When is xperia xz premium coming out? Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone review: cherry orchard. Software and multimedia

At the end of February, two months have passed and now the Japanese manufacturer has introduced an even more premium model. If you want advanced functionality, the Xperia XZ2 Premium will let you do just that.

There are few smartphones with 4K HDR screens, and the Xperia XZ2 Premium is one of them. He also has a new dual camera that has a very high sensitivity and is able to take photos in almost complete darkness. With such a screen, it's no surprise the camera can shoot 4K HDR video.

The new device can be presented as a strengthened version in all possible directions. The looks are almost identical with the glass back and curves, but the XZ2 Premium has a higher screen resolution, a dual camera with new features and improved sound.

The list of Xperia XZ2 Premium hardware features is presented below:

  • Operating system:
  • Dimensions: 80 x 158 x 6.4-11.9 mm, weight 236 g
  • Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB memory
  • Screen: 5.8 4K HDR LCD, 16: 9
  • Rear cameras: dual with maximum ISO 51200 for photos and 12800 for video
  • 13MP front camera with 1 / 3.06 '' sensor
  • Battery: 3450mAh
  • Additional features: dynamic vibration, water resistant, wireless charging, no headphone jack

Key differences between the two smartphones

The Xperia XZ2 Premium and the standard XZ2 have the same basic architecture. Both work on, but the standard version has 4 GB of memory. The Xperia XZ2 also has a 5.7-inch Full HD screen. As for the cameras, the standard version has one 19MP camera, while the new smartphone has a dual camera. The front camera on the new device is 13 Mp versus 5 Mp on the standard one. The battery is also larger with a capacity of 3450 mAh versus 3180 mAh, but how this will affect the battery life will be revealed only after testing.

Focus on cameras

So, there was a dual rear camera. The main sensor is color, the second one records a monochrome image, which differs from the approach in dual cameras on Apple and. There, the auxiliary camera has telephoto lenses for enlarging the image. Sony uses a black and white camera to capture more light and combines the output from the two cameras using an image processor. The developers, without false modesty, talk about ultra-high sensitivity and image acquisition without digital noise, which was supposedly previously only available in cameras with removable lenses. It will be interesting to test these statements in practice.

With the new dual camera, you can shoot photos with ISO values \u200b\u200bup to 51200 and videos up to 12800. These levels were previously unattainable for smartphones, but the image will certainly be grainy at these values.

There are several creative functionality... Example, shooting video with selective bokeh effect, where the background is blurred in the style of DSLR cameras. In addition, you can partially remove color in photos and leave it only on the subject to make it stand out more.

Supports 4K HDR video recording, as well as slow motion at 960 fps.

Availability

Sony has not yet announced the price of the Xperia XZ2 Premium, sales are promised to start in the summer, a more exact release date for the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has not been named. There will be two color options available: chrome black and chrome silver.

The Xperia XZ2 Premium is Sony's flagship device.

Sony has officially unveiled the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium. The smartphone was released almost two months after the announcement of "little brothers" - Sony Xperia XZ2 and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact at MWC 2018. The smartphone boasts a gorgeous display, powerful "stuffing" and a dual camera that makes great pictures in low light conditions.

Design

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has a recognizable Ambient Flow design, which many have already seen in the Sony Xperia XZ2 and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact.

The body of the smartphone is made of glass. On the front, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has small bezels on the right and left sides of the display, but the indentations at the top and bottom spoil the whole experience. The rear panel of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium houses a flash, a dual camera with two vertically oriented modules and a fingerprint scanner in the center from top to bottom.

Display

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has a 5.8-inch IPS display. The aspect ratio of the display is 16: 9, and the resolution is 3840 × 2160 pixels (4K).

On top of the 4K display, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is covered with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 5.

Performance

Filling sony smartphone The Xperia XZ2 Premium is no worse than the rest of the 2018 flagships. A system based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip with an Adreno 630 graphics accelerator is responsible for the performance of the smartphone.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal UFS flash memory. The smartphone supports the installation of microSD memory cards.

Camera

Sony engineers paid special attention to the camera of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone. Its main feature is the actual ability to shoot in complete darkness due to the possibility of increasing ISO up to 51200 for photos and up to 12800 for movies. Of course, this falls short of the Huawei P20 Pro (102400), but it still looks pretty decent.

The main camera Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium - dual with vertically arranged modules and LED flash. The resolution of the camera modules is 19 Mp and 12 Mp, respectively. The first module is a color Motion Eye with a 1 / 2.3-inch Exmor RS sensor, f / 1.8 aperture and a pixel size of 1.2 microns. The second is black and white with a 1 / 2.3-inch monochrome sensor with an f / 1.6 aperture and a pixel size of 1.55 microns. The bottom line is the dual main camera of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone supports HDR photo / video and video recording 960 fps Super slow motion (FHD / HD).

Front camera Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium - 13 megapixels with 1 / 3.06-inch Exmor RS matrix with f / 2.0 aperture. In the process of taking selfies, you can use the smartphone screen as a flash.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has 5-axis image stabilization in common with the dual main and front cameras.

