*Time codes for my mobile viewers!* 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Why I like the design (0:43) 3. Why I like the performance (3:02) 4. My Favorite software feature (5:35) 5. What I like about the camera (7:56) 6. My favorite feature & why (8:57) 7. Jon & I having way too much fun with our new mattress (13:08) 8. What I'm not happy with (14:58) 9. The biggest down point FOR ME (16:24) 10. Conclusions (17:47)
Please do a similar video on HTC U11 and OnePlus 5. Also, include the battery life and the price of the device in your video for consumers to have an idea about what they would be paying/not paying for these features.
People criticize other manufacturers for copying each others design yet when Sony stick to their own design language they complain ! This phone is the best of this years flagships! Performance wise this is better than S8 and G6 !
About 4 years ago I have been looking for a new phone and your review is the video that convinced me to buy Xperia Z Ultra. It has been four years, I have switched to HTC 10 and to iPhone 7 Plus, but I still can't stop myself from throwing the Z Ultra into my bag whenever I go out, so you have - effectively - sold me a phone that became my all-time favourite. I have been considering selling the iPhone to buy XZ Premium and and your video is what have pushed me over the edge, I'm getting this monster. Thank you!
I've had Z Ultra and I loved it. I sold it later for almost the same price as I bought it for, then I got Z5 premium, which is/was great, but now I have XZ premium and this one really kicks ass :)
Erica saying that the XZP has her favorite display of the year (so far) is a pretty big deal. I also agreed with pretty much all of Erica's criticisms. I really think that Sony needs to overhaul their Camera app and image processing. They also need to let us shoot in RAW format for those of us that want to. Doesn't matter if it's DNG or ARW files. Sony's design philosophy is pretty divisive, but I really like it. It's straight lines, sharp corners and gently sloping sides are textbook Japanese design. It reminds me a ton of the old film SLRs from Nikon and Olympus from the 70s. They should try to slim down the bezels just a bit though.
TheHermitArcana agreed. All phones want to be curvy nowadays, so Xperia is kinda one of a kind. People said Sony doesn't change the design. Well, they did. The curvy Xperia X, X Performance, XA and XA Ultra were disasters.
iWindowz sorry I meant rounded corners lol. Yeah but people didn't really notice them at all eventhough the DxOMark for X Performance is higher than XZ. Too bad.
Joshua Del Castillo the phone is probably the fastest I've used till now be it ganing, browsing or anything. The look in luminous chrome colour is killer! Camera is sony's best till date. The only drawbacks are that you can't shoot 960fps videos indoor as it needs good lighting conditions and indoor lights cause flickering of videos and I am tired of searching good cases for phones and using it without any case. If anyone can manage this above 2 issues this phone is a monster 😍
I've heard that the phone has some sort of "Charging Battery save" feature? Where you charge it at night and it only reaches 100% in the morning to save it's battery in the overall run. During the daytime does it just charge quickly? I can't find a solid video using a quickcharger.
I've had this phone for a month now, and I have a few notes to add to yours: 1. Under the performance segment I would highlight the browser performance as a positive that stands out. Its so fast that sometimes, ESPECIALLY if I compare it with others, its so fast that I'm seriously wondering how the hell Sony managed to accomplish it. xD 2. The fingerprint sensor performs better then the HTC 10 I had previously, especially if my fingers are wet. And it being a waterproof phone, this is great! However, isn't it so that the fingerprint reader doesn't work in the USA? Due to a patent or copyrights issue. I'm pretty sure on that. 3. My only real complaint with the phone has been camera software related; in that 3-5 times in the month I've been using it, the app hasn't launched properly or somethings gone wrong when using the app. Other then that, the camera has been fantastic, and the lack of a rolling shutter effect? MY GOODNESS!
How do you mean? Near the edges like on previous Sony phones? I'd say there is next to none. I haven't notice any to be honest. Let me know if you mean something else then this.
Vandrefalk Glad to hear the positive thought. And regarding about the failing camera apps, what do you mean by that? Like do you get overheating warning, or stuff? Hopefully they'll use a better camera software this time, because this is literally the same camera app as on the Z5 family.
Nono nothing like that. :) Its very rare, I use the camera all the time. It'll just get the uccational hiccup every now and then. Hm. Like, if I start normal video recording but stop it almost immediately, sometimes the camera app won't stop/cancel the recording properly and I'll have to exit the app to use it again. I mean, everything goes so friggin fast on the phone that it doesn't exactly take long, but a software update would be nice non the less. The results from the camera itself I just love, both pictures, videos and yes; that super slow motion. Once you get a hang of the timing, its really easy tbh!
