Sony Xperia Z package. Sony Xperia Z - Specifications. The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers

So the new flagship Sony has reached us, which in the pictures was so attractive. Ironically, the Xperia Z has proven to be one of the most controversial devices I've come across in the past few months. It is cool and after the very first unpacking it leaves the most pleasant impressions. Still, this is not a plastic remnant, this is a well-assembled smartphone, in the case of which glass and high-quality soft-touch plastic prevail. However, after the first launch, you begin to notice what you do not want to see in such a good gadget.

Design and ergonomics, buttons

But I'll start with the good things - design and ergonomics. The smartphone is big, it can be seen and from the side it also does not seem miniature. But it is quite comfortable to use it. Maybe it's because I got used to the Galaxy Note at the time. The weight of the smartphone is 146 grams, it is neither light nor heavy, considering big size... Probably, many will disagree with me, but I can use the Xperia Z with one hand, even the shutter is easy to reach. But here the matter is in the size of your palm, and I have it, as it turned out, big.

The assembly is good - the case is completely monolithic, even with active use, for which the Xperia Z is intended, backlashes and creaks should not appear. The sensations from the materials in the assembly are also pleasant, the smartphone cools the hand due to the abundance of glass, but it also does not try to slip out, since all the edges are made of soft-touch plastic, thanks to which the smartphone clings to the palm.

The Xperia Z has a bizarre layout as well as all other Sony smartphones: there is a whole lot of stuff in the most exotic locations. For example, the volume rocker is located below the waterline, the lock key is almost in the center on the right. But, if on the Xperia T, which Bond used, this placement bothered me, then in the "socket" it does not look ridiculous, again, this is due to the size of the device. By the way, speaking of the lock button, it is strongly pronounced against the background of the overall design and many people did not like this particular element. I can't say anything bad about such a solution, it seems to me it refreshes the design, otherwise it would seem like a faceless black bar.

More, at first glance, there is nothing on the case, because everything else is hidden from the eyes (as well as moisture and dust) under the plugs. Namely: a SIM card slot on the right side, above the lock key; headset jack on top and microSD card slot and micro USB connector on the left. The use of covers is logical, Xperia Z is positioned as a waterproof device. But before I met personally, I looked only at water resistance, because I really need it! But somehow I did not think about the convenience of working with plugs, but in vain. The situation is exactly the same as in the case of the Xperia S, to charge which you had to grow your nails every time in order to chop the plugs again. In addition, neither headphones can be quickly inserted, nor charging. Of course, you can buy a dock (it seems to be included with some models), but in our case, a smartphone without it. And the last question for the plugs - they can also lose their hermetic characteristics if they are opened many times a day. For example, if you like listening to music, you will have to pull the plug back and forth constantly. Yes, and you will often have to charge your smartphone, but more on that later.

I liked the location of the external speaker - at the bottom of the right side. For me, any speaker placement is better than the back side. And here, if I hold the smartphone in the most comfortable position for myself when watching a video, when the control keys are on the right, the speaker looks up and the sound is well heard. Better, probably, only in HTC One, where two speakers look straight in the face. But the sound from it is quite average, in particular, the maximum volume seemed to me not great. But there is no question of any locking at maximum volume.

Above the display there is an earpiece, a front camera, sensors and a notification LED. Under it is a spoken microphone. The control keys are on-screen and, again, using the example of watching a video on a smartphone, I first realized that the keys should be either mechanical (remember, we grieve, an iPhone), or on-screen. In order not to touch the buttons and not go back when touching / holding the smartphone.

That's all, there is nothing else on the case, except for what we will talk about separately.

Display

After water resistance, the next wow factor is the display. But, only on paper. During the presentation, it was the most pipy display: 5 ″, FullHD, 440 ppi, IPS, Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine 2, fantastic and this does not happen! I don’t want to say that the display is outdated even before the release of its digital-numerical characteristics, it is very clear. But the quality of the matrix is \u200b\u200bnoticeably lower than that of competitors. The first time I turned it on, I realized that there was no black on this screen. Obviously, this is not AMOLED, but modern IPS, like in HTC One or LG Optimus G / G pro, are capable of showing deep blacks. But that's not all. In a modern flagship, it's a shame to talk about insufficient viewing angles. And even small screen deviations distort colors. The colors are not impressive, they are too calm, I would even say a little faded. In general, the situation is repeated with the Xperia S, at the beginning of last year it had a very clear display, but, as it turned out, there was a problem with the colors. Once again I am convinced that cramming the highest possible resolution is not a panacea. To date, I have yet to see a better display than the LG Optimus G, despite the fact that it is only a rogue HD resolution.

But the pixel density is excellent, it is simply impossible to consider a single one. I was also pleased with the responsiveness of the screen. But these advantages do not overlap at least small viewing angles of the screen, this is unacceptable.

Cameras

AT Sony Xperia Z two cameras. Front - 2 MP, records video in 1080p. There are no questions for her, this is the highest possible resolution among mobile devices today, but too good quality it is not required of her. The main camera is 13 MP, it also records video in 1080p. It would be weird if Sony didn't talk about the many innovations and improvements in their camera. Here and HDR-shooting front and rear, Exmor RS in the main camera and Exmor R in the front (what is the difference between RS and R is not clear, and here and there the technology is based on the back-illumination of the matrix) and, I'm sure, a bunch of other marketing noise. Everything would be fine, but for me, as a lover of taking pictures with a smartphone, the main thing is the quality at the output, and not on paper brochures. And in the Xperia Z, the camera is also frustrating, albeit less so than the display.

The first shot I tried to take was of my MacBook keyboards. Maybe it's just the subject of the photo, but focusing near just doesn't work. What any modern smartphone focuses on in no time, the Xperia Z refuses to see. And if you find the point at which the camera focuses, then after pressing the shutter button, the smartphone will still photograph everything blurry, the focus is dramatically lost. At first no one believed me, but then all of us in the office were laughing at how obviously autofocus works. But this is only when shooting closely spaced objects.

I was very confused by the software, for example, the camera collapses every time and throws you on the lock screen if you switch the shooting mode. This is if the camera is launched not from the menu, but from the lock screen. The same goes for the settings, when you start the camera from the lock screen, there is such an item, but after pressing it, you will again find yourself on the lock screen. This is unacceptable, because sometimes you need to quickly and reliably take a picture, and then you still don't know what the smartphone will do. It used to be better when the Xperia S, for example, took a picture from a locked state in less than a second. Now the most quick way take a picture - press the lock key and drag the camera slider to the left. In principle, like on the iPhone, but it was better before.

The next question for the camera is the shooting modes themselves. The default is set auto mode iauto, but I don't like it, as it constantly overexposes the picture. Therefore, I use the second mode - normal. But, if you start the camera from the lock screen (this is the only way I start it, because the best shots appear randomly and there is no time to look for the camera icon in the menu or on the desktop), the mode is set to iauto. Of course, you can supposedly switch it, but then the application will throw you to the lock screen. In short, sheer tin. I am glad that all this is software and the manufacturer can fix these bugs.

The quality of the pictures is inferior to that of the Lumia 920, iPhone 5 and is on par with the Oprimus G. But I would not bother, in principle, the photo quality is sufficient even for a top device, I would not even think about it, especially when further editing pictures in Snapseed or Photoshop mobile. And the most important plus of a camera, or rather a smartphone, is the ability to shoot a video or photo in the rain or even under water, it costs a lot!

Technical characteristics

The processor is a quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 (Snapdragon S4 Pro) with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz. The graphics accelerator is Adreno 320, RAM is 2 GB, user memory is 16 GB, but just over 11 GB is available for installing applications, photos, music and other user-generated content. Thanks to Sony for the memory card slot. The smartphone is expected to take the lead in benchmarks, only the yet unannounced SGS4 clearly stands out against the background of the current flagships. But the autonomy did not please. With a battery capacity of 2330 mAh, the smartphone lives much less than what we have encountered recently. Now there is a good trend, when even super-productive smartphones live at least one day under more or less active load, Xperia Z is discharged before our eyes, I have not seen this for a long time. It's better not to think about a day of active work with a smartphone.

BY

The smartphone has Google Android 4.1.2 JB installed, on top of which Sony preinstalled its proprietary shell. The interface is similar to the one we saw in the early models, I can't say I'm in awe of it, but to be honest, I'm not in awe of any shell other than bare Android. But users are not interested, many of the buyers will never know what a naked Android looks like, so let's go over the interface. It feels slightly slower than iOS or Optimus UI in Optimus G (among Android devices I haven't seen a faster interface yet), but overall the animation is fast.

