In the first part of the Xperia XZ Premium review: battery and autonomy rating, display tests, processor characteristics, headphone sound quality and interfaces.
GSMArena's Xperia XZ Premium review should answer two main questions. How good is the HDR10 4K display, and is the innovative Motion Eye camera with its own RAM capable of making a small revolution in the world of mobile photography and video? The battery life of the smartphone is of interest, because the 3230 mAh battery will have to provide energy to the screen with Ultra HD resolution.
There are no questions or doubts about the performance. The Snapdragon 835-powered Xperia XZ Premium will be among the leaders in all benchmarks, but whether the phone will take the top lines of the ratings, by and large, is not so important. Its performance is definitely enough for even the most demanding and picky user.
In the first part of the Xperia XZ Premium review:
- Autonomy rating and battery life.
- Display testing.
- A short analysis of the smartphone hardware with benchmarks.
- Checking the sound quality on your headphones is the audiophile section of the Xperia XZ Premium review.
- Wireless technologies, interface.
- Subtotals.
Xperia XZ Premium: battery specifications and autonomy rating
The 2017 flagships are unlucky with batteries. None of them received a battery with a capacity of at least 4000 mAh, and the record holder in the passport is the Huawei P10 Plus with 3750 mAh. Analysis of power systems of top models can be found in the material.
In this light, the Xperia XZ Premium no longer looks like a smartphone with a weak battery. Certainly, 3230 mAh can not be called the ultimate dream, but the figure does not stand out against the background of competitors. With the Snapdragon 835 chipset, created using 10 nm technology, the phone is provided with a normal battery life rating, the only question is how will watching video with 4K resolution affect the battery life?
| Xperia XZ Premium | Xperia XZs | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 3230 mAh | 2900 mAh |
| Fast charging | Quick Charge 3.0 | Quick Charge 3.0 |
| Autonomy rating | 72 hours | 73 hours |
| Calls | 18:54 | 23:07 |
| Internet | 10:04 | 08:17 |
| Video | 08:04 | 09:08 |
Tests carried out by GSMArena experts have shown that things are not bad with an overall rating of autonomy. 72 hours- a normal result, exactly the same as competitors such as the LG G6 or Huawei P10. In 3G talk mode, the Xperia XZ Premium can work for over 18 hours.
With an active modem and a screen (web surfing), the smartphone keeps the battery for about 10 hours, which is also good. An important note should be made here: when working online, as in any other operating mode of the Xperia XZ Premium, the screen switches to Full HD resolution, which significantly reduces the load on the hardware. Accordingly, the battery consumption is also reduced.
The display goes to a resolution of 2160 x 3840 only when viewing 4K content. Viewing video in UHD resolution is the most critical mode for smartphone autonomy. Tests confirm this - when watching 4K video, the XZ Premium holds a charge for about 8 hours, and this is the worst indicator for a 2017 flagship. When compared with the top models of 2016, we see that in video viewing mode, the XZ Premium was ahead of only two phones: the Google Pixel and the LG V20.
Sony's new flagship supports fast charging Quick Charge 3.0, which in half an hour reanimates the battery from 0 to 42%. Adaptive charging supported Qnovo and proprietary technology Battery care designed to extend battery life by 200-300 recharge cycles.
For critical situations, a mode is provided Ultra stamina, in which most applications are disabled, leaving one desktop with access to the phone book, messages, clock and several other important functions. You will need to restart your phone to enable Ultra Stamina. For rational energy saving, a less radical measure is provided - the mode Stamina, disabling vibration, GPS and other not very useful options.
XZ Premium: display specs and test results
The passport details of the XZ Premium display are impressive: resolution 2160 x 3840 at the diagonal 5.5 inch gives a deafening pixel density 806 ppi... Proprietary Triluminos and X-Reality technologies increase the picture quality (brightness, saturation, contrast) on the screen IPS LCD when viewing photos and videos. HDR10 support delivers fantastic vibrant color saturation with smooth gradients and an indescribable play of light and shadow when viewing HDR content. The only thing left to do is to make sure that all technologies work as they should.
What do the tests say? In short, the display is good, but not without its drawbacks. In their review of the Xperia XZ Premium, GSMArena experts note that the picture quality when viewing standard content (SDR) is not much different from HDR video, but the overall picture is excellent. Measuring instruments can detect differences, but the human eye can hardly.
