Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact hands-on review

26 February 2018
Unlike many of its big-brand competitors, Sony didn't shy away from major announcements at MWC 2018. In fact, it took the wrappers of a shiny new pair of flagships, that boldly marry new design concepts with incremental hardware updates.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • pWQ
  • 26 Feb 2018

Really, 26 Feb 2018That is a one ugly, cheesy looking phone. It looks like the... moreYep, a clear HTC rip-off but only done worse than the original one. Once again, this will surely classified as "hating", because saying things without sugar-coating in Sony's favor is... "Hating". :-D

    • E
    • Eske Rahn
    • s0L
    • 26 Feb 2018

    AnonD-81044, 26 Feb 20185 INCHES compact ? Then we expect a super compact...it is actually a 2:1 or 18:9 display, so the extra display to 5 inches is in the length, so the width of the device and display is practically unchanged

      Anonymous, 26 Feb 2018XZ2 Pros: *Display *Chipset *Unique speakers *Wireless ... moreAnd no NPU or AI dedicated cpu

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • IsY
        • 26 Feb 2018

        IDK, somehow looks very HTC-ish with a hint of Sony design. Phones are OK, nothing exciting, somehow generic. (IMO) At least they cut down the bezels because even though I am not a fan of small bezels, Sony had really big bezels. Nice to see that change.

          • E
          • Eske Rahn
          • s0L
          • 26 Feb 2018

          AnonD-81044, 26 Feb 20185 INCHES compact ? Then we expect a super compactWell it may be 5 inches, but the bezels are down, so it is 65mm wide, and this is about the limit between phone and phablet size. That is where not only people with large hands can operate the device by one hand while keeping a secure grip.

          BUT I hope Android will get a mode with touch-inactive edges for one hand operation mode, as it will be almost impossible not to touch the edge when the thumb tries to reach over...

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • m17
            • 26 Feb 2018

            Anonymous, 26 Feb 2018After what I have seen here, XZ1 or XA2, here I come. It's ... moreYou are absolutely right. All ever Sony fans (and others?) wanted is just smaller bezels.
            Design was elegant, ageless and beautiful..just like old Nokia phones, like Nokia 9. Very reminiscent of that, and that was said to be thing of beauty. They were and now they're all gone and we have these Samsung and HTC lookalikes. Sad day for Sony and mobile industry, it doesn't need another same looking and strip down phone.
            Yep, and that fingerprint reader.. I can't believe they changed it worse. Now you can't use it like before on the table.
            Xperia performance didn't get good reception, like this seems to be also doing, and they made then gorgeous xz, so now the bezels are little bit smaller, so all they have to do is make xz design again with alcaleido.
            Then they would stand out, be beautiful and keeping their own iconic heritage look. It's Japanese firm after all..

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 3Rc
              • 26 Feb 2018

              I will stay with my z5 dual, design much better looking and works smoothly. Was expecting more from xz2.design as in xz premium and less bezels, but we have what we have (

                They are definitely worse than the previous models. The competition offer greater variety of characteristics for the same or lower price. Now they look like mid-range phone at best. And there is nothing to indicate that they do not do the same with the Premium model if it comes out. Will it also come in the form of a soup spoon? Without OIS being more expensive like last year? Without jack like these ones? Will they lower the selfie camera resolution in the Premium model too? We'll see, but these ones are a deception, disappointment.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-660035
                  • 0$Y
                  • 26 Feb 2018

                  Why there are sample pictures of S9, of Nokia 7 Plus - and never of Xperia phones? Please show us some photos asap.

                  I could live with no headphone jack and even with the new design. But still no OIS? The same camera of XZ1? For 800 Euro? That sounds really strange.

                    • A
                    • AK
                    • NvU
                    • 26 Feb 2018

                    Marian, 26 Feb 2018I have a Chrome XZ Premiun 4K HDR, give me one reason why s... moreYou should expect xz2 premium launch as some point which would be the direct replacement for last year's XZ premium

                      • A
                      • AK
                      • NvU
                      • 26 Feb 2018

                      Really, 26 Feb 2018That is a one ugly, cheesy looking phone. It looks like the... moreYou are just a Hater!