As I said above, there are two sliders on the lock screen - to launch the camera and to open the audio player widget. It seems to me that it would be better not to have a player, but to quickly switch to silent mode. To unlock, you need to slide your finger up or down, thereby moving the blinds. Original. Unlike last year's devices, desktops are not pinched, such a gesture brings up a menu in which you can add / subtract tables, add to certain widgets, wallpapers and themes. Not as pretty as it used to be, but much more useful. I really liked the ability to launch one of the useful applications, like a calculator or a voice recorder, from the menu of the last launched applications. Such applications open as a widget on top of the current window.

In 2007, the first iPhone from Apple was presented for the first time, and almost all guests at the conference were deeply impressed by the size of its display. Today, the 6.44-inch screen with p rarely gets really rave reviews. Sony is a pleasant exception in this regard, as potential buyers will notice it immediately.

Even those users who are not too fond of huge smartphones watched his first presentation with great interest. Now we will consider customer reviews and try to draw a definite conclusion about the qualities of this wonderful gadget.

Immediately, we note that the "older 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 be used for an absentee acquaintance with the flagship model. Of course, it is much better in some respects, but still the main features have practically not changed at all.

Main technical characteristics

For you to 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:

• The gadget is controlled by the mobile OS Android 4.2.2.
• 6.44-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution.
• An excellent 8MP Exmor RS camera is installed at the back, but for some reason the developers decided not to install a flash.
• The "heart" of the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, clocked at 2.2 GHz.
• The Adreno 330 core is responsible for video processing.
• It has 2 GB of RAM on board.
• Built-in memory - 16 GB, additionally there is a slot for micro-SD.
• Data transmission and reception interfaces: NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
• The battery capacity is 3000mAh.
• Device dimensions: 179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5 mm.
• Your pocket will be weighed down immediately by 212 g.

What this magnificence causes Z immediately fell in love with buyers with a powerful filling, a modern (at that time) version of "Android", as well as a nimble graphical shell. As experienced users say, usually when you see a shell for Android from a hardware developer, you immediately want to remove it. But not this time: everything is done as accurately 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 have reviewed, can sometimes give odds to much more eminent competitors. In any case, it is not so rare to find reviews on the Internet about how people switched to it from Apple products. Users are attracted by the inherent openness of the platform, which makes it possible to interact more effectively with the device.

Other differences from competitors

At the moment, this particular model is the largest and most massive Full HD smartphone in the world. Compared to it, the iPhone 5 is about 2.5 times smaller. However, it practically does not exceed the size of 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 tent circus worker.

It should be noted that manufacturers often include such a class of equipment in the middle price segment: the same "shovel" from Samsung has the worst filling (if to compare), but it costs around 15 thousand rubles. Sony, known for its perfectionism, couldn't do that. The Xperia Z is a great smartphone packed with the manufacturer's best solutions, as well as branded protection against dust and moisture.

What do they say, according to buyers, does not react in any way to strong humidity in the room. Of course, it is better not to go to the sauna with him, but he tolerates light pouring with juice or water (while watching cartoons with a child) without any problems.

Moreover, desperate experimenters report that the Sony Xperia Z phone can be submerged to a depth of up to a meter for a full half hour! However, it is for the sake of moisture protection that the smartphone has so many plugs. As buyers notice, due to all kinds of layers of protective materials, the speakers on this smartphone are somewhat deaf, so when watching movies without a headset, the sound has to be set to the maximum value. However, its quality is up to the mark, so a quick loss of resource does not threaten the microphone.

As far as dust is concerned, such conditions should still be avoided, as it clogs up all the cracks present. Users say it is incredibly difficult to pick it out from there. However, given the amazing water resistance for a model of this class, the phone can simply be rinsed under running water. Of course, rubbing it with a stiff brush clearly should not be, but it tolerates gentle washing with a soft napkin perfectly.

This feature is extremely valuable for those who prefer not to part with their smartphone even on a summer beach vacation. 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 is easily scratched, and there is definitely no equal to sand in the matter of damaging equipment!

Stunning performance

With a decent (but still not outstanding) hardware, the device earns almost 29,000 points in the AnTuTu test! At the time of release, only the console on which was originally "sharpened" for powerful games was gaining more, and therefore was equipped with a Tegra 4 chip. Feedback from gamers indicates that the Sony Xperia Z smartphone "digests" all the latest new mobile games perfectly. You will never meet any brakes or freezes (even light ones).

But if you believe that our Sony Xperia Z review consists solely of descriptions strengths smartphone, then you are wrong. Like any piece of technology, this gadget has its drawbacks. There is nothing serious about them, but nevertheless, you should pay attention to some points.

Negative points

We have already noticed that the local camera does not have a flash. Not at all. Why this is done, buyers and store marketers do not really understand, 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 practically the same characteristics as its older brother. Here are just Sony Xperia Z, the price of which is about 20 thousand, is quite suitable for the role of a "mid-budget" phone, while the official cost of the older model - from 30 thousand rubles.

In a word, the manufacturer's marketers have tried 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 a "little 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 bypasses all its competitors.

Concluding the review of the 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 the hefty size, they are extremely inconvenient to use: such a miracle with a side ledge cannot be crammed into a pants pocket, and you cannot use a normal case.

Reviews from service center masters

If you follow the latest trends in the high-tech market at least a little, you probably know that the body of almost all modern smartphones, tablets and other equipment is fastened with 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 details are set on hot melt glue. So for assembly and disassembly, it is necessary to use a special soldering station, which only individual craftsmen have at home. If you do not have any experience of such actions at all, we strongly do not recommend taking on them using this phone: you will definitely break something in it.

Almost all internal elements are glued, so we recommend avoiding sudden “shocks”, we do not recommend dropping your smartphone on hard surfaces. In addition to the risk of breaking the display, this will almost certainly entail damage to other components, which can simply break loose from their seats. Of course, nothing like this will happen from a simple shaking, but nevertheless, it is simply necessary to remember these design features.

What's wrong with watching movies?

One question plagues all fans of watching movies on a smartphone. Sony! How is it that you, the "trendsetter" in the world of cinema, cannot make the standard software for watching videos more omnivorous? Nowadays, when MKV files are perfectly reproduced by almost all the latest models of even cheap TVs, when you try to watch them on your phone, they are played without sound! Of course, you can install any player you prefer, but the absurdity of the situation itself confuses many users.

As for the FullHD resolution, at least in this respect there are no problems. Some buyers complain about the somewhat unusual controls in their local player, but these features just take some getting used to.

Don't forget about the cover!

Yes, the aspect is unexpected, but therefore no less important. The fact is that the display of the phone, although it is protected by a good coating, but without a normal case can come into a completely indigestible state in just a month or two. Users recommend Krusell. It costs about one and a half thousand rubles. The higher (compared to competitors) cost is offset by the fact that there is a built-in stand, which significantly improves the use of the smartphone for watching movies.

What do they say about the docking station?

The kit comes with a relatively good Sony Xperia Z docking station. This circumstance is simply well perceived 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 pile a report. It is not very convenient, but still quite doable. In addition, buyers highly appreciate the fact that after purchasing the device, they end up with a gadget, which is almost a full-fledged tablet. Important! Many buyers note that the plugs that cover all the technological connectors for protection are not very strong. This phone Sony Xperia Z unpleasantly impressed many of its fans.

Especially goes to the charging connector. If you regularly pull on its cap for six months, it can become very loose, or even completely disappear. It is much better to use a docking station for charging: just remove the smartphone from the tablet and install it on the platform intended for it. The charging process begins immediately, and you do not have to mock the plug.

Picture quality

The picture quality of the Sony Xperia Z screen is excellent, but part of the screen eats up the panel with the 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 it will obviously not work to reach it the first time.

However, we would not consider this as a serious drawback: the traffic police strongly discourage using the phone on the road, and in other situations it is quite possible to find a couple of extra seconds, stop and press this unfortunate 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 like that (although buyers with good eyesight still notice some grayishness). Of course, the backlight quality is excellent, no annoying light spots are observed in the corners.

Fans of modern gadgets have also come to love the tablet for the excellent display of web pages and movies, and dynamic games look great. Alas, there is no magnetic latch that would activate the display when the cover of a special case is opened. However, almost all users take this circumstance quite calmly, not counting it as a disadvantage of the Sony Xperia Z. The tablet of the average manufacturer (the same Samsung) also does not have such an opportunity, and therefore our users are not spoiled by this.

