New Sony Xperia phone. Sony smartphones. The best Sony smartphones with a good camera

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

Sony Xperia X Smartphone - Reviews

Sony has really improved its design with the Xperia X

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

At first glance, the smartphone looks like an older Xperia Z model, but it has some nice upgrades that make the phone much more comfortable to hold in your hand. The first change is the screen size, it has decreased from 5.2 to 5.0 inches, and the smartphone itself has become much more comfortable in the hand (this, of course, depends on the size of the hands), which makes it a good alternative to many of the giant phablets on the market .

Fragility, slipperiness, fingerprints on the back of the case, they will no longer be here, because glass has been replaced by a metal back panel.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 make the Sony Xperia X feel softer in your hand. Despite the presence of a 23-megapixel camera, the module is located almost on the same level as 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 around 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 roughly on par with last year's Galaxy S6. This worries us because it means that the Xperia X's shelf life, despite its high price, may be shorter than that of other comparably priced 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 issue, and the display has a 5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 pixel IPS LCD screen. There's 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 normal day, you should end up at 20-40 percent, and Sony's boost modes seem to really help in a pinch.

The call quality is fine, although we had a few strange 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 limited one-year warranty, which only covers manufacturing defects and not problems caused by use of the phone.

Bottom line

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

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

Advantages

• More durable design;
• 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, the Xperia Z, on the mobile market, which will provide very serious competition to current and future flagship devices. This is the first major manufacturer to use a 5-inch 1080p screen. In our review we will try to talk 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 network 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 device waterproof (IPX57 standard) and dustproof (IP55 standard).

The choice of materials also has negative aspects. This way the glass quickly becomes 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 creaks, other sounds or play were detected during operation. Since there is glass on both sides, 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. Below it are the touch navigation buttons, which are part of the display, and a microphone.

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

At the top end, a 3.5 mm audio jack is hidden under a plastic cover.

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

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

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

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

Performance and Software

Sony Xperia Z is based on the Snapdragon APQ8064 S4 Pro chipset with a 4-core Krait processor clocked at 1.5 GHz 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 simply fly on it.

The device runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OS. 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 were demonstrated in LinPack, which focuses on multi-threaded performance.

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

But most games will likely run at native resolution, so 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 carried out at high quality settings and, surprisingly, the gadget again came out in first place.

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

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

So, from the tests, let's move on 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 rich pre-installed software: browser, email client, programs for integration with, navigation applications, audio and video players, etc.

Screen

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

Pixel density – 441 ppi.

You can actually see the advantage over 720p displays with the naked eye, but the difference is not that big.

The new Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology will also improve performance when playing videos and viewing images, and work better in bright sunlight.

Below is a specialized sunlight clarity 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 slight one. So Sony needs to work more carefully in this area to catch up with its competitors.

We also note that the display does not have very good contrast and the colors are not very inspiring. Below is the 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, you will get a photo with a resolution of 3920x2940 pixels.

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

Sony Xperia Z offers all kinds of features including facial recognition, Smile Shutter, geotagging, touch capture and HDR mode.

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

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

Examples of photos:

The Xperia Z is capable of shooting video with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. This model also provides the ability to shoot video, which sets it apart 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 ones could take full-resolution footage when recording video.

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

Example video:

Battery

The Sony Xperia Z uses a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2330 mAh. 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 listening to music and up to 5.5 hours – in video viewing mode.

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

Price

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

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

Sony Xperia Z video review:

During the first half of 2017, Sony Mobile managed to release a whole bunch of smartphones. But which ones are the most relevant to buy? And is it worth choosing only from new products, maybe the “oldies” from 2016 are still good for something? Find out in this post!

This top was created solely in the opinion of the author and the main criteria are price/quality/relevance of the gadget. All prices are current as of June 19, 2017.

TOP 5 current Sony Xperia phones in 2017

5. Sony Xperia XZ Premium

The technological flagship presented this year will be an excellent purchase for all Sony fans and not only. The smartphone is the successor to the Z5 Premium, has top-end specifications and will receive fast Android updates for at least 24 months.

The XZ Premium received a 4K screen with support for HDR, Hi-Res Audio, a Motion Eye camera that can shoot video at 960 fps, and a Snapdragon 835.

The smartphone also has other features, for example: USB Type-C 3.1, water and dust protection according to the IP65/68 standard, the “Xperia Actions” function, which gives useful tips, and others.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium will be a current smartphone for at least 2 years, and the performance will be enough for all 4 years.

