony Xperia Z offers all sorts of features including face detection, Smile Shutter, geotagging, touch capture and HDR mode.

In the improved auto mode, the smartphone takes good quality photos, although the colors are a bit oversaturated in our opinion. The noise level is average, the dynamic range is good, and the contrast is just excellent.

In general, we note that the results are quite good, although we did not find any noticeable advantages compared to the flagship 8-megapixel models.

Photo examples:

Xperia Z is capable of shooting video at a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. This model also provides the ability to shoot video, which distinguishes it from most other smartphones.

The disappointment was that when recording video, the gadget was able to take a photo with a 1-megapixel resolution. So last year's could take full-resolution frames when recording video.

This, of course, is a minor minus, since the device does the basic things very well. The video has amazing detail. The bitrate hovers around 16Mbps, which is a decent compromise between quality and file size.

Video example:

Battery

The Sony Xperia Z uses a non-removable 2330 mAh lithium-ion battery. One charge should be enough, according to the manufacturer, for 11 hours of talk time (GSM) and up to 14 hours via UMTS networks, up to 550 hours of standby time, up to 40 hours of music listening and up to 5.5 hours – in video playback mode.

With an average load of the smartphone, the battery lasted for about a day.

Price

The price of Sony Xperia Z in the Russian market is 29,990 rubles.

We summarize the main disadvantages: low display contrast, non-removable battery, weak speaker.

Sony Xperia Z video review: