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...

Sort by:

  • D
  • AnonD-86903
  • Lim
  • 19 Feb 2013

Anonymous, 19 Feb 2013lame.. sony is not a phone maker go back to something you'r... moreyou must wait for 2,3 years and then judge about Sony's ability. it is just the beginning as the title says: "Zero Hour".

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 4T5
    • 19 Feb 2013

    touch wiz is not flashy... it has tons of practical features. samsung is king when it comes to software, no one comes close.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • 4T5
      • 19 Feb 2013

      lame.. sony is not a phone maker go back to something you'r good at sony. no one gets a phone because they drop it in water and sand all the time. lame gimmicks.i had phones for over 20 years never had water dmg, ... well except when my gf intentionally borke my phone lol.

        • U
        • Uk
        • pKx
        • 19 Feb 2013

        Really looking forwarD to this phone tbh im not really bothered about nit picky details aslong as it has a decent cam nice screen and quick who cares no matter wat u buy nowadays a few months later theres somethin better so just shut up and get on with it

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • th9
          • 19 Feb 2013

          AnonD-106548, 19 Feb 2013Best in terms of?Elegance and simplicity. For me, tw s#cks, sense is much better thatn tw.

            • D
            • AnonD-77780
            • tVk
            • 19 Feb 2013

            AnonD-106548, 19 Feb 2013Best in terms of?I guess in terms of simplicity.
            I always liked the Sony UI because how simple it is.
            Nothing flashy like the touchwiz or Sense UI.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • m7K
              • 19 Feb 2013

              My post about other reviews saying the Z has fantastic display with punchy colors was deleted. Well, im sure people can find those reviews themselves. Its the best phone ever and many reviews agree.

              Many reviews agree that Xperia Z has the best camera for indoors photos. Iphone and galaxy does well in optimal light but not lumia 920 and Xperia Z are better at detail and noise in more moderate light, like indoor, and finally lumia 920 falls short at color reproduction indoors, leaving Z as the king. Any cam takes good enough photos in optimal light, Z does best on the harder ones.

                • N
                • Nare
                • U{E
                • 19 Feb 2013

                It s best phone ever...

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • m7K
                  • 19 Feb 2013

                  By the way, it was also mentioned that the sound quality in calls was really very good. Many things here that go against the finding in the review on this site.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • m7K
                    • 19 Feb 2013

                    [deleted post]Btw, the amobil review title means "Sonys supermobile is living up to the expectations" and the subtitle means
                    "This is the best phone we have tested - and its waterproof".

                    and in the conclusion, "Xperia Z er enkelt og greit den beste smarttelefonen på markedet akkurat nå.", which means XPERIA Z IS SIMPLY AND STRAIGHT THE BEST SMARTPHONE ON THE MARKET JUST NOW.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • XMm
                      • 19 Feb 2013

                      as i researched due to fact the screen is saying it is not good. The conclusion is you have to check by yourself. there are having bad pre-production or but in docomo release, it is clearly stating and see it is good quality. and one credible forum who has it says its not too bad. But sharpness was amazing. Some says its dull but others its ok not too vivid. there many mixed review and that is so hard to know which is which. Im not defending it but just check it and as it is better to see it not what others think because its your money just be aware only. another thing they are saying there will be app for color calibration this might solved its contrast and issues. so ill wait not gonna pre ordered this phone.

                        • j
                        • jihaad
                        • n$W
                        • 19 Feb 2013

                        wheres the battery test in full review ?

                          • D
                          • AnonD-23465
                          • uvq
                          • 19 Feb 2013

                          Killer looks,killer features,killer camera,music player,display...i can see samsung sweating and shivering already...way to go sony...

                            • x
                            • xiaomi m2
                            • PSv
                            • 19 Feb 2013

                            i'm wondering which part of the display did gsmarena test for the contrast ratio. is the faded looking homescreen or did they go into a photo when the bravia engine is expected to do its wonders.

                            i hope they can try measuring contrast with the bravia engine on.

                            the results have really been disappointing. i can't believe a company like sony would be doing this. probably the worst display produced by a major player.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-86903
                              • pTh
                              • 19 Feb 2013

                              miro, 19 Feb 2013i think they already have the final/retail version. that's ... moremaybe but i have seen the Japanese version of this phone and the screen was perfect with perfect viewing angles. i don't know whether there is any difference between Japanese and international version.

                                • O
                                • Ormagon
                                • 3Kf
                                • 19 Feb 2013

                                It would be nice if this review would be completed in a short while. I'm usually very fond of the GSMArena reviews, but missing two important things at this point.

                                1. The batterylife!
                                2. The displaytest on 50%, you seem to do this with al recent phones, and the Xperia Z screen is known to perform a lot better at 50%. So I am anxious to see what the results would be!

                                  • m
                                  • miro
                                  • PSv
                                  • 19 Feb 2013

                                  yogi, 19 Feb 2013can some one explain the title Zero Hour? means sony is now fully geared for the competition/smartphone wars.

                                  zero hour means "The time set for the start of an action or operation"

                                  gsmarena likely wants to infer that sony has finally created a product worthy of a flagship/capable enough of competing with other high end devices offered by top manufacturers.

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-77186
                                    • pq@
                                    • 19 Feb 2013

                                    Anonymous, 18 Feb 2013Waterproof and dustproof and it looks incredible. They w... moreMe2.

                                    And the specs are mind-blowing.

                                      • m
                                      • miro
                                      • PSv
                                      • 19 Feb 2013

                                      AnonD-86903, 19 Feb 2013GSMArena, please repeat this review with a final version of... morei think they already have the final/retail version. that's just the sad truth about the xz. the screen is really not at par with the best.

                                      not a big problem though since you won't really be using the phone at odd angles. it just makes the device look less premium. the fading colors at slight angles make it look like a chinese clone device.

                                      disappointing.

                                      hope sony does better next time. what happened to the "best of sony in a smartphone" marketing slogan? is that really the best sony can offer for a display?
                                      no wonder they're losing heavily on their TV division.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-106548
                                        • QXP
                                        • 19 Feb 2013

                                        Anonymous, 19 Feb 2013For those who are saying Sony IU are worst, please have you... moreBest in terms of?