Sony xperia model range. Sony phones

Smartphones from Sony are quite popular these days. This is logical, because the company manages to produce gadgets of excellent quality at an affordable price. That is why they are so popular among buyers and receive positive reviews. We have compiled a rating of the best Sony Xperia smartphones based on customer reviews. That's what came out of it.

1st place – Sony Xperia Z3 Compact ($430)

One of the best compact phones, priced at $430. This model has the largest number of positive reviews, which is why we placed it in first place.

Characteristics:

Screen diagonal 4.6 inches;
IPS matrix, resolution 1280x720 dpi;
4-core processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz;
2 GB RAM;
Excellent rear camera with LED flash and 20.7 MP resolution;
Battery capacity 2600 mAh;
Availability of satellite navigation modules (GPS/GLONASS), various sensors such as gyroscope, compass, etc.
The full-fledged model (not Compact) took first place in our review of phones under 20 thousand rubles. Find it here.

The manufacturer managed to cram excellent hardware and sensors into a small and compact case, which makes this model multifunctional. If you are looking for a small and efficient phone with various possible functions, then it is appropriate to consider this gadget first. Moreover, the device is waterproof!

Reviews about this model are positive. In particular, they highlight the survivability of the phone and its resistance to various mechanical influences. It has an excellent camera with various bells and whistles and a fairly powerful battery that needs to be charged once every 2 days.

As for the disadvantages, first of all it is heating. It gets so hot that it can be used as a boiler (it's waterproof, after all). Well, one more thing: this phone is slippery, although this is a dubious drawback.

2nd place – Xperia Z1 Compact ($320)

Second place goes to the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, which costs less – $320. Of course, the characteristics will also be worse, but overall this is an excellent device for reasonable money.

Characteristics:

Screen diagonal 4.3 inches;
IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280×720;
4-core processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz;
2 GB RAM;
Camera with a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, LED flash and automatic focus.
2300 mAh battery;
Availability of satellite navigation modules.

There are some differences between this smartphone and the previous model, but they are minor. This is also a beautiful and compact gadget with a good battery and water protection. It collects positive reviews from customers, who primarily note the protection against water, as well as a capacious battery that lasts for one and a half to two days.

As for the shortcomings, first of all it is the back cover, which gets scratched very quickly. The external speaker is also weak, and some buyers complained that the device has very poor network reception. However, this is an isolated review.

3rd place – Xperia Z2 (D6503) ($436)

Characteristics:

Screen diagonal 5.2 inches;
IPS matrix with a resolution of 1920×1080;
Processor with a frequency of 2.3 GHz (4 cores);
RAM 3 GB;
Rear camera with a resolution of 20.7 MP;
Satellite navigation modules and the presence of various sensors.

Impressive specs, but what's more impressive are the reviews. The phone is very popular due to its high reliability. Buyers note that even after three years of use there are no problems with it. It also boasts fairly high performance, high-quality assembly and really good water resistance. There is a bright and clear screen, an excellent camera with different “goodies”, which makes shooting more interesting and varied.

As for the disadvantages, first of all it is the weight and dimensions. Many people write that the case is slippery, so you should use it very carefully, otherwise it will fall and break.

4th place – Xperia V ($220)

An inexpensive and practical smartphone that costs $220. It is water resistant, which is extremely rare considering the price.

Characteristics:

Screen diagonal 4.3 inches;
TFT screen with a resolution of 1280×720;
2-core processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz;
RAM 1 GB;
Battery capacity 1750 mAh;
Rear camera (13 megapixels) with built-in flash, face detection, autofocus;
Satellite navigation modules.

The most important advantage of this smartphone is its low cost. At the same time, it has pretty good characteristics: judging by the reviews, the smartphone works quickly and without glitches. There is a bright screen, a good camera, and the device itself has a stylish, laconic design. Buyers also note that the smartphone is durable and there are no problems with it for three years. Therefore, his presence in this ranking is completely justified.

5th place – Xperia C ($300)

A slightly more expensive smartphone compared to the previous model, which will cost the buyer $30. There is no water protection here, but you can insert 2 SIM cards at once.