Wireless and GSM modules

If you have a router that can operate at 5 GHz, then you can rejoice! The phone supports this range, so you can avoid interference in apartment buildings, where almost everyone has wireless points. 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.

Regarding the usual mobile communications, then there are no particularly outstanding results here: not better, but not worse than competitors. How does the Sony Xperia Z behave in new networks? LTE networks (of which we still have very few) work great with it. He is friends with SIM cards of any domestic operators without problems. In any case, there are no negative reviews on this score. However, many users believe that the Sony Xperia Z Ultra allows for faster data transfer.

Deciding whether it is worth spending an additional 10 thousand rubles for this is a purely personal matter.

A little about other wireless standards

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 the LG printer and the Sony DSC-QX10 smartograph indicate that the smartphone started working with them immediately, without any failures. In addition, on sale you can find wireless headphones NFC, so many audiophiles also respect this feature.

In the new one, this option was retained precisely because users found it very useful. In particular, company representatives mention that buyers have repeatedly written about the benefits of this standard in the feedback form.

Since the size of the device when used as a phone makes the user look rather ridiculous, it is better to get a headset right away. Buyers also note that the smartphone perfectly "hooks" on almost all existing models of "smart" watches, so you can also purchase them for solidity.

A little about design

As for the design, here too Sony went its own way. We are talking about her branded button, which many do not like. However, a considerable part of users still claims that it is very pleasant to the touch, and it is very convenient to use it. The engineers of the company can be understood: this small design stroke has become so familiar to users over the years that it will not be possible to simply take and get rid of it.

What do the reviews tell us? The Sony Xperia Z is an excellent choice for its price point. The phone is very comfortable to use, the materials of the body are pleasant. If you always wanted to have a gadget that would combine the qualities of a smartphone and a tablet, then you simply cannot find anything better.

Let's sum up ...

I definitely don't want to part with the Xperia Z. In no way inferior to tablets with a display diagonal of 7 inches, at the same time it perfectly performs all the functions typical of ordinary phones. If you have a TV that supports this function, you can stream videos and photos to it from your Sony smartphone. In short, the device is definitely good and well tailored.

The manufacturer promises that the Sony Xperia Z will be updated for at least a year and a half, so that even fans of the freshest Android can take their time to switch to the new model. If you need something more powerful, we recommend looking at the model with the Ultra prefix. Users testify that its capabilities are sufficient to completely replace a standard seven-inch tablet.

Today we are testing a very desirable device for many - a smartphone Sony Xperia Z, model C6603.

The Sony Xperia Z smartphone was launched at the very beginning of 2013 and was then the flagship of the Sony smartphone line, for the first time having a Full HD resolution screen (1920x1080) and a 4-core processor. Almost a year has passed since the appearance of the mobile gadget, but it still remains one of the top representatives of the class of smartphones, although during this time new items have already been released that surpass it in performance by 1.5 times, both from competitors and from Sony itself. Despite this, the Sony Xperia Z can still satisfy the most demanding customers, providing them with quality, all-weather, reliability and a lot of necessary communication and communication functions.

It is the protection of a mobile phone from moisture and dust that for many users is a key parameter that helps them make a choice in favor of one model or another. Sony realized this in time, providing the new top-end device with conveniences previously available only to very simple devices in terms of technical level. Now there is no need to be afraid of rain, accidental falling of the phone in a bath with water and dust storm. To realize these protective properties in an ordinary-looking smartphone case, it was necessary to provide the holes of the plugs with rubber seals and be certified according to the requirements of the IP55 and IP57 standards. In accordance with these standards, Sony Xperia Z can withstand low pressure water jets for at least 3 minutes or immersion in fresh water to a depth of 1 meter and stay there for up to 30 minutes. Quite beneficial features, especially considering the fact that each of us at least once in our life got wet to the skin, getting under heavy rain. Now the owner of such a gadget is not afraid of rain absolutely. I must say that Sony has recently been constantly expanding its line of waterproof / dustproof smartphones, of which it now seems even more than unprotected.

But it's time, finally, to find out for yourself what exactly the Sony Xperia Z is, despite the huge number of reviews and tests already published on the Internet.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, LTE,
• Band support: LTE 2600, 800, 850, 1800, 2100 MHz,
• Type: smartphone,
• Operating system: Android 4.1.2,
• Case type: classic,
• Construction: waterproof,
• SIM card type: micro SIM,
• Quantity: SIM-cards: 1,
• Weight: 146g,
• Dimensions (WxHxT): 71x139x7.9 mm.

Screen

• Screen type: color TFT, 16.78 million colors, touch,
• A type touch screen: multitouch, capacitive (10 simultaneous clicks),
• Diagonal: 5 inches,
• Image size: 1080x1920 pixels,
• Pixels Per Inch (PPI): 441,
• Automatic screen rotation: yes,
• Scratch-resistant glass: yes.

Calls

• Ringtone type: polyphonic, MP3 ringtones,
• Vibration alert: yes.

Multimedia capabilities

• Camera: 13.10 million pixels, built-in flash,
• Camera functions: autofocus, digital Zoom 16x,
• Recognition of faces, smiles,
• Video recording: yes
• Max. video resolution: 1920x1080,
• Geo Tagging: yes,
• Front camera: yes, 2.2 million pixels,
• Audio: MP3, AAC, FM radio,
• Headphone jack: 3.5 mm,
• Video Output: MHL.

Communication

• Interfaces: USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0,
• USB charging: yes,
• USB-host: yes,
• Satellite navigation: GPS / GLONASS,
• A-GPS system: yes,
• Internet access: WAP, GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA +, email POP / SMTP, email IMAP4, HTML,
• Modem: yes,
• Synchronization with a computer: yes,
• DLNA support: yes.

Memory and processor

• Processor: Qualcomm APQ8064, 1500 MHz,
• The number of processor cores: 4,
• Video processor: Adreno 320,
• Built-in memory: 16 GB,
• RAM: 2 GB,
• Support for memory cards: micro SD, up to 32 GB.

Posts

• Additional SMS functions: text input with dictionary,
• MMS: yes.

Nutrition

• Battery capacity: 2330mAh,
• Talking time: 11 h,
• Standby time: 550 h,
• Operating time in music listening mode: 40 hours.

Other functions

• A2DP profile: yes,
• Sensors: illumination, proximity, gyroscope, compass.

Notebook and organizer

• Book search: yes,
• Organizer: alarm clock, calculator, task planner.

Features: waterproof (IP55 and IP57 standard), dustproof (IP5X standard); HDR technology for photo and video shooting; HDMI over MHL.

As you can see, the smartphone has everything that a sophisticated user could wish for. The Qualcomm APQ8064 processor contains four ARMv7 Krait cores running at a maximum frequency of 1500 MHz, which, together with the improved Adreno 320 graphics accelerator and two gigabytes of RAM, should provide superior smartphone screen interface performance on a screen of this resolution. Permanent memory Sony Xperia Z is 16 GB, of which only 11.7 GB are actually available to the user. To increase the amount of permanent memory, a slot for a micro SD card is provided. It can store the user's media files, photo album and applications that can be placed on an additional card.

Packaging and equipment

The Russian version of the Sony Xperia Z smartphone should be supplied with the following equipment: phone, docking station, Sony MH EX-300AP headset, charger, USB cable and brief documentation. We also got a demo sample for testing, which does not have a docking station in the kit, so to recharge it, we constantly have to open the USB port cap.

Sony Xperia Z arrived here in such a cardboard box in black and white colors with a color image on the smartphone screen. Nothing special, modest and tasteful. Obviously, the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe packaging designers was to draw a clear distinction between black and white reality and the color holiday that the purchase of this smartphone will bring to life.

The back, in the form of easy-to-remember logos and pictograms, are the most important technologies from the point of view of Sony marketers and technical details characterizing the advanced characteristics of the product. Here is the Exmor RS camera sensor, and Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology to improve the image quality on the screen, and a 5-inch Full HD screen, protected from scratches, and a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, and the Android operating system, and moisture protection ...

On one of the sides of the box is a label stating that this is a demo sample, not for sale. The exact model name is C6603, black. Place of production - China.

Inside the box, the smartphone is in a tight plastic case.

The entire kit is located under the cardboard cover inside the package, except for the docking station. Apparently, it would not fit into this package ..

USB cable Sony EC801 1 meter long - almost standard, with a microUSB connector, suitable for both Sony cameras and mobile phones from other companies. It is designed to connect your smartphone to a charger or USB port system unit, providing in this case simultaneous charging and data exchange.