Connectivity and communication capabilities

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone has support for 2G / 3G / 4G / LTE (Cat. 18), Wi-Fi b / g / n / ac, GPS / GLONASS and Bluetooth 5.

In addition, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has an NFC chip, USB Type-C 3.1 (up to 5 Gbps) and 3.5 mm headphone adapter.

operating system

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone runs a mobile operating system android systems 8.x Oreo.

Battery

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone boasts a 3540 mAh battery. The smartphone supports wireless, adaptive and fast charging according to Qi, Qnovo and Quick Charge 3.0 standards, respectively.

Dimensions and the rest

The dimensions of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone are 158 x 80 x 11.9 mm, and the weight is 236 grams. The thickness and weight of the smartphone is significantly greater than that of key opponents of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium - Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9 + etc.

According to a long tradition, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium has IP68 support, which allows the smartphone to easily endure dust and immersion in water at a depth of over 1 meter for more than 30 minutes.

The cost

The cost of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is still unknown. However, following sound logic, we can assume that the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium will have to pay a little more than the Sony Xperia XZ2 is currently worth. In Russia, Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact costs 50,000 rubles, and Sony Xperia XZ2 - 60,000 rubles. Accordingly, the cost of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium will probably start at 70,000 rubles. The start of sales of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone is scheduled for summer 2018.

We remind you that it was originally planned that the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium smartphone will be officially presented at the MWC 2018, which took place in February 2018 in Barcelona. However, Sony only announced the Sony Xperia XZ2 and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, leaving the flagship for later.

Verdict

  • Not the most premium design;
  • Inconvenient SIM-card tray;
  • Lack of 4K content reduces screen efficiency;

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a true flagship smartphone. It boasts a market-leading 4K display, high-power performance under the hood, and Sony's professional photography heritage, including Slow-Motion, among others.

On paper, the XZ Premium offering is staggering - but the feature-rich spec sheet doesn't always reflect the top-notch experience we've come to expect from flagship smartphones.

Sony is still slightly behind in the design rut, and the company is struggling to impose competition on Apple and Samsung, while LG, Huawei and Motorola continue to impose serious competition.

The Xperia XZ Premium is Sony's chance to regain its solid footing in the smartphone market, was it successful or not? Sony Review Xperia XZ Premium more ...

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: Price and Release Date

  • PriceXperiaXZPremium 800 $ (from 46,000 rubles);
  • On sale in Russia from June 2, as well as throughout Europe;

It's probably no surprise that this isn't a cheap phone. The pricing of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium cannot be called anything other than "premium", the smartphone will come to the territory of Russia from 46,000 rubles, which will allow it to rub shoulders with the iPhone 7 Plus in terms of cost.

Pre-orders for the phone are already open, but as for the start of sales of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium in Russia on June 2nd.

We are still awaiting information about the start of sales in other markets of the world.

Design

  • Glass, metal and plastic are not the most premium designs;
  • Side mounting of the fingerprint scanner is useful;
  • Inconvenient slotSIM;

The latest Sony smartphone may carry a premium console, but in nature the situation is different. When it comes to the design of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the phone leaves a lot to be desired compared to flagship competitors.

Gorilla Glass on the front and back at least provides some tough protection, but the sides of the phone are made of plastic, which is exactly the material you feel when you hold the phone in your hands.

And this is terrible, since the thin plastic frame makes the smartphone feel cheaper than it actually is. You don’t want to notice anything like that for a phone that you pay that kind of money for. Flat frontal and rear panel mean it doesn't fit as neatly in your hand as some curved smartphones on the market.

The glass panels in our roundup remained a fingerprint magnet - much like the Galaxy S8 and black iPhone 7 - so the flagship will get dirty all the time.

You'll also find a substantial bezel around the display, which pushes the XZ Premium's dimensions up to 156 x 77 x 7.9mm, making it taller and wider and Samsung Galaxy S8 phones that boast large screens versus Premium.

This bezel allows you to position the front speakers as well as provide space to comfortably grip your smartphone in landscape orientation while gaming or watching videos so your fingers don't block the screen.

The power button on the right side of the smartphone fits very comfortably under your thumb when you hold the device in your right hand. The effect is enhanced by a fingerprint scanner built into the key, which allows you to unlock your smartphone without entering a PIN, pattern or password.

During the review process, we found it unlocked very quickly most of the time, but sometimes we had to repeat the procedure for the scanner to read the fingerprint.

The top and bottom sides of the XZ Premium are metal, we would have liked to see a continuation of the metal frame on the sides of the phone as well, as it would help the overall design of the smartphone. The base of the phone has uSB-C portand on the top panel you'll find a headphone jack - which will delight those who have watched in horror as Motorola and Apple get rid of it on their phones.

Other positive features of the Xpreia XZ Premium include IP68 certification, that is, protection against water and dust, which allows you to bathe your smartphone in the bathroom or in a shower, but the phone will not be able to accompany the diver. IP68 promises protection when immersed in fresh water to a depth of 1 meter.