| Black cd / m2 | White, cd / m2 | Contrast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xperia XZ Premium | 0.463 | 573 | 1228 |
| Xperia Z5 Premium | 0.59 | 566 | 1349 |
| Xperia XZs | 0.461 | 564 | 1223 |
| Xperia XZ | 0.370 | 502 | 1349 |
| Xperia Z5 | 0.59 | 583 | 986 |
| Huawei P10 Plus | 0.335 | 547 | 1633 |
| Huawei p10 | 0.416 | 592 | 1423 |
| Lg g6 | 0.228 | 468 | 2053 |
| LG G6 (max auto) | 0.277 | 564 | 2036 |
| HTC U Ultra | 0.539 | 428 | 794 |
| HTC U Ultra (max auto) | 0.564 | 507 | 899 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | 0.41 | 537 | 1398 |
| iPhone 7 Plus (max) | 0.50 | 681 | 1362 |
The correctness of the color reproduction is also not impressive. The average coefficient of color accuracy in the sRGB mode, which, in theory, should be as close to the standard as possible, was 4.9 ... When switching to standard mode, the color accuracy is slightly improved, and the DeltaE is reduced to 4.6 (the lower the DeltaE, the better). However, both indicators are far from ideal, you can compare them with the DeltaE flagships 2016/2017 at the previous link to the display review.
Readability in the sun could have been better if not for the mirror-like surface of the smartphone. The Xperia XZ Premium's chassis, including the bezel, reflects too much light, making the display less readable. The readability factor is much lower than that of the Xperia XZs without a mirror finish.
Readability factor in the sun
Xperia XZ Premium: hardware specs
XZ Premium singled out 4 GB operational and 64 GB internal memory, and so much has been said about the Snapdragon 835 processor that there is nothing to add. In short, the chipset is manufactured according to the 10 nm process technology. The 8-core processor is built on the Kryo 280 CPU architecture. The cores are divided into 2 clusters: powerful ones are overclocked to 2.45 GHz, energy efficient run at clock frequency 1.9 GHz... Graphics accelerator - Adreno 540.
| Xperia XZ Premium | Xperia XZs | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 835 | Snapdragon 820 |
| Technical process | 10 nm FinFET | 14 nm FinFET |
| Number of Cores | 8 | 4 |
| Core type | 8x Kryo 280 CPU | 4х Kryo CPU |
| Frequency | 4x 2.45 GHz + 4x 1.9 GHz | 2x 2.15 GHz + 2x 1.6 GHz |
| Graphics adapter | Adreno 540 | Adreno 530 |
| Modem | LTE Cat.16. Speed up to 1000/150 Mbps | LTE Cat.9. Speed up to 450/50 Mbps |
| RAM | 4 GB LPDDR4 | 4 GB LPDDR4 |
| Inner memory | 64 GB | 32/64 GB |
| Expansion slot | hybrid, microSD up to 256 GB | hybrid, microSD up to 256 GB |
Sony Xperia XZ Premium: sound quality
It's strange that the company that once invented the legendary Walkman can't get crystal clear sound from their smartphones through their headphones. Problems with equal signal amplification and harmonic distortion can be traced in all representatives of the Xperia line, from flagships to mid-range and budget employees.
The Xperia XZ Premium smartphone is no exception to the rule. When connected to an external amplifier via a 3.5 mm audio jack, noticeable (in relation to this listening mode) harmonic and intermodulation distortions appear. Connecting headphones increases intermodulation distortion, which has an extremely negative effect on the subjective perception of sound. Another problem appears - uneven signal amplification at high and low frequencies.
In their review of the Xperia XZ Premium, GSMArena reporters described the sound as excellent, but noting the lack of volume and the aforementioned shortcomings, added that the sound quality cannot be called "benchmark or worthy of a flagship." Moreover, the flagship with the Premium index.
| Smartphone | CHO | Signal / Noise | DD | OIG | KII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xperia XZ Premium | +0.01, -0.03 | -90.6 | 90.4 | 0.018 | 0.027 |
| Xperia XZ Premium (with headphones) | +0.30, -0.20 | -90.5 | 90.0 | 0.0018 | 0.145 |
| Xperia XZs | +0.01, -0.02 | -93.5 | 93.3 | 0.0042 | 0.0092 |
| Xperia XZs (with headphones) | +0.12, -0.32 | -92.6 | 93.2 | 0.072 | 0.219 |
| Galaxy S8 | +0.04, -0.00 | -92.5 | 92.5 | 0.0016 | 0.0072 |
| Galaxy S8 (with headphones) | +0.03, -0.03 | -92.3 | 92.3 | 0.0056 | 0.060 |
| Huawei p10 | +0.01, -0.04 | -93.0 | 94.8 | 0.0019 | 0.0080 |
| Huawei P10 (in headphones) | +0.25, -0.02 | -92.7 | 93.0 | 0.192 | 0.175 |
| Lg g6 | +0.01, -0.02 | -93.3 | 93.3 | 0.0059 | 0.0095 |
| LG G6 (with headphones) | +0.01, -0.02 | -93.4 | 93.4 | 0.0067 | 0.020 |
| Google pixel | +0.02, -0.03 | -93.0 | 93.0 | 0.0045 | 0.0086 |
| Google Pixel (with headphones) | +0.22, -0.03 | -92.7 | 92.7 | 0.0054 | 0.129 |
Xperia XZ Premium: wireless technologies, interfaces
Xperia XZ Premium has a state-of-the-art modem for wireless internet LTE Cat.16 which can receive data at a hurricane speed 1 Gbps... True, mobile networks supporting such speeds are not yet available anywhere, but the fact remains.
