Review of the Sony Xperia XZ smartphone - the return of the flagship. Convenient and recognizable interface

The company's flagship smartphone from the second half of 2016 brings with it updates that the Xperia line of devices has needed for years. Will this be the key to his success?

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Having retired the Xperia Z line of smartphones and switched to, Sony company lost interest in the inherent pursuit of hardware characteristics in flagships. However, after just six months, we are presented with a new flagship - the Xperia XZ.

The name speaks volumes about the nature of this device: a continuation of the X line, where earlier this year they released Xperia models X and , with a hint of the former Xperia Z brand: big screen, larger battery capacity and a major camera upgrade, including Sony's first hardware image stabilization.

Sony needed such a smartphone six months ago instead of the too expensive and not the most ideal X Performance. Competition at the top end continues to be intense and the ZX faces a difficult task of attracting buyers. Let's see how the most interesting Sony smartphone in the past two years is going to solve it.

A quick look at the Xperia XZ

Pros of Xperia XZ

• Improved screen, albeit at 1080p resolution
• Performance
• Camera
• Waterproof case
• Software

• Boring design
• The back panel collects fingerprints
• No fingerprint sensor
• Thick body and frames around the edges of the screen
• Camera scene recognition and color rendering

XZ Hardware

As usual with Sony, the Xperia XZ is a large rectangle. Unlike previous models, the balance in design is shifted towards ergonomics. The body is made of polycarbonate with a metal back panel. This time the combination of plastic and metal feels different - the plastic curves around the frame, and the polished metal panel sits at the back with a curve around the edges.

Along with a slight bevel of the edges front glass this gives the Xperia XZ a nice symmetry. However, the main points of contact with the hand are on the plastic, not the metal. This plastic frame makes the device feel less premium than last year's Z5 with its aluminum frame. In terms of design, this seems like one step forward and two steps back - for reasons most likely financial rather than aesthetic.

The frame contains the usual list of buttons - power, volume and camera on the right side. The US version does not have a fingerprint sensor, which has been available on Sony devices in other parts of the world for a couple of years. The power button is as simple as in the Xperia X, which is a minus for a flagship.

The lower and upper edges are flat, with USB connector Type C at the bottom and 3.5mm headphone at the top. Sony uses the Qualcomm 3.0 standard for fast battery charging.

In all respects, this is a large smartphone, with massive frames at the top and bottom of the screen, as well as an 8.1 mm thick body. This gives it an old-fashioned look compared to devices like , especially considering the small 5.2-inch screen by today's standards. The smartphone cannot be called ugly, but it will not cause admiration either.

There is nothing to complain about the quality of the screen. The LCD panel with the Sony TRILUMINOS brand is used, the display is clear and rich even under the rays of the sun. There was no noticeable distortion when looking at the screen at an angle.

And other modern flagships beat the XZ in terms of screen pixel density, but otherwise it's a great display. It's supported by Sony's image enhancement software, including X-Reality for enhanced contrast and clarity in photos and videos. 1080p resolution is ideal for a screen of this size.

On the audio front, Sony continues to use high-volume front-facing audio speakers, but they lack the bass of competitors like the . The device has quite a few audio tricks, like the ability to turn compressed audio into high-quality audio when connecting wired headphones.

Inside, everything is familiar to a top category Android smartphone - Snapdragon 820 processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB flash memory. All this is powered by a battery with a capacity of 2900 mAh versus 2620 mAh for the Xperia X. The operating speed is not satisfactory; the only lags were during the initial setup, when applications were updated via an LTE connection. Gaming performance is also impressive thanks to the Adreno 530 graphics chip.

What's different is the camera. For the first time rear camera Sony received hardware 5-axis stabilization, which the company does not yet offer to other manufacturers, supported by laser autofocus and a new color spectrum sensor on the back. The camera is based on the same 23MP Exmor RS sensor as the Xperia X, offering a similar balance of detail when shooting during the day. Stabilization allows the ZX to perform better in low light.

The Xperia XZ has a waterproof design, which is not the first time for Sony. Among other manufacturers, Samsung can boast of the same thing, so this is a rather rare quality that can attract buyers.

In terms of design, everything is not as rosy as with hardware characteristics. The appearance of the device will delight only fans of the Sony brand. To call it boring would be overkill, so we'll use the adjective "unimpressive."

Software

The main aesthetics lies in the stylish lock screen and bootloader, as well as a number of own applications companies like Weather with material design.

For the first time outside of the Google Now Launcher bootloader (by at least, officially) home Sony screen displays Google Now through its vertically scrolling panel. This is a useful innovation that allows customization fans to use the Sony screen while keeping Google's predictive capabilities at their fingertips.

