The Sony Xperia XZ is an Android smartphone manufactured and marketed by Sony.[2] Part of the Xperia X series, the device was announced to the public along with the Xperia X Compact at a press conference held at the annual IFA event on September 1, 2016.[3] The Xperia XZ was first released in Taiwan on September 30, 2016, with worldwide sales starting with the United Arab Emirates on October 1 and the United States the following day; its home country Japan only started sales on November 2, 2016.

Sony Xperia XZ
BrandSony
ManufacturerSony Mobile Communications
TypeSmartphone
SloganCapture without blur
First released30 September 2016; 8 years ago (2016-09-30)
Availability by region30 September 2016; 8 years ago (2016-09-30) (Taiwan)
1 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-01) (United Arab Emirates)
2 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-02) (United States)
6 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-06) (United Kingdom)
7 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-07) (Hong Kong)
10 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-10) (India)
13 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-13) (Brazil)
15 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-15) (Singapore)
20 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-20) (Australia)
27 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-27) (Thailand)
2 November 2016; 8 years ago (2016-11-02) (Japan)
18 November 2016; 8 years ago (2016-11-18) (Philippines)
PredecessorSony Xperia X
SuccessorSony Xperia XZ1
RelatedSony Xperia XZs
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Compatible networksHSPA, GSM & LTE
Form factorSlate
Dimensions146 mm (5.7 in) H
72 mm (2.8 in) W
8.1 mm (0.32 in) D
Weight161 g (5.7 oz)
Operating systemAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow (launch)
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 8.0.0 Oreo (current)
System-on-chipQualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996
CPUQuad-core (dual 2.15 GHz + dual 1.6 GHz) 64-bit Kryo processor
GPUAdreno 530
Memory3 GB RAM
Storage32 GB (Single SIM)
64 GB (Dual SIM)
Removable storagemicroSDXC; expandable up to 256 GB
BatteryNon-removable Li-ion 2900 mAh
Rear camera23 MP 1/2.3" Exmor RS for mobile sensor, BIONZ, RGBC-IR, Laser AF, Predictive Hybrid AF, Quick launch, 5x Clear Image Zoom, 24mm Wide Angle G Lens F2.0
4K (2160p) video recording @ 30 fps, 1080p@60fps
Front camera13 MP 1/3.06" Exmor RS for mobile sensor, with Quick launch and 22mm Wide Angle Lens F2.0
Display5.2 in (130 mm) 1080p IPS LCD
Full HD 1920x1080 px TRILUMINOS Display for mobile with X-Reality for mobile and Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
ConnectivityWi-Fi
NFC
DLNA
GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou
Bluetooth 4.2
USB 2.0 (Type-C port, USB charging, Quick Charge 3.0)
USB OTG
1seg (SO-01J, SOV34 and 601SO models only)
Osaifu-Keitai (SO-01J, SOV34 and 601SO models only)
Data inputsMulti-touch, capacitive touchscreen, proximity sensor
ModelSingle SIM: F8331, SO-01J (NTT DoCoMo), SOV34 (au by KDDI), 601SO (SoftBank Mobile)
Dual SIM: F8332
CodenameKagura
WebsiteOfficial Website
References[1]

The device is described by Expert Reviews as the "true successor" of the Xperia Z5[4] and the whole Xperia Z series, and was succeeded Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia X Performance as Sony's flagship.[5] It is succeeded by the Xperia XZs and the flagship Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

It is also one of the first smartphones manufactured by Sony to utilize USB-C connectivity for charging and data transfer.[6] Compared to its predecessors, the rear camera of the Xperia XZ now has laser autofocus, a first for Sony, built-in alongside the hybrid contrast/phase detection autofocus also found on the previous flagship. It also the first Sony device to sport an RGBC-IR color sensor to assist the image sensor in capturing accurate colors, temperature and white balance[7] and the first smartphone to feature a five-axis digital image stabilization system for capturing blur-free photos and videos.[8] The phone also has an IP68 rating, with it being dust and water resistant.