From a practical point of view, of greater interest is Bluetooth 5... Fifth-generation Bluetooth operates in a wider frequency range, transmits data at twice the speed and, in theory, can communicate up to 100 meters away. Thanks to the high speed, it is possible to listen to lossless formats wirelessly without losing quality. Among the advantages of Bluetooth 5 is a more stable and high-quality signal, an economical low energy mode, new encryption protocols, and the ability to connect two devices to the phone at once.
For fans of the analog audio signal, a 3.5 mm audio jack was left, however, as we said, the Xperia XZ Premium audio system as a whole does not differ in outstanding linearity. Wired communication is provided USB Type-C v.3.1... There is no FM radio in the phone, but there is NFC and work in Wi-Fi networks 5 GHz.
Interim results of the Xperia XZ Premium review
So, we can already answer some of the questions voiced in the introduction. The Xperia XZ Premium's display is very good when it comes to 4K video playback. In real life, you will not get any benefit from UHD resolution, because the phone runs in Full HD by default. At the same time, the picture quality is a little lame, as well as readability in the sun.
The battery life rating of the Xperia XZ Premium is normal. The smartphone will withstand an eventful day, and you can't ask for more from modern flagships. Performance? No surprises here, the speed is at altitude, as you would expect. The sound quality in the headphones is above average by the standards of the middle price segment, but far from ideal by the standards of flagships.
In the second part of the Xperia XZ Premium review, we talk about design, body materials, camera and software. Stay with us, follow the publications, we are always glad to see you on the pages of Five-Inches!
Review of the Xperia XZ Premium camera - the most advanced camera among the current premium smartphones of 2017.
Before a full review of the Xperia XZ Premium, it doesn't hurt to talk about the Sony flagship camera in a separate article.
The fact is that the Xperia XZ Premium camera is significantly different from the previous generation of Sony Xperia cameras. This is a real breakthrough for a Japanese company, a triumph of technological excellence.
- Image sensor: Sony IMX400,
- Resolution and physical dimensions: 19 MP, 1 / 2.3 ″, pixel size 1.22 microns
- Lens: 25mm G Lens, F2.0 Aperture
- Features: Motion Eye technology, three-layer image sensor with built-in DRAM memory, slow-motion video recording 960 fps, predictive shooting, HDR, hybrid autofocus (phase + laser), RGB sensor, tracking autofocus.
Design and usability of the interface
The Xperia XZ Premium camera review will have to start with harsh but well-founded criticism.
Why the hell is the camera app from 2014 still in use in 2017 ?! With the release of the new IMX400 camera, is it really so difficult and expensive to write a new one, or at least clean up an old application properly ?!
The camera app is objectively outdated. Apart from scrolling through shooting modes with up / down swipes and a virtual shutter button, I can't name any more convenient moments.
The settings are poorly implemented, a bunch of incomprehensible items for an unprepared user, only one "Touch to configure" is worth it. But behind this nonsense hides the "Exposure by tap" function, which is turned off by default on the Xperia XZ Premium camera. Therefore, many reviewers who are poorly versed in the issue think that there is no tap exposure, there is only tracking autofocus.
The Xperia XZ Premium's camera app has enough of these nice little things. For example, a relic of the past - shooting 4K video in a separate mini-application with its own interface. Only one question - WHY ?! Really bombs from such absurdities.
Why am I bombing so much because of the camera app interface? It's simple - I've been using Huawei Mate 9 () for a long time with its dual camera and Leica software. There, the camera application is just a reference, and as you know, you get used to good things quickly.
However, if we abstract from the quality UI and honestly ask ourselves the question - “Can I use the Xperia camera application?”, The answer is yes. The Xperia XZ Premium's camera can be figured out and used without any major inconvenience.
In many situations, the mechanical two-position shutter button on the body of the phone saves. For outdoors and on the go, this is the best solution you can think of.
Functionality
Fortunately, the Xperia XZ Premium's camera capabilities almost completely overshadow its lagging interface. Let's analyze all the functions in order.
Photo
Super Auto Mode... This photo mode is the bare minimum in the Xperia XZ Premium camera app. Everything is very austere, almost like an iPhone camera.
You can turn on / off the flash, switch to the front camera and open the settings.
Manual (manual mode)... At first glance, everything is the same, but an icon with sliders appears under the shutter button. This is the manual mode control, which, unfortunately, is rather short on the Xperia XZ Premium and other premium Sony smartphones. You can only change the exposure compensation from -2.0 to +2.0, choose from 4 presets for color temperature, focusing distance and shutter speed.