Otherwise, we see small changes regarding clean version Android: custom buttons quick settings, Sony downloader with suggested applications and recommended downloads, Google Doze mode in the form of Sony Stamina mode, which reduces background activity and processor performance to save energy and increase the operating time of the smartphone.

In addition to the usual applications like Sony Album and Music, new News Reader and What's New have appeared. All of them are related to the Sony ecosystem, but integration between pre-installed applications and Sony services gives you the opportunity, if you wish, to refuse to use them. The daily experience with the device has not changed compared to the Xperia X.

A new feature has appeared in the settings - Smart Cleaner recreates optimization in the style of Samsung or HTC, helping to remove old files and optimize memory when working with frequently used applications. Over the course of a week, not too much garbage has accumulated on the device, but over time this function may become more popular.

For beginners, there is an Xperia Tips section with an interactive guide for setting up and using the device.

So, a short description of Sony software: light, fast and understandable.

Other observations regarding the software:

1. Sony has sped up native Android animations, like maps in the recent app switcher.
2. Preinstalled third party applications few, the main ones being AVG Antivirus.
3. The location of the “Clear all” button is inconvenient and you can accidentally press it instead of the recent applications button.

Xperia XZ camera

Sony uses an Exmor RS sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a resolution of 23 megapixels; by default, photos are compressed to 8 megapixels. This leaves room for zoom while maintaining detail.

Stabilization has noticeably improved the camera, especially when shooting indoors and in low light. In most cases, the camera produces high-quality photos in any environment. When Superior Auto works as it should (and it does most of the time), the results are impressive.

However there is pitfalls. In low light, blurry photos often come out, and stabilization suffers more from shaky hands than the Samsung and . At times, the color spectrum sensor does not work as expected, giving photos an unnatural blue or green tint. The same software problems can be observed in Superior Auto mode.

The 23MP image size and sharpness when zoomed in can be another issue. If you shoot photos at maximum quality, details may blur when enlarged and sharpening may become excessive until the images lose their natural appearance. Seems, software processing Cameras in XZ require additional setup.

Application Sony cameras has not changed compared to the Xperia X. The slider on the right gives you a choice between Manual, Superior Auto+, video and various plug-ins modes. Most of the time, users will probably be satisfied Auto mode+. For control there is a manual Manual mode, where you set the ISO value, HDR and subject tracking, time settings, etc. - everything you can expect from a regular digital camera.

It would be nice if these options were easier to discover, but Sony clearly put a lot of effort into the Superior Auto+ mode.

When recording video, the stabilization technology shows itself in all its glory, allowing you to get smooth 1080p/60fps video even in the dark with a minimum of noise. 4K recording is supported, although the device does get quite hot. Given file size restrictions, it is better to use 1080p.

You could say that this is best camera among all Sony smartphones, but it also does not reach the level Apple cameras and Samsung. Perhaps future software updates will help her get closer to the best.

Other camera related information:

1. The intelligent object tracking technology from the Xperia X returns and works just as well here.
2. The new 13MP front camera is good in daylight and decent indoors, but the quality drops in the dark. It can't compare with the frontal one HTC camera UltraSelfie on .
3. There may also be a software problem with shadows in outdoor photos.

Autonomous operation

The Xperia XZ on LTE lasted for 12-14 hours before Stamina mode was activated when the charge level reached 30%. At the same time, with the screen on, the device was on for 3 hours out of this time. In addition to Stamina, there is an Ultra Stamina mode, where the functionality is reduced even more. Qualcomm fast charging supported Quick Charge 3.0.

Conclusion

Sony is not chasing a 2K screen and is content with 1080p, saving battery power. The performance of the smartphone is high, the software is well thought out. The camera has been significantly improved.

The problem for Sony is that Android is dominated by Samsung this year. The camera from the South Korean manufacturer is better, as is the screen, build quality and battery life. It can be assumed that fans of previous Sony products will want to buy the new product.

The main characteristics of the flagship display Sony smartphone remained the same: we are still waiting for 1920 × 1080 pixels placed on a 5.2-inch matrix. The pixel density is high - 423.6 ppi, the effect of "pixelation" on the Z5 display is completely absent.

The device uses an IPS matrix with decent viewing angles: yes, if you look at it from a very sharp angle, the black color loses its saturation slightly, but these are minor things. The screen is responsive and responds quickly and accurately to touches. The device supports up to ten simultaneous clicks and correctly detects gestures. If necessary, the user can activate the corresponding item in the screen settings menu and operate the device with loose gloves - it will detect touches correctly.