The SIM slot and microSD tray are somewhat disappointing. The plastic cover feels flimsy, plus it only offers room for a microSD card. A separate SIM tray (which is located under the same flap) requires the use of a special tool.

For most users, this is an operation that only needs to be performed a couple of times, but the plastic flap feels like it could be the weak link in the waterproofing area if you change the MicroSD on a regular basis.

Unveiled alongside peers, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium doesn't offer the same refinement as other flagships - or more. available phoneslike the OnePlus 3T and Honor 8.

Display

  • 5.46-inch 4K displayHDR;
  • While designXZPremium is not allocated, the screen plays in a different league;

Derived from the Xperia Z5 Premium, the new XZ Premium is the second Sony smartphone to boast a 4K display with Bravia TV technology - and in most markets it is the only smartphone to offer this resolution.

4K equates to a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which in a 5.46-inch screen offers a stunning pixel density (807 ppi). To put things in perspective, the Infinity Display on the Galaxy S8 offers 570 PPI, while the LG G6 can only offer 564 PPI.

You won't find a screen sharper on any other smartphone, and unlike its 4K predecessor, you actually get full resolution all the time. The Z5 Premium only offered full 4K resolution when you watched video at the same resolution, while the Xperia XZ Premium offers 3840 x 2160 pixels all the time - from home screen and browser to app store and social network profile.

There is no option in settings that will reduce the screen resolution to save power and increase battery life, like the QHD on the Galaxy S8.

But with the Xperia XZ Premium, however, we didn't find it necessary to lower the resolution at any given time, as battery life is better than any praise, but we'll discuss that later in the review.

The screen panel adopts LCD technology, providing crisp, clear images; it's not exactly the same as the vibrant AMOLED displays you'll find on the Galaxy S8, Moto Z, and OnePlus 3T, but Triluminos technology dramatically improves colors over LCD panels. This is the screen you want to gaze at.

It also feels small, especially now that the 5.7-inch LG G6 and 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S8 have hit the market, opening up new screen sizes for 2017.

However, if you have not had the opportunity to use these smartphones before, you will still assume that the Xperia XZ Premium offers ample storage - especially if you are updating from a 2 year old smartphone.

While it's certainly nice to have a 4K resolution on your phone, the reality is that you won't notice much of a difference relative to the QHD panels you get with the Galaxy S8, LG G6 and.

Play 4K content on the Xperia XZ Premium for the best visual experience you can get on a smartphone - but you'll find 4K content not so easily accessible.

Sony claims the XZ Premium is a smart phone for the future, as the amount of 4K content will only increase over time - but QHD panels are enough for now.

Interface and reliability

  • OverlayAndroid is easy to use;
  • Lots of unnecessary pre-installed applications;

Sony has already cleaned up its user interface over the past year or so, which means you get a cleaner and more streamlined experience on the Sony Xperia XZ Premium screen.

Sony's interface hides Android 7.0 Nougat, the latest mobile operating system Google, for the most part, is pretty good for those migrating from another Android smartphone.

Even if you're planning to switch from iPhone, Android and iOS have become much more alike in recent years, so getting to grips with the interface becomes easier if you choose the Xperia XZ Premium.

Sony's habit of flipping smartphones in advance installed applications has not gone anywhere. Xperia XZ Premium includes standard google apps, but the Japanese firm is also adding about ten more apps.

Some are useful, including the fitness Livelog app and the Movie Creator video editing app, while email, music, album and video only duplicate basic Gmail functions. Play Music, Photos and Play Movies.

There are also Sony What New and Xperia Lounge apps that promote content, downloads, apps and games, as well as a small amount of sports news.

On the positive side, you can disable most of these apps if you decide you won't be using them - just long press and then start an "X" that pops up next to the icon to hide the apps.

We found the XZ Premium to work reliably, rarely had orientation issues - fixed by closing all apps in the multitasking pane and reopening it - the rest of the time we found no issues.

Music, movies and games

  • 4K content is hard to find, but it looks amazing;
  • The games are impressive;
  • Great sound;

With a bunch of performance under the hood, dual front-firing speakers, high resolution audio and 4K HDR support, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium is becoming a serious multimedia machine.

If you have access to 4K HDR video content, the Xperia XZ Premium is impressive. We watched several videos and were amazed at the picture of the screen.

People on the screen look like they are sitting on the other side of the glass, as if you are looking through a window rather than at a smartphone screen. It's a wonderful visual experience that needs to be seen to be believed.

The problem is, it's not easy to see. That's because the Xperia XZ Premium doesn't make it easy to find 4K HDR videos.

We hoped that for the release of the phone, the manufacturer would offer an app or video store that could unleash the potential of the phone's screen.

However, there were no obvious solutions, so we used the pre-installed sony app - Xperia Lounge, namely the new video section to see if it can offer us any help.