The high quality Sony MH EX-300AP headset is equipped with a four-pin 3.5 mm mini-jack plug. It is specially designed for use in mobile phones and smartphones, as when an incoming call or message comes in, music playback is paused. To answer the call, you need to press the corresponding key on the mini-remote control located here on the cord. When the call ends, music playback will resume.

The cable is 120 cm long and is very soft and thin.

In the emitters of the headset, neodymium magnets are used, which should improve the quality of low frequency reproduction. Frequency response: 5 to 24,000 Hz, nominal impedance: 16 ohms at 1 kHz, sensitivity: 105 dB / mW.

The emitters are already equipped with one set of ambichures made of soft thin rubber, two more sets of different diameters are in a separate bag.

The Sony EP880 charger operates on an alternating current of 100-240 V and produces a constant voltage of 5 V at a current of up to 1.5 A. The miniaturization of circuitry solutions for power circuits has reached great heights, in fact, the charger is made in the form of a plug that plugs into an outlet.

The documentation in the box turned out to be information about radio frequency compatibility and a quick setup guide for a smartphone, both documents in English.

It seems difficult to imagine a short guide to such a complex gadget as a smartphone, but sony engineers managed to do it. The most important information is given on paper, and for full description have to go to the official website. How to insert a micro SIM card, turning on, controls, navigating the screen, making calls and, most importantly, how to restart if the device fails to work normally (by simultaneously pressing the power button and volume up).

The phone, despite the fact that it is in a plastic case, is covered with a protective film on the front and back. The film on the back also carries an informative function, it shows the procedure for installing a micro SIM card and important information that before turning on the phone, it must be recharged for at least 30 minutes, since the battery is only partially charged. A black phone has arrived for our review, and in general there are also varieties of white and purple colors on sale.

Appearance and controls

To begin with, it will be useful to list the controls on the Sony Xperia Z smartphone.

An interesting feature of the smartphone is that almost the entire body, excluding the edges, is covered with a special mineral glass that is resistant to impacts and scratches. Glass covers not only the front, but also the back and sides. The edges are made of soft black (soft-touch) plastic, they are rounded at the corners of the smartphone. Despite the seemingly large dimensions of the case and the use of glass, the weight of the smartphone is not large at all, only 145 grams. Case thickness - 7.9 mm. It is practically not felt by its weight in a jacket pocket, but to protect it, it is still advisable to purchase a special case.

On the front side of the device there is a large five-inch screen, speaker, main microphone, front 2-megapixel camera lens, light sensor and notification indicator. Despite the presence of holes in the microphone and speaker, you should not be afraid of water getting into them, the manufacturer has provided for a membrane structure there that does not allow water molecules to pass through.

On the back of the phone you can see the windows of the main 13 megapixel camera, a backlight LED, a small hole for the second microphone, which plays an important role in filtering out ambient noise during a telephone conversation (the processor subtracts noise from the useful signal by comparing the audio signal coming from two microphones). Also on this side there is a square with the NFC logo, which serves to designate the sensor range of this technology for transferring data between mobile devices. It is with the help of NFC that mobile devices can be used as payment cards, for example, when entering public transport. The required amount will simply be withdrawn from your electronic wallet. In Japan, this is already a mass phenomenon, but for now we are before Japan, as before the Moon ... There is also a very interesting badge on the case, which prohibits throwing the smartphone into the trash can. I hope that in Russia none of the buyers who can afford to purchase this electronic miracle will qualify for this.

On the right side of the smartphone, a large shiny metal button attracts attention. This is not a camera shutter release, as one might think. This is the on / off button of the device. Next to it is a plastic rocker for adjusting the volume of the speaker or headphones. Just above the power button is a plug for a micro SIM card. Before using the device, it must be inserted first.

At the bottom of the right side, you can see a speaker bar that produces sound in games or media applications. Even below there is a through hole on the underside of the smartphone case for threading a strap into it.

Bottom side of the case. In addition to the hole for the strap, there is another pinhole on it, but its purpose is not known.

The left side of the smartphone. Two gold-plated contacts for the docking station are visible on it, the smartphone is placed on it with the left side and voltage is applied to these contacts to recharge the battery. Above the contacts is a slot cover for a micro SD memory card, which can be up to 32 GB. I do not exclude that cards with a larger capacity will work, but the manufacturer guarantees only 32. The micro USB plug is located even higher, it is not signed in any way. If you have a docking station, then you do not have to open this plug to recharge the device, although you still need to do this to transfer files between your computer and smartphone. In general, the side faces of the smartphone seem to be black in appearance, but cast blue. Due to the glass coating, fingerprints are easily removed from them, but on the soft-touch plastic in the photo there are traces of talcum powder from medical gloves with which the smartphone was taken during photography.

The upper side of the smartphone body. There is only one plug on it that hides the headphone or headset jack. By the way, after opening, all plugs remain attached to the body thanks to elastic plastic leads. This will avoid accidental loss.

The body of the smartphone looks expensive in the truest sense of the word.

The plastic tray for the micro SIM is not held by anything, it can be removed completely, and given its microscopic size, it can be easily lost. Without it, you will not be able to insert a micro SIM card, so it is better not to engage in frequent replacement of cards on the Sony Xperia Z, which was previously practiced by many on cell phones.

Opening the slot for a memory card, we find a 2 GB demo micro SD card installed there. For everyday use, this is, of course, a ridiculous value, but it will do for a phone test. By the way, this card did not take part in testing, as it was replaced by Transcend card by 8 GB, which is also quite a bit by today's standards.

Micro USB slot. Through a special adapter, the smartphone supports MHL technology, which allows you to display an image through the Sony IM750 MHL / HDMI ™ adapter directly to the TV, via the HDMI port.

Turning on

Without waiting for the prescribed 30 minutes of charging, we turn on the smartphone, I really want to see it in operation, and the charging process continues.

The first launch was the longest, the smartphone was at that time entertaining us with very beautiful colored plasma jets running across the screen, but now the process is over and the user is offered a short four-step setup wizard that allows you to connect to wireless network, as well as enter the accounts google records, Facebook and Twitter.

In the beginning, it is better to do without data transmission via a mobile communication channel, and leave only the Wi-Fi connection active, because you will have a lot of updates that will entail a lot of data traffic. Initially, the Android operating system version 4.1.2 was installed in the smartphone, when turned on, an update to version 4.2.2 with a volume of 272 MB was automatically found, along the way 2.4.2.

The operating system cannot be updated until the battery level reaches a certain level, so we had to wait a bit. This is done so that in case of accidental disconnection charger the update process completed successfully without rendering the gadget inoperative. After a while, when we started the update process, we received a warning that the update would take about 28 minutes, then the phone rebooted and the update process started. At that time, there was a funny android robot on the screen, with a door open on its stomach, and plasma discharges sparkling inside. Under the android was a bar showing at what stage of the operating system update the process was. Unfortunately, we failed to capture this moment with high quality.

Finally, the update process finished and the phone booted up quickly enough. On the left is a photo of the initial screen of the “clean” Sony Xperia Z without icons of any additional installed applications, and on the right is a part of the initial screen, located to the left of the main window, where the city of Moscow first appeared in the weather data, then changed to Rostov-on- Don, where we did the test

Right from the home screen, you can enable or disable the desired data transfer protocol or “flight mode”, which disables all wireless interfaces of the smartphone, so as not to interfere with the aircraft electronics.

You can put shortcuts for widgets and applications on the home screen, if there is not enough space on the main desktop, you can use 4 more windows located on the sides of the main one. In these screenshots, some additional applications are already installed that are not included in the official firmware of the smartphone, for example, tests and a TV viewing program via the Internet.

In general, the interface and themes of the home screen of the Sony Xperia Z are very beautiful. It is felt that the company approached their development not for the so-called "tick", but in order to please the buyer of this expensive device. As a result, you can choose something for any mood or favorite color scheme, and if the preset backgrounds are not enough, use photos from the Internet or from a memory card for them.

As a result of our experiments, the interface looks like this:

And to get to the home screen, you need to scroll up or down on the splash screen. By the way, if you noticed, at the top of the desktop there is a gray horizontal bar with the Google inscription and a stylized image of a microphone. If you touch the microphone icon with your finger, then voice recognition and search on demand in Googl will start. It is worth noting that voice recognition is very good.