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 960x540;
RAM 1 GB;
Battery capacity 2390 mAh;
Camera with 8 megapixel resolution, automatic focus, flash, smile and face detection technology.

The low resolution immediately catches your eye, which is usually not typical for models with a 5-inch diagonal. This is the first drawback. However, this disadvantage is compensated by its advantages: this is a reliable gadget that will serve for many years. There is also a very capacious battery - its capacity is enough for 2-3 days of operation. Low cost is another advantage. Also, many buyers note the poor quality of the front camera - this is also a weak point.

6th place – Xperia Z5 Compact ($520)

A very cool and expensive flagship from Sony worth $520. It’s worth noting right away: the model is worth the money!

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 4.6 inches and a resolution of 1280×720;
8-core processor;
2 GB RAM;
32 GB of internal memory;
Capacious battery (2700 mAh);
Camera with a resolution of 23 megapixels and autofocus;
Satellite navigation modules;
There is water protection.

The gadget is collecting positive reviews. It's fast and powerful, has a great camera and a long-lasting battery that doesn't need to be charged every day. There is also a very fast GPS module.

As for the disadvantages, users note weak sound and high price. It also gets very hot and is slippery, making it easy to drop. We do not recommend this gadget for people with weak hands.

7th place – Xperia M2 Dual sim ($187)

A cheap and simple smartphone from Sony Xperia costs $187 on average. It doesn't have any unique features. This is just a good and functional gadget that is worth the money.

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 4.8 inches;
Resolution 960x540;
4-core processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz;
1 GB RAM;
Battery capacity 2300 mAh;
8 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash;
Satellite navigation modules.

This smartphone has all the functional features that Sony is so loved for. Build quality, proprietary camera (sensor) and sleek classic design. A definite plus is support for two SIM cards, as well as excellent sound from speakers and headphones. True, not for audiophiles.

It is also worth talking about the disadvantages. After updating the Android version above version 5, the phone “thinks” longer when trying to turn on the camera or make a call. However, this is typical for almost all smartphones with weak hardware.

In fact: this is an ordinary good smartphone with a limited resource of components. However, its low cost offsets its shortcomings, which is why the device is among the best.

8th place – Xperia E ($140)

Another inexpensive gadget from Sony is the Sony Xperia E, which costs $140 on average. This is a practical and simple gadget, which, however, collects positive customer reviews.

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 3.5 inches and a resolution of 480x320;
Simple 1 GHz processor;
512 RAM;
Camera with a resolution of 3.2 MP;
Battery capacity 1530 mAh.

This is a weak gadget, but its price is appropriate. The smartphone is also compact and boasts a shock-resistant body. Many users complain about the lack of built-in memory and performance, which is logical, given its parameters. But we must not forget about its reliability - this is a quality phone that will work for many years.

9th place – Xperia T2 Ultra dual ($225)

A wonderful gadget Sony Xperia T2 Ultra dual worth $225. Its main distinguishing feature is its large screen with excellent resolution.

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels;
4-core processor with a frequency of 1.4 GHz;
1 GB RAM;
Camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels, autofocus and face recognition;
Satellite navigation modules;
Battery 3000 mAh

For just $225, the buyer will get an excellent gadget with a wonderful large screen and an excellent rear camera. There is also a large battery, so the phone does not need to be charged every day. However, the model is not without its drawbacks: the back cover is easily scratched, the body is not very rigid, and the external speaker is rather weak. Some buyers complain about the quality of photos and videos.

10th place – Xperia C3 dual ($227)

The latest representative of the best Sony Xperia smartphones is the C3 dual model with support for two SIM cards, as the name suggests.

Characteristics:

Screen with a diagonal of 5.5 inches and a resolution of 1280x720;
4-core processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz;
RAM 1 GB;
8-megapixel camera with autofocus and face detection;
Satellite navigation modules;
Battery capacity 2500 mAh.

