Sony Xperia Z review: Zero hour
- G
- Gamesarefun83
- 0pg
- 18 Feb 2013
sam sings, 18 Feb 2013sorry. here's the link. i wasn't disputing gsmarena's obser... moreHi all! I am planning to get an Xperia Z as soon as it launches, but after seeing one myself yesterday I can't help but feel somewhat disappointed. The screen contrast is barely better than my Xperia Play from 2 years ago, and basically looks weak and 'greyed out' on all of the menus.
This poor contrast issue has been seen by reviewers of the phone from various websites, but this issue has actually only recently been mentioned (during this week), since the European Xperia Z has started being tested. Since earlier previews/hands on with the device had no mention of this issue, and we're actually extremely positive about the screen in general, I have become suspicious that something has been changed in the phone's 'final' hardware/software (models releasing at the end of February in Europe) from what was shown previously.
I would like to suggest two possible explanations for this mysterious issue with screen contrast, although both will probably be way off the mark, but here goes...
Firstly, perhaps Sony have deliberately reduced/restricted the contrast ratios from the pre-production handsets in order too subtly help the phone conserve battery power. Unfortunately this change has not gone unnoticed by users who instead of getting a bright, vibrant display like they expected, have ended up with a far duller display with opinion dividingly poor contrast ratios.
My second theory is that some reviewers/users have set the phone's brightness to it's maximum setting (why not!?) and for some reason the screen just 'appears' to have a poorer contrast while at this level of brightness. I don't know exactly why this would be the case, although I have noticed this effect before on my television where as the brightness setting increases the contrast setting becomes less noticeable, even if set to maximum. But, when the brightness level is reduced again (to about 65%-75%) the contrast and colour saturation becomes quite obvious once more.
Whatever the reason for this issue, it is a REAL problem that would be best dealt with by people firstly acknowledging it, and then requesting an appropriate solution from Sony. A lot of people seem to be denying that there really is any problem at all (and perhaps with the Xperia Zs shown off at CES last month there actually wasn't). But unfortunately there is a problem with these more recent handsets. So please, Sony, sort it out quick!!
- D
- AnonD-86903
- pTh
- 18 Feb 2013
Anonymous, 18 Feb 2013poor camera poor video recording very poor sound quality.... morewow, you're blind man. the camera and video recording are not poor. go to the sound test and see what gsmarena said. they said it is among the best sound qualities.
- D
- AnonD-14560
- w4G
- 18 Feb 2013
It's disappoint that Sony 13MP cam is still far behind the S3 8MP cam in the photo campare tool. I guess they did quiet well in marketing but their R&D team couldn't keep up to it.
- ?
- Anonymous
- KZ8
- 18 Feb 2013
Xperia Z low light camera beats Lumia 920. Lumia 920 sucks.
cdn.lowyat.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/xperia-z-lumia-920-compare.jpg
cdn.lowyat.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/xperia-z-lumia-920-close-up.jpg
- s
- sam sings
- PSv
- 18 Feb 2013
Anonymous, 18 Feb 2013the link u gave doesnt even work, and you do realise its no... moresorry. here's the link. i wasn't disputing gsmarena's observation. i'm just wondering why others are getting good photos while others have this dim and soft results. it's the same with the display. others say they are good though the viewing angles are expectedly never great.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/110267829736715997848/albums/5843542135386591041?cfem=1
- D
- AnonD-76905
- 982
- 18 Feb 2013
AnonD-106548, 18 Feb 2013Why GSM Arena need to following other sites? If it is not u... moreI am not saying that gsmarena should follow other sites. I was just presenting other sites' view.
Speaking about expectations, reviews are not done based on expectations. Its done (or should be) based on reality.
And, why should we compare a phone with some other that is not there in the market?
What if those to-be-announced phones turned out to be more dissapointing (though chances are less).
That considered, when S4/HTC one is released, someone may say that Xperia Z is some months old, so compare S4 with the next upcoming Xoeria. and so on...
So, I think its better to talk only about whats there in the market.
- ?
- Anonymous
- sG%
- 18 Feb 2013
sam sings, 18 Feb 2013i'm not really sure what's happening with these review unit... morethe link u gave doesnt even work, and you do realise its not just gsmarena that agrees that xperia z has a mediocre camera, you really need to check out other review sites before commenting such nonsense.