However, the purpose of this review is not to compile an illustrated encyclopedia on the Android 4.2.2 operating system, nor do we set ourselves the goal of making a practical guide to the functions of a smartphone, however, I would like to touch on some interesting points for the consumer, at least in the form of screenshots and a brief explanations. Those who are familiar with the capabilities and interface of Android will understand, and those who are just going to buy a Sony Xperia Z will easily figure it out after the purchase. The smartphone interface is as user-friendly as possible, as far as it is possible to imagine, everything is Russified and as much as possible integrated with Google and Facebook.

The Android system settings itself are quite extensive, and Sony has added something else to them in order to ensure the use of its proprietary technologies and useful functions. Here are some screenshots of the settings.

The following settings are very useful for users looking to maximize the battery life of their smartphone. According to the manufacturer's recommendation, it is advisable to turn on the STAMINA mode, which turns off the wireless data transfer when the screen is off. As soon as the screen turns on, communication will continue immediately, until the next screen turns off. This mode is very convenient for cases when the device is simply in standby mode in a pocket or bag. Theoretically, when you turn on the STAMINA mode, the duration of the work increases exactly 2 times. It is also helpful to turn off the geolocation function and turn on the low battery saver function. In this case, the brightness of the switched on screen will decrease slightly.

In our test, a smartphone with the STAMINA option turned on calmly lasted more than a day with active work with the menu, capturing screenshots, taking photographs and short-term video viewing, determining the location via satellites. According to statistics, the Wi-Fi connection was turned on almost all the time, even when the smartphone was not working, although in theory it should only work while the screen was running. After about 26 hours after the battery was fully charged, we still had 18% charge.

Distribution of memory between applications, including those running.

The My Xperia application allows you to find your phone in case of its loss, or remotely lock or delete data on it. Using the same application, you can connect a game controller to your smartphone and configure various parameters, for example, for wirelessly transferring content to various multimedia devices.

Here you can also set the option to install the PC Companion software on a computer connected to a smartphone via a USB port. In this case, the computer sees a portion of the device's permanent memory as a bootable disk with an installation package.

There are also various kinds of settings, of which the most important are security settings.

In addition to the icons of widgets (applications) on the home screen, most of them are located on the screen of the application window, which opens when you click an icon similar to a Rubik's cube. Initially, there are only three flip pages of the screen, but their number will increase as applications are installed, the page number is displayed at the top of the screen with a small circle highlighted in white.

It makes sense to briefly go over the applications to show the possibilities that the Sony Xperia Z provides.

Successful internet browser Google Chrom, Google Play Market site for downloading verified content for Android, SMS center and MMS messages... Due to the fact that many Internet services have been collected under the auspices of Google, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Mail and other features are automatically available to a user logged into Google using their account.

In Chrom, you can browse sites in a simplified form, designed for mobile devices, and in full. The scaling of the picture is very smooth and without delay.

Through the Phone application, a number is dialed and a subscriber is called, if he is given an image, for example, captured by a camera, it will be displayed on the screen. When dialing numbers manually, the top section displays the phone numbers containing the dialing number. If the Skype communication application is installed, you will be asked whether to use phone or Skype for the call.

The smartphone even managed to successfully import the phone contacts file saved to disk from the old Sony Ericsson K790i phone. That's what brand continuity means.

Sony wouldn’t be Sony if it hadn’t paid much attention to the organization of listening to music on its device. For this purpose, the smartphone has an application under the proprietary brand name WALKMAN. There are several preset music tracks, and the player program itself has a visualizer that allows you to display relaxing moving patterns on the screen, conveniently manage playlists, search for music on the Internet and over the network, adjust the frequency range using a graphic equalizer. It also contains many additional settings sound that really transforms the audible sound signal. Even the sound of various premises, such as a studio, club and concert hall, is incorporated.

Applications Album, Movies, Sony Select. The first one displays and organizes all the image files in the smartphone's memory, the second one allows you to watch movies and play them on external devices via a wireless connection. This applies not only to video, but also to music. Sony Select has a selection of recommended applications for Sony gadgets.

The possibilities for adjusting the parameters of photo and video shooting are impressive and almost in no way inferior to the capabilities of compact Sony digital cameras, only you cannot change the recording format of video files and its bitrate. Video from the camera is always written to MP4 container, and in low resolution for MMS - to 3GP format.

It will be easy for a person introducing the process of adjusting camera parameters to understand, and for a beginner in photography, there is a so-called "intelligent" mode.

You can apply exposure compensation, change flash modes, although it can hardly be called a flash. It's actually a backlight LED.

The resolution of not only photos, but also video is adjusted, you can also use the HDR mode and various presets (scenes).

There are 9 different processing effects for photos. The benefits of them are dubious, but suddenly someone will be suitable for experiments. The HDR mode does not give any radical change in the picture, but it becomes a little juicier.

The YouTube account becomes available after logging in with the Google password, but the Facebook social network must be logged in separately.

Email, calendar organizer, notes and contacts (phone book).

Alarm clock and clock, very convenient implementation of these functions, including a stopwatch. The alarm clock has a lot of settings.

The Maps application essentially overlaps with several other applications such as Navigation and Vehicle. You can look at the map, you can see the terrain in the form of satellite images, you can plot a route. Information on public transport routes and traffic jams is available. The approximate travel time from one point to another is calculated, depending on the chosen method of travel - by car, by public transport or on foot. If you do not have unlimited mobile Internet traffic, then satellite photos are best viewed via Wi-Fi. This will avoid spending big money.

The FM radio application works only when a headset or headphones are connected, in this case they are used as an antenna. Search for radio stations is available, and their selection is subsequently carried out by scrolling horizontally across the screen. There is support for radio bands of several countries and the RDS information system. The screen renderer can also be turned on, just like in the WALKMAN app. The sensitivity of the radio receiver cannot be called high; many cell phones do better with this.

The Tools widget includes a calculator, a copy and restore app, a barcode reader for products, and an internet download viewer.

The Film Studio application allows you to combine several video files into one, add music to it, and export the file. In general, this is the simplest video editor.

The TrackID application is designed to identify the performer who sounds on the radio or outside the smartphone. 100% detection of songs is not guaranteed, the program simply does not recognize rare tracks, but you can try. Smart app Connect allows you to connect wireless headphones or headsets to your smartphone, as well as a charger.

The Car application combines applications that make life easier for the owner of a smartphone while driving a car. These are Maps, Phone, WALKMAN, FM radio. The application interface in this mode is somewhat different from normal use, displaying large light numbers on a dark background. When driving, the Navigator speaks commands in a female voice, similar to this function in specialized navigators for a car. In addition to traffic jams, information is also available about catering establishments, hotels ... Google app Earth is not yet available for mobile devices in Russia.

FROM using bluetooth or NFC, you can connect other mobile devices to your smartphone.

Setting up a Google account, accessing Google+, such as a personal photo album on Panoramio.com.

Applications News & Weather, Play Movies and Play Books. The last two are Play Market subsections focused on these content categories.

File Commander, Adobe Reader and the powerful EVERNOTE app that even allows you to recognize text from a photo taken with your phone camera and convert it to editable text. EVERNOTE has a lot of possibilities, there is also synchronization with a computer, for which you need to download the version of EVERNOTE for Windows from the link that will come to your email address.

Play Now Store is an application for downloading and purchasing games, MacAfee Security is an antivirus with a one-month trial period. Until you activate it, it will not work, but after activation it wants you to purchase it (about 1400 rubles for 1 year). A separate application is support for the Sony product. Here you can get documentation, visit the forum and the company store. Opera Mini is a popular internet browser.

The Sony Xperia Z smartphone is equipped with a convenient office suite OfficeSuite 7, which allows you to work with all major file formats commonly used in offices and when sending in business e-mails. The Update Center app provides timely updates on the Sony website. The Xperia Link application will allow you to quickly link your smartphone and tablet computer together, as well as distribute mobile Internet to your tablet or desktop computer.

It should also be mentioned that when any connector is disconnected from the smartphone, a warning message is displayed on the screen about the need to close the plugs on the case in order to maintain water resistance. This warning can be turned off. Skitch app lets you draw on PDF documents and get media content through the Xperia Lounge.

When you click on the weather bar on the main screen, sufficiently detailed information is displayed, although the information provider is foreign and how accurately he can predict the weather in Russia is unknown. In our case, the forecast for rain was confirmed and even more than.

Testing and overall work experience

Immediately, what catches your eye when you turn on the Sony Xperia Z smartphone is the complete absence of the on-screen menu and interface slowdown. Smooth scrolling of the windows of the main screen and application screen, instant launch of widgets. To be honest, you can't even dream of this even on many laptops and stationary computers. Installing downloaded applications is also lightning fast.