However, the What's New? essentially a simple app, store and download center for apps, themes and wallpapers, while the Xperia Lounge doesn't offer movies or TV shows, with a focus on entertainment and sports news instead.

The Video app is extremely confusing, however, it allows us to choose the cable TV service we used at home and also offers complete guidance by software, but there are no links to amazing 4K content.

Google Play Movies & TV won't help as it doesn't offer 4K HDR video for mobile phonesthus we were forced to head to the Amazon Prime Video app. Sony does offer its own section on the website that offers 4K HDR for the XZ Premium - but it didn't work during our review.

We tried to download episodes of The Grand Tour and Read Oaks streaming and locally (actually high quality of the available options), but we got the maximum resolution of 1080p.

We were forced to go to YouTube, which offers a large selection of 4K HDR content and, as we said, looks fantastic on a phone - but it's not movies or TV shows.

Sony needs to make 4K HDR content easily accessible to users, otherwise no one will be able to take advantage of the great display that makes up a significant portion of the Xperia XZ Premium's price tag.

Games are, thankfully, much more accessible. Chipset and 4 GB random access memory help you make sure the Xperia XZ Premium is capable of handling whatever you run on your phone - with settings at maximum.

An additional bezel above and below the display offers a platform to comfortably hold the smartphone in landscape mode - ideal for using the device in your hands without having to cover the screen with your fingers.

Front stereo speakers other strong point, they direct the video towards you, not into the palm of your hand.

These speakers are also useful when you want to listen to music on the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, as they allow you to fill the room with sound, although the quality is not the highest.

Plug in a pair of headphones and XZ Premium is able to excel with audio amplification technology and automatic headphone audio optimization that adjusts the audio output to the type of headphones you are connecting.

Good news for fans wireless headphone and speakers, Sony improves Bluetooth audio output.

This is not the same quality as what you get with a wired 3.5mm jack, but it is a significant improvement over the general standard.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium offers great sound through headphones, both wired and wireless, so if you're a big fan of music, you should check out the phone.

Performance

  • Fast and smooth operating performance;
  • Programs open quickly;
  • Multitasking is great;

As we've hinted at, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium's performance is great. The Snapdragon 835 chip and 4GB of RAM stack up together and easily match the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6.

Oddly, however, the fact that the XZ Premium from our review does not allow downloads of apps for testing means that we could not offer any scores to compare with other flagships on the market.

We contacted Sony on the matter and the company sent us another XZ Premium that allowed us to download Geekbench 4 - so we can offer results very soon.

Not that you need to worry about it, apps load quickly, Android runs smoothly, and the Xperia XZ Premium will easily launch multiple apps at the same time, allowing you to switch between them with ease.

Battery life

  • You can easily work all day with one charge;
  • Supports fast charging and power saving modes;

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium comes with a 3230mAh non-removable battery inside its 7.9-inch body.

It's not the most generous offering - the LG G6, for example, offers 3,600mAh - but that's more than the 3,000mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy S8, so it's not all bad.

Battery capacity isn't everything, and that's good news when it comes to the things that really matter. The XZ Premium easily lasts all day on a single charge, with between 15% and 20% battery remaining at night, even after moderate amounts of use.

What does moderate use throughout the day imply? That's a few hours of Spotify video streaming, about 40 minutes of TV shows, a few phone calls, messages and a little social networks, a barrage of letters in e-mail and a web browser, as well as an hour or two of games.

As a rule, we removed the review Xperia XZ Premium from charging at 6:30, and set it to charge between 23:00 and 00:00.

If you cut back on games and videos throughout the day, you can expect to get 20% charge by the end of the day - which is pretty good for a modern flagship phone's battery.

Sure, you're not going anywhere from charging the XZ Premium every night, but we've never had the panicky need to run faster to charger in the middle of the day.

The weak point of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium battery was the 90-minute test with Full HD video, in which we turned the brightness to maximum, left sync in the background and Wi-Fi available.

After an hour and a half of video playback, the XZ Premium's battery lost about 32% of its charge - a significant hit, no doubt about it, but it's caused by the gluttonous 4K display.

If you plan to watch a 4K HDR movie on your phone, you will need to make sure you have a power source close at hand.

Sooner or later, a situation occurs when the smartphone is close to full discharge and, fortunately, the XZ Premium hides a few tricks up its sleeve to help you in such a situation.

First, it supports Quick Charge 3.0, which charges your battery four times faster than a standard charger - so if you're going to leave home at night, fast charging will help you to significantly charge the battery in a short period of time.

You need Quick Charge 3.0 with a supported charging pad to take advantage of the top speed it comes in a box, just remember to take it with you if you need to recharge outside the home.

This is useful if you're close to a power outlet, but the Xperia XZ Premium also comes with two power saving modes to help you get the most out of your remaining charge.

Stamina Mode extends battery life by reducing background data circulation and screen brightness, and by disabling certain features. The mode turns on when the battery power drops below 15% by default, but you can manually change this setting if you want to turn it on sooner.

