[NightOrchid]

Hey all

Ive never had much luck with Xperias, in fact, every one ive owned (including an earlier XZ) has always had camera issues (mainly ISO and poor focus), however, after returning my HTC U Ultra I took a chance .. and am I happy I did...

- I know its a SONY but I gotta say.... The Camera on this phone is stunning, amazing DIS (even if you move, just re-tap the physical shutter button- it refocusses).. its actually got better stablisation than some OIS devices)... and unlike 80% of other phone cameras, it actually focusses where you tell it too "touch the screen" , which means when doing MACRO shots of flowers or small objects.. it actually focusses on that area producing some awesome Bokeh and almost "3D"-like effects.

However, the camera in "Superior Auto" can be hit and miss, but very simple adjustments in Manual Mode is what makes it amazing.. so Outdoors.. ISO 50 / 100 ... Indoors (daytime) 200 / 400 .. and lowlight..800... but IMO, dont go higher than 800 ISO for any situation.. and thats all you need really, the rest, youll learn as you go... IMO, if you learn to use this camera, it can be truely stunning

- White Balance is accurate, with lush greens and lovely blue skies,, shutter is nice and fast and low-light is actually really good...

- The stereo speakers are reasonably loud and punchy, but not too harsh or tinney.. although the waterproof membranes prevent a fatter, rounder mid-range.. but theyre great for podcasts or late night listening... Sadly, ringtones and notifications still not that loud.. I wish SOY would sort that out.

- The 1080p Screen is excellent and gets very bright.. it actually looks like the image is floating on the screen at times, even in direct sunlight its very good.. but like every phone could be better.

- Ive only had this phone 2 days so cant comment on Battery life, but so far its pretty good..

- The UI is clean and fast, and incorporates Google Now and Assistant as a main home screen, so no fiddling with multiple companions and assistants.. SONYs Walkman player, audio section and excellent headphone audio is here as well, with Spotify built in.. if you want it.. although I prefer the more mature UI of Deezer..

Im really pleased with it.. and at the moment, your can get it for really cheap to contract £24 a month in UK, plus its running build 41.2.A.2.223 (711), so the OS has matured with lots of fixes over the months.. something which the XZs and XZ premium wont have had.

I was offereed the XZP when I bought this, but wouldve had to pay an extra £150 upfront, was almost tempted, but so glad I didnt.. because who needs 4k on a 5.5" screen anyway

Cheers

[NEXUS_HTC_PS]

Well, I'm still on the fence between the XZP, XZS and the U11. The vanilla xz isn't even in the question now that the s is part of the equation. The camera is really the deciding factor. Just waiting for all the flow of camera comparisons. Then I'll choose and have to decide, if I go Sony, if the 4k HDR screen is worth it.

[WinU]

I just bought the XZS and I can agree with just about everything! I love the phone! However I am still playing with the camera! Sometimes hit and miss. For the most part it's fantastic. But i have compared some lower light with my wife's S7 and the S7 wins, not by a lot but it does. I will continue to practice with manual etc. I love being in control and actually using the camera's capabilities to fit the setting! I was going to ask something along the lines of what I should be using so your post does help! Does anyone recommend lowering the MP's? Use the 19 (4:3) or Drop it to the 17 (16:9) or even to the 12? Thanks!

[Eggmundo]

Why does Sony STILL struggle with low light?

[Fred98TJ]

Hey all

Ive never had much luck with Xperias, in fact, every one ive owned (including an earlier XZ) has always had camera issues (mainly ISO and poor focus), however, after returning my HTC U Ultra I took a chance .. and am I happy I did...

- I know its a SONY but I gotta say.... The Camera on this phone is stunning, amazing DIS (even if you move, just re-tap the physical shutter button- it refocusses).. its actually got better stablisation than some OIS devices)... and unlike 80% of other phone cameras, it actually focusses where you tell it too "touch the screen" , which means when doing MACRO shots of flowers or small objects.. it actually focusses on that area producing some awesome Bokeh and almost "3D"-like effects.

However, the camera in "Superior Auto" can be hit and miss, but very simple adjustments in Manual Mode is what makes it amazing.. so Outdoors.. ISO 50 / 100 ... Indoors (daytime) 200 / 400 .. and lowlight..800... but IMO, dont go higher than 800 ISO for any situation.. and thats all you need really, the rest, youll learn as you go... IMO, if you learn to use this camera, it can be truely stunning

- White Balance is accurate, with lush greens and lovely blue skies,, shutter is nice and fast and low-light is actually really good...

- The stereo speakers are reasonably loud and punchy, but not too harsh or tinney.. although the waterproof membranes prevent a fatter, rounder mid-range.. but theyre great for podcasts or late night listening... Sadly, ringtones and notifications still not that loud.. I wish SOY would sort that out.

- The 1080p Screen is excellent and gets very bright.. it actually looks like the image is floating on the screen at times, even in direct sunlight its very good.. but like every phone could be better.

- Ive only had this phone 2 days so cant comment on Battery life, but so far its pretty good..

- The UI is clean and fast, and incorporates Google Now and Assistant as a main home screen, so no fiddling with multiple companions and assistants.. SONYs Walkman player, audio section and excellent headphone audio is here as well, with Spotify built in.. if you want it.. although I prefer the more mature UI of Deezer..

