Sony's flagship for the first half of the year, one of the most interesting Android smartphones of all time - there are a lot of advantages, but there are also disadvantages. The most controversial point is the display...
During the announcement at CES, they played an interesting video of how a master assembles Z and other Sony equipment with his hands. You can look here, however, several products are shown here at once.
I decided to show this video for a reason; the design and construction of the Z deserves special attention. Sony came up with many different marketing phrases, both about design, good from different sides, and about other things, but the main thing is different. The device is really nice to hold in your hands. Another question is that for most people it will seem very large; when you use Instagram, you have to grab the device to go back to the photo feed. And so with many proposals. A shovel is what it is, but a shovel, in my opinion, is very attractive. Maybe the best in appearance among other Android shovels. Just keep in mind that the black device is very easily soiled; a film is factory-applied to the front and back, and there are some fingerprints and scratches.
I don’t recommend removing the film; I did it with a Sony Xperia V, and as a result, the Sony inscription disappeared from the front panel. As you can imagine, erasing prints from film is not as easy as erasing prints from glass. Therefore, for neat people, I would recommend the Sony Xperia Z in white, where fingerprints are invisible. The ends are rounded, the assembly is excellent, there is not the slightest hint of play. At the bottom end there is a traditional groove for a strap, all connectors are under plugs, these are 3.5 mm, microUSB, a slot for microSIM, a slot for microUSB. The plugs fit tightly into place and are equipped with a rubber edging; the Sony Xperia Z is not afraid to take a swim in the sink or on the beach. Below the power button is a neat volume rocker. The only drawback is the strange design of the 3.5 mm jack when the flap is open, somehow poorly consistent with the appearance of the device. If you are afraid that the plugs will become loose and start to pop out, I recommend using a Bluetooth headset and a charging dock. By the way, the headphone jack block itself moves a little from side to side, this is noticeable. The inserts on the ends are dark blue, an unusual combination of colors. The dimensions are 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm, weight 146 grams, I like the weight of the device, but I already said about the dimensions - keep in mind that if you can’t stand large smartphones, then the Z will definitely not suit you.
I've been using the Z for quite some time, it's seen a lot of things, it's fallen on parquet floors and in the snow, it's survived a lot of impacts, it's drowned, it's been washed. As you can see, this did not affect the appearance in any way, which makes me happy. The plugs are still in place. There is a light indicator above the display that lights up during charging or various events; I like that Sony does not forget about this kind of indication.
The device is protected from water, IP55&IP57 standards, which means that you can easily take it with you for a swim in the shower or directly swim in the sea. For a device with such characteristics, this is an interesting feature, at the exhibition we talked about it for a long time, someone never broke their device from water penetration, another colleague destroyed a couple of smartphones in this way, and I myself accidentally flooded my devices more than once or twice (coffee, cola, plain water). In the case of the Sony Xperia Z, you would simply need to wash it off the coffee and continue using it; in the case of another gadget, you would have to visit a service center. I'm not talking about a few drops, but about worse things.
The TFT display diagonal is 5 inches, resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels, it supports Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology (second generation) to improve image display, but that’s not all, like a number of other products, there is no air gap, there are a number of others interesting moments. It’s a fact, but the screen behaves perfectly in the sun, compared with the iPhone 5, even under direct rays the information is easy to read.
Another question is that compared to a number of other devices, for example, the HTC One, the screen in the Z does not stand up to criticism, it seems faded, colors lose saturation when viewed from a slight angle, and there is no reserve of brightness. I repeat, all this is noticeable when compared, but in life you immediately pay attention only to the viewing angles, the white color begins to turn a little yellow. Actually, the screen is the most controversial detail here, and, by and large, you can only find fault with it. And here you have to decide for yourself whether you can use such a smartphone or not. For me, you can get used to it - when purchasing, try launching the browser and other applications; you should not evaluate the display using preinstalled pictures.
It will be very interesting to see the ZL display, whether it will be the same or better quality.
There is a very convenient stand, the smartphone is inserted with a slight click, it is very easy to take it out of this “socket”, it is best used for charging - I had it on the chest of drawers in the living room. When you come home, you immediately put the device back in place, it charges, and you pick it up in the morning with a full battery. The color of the stand differs depending on the color of the smartphone. Interestingly, for Russia the stand was included in the kit; in some other countries you will have to buy it separately (of course, if you need it).