Moreover, the maximum exposure of the Xperia XZ Premium is only 1 second, when, like the same Huawei flagships, you can set up to 30 seconds. It seems like a trifle, but when shooting at night on a tripod, the same Mate 9 will show better results than the XZ Premium.
Video
In addition to the usual video shooting mode in different resolutions and different frame rates, Sony Mobile developers have added a new button above the shutter release. By clicking on it, we get into slow motion mode.
Super slow motion... This mode was created specifically for shooting slow motion videos at 960 fps.
When the mode is activated, the image is seriously sprinkled, and the resolution is reduced to HD (1280 × 720), the noise becomes much greater, so such shooting is possible only with sufficient lighting.
The process can be configured as follows:
- Super slow motion... Shooting starts in HD resolution and 30 fps, and we select parts of the slow-mo video by ourselves pressing the shutter button. Pressed - the phone has filmed an excerpt, transferred it from the camera's memory to the phone's memory and is ready to make the next excerpt. The snippets are only 0.18 seconds long, but at 30 fps they turn into 6-second snippets.
- Super slow(one excerpt). Pressing the shutter button makes only one super slow motion cut.
- Slow motion... Video recording at 120 fps.
Camera applications
Built-in camera apps include:
- AR Effect
- Art
- Sound Photo
- Panorama
- 4K video
All of these applications have been familiar from premium Sony Xperia smartphones over the past 3-4 years. Nothing much has changed in the Xperia XZ Premium, except for the latest AR effects and the h.265 codec in 4K mode.
Settings
The settings in the Xperia XZ Premium camera app are confusing and not always straightforward. Sony uses strange names for known parameters, why is not clear.
For example, in the photo settings there is an item "Tap to configure", which hides a banal tapu exposure. By the way, it is turned off by default, instead of it there is "Object tracking" (tracking autofocus).
Because of this, untrained users think that the cameras of the latest Xperia do not have tap exposure. It is there, but for some reason Sony Mobile engineers believe that it is more important for the user to use the tracking autofocus than the exposure.
How the Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera shoots
The interface design and settings are of course important, but much more important is how the Xperia XZ Premium camera shoots. At this point, I've collected all sorts of tests with the Sony flagship camera.
Photography
The most important parameter when choosing a camera phone, because most users take photos.
Xperia XZ Premium test shots.
Test the speed of the autofocus when taking pictures:
I was forced to conduct an autofocus test by Sasha Zhuravlev's video, where he scolded the Xperia XZ Premium camera for not being able to focus normally when shooting indoors. In that video, everything is really very bad with focus, so I just could not help but run a couple of similar tests.
It turned out that Sasha had done something in the settings. In my tests, the Xperia XZ Premium's camera focuses quickly and flawlessly. The focus of the Xperia XZ Premium camera is tenacious and smart, it can easily track even objects in motion, not like static shooting.
Filming
A less important parameter for most users, but very important for those who like to shoot video on a smartphone. Such people are ready to sacrifice quality in terms of photos, if only video shooting was at the maximum level. So I have collected all possible tests here:
Stationary FHD 30 fps Video Recording Test:
Video recording test FHD 30 fps in motion (stabilization test):
Stationary FHD 60 fps Recording Test:
FHD 60 fps recording test in motion (stabilization test):
4K 30 fps video recording test while still:
The best stabilization quality can only be achieved when recording at FHD 30 fps. In this mode, Active Smart SteadyShot works, just like in Sony action cameras. At 60 fps, the stabilization quality drops significantly.
Slow-mo video
Shooting slow-motion video at 960 fps is the main feature of the Xperia XZ Premium camera. And this is a really cool thing.
I would even say that this is fantastic for modern phones. Who would have thought that telephones would soon learn to shoot as slow as expensive professional cameras. And the first here were exactly Sony.
It should be noted right away that this shooting mode can be used only in clear weather with a normal amount of light, otherwise there will be a lot of obscene noise. There are enough of them in the sun too, but it doesn't matter, considering how cool things can be done at 960 fps.
Here's an example of what I was able to capture while talking with the Xperia XZ Premium. Not a masterpiece, but interesting:
Comparison of cameras Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia X
I think many Xperia enthusiasts will be interested to know how much better the quality of the new Xperia XZ Premium camera based on the IMX400 sensor compared to the previous Sony Xperia flagships based on the IMX300 (Xperia XZ, Xperia X, Xperia Z5 and others).
Especially for the curious, I made a series of comparative photos on the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia X. All pictures were taken in Super Auto mode with a resolution of 19 megapixels and 23 megapixels, respectively.
Comparison is made in series (1,2,3, etc.), in each series first the picture belongs to the Xperia X and second Xperia XZ Premium.