Sony Xperia Z5 - AnTuTu MultiTouch Test results

As expected, Sony equipped the Z5 screen with a number of software image “enhancers” so that the user can adjust the color rendition to suit his tastes. The smartphone display can operate in three modes:

• standard: without software interference in color reproduction. It was in this mode that we carried out all the screen tests, without the intervention of cunning “improvers”;
• X-Reality for mobile: Software enhancement for photos and videos (standard filter for mobile displays from Sony Mobile, which corrects color rendering depending on the type of content being displayed);
• extreme brightness mode: Maximum color quality to ensure bright and vibrant images (artificially over-saturates colors, making the picture look “cartoonish”, as on many AMOLED screens).

The smartphone got bright screen: maximum luminosity of the white field - 656 cd/m2. This is a lot even by modern standards. Since the display has a quite effective polarizing filter, and there is an air gap between protective glass and the matrix, on the contrary, is not, the maximum brightness is almost never useful - even in the bright sun, about 400 cd/m2 is enough. On the other hand, one cannot help but like such a reserve of brightness, at least on a psychological level - the Z5’s display is brighter than that of the vast majority of its competitors. It’s also good that it’s comfortable to work with a smartphone in complete darkness: the minimum luminosity of the white field is 18 cd/m2.

The Z5 is equipped with a light sensor that quite adequately adjusts the brightness to the level of ambient light. The display brightness is adjusted smoothly, without jerking. It is noteworthy that the user can configure the auto-corrector to make the screen backlight a little brighter or a little dimmer, depending on personal preferences.

It is somewhat disappointing that due to the high brightness, the luminosity of the black field also rises: with 100% backlight it reaches 0.63 cd/m2 - and this is a bit too much. In practice, this means that blacks at maximum brightness do not look very deep. True, it is enough to slightly reduce the backlight level - and the black will be perfectly saturated. In general, the contrast of the Z5 display is all right - 1041:1 even at maximum brightness.

The color temperature of the Z5 screen, like many other Sony mobile displays, is too high - on average 8800 K with a reference value of 6500 K. Because of this, the picture on the display noticeably pulls towards cool shades. For perfectionists there is an option program adjustment color temperature.

Otherwise, the screen is set up well: all gamma curves - both color components and gray - almost completely coincide with the reference curve; you can safely close your eyes to minimal deviations from it. This means that the device’s display “correctly” displays all halftones and shades. If only its white balance was set correctly out of the box, it would be absolutely great.

Judging by our tests, the display in the Xperia Z5 has been carried over directly from the previous Xperia Z3+, without any significant changes. The screen is good, but Sony engineers do not want to bring the color temperature of their screens to a decent value.

⇡ The hardware moved from the Xperia Z3+ started working faster

In theory, in this paragraph you can refer to the hardware of the Xperia Z3+ and move on to the next point - the Z5 has exactly the same. The smartphone runs on the platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 MSM8994.

The RAM in the device is still 3 gigabytes, it is still the same LPDDR3; The volume of the built-in storage is 32 GB, of which about twenty gigabytes are available to the user, and if this is not enough, microSD memory cards are at your service. It’s great that Sony’s mobile division is not abandoning flash drives, as other manufacturers do.

Interestingly, the Xperia Z5 scored higher in all benchmarks than the Z3+. Increased productivity seen across all test tasks, and we most likely have Sony software optimization to thank for this. An increase of about 10-20% compared to the previous flagship in different tests- this is a very good result.

The device uses a Qualcomm Adreno 430 module as a graphics controller, the power of which is enough for more or less anything.

In terms of performance, the Z5 is the right flagship: there is almost an abundance of power here, users are unlikely to start complaining about its lack even after a couple of years.

⇡ Communications and wireless interfaces: everything is standard

By default, Sony Xperia Z5 can only work with one SIM card Nano-SIM format. In nature, there is a dual-SIM version of the new “Z” - it’s called Xperia Z5 Dual, but we’ll talk about it some other time. Our test subject today knows how to work in LTE networks Cat. 6 with a maximum theoretical data reception speed of 300 Mbit/s, upload speed - 50 Mbit/s. All frequencies important for Russia are supported. Problems with reception cellular signal During testing of the device, we did not identify any problems. Using the Xperia Z5 as the only means of communication is quite convenient - the interlocutor can be heard well, the speaker is loud, and there is no sound at the other end of the line. poor hearing They didn't complain either.