And if you're really struggling to get longer battery life, you can switch Stamina Mode to Ultra mode, which essentially turns your smartphone into a regular phone by limiting its capabilities to nine basic apps with a simplified interface to squeeze the most out of the last percent of the charge. ...

This is an extreme option that we used in a situation of acute shortage of a charger, but it is a good option, just in case.

Camera

  • Slow Motion capabilities are impressive;
  • The main camera captures a sea of \u200b\u200bdetail;

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a great camera. It comes with a 19MP Sony sensor that showcases HDR, face detection, electronic image stabilization (EIS), predictive phase detection with laser autofocus.

In short, this is a well-equipped camera that, before we get into a detailed review, can offer super-slow video capture, at a staggering 960 frames per second. In comparison, Slow Motion on the iPhone 7 (and Plus) and Samsung Galaxy S8 is written at 240 frames per second.

This means the XZ Premium promises you incredible slow motion, and if you can capture the moment you want with Slow Motion, the results are seriously impressive.

There are three different Slow Motion modes to choose from. Entry-level slow motion captures 120fps, but offers the added benefit of applying slow motion after video recording.

This means you can pinpoint exactly when you want to slow down after the actual shooting, very handy when you can't switch to Slow Motion mode live.

The other two modes, super slow (one frame) and slow-motion, require you to switch to 960 frames per second while recording - you cannot slow down part of the video during video playback afterwards.

Super slow motion is very simple as all you have to do is press the shutter button and the XZ Premium captures five seconds at 960 fps. This means that you are not getting normal video recording speed on either side of the "slow" clip, but you can probably get the slowest result.

The slow motion mode offers a much more complete package. Highlight it and click on record, the video will be recorded in 720p, but you will see an additional button on the screen - press it at any time during recording and XZ Premium will return the recording to normal speed.

It can be tricky to trigger Slow Motion at the right moment, so we recommend sticking to super slow motion in one clip.

Slow Motion writes at 720p, so image detail can suffer - especially in low light conditions and indoors, where results tend to be grainy. Go outside, however, and in good light, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium delivers some of the best slow motion video on the market.

Moving away from the slow recording and back to the camera itself, you get a solid mobile sensor that works well in most situations, even when the camera is switched to smart. auto mode Sony.

In this mode, the camera adjusts to the light of the environment in which you are, delivering well-exposed shots, while laser autofocus delivers high detail while minimizing blur.

Moving objects will also not damage your photo, thanks to Sony's predictive phase detection, which means the camera can follow the target to make sure it is in focus. We tried photographing our cats and XZ Premium kept track of them.

While Sony is also one of the few manufacturers to still include a dedicated physical camera button on flagship smartphones, the XZ Premium's two-stage shutter release lets you focus the camera by pressing the shutter button halfway down and then pressing it all the way to take a picture.

It is a convenient solution that makes shooting easier as big size The Xpreia XZ Premium makes the on-screen shutter hard to reach when holding your smartphone with one hand. You can also hold the shutter button at any time to launch the camera app.

If you're looking for even more granular control over your photography, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium offers manual modeto fine tune focus, exposure, white balance, and shutter speed.

Focus control is particularly useful and easy to use, offering the precise focus of your attention - be it foreground or background - with a simple on-screen slider.

For those looking for something more fun, you can head over to the camera section, where you'll find balanced 4K video recording and Panorama, along with Sony's Zanier AR Effect app. This is a somewhat silly but very fun app.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium takes stunning photos, and Sony has significantly improved post-processing that slowed down photography on previous devices.

The photos are full of details and colors, although we found them not as vivid as in samsung cameras Galaxy S8 - which easily supplants the XZ Premium when it comes to point-and-shoot photography.

Spend some time with your Sony camera and hone your Super Slow Motion skills, and you'll love what the Xperia XZ Premium has to offer in the photography department.

The Sony Xpreia XZ Premium camera captures tons of detail. Take a look at the cat's mustache and fur.

You can shoot very close to get great detail.

Switch to manual mode where you can control the focus point. For example, foreground ...

Or the background, which you can switch to using the slider on the screen.

Verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a smartphone packed full of features, along with an impressive 4K display and massive performance under the hood, as well as a great camera and powerful battery, all essential ingredients of a flagship smartphone.

The price is high, which means the Premium is facing some really tough competition from the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6, HTC U11 and iPhone 7 Plus, and if you're looking for a smartphone that looks stylish without sacrificing performance, you will find the Xperia XZ Premium less impressive. against the background of competitors.

It is by no means ugly, but when you put it up against all-metal glass competitors, the chunky bezels and plastic frame panels fail unconditionally.

The 4K HDR screen is incredible when you find 4K content playing on your phone, but currently at least there are only a handful of movies offering that kind of resolution.

Unless you have a 4K passion, you'll be much more satisfied with the QHD (2K) content on the screens you get with flagship Android smartphones.

Who is the Xperia XZ Premium for?