Many thanks to Sony for the headphones. Now this is a really high-quality headset, created on the basis of the good old EX-300 model. There is a version for iPhone, there is a review of it on the website - among inexpensive headsets it is one of the best.
Paired with the Xperia Z, the headphones help you understand one truth: the days of the Walkman are over. I had a lot of praise for the Android-based F-series player, but now comparable sound quality can be achieved with a smartphone. The sound settings are similar, the headphones seem to be “tailored” to the device, and they are a pleasure to use. The button on the headset starts or pauses playback, not only in the standard player, but also in third-party applications (for example, Soundcloud). There is a good speaker installed here, you can talk without bringing it close to your mouth. And I also like that this headset has different lengths of cable sections with headphones, you can put them on your neck.
The device for Japan is called SO-02E, apparently, a different display is installed there, you can see more details in this video. In short, the display there is better, this applies to both brightness and viewing angles, the black color is better, and other colors too.
There are differences in design; there is an IR port on the back. There is no Stamina mode in the power settings, the body colors are the same. There is additional software, these are various local services.
It’s strange that a different display was installed in the version for Europe; I repeat, this is the most controversial point in the Sony Xperia Z.
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) is already installed here; you can read about the capabilities of this version in a separate review.
The main thing is that now you can leave only one desktop, place all the necessary icons there and make a second one only if there is not enough space. Now I’ll talk about different features. For example, the proprietary “Clock” widget allows you to select a binary clock, for those who like to rack their brains during the day. Very beautiful new themes, but the ringtones haven’t changed much. As always, Sony has a lot of its own icons, but what I liked most was the lock screen, these shutters, you can move your finger endlessly, the process is mesmerizing. Moreover, on this screen you can quickly go to the player or camera. There is a radio, mini-applications that can be called up from the menu of running programs, they open on top of the utility that is currently running. This is a calculator, notes, voice recorder, I used the latter all the time, it’s very convenient - you can go to your mail from the browser, and the recording goes on and on. Traditionally, Sony supports not only FLAC, but also AVI; the downloaded movie was recognized by a regular player without any problems. The proprietary player supports ClearAudio+, this function seriously changes the sound, but then you will not be able to use other equalizer presets, surround sound, dynamic normalizer and other features. It seems to me that the main thing here is the headset used, it makes the sound interesting, similar to what I heard in the Sony Walkman F. The effects, although secondary, are also important - in general, among devices with Android it is Sony Xperia Z and ZL can be called one of the best in terms of playback quality.
As you can see, at the top of the notification line by default there is a mute widget, wireless interfaces, below is the time and date. When the screen is locked, you can go to the mini player and control playback without going to the main screen. It’s convenient in the car, I did it myself all the time. By the way, you can also use the pre-installed navigation program Wisepilot in the car, although even Google maps seem more convenient to me.
For some reason, the Sociallife program is installed, when you click on the icon, it goes to Google Play, and it says that it is “not supported on your device” - nonsense.
A quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm APQ8064+MDM9215M Quad Core processor is used, Adreno 320 is responsible for graphics, 2 GB of RAM. It is not clear where to direct all this power, what applications are needed to unlock the full potential of such a powerful filling. In real life, the device is quite fast, but even when you just use the browser, the area next to the camera on the back heats up, and it heats up quite seriously; you have to hold the device by its ends. In Antutu, the device scored 20219 points, as far as I understand, one of the most productive smartphones at the moment.
The front camera is 2.1 MP, you can take a good self-portrait, supports video with a resolution of 1080p, on the back is the main “camera” lens, 13 MP (Sony Exmor RS), LED flash, many of my favorite settings. Naturally, autofocus, panorama and other functions familiar to Sony. By the way, there’s an interesting Burst mode: by pressing a button, the device starts shooting continuously and then puts all the frames from the buffer into one album; as colleagues say, it was possible to take up to a thousand pictures this way (apparently, it got boring later). This is good for dynamic shooting, for example, if you have children or pets, you can shoot reports while running. The camera interface has been changed, in my opinion, it has become clearer.
I shot video both day and night, with all due respect to Sony, I can’t say that the HDR mode for video works well, the picture is grainy, and viewing on a computer is depressing. During the day, the video turns out quite well; by the way, while shooting a video, you can take photos, but only at a low resolution. On the iPhone 5, the resolution does not change - it simply cannot be changed in the menu or anywhere else. Not everything is smooth with photographs either; recording does not happen instantly, just a split second; the iPhone 5 is faster. The quality is normal, but again I will say that the iPhone 5 takes better pictures in some cases. In general, everything is not bad, but many people expect a miracle in all aspects from this device. Including many people asking me whether the Sony Xperia Z can replace a digital point-and-shoot camera. Maybe. How can Xperia V, iPhone 4/4S/5, and Samsung Galaxy S3 do this. It all depends on what you expect from the device. Naturally, many modern digital point-and-shoot cameras take pictures a hundred times better than smartphones, and you have to come to terms with this. Another question is that a smartphone can replace two devices at once, and this is expensive in a number of situations. I shot with the Sony Xperia Z for a long time, I’ll give the owners a couple of tips. It’s better to always use the “Super Auto” mode, turn off the flash, touch shooting is very convenient (when you don’t have to touch the “button”), and check what the resolution is before you start using it. It's better to choose the maximum. And I’ll also note that it’s painful to look at the “graphic effects” mode; who in their right mind could choose a kaleidoscope or a Harris shutter, I can’t imagine. It would be better if there was a mechanical shooting button instead of all these settings.
It uses a 2400 mAh battery, there is an interesting Stamina mode, when you turn off the device (that is, the display), Wi-Fi is turned off, applications are not allowed to access the network, this can seriously increase the operating time. I noticed that some programs conflict with this mode, for example Facebook. You shouldn’t believe the happy messages on the meter; the Sony Xperia Z is unlikely to survive four days. The stated operating time is about 11 hours of talk time, 40 hours of music playback, 5.5 hours of video playback. In reality, the device could work for me for about two days, for example, this was the case with a SIM card for roaming, when I more often used Wi-Fi in a hotel or other places and did not talk much. In general, the Xperia Z seemed very predictable to me; even when browsing via Wi-Fi with a display where the brightness is turned all the way up, there is no rapid discharge. In Moscow, under normal load, the device ran smoothly from morning until evening, and sometimes more than 40% of the charge remained. Yes, I recommend Stamina to all owners, it also disciplines you - you won’t be distracted by notifications from different programs while the device is turned off and in your pocket. We sat down in a cafe, turned it on, connected to Wi-Fi or 4G (or 3G), now you can watch everything in peace.
16 GB of internal memory is declared, 11.73 GB is available, it’s very good that they did not remove the microSD memory card slot. Upgrade to a 64GB card and get over 70GB of storage for your TV shows, music, photos and more. Considering that there is serial shooting here and you can shoot until you run out of space, there will never be enough memory here.
It must be said right away that the Sony Xperia Z supports LTE, tests have already been carried out with Megafon, so owners of both components will be able to enjoy high speeds. In addition, of course, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Direct, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, the microUSB connector supports MHL, you can connect your smartphone to TVs, the main thing is to find such a cable. It also supports DLNA, Glonass, and Throw's proprietary feature, which allows you to exchange files with other devices.
The earpiece is not very loud, sometimes you have to strain your ears, especially if the environment is noisy. They can hear you well. The external speaker is also far from the loudest; I don’t really want to use the Sony Xperia Z to listen to music this way. Better with a headset. I still don’t understand where the proximity sensor is located; during a conversation, the screen sometimes did not turn off, so you can reset the call or press something wrong.
What's the result? The editor, on the one hand, needs to be objective. On the other hand, I have never been a supporter of this point of view and offered you my view of things. Objectively, for 30,000 rubles it is better to buy an iPhone 5 as a more balanced device - the disadvantages are clear, but overall it is a universal soldier. Subjectively, for 30,000 rubles, the Sony Xperia Z is one of the most interesting smartphones on the market in principle. I personally really like the design and solution with the aluminum button on the right side - the habit comes very quickly. I hope Sony will not forget about this button and will use it in other devices. The large size no longer bothers me, but there is protection from water. By the way, if you can’t make friends with the Z due to its dimensions, pay attention to the ZL (but then there will be no water resistance). The included headset is excellent, and the stand is also convenient. The screen is the most controversial point, but here I recommend that you look at it yourself and decide whether you can put up with it or not. It seems to me that this is quite possible. It's a good camera, there's a slot for memory cards, all sorts of wireless capabilities, and even the operating time is a little surprising (just don't forget about Stamina).
