Sony Xperia ZR review: Ready to dare

30 July 2013
Squeezing your flagship smartphone in a tinier, sportier shell is the fad in Android these days. Not the one to blindly follow the pack, Sony has chosen to do things differently. The Xperia ZR didn't get as far down as the Galaxy S4 mini and the...

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • Kg$
  • 31 Jul 2013

MdN, 31 Jul 2013A good viewing angle is mostly useful for taking photos, wh... moreThat's not a problem, the viewing angles are not horrible, framing a photo from extreme angles isn't harder on Xperia than any other phone.

    • S
    • Sunny
    • u7Y
    • 31 Jul 2013

    I am also planning to get his phone. but the only thing I fear is what if the USB and the HEADSET PORT flap covers breaks in the long run. Previously I was using an NOKIA 5320XM, there also i found after 1 yr the USB cover broke.
    Please comment or advice.

      • s
      • saife
      • t}T
      • 31 Jul 2013

      It is not dust resistance cause there's space on corners and dust goes inside my Xperia zr overall best phone

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • v0q
        • 31 Jul 2013

        MdN, 31 Jul 2013A good viewing angle is mostly useful for taking photos, wh... moreXperia phones have good viewing angels! have you used one? If it's just above or below your head you won't have any problems.

          • M
          • MdN
          • B}Q
          • 31 Jul 2013

          AnonD-150047, 31 Jul 2013I don't care about viewing angle in smartphone, it only mat... moreA good viewing angle is mostly useful for taking photos, when you're holding your phone above your head or close to the ground.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • v0q
            • 31 Jul 2013

            AnonD-58837, 31 Jul 2013I have to ask why in this instance there is no mention at a... moreActually it's nice to hold coz it's narrower compared to z and zl. Like SL, P, and S these phone sits well at hand and inside your pocket at ease plus my thumb could easily reach for the home buttons.

              • D
              • AnonD-58837
              • mh}
              • 31 Jul 2013

              I have to ask why in this instance there is no mention at all about the thickness of the device, unlike with reviews of Nokia Lumia line of phones (9XX and 1020 in particular)? I personally don't think it's any kind of problem for this very nice phone (especially for the price point), but the thickness is still 10.5mm (vs 1020=10.4mm, 920=10.7mm, 928 10.1mm). And the thickness of those Lumia phones have been mentioned as their biggest cons. Why not so in this instance?

              All I'm looking for, is some impartiality on the side of the reviewers as the reviews should be done as objectively as possible (at least in my opinion).

              Otherwise nice review.

                • D
                • AnonD-79514
                • Sr{
                • 31 Jul 2013

                Random Player, 31 Jul 2013I wish Sony gave us the option to see their phones with win... moreit's better than they did not waste any money on a fail! And so Have done LG, great decisions!

                  • D
                  • AnonD-128014
                  • 2Iq
                  • 31 Jul 2013

                  One major disadvantage I can think of for this phone is that it isn't available everywhere, which is a shame because its size and specs are pretty attractive alternative to the larger Z.

                    • R
                    • Random Player
                    • Nvw
                    • 31 Jul 2013

                    I wish Sony gave us the option to see their phones with windows pone on... Samsung ativ was Samsung's try, and HTC also gave us a few WP options, Sony would definitely do good too, say a VAIO phone or so...
                    Anyway, I'm glad they're no longer with Ericsson in phones.

                      • D
                      • DireWolf
                      • i5N
                      • 31 Jul 2013

                      Anonymous, 31 Jul 2013Im torn between the ZR & the ZL. Their prices are the s... moreI'd go for the ZR. The ZL doesn't have waterproofing or removable battery.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-153046
                        • tU3
                        • 31 Jul 2013

                        Man.. Can be easily declared as the best phone in 4" to 4.7" category. Those who feel that 5" is just TOO BIG, this phone must be perfectly BIG for them.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • PGX
                          • 31 Jul 2013

                          Anonymous, 31 Jul 2013Surprisingly good phone. One thing that might become annoyi... moreThey want you to pair it with their BT earphones / docks / watches..

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • niy
                            • 31 Jul 2013

                            Surprisingly good phone. One thing that might become annoying is those plastic port caps.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • Kg$
                              • 31 Jul 2013

                              About the battery, Xperia Z is not far behind now after the 4.2.2 update, and video watching time is much higher on all jelly bean Xperia when using for example MX Player. This review mentions some strange battery drains, they exist also on Xperia Z and is because of the default video player, never open the Movies app and the problem never occur. If you opened it you have to reboot the phone, force close is not enough.

                              My opinion of ZR is that it's terrible, at this price 8GB internal storage is a major dealbreaker. All Xperia models has at least one unforgivable shortcoming, the Z is the only exception and the only Xperia worth buying. For what you get for the money the Z is very cheap. If you really need a shutter key then wait for i1.

                                • m
                                • miro
                                • PSv
                                • 31 Jul 2013

                                Anonymous, 31 Jul 2013Man.. U should know this.. In terms of TFT LCD, Sony is bet... morethe phrasal adjective "mind blowing" has two words.

                                  • S
                                  • Shasha
                                  • KFP
                                  • 31 Jul 2013

                                  My next phone
                                  Definitely !
                                  Thanku GSMarena for the review.

                                    • A
                                    • Avi Bis
                                    • u7Y
                                    • 31 Jul 2013

                                    I bought the ZR last week, and I have run some of the benchmark tests mentioned here and my scores are significantly higher in AnTuTu.

                                    AnTuTu v3.3.2 Score: 20971
                                    Quadrant: 8137
                                    Benchmark Pi: 264
                                    Vellamo: 2261

                                    I am using stock android.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-74275
                                      • vxQ
                                      • 31 Jul 2013

                                      Wow I didn't expect this phone to be that good but this looks great. By the way you guys put the xperia SP UI video instead of ZR.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-170837
                                        • ut@
                                        • 31 Jul 2013

                                        Where is the detailed battery test for the device? I could not find it on your blog.