Sony Xperia Z1 Pro Reviews

The Xperia Z1S from Sony has some features and components that will make you excited about the camera built into this smartphone. The Z1S's image sensor offers 20.7-megapixels of resolution in an image sensor that's sized 1/2.3 inches, which is larger than what you'll find in most smartphone cameras and similar to what you'll find in point-n-shoot digital cameras. Sony included a dedicated shutter button too, which will make the Xperia Z1S feel a bit more like a digital camera than a smartphone in terms of its operation. Unfortunately this smartphone camera's image quality isn't quite as far ahead of other smartphone cameras as you might expect to see after viewing its feature list. And without an optical zoom lens, the Sony Xperia Z1S's image quality isn't good enough to give it an edge over a basic point-n-shoot digital camera.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z1 offer two very distinct vessels to enjoy Android KitKat. Sony's handset is the one with the more premium, steel-and-glass waterproof design, while Samsung counters with a plastic water-resistant chassis, that lets you easily swap the battery, if needed. We aren't pointing out its Fingerprint Scanner and heart rate sensor as grand advantages over the Z1, as they are a bit cumbersome to use, and most people won't use them on a regular basis. Even if we isolate those two extra features, the Galaxy S5 still registers as the better handset, if you don't mind the plastic build. It has a better display in most aspects, superior graphics and image processing power, thanks to the Snapdragon 801 processor, and an IR blaster. Its camera might be of lower resolution than the Z1, but is on par in terms of detail, and on top of that it offers neat options like 4K video, real-time HDR and Selective Focus, which the Z1 can't muster. When we add to this laundry list of advantages almost twice longer battery life than the Z1, the scales will be easily tipped in the Galaxy S5's favor, if the higher price isn't an issue.

There is no doubt that the HTC One (M8) is the better smartphone of the two... for the most part. The one area where the Xperia Z1S easily steals the show is the camera, as HTC's UltraPixel thing continues to lag behind the competition. That is not to say that the 4 MP shooter of the M8 is poor. No, it's actually pretty good for casual use, but if you want superior performance from your smartphone camera, then the 20.7 MP G Lens snapper of the Z1S will do a better job. Aside from that, the One (M8) sports a newer chipset, better screen, nice front-facing speakers, and better battery life. In terms of exterior, well, both handsets are spectacular. The Z1S has the advantage of being water- and dust-resistant, but it's like the new One is the more likely phone to win a design award. Similarly, both handsets offer very nice and polished custom user interfaces, with that of the One being a notch fancier. At the end of the day, the more advanced technology in the One (M8) allows it to bestow consumers with an overall better experience (except for the camera department). But we wouldn't have declared it a clear winner if it wasn't for the immense amount of work HTC has put in the design of this gorgeous smartphone.

After all that we’ve said about the LG G Pro 2 and the Sony Xperia Z1, you’re probably still wondering about the one big question that we have not answered yet: which one should you buy? For us, both handsets are more or less on par. Both are very powerful devices that deliver smooth and enjoyable Android experience, both are great for gaming and have very good cameras that could easily replace a point and shoot. There are some subtleties: the Xperia Z1 camera captures smooth video with fast auto-focus, but the handset lasts shorter and its screen has poor viewing angles. LG’s G Pro 2, on the other hand, comes with a slightly better overall camera with OIS+, it features a large and vivid display, and offers a lot of useful features like the split-screen multitasking, and those nuances tip the scales in favor of the LG G Pro 2. If you are not picky about these tiny details, though, you should simply decide which one looks and feels better in terms of size and design. For all else, you probably won’t regret buying either one.