But the most important thing is not even this. At Sony, the letter Z is usually used for the most advanced devices, this applies to laptops, cameras, and other things. Can Z be called such? In my opinion, yes. It's a shame that people in Japan got a smartphone with a better display. It's a pity that UK residents could pre-order a set with Sony MDR-R1 headphones (good stuff).
But the great design remains. It's a pleasure to pick up and a pleasure to use every day. I recommend the Sony Xperia Z not only to fans of “Sonystyle”, but also to all those who are looking for an interesting toy. The device is not without its oddities, but overall this is a breakthrough for Sony. All that remains is to finish all sorts of small jambs, not skimp on displays and record melodies that are more interesting, not reminiscent of polyphony from the nineties. In the near future I will write more about Z in material related to skiing.
Sergey Kuzmin ()
In 2007, Apple's first iPhone was presented for the first time, and almost all the guests present at the conference were deeply amazed by the size of its display. Today, a 6.44-inch screen with p rarely generates truly rave reviews. Sony is a pleasant exception in this regard, as potential buyers noticed it immediately.
Even those users who are not too fond of huge smartphones looked at its first presentation with great interest. Now we will look at customer reviews and try to draw a definite conclusion about the qualities of this wonderful gadget.
Let us immediately note that the “big brother” of the device we are considering, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, has for the most part all the same characteristics, so the article can also be used to familiarize yourself with the flagship model in absentia. Of course, it is much better in some respects, but still the main features have remained virtually unchanged.
So that you understand on the basis of which consumers expressed this or that opinion, it would be nice to familiarize yourself with the basic characteristics of our “hero”. Here they are:
What kind of splendor does this evoke? Z immediately fell in love with customers due to its powerful hardware, a modern (at that time) version of Android, as well as a nimble graphical shell. As experienced users say, usually when they see a shell for Android from a hardware developer, they immediately want to delete it. But not this time: everything is done as carefully and efficiently as possible, the interface does not lag, the animation is fast and smooth.
In this regard, the Sony Xperia Z, the characteristics of which we reviewed, is sometimes able to give a head start to much more famous competitors. In any case, it’s not uncommon to find reviews online about how people switched to it from Apple products. Users are attracted by the initial openness of the platform, which makes it possible to interact more effectively with the device.
At the moment, this particular model is the largest and most massive Full HD smartphone in the world. Compared to it, iPhone 5 is about 2.5 times smaller. However, it is practically no larger than the Samsung Galaxy Mega. The latter is important, since with a further increase in the size of the display, users finally lose the ability to use the device as a phone without looking like a circus tent worker.
It should be noted that manufacturers often include this class of equipment in the middle price segment: the same “shovel” from Samsung has a worse filling (if compared), but costs around 15 thousand rubles. Sony, known for its perfectionism, could not do this. Xperia Z is an excellent smartphone, equipped with the best solutions from the manufacturer, and also has proprietary protection against dust and moisture.
What they say, according to buyers, does not react in any way to strong humidity in the room. Of course, it’s better not to go to the sauna with him, but he can tolerate a light dousing with juice or water (while watching cartoons with the child) without any problems.
Moreover, desperate experimenters report that the Sony Xperia Z phone can be immersed to a depth of up to a meter for as long as half an hour! However, it is precisely for the sake of protection from moisture that the smartphone has so many plugs. As buyers note, due to all kinds of layers of protective materials, the speakers on this smartphone are somewhat muffled, so when watching movies without a headset, the sound has to be set to the maximum value. However, its quality is excellent, so the microphone is not in danger of quickly losing its lifespan.
As for dust, such conditions should still be avoided, as it gets clogged into all existing cracks. Users say that it is incredibly difficult to pick it out. However, given the amazing water resistance for a model of this class, you can simply wash the phone under running water. Of course, you should definitely not rub it with a hard brush, but it tolerates gentle washing with a soft cloth perfectly.
This feature is extremely valuable for those who prefer not to part with their smartphone even on a summer beach holiday. Important! Despite the ease and simplicity of washing, you should not take a smartphone on vacation without a protective film on the display. Reviews indicate that the screen gets scratched quite easily, and sand certainly has no equal in damaging equipment!