The gadget turned out great, and it’s not for nothing that there are a lot of positive reviews about it. There is a large screen with excellent picture detail. Even though the model is large, it is lightweight. The battery boasts a long resource. The smartphone lasts for 7 hours of active use, which is an excellent indicator for modern models. Well, support for two SIM cards is a bonus.

As for the shortcomings, buyers primarily highlight the weak camera, which blurs and films with “noise”. Therefore, if you want to get high-quality pictures, you will have to edit them in some photo editor. There are also complaints about the poor performance of the GPS module and the lack of RAM.

So, these are the TOP 5 most popular Sony Xperia. Places in this top are distributed based on the number of discussions on specialized forums and the number of citations of the smartphone on social networks. The higher these indicators, the higher the popularity.

Well, let's go!

5. Xperia Z3 Compact

The compact flagship of the previous generation is still very popular. And why all? Because even now there are practically no competitors in the segment of compact and powerful smartphones.

Or rather, they exist, but the first competitor is the new Xperia Z5 Compact, and the second is the iPhone of various generations.

Plus, the price of the Xperia Z3 Compact has now dropped significantly, so this model puts a lot of pressure on other Xperia devices. Thrifty consumers don't see much difference between new and old compacts, so the Xperia Z3 Compact will be a highly relevant purchase for some time to come.

4. Xperia M5

It was called a flagship killer even before sales began last summer. Cool features and flagship design, but much cheaper than it.

It was supposed to be like this, but as it happens, something didn’t work out. At the start, the price was somewhat inflated (this applies not only to Russia, but also to Europe), which did not allow this model to become a full-fledged flagship killer.

Otherwise, everything is in order - a 5” screen with FHD resolution, an eight-core Helio X10 processor and a high-quality 21 megapixel main camera with fast autofocus. The design is almost the same as the Xperia Z3+, but instead of aluminum, high-quality plastic is used in the body.

By the way, the cost of the Xperia M5 has decreased recently, so it is a good alternative to flagships. If you're committed to Sony, of course.

3. Xperia Z5

The current flagship from the latest Z5 line. For its combination of distinctive design and top-end specifications, the Xperia Z5 can rightfully be called the best Sony smartphone in recent years. Many also liked the design on the back of the device.

And everyone really liked the correctly selected shades of the new flagship - after all, it’s not every day that you can buy such a beautiful green smartphone!

2. Xperia C5 Ultra

High-quality front camera and frameless design? Please, Xperia C5 Ultra is at your service.

Sony surprised many by releasing a phablet with an almost completely frameless screen. With a large six-inch screen. Nobody expected this from a Japanese company, so the phone attracted attention.

An excellent solution for those who are looking for a relatively inexpensive solution with a good combination of design and hardware.

1. Xperia Z5 Premium - everyone is talking about it!

To finish the top you need to have the coolest Sony smartphone. And it's cool not because it's shiny and big, but because it's the first smartphone with a 4K screen. As much as 3840x2160 by 5.5 inches! Moreover, the quality of the display is beyond praise, the density at ~800 ppi coupled with an excellent IPS matrix works wonders, at least for the eyes.

And let the haters say that “oh, yes, 4K only works in the camera application, gallery and proprietary video player, and otherwise only FHD! Marketing!”, but in these operating modes you will see a truly detailed picture!

This and the excellent design in the Sense of Unity style made it the most cited and desired smartphone from Sony.

What do you think? Which Sony Xperia smartphone do you consider the most popular and noticeable in recent times?

Write your thoughts in the comments.

This week began for the smartphone market with the completely unexpected announcement of Sony Xperia XA, Xperia X and Xperia X Performance (preview). It’s worth paying tribute to the Japanese security services: not a single flagship shown at MWC 2016 was as shrouded in mystery as Sony’s X-series. The new line marked the rebirth of the entire Xperia brand, and at the same time the death of the Xperia Z collection. Let's remember all the models in this series, from the very first Xperia Z to the 4K flagship Z5 Premium. There were twenty-one of them in total, so make yourself comfortable.