The set of wireless networks in the device is completely standard. Xperia Z5 supports dual-frequency Wi-Fi of all more or less common protocols, Bluetooth version 4.1 and NFC. There is still no infrared port for controlling household appliances in Sony's flagship smartphone. The gadget navigates the area using a radio module that can communicate with GPS satellites, GLONASS and BeiDou. It does this quite quickly, making it convenient to use a smartphone as a car or pedestrian navigator. A few seconds after launching the profile test, the gadget detected a total of 22 satellites of three navigation systems and was guided by 16-18 of them, while the navigation error radius was minimal - less than six meters.

⇡ Camera: finally something new, we've been waiting for changes here for a long time

For several generations in a row, Sony's flagship smartphones have been equipped with the same 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS module. To put it mildly, he didn’t shoot as well as he would have liked. And this is very strange! Because everyone else Sony matrices work much better. However, the Japanese officially admitted the flaw and promised to fix everything - starting with this generation of smartphones

The Xperia Z5 has a new 23-megapixel Sony sensor IMX300 size 1/2.3” with back illumination. The increase in the number of pixels is symbolic, but the Z5 has new system automatic focusing. It is hybrid here: contrast and phase focusing methods are used simultaneously, just like in advanced digital point-and-shoot cameras. It is stated that the Xperia Z5 camera is able to locate the subject in 0.03 seconds. It is also said that the five-fold digital zoom of the Xperia Z5 camera does not affect the quality of photographs. The Z5 has high-aperture optics with a maximum relative aperture of ƒ/2.0, a 24 mm lens in terms of a 35 mm equivalent.

The camera application interface has not changed - it is still quite simple and convenient. The viewfinder has many software effects and options, all standard settings for a smartphone camera, including manual mode. Photos can be taken with a resolution of 23 MP (4:3)/20 MP (16:9) or automatic compression up to eight megapixels to save space and improve quality. The Xperia Z5 can record video in the newfangled 4K format.

Xperia Z5 Camera Test

However, Sony's flagship smartphone still takes pictures imperfectly. No, of course, there is progress: it has become much better than it was, but shooting in the dark is still a problem for the older “Z”. Photos taken in poor lighting tend to be too noisy or somewhat blurry. In addition, the vaunted autofocus in the dark, no, no, and even thinks about it. True, with indoor or outdoor lighting the situation changes for the better: photographs are sharp across the entire field, the colors are bright and saturated, and the contrast of the photographs is high. In bright light, the hybrid autofocus system focuses on the subject very quickly indeed. The minimum focusing distance is about seven to eight centimeters, but macro photographs are somewhat lacking in sharpness. But the Xperia Z5 camera does a very good job of separating the foreground from the background, making the photos look more artistic.

In principle, Sony's flagship smartphone finally takes photographs in the same way as flagships from other companies. And this is both good news and not so good: yes, before this it was noticeably worse, but Sony has the power to make the mobile camera even better so that it stands out significantly among its competitors. And this, unfortunately, has not happened yet.

⇡ Autonomous operation: definitely enough for a day

The smartphone has an 11.02 Wh battery (2900 mAh, 3.8 V), which users do not have access to - the case is non-separable. For a modern five-inch gadget, this is sufficient capacity. During testing, it was used as the main and only means of communication, and not once during the week was it discharged until the end of the working day. The device’s battery lasts for a day or even a little more, depending on the load. A full charging cycle from a standard power supply takes three hours.

In continuous video playback mode at maximum brightness with an active Wi-Fi connection and updating data in background the device lasted just over six and a half hours - a very good result, especially considering that watching a movie with such a high backlight level is not very comfortable. That is, in reality there will be more.

All software parameters energy savings we've seen in previous smartphones Sony Xperia is also available in the Z5: there is a STAMINA mode, which disables data transfer in the background, and Ultra STAMINA, which turns the smartphone into a “dialer”. On the other hand, even with the energy saving settings disabled, complain about the short time battery life During the testing period we didn’t feel like it at all.

⇡ Instead of a conclusion: should I take it?

Good question. In the case of the Xperia Z5, it is important to understand that we're talking about about the device, which at the start of sales was valued at fifty thousand rubles. This is quite a large sum; for this money you can buy almost any smartphone from almost any brand, with rare exceptions. That is, the price is clearly not strong point Sony's new flagship. In terms of performance, it has competitors, in terms of screen quality - too, in terms of camera, in terms of a set of wireless interfaces, in terms of battery life - there will also be competitors. In other words, there is nothing radically outstanding about the Xperia Z5.