In my opinion, the Xperia XZ Premium displays colors better and does not go wrong with white balance. Write in the comments which pictures you like more.
Conclusion
The Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera is not ideal, but a real breakthrough in the stagnant smartphone market. The Japanese company showed not just an advanced image sensor, but a real innovation. Built-in memory right in the camera and super slow motion video of 960 fps are much cooler than commonplace dual cameras.
But there is a reason to scold the Xperia XZ Premium camera. Sony Mobile was in a hurry and shoved the functionality of the new camera into an outdated interface.
Basically, the Xperia camera app hasn't really changed in over 3 years. You have to do something about this, and the sooner the better. Let's hope that with the Android 8.0 update, Sony's developers won't forget about the new camera app.
Otherwise, the Xperia XZ Premium's camera definitely deserves respect. It is a top-tier photography tool with good video capabilities. Excellent electronic stabilization, slow-mo 960 fps - what else do you need?
Sony Xperia XZ Premium is perhaps the main novelty of the MWC, which the manufacturer focused on during his small press conference. This smartphone has received a number of advanced technologies that have not yet been available on the mobile device market. Whether all technical innovations are needed and whether they will be justified in the process of use is difficult to say. Nevertheless, we saw a truly breakthrough device, ready to compete in the premium segment, at least in terms of progressive hardware.
"Not like all strangers, but the same as your own." This is exactly what comes to mind when looking at the new Xperia XZ Premium, because its design is based on the updated concept of the Glass Loop Surface - the same shapes first introduced in the Xperia XZ, but now with the use of slightly different materials. The front and back surfaces are covered with a new generation of Gorilla Glass 5, while the frame itself is made of aluminum.
This, in our humble opinion, has a positive effect on the appearance and tactile sensations. But the large sides and not small dimensions caused a flurry of indignation among the inhabitants. The case is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP68 standard. There are two color options to choose from: Shiny Chrome and Deep Black.
In the captivity of iron, everything is much more interesting. I want to start with a 5.5-inch 4K HDR display with Ultra HD resolution (3840x2160 pixels at 801ppi). Unlike a similar matrix in the Xperia Z5 Premium, the new screen has been improved using some of the technologies used in BRAVIA TVs. The manufacturer notes the optimization of the screen for an even sharper, more saturated picture, improved noise reduction technology and the benefits of HDR for equalizing contrast and exposure.
The next parameter, which was emphasized, is the main camera, or rather its hardware component. Here, Sony, as always, has enough innovations, the potential is huge, but whether it will be revealed is a different question.
In fact, we have a 1 / 2.3 ”19 Megapixel Exmor RS sensor with G Lens, f / 2.0 aperture with familiar technologies: predictive hybrid autofocus, laser focusing, infrared sensor and 5-axis digital stabilization Steady Shot. However, the camera module itself is dubbed "Motion Eye" with its own memory module and a fast intelligent image processor with motion detection. Thanks to this, the smartphone can shoot video at a rate of up to 960 frames per second - the best indicator among smartphones on the market.
No less sudden was the use of the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset in the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, which, according to rumors, was supposed to appear for the first time in the Galaxy S8. What can we say - the 8-core monster, made by 10nm technological process, demonstrates wild performance, is more optimized in terms of power consumption, and has an X16 gigabit modem.
The volume of RAM is 4 GB, the capacity of the internal high-speed UFS-drive is 64 GB, and both in the version with one SIM-card and in the Xperia XZ Premium Dual SIM, there is the possibility of expanding the volume by means of a microSD memory card. The battery capacity in dry numbers is not very impressive - 3230 mAh, although one of the decisive factors of autonomy is the optimization of the hardware and software. It's interesting to see the battery endurance tests. There is support for Quick Charge 3.0, Qnovo technology, Battery Care, energy-saving STAMINA technology. At the time of release, the smartphone runs on Android 7.1 Nougat.
Main technical characteristics of Sony Xperia XZ Premium:
- Physical dimensions: 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm, 195 grams
- Display technologies: 5.5-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels, 801 ppi, 4K HDR, TRILUMINOS, X-Reality, 600 nits, Gorilla Glass 5
- Main camera: 19-megapixel 1 / 2.3 ”ExmorRS sensor, Motion Eye, f / 2.0 wide-angle lens, predictive hybrid autofocus, laser focus, infrared sensor, 5-axis Steady Shot stabilization, 4K video recording, video recording with a frequency of 960fps
- Front camera: 13-megapixel 1 / 3.06 "Exmor RS sensor, f / 2.0 aperture, autofocus.
