Sony Xperia Z review: Zero hour

17 February 2013
With solid backup in the midrange, returning to the fiercest battle in the mobile market is Sony’s top priority. The Xperia Z, which leads the charge, got us properly impressed in a recent hands-on and if it walks unscathed from a complete review, we’ll know the Japanese have hit the form of their life...

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  • C
  • Cee ya eN
  • fjS
  • 09 Aug 2013

here's a masterpiece in the IT world

    • D
    • AnonD-168372
    • vpH
    • 30 Jul 2013

    The best phone so far, and give you value for money.

      • F
      • Flozz
      • dSL
      • 29 Jul 2013

      Owned for several months, ok phone, battery life poor, wifi shockingly bad but other than that it had performed ok, until it decided to crack in my pocket! rendering it useless! At this point my experience with Sony and their customer service went downhill fast! As far as I was concerned the screen had cracked during normal use, not dropped, crushed or hit (which they agreed with) and was in as new condition other than a hairline crack, however I was told Any screen damage is chargeable to the customer for repair. So as I understand this the screen is not covered under warranty! Not impressed!
      What I find incredibly frustrating is they are happy for you to send your phone to their repair centre for inspection regarding a warranty claim but then tell you a cracked screen, no matter how the damage has occurred is not covered! and then want £242 to repair it or £14.40 to send it back to you!! Scam!! Needless to say I won't be buying a Sony smartphone again and certainly wouldn't recommend them.

        • v
        • vishu
        • upf
        • 05 Jul 2013

        sony z is the best mobile phone than samsung gallaxy and other mobile phone i like to sony xperia z don`nt like other mobile

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Mf5
          • 28 Jun 2013

          i fell very much happy to use this. thank...

            • D
            • AnonD-156185
            • PqS
            • 16 Jun 2013

            In the zero hour review says:

            "You can go for simply launching the camera in either still or movie mode, or you can set it to immediately snap a photo/start capturing video. This might come in handy for those occasions when you are worried that you might miss a shot, but is also useful for when you don't want to waste your battery keeping the camera interface constantly going (it's a real battery hog)."

            I want to know how do you configure the camera for taking a photo/start capturing video without launching the app UI as you say! the camera shortcuts only offer camera modes but all of them launches the full camera app with the selected shortcut mode... Anyone can help me?

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • Hm9
              • 10 Jun 2013

              GSMArena, can you please update the review with latest firmware? Want to know what's new and if it improves user experience. Thanks.

                zaid, 31 Mar 2013are the the three capacitive buttons included in 5 inch screen.Yes, its using on-screen buttons like LG Nexus 4.

                  AnonD-137929, 29 May 2013I tried it and the waterproof is good with it but its softw... moreThe software is so bad?? I don't think so, SONY UI is less bloated and close to stock Android. Are you infected by Samsung touchwiz disease?

                    • D
                    • AnonD-137929
                    • SsG
                    • 29 May 2013

                    I tried it and the waterproof is good with it but its software is so bad and the camera gets dimmer by time and the battery becomes very hot

                      • g
                      • garfield
                      • PSc
                      • 24 May 2013

                      disappointed user, 02 Apr 2013The screen goes dimmer after long use be careful. And the b... moreThe battery is get hot..this is just a funny.Even iPhone 5 get hot when longer use.Not to be childish.

                        • G
                        • Garfield
                        • PSc
                        • 24 May 2013

                        uu, 30 Mar 2013XZ lost different battles now, GS4 won many battles ryt now... moreThis is not a good reason and you should not be told like this.You must to think what is really good or bad not with a silly idea.

                          • G
                          • Garfield
                          • PSc
                          • 24 May 2013

                          I think that Sony is the great.I wish to produce more and more the greatest phone than Xperia Z to achieve the world's people choice and best wishes.

                            • J
                            • Jamot
                            • uCr
                            • 14 May 2013

                            After Use a long time like 2 month i just say only one this in XP Z have only 2 proble one is battery back up and another is hitting problem but main thing is that its desing is owsome and realy great no like samsung .. In samsung show many more phone desing same as same like S3, Grand, S advance, mini poket mini s3, grand duos etc and S4 so i do not like samsung desing. thats the reason i bought Sony z and frds just think abt it whenever u spend 40,000 for mobile then u will get some difference to other .. hope its my opinin and my think my review and then all have liberty different persons different choise but still happy with sony z

                              • s
                              • sumesh
                              • 0C4
                              • 30 Apr 2013

                              redcentaly i got sony xperia z and i felt taht this device getting heet all the time even we use it for 2 mints or takeing picture

                                • b
                                • brendapopular
                                • Q9T
                                • 23 Apr 2013

                                Thanks for your sharing

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-62692
                                  • t1$
                                  • 18 Apr 2013

                                  vivi, 30 Mar 2013xperia Z doesnt have usb on the go we should put in tras... moreIt has USB otg.... :-)

                                    • G
                                    • Gametian
                                    • v0q
                                    • 13 Apr 2013

                                    Bad viewing angle equates to privacy... I'm getting this soon.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-132503
                                      • mXP
                                      • 12 Apr 2013

                                      Anonymous, 20 Feb 2013so bad battery life, bad viewing angle, bad software... FAI... morebad software? where did you read that? and who cares about viewing angles?

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-132503
                                        • mXP
                                        • 12 Apr 2013

                                        AnonD-96575, 25 Feb 2013This review is old news now. Where is the battery test? Wil... moredurability test? what more do you want? dust- and waterproof. and the battery question has been answered by many comments. I charge it overnight but use it a lot for music (2 hours) using camera/video editing (1 hour)/browsing 1 hour. Has about 25% left at that stage.
                                        anyhow - everyone uses it differently - just read previous comments.