Event Coverage

Hands-on: Sony Xperia Z

By Sidney Wong - 8 Jan 2013

Hands-on: Sony Xperia Z

Is 5-inch the New Sweet Spot for Smartphones?

Remember the days where smartphones had display sizes below 4-inch? It is actually not too long ago; a couple of years back, perhaps? Currently, phone makers are racing against each other to launch devices with bigger displays, and 5-inch seems to be the new standard this year. 

HTC has jumped the gun with its launch of the 5-inch Butterfly, an international variant of the J Buttery (Japan) and Droid DNA (U.S.A). Rumors of Sony jumping on the bandwagon first surfaced in October, where leaked images revealed a Sony device sporting a 5-inch full HD display.

DigiTimes then reported in December 2012 that its industry sources indicated that a number of phone vendors, including Sony, will be rolling out 5-inch full HD phones in the first half of 2013. Subsequently, alleged official images of the Sony device, known as the Xperia Z, leaked just days before its official launch at CES 2013.

Earlier today, we had a hands-on session with the Sony Xperia Z. Before we share our experience, here's a quick look at the specs of the Sony's flagship model for 2013: -

 

  Key highlights of the Sony Xperia Z

  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
    (Upgradeable to Android 4.2 shortly after launch)
  • 5-inch TFT HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 / 1920 x 1080 pixels 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core 1.5GHz processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB internam memory (microSD support up to 32GB)
  • 13-megapixel rear autofocus camera  with Sony Exmor RS / LED flash
    / 1080p video recording / Image stabilizer 
  • 4G LTE enabled
  • 2330mAh
  • 139 x 71 x 7.9mm
  • 146g
  • Colors: Black, Purple and White
     
  • Availability: Global launch in Q1 2013

 

Design 

The Sony Xperia Z looks nothing like the other Xperia smartphones we've seen in 2012. Although it still has the signature rectangular design, the Xperia Z feels very different. Despite sporting a 5-inch display, the Xperia Z actually feels light in our hands even though it weighs 146g. Considering that the HTC Butterfly weighs 140g, the Xperia Z is quite decent for a phone of its class.

Dubbed the OmniBalance design, the Sony Xperia Z feels great in the hands thanks to its slightly rounded corners, cleaned lines and flat glass panels.

Adopting the same design principles as Google and LG, the Xperia Z sports one glass panel on the front and back. In case you are wondering whether they are Gorilla Glass, they are not. Sony uses a combination of tempered glass and anti-shatter film to boost the scratch resistant properties and durability of the glass panels against wear and tear. 

The main feature of the Xperia Z is its 5-inch Reality Display, which is powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2. Compared to the slightly saturated HD Super AMOLED display of the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the Xperia Z gives a more realistic color reproduction. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (441ppi), the Xperia Z is clearly in the same league as the HTC Butterfly. The improved clarity and brightness are well suited for watching movies and reading on-the-go.

The Sony Xperia Z suffers the same fate as the LG Nexus 4, where smudges and fingerprints spoil the beauty of its design within a few minutes of handling.

To substantiate its claims of having the highest levels of dust and water resistance (IP55 and IP57), Sony made number of modifications to the design of the Xperia Z. Besides the usual connectivity ports and card slots, the Xperia Z is sealed up pretty tight. Having said that, the Sony phone does not have a removable battery. 

The microSD card slot is covered with a tight plastic cover, which is both good and bad depending on your perspective. Having a tight cover ensures no dust or water can seep in, but it will be a hassle if you need to remove the memory card often. To the right of the card slot is two dock connectors, which enables the Xperia Z to fit into its docking accessory.

The same protection is deployed for the 3.5mm audio output jack on the Sony Xperia Z.

Perhaps one of the most unique design features of the Xperia Z is its metallic Power button on the right side of the device. Due to the nature of the material used, it is actually very easy to feel and press the button even without looking at it. Its location also makes it convenient to access the button, which is particularly important for a device with a 5-inch display as you do not need to stretch your finger or hand to reach the top to turn on the screen or device.

The volume controls provide decent tactile feedback. To the right of the Power button is the microSIM card slot, which is also protected by a tight plastic cap.

Comparison Shots with the Samsung Galaxy Note II, LG Nexus 4 and Apple iPhone 5

As the Xperia Z is the first 5-inch device we've handled, it is only right that we compare its design and looks with the current competition. Unfortunately, we do not have a review unit of the 5-inch HTC Butterfly for comparison, and had to make do with the 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note II, 4.7-inch LG Nexus 4 and 4-inch Apple iPhone 5.

From left to right: Samsung Galaxy Note II, Sony Xperia Z, LG Nexus 4 and Apple iPhone 5. As you can see, the Xperia Z does stands out from the rest in the design aspect.

The Sony Xperia Z and LG Nexus 4 use two glass panels in their designs. Only time will tell whether this design choice bodes well for both phones.

Due to the difference in display size (0.5-inch), it is obvious that the handling of the Sony Xperia Z (right) is better than its larger counterpart, the Samsung Galaxy Note II (left).

While some consumers may find it easier to use the Apple iPhone 5 (right) in one hand, we are willing to sacrifice a bit of usability for extra real screen estate on the Sony Xperia Z (left).

It's quite impressive that Sony is able to streamline the Xperia Z (bottom) to 7.9mm, which is just a hairline thicker than the 7.6mm Apple iPhone 5(top).

 

Software 

Out of the box, the Xperia Z runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Sony states that it will be rolling out the Android 4.2 update shortly after the launch of the device in Q1. Android purists may want to give the Xperia Z a try as the modifications done to the Android user interface are minimal.

The Sony Xperia Z will be updated to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean shortly after its launch in Q1 2013.