Having a good (but still not outstanding) filling, the device earns almost 29,000 points in the AnTuTu test! At the time of release, only the console, which was initially “sharpened” for powerful games, gained more, and therefore was equipped with a Tegra 4 chip. Reviews from gamers indicate that the Sony Xperia Z smartphone “digests” all the latest new mobile games perfectly. You will never encounter any brakes or freezes (even slight ones).
But if you think that our review of the Sony Xperia Z consists solely of describing the strengths of the smartphone, then you are mistaken. Like any piece of technology, this gadget also has its drawbacks. There is nothing serious about them, but still some points should be paid attention to.
We have already noticed that the local camera does not have a flash. Not at all. Buyers and store marketers don’t really understand why this was done, but they assume that the company could have taken this strange step in order to increase the competitiveness of the flagship Z Ultra. The fact is that the specimen we are considering has almost the same characteristics as its older brother. But the Sony Xperia Z, whose price is about 20 thousand, is quite suitable for the role of a “mid-budget” phone, while the official cost of the older model is from 30 thousand rubles.
In a word, the manufacturer’s marketers did their best! Many buyers admit that if the camera had that same ill-fated flash, they would definitely not spend money on an older generation model, preferring its “younger brother” to it.
However, the users of both devices themselves admit that the camera does not have any outstanding abilities, shooting almost at the level of the old iPhone 4S. But the viewing angles of the display are excellent, and the picture quality is very high. The images are so clear and rich that in this regard, the Sony Xperia Z smartphone outperforms all its competitors.
Concluding the review of shortcomings, another unpleasant circumstance should be noted. The fact is that almost all music lovers who have dealt with this phone complain about the side location of the headphone jack. Considering its hefty size, it is extremely inconvenient to use: you can’t stuff such a miracle with a side protrusion into your pants pocket, and you won’t be able to use a normal case.
If you follow the latest trends in the high-tech market even a little, then you probably know that the case of almost all modern smartphones, tablets and other equipment is held together using latches. Accordingly, with patience and more or less straight hands, they can be disassembled for cleaning and simple maintenance.
This trick won't work with this phone. The fact is that all the parts are mounted on hot-melt adhesive. So for assembly and disassembly you need to use a special soldering station, which only individual craftsmen have at home. If you have no experience at all with such actions, we strongly do not recommend attempting them using this phone: you will definitely break something in it.
Almost all internal elements are glued on, so we recommend avoiding sudden “shocks”; we do not recommend dropping the smartphone on hard surfaces. In addition to the risk of breaking the display, this will almost certainly lead to damage to other components, which can simply come off their seats. Of course, nothing like this will happen from simple shaking, but it is still necessary to remember these design features.
One question plagues all fans of watching movies on a smartphone. Sony company! How is it that you, a trendsetter in the world of cinema, cannot make standard video viewing software more omnivorous? Nowadays, when MKV files play perfectly well on almost all the latest models of even cheap TVs, when you try to watch them on your phone, they play without sound! Of course, you can install any player you prefer, but the very absurdity of the situation confuses many users.
As for the FullHD resolution, at least in this regard there are no problems. Some buyers complain about somewhat unusual controls in the local player, but you just need to get used to these features.
Yes, the aspect is unexpected, but no less important. The fact is that the phone’s display, although protected by a good coating, can become completely indigestible in just a month or two without a proper case. Users recommend Krusell. It costs about one and a half thousand rubles. The higher cost (compared to competitors) is compensated by the fact that it has a built-in stand, which significantly improves the use of the smartphone for watching movies.
The device comes with a relatively good Sony Xperia Z docking station. This fact is simply well received by users, since with the help of this “gadget” the smartphone can be turned into a more or less serious tool for work, suitable not only for writing comments on social networks .
For example, on a business trip you can even write a report. This is not very convenient, but still quite doable. In addition, buyers highly appreciate the fact that after purchasing a device, they end up with a gadget in their hands that is almost a full-fledged tablet. Important! Many buyers note that the plugs that cover all technological connectors for protection are not very durable. This phone Sony Xperia Z unpleasantly surprised many of its fans.
I especially like the charging connector. If you regularly pull its plug for six months, it can become very loose, or even fall off completely. It is much better to use a docking station for charging: just remove the smartphone from the tablet and place it on the platform intended for it. The charging process will begin immediately, and you won't have to scoff at the plug.