Why can you love Sony's new flagship? First of all, for the design. The Xperia Z5 is definitely nice to look at and makes you want to hold it in your hands - the Z3+ and all the previous Sony models from recent years don't look so interesting. Otherwise, it's the same flagship as, say, the LG G4 or Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Whose design is closer to you - choose the one. You won't regret it in any case.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone not only has a modern appearance, but also powerful filling. The new generation Snapdragon 835 processor, which currently has no competitors, is responsible for performance. In addition, the new product has 5.5 inch screen with excellent 4K resolution and highly sensitive cameras, capable of replacing a camera in many cases. Below is a review in which we will try to figure out whether the gadget is worth its price.

• Read also a review of a Sony smartphone for 12,500 rubles.

What's included in the Sony Xperia XZ Premium package

In a compact box along with the smartphone there is network adapter, which is used to charge the gadget, and a USB cable used to connect the product to the computer. There is also a miniature device for removing memory cards from the tray and stereo headphones. Like all the company's products, the smartphone comes with a user manual and a warranty card.

Design Sony Xperia XZ Premium

The screen occupies 69.65% of the front side area. There are no mechanical buttons under the display; interface keys are used to control device functions. At the top there is traditionally an auxiliary camera lens, a notification LED and a speaker, which, in tandem with the main one, participates in music playback and forms surround sound. On the left side there is a hybrid slot for SIM cards and microSD, protected from dust and moisture by a plastic plug. The tray is designed to connect two nanoSim cards or one SIM card and a memory card.

On the right side there is an oblong power activation button with a fingerprint sensor integrated into it, a volume rocker and a key with which you can take photos or videos. At the bottom there is a USB port for connecting to a computer and charger, and a microphone. At the top there is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting a headset. In the upper left part of the rear surface the manufacturer installed:

• the main camera lens, protected around the perimeter by a steel ring to protect the lens from minor mechanical damage;
• photo flash;
• laser autofocus sensors;
• IR remote control emitter.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: specifications

• aspect ratio - 16:9;
• color depth - 24 bits;
• The color palette according to the sRGB standard is 138%.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium hardware

• microSD;
• microSDHC;
• microSDXC.

According to statistics Google, as of May 2017, the number of devices running AndroidNougat is 7.7% of all Android devices in the world and their number continues to grow by an average of 2.2% per month. Due to the peculiarities of the OS, it is possible to use a large number of paid and free applications that can be downloaded from PlayMarket.

Cameras and multimedia Sony Xperia XZ Premium

The module uses a 6-lens GLens lens with a minimum focal length of 4 mm, capable of macro photography from a distance of 12 cm. For high-quality camera operation, the manufacturer has provided laser autofocus and an IR-RGB sensor located next to the flash. Laser focusing is used for objects located in close proximity to the lens. Phase detection autofocus is used for long distance shooting. The IR-RGB system optimally sets the white balance when different power artificial sources light, resulting in pictures with excellent color rendition.

Among other hardware features, I would like to note the unique shutter mechanism, which allows you to clearly shoot moving objects, and an additional button located on the right side smartphone body. If you hold the button for a long time, the camera is activated even when the screen is off; if you press it briefly, the shutter is released. In the settings you can set the volume control as zoom.

The camera can shoot in automatic or manual mode. With the first method, you need to press a button, and the electronics will do the rest. In the second mode, it is possible to set the required shutter speed in the range from 0.0002 to 1 second, change the white balance, perform exposure compensation, and smoothly adjust the focus.

Photos in daylight are clear, without blurring in the corners. When shooting at night, the noise reduction system is activated and at 100% zoom they are “eaten up” small details. One of the advantages of the camera is the function of shooting video in slow motion, while the image quality is reduced to HD and the sound is turned off. In return, it becomes possible to see the grace of movement inaccessible to the human eye under normal conditions. The flash operates in four modes:

• filling;
• automatic;
• eliminating the “red eye” effect;
• flashlight.

For selfies and video calls, Skype has a widescreen 13 MP camera. The sensitivity of the module is enough to take photographs with a resolution of 4160x3120 pixels and create videos in FullHD quality. The secondary camera is equipped with a number of functions, including a filter that smooths out wrinkles on the skin, a smile detection option and a self-timer mode that responds to gestures.

The model is equipped with stereo speakers that provide loud and rich sound. As befits the flagship of the XPERIA line, the smartphone uses S-Force Front Surround technology, providing three-dimensional virtual sound. The presence of the ANO function allows you to determine the type of connected headset and automatically set the necessary sound settings. Many users consider the lack of an FM tuner to be a disadvantage. Built-in video and audio players support AAC, MP3, MP4, MPEG and many other file formats.