Thank you so much for this review, yes it affected my opinion, now I want to buy it even more!! This is my next phone and finally the worthy successor to my Note 5
Chris G Yes, the Z5 Premium was 'supposedly' 4k resolution and I was super hyped to get it but when I saw it's screen brightness, i was so disappointed.... Super dim!! But the XZ is a different case, look up a video here on Erica's channel, I think it was a 'first impression' video i think, she compared the Z5 premium to the XZ premium displays side by side and the difference was huuuge.... So yeah, don't take the Z5 into consideration to judge the XZ, they really stepped up their game this year..... For me, so far it is going to be the XZ premium or HTC u11.... but i will also wait for the new pixel and iphone then decide
i would get the XZP over 11. The XZP seems like it has the best display on the market the 4k screen really makes a difference. I wonder how it compares to the s8.
I don't care what anyone says... but to me, Sony is the BEST... and so is the design of the phone. Very distinctive compared to all other smartphones on the market. Great review man, you just got another subscriber. Keep it up. : )
@@wilsonherbito9490 I love Sony so much that I have a Sony channel 👍. I shot this short cinematic film with my Sony Xperia 1 II ua-cam.com/video/tBTa0Mv_GY4/v-deo.html
I don't have the issue you get with finger print sensor. Much better recognition accuracy regardless of finger orientation, and fast recognition. This is compare to Samsung S7 and LG G6.
I'm really happy with SONY sticking to their design. People will always complain, either that the design is not original enough or that is outdated. I had a great experience with previous SONY phones and would totally recommend them. Great review Erica :)
Thank god! A reviewer who understands the connection between bezels and ergonomics instead of just going "samsung did away with bezel I don't understand why that's good but you're stupid if you're not jumping on the bandwagon too" . Subscribed!
OMG thank you. I'm not the only one that likes the Sony design for the extra practicality it gives you! ;) Its not like it's actually ugly either, just not following the latest craziness in photogenics over function..
Nitemare3219 what Is ground breaking in your opinion, slimmer bezels like on the s8? shocking some of the things we read on here. This phone remains the only smartphone to date with 4k and hdr and u say it's not groundbreaking but having slimmer bezels or something else which so many other phones share must be groundbreaking.
I own this phone, had it 4 days now, it is amazing, mind-blowing display and performance.Initially I was put off by the need to have such high-res on a small screen, seemed unnecessary but it does make a difference. Ignore those 7/10 reviews that complain about bezzels and old style look n' feel - that's rubbish! The current trend may be towards edgeless display but who cares about that when you have a HDR screen.
7 років тому+4
Coming from years of BlackBerry I opted for the LUMIA 950XL until I learned thay Microsoft was also letting us down. I made my research and opted for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium based on the many reports and reviews. It is my very first experience with Android and after several days of using, testing and abusing it all I can say is that I am totally impressed with its performance. Not a single thing has failed me, except, as a photographer, the camera, even though it is much better that all the other Android cameras, it is no comparison to the amazing camera of the LUMIA 950XL which I will miss. Otherwise, I believe it is a fantastic cell phone. My only sad experience is that the back is extremely slippery and it fell down from my working table "on its own" the very first day (which took me by alarming surprise), but absolutely no damage was done and the phone is still working flawlessly. Thank you Erica for your excellent reviews, of which I am an ardent follower.
I cannot understand why most people hate and dislike this phone... and this phone now received oreo.... And it give s a lot of improvements and its fast....
Yes! One of the few reviewers that still gives Sony some real love!! (other than 5 minute spec reviews). I'm really torn between this, OP5, U11 or just waiting for a Pixel 2. Seeing it already down to only $668 new on Ebay, and $50 off a U11 isn't helping me hold out for the Pixel 2 either :(
Had this phone in chrome a day after it released in UK.... For a £600+ phone... I have no regrets paying that money, it's the best phone I've ever had :) and I've had a lot!
Erica Griffin you forgot to say about Heating issues, that's common in the past Sony Phones, and the quality of Sound tru headphones since it's a Sony phone i hope it's a good music phone
What makes Erica wonderful is her talking. No matter, what phone she Reviews, she gives unbiased explanation, that a common man needs. Other Tech UA-camrs look like Pros but she is actually the *Girl Next Door* *Erica You are Awesome*
I'd just ordered the Sony Xperia XZ Premium today after agonising over leaving the world of iPhones. I was looking for information on set-up and use and found this video. Firstly, this is one of the most informative, concise and well realised reviews of a mobile phone I've seen. Secondly, it affirms that ordering this model phone was a wise decision. Lastly, I wish I'd seen it thus video before beginning my mobile phone journey. Post purchase, I will use this video as a guide for set-up, especially the info on white point, and for general usage. Mucho kudos to Erica!
