Sony Xperia Z Pro Reviews

The Sony Xperia Z does do many things right: we like the good looking design, the IP certifications, and the extremely sharp 5-inch FullHD display. The phone features many different connection options and its hardware offers good performance. The weakest area of this premium smartphone is its high-resolution display panel: the viewing angle stability is not great, the black level too high, and the contrast way too low. As far as the hardware and thus performance is concerned, we should take into consideration that the Sony Xperia Z is available now; the HTC One (M7) and Asus Padfone Infinity - both of which will be equipped with the new (and more powerful) Snapdragon 600 SoC - are not released yet. The camera is good enough for simple snapshots - but in this case, less would have been more: megapixels aren't everything. We like the widgets in the multi-tasking menu of the Google Android 4.1.2 operating system - although they are not really important. The usability of the capacitive touchsreen is good and inputting test is easy. The phone gets a bit too warm during idle, the power consumption is comparatively high, and the battery life is only average. The position of the control elements and the speaker is also less than ideal. We do know that some users will think that we are too critical - but considering the pretty steep price tag of 650 Euro ( ~$845), we really would expect a better-performing display. As it stands now, we don't think the Xperia Z is going to have an easy time taking on the competition.

There’s a lot to like about the Sony Xperia Z. It is the strongest Android phone that Sony has produced to date, fusing power, design and features. We don’t find Sony’s customisations to be too intrusive and the attention to battery life is to be welcomed. The practical waterproofing also means you don't have to worry when you drop your phone in the toilet, or spill a pint on it, and these things happen. It’s not perfect, however, and the camera doesn’t appear to offer much over previous flagship Xperia devices. It’s a reasonable performer, however, but with rivals focusing all their attention on the camera, it’s not the greatest feature of the Z. However, the display size, in this design of handset we like a lot. With some larger devices, you feel like you’re compromising to for the sake of having a large display. The Sony Xperia Z plays its hand nicely, giving you that large screen experience, battery life that’s well managed and overall performance that makes daily use a pleasure. Sony is really taking the fight to HTC and Samsung. It could well come out on top.

Until we've had time to properly benchmark the HTC One it's difficult to give a definitive verdict. On paper it should beat the Xperia Z, but in reality HTC's heavy Sense overlay may slow performance. We suspect the difference between the two will not be enough to affect your purchasing decision. We also want to get a better look at that camera. We all know megapixels aren't everything when it comes to image quality, but can the HTC One's 4Mp snapper really take on the Xperia Z's 13Mp Exmor RS sensor? It's a tough act to follow. Performance and camera quality aside, both smartphones are premium devices with a desirable design and a similar weight and feel. They're evenly matched in connectivity terms, and each offers a stunning displays - the HTC's is sharper, while the Sony offers better colours and more screen estate. The Sony has less storage, but you can add a microSDXC card. The HTC One and Xperia Z even cost about the same amount. Until we've had time to properly test the HTC One, we're swayed toward the Xperia Z's larger, more colourful screen. However, HTC Sense offers a number of benefits over plain Jelly Bean, and that camera and powerful processor may yet tip us in the other direction.

There are two ways of looking at the Xperia Z. In the context of Sony’s track-record of smartphones, this is certainly the best to-date. It has the best display Sony has used, a solid camera, useful waterproofing (even if it does force annoying flaps on you), and sleek – albeit conservative – styling. It’s not cheap and plasticky in the hand like the Xperia Arc was, nor slathered in plastic chrome trim. If you’re a Sony devotee then the Xperia Z is the phone you’ve been waiting for. On the other hand, in context with the rest of the smartphone market, the Xperia X finds things tougher going. The design and build, while sturdy, lack the classic evolutionary styling of the iPhone 5, or the pristine, tactile elegance of the HTC One. It bests the Samsung Galaxy S III on display and construction, but Samsung has a new Galaxy waiting in the wings, and is almost certain to redress the screen balance. It’s the battery that gives us the biggest pause for thought. The Xperia Z simply expires too quickly, and the power saving tools Sony has provided only really work at their best by discouraging you from using the phone at all. Given the waterproofing (and dimensions) means the battery is non-removable, that’s quite a compromise to be made.

A high-resolution screen and classy Android customisations make this a great handset, but we prefer the HTC One's design

It should be clear by now that you can't go wrong with either handset. Both the Sony Xperia Z and Samsung Galaxy S III are exceptional smartphones with their own pros and cons. On one hand, we have the Xperia Z with its exquisite glass design and powerful hardware, but on the other, there's the Galaxy S III that offers almost the same amount of goodies and does some things better. Being a newer device, the Xperia Z has the benefit of technological evolution, which allows it to outshine Samsung's 2012 flagship in some areas like the display. As a whole, however, the Xperia Z didn't do enough to make us see it as the ultimate victor in this struggle. The Galaxy S III managed to hold its ground without too many casualties, proving once again that its place among the smartphone elite is well-deserved.

The Xperia Z is the first smartphone which Sony has really nailed. We love the stylish, desirable and rugged design. The combination of excellent performance, a stunning screen and great cameras make the Xperia Z a force to be reckoned with. There is very little to say about this phone that is negative.

The Xperia Z is a truly impressive phone. It's one of hose few Android devices that manage to be exciting both on the inside and on the outside. It has some indisputable advantages over the iPhone 5 such as its way bigger screen and flexible operating system which allows the user to tweak the experience any way they want. We should also note, however, that the amount of detail that Apple has paid to pretty much everything in the iPhone 5 is simply mind-boggling. All the aspects of the device have been tweaked with much care, resulting in an especially well-rounded smarpthone. If a simple to use, reliable and capable handset is what you are after, iPhone 5 should be the way to go. On the other hand, if you desire a true multimedia powerhouse and something with more personalization options, the Xperia Z will be the better choice for you.

We haven't reviewed the Xperia Z fully so we can't make a final verdict yet. At a similar price and closely contended specifications and features it's a hard one to call. We think the Xperia Z could be a major contender to the iPhone 5, and other Android phones for that matter.

Sony's Xperia Z is the first new flagship smartphone to arrive in 2013. The device is pretty impressive with its gigantic 5” 1080p screen, quad-core processor and so on. It has all the needed prerequisites to become a winner in the Android market, even if confronted by other top players from Samsung or LG. Sony has done a wonderful job with the design of this phone. It could, of course, be even better, but we still see it as superior to what most of the other companies are currently doing with their flagship handsets. It's still early for any ultimate conclusions, though, because we're yet to see what Samsung, HTC and LG are to roll out this year, but by the looks of it the Xperia Z is to remain a relevant player even when those other handsets enter the fray. In the end, Sony's new flagship is a very well-rounded smartphone that will surely stand out from the crowd of Android devices in 2013.

The Galaxy S3 is a top-notch smartphone and you'll save a bit of money compared to the Xperia Z. However, the Xperia Z looks like Sony might have got a smartphone right so look out for our full review soon.