The process of parting with Ericsson for Sony's mobile business lasted for a whole year. The first Sonys without Ericsson were marked with the logo of the joint venture, and the Sony Xperia S was known to the Japanese as Sony Ericsson Xperia NX. The first smartphone created truly without the Ericsson heritage was the Xperia Z. Its announcement took place on January 7, 2013 at CES. It was the Xperia Z that introduced the world to the OmniBalance design concept, which featured slightly rounded edges, symmetry and smooth reflective surfaces on all sides. The gadget was one of the first Full HD smartphones (Sharp and OPPO were still ahead of the company), it received a 13-megapixel Exmor RS camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz, 2 GB of RAM memory, dust and moisture protection IP55/57 and a 2300 mAh battery. During testing, the smartphone made a positive impression on us: fresh design, high-quality camera, powerful hardware, good battery life and real water protection. The only disappointment was that the screen was not the brightest; the TFT panel was inferior to the IPS and AMOLED of that time in many respects.

Together with the Xperia Z, the Japanese demonstrated another flagship – the Xperia ZL. This model was deprived of dust and moisture protection, contacts for the docking station, equipped with color backlighting, an infrared port, a camera button was added, and the front camera was moved down. Also, the Xperia ZL does not have glass on the rear panel, and the body is slightly more compact with the same screen diagonal (7 mm shorter and 1 mm narrower). It was compactness that became the main advantage of the Xperia ZL; in addition, it was slightly cheaper than other flagships of its time, although it had the same characteristics as the Xperia Z.

Another smartphone in the Sony lineup in the first half of 2013 was the Xperia ZR. It became the most secure of the three first Xperia Z (IP55/58), but received a smaller 4.55" HD screen in size and resolution. The amount of built-in memory was also reduced, it became 8 GB. However, the use of a screen with a low resolution is positive affected the performance, and the compact size was perceived as an advantage at the beginning of 2013. However, the screen fading when tilted - the problem of all early “Z”s - did not bypass this model, plus 8 GB of memory, of which 5 GB is free, and the ability to install software. only for built-in memory - an unpleasant mix. It’s sad that the ZR became a “dead-end branch of evolution” and left no offspring (the Japanese A-series does not count: all subsequent models were based on the Z* Compact).

Announced at the beginning of summer, this phablet has become a cult device. All thanks to the gigantic 6.44" screen, which made the Xperia Z Ultra one of the largest smartphones in history. The incomprehensible "under-tablet and over-phone" captivated users with its impressive performance (the first smartphone on the Snapdragon 800!), thin (6.5 mm) and a beautiful body made of high-quality materials (albeit with imperfect assembly) and, of course, a huge screen that revolutionized the scenarios for using the gadget. It is impossible not to note the problems with the sensitivity of the screen, the lottery with the type of display (which began in the first Xperia Z and reached its culmination in the Xperia Z1). ) and an 8-megapixel camera of mediocre quality (Sony probably thought that it was making a tablet and installed a corresponding camera). Among the characteristics not mentioned above, we note 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, a 2-megapixel front camera and a 3000 mAh battery.

In addition to the Xperia Z Ultra, which balanced on the line between smartphones and tablets, Sony also made a full-fledged tablet – the Xperia Tablet Z. It received a 10.1" screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, 8.1-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras, and a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. , 2 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of ROM, a stylish 6.9 mm thick case and a 6000 mAh battery. It became the best Android tablet of its time, combining an excellent design, a lightweight body and the most powerful hardware. The only serious competitor to the tablet was the iPad 4. .