1. You seemed to complain about the camera's oversharpening, but not so much, or not at all, with low light pictures. Does this mean it's not a bad low light shooter? If so, then I'm getting it. Others may have better low light cameras, but I don't find myself taking low light photos that often. And regarding oversharpening, I wonder if it does wonders in lower resolution 12mp, and if that's a different case with Manual Mode (with settings all in Auto). 2. Thank you so much that you can still appreciate the bezels. People are really nitpicky at times. My phone pretty much has large bezels but I quite ignore them when using the phone. With the stereo speakers, are they really that quiet? Or just that you forget to adjust some audio enhancing settings? I saw the real life speaker test of this phone in Tech Guy Charlie's channel and it was quite loud. And it is front-facing, so it's a huge plus there.
Nitemare3219 Yeah it's not that good, but neither does others do better. S8 is just noise-fres but lacks a lot of details, and same is for the others. Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020 are still the low light champs to be beaten.
Irelia The Will of the Blades Again, it may have that bit more detail, but still nothing in comparison to say the Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020. It's less blurry, but it would be funny if it is, with OIS.
...Not exactly an "Underdog"... XZs are known to have the power and processing speed second only to the Note... Only other handset that comes close this year is the HTC U11, and it's still behind the XZP...
I enjoyed this episode. I hope you keep making more! Personally, I recently (about three weeks ago) bought a Sony phone. But I decided to save some money and (especially as I'm a big-screen fan) I bought the Xperia XA1 Ultra. The performance is obviously not as good as the XZ Premium, but I honestly prefer the XA1 design (with no side bezels at all). And the best part is that the price is almost half that of the XZ Premium! It is an upper-mid-ranger with many of the same good features as the XZ Premium. For example, it has the same great, fast, smooth almost-stock software experience. So if you like big phones (6-inch display size) and want to save some cash, I definitely recommend the Xperia XA1 Ultra!
I've had this phone since release, and I agree with the negative bits about the camera, but I can't say i've ever had the problem with the fingerprint sensor. If anything, i feel like the sensor is doing a hell of a lot better than my old Nexus 6P which i considered to be pretty good originally. Other than that - i'm extremely happy with my fingerprint magnet, i mean... phone.
I have this phone. For the price it was the best bang for buck I could find for an android based phone. Another great feature that really swayed my decision is the HiFi audio. When using HiFi earphones the audio quality is next level awesome. Even if you use regular earphones the audio is by far the best I’ve ever had on any phone. For me a big downside is the lack of time lapse. I shoot time-lapse video all the time and not having it here bummed me out a bit. There is also a caveat to having a 4K screen and it’s this: any video you watch that is below 1080p will look bad. Even 1080p doesn’t look great. It’s just too much upscaling. They really should have added the ability to switch to a 1080p mode as well. Other than that I’m really liking this phone. It’s a bit big for typing so it’s not my daily drive for business but I use it for all my media consumption and web surfing and whatnot.
Just 'upgraded' from z3 to xz premium. Liking it so far. The z3 has always been an amazingly solid phone. And my decision to go to xz premium is based partly on your benchmark tests. Sticking with Sony as I love the utilitarian look of their style.
Just got mine yesterday and i'm well impressed. After i ordered it i began to notice it isn't black at all and far closer to indigo, so i wonder if i ought to have gone with the chrome version instead. The performance is amazing and the screen is as well. The auto-brightness is weird, as had been repeated in numerous reviews. The speaker quality is good and volume (on Oreo) is fine. It isn't as loud as some other SFF speakers, but it is definitely loud enough. The headphone output is superb. The chamfer at the base is less than comfortable in the hand, but the sides are. All in all, i agree with your "hell yes" buy it assessment 😊
I have had this phone for a few months now. Performance is fantastic. Word of warning, get a cover! I dropped my phone a few days after buying it and the back completely cracked. Luckily it's still working.
Honestly, my mind got blown when I looked at the settings menu for sound. You should too, because if you change a few settings, every sound coming out of the XZ Premium will be boosted and even the music will have a way better feel to it.