The quality of the picture produced by the Sony Xperia Z screen is excellent, but part of the screen is “eaten up” by the panel with control buttons. By the way, Sony is one of the first companies to completely switch to virtual buttons. In some cases, this is not so convenient, since you have to use the side button to activate the display, and in some cases you obviously won’t be able to reach it the first time.
However, we still wouldn’t consider this as a serious drawback: the traffic police strongly discourages using a phone on the road, and in other situations it’s quite possible to find a couple of extra seconds, stop and press that ill-fated button.
The screen is made of very high quality, as a result of which users note excellent color reproduction. Since the manufacturer uses really good matrices, even the black color actually looks that way (although buyers with good eyesight still note some grayishness). Of course, the backlight quality is excellent, there are no annoying light spots in the corners.
Fans of modern gadgets also love the tablet because its display perfectly displays web pages and movies, and dynamic games look great. Alas, there is no magnetic latch that would activate the display when opening the lid of a special case. However, almost all users take this circumstance completely calmly, not considering it a disadvantage of the Sony Xperia Z. The tablet of the average manufacturer (Samsung) also does not have this feature, and therefore our users are not spoiled by this.
If you have a router that can operate at 5 GHz, then rejoice! The phone supports this range, so you can avoid interference in apartment buildings, where almost everyone has a wireless connection point. In addition, users note the impressive “tenacity” of the module on this model: the phone more or less confidently catches the network even in remote corners of an apartment or house.
As for regular mobile communications, there are no particularly outstanding results here: no better, but no worse than competitors. How does Sony Xperia Z behave on new networks? LTE networks (of which we still have very few) work perfectly with it. Works with SIM cards of any domestic operators without any problems. In any case, there are no negative reviews in this regard. However, many users believe that the Sony Xperia Z Ultra allows you to transfer data at higher speeds.
Deciding whether it’s worth spending an additional 10 thousand rubles for this is a purely personal matter.
As we already indicated in the specifications, there is support for the newfangled NFC. Until recently, this option was completely useless, but the new owners of an LG printer and a Sony DSC-QX10 smartograph indicate that the smartphone began working with them immediately, without any glitches. In addition, NFC wireless headphones can be found on sale, so many music lovers also speak highly of this feature.
In the new one, this option was retained precisely because users found it very useful. In particular, company representatives mention that customers have repeatedly written about the advantages of this standard in the feedback form.
Since the size of the device when used as a phone gives the user a rather ridiculous appearance, it is better to immediately get a headset. Buyers also note that the smartphone fits perfectly into almost all existing smart watches, so for the sake of reliability, you can also purchase one of them.
As for design, Sony went its own way here too. We are talking about its signature button, which many people don’t like. However, a considerable part of users still claim that it is very pleasant to the touch, and it is very convenient to use. One can understand the company’s engineers: this small design touch has become so familiar to users over the years that they can’t just take it and get rid of it.
What do the reviews tell us? Sony Xperia Z is an excellent choice in its price range. The phone is very comfortable to use, the materials of the case are pleasant. If you have always wanted to have a gadget that will combine the qualities of a smartphone and a tablet, then you simply won’t be able to find anything better.
I definitely don't want to part with the Xperia Z. In no way inferior to tablets with a 7-inch display diagonal, it at the same time perfectly performs all the functions typical of regular phones. If you have a TV that supports this feature, you can stream videos and photos from your Sony smartphone to it. In short, the device is definitely good and well-designed.