Communication Sony Xperia XZ Premium

• A-GPS;
• BriDou;
• Glonass.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium battery review

To increase battery life, the manufacturer has provided a special economical STAMINA mode, which reduces the performance of the gadget and reduces the speed of information transfer in the background. The Qnovo Adapting Charging technology used significantly increases battery life.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: price and release date

Having become familiar with technical characteristics and the functionality of the gadget, one can highlight the positive and negative aspects of the model. The advantages definitely include a modern, powerful new generation processor, a sensitive fingerprint scanner, high degree protection that allows you to safely use your smartphone on the beach or in the shower, as well as a unique screen resolution. Considering that the model is positioned as the flagship of the XPERIA series, there are a number of shortcomings that spoil the overall impression of the gadget:

• despite the use of a new generation camera, the quality of shooting leaves much to be desired;
• the price of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone, although it meets the specifications, is too high;
• for a device of this class, the battery used has a low capacity;
• soiling of the case;
• heating of the device during prolonged use of energy-intensive applications;
• no QuickCharge included in the package.

Although Sony's Xperia XZ Premium ticks almost every box on the high-end smartphone test, and also offers users Android 7.1 combined with excellent performance, it still doesn't make the cut. -5” of our respective rating. In particular, the quality of photos taken in low light leaves much to be desired. And also because Sony, even in its flagship smartphone, refuses to have a fast charger, the ratings in the “Battery” test category are lower than those of its direct competitors.

Advantages

very fast processor
excellent equipment
high quality workmanship

Flaws

The mirror surface of the case collects a lot of fingerprints
Camera in low light does not correspond to high-end level

• Price/quality ratio
  Fine
• Place in the overall ranking
  17 out of 200

• Price/quality ratio: 73
• Performance and Control (35%): 93.2
• Equipment (25%): 93.8
• Battery (15%): 80
• Display (15%): 89.7
• Camera (10%): 73.4

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Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a mirror

For several years now, Sony has not fundamentally changed anything in the design of its smartphones, and this time it continues to rely on the minimalist look that we know from its devices. Xperia series. In principle, it all looks good and elegant, but in the case of the Xperia XZ Premium it already reaches its limits.

Firstly, the phone turns out to be very large, since the screen is surrounded on all sides by clearly defined frames. In addition, Sony has placed an additional black bar at the bottom with soft buttons management, which also occupies a certain place.

On the other hand, the silver/chrome body of the device we tested reflects everything like a mirror. Within a short time, both the front and back surfaces were covered with numerous fingerprints and greasy spots. Of course, they can be rubbed off on clothes, but they definitely won’t be recognized as beautiful. But now there are no problems taking selfies with the main camera. The edges here are also glossy, rounded and very smooth, which makes the device weighing 190 grams easier to slip out of your fingers during a telephone conversation.

Brilliant 4K display

In terms of equipment, Sony is rolling out several heavy artillery pieces to the position at once. These include an extremely clear 4K display with a 5.5-inch diagonal. Xperia XZ Premium in UHD resolution provides not only photos and videos, but also displays user interface.

However, in everyday life a picture with a pixel density of 800 ppi is unlikely to provide any advantages compared to 400 ppi. Even if we bring the smartphone very close to our eyes, we most likely will not be able to notice the difference in clarity. However, VR fans ( virtual reality) will be able to derive some benefit from this.

Like competitors LG and Samsung, Sony advertises support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology. The screen boasts a truly wide color gamut and excellent image quality, but it doesn't shine as brightly as a Full HD display does. The latter reaches a remarkable 582 cd/m2, but Sony can only offer XZ Premium users 485 cd/m2. However, in most cases the content reads quite well.

Battery: Sony is saving on the wrong things

Of course, UHD resolution on a large display took its toll during our online testing. Here, the Xperia XZ Premium managed to last a good eight and a half hours, but it's still a long way from the almost ten hours of the cheaper Xperia XZs.

The device missed a certain number of rating points, not least because of the duration of the charging process, which lasts more than three hours. And although the XZ Premium itself supports Quickcharge 3.0 fast charging technology, Sony decided to save a little money and included a regular power supply with a power of only 7.5 W in the package.

Xperia XZ Premium camera with its advantages and disadvantages

Sony paid great attention to digital camera her new flagship and supplied her high resolution 19 megapixels, as well as a high-speed video recording function with 960 frames per second. Essentially, the camera corresponds to that in the Xperia XZs, but during testing it demonstrated a little best results. The reason may most likely be a new firmware version.

The photo quality here can be considered good for the most part, however, in comparison with such direct competitors as above all, the Xperia XZ Premium still reveals certain shortcomings. Pictures taken in low light do not correspond to the high-end level of the device. This is clearly shown by comparing photographs taken by the smartphone we tested and the HTC U11.