Specifications

edit

Hardware

edit
 
Xperia XZ in Platinum with Style Cover Touch SCTF10

The Xperia XZ's design consists of 3 different materials that seamlessly blend together in what Sony calls "Loop Surface": a nylon frame, scratch-resistant front glass and an aluminium alloy metal back. The rear cover of the device is made from an aluminium alloy marketed as ALKALEIDO, a trademark by Kobe Steel,[9] specifically engineered to complement the smartphone's premium design with a material "that has an extra shine and a feeling of depth".[10] The device's front side is covered in Gorilla Glass to protect it from scratches and high drops. Also up front are dual front-firing stereo speakers, one on top along with the front selfie camera, ambient light and proximity sensors and notification LED, and the other one at the bottom bezel.

The Xperia XZ's dimensions are 146 mm (5.7 in) in height, with a width of 72 mm (2.8 in) and a depth of 8.1 mm (0.32 in) and weighs approximately 161 g (5.7 oz).[11] The device brings back the 5.2 in (130 mm) 1080p IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 424 ppi that started with the Xperia Z2 but with a brand new panel, featuring Sony's TRILUMINOS™ display and X-Reality for mobile technology.[12] It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) chipset with 4 custom Kryo processors (2 × 2.15 GHz and 2 × 1.6 GHz), 3 GB of RAM and relies on the Adreno 530 clocked at 624 MHz for graphics rendering.[13] The device also has an internal storage of 32 GB for the single-SIM variant and 64 GB for the dual-SIM variant, both with microSD card expansions up to 256 GB (in a hybrid slot for the dual-SIM variant).

The Xperia XZ antennas support up to a maximum of LTE Category 9[14] speeds with a maximum theoretical downlink speed of 450-500 Mbit/s using 3CA, excluding the SOV34 model whose maximum theoretical downlink 3CA speed is limited to maximum 370 Mbit/s.[15]

Connectivity and Features

edit

Unlike some recently released smartphones from competing brands, the Xperia XZ doesn't abandon the standard 3.5 mm audio jack in favor of wireless substitutes. It does, however, have LDAC, an audio coding technology developed by Sony,[16] that enables the transmission of 24bit/96 kHz High-Resolution (Hi-Res) audio content over Bluetooth at up to 990 kbit/s, three times faster than conventional audio streaming codecs, to compatible audio devices. It also has the standard set of connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.2 LE with aptX, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA and hotspot, GPS and A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS. Like its predecessors, it has an IP rating of IP68, making the Xperia XZ dust proof and water resistant for over 1.5 meters and 30 minutes under water.[17] The device also feature a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button that can be used to unlock the phone and secure it from unauthorized access. This feature is disabled by default in the US.[18]

Battery

edit

The Xperia XZ is powered by a non-removable 2900 mAh battery, with a USB-C connector for charging and data transfer, one of the first two Sony smartphones to have one, the other one being the Xperia X Compact. It has QuickCharge 3.0 support and Qnovo adaptive charging technology built-in. This allows the device to monitor the cell's electrochemical processes in real time and adjust charging parameters accordingly to minimize cell damage and extend the battery cell's lifespan.[19] It also comes with Battery Care, a Sony proprietary feature, that controls the charging process of the phone by learning and recognizing the user's charging patterns, preventing the phone from damaging the battery's cells from excessive heat due to overcharging. For example, when charging overnight, Battery Care stops the initial charge to 90 percent and then continue charging until full where it left off the next day.[19][6]

Camera

edit

The rear camera of the Xperia XZ features a new multi-aspect 24.8 MP Sony Exmor RS image sensor, officially named as Sony IMX300.[20] Similar to the Xperia Z5 series, the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance, it has 23 megapixels with a sensor size of 1/2.3 inch and a f/2.0 aperture. Sony introduces the Triple Image Sensing technology with the Xperia XZ, comprised by the Image sensing (CMOS sensor with PDAF), Distance sensing (Laser AF sensor) and Color sensing (RGBC-IR sensor) systems. It features a hybrid autofocus that utilizes phase detection to lock focus on a subject within 0.03 seconds, also same with the Xperia Z5.[21] It also includes phase and contrast detection along with predictive motion tracking, both working together to adjust the right amount of contrast accurately and significantly reduce blur and image shift caused by shaky hands.[22]