The manufacturer promises that the Sony Xperia Z will be updated for at least a year and a half, so even fans of the latest Android can take their time switching to the new model. If you need something more powerful, we recommend that you look at the model with the Ultra prefix. Users testify that its capabilities are sufficient to completely replace a standard seven-inch tablet.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 71 mm (millimeters) 7.1 cm (centimeters) 0.23 ft (feet) 2.8 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 139 mm (millimeters) 13.9 cm (centimeters) 0.46 ft (feet) 5.47 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 7.9 mm (millimeters) 0.79 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.31 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 146 g (grams) 0.32 lbs 5.15 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 77.97 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.73 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black White Purple |
| Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body. | Glass |
| Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified. | IP55 IP57 |
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz |
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | Krait |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 0 cache (L0) Some processors have L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption. | 4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 4 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 1500 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 320 |
| Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 400 MHz (megahertz) |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 2 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR2 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates. | Dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 533 MHz (megahertz) |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 + MDM9215M |
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | TFT |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5 in (inches) 127 mm (millimeters) 12.7 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.45 in (inches) 62.26 mm (millimeters) 6.23 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.36 in (inches) 110.69 mm (millimeters) 11.07 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 441 ppi (pixels per inch) 173 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 70.06% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance |
| Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 Reality display Dragontrail glass Shatter-proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass |
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera. | Sony IMX135 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution. | 4.69 x 3.52 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches) |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels. | 1.136 µm (micrometers) 0.001136 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device. | 7.38 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) ISO indicators determine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity and vice versa - higher values mean higher light sensitivity, i.e. better ability of the sensor to work in low light conditions. | 100 - 1600 |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger. | f/2.4 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 3.79 mm (millimeters) 27.99 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 4128 x 3096 pixels 12.78 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition ISO Setting Self-timer Scene Selection Mode Macro mode |
| 4-element lens |
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.0 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol) GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) HDP (Health Device Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) |
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 |
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 2330 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 11 o'clock (clock) 660 min (minutes) 0.5 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 550 h (hours) 33000 min (minutes) 22.9 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 14 h (hours) 840 min (minutes) 0.6 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 530 h (hours) 31800 min (minutes) 22.1 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Fixed |
The new model from Sony represents a comprehensive work on the errors of previous devices. The company tried to create a device that retains all the advantages and successful ideas of its predecessors. But at the same time it eliminates the problems of older devices from the line. The Sony Xperia Z5 (Sony Experia) smartphone turned out to be unusual and is distinguished by its innovations. In the new version, attention was paid to the functions of ergonomics and ease of daily use. According to the manufacturer, the phone should become one with its owner, not only in terms of design, but also in the quality of tactile sensations and software. Let's try to carefully study the review, delve into the detailed description, compare with other models and understand whether these statements are true or not.
We should start this review with the appearance of the smartphone. The new Sony Xperia Z5 (Sony Experia) has retained the traditional concept of OmniBalance designers. The appearance of the smartphone is made in a variation of Sense of Unity. This mobile phone looks truly presentable, luxurious and solid. Strict contours with straight lines emphasize the high cost and sophisticated style of the case. So visually the cost of this model looks higher than its real price.
In the Xperia Z5 series, special emphasis in design was placed on individual details. So the rear window got a matte and foggy look. The original idea allowed not only to refresh the appearance of Sony smartphones, but also to solve one of the key problems. There are practically no traces or fingerprints left on such a surface. Even if they appear, they are easily erased with simple movements.
The back panel conveys excellent tactile sensations. The surface feels rough. When viewed from a distance, frosted glass can easily be confused with plastic or metal. Only touch can convey the quality of a material. It is especially pleasant that it did not greatly affect the final cost of the smartphone.
As a nice innovation in the design, it is worth noting the presence of a built-in fingerprint scanner in the power button on the side panel. This made it possible to emphasize the originality of the style and give a new look to boring functions. The scanner is responsive and uses Qualcomm Sense ID technology. True, its implementation made the lock button more rigid. Pressing requires some effort, so unlocking the screen sometimes does not work the first time.
The new smartphone does not have annoying plugs. The standard package includes a common slot for SD and SIM cards. There is also a modification for sale with a slot for two SIMs - Sony Xperia Z5 Dual. According to the manufacturer, the device has waterproof properties. The smartphone can easily survive a fall into water. This feature was a signature feature in all the company’s stylish models.
Among the shortcomings of the design, we can highlight the protrusions along the perimeter of the frame. They were made in order to prevent the smartphone from sliding on the surface and causing scratches. However, the price of this innovation turned out to be high and cost users the usual comfort: when you take the Xperia Z5 in your hands, the size and edges cause inconvenience, which slightly spoils the experience. A similar thing happens when you work with the display sensor. When you move your finger across the screen, you involuntarily touch these protrusions. Although this design is practical, it takes time to get used to the device. This disadvantage also includes the inconvenient location of the volume keys. The buttons are located significantly lower than usual in other models.
The display uses a Sony Triluminos touchscreen IPS matrix with Live Color LED & X-Reality technology. Here, of course, we cannot fail to mention the dimensions: the screen diagonal is 5.2 inches. The image is transmitted in FullHD 1920×1080 resolution. The pixel density is 424 ppi.