If you're looking for a high-end smartphone on the market, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium should suit your tastes. It has everything you want when you pay big bucks for technology, including a 4K display and a camera with Slow Motion modes and 2-stage shutter release, which will be enough to impress your friends.

Design and style vary from point of view, and until Sony's more industrial design language dazzles you in the same way that Samsung's Infinity Display showcases the Galaxy S8's seamless design, it has a significant following who love Sony's boxy approach.

If your current flagship smartphone is more than two years old, there are many features in the Xperia XZ Premium that will make your smartphone a satisfying upgrade.

However, those currently flaunting 2016 flagships are far less incentivized to buy due to the mediocre updates to Sony's new smartphone.

Should you buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium?

If you're a die-hard Sony fan, the new Xperia XZ Premium is the smartphone you've been waiting for. If you enter this camp, buy XZ Premium. You will not regret it.

It offers the display, camera, performance and battery life that make it one of the best flagships on the market. best smartphone Sony you can buy.

However, if you are not committed to a specific manufacturer, you may want to consider other options in this price categorybefore taking the plunge.

If you go for the Xperia XZ Premium you won't be disappointed as you get great value for money and we really recommend Super Slow Motion - it's a lot of fun.

The Xperia XZ Premium isn't the only feature-rich flagship on the market, here are a trio of high-end competitors that will guarantee Sony the sophistication of the market.

Samsung Galaxy S8

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is currently in our editorial opinion, and any smartphone will give way to its 5.8-inch Infinity display, futuristic design and the highest degree capable camera.

In a head-to-head comparison, there isn't much difference in performance, battery life and cameras of these phones, but Samsung easily squeezes Sony when it comes to screen and design.

That is, of course, unless you're a 4K HDR fan - if you're one of them, then the Sony Xperia XZ Premium is your phone.

The Galaxy S8 beats Sony with a more complete overall package, but the Xperia XZ Premium isn't far behind.

More details: .

LgG6

The LG G6 offers a larger display than the XZ Premium (5.7-inch versus 5.46-inch), but also a lower resolution, 2K instead of 4K on the Sony panel.

Its slender bezels mean the G6 is similar in size to Sony, and it also offers a more premium metal and glass finish - there are no plastic elements in sight.

And while it's not as powerful, you'll find two cameras on the back. One is a standard 13MP sensor and the other is a 13MP wide-angle lens that lets you capture more in one frame.

HtcU11

HTC U11 offers its own squeeze-side trick that lets you launch apps and perform actions - like taking photos - without touching the screen.

This is a new way of using the smartphone, however, squeezing seems like a limited function and more like a gimmick, the function will not help the smartphone stand out.

The premium glass and metal design looks great, even as a fingerprint magnet, and as hTC flagshipThe U11 offers ample performance and an impressive rear camera.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium offers everything you could expect when you pay money for a 4K phone with a big camera, two standouts at this party. It will delight Sony fans around the world.

Perfectly!

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium offers everything you could expect when you pay money for a 4K phone with a big camera, two standouts at this party. It will delight Sony fans around the world.

One of the most interesting exhibits at the annual MWC 2017 at the end of February was the top-end Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone. He was remembered by all journalists not only for his attractive appearance, a 4K resolution screen and the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, but also an incredibly cool camera that is capable of recording slow-motion video at 960 frames per second. This is an absolute record for mobile devicesthat no company can beat in the near future. The only catch is that even now, two months after the announcement, it is still not possible to buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium in any country in the world.

A few hours ago, the famous insider Roland Quandt from the German resource WinFuture said that the official sales of the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia XZ Premium will begin this summer. The Japanese corporation is going to launch its new device on sale in Europe on June 1, 2017. Thus, from the moment of the announcement to the moment of the start of sales, it will take three whole months, a whole quarter. How this will affect the sales of new items is not yet clear.

Specifications Sony Xperia XZ Premium

The UK office of the Amazon online store also confirmed that the official sales of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone in the UK will begin on June 1. At MWC 2017, a Sony spokesperson hinted that the device would hit store shelves in late spring. As it turned out, the date shifted slightly, but only by a few weeks, not months.

In Russia good old Japanese brands are valued as they are hardly appreciated elsewhere in the world: since Soviet times, Sony (and Panasonic) equipment has been considered something sacred, special, inaccessibly desirable. The reputation continues to this day. This is largely why the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium Limited Edition (Pro version) has reached us, unlike many other European countries. In the last sentence, by the way, there was no joke - the full name of the smartphone offered in the Sony Store sounds like that.

By itself, the XZ2 Premium smartphone remains itself in any version. “Limited Edition” means special packaging and Expert Service, and subscription to an online photography course at the Xperia Ambassadors Photography Club. Yes, mobile photography school, we were not wrong. The "Pro version" was added for beauty - and, probably, so that the name of the model became completely grotesque.