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with 8 cores (4 x 45 GHz Kryo and 4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo) and Adreno 540 video chip
- RAM: 4 GB
- Internal memory: 64 GB UFS, microSD slot (cards up to 256 GB)
- Battery: built-in, 3230 mAh, fast charging Quick Charge 3.0, STAMINA
- Connections: A-GPS and GLONASS, Wi-Fi (802.11a / b / g / n / ac), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, USB Type-C 3.1
- Network: GSM / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS / HSPA + / LTE cat9
- Audio: LDAC, DSEE HX, High-Resolution Audio, Clear Audio +, S-Force Front Surround
- Protection of the case against water and dust IP65 / 68
- Version for one and two SIM cards nanoSIM format
- Fingerprint scanner in the power button
- Android 7.1 out of the box
Sony's last few flagships have been pretty good, as they say. They could be submerged in water, shot well and were as powerful as competitors. Despite this, the devices did not become popular. This year's Xperia lineup has a somewhat brilliant flagship - the XZ Premium (a sequel to the Z5 Premium that launched in 2015). Several of its features and capabilities, on paper, are vastly superior to those of the top rivals. Let's figure out how noticeable the difference is in real use.
Package contents and first impressions
Fans of unboxing have almost nothing to do here, because the flagship gadget comes in the most ordinary box with a couple of Xperia logos. The smartphone comes with a cable and charger. Alas, we only got the device itself and the cable, and the power supply was missing.
What's really unusual is the smartphone itself. We had a "mirror" version. Absolutely everyone who saw the device for the first time noted the shiny case. The manufacturer has clearly achieved a certain WOW effect. The second thing that is immediately noticeable is that the device will be clean only after the box. And it quickly gets boring to maintain it in its original form. In everyday use, it will almost always be covered with fingerprints and small specks from the pockets.
Design and usability
Every year it becomes more and more boring task to describe Sony smartphones, because their appearance practically does not change. Yes, the arrangement of individual elements differs from model to model, but only avid fans of the brand will be able to notice these changes. Otherwise, absolutely nothing new. And nevertheless, the gadget looks, in my opinion, worthy. In addition to the "mirror" version, there are classic black and pink colors for the case.
XZ Premium consists of three main materials: the front and back panels are glass (Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides), the upper and lower parts are made of aluminum, and the sides are plastic. At the same time, it cannot be said that it all looks bad or has assembly flaws. Practicality is another matter. After all, the device is quite large and slippery. I don't really want to cover it with a cover, but it still doesn't hurt to keep it safe. True, in this case, and without this, a large smartphone will become even larger. After all, its dimensions are: 156 × 77 × 7.9 mm, and its weight is 191 grams. Globally, these are the dimensions of the level, and the diagonals of the displays are the same - 5.5 inches.
Aesthetes who love neat corners and inconspicuous frames were clearly not trying to please. While the sides still fit nicely into the palm of your hand, the lower polished edges on the metal are quite sharp. While most manufacturers are trying to make the bezels around the display smaller, Sony has followed in Apple's footsteps and has been generous with the display wrapper. But this made it possible to place front-facing stereo speakers, which also do not overlap when watching videos or playing games.
The manufacturer scored twice with the buttons. Firstly, the fingerprint scanner is located in the power key, which is located on the side. This is a very unusual solution, because almost all other manufacturers have placed the sensor either on the "back" or under the display. In addition, the option is not the most convenient, but you can get used to it, especially since the scanner itself works fine. Secondly, Sony still has a two-way button to control the camera. It's hard to say how much better this option is than just tapping the screen, but it's nice to have a choice. All other controls are located in familiar places and you won't have to look for them for a long time.
Not the most comfortable edges from the bottom and from the top are not felt in the best way in the hands. And the size of the smartphone is such that it is not convenient to put it in every pocket. The case is also not practical, because it is very easily soiled, and I would not like to check its impact resistance. There is moisture resistance (IP65 / 68), but you cannot completely immerse the gadget under water, although it should survive the rain without any problems.
Display
The Xperia XZ Premium could fit a larger screen, but Sony opted for a 5.5-inch matrix. And the main thing in it is the resolution, which reaches a value of 4K (3840 × 2160 pixels), while the pixel density is an impressive 800 dpi. The XZ Premium display does show a very clear picture, but in my opinion, if it were Full HD, it wouldn't make a big difference. But it is important to note that the entire interface, applications, photos and videos are redrawn (upscaled) to 4K resolution. This is an important difference from which, on the contrary, the interface and programs were redirected for Full HD, and the maximum resolution was available only for video.
In addition, the XZ Premium has HDR support (along with TRILUMINOS Display and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer technologies) for enhanced picture quality. If earlier with Sony matrices it made sense to change the color display settings, now there is no such need. The picture is not cold, slightly warmer than normal by eye. And even with that, compared to other well-calibrated screens, I don't want to change anything. And if necessary, in the settings you can choose a preset with a gamut or "tweak" RGB. Subjectively, the standard display mode is very good and requires no intervention.