Eight months after the Xperia Z, the Japanese company showed off a seriously improved version of its flagship – the Xperia Z1. It, like the Xperia Z Ultra, received a Snapdragon 800 chipset, a 2-megapixel front camera, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. A 20.7-megapixel camera with an Exmor RS sensor and G Lens optics made the Z1 one of the best camera phones of its time, so the company installed exactly the same cameras in the Z2, Z3 and even Z3+. A 3000 mAh battery made the Z1 a “long-liver” among flagships. Sony has removed the plug for the headphone jack, but has retained the water resistance at the level of the Xperia ZR (IP55/58). The smartphone was delivered to different regions with completely different displays (of course, these were always 5" Full HD panels, but the technology and even the manufacturer differed from country to country, from batch to batch), and almost all of them could not boast of good viewing angles , fading when tilted slightly. In all other respects, the display was good, and overall the Xperia Z1 was one of the best smartphones of its time.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact/Xperia Z1 f in Japan (review)

Initially announced by the Japanese operator DoCoMo, the device caused a lot of noise: is it really possible that a small, but truly flagship, will appear among the many Android shovels? There were plenty of crafts with the names “S3 mini” and “One mini” on the market, but the Z1 Compact was not on the same level with them. It really was a flagship: with a 20.7-megapixel camera, a Snapdragon 800 chipset inside, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, IP55/58 protection and a 2300 mAh battery! In this model, Sony managed to fix problems with the screen and also further improve battery life. The only thing that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact was often criticized for was the wide margins around the 4.3" HD screen and the plastic back panel for the international model, as opposed to glass for the Japanese version.

Sony Xperia Z1S

Yes, yes, yes, there was such a model. But only in the USA and only from T-Mobile. It was announced together with the Xperia Z1 Compact (namely Compact, not f), so no one noticed its announcement. And there are very few differences from the Z1 - a plastic frame instead of a metal one, a different microphone shape on the back of the case and double the amount of internal memory - 32 GB, as in Japan, and not 16 GB.

The third generation of “Zets” was already shown at MWC 2014, but the release was postponed more than once, and the smartphone only reached Russian shelves in May. The smartphone received a 5.2" Full HD screen, a 20.7-megapixel camera, a Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM, IP55/58 protection and a 3200 mAh battery. Some smoothness and streamlining that appeared in the Xperia Z1 were stopped here, and buyers saw OmniBalance in its original form for the third time in a row. It was starting to get boring, but did we know then what would happen next? Sony abandoned covering smartphones with protective films, finally equipped the flagship with a high-quality display, and achieved two days. work without recharging and tweaked the camera a little, starting to lag behind its competitors little by little. However, the Z2, like the Z1, was one of the most balanced smartphones of its time - it had neither a 4-megapixel camera nor a band-aid-style cover, but it was autonomous. still remained a serious trump card.

Sony Xperia ZL2/Xperia Z2a in Taiwan

For some reason, part of the 2014 summer collection of the Japanese operator au was not the Xperia Z2, but its incomprehensible surrogate called ZL2, which was later released as the Xperia Z2a in Taiwan and never appeared anywhere else. Why it was necessary to reduce the screen to 5", the battery to 3000 mAh and at the same time reduce the resolution of the front camera seven times (from 2 MP to 0.3 MP), without changing anything else in the flagship, is unclear. However, this is exactly how the Xperia ZL2 came out, which became the latest in Sony's line of "slightly smaller flagships".

The sequel to the Xperia Tablet Z received the same hardware as the Xperia Z2: Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The rest was left as a legacy from the first Z-tablet: a 10.1" screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, a 6000 mAh battery, 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras. The light, thin, flexing, imperfectly assembled and completely plastic body left us with no the most pleasant impression after the first acquaintance, but detailed testing of the Z2 Tablet never took place.

If the Xperia Z2, similar to the Z and Z1, was only somewhat alarming, then the fourth flagship in a row with the same external appearance was already disappointing in many ways. And in terms of technical characteristics, there were very few changes compared to the Xperia Z2: minus 100 mAh battery, plus 300 MHz processor, slightly thinner body and more advanced protection (IP65/68). The camera no longer seemed as high quality as before, because competitors did not stand still, and Sony added only a few software features over the year. The screen became even brighter, which, coupled with a smaller battery, affected autonomy. However, the Xperia Z3 has become one of Sony's best-looking smartphones, with a sleek, polished design, but not without build quality and software issues.