Price: 55,000 rubles, sales in Russia have already begun.

The closest competitors from other manufacturers are:

• Galaxy S8 (55,000 rubles),
• LG G6 (52,000 rubles),
• HTC U11 (45,000 rubles, an excellent price for a flagship from an A-brand),
• iPhone 7 plus (63,000 rubles).

Each has its own quirks and shortcomings, but the Xperia XZ Premium stands out with its distinctive design and innovative camera.

4. Sony Xperia XZ

Yes, yes, exactly Xperia XZ (). It also has a sophisticated camera with its own features - an Exmor RS™ matrix, a BIONZ image processor and an RGBC-IR sensor. All this allows you to get good photos in any conditions.

The Xperia XZ is based on the Snapdragon 820, which will have plenty of power for another couple of years. The smartphone will definitely be updated to Android 8.0 update.

And all this splendor can be bought for 39,000 rubles.

3. Sony Xperia X Compact

Xperia X Compact () is a very nice smartphone. It was created specifically for those who love compact and powerful devices. It has the same camera as the Xperia XZ, 3 GB of RAM and Snapdragon 650, 4.6 inch HD screen.

The smartphone runs all games smoothly at high settings and scores more than 70 thousand points in AnTuTu. The 2700 mAh battery allows you to use the smartphone for up to two days under moderate load. The X Compact will also receive updates up to Android 8.0.

And the best part is the price: 25,000 rubles.

2. Sony Xperia XA1

The mid-segment Xperia phone presented this year has good characteristics: 23 MP camera from the Xperia Z5, MediaTek Helio P20, 3 GB of RAM.

MediaTek may be confused (application optimization, etc.), but everything works smoothly, and energy efficiency is also good.

In Antutu, the Xperia XA1 scores just over 60 thousand points. It is worth mentioning that it has an HD screen, which is normal for 5 inches, but there are people for whom this may not be enough.

Using the smartphone with one hand is easy, and many will like the frameless design.

The Xperia XA1 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, and should be updated to Android 8.0 in the future.

Price: 22,000 rubles.

1. Sony Xperia X Performance

Sony Xperia X Performance became the winner of this TOP for several reasons:

• Snapdragon 820
• Good camera
• Good autonomy and
• High quality FHD screen
• Guaranteed update to Android
• Great price: about 29,000 rubles.

If you love Sony smartphones, then the most rational thing to do would be to buy the Xperia X Performance.

***

It is worth mentioning IFA 2017, where Sony Mobile will show a new flagship and a number of more affordable phones. If this happens, prices for the Xperia XZ and X Performance will drop even lower, so think before you buy.

Also, we must not forget about the world of second-hand and gray stores. You can always find it much cheaper, but be careful - on Avito not only are the prices sweet, but the scammers are skillful. 😉

Mobile phones, smartphones from the Japanese company Sony Mobile Communications Inc. are widely represented in online stores in Moscow. Their production began in 2008, when the company was called Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. But after breaking away, Sony was able to start producing flagship premium phones that were in demand.

Functional Features

Since 2012, after buying out Ericsson's share of shares, Sony phones began to be called Sony Xperia and are designated by letters indicating the direction of functionality. Now they are producing budget models J, versions for various operators D, F, T, V, fashion solutions S, clamshell models Z and many others.

All Sony smartphones run Android OS, although the first models experimented with Windows. New items from the Sony brand:

• Xperia XZ Premium with water-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 coating. Equipped with a Motion Eye camera that captures movements at 910 frames per second. 4K HDR display, Exmor™ RS camera. Sony self-learning phone with Xperia Actions feature, with Smart Stamina energy saving optimization
• Xperia XZs with Super slow motion mode, with three sensors for shooting in any difficult conditions. Waterproof case with a transparent cover that does not need to be opened.
• Xperia XA1 Ultra with a 6-inch display, 21.5 megapixel camera, hybrid autofocus, optical stabilization, intelligent flash.
• The Xperia XA1 features a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor, a wide-angle lens, and a Smart Cleaner feature that automatically disables unused apps and clears cache to free up memory.
• Sony Xperia L1. 5.5-inch display, 4-core processor and 2GB of RAM.

The Aport catalog will help you compare technical characteristics and prices of devices. Here you can read the description, customer reviews, find out where it is more profitable to buy the selected model.