The Sony Xperia Z1S gives any other Android device a run for its money, and we like the fact that it's quite different from what Samsung, HTC and Motorola have to offer.We're finally reaching a point where most Android smartphones don't look like cookie-cutter devices being churned out by manufacturers in a race to God knows what. Design elements are diverging, and each manufacturer is putting its personal stamp on the Android space. If you own any other Sony products, the Z1S's style will fit right in. But it's not all looks with this smartphone. Its innards make it relatively future proof, it's got a decent and beefy camera all packaged with a battery that will help you rest easy throughout the day without a charger nearby. The bottom line is it's powerful, has a great screen, a decent camera, memory card support up to 64GB and it's waterproof. Unless you're extremely picky, it doesn't really get much better than that.

As we expected, the Sony Xperia Z1 and the Z1 Compact are truly identical on many levels – from design and internal hardware specs to software and camera performance. Metaphorically speaking, they are like two different serving sizes of the very same ice cream flavor. That is why a potential buyer who is torn between them should be most influenced by the size factor that sets these two phones apart. We find the Xperia Z1 Compact much more suitable for those who value ease of use above all; those who would appreciate owning a top-notch phone that they can easily operate with one hand and fit in any pocket. On the other hand, people who often find themselves watching videos or photos, browsing the web, or playing games on their smartphone should be more satisfied with the Xperia Z1 since its bigger, higher-resolution screen is a huge asset when it comes to multimedia consumption. Overall, we find both phones equally appealing, which is why whichever you pick, we doubt you'd end up feeling disappointed.

There’s little to dislike about the Sony Xperia Z1S. If you enjoyed everything about the Xperia Z, this device is simply a boost in all the right places. This device feels as high-end as a smartphone of this size has felt in our hands, and everything from user interface speed to playing games to shooting photos and video has turned up rather well-done. What we’re seeing here, again, is Sony taking a great device in the Xperia Z and making it even better. If you’re looking at T-Mobile’s selection of smartphones the moment this article is posted, the Sony Xperia Z1S is the most powerful of the bunch - so to speak - with the Snapdragon 800 paired with a 5-inch 1080p display, and Sony has more than proven itself as a contender in this space over the past year and a half for us to recommend this device over the vast majority of its competitors. You won’t be disappointed.

Finalizing things up, let’s quickly talk about pricing for a moment. Since the Xperia Z1S is exclusive to T-Mobile in the US, we’re going to look at their pricing with the carrier. Looking at their full retail price, the Xperia Z1S and iPhone 5s are priced respectively at $528 and $600. Essentially, they both are $0 down, but the iPhone 5s requires customers to pay $25/month for the next 24 months – while it’s $22/month for the Xperia Z1S. With the savings on its side, we can’t help to point out the obvious value you’ll be getting with Sony’s flagship smartphone. Throw in the fact that it’s armed with a very serious 20.7-megapixel camera and an IP58 rating to make it waterproof, it surely packs in enough quality elements to make its lower $528 price tag seem more valuable than it is. Conversely though, there’s always a premium to stick with Apple’s pride and joy. Indeed, there’s a cool Touch ID fingerprint sensor on board it and it has a very consistent performance throughout each and every category we put it through – making it a well versed all-around smartphone. If savings and having a waterproof nature is something you prize, then stick with the Sony Xperia Z1S. If not, there’s no wrong in picking up the iPhone 5s either, since it’s always an admirable offering in the space.

The Sony Xperia Z1S is everything that you wanted in a phone...four months ago. Judged against every flagship smartphone released last year, the Xperia Z1S can hold its own in every area except the display. The problem is that the phone arrives at the tail end of the product cycle and will soon be replaced by something newer and better, including a new product from Sony that is already rumored to be more desirable. So why should anyone buy this phone? The same reason someone might have bought an Xperia Z last year - Sony arrives late, but it delivers when it finally shows up. The Sony Xperia Z1S is a fine phone with a display that has terrible viewing angles, but it also has strong internal specs and exterior design. If you're someone who doesn't care about being on the cutting edge and can put up with Sony treating the US market as a second-tier priority, the Xperia Z1S is a solid purchase. The Sony Xperia Z1S shows how Sony excels at hardware design; if the company can move quicker on the software front, there will be few reasons to complain.