The Xperia Z5 has built-in ambient light sensors that are responsible for automatically adjusting the brightness of the display. At the same time, the possibility of precise manual adjustment is preserved. The multi-touch sensor is capable of perceiving and processing up to 10 simultaneous touches. When you hold the phone to your ear during a call, the sensors automatically lock the screen. A nice plus is the ability to operate the smartphone with gloves.
In general, the quality of color rendering and brightness of the model is excellent. The shades are rich, the colors are bright, the image is excellent. The anti-glare screen and a wide range of brightness settings will allow you to comfortably use the phone in direct sunlight.
The Sony Xperia Z5 has deservedly received praise for its stereo sound quality. And no matter how many there are, it will not be enough. The speakers and overall sound of the smartphone deserve applause. The Japanese company was able to realize clear and loud sound with a good bass range. Not a single smartphone from all Sony lines could boast of such properties.
The mobile phone is equipped with S-Force Front Surround sound system and DSEE HX quality enhancement technology. To listen to your favorite music and tracks, there are wide options and as many different options for improving the sound using personal settings and a built-in audio player as a smartphone can have. The entire sound palette is revealed well when you connect headphones to your smartphone.
As for communicating on the phone, the Xperia Z5 is doing great. The interlocutor's voice is recognizable and retains familiar intonation and timbre. Noise-canceling technology protects conversations from wind gusts and outside sounds in open spaces.
The smartphone uses two digital cameras with resolutions of 23 MP and 5 MP. The developers have placed emphasis on the quality and detail of the resulting photos. The main camera uses the new Sony Exmor RS with a 1/2.3 sensor and a 24mm G Lens. The aperture has an f/2.0 setting. Hybrid autofocus along with LED flash ensures high focusing accuracy and speed.
The front camera uses the same wide-angle 25 mm G Lens and a 5 MP Exmor R module. There is no flash and a fixed focus.
For shooting photos and videos, there is an HDR mode and an electronic SteadyShot image stabilization system with Intelligent Active Mod function. The camera interface has flexible settings, as well as options for recognizing smiles and “soft skin”.
In general, each camera copes well with its responsibilities and demonstrates the good quality of the resulting photos and videos in 4K resolution. The picture is detailed and sharp. In poor lighting, frames lose quality, but remain at an acceptable level. If we compare the Z5 with other smartphones, it outperforms its younger predecessors, but is still inferior to the flagships of other companies. And at the same time it is inferior significantly.
The hardware of the smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset. The x64 platform is made using a 20 nm process technology and consists of eight ARM Cortex cores. They reliably cope with assigned tasks and demonstrate good performance. The smartphone's RAM is 3 GB. Flash memory is designed for 32 GB. You can expand the volume up to 200 GB using additional microSD.
The Sony Xperia Z5 (Sony Experia) went on sale with an operating system based on the 5th version of Android LolliPop. The changes affected the interface with a description and the processing of the existing shell. All innovations in the menu and sections are designed to improve style and ease of use. At the moment, a software update to the sixth version of Android Marshmallow is available for the smartphone.
The Adreno 430 video accelerator is responsible for the work in the graphical aspect. AnTuTu tests give top results. When running gaming applications at high graphics settings, the smartphone behaves perfectly. FPS drops and performance drops occur due to gradual heating. This problem is typical for all Snapdragon 810. Heating is more localized in the upper part of the device, where the SoC is located. The temperature of the smartphone reaches 45-47°C. At the same time, the device feels significantly hot and you can only get rid of this feeling with the help of a case.
But, despite this drawback, the Xperia Z5 hardware demonstrates excellent performance and a high performance margin. This guarantees owners reliable performance and the ability to run the most demanding applications. This mobile phone will be able to adequately withstand comparison and compete with other representatives of the flagship series, and will also retain the relevance of its technical content for many years to come.
And finally, we should conclude this review with a description of the battery parameters. Autonomy is ensured by a battery with a capacity 2900 mAh. Its capabilities are enough for standard daily work with an active screen. The smartphone lasts for 40 hours without additional charging. But if you increase the intensity of the load, the battery discharges quite quickly. This is due to the demanding platform, as well as the large FullHD display.
3G, Android 4.3, 5", 1920x1080, 16GB, 146g, 13.10MP camera, Bluetooth
MAIN TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