I have this phone which I swapped a z5 compact for. I also have a galaxy s8+ (personal phone) and I much prefer the XZ premium. The battery like can be improved if you turn off the email syncing to hourly or manual. I find this ties in with GTD theme I am working on too. I get 2 days out of a Charge in the office when the phone is connected to Wi-fi. And about 30 hours when the phone is off Wi-fi. I love the unlock sensor and have not expended the point you made. If you have a Sony data logger or watch this will contribute to the lifelong. Especially the sleep function, walking etc. This the best phone I have had by a county mile even better the the Samsung 8+
I have it for over 1year right now and it`s great. I am working in the mobile communications sector and think it`s still one of the most underrated phones available.
i think the most important thing in a phone is the software software is the thing that make different between a big company phone and a small company phone any company can buy great phone hardware but only a good company can make a software that let those hardware work well
Please do a comparison of this display to the iPhone X. Many tech writers are completely ignoring the only 4K phone which now sells for a reduced $630 here in the U.S. when comparing the best Android phones to the insanely expensive iPhone X. I frankly found the iPhone X display to have lost a great deal of "realism" switching to OLED to the point that I find my V20 LCD to be far more realistic than the yellowy-orangy colors of the iPhone X, V30 and Note 8.
Before, I was always bothered why Sony keeps putting huge top & bottom bezels but after owning the XZ Premium (last Sony was Xperia Pro), I kinda understand the reason. It seems that they meant to use the phone mostly on landscape. Listening / watching / gaming is better on landscape because of the dual speakers & ease to hold because of the space. Yes, sometimes the bezels are too much & I wish that they minimize it like at least 20-30% but hating it because Samsung, Xiaomi, and LG are going to bezeless design is unfair. They are keeping for a reason and not just going with the trend.
Earle Greene you should search for a camera shoot-out between this, the G6 and the S8 over at GSMArena.. they do a very good job showcasing those phone's strengths and weaknesses on the camera department :) it's a long read, but I think it is worth it.. very educational ;)
Earle Greene It does not do as well as 12MP cameras. Too many MP so it goes grainy in low light. That's why so many brands use 12. It's a good compromise between low light and full light performance. But again the Sony camera will destroy others in normal light
I respect you as you are almost the only reviwer on UA-cam that really test the mobiles to the limit, you mentioned the fingerprint scanner issue on last year Xperia z5 premium and also on this new model too! As a user for z5 premium I'm noticing this fingerprint scanner issue on daily basis
Hi, how do you know it has good signal reception? Have you compared it with other phones in an area with poor signal? i think i read somewhere that XZ Premium has 8 mimo antennas. Unfortunately most if not all phone reviews don't test signal reception.As far as I know from 2016 comparison study Samsung S7 has one of the best signal reception, better than Iphone.
I've got one. It's bigger than I thought but I love it and the finger print works every time. Everyone said get a iPhone but I don't like apple there phones are good but it's them. Like on the news media Apple are messing with there updates to slow there older stuff down to keep the battery running longer. Come on who believes that ? SO I went for this one. I love an underdog
Another biggest down point is that services like Android Pay won't work on the ZX Premium because of its stylised ROM. That made me change my mind about buying this phone.
it's funny how every moans about the oneplus 5 uninspired design . Sony never changed the design language of the experia screen is crazy sexy, if they would just squeeze it in a better design they would sell like hot cakes
Sony at least has it's own design, and they where doing very well built good looking waterproof phones for a very long time while samdung had it's shit packed in to a soup holder. The oneplus is a straight ishit 7 plus copy. Other than that that"s a fine phone, just nothing special, copy of last year top(ish) ideas, good spec still reasonable price.
What a lot of reviewers never mention is that Xperia XZ is the last phone that can record binaurally. Using nc31e earphone, that also have active noise cancellation as well as binaural microphones that are very sensitive. If you want better sound, get nc750. Now 4k HDR content is more common even in youtube.
I've been in the exact same situation, Carl. Went for the XZ Premium first, was about to click order, but then.. I kept watching more videos and the more I watched the more I was convinced XZ premium wouldn't be a worthy upgrade package wise. I personally upgraded from LG G4 to U11
I've just discovered your channel whilst searching for reviews on this phone. I subscribed about a week ago but this video is outstanding! The detail you go into impressed me, especially with the white colour settings. I'm holding out for the Note 8 reveal before I buy a new phone but until then this phone was and still is the front runner. Awesome work, please keep it up 👍
Erica, thank you for talking about the camera distortion. I have the chrome one and I agree with almost everything you said, except the fingerprint. For me it's 99.9 accurate, the only thing I hate about it is that they disabled the double tap and when you listen to music and want to skip a song you can accidentally unlock the phone and that is unnecessary since you can use the controls on the lock screen. Awesome review as always!
Bon Jorte Badiango The only downside of this smartphone is that it is slightly bigger than it should be for a 5.5 inch display, i wish Sony could squeeze it a little bit.
Ali Bashir if that's the only downside then I can definitely handle it. I was looking for something with this performance that doesn't have a gigantic screen. Question is does it have a physical button in the bottom?