- s
- sam sings
- PSv
- 18 Feb 2013
jahCre, 18 Feb 2013Sony!Why do u always give ppl a poor camera?You need 2 make... morei'm not really sure what's happening with these review units but i've seen some really good photo results produced by the xperia z.
check these out:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110267829736715997848/albums/5843542135386591041/5843542150197706866
they're sharp, vibrant, and vivid. hardly any noise there. they were shot with superior auto. definitely better than the shots taken by gsmarena.
i like gsmarena reviews, though. they are impartial most of the time. i'm even surprised they're not nitpicking on the display. it's certainly an inferior display.
- D
- AnonD-106548
- QXP
- 18 Feb 2013
AnonD-76905, 18 Feb 2013Why is it that most other sites are reviewing the camera as... moreWhy GSM Arena need to following other sites? If it is not up to GSM Arena expectation, then it is not good enough. This is a review BASED on GSM Arena.
FYI, Xperia Z camera will be going against the next Galaxy or HTC flag ships. S3 is already last year old model. IMO, Xperia camera is really not that fantastic. Its night mode may be better than any other current models, but if it can't beat the Nokia cameras, it is still a loser.
- D
- AnonD-106548
- QXP
- 18 Feb 2013
AnonD-98042, 18 Feb 2013if you live in indonesia than this phone will be usefull :)Hmm... That being said, outside Indonesia will have not real value for this phone? Then I guess this phone will not be selling well at all.
Just saying....
- D
- AnonD-76905
- 982
- 18 Feb 2013
Why is it that most other sites are reviewing the camera as pretty good and gsmarena is disapproving its camera.
CNet says its an excellent camera.
T3 says its got a superior camera.
Yeah, it may not be upto the hype, but I think it easily beats most phone out there in terms of camera (including S3, whose camera I don't find to be good enough).
Although some Nokias mught have better camera.
Whatever, I am pretty much inclined towards buying this phone.
It is complete from all corners:
Looks: Sexy, super sexy
Durability: the best in a smaprtphone yet
Power: the best available in the market
Screen: Awesome (viewing angles doesn't matter much)
Connecticity: future proof
In short, this is most perfect smartphone yet.
- ?
- Anonymous
- vaM
- 18 Feb 2013
Correction: according to Sony Mobile website, the 2.2MP Exmor R front camera can record 1080p videos.
- ?
- Anonymous
- 3Y2
- 18 Feb 2013
I watch S3,HTC DNA, note 2,Xperia t,iPhone 5, lumia 920, Nokia 808 and Xperia z 1080p test on my PC in 1080p resolution they all looks OK and not that great except Nokia 808 pure view and iPhone 5 are the best camera phone for still and video footage.
- D
- AnonD-14560
- w4G
- 18 Feb 2013
Just use Chrome Beta. In my Note 10.1(Exynos 4), it got around 1000ms in Sun Spyder test.
- z
- zorril
- TSB
- 18 Feb 2013
Great review GSMArena! Was a good read. Thanks.
- ?
- Anonymous
- v0q
- 18 Feb 2013
poor camera
poor video recording
very poor sound quality.
bye sony xperia z.
better luck next time...
- D
- AnonD-114122
- IVx
- 18 Feb 2013
Iphone and Sammy's phone also used sony's camera sensor but why their camera is better than xperia Z? Tell me why??
- j
- jahCre
- jxX
- 18 Feb 2013
Sony!Why do u always give ppl a poor camera?You need 2 make phone cameras better than what's available @ the moment.Hope dis iz a minor software glitch!As a die hard Sony fan I'm disappointed in d camera aspect of it because I kno you can do way better!Making fine art without a fine top class camera is rubbish,again I hope iz a software glitch!Sony have great phones with BS cameras coming fr masters in imagery.I will like to c this change n the camera kings get bk there crown.A great camera is always my choice&to read dis ain't much better than 8mp fr years b4 iz jus sad.Please Sony do better than that for your fans sake&give ur haterz more reason to hate.I would love to c the CyberShot brand launch in android,xenon etc!Give us d perfect phone cuz I kno u can.Everyone knows that as well!As a Sony fan I hope reviews& meaningful comments like mind& others get read.I doh bash other brands,jus want to c my brand set the trend& always have the phone to beat!S4 gonna rock,hope iz not a pile a cheap plastic tho.HTC one looking sweet!Sony this iz a ruff market start playing ruff n release da perfect phone.Proper cameras in all ur phones& bring bk the CyberShot brand asap!
- ?
- Anonymous
- vxr
- 18 Feb 2013
Awesome.
- D
- AnonD-98042
- 953
- 18 Feb 2013
AnonD-106548, 18 Feb 2013I bet when Samsung S4 releases, Xperia limelight will be in... moreif you live in indonesia than this phone will be usefull :)