We’re happy to see Sony’s Z1 make it to a U.S. carrier in the form of the Z1S, especially since Sony saw fit to double the internal memory (16GB is pretty cramped for a modern high-end smartphone). We also think the Xperia line’s boxy design looks good, and is far more comfortable to hold in a device this size than with the similarly styled, though much larger Z Ultra. And while the phone’s 5-inch, 1080p screen and Snapdragon 800 internals don’t break any ground, they are on par with other high-end smartphones. Aside from a few superfluous presets, we also like the Xperia camera app a lot. It’s the Z1S’ camera that really sells the device, though. Sure, it can take photos underwater. But who cares about that? It takes surprisingly useable photos in the dark, which has always been a problem for camera phones. And photos generally look very good in brighter lighting conditions as well. If you’re an Android fan (or an iOS user looking to switch) who wants a powerful smartphone with image-focused features, this is the new phone to beat. It’s also a great device even if you don’t care all that much about excellent photos. It’s thin, powerful, waterproof, and gets reasonably good battery life. Our only major complaint, aside from the lackluster speaker, is that Sony’s design forces you to deal with a fiddly flaps over the charging door every day when charging. In the future, we hope Sony can come up with a better solution, while still keeping the Xperia line’s unique water and dust-resistant features.

Sony deserves credit for doing better this time around, seeing that the official announcement to launch time frame is by all means more palatable than last year’s Sony Xperia Z lengthy roll out. Consumers won’t have to wait long for this latest flagship beauty, which will roll into stores starting January 22nd for $0 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $22 with the Simple Choice Plan – essentially putting it at an outright cost of $528. Naturally, it’s within the mark we’d give most flagship devices, but it’s a bit tough biting the bullet on this one. But still, we have to note that this is a copy of the international Z1, which has been available for about 4 months now. Yes, this is one of the few flagship phones we can take into the shower with us. In addition, it’s a premium feeling and made smartphone that puts those other plastic ones to shame. However, knowing that we’re getting into that fun part of the year when NEWER flagship announcements are right around the corner, it begs the question whether or not the Sony Xperia Z1S will be future proof. For right now, though, it’s an offering that T-Mobile customers should put into contention.

Judging from its strong presence at CES 2014 where the company unveiled the Xperia Z1S, Sony's leadership has high hopes for this device. I've followed Sony for years and at the company's CES keynote, I could feel CEO Kaz Hirai's intense yearning for a return to Sony's "good old days" of mobile products people actually wanted to buy, such as the Walkman, Discman, and the first PSP gaming devices. Hirai trumpeted the Xperia Z1S as a product only Sony could make, one that draws on the firm's many areas of deep engineering expertise, and said it "truly is the best of Sony." I certainly agree that the Z1S, like the nearly identical global Z1 model before it, is a powerful mobile machine and a device that flaunts a sleek style that's distinctly Sony. Sadly though, not even the smartest design nor fastest components can make up for a poor screen. It's a critical handset oversight: a phone's screen is as crucial as its software and battery life. That's why I'd strongly recommend competing devices on T-Mobile such as the Galaxy Note 3, Nexus 5, Galaxy S4, or even the HTC One. And like I said, it's just too bad T-Mobile didn't pick up the Xperia Z1 Compact instead.

I think we're going to have to say "probably not" for almost everyone. The phone is exclusive to T-Mobile, and there are just some much, much better phones on that network: The Nexus 5 and the Moto X being our top two. Unless you find yourself constantly getting your phone wet, there's just not a whole lot of reason to consider this one. You can't help but feel the potential here, especially with the camera. It just feels like the camera software division wasn't able to get the good stuff out of the camera hardware. If you're down for plenty of tweaking in manual mode, you can make it work, but most of the time you just want to whip your phone out and have a take a good shot fast. The Xperia Z1S does that sometimes, but it feel unreliable. Again, this feels like an Android phone where the manufacturer spent too much time on bells and whistles consumers don't want or need, and not enough time on getting the important stuff right.