The user experience was actually comparable to that of the buttery smooth LG Nexus 4, which we have been using for the past two months. It's something that Sony has learnt, and hopefully the other Android vendors, HTC and Samsung, could embark on a similar path in future. 

It's rare to see an Android vendor following Google's implementation of the on-screen navigation keys, and Sony happens to be one of them. However, the space occupied by the row of on-screen keys means that you are unable to maximize the entire 5-inch screen estate for some activities such as reading. 

Pressing the Recent Apps button will reveal the multitasking menu on the right, and a shortcut bar at the bottom. The shortcut bar is customizable, hence you can put your most frequently used apps there for faster access.

We had no problems typing on the virtual keyboard of the Sony Xperia Z.

Imaging performance on the Xperia Z is a key area of focus for Sony. Not only does it equips the Xperia Z with a 13-megapixel fast capture rear camera with Exmor RS for mobile, it also gives the camera interface a slight revamp. We found the new interface easier and simpler to use. 

Notice the number of shots taken by the Sony Xperia Z on the top right corner? Your eyes ain't playing tricks on you; the Burst Mode on the Xperia Z enables you to take more than 999 shots at one go if your finger is able to press the shutter button (on-screen) for that long.

Shutterbugs will be pleased with the wide variety of options that they can toggle with on the Sony Xperia Z.

Apart from still images, the Sony Xperia Z is also the first mobile phone to feature HDR Video. Capturing videos in HDR means that resultant videos will have higher dynamic range and greater details. This is especially apparent when scenes contain both dark and bright areas.

The Sony Xperia Z with HDR Video enabled. You can see that dark areas appear brighter in the video while objects outside the window can be clearly seen (when it would normally be overexposed without HDR).

For a device of its class, it is quite odd that Sony only provides a built-in 2330mAh battery for the Xperia Z. There is no doubt about the amount of power that is needed to power the 5-inch display, and the many top-notch multimedia features that the Xperia Z has. We've expected a larger battery capacity (at least 2500mAh) since Samsung is able to do so with its Galaxy Note smartphones. 

Fortunately, Sony includes Battery Stamina Mode to improve the standby time on the Xperia Z. This is nothing new as we've seen similar implementations on other Android smartphones such as the ASUS PadFone 2 and HTC One X+. Enabling Battery Stamina Mode will disable Wi-Fi, mobile data and most applications temporarily. You will still be able to receive phone calls, text messages, Sony Calendar notifications and alarm signals. The Music Player and FM radio will continue to work, while downloads and uploads are allowed to finish.

Sony claims that the Battery Stamina Mode can improve the standby time by at least four times on the Xperia Z.

 

Accessories 

Sony also offers several accessories to go along with its latest flagship device. For the Xperia Z, a pair specially-designed earphones will be included in the retail package. According to a Sony spokesperson, the earphones deliver better audio quality on the Xperia Z. 

These specially-designed earphones will be included as part of the package for the Sony Xperia Z.

Other optional accessories that we handled are the Stereo Bluetooth Headset SBH20 and Wireless Headset DR-BTN200M. They are essentially NFC-enabled headsets, which you can "touch" using the Xperia Z and begin listening to music instantly.

The Stereo Bluetooth Headset SBH20 can easily be mistaken as a MP3 player. It is available in five colors.

The Wireless Headset DR-BTN200M comes in two colors: black and white.

The SRS-BTV5 speakers are part of Sony's growing line of One-Touch products. You can put your calls on these speakers by tapping the Xperia Z. After the call ends, you can resume playing the music tracks.

 

Sony is planning to launch the Xperia Z globally in Q1 2013. The phone will be available in three colors: black, white and purple. Another variant, the Xperia ZL will also be available in selected markets.  

The Sony Xperia ZL (left) and Sony Xperia Z (right). Both devices are compatible with Singapore's 4G LTE network.

*Update as of 15/1/2013: The Sony Xperia ZL will be available in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines in Q1.

The Sony Xperia Z will come in three colors: black, purple and white (from left to right).

Which color variant of the Sony Xperia Z is your preferred choice?

 

How the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL fare against the 5-Inch Competition

Specifications Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia ZL HTC Butterfly LG Optimus Vu
Operating System / User Interface
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz
  • NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core 1.5GHz
Built-in Memory
  • 2GB RAM
  • 2GB RAM
  • 2GB RAM
  • 1GB RAM
Display
  • 5-inch TFT HD Reality Display with Sony BRAVIA Engine 2
  • 1920 x 1080pixels
  • 5-inch TFT HD Reality Display with Sony BRAVIA Engine 2
  • 1920 x 1080pixels
  • 5-inch Super LCD 3 display
  • 1920 x 1080pixels
  • 5.0-inch HD IPS LCD
  • 1024 x 768 pixels
Camera
  • 13MP rear autofocus camera
  • 2MP front facing camera
  • 13MP rear autofocus camera
  • 2MP front facing camera
  • 8MP rear autofocus camera
  • 2.1MP front facing camera
  • 8MP rear autofocus camera
  • 1.3MP front facing camera
Storage
  • 16GB
    (microSD support up to 32GB)
  • 16GB
    (microSD support up to 32GB)
  • 16GB
    (microSD support up to 32GB)
  • 32GB internal memory
    (no microSD card slot)
Battery
  • 2330mAh
  • 2300mAh
  • 2020mAh
  • 2080mAh
Dimensions
  • 139 x 71 x 7.9mm
  • 131.7 x 69.8 x 9.8mm
  • 143 x 70.5 x 9.08mm
  • 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5
Weight
  • 146g
  • 151g
  • 140g
  • 168g

 

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