Sony Xperia Z1 Pro Reviews

There's no denying that the iPhone 5 has lost some of its appeal – after all, this handset has been around for a year now, and it's only expected that new high-end smartphones will be able to offer better tech. Such is the case with the camera of the Xperia Z1, for example. However, the iPhone 5 holds up surprisingly well after all this time. The device is just as snappy, if not even faster than the Xperia Z1, all the while offering a premium design and great screen, as well as better call quality and speaker. However, if 4” screens are starting to feel a bit small to you, then it's obviously time for you to consider an Android flagship such as the Xperia Z1. It'll offer you a great design, a large, 5” 1080p display and great performance, courtesy of the state-of-the-art Snapdragon 800 chipset. Still, there is one thing you shouldn't overlook and that's the bulkiness of the Xperia Z1. As highly-functional and good-looking as the Xperia Z1 can be, it's actually among the biggest handsets in its class. If that's an issue for you, you should probably take a look at some of the other Android flagships, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, or LG G2, which are all good alternatives.

Looking at all that these two Android flagships have to offer, we are finding it hard to pick a solid winner between the two. Both the Sony Xperia Z1 and the LG G2 are clearly well-made, high-performance smartphones that set the bar pretty high for any contender. Ultimately, the Sony Xperia Z1 would suit the needs of buyers who value having an eye-pleasing smartphone – a smartphone that stands out with its appearance and build quality. Also, those who like to document every moment of their lives will be pleased by the Z1's 20.7MP main camera and its quality photographs. On the downside, the Xperia Z1 is rather bulky, and its call quality could have been better. The LG G2, on the other hand, stands out with offering a larger screen packed in a lighter, more compact body. Besides, its camera is nearly as good as the Z1's so the images it produces would satisfy even buyers with high expectations. Just make sure you're ready to live with a power key placed on the back of your phone before getting one.

The Sony Xperia Z1 comes half a year after the HTC One and good news is that Sony has used the time fully to its advantage. We can safely say that the Xperia Z1 is the better among the two - with a faster processor, a camera thatis light years ahead and similarly great design and polished user interface. The dust and water resistance is another important benefit. As for the HTC One, it is still a great device on its own. We would still recommend it for buyers on budget - after all, its price has dropped and it’s way cheaper than the Xperia Z1. The aluminum unibody frame is sturdy and feels great, too. Moreover, the One is still fairly compact while the Xperia Z1 feels a bit too big. However, if money is not an issue and you can make do with a larger phone, the Xperia Z1 is the phone to get.

It's a close run thing, and we'd recommend you handle both of these handsets before you buy. The Note 3 is the better performer, but we're talking about a level of performance on both phones which is more than adequate for everything you need to do. It has a bigger, more colourful screen - but not everyone wants a huge screen and the Xperia Z1 has a sharper display anyway. Camera wise we'd err toward the Z1, but neither is earth-shatteringly good. And battery life is about even, albeit with the Z1 again marginally on top. They run similar software similarly well, and although only the Z1 is waterproof, they are both built to last. You pays your money you takes your chance. Two great phones that show how far Android has come.

It's undeniable that the Xperia Z1 sports some technological advantages due to coming out about half a year later than the Galaxy S4. With a faster chipset and a better camera, Sony's smartphone is arguably the better device of the two here. Still, we have to give credit where it's due, and in this case we'd give it to the Galaxy S4 for holding up so well after all these months. Samsung's handset doesn't lag too much behind in any area, and is still among the best smartphones money can buy right now. If you're currently rocking a GS4 and are wondering if you should "upgrade" to the Xperia Z1 mainly for its technological advantages, we'd say that it's not worth it, because the differences really aren't so big. If you happen to be choosing between the two, and have actually read all the pages of this comparison, then you probably already know that the Z1 is the overall better smartphone, though you should definitely take into account that it's bulkier than its rival, despite having the same screen size.

Sony has upgraded its fantastic Xperia Z. The Xperia Z1 feels nicer but is unfortunately bigger and heavier. It's a powerhouse with an all-round impressive specification. Easily one of the best Android handsets around but the high price tag taints this slightly.

With the Xperia Z1, Sony has finally become truly competitive. The Japanese company has been experiencing great difficulties during the last few years, but after a relatively lengthy transition, it's finally caught up with the big players of the wireless industry.Design-wise, the Sony Xperia Z1 is a great device. It's definitely a looker – more eye-catchy than most other Android models, and you can easily tell that it's a high-end product,, too, thanks to its solid glass and metal casing. The downside to its exterior is that it's quite bulky when compared to most Android phones with 5” displays out there. Under the hood, the Z1 doesn't lag behind in any respect. With the powerful Snapdragon 800 and 2 gigs of RAM, the Z1 stands right next to the best Android flagships of the second half of the year. The pleasant surprise in this whole package — the G Lens camera — finally managed to convince us that Sony has indeed created a winner with the Xperia Z1. The camera easily outperforms any other Android smartphone out there as far as picture-taking goes. Sadly, the video isn't anything spectacular, but at least it's not too bad.

There's a lot to love about the Sony Xperia Z1. It's a valiant effort, but not infallible. We like the the design overall, it's a smart-looking device that exhibits plenty of quality and there's stacks of power under the hood of that 5-inch HD display. It's the power that really shows off, as the Z1 skips through anything you can throw at it, but there are niggles: the display isn't the best in class, it gets too hot when you push it in the processor stakes, and all the efforts in the camera department don't seem to really bring huge gains. It's saved by a user experience that's well refined and a battery life that's surprisingly good given the specs. But, as we've found, the Sony Xperia Z1 isn't the out-and-out winner in this class based on all its fancy specs.