This smartphone has become a successful continuation of the Xperia Z1 Compact. Excellent design, flagship specifications, an enlarged screen in the same sized body, good battery life - all this determined that the Z3 Compact became the best-selling smartphone in the entire Xperia line. The smartphone had the same camera as the Xperia Z3 - the smartphone had no competitors. Let us remind you that the device received a 4.6" IPS screen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, 20.7-megapixel and 2.2-megapixel cameras, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, a 2600 mAh battery and software protection. IP65/68 standards.

Sony Xperia Z3v

The American operator Verizon released not the usual Xperia Z3, but an improved one – Z3v. It received higher quality optics, 32 GB of internal memory, an increased battery to 3200 mAh and support for wireless charging. Well, the design has been changed, to the extent that this phrase is generally acceptable for use within the Xperia Z line: the smartphone looks more like the Xperia Z2/Z4 than the Z3. Take a closer look at the speakers on the front panel.

Sony's mobile division loves long names (remember the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro), and among the Z-series, the compact tablet from last year turned out to be the leader. It was not as flimsy as the Xperia Z2 Tablet and was built better. We remind you of the characteristics: 8" Full HD screen, Snapdragon 801 chipset, 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras, 3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory, 4500 mAh battery, IP65/68 protection, 6.4 mm thick case The tablet can still be considered one of the best compacts on the market.

Releasing the fifth identical externally flagship in a row and again not offering any breakthroughs inside, Sony realized that there was no longer any need to sort out the numbers, and simply added a plus to the name - they say, yes, this is not a new flagship, but just a slightly modified old one. The case has become even thinner, the screen is even brighter and better, the battery is even smaller. The main problem of the smartphone was heating, which was critical for the Snapdragon 810 even in the all-plastic G Flex 2, and here it even made it possible to forget about comfortable active use. Let us recall the characteristics of the controversial flagship: 5.2" Full HD screen, 20.7-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, IP65/68 protection, 2930 mAh battery.

Sony Xperia Z4v

If the differences between the Z3v and the Z3 were completely insignificant, then the Z4v should have become a heavily redesigned Z4. Why "should"? Because the development of the first Quad HD smartphone Xperia took so much time that the company managed to announce the Z5, and the Z4v no longer made any sense and was canceled. The smartphone was supposed to have a 3000 mAh battery, support for wireless charging, a design noticeably different from the Z3+/Z4, and a 5.2" Quad HD screen. All other characteristics were supposed to be the same as in the regular Xperia Z4, that is, Z3+.

The latest Sony tablet, in addition to the new processor and front camera borrowed from the Z3+, boasts another improvement - a display with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, which Sony tablets did not have before the Z4 Tablet. Inherited from the two previous Xperia Tablets, the tablet received a 6000 mAh battery and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The tablet has become even thinner and lighter than its predecessors (6.1 mm and 390 g), and also received smaller frames.

The fifth series was the last in the history of Sony Xperia Z; in a recent commentary, company representatives called it “the culmination of Xperia Z.” Sony said it was finally moving away from OmniBalance, but in essence its new design language Sense of Unity was not much different from it. For the first time since the Xperia Z1, the company installed a new camera sensor, but the shooting quality did not improve. The design, although generally boring, was magnificent, and small improvements slightly diluted the boring outlines. Unfortunately, the ergonomics suffered from the protrusions protecting the screen and the relocation of the power and volume buttons. A fingerprint scanner appeared in the sidebar, the implementation of which raised questions. Water protection remained on paper, but immersing smartphones in water was no longer recommended. Apart from the aforementioned improved camera and a smaller battery to 2900 mAh, the Z5 had different specs than the Z3+.

Sony's mini-flagships have always done well, although all the problems that the Z5 had were also present in the Z5 Compact. But this smartphone turned out to be cheaper, it has no analogues, so a lot was forgiven for the device. The characteristics of the smartphone included a 4.6" HD screen, 23-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras, Snapdragon 810 chipset, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, a 2700 mAh battery and a fingerprint scanner. Progress compared to the Z3 Compact was insignificant , but the price increase was quite noticeable.