The quality of the screen is very good, but still not perfect, as according to the information we have in the Xperia Z version distributed in Japan, the screen is brighter. Our test unit's screen fades slightly when the viewing angle is changed, and in bright daylight it looks dark, although the information on it is readable.

We could not pass by the testing for water resistance. The smartphone was immersed in a bowl filled with water, and then under running water, under a tap. The smartphone even played music while under the stream. But it is impossible to use the touch screen underwater, and the jet of water caused false positives, leading to spontaneous opening of application windows. Nevertheless, the water tests were successful - the smartphone has proven its resistance to the aquatic environment.

A multifunctional indicator is a very useful thing for a smartphone, which, unfortunately, is forgotten by many manufacturers in their models. If there are no events requiring the attention of the smartphone owner, the indicator is off. In the process of recharging, the indicator glows red, if the battery is low, orange, if the battery is about half charged or more, glows green when the battery is charged above 90%. When you have a missed phone call, the indicator occasionally blinks white and flashes blue if there is a missed message, for example in the Skype application.

Listening to the standard micro-headset showed its good sounding, although there was a slight lack of low frequencies, which can be compensated for with a graphic equalizer. Testing sound simulation software in studio, club and concert hall showed that the best sound is obtained in the studio. In the club, a kind of dull "boom" is added to the sound, and in the concert hall - an echo, which is completely absent in good concert halls. Turning on the "Clear stereo sound" mode slightly improves the separation of stereo channels, and ClearAudio + gives the sound more detail and clarity. As mentioned earlier, a smartphone's radio does not boast high sensitivity and is inferior in these parameters to mobile phones.

The speaker of the smartphone does not sound very loud, so a phone call, if the device is not in your pocket, and there is noise in the room, can be skipped. At the same time, a light indicator helps out, on which you can immediately see that someone called. During a telephone conversation, the interlocutor's speech is transmitted qualitatively, with the presence of low frequencies, in fact, all the features of speech are clearly audible. Music playback through the built-in speaker showed a lack of bass, but mids and highs are reproduced cleanly.

Unfortunately, initially the smartphone does not support many video file formats, for example, MKV containers with H.264 codec and AVI containers with DivX codec, he refused to read them in the Films application and from File Commander. The problem with viewing was solved by installing a third-party free MX Player application, but even after that, the smartphone completely refused to play such files via a Wi-Fi wireless connection on the WD TV Live media player.

When copying video files that are not standard for a smartphone from a computer to it, it is proposed to convert the format (recommended by the program), or simply copy it without changing it. If the conversion option is selected, the mfpmp.exe process is launched on the computer, which heavily loads the processor (the i7-2600K processor was loaded by 75-80% during the test), and the conversion time for a 1 GB 1920x1080 TS file with a length of 27 minutes was approximately 14 minutes 30 seconds. The file was eventually converted to MP4 format with a resolution of 1280x720 and size of 230MB. It was simply impossible to watch it because of the terrible pixelation by squares, although this problem is not a smartphone, but the conversion software. A simple copy of this 1 GB file without losing video quality took only 1 minute 45 seconds, that is, with a speed of about 9.5 MB / s, but when watching a video, the image received a low frame rate, perhaps the video processor could not cope with the data stream. The picture has not changed even after changing the hardware decoder to the software one, only the brakes from the video have increased. The audio track was played normally with software decoding only. I do not exclude that these flaws were due to a specific video and codecs, but the fact took place. Files with non-Full HD resolution played fine without any lag.

Copying data between a smartphone and a computer via USB is only one stream through the driver software, the copy speed is not reflected in Windows Explorer. If you press the power button on the smartphone while copying files, the copying process ends immediately, the files will not be copied.

The 2-megapixel front-facing camera produces good quality for video calls, but the main camera caused ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, realistic color reproduction, on the other hand, strong noise in low light and plasticity of the picture in bright daylight. Although even when shooting with bright sunlight in dark details, noise is visible, even at the lowest ISO of 40. With a lack of light and a not very high ISO, noise is more visible at the edges, in the form of red-green areas. It is quite possible that this is due to vignetting of the image on the matrix and software amplification of the signal in these areas.

Here are examples of daylight shots. You can see how the amount of noise in the image increases with increasing sensitivity:

12 MP, 40 ISO

12 MP, 40 ISO

12 MP, 40 ISO

12 MP, 40 ISO with HDR enabled

9 MP, 40 ISO with HDR enabled

5 MP, 40 ISO with HDR enabled

2 MP, 40 ISO with HDR enabled

vGA resolution, 40 ISO with HDR enabled

Backlit (the sun's rays enter the lens) the image fades and loses contrast.

12 MP, 40 ISO

Image processing effects available for photography:

2500 ISO

The smartphone stitches panoramas quite well, but only in one resolution, and the uneven movement along the horizontal top and bottom fills with a dark gray fill.

Examples of shots with a 2 megapixel front camera:

The quality is pretty good in VGA resolution, the camera is definitely suitable for video calls.

The smartphone shoots video well, especially in Full HD quality, although the presence of digital zoom (scaling) cannot be considered justified. The quality of the image when using it defies any criticism, so it's better to forget about the existence of zoom altogether. The quality of the image stabilizer is also not good, it even seems that it works on the front camera, but not on the main one.

An example of a video shot with the main camera at 1920x1080:

An example of a video shot with the main camera at a resolution of 1280x720:

An example of a video shot with the main camera at 640x480:

An example of a video captured by the front camera for MMS:

The Wi-Fi connection is working properly and stably, the smartphone connected to the D-Link access point at a speed of 78 Mbps. Positioning using GPS is quite accurate due to the simultaneous use of two standards GPS and GLONASS, but for this you need to be in an open area. The battery runs out much faster when determining the location than when watching a video. The installed Skype application made it possible to conduct high-quality video communication sessions, although for this purpose a Wi-Fi network and fixed Internet were used. Also, an application for watching TV over the Internet was successfully tested on a smartphone.

Several games have been installed and tested, such as Asphalt 8 and GTA Vice City. The quality of the graphics on the screen is very good and the movements are very smooth. True, when looking at the screenshots in detail, it turned out that the quality of mobile graphics is still very far from stationary, computer graphics, but when viewed on a small smartphone screen, this is not noticeable.

Benchmark results in 3DMark13, AnTuTu Benchmark (together with stability test). After stability testing, the top of the smartphone warmed up decently, but it was safe to hold it in your hands.

The AnTuTu 3DRating Benchmark on the Sony Xperia Z only worked with OpenGL ES2.0 (the graphics chip does not support ES3.0) and scored 4119 points.

The NenaMark 2.4 benchmark ran at 60 frames per second.

The CPU-Z utility gave us all the information on the type of smartphone processor and some additional information, for example, on the state of the battery, memory size, screen resolution.

The VELLAMO test scored 2173 on the HTML 5 test, 576 on the METAL test, and 1551 on video playback. MultiTouchTester has registered the ability of the touch screen to respond simultaneously to 10 touches. More is not needed, a person usually only has ten fingers on both hands.

The battery consumption of the smartphone, by the way, is not very capacious at its face value, should be recognized as not very large and corresponding to the level of other smartphones with a similar power "filling", turning on the STAMINA mode and turning off Wi-Fi can dramatically increase the smartphone's standby time with occasionally turning on the display. The smartphone is definitely enough for a day of quite active use, and if you use it only for telephone communication, then for three to four days.

When playing video with speaker sound at volume level 11, the smartphone battery lasted 5 hours

After activating the MacAfee Security antivirus, it began to bother the periodic screen lock with the requirement to enter the PIN code generated during activation. Fortunately, we have saved it. After running synthetic tests or locking the screen, for some reason, the SIM card was disconnected with the corresponding disappearance of mobile communication, it is unclear whether this is a software glitch or was conceived by the developers.

Outcome

Having briefly tested the Sony Xperia Z smartphone in work, we can say that Sony has turned out to be successful. Despite the small negative points listed below, positive sides definitely outweigh. The quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 processor and the Adreno 320 graphics accelerator were not the most productive solutions even when the Xperia Z appeared on the market, but they still satisfy the requirements of most games and applications for the Android operating system. Water resistance, CPU performance, large high quality screen and the quality of the smartphone's workmanship clearly indicate that it is recommended for purchase by those users who need to have all the functions for business communication and entertainment in one device. But in the active use of the smartphone, you need to take care of charging it at least once a day.