Likewise, the Xperia XZ Premium display has enough backlighting for all situations. What's more, the light sensor works perfectly. During the time spent with the smartphone, there was never a desire to tighten the backlight. There are no complaints about the sensor either. Probably the only thing missing was the "evening" mode, which would reduce the display of shades of blue. This function is already available in many, even inexpensive devices, and in a premium smartphone you already expect to get this out of the box.
Sound
As previously mentioned, the Xperia XZ Premium is equipped with dual speakers. They are not very suitable for listening to music, however, they sound loud enough. But for watching videos, they are more than enough: the sound is directed at the user from two sides, because of the wide bezels, there is no problem with overlap and distortion. For music, you still have to use headphones. For example, my Ultimate Ears with a smartphone sound great, even playing regular mp3 files.
Of course, the device is also well suited for conversations. Since the conversational speaker is one of the two main ones, you can hear the interlocutor without much effort. The microphone transmits a little more noise than we would like, but there is nothing critical about that.
Hardware platform and software
Inside the Xperia XZ Premium everything is as it should be: an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with Adreno 540 video. The amount of RAM is 4 GB, and a 64 GB drive can be supplemented with a memory card up to 256. However, if you need to use two SIM-cards, you will have to be content built-in storage only. But the performance today is, one might say, top-end.
The tests already show such values that there is simply no point in comparing with something. Flagship devices are really powerful and it becomes difficult to load them if the software works as it should. In the case of the Xperia XZ Premium, the impressions were only positive. From simple applications to jumping from games to messengers and back, everything is easy for a smartphone. It doesn't even get very hot at the same time. Naturally, I really liked using such a device.
The test device has Android 7.1.1 installed with an almost stock interface, which is complemented by only a few add-ons from Sony. These are pre-installed branded applications for news and multimedia, as well as system search, which can be invoked by swiping down on the desktop.
In general, the device works almost perfectly. The interface renders without visible hiccups, and the animation seems to be even faster than it should be. On the other hand, when compared with the top-end gadgets of other manufacturers, then there is nothing supernatural in the XZ Premium, the performance and available "software" do not beat the rivals in any way. Today, almost all top models are fast.
Autonomy
The Xperia XZ Premium has a 3230 mAh battery. During the use of the device, it withstood a day of work without any problems. Even with long journeys and the included navigator, the smartphone confidently lasted until the night with a small reserve of charge. The operating time of the screen was 5.5 hours a day.
In the PCMark test, the result is very good - 8 hours and 17 minutes. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to find out how long it takes to fully charge from the complete charger. But given the support for QuickCharge 3.0, it can be assumed that it would not have had to wait long. And in case there are no power outlets nearby, Sony still has STAMINA power saving modes: normal and ultra, which will not only slightly limit the processor, but will completely leave access to a few applications and turn off everything except cellular communication.
Xperia XZ Premium cameras
Another feature that sets the Xperia XZ Premium apart from the rest is the camera. And if the resolution of the sensors is hardly surprising (19 MP went to the main camera and 13 - to the front one), then the ability to make slow motion videos at a speed of 960 FPS sounds impressive. But let's start in order.
The main camera of the Xperia XZ Premium initially captures images in 17MP resolution with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. Photos are excellent during the day. Reviewing them on a large monitor is a pleasure. Individual shots come out very colorful and clear. But it's better to make sure of the result on site, the sensor, for example, can overexpose the sky. Despite the fact that the camera is really very fast (as promised on) and has a 5-axis stabilizer, it does not always succeed in taking a clear shot, especially if there are moving objects. In the evening, the number of rejects in the pictures increases, which is due to the work of autofocus, and indoors under artificial lighting, the white balance is not always correctly determined.
But this is not the most interesting, because the Xperia XZ Premium camera can not only record 4K video and rather smooth Full HD at 60 frames, but shoot very slow-motion video at a recording speed of 960 frames / sec in 720p resolution. The only limitation is that you literally have to catch the moment to slow down. The principle is as follows: choose a mode, start recording, and at the right moment press the slowdown button. After that, the recording will have a 6 second slo-mo. Slow-motion video is recorded for 0.182 seconds, which is limited by the memory of the camera module itself, without the latter Sony would not have been able to realize a recording speed of 960 FPS, the company calls this technology Motion Eye. Wherein for the recording itself, a good light source is simply necessary, otherwise the video will be dark and noisy.
An example of Full HD video recording during the day:
An example of recording Full HD video in the evening:
Example of 4K video recording:
Slow motion example:
The front camera resolution of the Xperia XZ Premium is slightly higher than what is installed in some of the top competitors' gadgets as the main sensor. The camera misses only when it starts to get dark. Then the frame may come out blurry. Therefore, a selfie can sometimes take more than one attempt. Otherwise, the front-facing camera did not disappoint.