However, even in daylight, the Sony camera does not reach the level of competitors that cost about the same. Contours are often noticeably indistinct and surfaces blurred. Most likely the problem is that the matrix is ​​too small for the high resolution used.

High speed video camera

The camcorder's "High Frame" mode is an interesting feature that makes shooting in daylight a lot of fun. In this mode, the camera shoots video in HD resolution at up to 960 frames per second, so you can then playback the footage very slowly.

However, because the shutter speed per frame is extremely fast in this mode, indoor results often appear too dark and noisy. The ability to take “pre-emptive” pictures is practical. In this mode, the camera takes photos before you press the shutter button, so you can then choose a better shot - this mode is especially useful when shooting moving objects.

Top performance

From the point of view Xperia performance The XZ Premium is on par with the best models on the market (and in our smartphone rankings). Snapdragon 835 provides a fast user interface, smooth scrolling, pleasant response speed to commands and quick application launch. This “system on a chip” also contains gigabit LTE and Bluetooth 5 modules.

If 64 GB of internal memory is not enough, you can expand it using microSD cards. Data exchange with a computer will also be pleasantly fast thanks to the presence of USB 3.1 Type-C. Last but not least practical is the protection of the case in accordance with the IP-68 standard, which for users means the ability to drop the smartphone into water without consequences.
Sony sells the Xperia XZ Premium in chrome and black colors at an initial cost of 54,990 rubles.

Alternative: Sony Xperia XZ

Cheaper, not as well equipped, but with a longer battery life: Sony fans can't go wrong by choosing. At the same time, the smartphone, which has been on sale since last fall, costs about 13,000 rubles less. In some online stores you can find it even cheaper than 40,000 rubles.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium test results

Characteristics and test results of Sony Xperia XZ Premium

In 2017, when one company after another introduces smartphones with screens that spread across the entire body, the Xperia XZ Premium looks a little... old-fashioned. But this does not prevent it from being the flagship with the latest hardware.

Mirror in hand

In this color variation, the body seems to be made entirely of mirrors. Girls appreciate it: all my friends say that every smartphone should have such a feature. Actually, due to the fact that the smartphone is mirrored, it is difficult to say what color it is. Perhaps with a metallic tint.

Is it beautiful? Not everyone likes it. But I belong to the minority, and I think the smartphone looks stylish (put aside the jokes about Armenians!). In any case, it is also available in a dark color, which is not so sparkling and easily soiled.

Because the light one gets dirty from just the thought of touching it. XZ Premium collects fingerprints more sharply than a district police officer at the police department. But to give it its due, the back cover can be easily wiped off. Still, Sony is not stupid, and they applied an oleophobic coating not only to the screen, but also to the back panel.

Only the upper and lower ends are made of non-marking material - they are aluminum, with sharp chamfers at the corners. So sharp that they rub against the inside of the pocket. Add here an impressive weight of 190 grams, and after six months we get frayed new jeans.

The volume keys have finally become comfortable. Now they are on the right side above the power button, that is, like all other normal smartphones, and not under it, as was the case in last year’s Xperia, where you had to unnaturally bend your finger to make the sound quieter.

Traditionally for Sony, there is a separate button on the body to launch the camera. And it itself is protected according to the IP65/68 standard - once upon a time it was the Japanese who were the first to make flagships with such a feature. XZ Premium can be submerged underwater for half an hour to a depth of up to a meter.

Mirror with display

In many ways, the smartphone looks old-fashioned because of the display. Or rather, because of its frames on the left and right. Moreover, they are thick by the standards of 2016 and, perhaps, even 2015. Almost all manufacturers (except Apple) manage to place space on smartphones of this size. large displays. And this is even without bending - simply due to narrower frames. Overall, Sony continues to waste space.

If we talk about the display itself, then it is good, but it cannot be called excellent - at least because it darkens if you look at it at an angle. However, I more than like its color rendering; the colors are rich and accurate.

There is a video “enhancer” called X-Reality for mobile. It works great on embedded demo videos, but when you run it on YouTube, you don't see a noticeable difference in the image. In any case, the Ferrari has not become any redder, and the Côte d'Azur, where this Ferrari drove, is still the same azure as on other devices.

And the display here is 4K. That is, with ultra-high resolution. But since rendering such a clear image requires a lot of resources, 4K is enabled only when watching video with this resolution. And there is so little 4K content now that the cat didn’t even start crying. The rest of the time, the smartphone operates in a more gentle FullHD mode, and I assure you, you will not notice the difference.