Positive sides:

• high-quality screen 5 "Full HD resolution;
• productive hardware;
• excellent workmanship;
• the presence of a color multifunctional indicator on the case;
• good quality photos and videos in daylight;
• broad integration with google services, in connection with which many sites become available from one account;
• case protected from dust and water;
• the presence of the Stamina energy saving mode, which prolongs the operation of the smartphone;
• sophisticated Sony update system and extensive warranty support network;
• excellent sound quality in a micro-headset, especially when using proprietary technology Sony ClearAudio +;
• advanced security and search system in case of theft or loss.

Disadvantages:

• poor display of the image in the sun;
• lack of support for some default video formats, poor performance when playing videos in Full HD resolution;
• when working, especially in the horizontal screen layout mode, or in the usual position when scrolling radio stations, the side speaker is often accidentally covered with a finger;
• no separate button for photographing;
• poor photo quality in low light;
• support for only one SIM card.

Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, offered colors, certificates.

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.	7.9 mm (millimeters) 0.79 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.31 in (inches)
The weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	146 g (grams) 0.32 lbs (pounds) 5.15 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape.	77.97 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.73 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this unit is offered for sale.	The black White Purple
Materials for the manufacture of the case Materials used to make the device body.	Glass
Certification Information about the standards by which this device is certified.	IP55 IP57

SIM card

A SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analog mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced 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 stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and refers to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more 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 with the aim of increasing the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz

Mobile technology and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data rates.

Operating system

An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) integrates all the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.

SoC (System on a 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 required for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	Krait
Processor size The capacity (bits) of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and data buses. 64-bit processors offer better performance than 32-bit processors, which are more efficient than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction set architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls 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 can be accessed faster than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also lower power consumption.	4KB + 4KB (kilobytes)
Level 1 cache (L1) The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (Level 1) cache is small and is much faster than both system memory and other levels of cache. 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)
L2 cache L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. 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 L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory.	2048 KB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
The number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel.	4
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1500 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics processing unit (GPU) A graphics processing unit (GPU) handles computation for a variety of 2D / 3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most commonly used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, and more.	Qualcomm Adreno 320
Number of GPU cores Like a processor, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical computing of various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Speed \u200b\u200bis the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	400 MHz (megahertz)
The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	2 GB (gigabytes)
Memory type (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 which are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates.	Two-channel
RAM frequency The frequency of the RAM determines its speed of operation, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data.	533 MHz (megahertz)
	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 + MDM9215M

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type / technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.	TFT
Diagonal On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of 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 aspect ratio of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Resolution Screen resolution shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper 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 shown on the screen in 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 the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device.	70.06% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen.	Capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistant
	Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 Reality display Dragontrail glass Shatter-proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that the mobile device recognizes.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photocell used in the camera of the device.	Sony IMX135 Exmor RS
Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as the 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 photocell used in the device. Typically, cameras with a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer higher image quality despite lower resolution.	4.69 x 3.52 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches)
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photocell allows more pixels per unit area to be used, thus increasing the resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO sensitivity levels.	1.136 μm (micrometers) 0.001136 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the size of the device's photo sensor. The number shown is the ratio of the diagonals of a full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) to that of a specific device.	7.38
ISO (light sensitivity) ISO values \u200b\u200bdetermine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity and vice versa - higher values \u200b\u200bmean 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 a larger aperture opening.	f / 2.4
Focal length The focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal lengths are 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 cameras are LED and Xenon flashes. LED flashes give softer light and, unlike brighter xenon ones, 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 pixels horizontally and vertically in an image.	4128 x 3096 pixels 12.78 MP (megapixels)
Video Resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by 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 recording video at maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video capture and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30 frames / sec (frames per second)
Specifications Information about other software and hardware features associated with the main camera to improve its functionality.	Autofocus Burst shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographic tags Panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition ISO setting Self-timer Scene selection mode Macro mode
	4-element lens

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the screen of the device and are used mainly for video calls, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information on the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Locating

Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a technology that enables wireless communication for transferring data over short distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.

Version There are several bluetooth versions, while each successive improves communication speed, coverage, facilitates easier detection and connection of devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.	4.0
Specifications Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols to enable faster communication, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. 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)

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio / video interface that replaces older analog audio / video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main features and standards supported by the device browser.

Html HTML5

Audio file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital audio data.

Video file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge required for their function.

Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliampere-hours.	2330 mAh (milliampere-hours)
A type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with the most common mobile devices using lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	11 h (hours) 660 minutes (minutes) 0.5 days
Standby time 2G Standby time in 2G 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
Talk time 3G Talk time in 3G 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 standby time 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery is fully discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	530 h (hours) 31800 min (minutes) 22.1 days
Specifications Information about some additional characteristics of the device battery.	Non-removable

Sony's mobile division has been in a serious crisis for several years. The new flagship of the company, the Xperia Z, was called to change this situation. It was well received by the press and experts. On paper, the specs are great. This is a Full HD display with a diagonal of 5 inches, a 13-megapixel camera with special photo processing algorithms. And, perhaps most importantly, the smartphone is dustproof and very beautiful. But is everything really so good in reality? We looked for the answer to this question during the Xperia Z user test.

The Sony Xperia Z kicked off the flagship product season of 2013. The presentation of the flagship of the Japanese company took place at CES2013 in January. At this event, the Xperia Z was the most talked about device and received many positive reviews.

Among the special merits of the novelty were a quad-core processor, a Full HD display with a diagonal of 5 inches, a high-quality camera, and protection from dust and water.

Another interesting point, about which almost everyone was talking, is the stylish design. What is the use of tempered glass on the front and back of the device.

Dimensions. Contents of delivery

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The Sony Xperia Z is a slim but very wide smartphone. Excessive length and width do not allow operating the device with one hand. If we go into numbers, the dimensions of the device are 139x71x7.9 mm, weight - 146 g. The weight did not seem excessive to me. Rather, it gives a sense of security. The large dimensions of the device are hidden by the small thickness. This allows you to carry the Xperia Z even in the pockets of tight clothing. However, if you enter the network, you have to pull the gadget out of your pocket.

The package (our test sample was purchased from Italy) includes:

Sony Xperia Z phone

• USB charger adapter
• Computer sync cable (microUSB)
• Stereo headset with 3.5mm mini-jack
• A set of overlays for a headset of different sizes
• NFC tag kit
• A set of protective films for the screen and the back of the device
• Instructions

In addition to this, the Russian equipment of the Sony Xperia Z will also be replenished with a charging dock, which is not designed to perform any other tasks, except for charging itself. This is a plastic stand called "charging module" in the settings.

Design, construction

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The Japanese have done a great job on the appearance. Visually, the smartphone is not perceived as bulky, as can be judged from its characteristics. The developers managed to achieve this thanks to the minimalistic design. The smartphone uses a minimum of additional elements, and all the outlines of the body are close to rectangular. According to Sony, "The Xperia Z is built with premium materials and is the first to introduce the new OmniBalance design concept with slightly rounded edges and smooth reflective surfaces on all sides."

The ends of the Sony Xperia Z are made of metal (except for the caps for various technical connectors), and the front and back panels are covered with tempered glass. It should be noted that different types of tempered glass are used in different batches. Somewhere it is Corning Gorilla Glass, and somewhere Asahi Dragontrail. I don't know what was on my test sample, but I can state that the glass firmly protects the display and the back from scratches and abrasions.

By the way, on the web, some people call the Xperia Z a flattened / 4S. Comparisons with the previous two models of the "apple smartphone" are inevitable due to the angular shapes and glass covering the front and back sides of the device. However, Xperia Z is distinctive and unlike any other mobile phone that came out before.

The devices are available in three colors: white, purple and black. I had a black device at my disposal.

Almost the entire front of the smartphone is occupied by a large touchscreen display with a diagonal of 5 inches. It's about 12.7 cm. Above it is the speaker hole. To the left is a camera for video calls (2 Mpix), and to the right - all kinds of sensors and sensors: motion sensor, light sensor, G-sensor. In the right upper corner there is an LED that lights up during charging, and also flashes when receiving SMS, calls or a discharged battery.

On the back is a 13MP autofocus camera with LED flash. Below is the NFC chip, branded with a special logo.

On the right side there is a button to turn on, turn off and lock the phone. It is metallic, silvery, round in shape. Below you can see the volume rocker. Even lower is the speaker for external calls. Its volume is below average. I would note the high probability of missed calls if your phone is in clothes or far from your location. In other cases, the volume is sufficient. On the same end, behind a protective flap, there is a slot for a microSIM card.