Im really pleased with it.. and at the moment, your can get it for really cheap to contract £24 a month in UK, plus its running build 41.2.A.2.223 (711), so the OS has matured with lots of fixes over the months.. something which the XZs and XZ premium wont have had.

I was offereed the XZP when I bought this, but wouldve had to pay an extra £150 upfront, was almost tempted, but so glad I didnt.. because who needs 4k on a 5.5" screen anyway

Cheers

Is this a XZ or XZs ?
I have a XZ and the only complaint that i have with the camera (well actually two) is:
- the extreme oversharping and associated artifacts.
- no RAW output available

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

You'll have to play around with the Sony cameras for a bit.

Not that it's a bad camera, but it's one that requires quite a bit of hands-on time and understanding to really take advantage of it.

Don't hesitate to play around, experiment and have fun. Of course, it's disappointing that the Superior Auto mode isn't really.....Superior, but you can get better results with some coaxing.

[WinU]

OK.Love my xzs, however how can I group text? Where it all stays in one thread and doesn't send single SMS. This is an unlocked phone but I have checked all apn settings etc. No I do not want textra or any third party apps. Thanks

[a2daj]

Which country are you in? I had a US XZs on AT&T and I could not send group MMS unless I was using the US firmware. I tried all of the other regions so I could use the fingerprint sensor but I couldn't send group MMS. Not having a working fingerprint sensor and no double tap to wake were enough for me to send it back. My XZ can do all three with non-US firmware.

[NightOrchid]

Rather than me writing a 2nd review...

Ive just upgraded to the XZPremium.. and its fantastic.. Im in the UK, and Im running UK Unbranded build 7.120 (Security: Aug), and the same stands for this phone as for my previous XZ, with additions....


On my XZP, Im not seeing any distortion or warping on images taken with the default camera app, although I did read that SONY had released an Update to fix this.. The images are clean and crisp, with great white Balance.. however I have noticed slight softening and even mushy at the far edges of the images on RARE occasions, but IMO, its the subject that i take the shot for and the far edges dont concern me... but you do get this with wide angle lenses anyway. A good ratio ide say would be 1 - 5% from the edge is acceptable... anything over 5% ide replace your xz, but what is surprising with the camera is the Superior Auto Mode ACTUALLY works.. yep, its true.. Every single xperia phone Ive ever owned... its always been tinckering with the , ISO, EV.. of Manual to get something reasonable, however, SONY, have actually pulled this one off, so well done SONY, although according to SONY and web reviews, they say the XZPrem camera tech has been re-built from scratch, instead of just an Upgrade / Update.

Audio is also fantastic, nice rounded sound at about 70-80% volume, using the phone body as a chamber (The phone vibrates in hand), but again... I had read many complaints about the Audio, especially, ringtones and Notify volumes being too quiet, so whether SONY have listened and theyve increased the volumes, I cant say... but to me... they sound great loud enough

For Music, its not as loud, but quality is on par, if it not better than an iPhone 7+, yet not quite as punchy or loud as the HTC U11. But best of all...

IT HAS A HEADPHONE JACK... YAYY, Thank you SONY for the Love, and not being Stupid.. Speaking of Headphones and Audio, the sound is stunning.. and the Noise Cancelling is in the phone as well as a High End DAC, so Your headphones really do sound fantastic.

And the best till last.. That Screen.. Its gorgeous, although scaled down to 1080p on day-today running, it really looks great on 4k, when you can find some that is .

Battery life is V.good, on light to moderate use, I get 2 - 3 days out of a full charge and a 1 and a half on heavy use, so im happy.

Dont get me wrong, its not perfect.. occasionally the camera messes up big time and some images have bad camera shake, even though you were rock still... ringtones can sound very Compressed and wierd through the speakers,.... it can feel massive and awkward in the hand with no real style or shape (ala HTC or Samsung), but its all worth it IMO.

I highly recommend this phone, it looks gorgeous (Deep Sea Black) and, even though the shape remains the typical SONY Slab of Glass.. it turns heads and is a welcome sight from the morass of iPhones and Samsungs everywhere, so its nice to feel a bit unique and different.

[SkypilotOfHope]

Thanks for this review. I'm debating on getting an XZ1 when they're released. Was this a difficult choice for you? knowing the XZ1s are out any day.

[NightOrchid]

Thanks for this review. I'm debating on getting an XZ1 when they're released. Was this a difficult choice for you? knowing the XZ1s are out any day.

No, not at all... Im a big fan of phablets in general.. my sweet spot for me being 5.5 to 5.7", plus.. alot of phones now are getting thinner and thinner, which IMO, is pointless because 1) easier to drop and too flimsy... and 2)when I spend £600+ on a phone, I like to feel Ive got my monies worth with a bit of weight and size.

The advantage to a bigger phone, is better Audio... bigger body and surface area of the device, gives a better spread of sound over a slightly larger area. The body of the device acts as an echo chamber, so thicker bigger bezels and body gives better all-round depth. While the Xperias have front facing speakers, the principles for the iPhone 7+, HTC U11 & U Ultra (Main Woofer on the bottom, earpiece Tweeter on the top) acts in the same way.

Have no Regrets