Very powerful iron

Actually, the top fat filling here is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, which Sony literally managed to get. Actually, besides the Xperia XZ Premium, only two smartphones have this processor – the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Xiaomi Mi6, and these are incredibly powerful devices.

This processor will clearly be enough for the next couple of years so that the smartphone can work with current applications. And just like in the Korean flagship, there is 4 GB of RAM, which is enough to keep many running programs and browser pages in memory and instantly switch between them.

There is 64 GB of internal memory, and it can be expanded. As it has become fashionable nowadays, card slot MicroSD memory combined with a second slot for SIM cards.

At the same time, the XZ Premium gets warm when performing heavy, resource-intensive tasks, unlike, again, the Samsung Galaxy S8. It doesn’t get hot, as happens with some devices, but the heat from the back cover is noticeable. Thanks to the moisture protection, the smartphone can simply be stuck under running cold water. Although the decision is, of course, ridiculous.

Not the most durable battery

Unfortunately, with operating time, everything is not so rosy here, because the battery capacity is not so large - only 3230 mAh. The smartphone plays FullHD video at maximum brightness for only 5 hours, and you can play on it for only 4.5 hours. Galaxy S8 with similar hardware and a comparable battery delivers twice as much best performance!

IN real life This results in the Xperia XZ Premium running until the end of the work day and turning off somewhere on the way home. To do this, there is a Stamina mode, which reduces the performance of the smartphone and turns off data transfer in the background. That is, they turned off the screen - the Internet turned off, and with it WhatsApp, mail and other applications that need the network.

The user can create a “white list” of applications that can be used when the screen is off (and access the Internet). In this case, the smartphone will live significantly longer, but there is a high risk of missing an important notification from an application that is not included in the list of allowed ones.

And, yes, the smartphone supports fast charging according to the Quick Charge 3.0 standard, but the kit comes with a regular plug that cannot quickly charge the smartphone. You will need to purchase QuickCharge separately.

Fast fingerprint scanner

Finger recognition was one of the weak points Sony for a long time. Starting with the XZ, the company started shipping faster fingerprint scanners, and now they're almost as fast as Huawei's, which is a compliment. You no longer need to keep your finger on the power button (which is where the scanner is located), just a gentle press is enough.

New camera

Sony made a new 19-megapixel camera module for the XZ Premium, which they called Motion Eye. However, the traditional problem for Sony is camera software. I mean, the way the program can work with this component. And here we continue to encounter the already known features of photographs taken on the Xperia: torn edges of objects, periodic mismatch in white balance and huge amount smeared noise when shooting in the dark.

Moreover, now these noises have appeared in photographs taken during the day, and as a result, it seems as if they were passed through Prisma. And, no, this is not nitpicking. Look at these photo fragments at 100% magnification.

We're not kidding. All original photos and their crops are available at this link.

It's very sad. I really hope that this is a problem with the crude firmware, and by the start of sales the quality of shooting will be improved with the help of system updates. Although the chances are slim, of course. It's surprising, of course, that front camera It shoots better and with better quality.

Another feature of the camera is the ability to shoot in super slow motion, with a frequency of 960 frames per second. But for this you need to have very light. And then the picture will still be noisy. However, competitors still don’t have anything similar. You can shoot exactly 0.182 seconds in this mode, which will make a five-second video. Something like this.

Resume

Although the smartphone turned out to be quite good, compared to the same Galaxy S8 (it’s impossible to avoid comparisons, because it’s the same price and the same hardware), it looks archaic. And Samsung is a more logical purchase in the “55 thousand rubles” category. It works longer, takes better pictures, and plus - it sets a trend, and all manufacturers will follow it in one way or another.

Who is Xperia XZ Premium for? Perhaps this is a smartphone for those people who do not want to change their habits. For example, that the screen should be flat. Or that a smartphone should be heavy. My friend, for example, bought his predecessor, the Xperia XZ, because he didn’t want a Samsung, he was tired of the iPhone, and everything else was “undignified.” And there are many such people.

But the most amazing thing is that the Xperia XZ Premium managed to make you fall in love with it, despite its shortcomings. It has its own charm, it attracts attention, and it is an object in itself, like an iPhone. Only more controversial.

Advantages:

• non-standard design;
• the most powerful iron;
• fast interface;
• excellent fingerprint scanner;
• protection against water and dust (IP68);
• super slow motion;
• good display.

Flaws:

• weak camera compared to competitors;
• not the most capacious battery;
• very easily soiled case;
• heating under load;
• no QuickCharge included;
• archaic.