At the top there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It is also covered with a plug. A standard microUSB connector for charging and connecting to a computer is located on the left side. There is also a slot for a microSD memory card and contacts for a docking station. But there is no mechanical camera button, the camera application for shooting can only be launched from the menu or lock mode. The lithium-ion battery in the Xperia Z is non-removable.

The build quality is excellent. During the test, I did not find any external defects. The impressions are extremely positive. The smartphone is assembled at a factory in China.

After the first acquaintance with Sony Xperia Z, I caught myself thinking that I really liked the appearance of the device. The sensation of touching glass surfaces is not comparable to plastic. In addition, the assembly is excellent here. Controls are correctly spaced to the sides. But I absolutely did not like the dimensions.

Sudars and ladies who work in manufacturing companies and think that a 5-inch screen is good! You are wrong! This is really inconvenient and not ergonomic! You can't touch the edge of the screen with one hand. About "reach the corners", I generally keep quiet. In addition, when talking on the phone, you get the feeling that you are pressing a brick to your head. Is it really convenient?

I can say with confidence that I finally realized that the growth of the diagonal in modern smartphones is a dead end line of development.

Dust and moisture resistant

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Sony Xperia Z is a rare smartphone in which moisture and dust protection is implemented at a fairly high level. The smartphone is certified according to standards. The numbers indicate that dust can get inside the case, but will not affect the device's performance.

It is the pyte- and moisture resistance that is dictated by the presence of such a huge number of plugs on the body of the device. It is important to ensure tightness.

With regard to protection from moisture, the smartphone is able to stay alive at a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. In addition, it can withstand being under running water. The Xperia Z's real-world ruggedness tests have confirmed that the smartphone is not afraid of liquids. For example, I dipped my smartphone into a glass of mineral water and at least he could have something!

Screen. Graphics capabilities

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The screen is perhaps the most controversial thing about the Xperia Z.First, it's a 5-inch (12.7 cm) diagonal. Of course, it's good that it is large, but because of this, the device has excessive dimensions. Secondly, the type of matrix used provides low viewing angles. As soon as you look at the screen at least a little from an angle, the colors on it begin to fade. But in normal position, the picture and colors are good. I didn't expect to see such a strange display on a smartphone for 30,000 rubles.

At the same time, I want to praise the resolution, which is 1080x1920 pixels with an excellent pixel density of 440 ppi. Image clarity is excellent. Individual points are difficult to see even under a magnifying glass.

The brightness is adjusted both manually and automatically, based on the operation of the light sensor. Naturally, there is also a proximity sensor that locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to simultaneously handle up to ten touches.

Keyboard and information input

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Entering information, as well as writing texts and dialing numbers is done using the touch screen.

The Xperia Z has two options for typing: a vertical and horizontal QWERTY keyboard, and voice dialing. In the first version, the buttons are small, but it is still convenient to type text.

In the horizontal orientation, the buttons are very large and allow you to type text without problems. Changing the language is done by pressing the RU / EN key, but you must first select the main languages \u200b\u200bin the settings. Of the features, I want to note the lack of the ability to type punctuation marks in one touch in the Sony interface. It annoys me personally.

Menu. Interface and navigation

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Sony Xperia Z runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The software can be updated over the Internet. On top of the operating system is installed its own shell from Sony. It is much simpler and more understandable than the basic one.

Among the differences is the difference in unlocking the device with standard androids. Sony has moved away from the boring "pull the ring" unlocking method. You don't need to aim at the slider and drag it to the right or left. Now, just swipe your finger across the screen from bottom to top or top to bottom - and the phone is ready to use.

The process of personalizing desktops is conveniently and thoughtfully done. In the main window, the user can select the desired desktop, and using the bottom menu - add widgets or application shortcuts, as well as change the background image or the entire design theme. The list of programs can be sorted by alphabet, installation time, frequency of use, or as you like.

In standby mode, the user has up to seven desktops.

A long continuous press on the top of the screen activates the notification panel. It displays the current date, operator's name and other supporting information. The notification panel informs about missed voice messages, emails, Gmail, and more. Here you can quickly turn on such functions as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, sound, auto-rotate.

The menu can be accessed by clicking the "Applications" item at the bottom right of the screen. The menu of the tested phone is presented by default with three screens that can be scrolled. These are all diverse applications. Long press on an application shortcut will move it to the desktop. To remove a shortcut from the desktop, you need to do the opposite. There is also a "Widgets" tab, from where you can add useful information directly to your smartphone desktop.

The set of preinstalled programs in Sony smartphones does not change much from model to model. Several online services, such as TrackID, Movies, PlayNow, offer you to choose, buy and play music, movies and games right away. Timescape collects information about the social activity of friends. There is a preinstalled file manager. There is also a QR code scanner.

The proprietary Smart Connect program, which serves to launch certain profiles (operating modes), starts when the smartphone is installed in the docking station, but autorun can be turned off. There is no full-fledged version of the OfficeSuite Pro suite of office applications, which would allow not only viewing, but also editing files in popular Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats. Now the buyer gets only a stripped-down version of OfficeSuite, which makes it possible only to view files of these formats.

Telephone functions

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First of all, these include "Phone", "Contacts", "Messages". They're all at the bottom of the Xperia Z home screen.

The Contacts application stores detailed information about phone numbers and subscribers. A specific record can have two dozen fields, be it the last name, first name, patronymic, mobile number, home phone, email address, date of birth or personal ID, Skype, etc. The search in contacts occurs at once in all fields of the client, that is, you can dial the number, first name, last name, etc. The profile of each subscriber can now be linked to his social media accounts.

Drawing keys, numbers and letters of the number dialing and virtual keyboard for typing SMS-messages is very convenient. During an incoming call, the screen displays a photo and the number of the subscriber from the phone book, or, if the subscriber is not known, a picture of a green man.

Text and multimedia messages are grouped by subscriber. By clicking on a specific contact, you can view the history of correspondence with this person.

Internet and Google services

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The standard Chrone browser uses updated Webkit and JavaScript.

The device is fully integrated with Google services such as Gmail, Google+, Google Maps, YouTube and of course search. The user can only enter the data of his account Google and that's it.

Working tools include the "Calendar". It allows you to view events, both by date and by time and action. The service is a quality planner-organizer, all in one. All events can be divided into groups with corresponding fields. All information is stored on a Google server.

Multimedia capabilities

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The app for playing music is called Walkman . Here you can view and listen to audio tracks. The following file formats are supported: MP3, AMR, AAC, AAC +, e-AAC + .. There is a sorting by artist, album, genre, composer.

The package includes a regular headset. Thanks to the 3.5 mm jack, you can pick up any headphones.

The "Video" item displays videos taken both by the device's camera and downloaded from the Internet.

A kind of thematic browser of photo and video files is the item "Gallery". All files are divided into folders: photo and video clips, music.

Camera. Photo and video capabilities

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The main camera of the Xperia Z can take pictures up to 13 megapixels. By default, it works in the so-called super-auto mode. The aforementioned "super auto mode" actually blocks all camera settings, the smartphone independently determines how to take pictures. It turns out quite well. The maximum resolution that can be set is 12 megapixels with an aspect ratio of 4: 3. Then the photos are 3920x2940.

The maximum resolution of camera images is manual mode - 13 megapixels, but it can only be achieved by switching the shooting mode to normal yourself. Then the received photos will have a size of 4128x3096.

Burst shooting speed reaches 10 frames per second. The quality is not bad, but in fact it turns out that we are not dealing with photography, but with saving individual frames of the video sequence.

Additional features include automatic smile detection, panorama mode and several filters, some of which change the image beyond recognition.

The camera can shoot video in Full HD-resolution 1080p, the quality is excellent, it may well go for home everyday shooting.

Photos and videos can be viewed from the "Multimedia" menu. Photos and videos are displayed as thumbnails, the list opens very quickly, there are no delays even with a large number of pictures or images. In the gallery, you can flip through photos by tilting the phone in one direction or another. All this became thanks to the built-in accelerometer.

Memory and speed

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The flagship from Sony is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 APQ8064 chipset, which consists of four Krait computing cores, clocked at up to 1.5 GHz. The Adreno 320 chip is responsible for the graphics, 2 GB of RAM is enough with a margin for everything. The built-in memory is only 16 GB, but there is a slot for a microSD card. In terms of hardware, the Xperia Z is almost identical to the Nexus 4, HTC Butterfly and ASUS PadFone 2.