Sony brings some welcome innovation to Android camera phones with the Xperia Z1s, a potent, waterproof model that nonetheless falls just short of greatness.

Judged as a camera, the Sony Xperia Z1 is slicker and more full-featured than the Nokia Lumia 1020, but its image quality isn't quite in the same league, especially now that Nokia have revealed that the Lumia 1020 will soon support the RAW file format. The Sony Xperia Z1 is still one of the best smartphones that we've reviewed, though, and it does run on the more popular Android OS, rather than Windows, which may ultimately sway your decision...

Unfortunately Sony has failed to improve the display, and so the Xperia Z1 is left with a panel whose quality is behind that of other high-end devices. This is probably the device’s most significant downside, and really should have been addressed considering the same issue was present in the Xperia Z. Ultimately, it’s the camera that will sell the Xperia Z1, as it’s clearly the best aspect of this device. For users where the camera is less of a concern, I wouldn’t go so far to say the Xperia Z1 is the best device you can get. It’s certainly good, but the Samsung Galaxy S4, LG G2, Apple iPhone 5s, Google Nexus 5 and HTC One are arguably more complete devices across the board and are worth considering on the quest of finding a handset to get you through the next year or more.

If you want to buy a SIM free smartphone, then we'd strongly advise you chose the Nexus 5, it's an amazing smartphone with top of the range specs with a ridiculously low price tag. However, if you want to take out a lengthy contract then it really is a closer contest where neither the Nexus 5 of Xperia Z1 will disappoint you.

The Sony Xperia Z1 is a well-executed renovation of the Xperia Z. The smartphone is a little heavier and bigger, most noticeably in the area around the display, but the bulked-up device feels a little more costly and robust. Our strongest criticism still pertains to the panel. The mediocre calibration wouldn't be too much of a problem, were it not for the comparably bad viewing angle stability, the slight blue cast and the high black value. The review device loses enough points in those three areas to take a significant hit in its overall grade. Otherwise, Sony does everything right. The manufacturing quality is excellent, and the performance is stellar. The smartphone also has a very good camera that can take great pictures. The memory space is ample and even expandable. The device is also exemplary in the broad range of wireless frequency bands it supports. If you're looking for a high-end smartphone to call your own and would like it to be IP certified, yet elegant -- and if the limited panel quality doesn't put too much of a damper on things for you -- the Xperia Z1 is an excellent option.

At the end of the day, which one should consumers go for – the Note 3 phablet or the Z1 smartphone? It turns out that it's actually not that easy to answer this, as it's not simply a matter of size. If the two handsets were mostly equal in what they do, then the bulkiness of the Xperia Z1 would have probably pushed us into the Note 3's direction. However, the Xperia Z1 is quite a solid contender that's able to give the Note 3 a run for its money in almost all categories. Sure, it's bulky for its a smartphone with a 5” display, but it's still a bit smaller and more compact than the Note 3. It's display is significantly smaller, but produces higher-quality visuals. The Z1's camera is about equal or slightly better in some scenarios, while the software has a more mature and streamlined look. All of this doesn't mean that the Note 3 is an inferior product. Not at all. The Note 3 is probably the best phablet money can buy right now and it really has no major flaws. What we mean is that both handsets are very good at what they want to be, so it really comes down to the subjective nature of personal preferences. If you want the bigger screen – get the Note 3. If you prefer the more solid construction and exquisite design, get the Z1. At the end of the day, both feature top-notch hardware and tons of features to keep you busy, so you can't go wrong with either of them.