                        • R
                        • Really
                        • 0xI
                        • 26 Feb 2018

                        That is a one ugly, cheesy looking phone. It looks like the HTC 11, except actually even worse!

                          My impression is that they've released cheaper phones at the same price. We are talking of 600 euros for the compact and 800 euros for the ZX2. €800 without OIS, with only 5 MP in the selfie camera lower than before, without audio jack. Despite the materials the appearance is like plastic, and perhaps include some plastic in the formula. The back of the ZX2 is rare, the fingerprint sensor seems too low. I don't see any reason to buy these phones above any of the other brands at that range of prices and even lower ones around 350-500 euros.

                          I doubt that these phones will sell well. I can't think why they did this, perhaps due to low sales in the previous models? In that case, improve the phones or low the price no this. Bad move and we'll see which are results in the upcoming months.

                            • J
                            • Johnny
                            • 39x
                            • 26 Feb 2018

                            To the death with Sony removing the headphone jack! That alone you have lost me as a customer sorry. Just like Nokia you will perish. The things that made a Sony phone unique you've taken away, even that logically placed fingerprint reader on the side. You've copied HTC design and given it some fancy words. I'd rather buy an Alcatel for £100.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • qnT
                              • 26 Feb 2018

                              I bet thus person who just posted did Not even own a beaSt Sony flagship Z5 or Z5P. Hahaha

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • qnT
                                • 26 Feb 2018

                                Sony Nay Sayers need to pick a new cell phones to complains about. Hehehe

                                  • k
                                  • korbindallis
                                  • Ydg
                                  • 26 Feb 2018

                                  Kangal, 26 Feb 2018Pretty awful. The new phones have a BIGGER bezel than the ... moreYou are using and old Z5 compact from 2015 comparing it to todays compact I would use the XZ1 Compact instead
                                  and your measurements are wrong !!!
                                  your measurements
                                  The old Sony Z5 Compact:
                                  Body: 127 x 65 x 8.9 mm
                                  Total Screen: 10.18cm × 5.73cm = 58.33cm²
                                  Screen to Body Ratio: 70.7%

                                  The new Sony XZ2 Compact:
                                  Body: 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm
                                  Total Screen: 11.36cm × 5.68cm = 64.52cm²
                                  16:9 Screen to Body Ratio: 65.3%
                                  ---------------------------------------------------

                                  Correct measurements
                                  Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
                                  Dimensions 127 x 65 x 8.9 mm
                                  4.6 inches, 56.9 cm2 (~68.9% screen-to-body ratio)

                                  Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
                                  Dimensions 129 x 64 x 9.3 mm
                                  4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~70.7% screen-to-body ratio)

                                  Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
                                  Dimensions 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm
                                  5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio)

                                  I get that most content are rendered in 16:9, so its the true size for practical real-world use but screens are changing and we will see 18:9 content

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-740640
                                    • p6M
                                    • 26 Feb 2018

                                    In my opinion new design is a disaster. Pinnacle was Z5, I was hoping for putting new screen, OLED maybe, in Z5 chassis with new internals...
                                    Maybe in future there will be something interesting from Sony, but not that ugly thing.

                                      • K
                                      • Katy
                                      • 0Wh
                                      • 26 Feb 2018

                                      No OIS at that price? Only 5 Mp in the selfie camera? They have a plastic appareance. The back on the XZ2 is strange. And they release the compact with less features like no wireless charging for the compact. No jack in a Sony phone? A no no in my case. No buy.

                                      Someone has lost the right path at Sony. They should fire a lot of staff there. The sales will tell the truth sooner than later.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • n@d
                                        • 26 Feb 2018

                                        Hope the camera isn't as grainy as it used to be