It is logical that the XZ2 Premium itself is notable not so much for its 4K display with HDR support or its hefty glass body, close to what we saw in the "usual" one, as for the quality of shooting both photos and videos - here a scheme with two rear cameras with RGB and monochrome sensors, which allows the smartphone, among other things, to shoot at sensitivity up to ISO 51200. Has Sony finally managed to make a smartphone that surpasses its competitors in terms of shooting quality (or at least comparable to them)? Is there a true work of engineering behind a huge, thick body?

Specifications

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium Samsung Galaxy Note9
Display 5.8 inches, IPS, 3840 × 2160, 765 ppi, capacitive multitouch 5.7 inches, IPS, 2160 × 1080, 424 ppi, capacitive multitouch 6.1 inches, OLED,
2240 × 1080 pixels, 408 ppi, capacitive multitouch
5.8 inches, Super AMOLED, 2436 x 1125, 458 ppi, capacitive multitouch, TrueTone technology 6.4 inches, Super AMOLED, 1440 × 2960, 516 ppi, capacitive multitouch
Protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Corning Gorilla Glass 5 No information No information Corning Gorilla Glass 5
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 845: Quad Kryo 385 Gold @ 2.7 GHz + Quad Kryo 385 Silver @ 1.7 GHz HiSilicon Kirin 970: four cores ARM Cortex A73 @ 2.4 GHz + four ARM Cortex A53 @ 1.8 GHz; HiAI architecture Apple A11 Bionic: six cores (2 x Moonsoon + 4 x Mistral) Samsung Exynos 9810 Octa: eight cores (4 × Mongoose M3, 2.7 GHz + 4 × Cortex-A55, 1.8 GHz)
Graphics controller Adreno 630, 710 MHz Adreno 630, 710 MHz ARM Mali-G72 MP12, 850 MHz Apple GPU (3 cores) Mali-G72 MP18, 900 MHz
RAM 6 GB 4 GB 6 GB 3 GB 6/8 GB
Flash memory 64 GB 64 GB 128 GB 64/256 GB 128/512 GB
Memory card support there is there is No No there is
Connectors USB Type-C USB Type-C USB Type-C Lightning USB Type-C, 3.5 mm minijack
SIM card Dual nano-SIM Dual nano-SIM Dual nano-SIM One nano-SIM Dual nano-SIM
Cellular 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Cellular 3G HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
4G cellular LTE Cat.18 (up to 1200 Mbps): ranges not specified LTE Cat. 18 (up to 1200 Mbit / s), ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 LTE Cat. 12 (450 Mbps): ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40 , 41, 66 LTE Cat. 18 (1200/200 Mbit / s), ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40 , 41, 66
Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac 802.11a / b / g / n / ac 802.11a / b / g / n / ac 802.11a / b / g / n / ac 802.11a / b / g / n / ac
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 4.2 (aptX HD) 5.0 5.0
NFC there is there is there is Yes (Apple Pay) there is
Navigation GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
Sensors Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), IR sensor Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, heart rate sensor, pressure
The fingerprint scanner there is there is there is No there is
Main camera Double module: 19 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + 12 MP, ƒ / 1.6, optical stabilization, hybrid autofocus, LED flash 19 MP, ƒ / 2.0 optical stabilization, hybrid autofocus, LED flash Triple module, 40 + 20 + 8 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + ƒ / 1.6 + ƒ / 2.4, hybrid autofocus, optical stabilization, dual-LED flash Dual module: 12 MP, ƒ / 1.8 + 12 MP, ƒ / 2.4, autofocus, four-LED flash, optical stabilization in both cameras Dual module: 12 MP with variable aperture ƒ / 1.5 / 2.4 + 12 MP, ƒ / 2.4 autofocus, optical stabilization in both cameras, LED flash
Front-camera 13 MP, ƒ / 2.0, no autofocus, no flash 5 MP, ƒ / 2.2, no autofocus, no flash 24 MP, ƒ / 2.0, fixed focus, no flash 7 MP, ƒ / 2.2, no autofocus, no flash 8 MP, ƒ / 1.7, no autofocus, no flash
Nutrition A removable battery of 13.45 Wh (3540 mAh, 3.8 V) Removable battery 12.08 Wh (3180 mAh, 3.8 V) Removable battery: 10.26 Wh (2716 mAh, 3.8 V) Removable battery: 15.2 Wh (4000 mAh, 3.8 V)
The size 158 x 80 x 11.9 mm 153 x 72 x 11.1 mm 155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm
Weight 236 grams 198 grams 180 grams 174 grams 201 gram
Hull protection IP65 / 68 IP65 / 68 IP67 IP67 IP68
operating system Android 8.0 Oreo, shell Sony Xperia Android 8.0 Oreo, EMUI shell iOS 11 Android 8.1 Oreo, own shell
Actual price 79,990 rubles 59,990 rubles 54 990 rubles from 70 990 rubles to 81 990 rubles 69,990 rubles for the 6/128 GB version, 89,990 rubles for the 8/512 GB version

Design, ergonomics and software

I already wrote about the appearance of smartphones of the Xperia series and its evolution in the above-mentioned review of the XZ2 - Premium is moving along a well-trodden path, only “thicker, wider, heavier”.