The Sony Xperia Z1 has a lot going for it as it has a really sleek design, is really powerful and has a great 20.7MP camera. If you’re looking for one of the most powerful smartphones around, then the Xperia Z1 is certainly up there. Unfortunately, there are some “buts” when you look at the big picture of the Xperia Z1. Sony has yet to offer any unique software to help make the Xperia Z1 stand out against other similar devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. We found it difficult to come up with some interesting custom apps for our review since there really aren’t any unique applications on the Xperia Z1 that was worth talking about. Sure – its water resistance is a nice addition to a phone this size, but if you’re not going to find yourself in a body of water on a regular basis, it’ll just be another feature that you’ll probably use more times to show off to your friends than actual real-world use. With that said, the Xperia Z1 does have a nice 20.7MP camera with some interesting applications available that can possibly help make the device worth your time and money. If you need an Android device with a large megapixel camera and powerful specs, then the Xperia Z1 should be up your alley. Just don’t expect it to have anything else to set it apart from the rest of the pack.

Great build quality, huge performance and an impressive screen, but its camera lets the Z1 down

If we were being cynical, we'd say that the Xperia Z1 risks falling into the same trap as its predecessor. Sony has thrown everything it has into the new 20-megapixel camera module, and yet it hasn't managed to beat Nokia's flagship Windows Phone. The evidence is clear: the Z1 shoots noisier stills than the Lumia 1020 and its video recordings suffer immensely from the lack of optical image stabilization. That potentially compelling reason to buy the Z1 has already evaporated. Then again, if you evaluate the Z1 on its individual merits, you can understand how the device might manage to win people over. Despite the marketing around the camera, this phone should actually be regarded as a jack-of-all-trades. To twist the phrase, the Z1 is masterful at being a jack-of-all-trades -- to the point where this well-roundedness becomes a compelling feature in its own right. The camera, the screen, the processor, the battery life, the build quality -- none of them are market-beaters on their own, but together, in one package, they make a sensible buy for anyone looking for a big-screened, high-spec Android smartphone. Our only hesitation would be this: now that Sony is beginning to find its feet in this business, such that its technology is getting better from generation to generation, it's possible that the Z1 will be overwhelmed by a superior replacement within a year (or even six months). That is, after all, what happened to the Xperia Z. Whereas other manufacturers, like Samsung and HTC, have relatively clear and predictable release cycles, such that phone upgrades can be reliably synced to new launches, that doesn't yet apply to Sony -- so perhaps there's an argument for holding out to see what comes next.

The Xperia Z1 continues Sony's slow but steady improvement, giving just enough reason for owners of its former flagship phone to consider upgrading. The same was true of the Xperia Z, however, and I don’t feel that much more enthusiastic about the Z1. It has more strengths than weaknesses, but just lacks the refinement to mount a true challenge to Samsung’s preeminence on the Android platform. Whereas Samsung ships Super AMOLED displays and the latest Google OS, Sony is a generation behind on both counts. There’s much about the Xperia Z1 to like. It has one of the best cameras on any Android phone, a superbly fast processor, and a large battery to keep it all going. Not every one of the features Sony has brought in from its other divisions has been a boon, but leveraging the company’s full breadth of expertise is clearly the right strategy going forward. One day Sony will finally start using good displays in its phones and then the conversation will go from how they are better to how they might be the best. For today, I would choose the Xperia Z1 over LG’s G2 simply because of its better camera and design, but I can’t say that either phone is special enough to truly distinguish itself from the highly competitive Android pack.

Overall, we enjoyed our time with the Xperia Z1. It is a very good effort from Sony and proves that the company is serious about its smartphones. With every new model, Sony is raising the bar, and, we hope that the next Xperia flagship review will no longer talk about a “better” screen and camera, but the best out there, at that moment

The Sony Xperia Z1 is a charming smartphone with best-in-class feature set. It certainly makes all Sony admirers happy and clearly shows that the company is taken on the right path in its fight as king of the hill. The best intentions aren't always sufficient and making it to the top requires consistent hard work, which Sony is just beginning to put into this business.