Sony has launched its uber flagship Xperia XZ Premium and it has as more new-tech packed into the 5.5” glass slab that any other to date.
This $1,099 smartphone definitely comes with the 2017 tech goodies – Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 5.5” 4K Triluminous, 16:9 screen, Cat 16 gigabit LTE, USB 3.1, Gorilla Glass 5, IP68, 19MP triple image motion eye sensor, Hi-Res audio, a 3.5mm audio jack and Nougat 7.1. It ticks every box!
“Xperia XZ Premium is our most technologically capable smartphone ever and we’re thrilled that the product will be ranged across all Australian carriers, major retailer JB Hi-Fi, as well as direct through Sony,” said John Featherstone, Managing Director of Sony Mobile Oceania.
“Perfectly suited to the Australian way of life and our love of photography, the new Motion Eye camera technology has once again proven that Sony Mobile is at the forefront of smartphone technology. From 960fps Super slow-motion playback, Predictive capture, to 4K HDR display; we are proud to introduce many world’s first hero features. With the Xperia XZ Premium, we offer our users a truly unique and personalised experience like no other," he added.
{loadposition ray}
Enough of the hype – Sony has done what Sony needed to do and that is come up with an outright winner at a price that is attractive too – especially as the Apple and Samsung flagships cost about 35-50% more and offer, in reality, no more.
My only minor negative comment is that the 68.4% screen to body ratio caused by the huge top and bottom bezels lessens the visual appeal over phones that are achieving 75% or more. To its credit it follows the Sony visual style cues well – I wonder when we will see an 18:9 version like Samsung, LG and Apple (rumoured).
As this is really just a very preliminary first look I have put the specifications and comments in a table. iTWire will be reviewing this very soon.
|
Sony XZ Premium |
||
|
Models |
8141 Single Sim/dedicated microSD 8141 8142 Dual Sim - second slot doubles as microSD |
Telcos are demanding single sim models |
|
Screen |
5.46”, 4K, 3840 x 2160, 807ppi, IPS, TriLuminous colour, HDR10, Gorilla Glass 5 front and back |
Sony uses the best quality IPS LED screen and HDR10 movie support is great. However, AMOLED is fast becoming mandatory on a flagship class device. Note: defaults to HD when not playing 4K content. No mention of VR |
|
STBR |
68.4% screen to body ratio |
Manifested by larger top and bottom bezels and the soft keys still eat into the screen area. |
|
IP rating |
IP68 6 = No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust tight). A vacuum must be applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on air flow. 8 = The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water up to 1.5m for 30 minutes |
Matches Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Plus and LG G6. Even so, an external bumper case and glass screen protector are recommended. |
|
Processor |
Qualcomm 835, eight-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) and Adreno 540 GPU |
The best you can get. In independent tests, it was amongst the fastest flagships so far generally coming just under the Samsung GS8 Exynos chip. |
|
RAM Storage microSD |
4GB 64GB To 256GB, OTG to 2TB external devices |
As expected |
|
Camera Rear |
19MP 1/2.3” IMX400 ExmorRS mobile 25mm focal length, f/2.0 Sony G lens “Motion Eye” predictive capture 1.22 µm pixels and ISO 12800 HDR, 960fps upper slow-mo Steady Shot (gyro 5-axis) Predictive phase detection and laser autofocus 4K at 30fps recording Single LED flash |
On paper, this is a winner and I will be interested to see how mobile eye and predictive capture works. While the pixels are larger they are not up to the 1.4 µm of Samsung’s GS8 and the f/2.0 lens is behind its f/1.7. Google Pixel has the class leading camera at 1.5 µm! However I anybody can get a camera right its Sony. Not sure if Steady Shot is optical or electronic image stabilisation – suspect the latter and it work only to HD level |
|
Camera Front |
13MP, 1/3.06” ExmorRS 22mm, f/2.0 wide-angle lens 1.12 µm pixel, ISO 6400 Autofocus Steady Shot 1080p @30fps video record |
Looks good but no mention of screen fill flash |
|
LTE/Bands |
Cat 16 (1Gbps/150Mbps) – bands not specified 3x carrier aggregation |
Assume that it will be a world modem with at least 20 bands |
|
Comms |
Wi-Fi AC dual band 2x2 MU-MIMO Wi-Di and DLNA Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX NFC GPS PS4 connect |
All flagship class |
|
Other |
Fingerprint in right side power button USB 3.1 Gen 1 |
USB-C 3.1 gen 1 means up to 5Gbps data transfer. No MHL video output – casting only |
|
Sound |
High-Resolution Audio (LPCM, FLAC, ALAC, DSD) Clear Audio+ with stereo front facing speakers 3.5mm combo jack Stereo mics and digital noise cancelling |
Nice to see lossless Hi-Res as well as lossy and the 3.5mm jack – a must. |
|
Battery |
3230mAh Qnovo adaptive charging Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (standard 5V/1.5A charger supplied – you have to buy Quick Charge) |
My experience with other Sony X series is that the battery will last all day and when Qnovo and Stamina mode kicks in (adaptive) it may get considerably longer use |
|
OS |
Android 7.1 |
Latest and Sony’s skinning is light |
|
Size Weight |
156 x 77 x 7.9 mm 191g |
This is a big phone. By comparison the Samsung 5.8” S8 is 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm x 155g |
|
Colours |
Luminous Chrome and Deep Sea Black |
Depends on Single and Dual sim and retailer |
|
Carriers / Retailers |
Pricing |
Availability |
Colour |
|
Optus |
$90/month ($85 My Plan Plus with $5 monthly device repayments) Total min. cost over 24 months $2160 |
Online and in-store 23 June |
Deep Sea Black |
|
Virgin Mobile |
$63/month ($13 handset on Virgin Mobile’s $50 Postpaid phone plan, min total cost $1,512 over 24 months) |
Online and in-store 23 June |
Deep Sea Black |
|
Vodafone |
$0 upfront on $80 MyMix Red Data plan. Over 24 months (Total min cost $1920). ^ |
Online and in-store 23 June |
Deep Sea Black |
|
JB Hi-Fi |
A$1,099 RRP |
Pre-order 23 June In-store 4 July |
Luminous Chrome and Deep Sea Black |
|
Sony |
A$1,099 RRP |
Online 23 June In-kiosk 23 June |
Luminous Chrome and Deep Sea Black |
|
Telstra |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
Summary
This is a phone that challenges well in the flagship segment. Given the Sony quality, the price advantage and what could be one of the few Qualcomm 835 handsets you can actually buy now it does offer some compelling reasons to “Please consider – It’s a Sony.”