The back surface is mirrored, the unit with the camera is shifted to the center (in this case, it is a double unit), as is the fingerprint scanner, which is dangerously close to it. As a result, when unlocking, you regularly miss the sensor, touching the lower camera lens with your finger. It should be constantly wiped clean, but the camera application will not remind you of this (although other smartphones have already learned).

The difference between Premium is striking, of course, the front panel. On it - not a full-height display, but a traditional 16: 9 format, with noticeable frames on the sides and significant indents at the top and bottom. The lack of timeliness of this decision, especially during the times of winning cutouts and protruding front cameras, is simply blatant - but Sony insists on the timeless status of the XZ2 Premium design and the "elitism" of this approach, which does not take into account the fashion trends. Well, the Japanese are in their own right, and someone might really like this approach.

But in the case of the Xperia XZ Premium, it's also important that you like big things. This is the largest and heaviest flagship to date: 158 × 80 × 11.9 mm, weight - 236 grams. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Note9, which has a larger battery and a screen more than half an inch larger, weighs 201 grams. In reviews, it is often customary to say in such cases that "the gadget is pleasantly heavy with a hand," but for Sony, this is probably too much. You don't experience any serious problems when using the XZ2 Premium - due to the rounded edges and backrest, you can hold it in your hand without any problems, as well as drive in the usual two-handed way. But it's hard to talk seriously about real convenience.

Of course, there are no questions about the build quality and the materials used - tempered glass (Gorilla Glass 5) on both sides, metal around the perimeter, dust and moisture protection according to IP65 / 68 standards (you can drown your smartphone to a depth of one and a half meters for half an hour and do not worry about his condition - however, such a case is not considered a guarantee, keep in mind). There is no mini-jack, and the slide for SIM-cards and memory cards are devoid of a pin lock - you can get them just by hooking them with your finger. And yes, as a result, the smartphone will reboot - the Sony tradition is unshakable.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium: the left side is devoid of functional elements

There are two color variations of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium - black, as we have tested, and silver. Both look serious, noble and boring - however, in this price category one should not expect any game. Still, this is "premium".

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium, top side: SIM and / or memory card slot and microphone

In terms of functional elements, everything is standard for Xperia: in addition to the power and volume keys, there is also a separate shooting key on the right side - the volume button is not used for this. Despite the presence of a huge empty space under the display, the navigation keys are made, as is now customary in Android, virtual and are located in its lower part. There is nothing more to highlight in the appearance of the XZ2 Premium. There are no extra sensors above the screen - for example, for face recognition. This option is present, as on most smartphones under android 8.0 Oreo, but only uses front camera and is not highly reliable (and in this case it cannot boast of the speed of work). You should rely on the fingerprint scanner.

I have already mentioned its features above. Moreover, to use it, you need to grab a rather slippery (still glass) smartphone in your hand - the scanner is located doubly sub-optimal. Alas, in comparison with the "usual" XZ2, nothing has been fixed here: they were clearly developed simultaneously according to the same principle. As for the scanner itself, this is a standard capacitive sensor, the data for which must be regularly rewritten. It does not demonstrate any record speed, but it is also impossible to say that it works for an annoyingly long time.

Screenshot gallery

The shell for Android 8.1 itself is the same as in the XZ2 - there have been no major changes since its release. Corporate strict style and a large number of very decent Sony branded services are accompanied by slightly outdated logic (with a mandatory application menu) and various recommendations for installing applications (a separate screen in the applications menu is dedicated to this). There are no specific solutions specifically for the Premium Limited Edition (Pro) model - a normal operating system for fans of the brand.

In November, the XZ2 Premium, along with several other Xperia XZ series smartphones, will be among the first to receive the update to Android 9.0 Pie - despite Sony Mobile's not-so-high ranking in smartphone sales, relations with Google remain very good.

Display and sound

The 4K display on the "premium" Xperia first appeared three years ago () - but since then no one has followed Sony's example, so this element no longer seems such a significant advantage of the main flagship in the family of the Japanese company. Each year, the display added in tenths of an inch, last year it increased in support for HDR, but the essence has not changed. It is now a 5.8-inch IPS LCD screen that always shows a picture in Full HD resolution, switching to 4K (3840x2160) only when watching videos in various applications (including Youtube). The display format is 16: 9. While everyone is fighting for every square millimeter of the bezel, trying to occupy them all with a screen, Sony is showing iron exposure.

Unfortunately, Sony continues to ignore OLED screens, although without their use they achieve a real breakthrough in image display on mobile screens, alas, impossible.

The panel itself does not differ much from the one we saw in its characteristics. The measured brightness is 492 cd / m2, the contrast is 1311: 1. The numbers are even better than those of the XZ Premium, and in combination with a full-fledged "sandwich" screen (with a polarizing layer, oleophobic coating, and so on), this means a perfectly acceptable picture in any conditions, including under the scorching sun. But it’s just acceptable, nothing more - you can’t call it really comfortable viewing under these conditions: the colors fade.