Sony Xperia XZs review: Slow (e)motion

Phone

The Sony Xperia XZs we have for review is the single-SIM version (G8231). A dual-SIM version will also be available on some markets with a model designation G8232. That one uses a hybrid slot for the second SIM card, shared with the microSD card.

The call log is separated from the contacts, but there's a shortcut to those in the upper right corner. It can be filtered by missed, incoming and outgoing calls. Smart dial is supported too.

Dialer with smart dial • Call log • Phonebook • Favorites

Loudspeaker

The Sony Xperia XZs has front-firing stereo speakers, just like every Sony flagship since the Xperia Z2 (and some recent midrangers too). In principle, we'll take this setup over any other in a heartbeat, but Sony's speakers are fairly modest in terms of loudness, barely falling in the Average category in our test. None of the major competitors truly excels here, yet they are all ahead of the Xperia.

Other apps

Lifelog tracks a host of daily activities, including walking, running and sleeping, but it also tracks the music you listen, the photos you take, and the apps you use. It then presents the info in a split-screen view with a timeline on top and detailed numbers on the bottom.

Lifelog tracks more than just steps and calories

The News app is a news aggregator, pulling stories from sources on topics of your choice. It can also issue two daily bulletins for you at a time you specify, so you don't miss out on current events.

News

Xperia lounge is Sony's own entertainment app, feeding you exclusive content and competitions related to music, movies and games.

Xperia Lounge

Oddly, there is no file manager pre-installed, you'll need to provide your own. All you get is a shortcut to a downloads folder.