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium (compared with LG V10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5)

The first Sony smartphone with the "Premium" suffix received two controversial premium features at once: a mirrored back surface that collects scratches and hides fingerprints, as well as a 4K screen that operates at full power (more precisely, at full resolution) only when playing photos and video, and the rest of the time he is engaged in upscaling images from 1920x1080 pixels. In addition to them, it received the same imperfect camera, protruding sides, boring design (although the Z5 Premium looked really chic in chrome), water protection without guarantees, Snapdragon 810 chipset, 5.5" IPS display, 3430 mAh battery and 32 GB of internal memory.

This is how the Xperia Z line was and this is how we will remember it forever. Despite a number of frankly questionable products and experiments, many devices will be remembered by users as the best in their class and some of the best on the market. Which of the twenty-one Sony Xperia Zs reviewed today do/did you like the most?

Do you think the Xperia X line (preview) can be a significant step forward to save Sony Mobile? Tell us in the comments.

Xperia Z, which will be a very serious competitor 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 network adapter, and a 2 GB microSD memory card (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 the LinPack benchmark, 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 Oppo 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 Samsung 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 a rich pre-installed software: browser, email client, programs for integration with social networks, 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 flagships were able to 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:

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.

The button placement is like the Z5, looks weird but works well. All the buttons are on the right side, starting with a large power button in the middle, below which is a paired volume rocker, and even lower, the camera shutter button. Yes, Sony is one of the few companies that puts the shutter button here, but many people like it too! If you hold this button for a few seconds, the application will automatically open.

On the left side, there is a sliding tray that hides the MicroSD and Nano SIM card. Unlike the iPhone and other devices, you don't need a paperclip to open it. As for the color variations of the Sony Xperia X, you can choose between White, Lemon Gold, Rose Gold, and Graphite.

Some design features are missing

If you expected the Xperia X to have IP68 water resistance like the Z series, then it is, but not quite. Sony installs waterproofing only on the more expensive model - Xperia X Performance. The basic version of the Sony Xperia X also seems to have some kind of protection, but in essence it is an ordinary smartphone that should always be in a dry place.

For some reason, Sony still puts the audio jack on the top of their devices instead of the bottom. The socket at the bottom makes it easy to naturally slip your phone into your pocket while the headphones are still plugged in.

Lastly, the speaker quality on the X is also underwhelming. This does not match the volume on iPhone or high-end Android smartphones. No phone has great sound, but we'd rate the X much higher than the others if it had a good speaker.

Quality software

Version X comes with almost pure Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. This is fantastic because the stock Google version of Android looks damn good. Sony just added a few improvements that we like. For example, you can swipe down on the screen to search for applications. Or if you go into the apps menu, you can see the latest apps and even move them down to remove the one you want.

Sony also deserves a medal for flexibility: You can remove almost any non-essential app, including many apps from Sony and Google. The standard Sony themes and wallpapers aren't too bad. You can enable the hidden feature in the settings menu to activate the screen with a double tap, this feature works well, but the smartphone can sometimes open randomly in your pocket.

Camera in Sony Xperia X

The camera in the Sony Xperia X looks amazing on paper. There are 23-megapixel F/2.0 sensors on the back, and a 13-megapixel selfie camera on the front. But if you're looking for a really good camera, don't let the megapixels fool you. Sony's cameras still don't match the Galaxy S7 or iPhone 6S in our tests.

The selfie sensor has sluggish autofocus, and isn't quite on par with the Galaxy S7's 5-megapixel shooter. In low light conditions, the Xperia X takes either too blue (if natural window light was involved) or too blurry and blotchy photos. This doesn't mean that, for example, the iPhone's are much better, but they tend to be more realistic.

Oddly enough, Sony sets the rear camera quality to 8 megapixels by default, likely due to lack of storage space, but you can change this in the settings. We like the additional filters and manual mode, but the intelligent auto mode and default mode make some mistakes from time to time.

Again, in normal light and in most conditions, this camera does a great job, but we're hoping the better processor in the Xperia X Performance will help produce photos with greater clarity.

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

The 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.