The Xperia XZ, for the first time, includes a laser autofocus sensor alongside the hybrid/PDAF in tracking and locking focus on an object faster than regular autofocus modes, and an RGBC-IR (RedGreenBlueClear-InfraRed) color sensor that assists the white balance function of the camera by providing additional data about the light conditions of the environment, thus improving the color accuracy of the image.[22] It also has an upgraded SteadyShot with Intelligent Auto in addition to the 5-axis image stabilization. The front selfie camera has a 13-megapixel sensor with 22 mm and 90-degree wide-angle lens, making it the highest-resolution front-facer on a flagship Sony device.[23][24]

The device also has 4K resolution video recording capabilities like the Xperia Z5.[17] Similar to the Sony α7 II camera, the Xperia XZ features five-axis digital image stabilization, a first for a smartphone, that helps in producing smooth video with less camera shake and improved image quality in low light environments.[8] This technology improves the image and video produced by detecting camera shake, such as angular motion consisting of pitch and yaw, shift shakes which consists of X and Y axis shifts and (rotational shake) by correcting the effects detected, shifting the lens to reduce visible image blur and shift shake.[22][25][26]

Software

edit

The Sony Xperia XZ launches with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, with Sony's custom interface and software. On December 1, 2016, along with the Xperia X Performance and a few other Xperia devices, Sony announced that the Xperia XZ would receive an update to Android 7.0 Nougat. Just a day after, the Android 7.0 update has officially rolled out.[27][28][29]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Product Specifications". sonymobile.com. Sony Mobile Communications Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  2. ^ Daniel P. (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ lands with Snapdragon 820, enhanced camera, USB-C". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  3. ^ Edgar Cervantes (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact announced at IFA 2016". androidauthority.com. Android Authority. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ^ Katharine Byrne (5 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ review: Fast, gorgeous – and flawed". Expert Reviews. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Sony Xperia XZ, The First Flagship In The X Series". SonymobileBlog. 31 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b Vlad Savov (1 September 2016). "Sony throws all its mobile eggs into the camera basket with new Xperia XZ flagship". The Verge. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  7. ^ Ray S (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ hands-on: back to awesomeness". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  8. ^ a b Sam Rutherford (1 September 2016). "Meet the First Phone Camera with 5-Axis Image Stabilization". Tom's Guide. Purch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  9. ^ "ALKALEIDO Trademark - Serial Number 86869557 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  10. ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - Hardware overview". GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  11. ^ Luis D (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ – specs review". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  12. ^ James Peckham (1 September 2016). "Hands on: Sony Xperia XZ review". Techradar. Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  13. ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review". GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  14. ^ https://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-xz/specifications/
  15. ^ "Xperia(エクスペリア) XZ au SOV34 | 仕様 | Xperia(エクスペリア)公式サイト". www.sonymobile.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  16. ^ "Sony Global - LDAC™: High quality wireless listening". Sony Global. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  17. ^ a b Chris Fernando (1 September 2016). "Preview: Sony Xperia XZ". PC Mag Middle East. ZiffDavis, LLC. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  18. ^ Maurizio Pesce (2 September 2016). "Sony's New Xperia Phones Have Big OI' Camera, Meh Specs". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  19. ^ a b GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - Sony Xperia XZ battery life". GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  20. ^ Kaloyan (1 September 2016). "Sony unveils Xperia XZ flagship and Xperia X Compact". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  21. ^ Chris Halls (2 September 2015). "Sony Xperia Z5 camera: Sample image and new tech explained". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  22. ^ a b c Chris Halls (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ camera: New tech explained". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  23. ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - 13MP selfie camera". GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  24. ^ Chris Smith (1 September 2016). "A challenger for the iPhone 7? Sony's brand new Xperia smartphones come with top cameras". BGR. BGR Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  25. ^ Simon Crisp (20 November 2014). "Sony reveals the α7 II with 5-axis image stabilization". News Atlas. GIZMAG PTY LTD. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  26. ^ Rod Lawton (27 November 2014). "Sony α7 II 5-axis stabilisation: how it works". Techradar. Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Android Nougat arrives on the Xperia XZ". Xperia Blog. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  28. ^ "Starting our Android 7.0, Nougat rollout for Xperia XZ & Xperia X Performance". Sony Mobile Blog. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  29. ^ Chris Loterina (2 December 2016). "Android 7.0 Nougat Update For Sony Xperia XZ Now Launching". Tech Times. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
edit