The camera app is easy to use. It is not oversaturated with different settings. Mode change and switching between cameras is carried out with simple swipes. The main thing is that the program starts almost instantly and you are immediately ready to shoot. It's pretty cool. Traditionally, there was a mode of augmented reality with a dinosaur and other things.
Specifications
19MP (1 / 2.3-inch Exmor RS, 1.22μm pixel pitch, Tri-Sensor Technology, Predictive Hybrid AF, 960fps Super Slow Motion Video, Predictive Shooting, Quick Start & Capture (0 , 5 sec.), Distortion-compensated shutter, ISO 12800/4000 (video), HDR stills, acclaimed 25mm wide-angle Sony G Lens with F2.0 aperture, 8x digital zoom, technology BIONZ image processing, SteadyShot video stabilization technology with smart active mode (5-axis IS), 13 MP (1 / 3.06-inch Exmor RS sensor, 22mm wide-angle lens with F2.0 aperture, ISO 6400 (still) / 1600 ( Video), SteadyShot video stabilization technology with smart active mode (5-axis stabilization) Fingerprint recognition DSEE HX audio enhancement technology Improved Bluetooth streaming Noise canceling technology SF orce Front Surround 3D sound field. Automatic optimization technology analyzes the type of headphone. Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) simulates the surround sound experience in headphones. Clear Audio + function. Equalizer. Clear Bass. Xperia Activities helps you keep your to-do list shorter. Smart Cleaner technology for efficient performance. Calculation of the charge level. Qnovo Adaptive Charging Technology. Battery Care function. Track battery health in real time. Remote Play PS4.The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is one of the most exciting and innovative smartphones of 2017. We can say with confidence that only two market players - Samsung and Apple, which will be announced in the fall - can surpass the new mobile device from the Japanese. But both will have to seriously strain!
After receiving the device for testing, we were able to quickly evaluate it and wrote. Let's recall the main details of this article.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium continues the line of XZ devices, being the super flagship, and at the same time the successor to the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, which you can review. Key specs in the XZ Premium come from the latter - a 5.5-inch 4K display, dust and water resistance, an overall design, and a mirrored back. True, the XZ Premium has pumped something up: for example, the screen here is not just 4K, it also supports HDR technology.
The Xperia XZ Premium comes in three colors:
Shining Chrome - with a fully mirrored backdrop. It was this version that came to us for the test.
Deep Black is a stricter darker version, the back surface of which can also catch reflections.
"Pink Bronze" is the color that appeared in the line later than the others. A bronze metallic overflow is hidden under the transparent glass.
The appearance of the Xperia XZ Premium continues Sony's design philosophy, which has evolved from generation to generation. The Japanese have brought the design of the XZ Premium to perfection: rounded side edges and ends, repeating with their outlines the USB Type-C connector, keys in the body color and a fingerprint scanner in the Power button. The appearance is entirely subordinated to the idea of a rounded rectangle: speakers, buttons, a plug for SIM-cards and microSD, a power button, a flash and focusing unit in the camera. The only exception is the standard 3.5 mm jack.
Taking a look at the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, you understand that this is exactly how a modern smartphone should look: solid and monolithic. The design drawbacks are large frames around the display, but this is a price to pay for the dust and moisture resistance of the device.
Note that the back surface of the smartphone is not completely mirrored: there is a Motion Eye camera unit, an Xperia logo and an NFC tag. But nothing prevents you from seeing your reflection and, by the way, using this chip to create better selfies: after all, no matter how good the front camera is, it unconditionally loses the main one.
So, we smoothly moved on to the Motion Eye camera unit, which is equipped with the Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone, as well as the updated flagship Sony Xperia XZs.
The Motion Eye is a completely new camera unit that houses a 19 megapixel Sony Exmor RS (IMX400) sensor. The physical size of the sensor is 1 / 2.3 ”, and the aperture of the Sony G Lens is F2.0. The equivalent focal length of the main camera is 25 mm.
The camera uses SteadyShot electronic stabilization, well proven in previous generations, and predictive autofocus. But the most interesting thing is that the new sensor is equipped with built-in, or stack, memory. This solution is used in one-inch sensor and full-frame sensor hot new items. If in cameras memory is used to increase the speed of continuous shooting, then in a smartphone, Sony engineers came up with another chip - super slow-motion video recording and predictive photo shooting.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium records videos in HD resolution. This records 0.184 seconds at 960 frames per second and converts to 5.9 seconds of real time. That is, the Sony Xperia XZs and XZ Premium smartphones allow you to record videos with 32x slowdown. This is beyond the power of not only ordinary smartphones, but also most cameras on the market.
Also a new feature of the Motion Eye camera is predictive shooting. The smartphone starts taking pictures even before pressing the shutter button if it detects movement in the frame. It can be someone's sharp turn, a restless child or a puppy. As a result, you can get not one, but four pictures and choose the best one.