One VERY important thing, in my opinion, which you haven't talked about is media management. Sony is one of the only companies which offers media management software between your phone and your PC. To me, personally, it is a very important thing. I've been an iPhone user a while ago and I got very used to iTunes which served to be a VERY convenient way to manage your music library on your phone. When I switched to Android and got my first Xperia Z3, I was very pleased to find out that Sony offers a great alternative which is called MediaGo. It is basically the same thing as iTunes and it allows me to manage my phone's photos, videos and music easily. Samsung and Google, for example, do not offer that, and that's a huge bummer...
Thanks for helping me decide Erica ... I currently have the Z5P and yes the fingerprint scanner can be a drag sometimes, especially in that it's not "one-touch" i.e. I have to click the power button & then do the FP thingy, as opposed to other phones where I could just touch the FP scanner & the phone is unlocked straight away! Having said all that, I still want the XZP =)
Xz premium is good phone but it's not the best and just because it opens apps or games half a sec or two faster it doesn't mean better than S8. S8 really stands out among the rest of bunch including iphone right now. Despite a few flaws it provides very unique experiences that no other smartphones ever did. So I think people are being irresponsible by saying things like "Xperia is best phone in the world!" "Don't buy S8!"
I have had this phone for a few months now. I go between the iPhone X and this unit. I pretty much like everything about this phone. The front facing speakers could be louder but they are clear and sound really good outside of the high end volume. Content looks amazing on this phone including Netflix and Amazon Prime videos. Erica, have you noticed whether speakerphone on your unit is very low? I am in the process of sending the unit back to Sony for repair, because I feel that speakerphone is just way too low and its making it difficult to use this device for work calls. Outside of the speakerphone, Diag tests are loud for the loudspeaker and typical output is decent. But when I am on a phone call (on speakerphone) the sound just kind of dies down and is ,much too low.
Marlon Johnson then look somewhere else. It has been Sony's trademark for years now. Unlike all the others with rounded corners and they all look the same.
Hope you're happy with your phone now. I would still get the Deepsea Black XZ Premium just because of its different design which makes it standout from the crowd.
Love the little commercial/advert with the hubby! That was funny. I also like this style of video - gets 'down to the brass tacks' and gives us the pros/cons in an easy to consume video. Great job!! :)
I own the u.s model chrome xz premium and I'm loving it so far. still have my Z3 and Z1s too! it's a amazing overall phone and agree with pretty much everything you said erica. I also personally don't mind the bezels. My main gripe is the plastic sides, but Sony did a great job making it still feel premium. I have it in a clear case anyway. speakers could be louder but sound good. I don't have any light bleed like some are saying in comments. camera is good enough for me and if I really want amazing pictures, that's what my a6000 is for. Go buy this phone!!!
I've been using this device since June 28 and the uploader of the video nailed it. I've been using smartphones since 2002 ( Windows mobile OS ) and used to change device every 3 months. Looks like this phone is gonna be my daily driver for the next year. Never seen a display like that and yes I'm happy that someone other than me is a fan of bezels. I can't stand accidental touch. Also the device is among the fastest I've seen ( I don't believe in benchmarks as my experience is enough to tell me that the XZP is one of the fastest if not the fastest I've had my hands on ) Sony needs to fix the Wifi power output as the range isn't the best and it suffers with 5GHZ bands. Another area as pointed out is the camera which doesn't mean a lot to me as I don't see the issue a deal breaker. The camera is already very good, probably not the best but it has the potential. Eagerly waiting for the next major firmware update were I will confidentially say the XZ premium is a perfect device.
I love your review style, easy to understand, not too technical, but very informative, and personal- not full of marketing/ tech buzzwords. And having the downsides was a great help too. Thank you! Still gonna buy it as the price now is crazy low here! Like $130usd :D
Did you have wifi issues with your model? I just purchased the XZP but was constantly losing connection even though it was always connected to Wifi. And speed tests were showing 0.5mbps download speeds (I usually get around 70). I know Sony just released a software update on Sept 11 that was supposed to address the Wifi issues. Anyone see improvements? I returned my XZP but would like to repurchase if the update fixed the wifi issue.
I bought this phone over the s8 plus today how can it be the under dog when it has Bluetooth 5.0 4K hdr screen 960fps who's the real under dog in terms of specs
I have xperia z2 for 2+ years now and it's still running smooth. The only reason i'm thinking to upgrade is wireless charging and USB charging port. I will def buy sony again.
Best review of Xperia XZ Premium i have seen so far. Great job Erica :-) I own this phone and i am completely agree with everything you said except fingerprint. I previously had Galaxy S7 Edge and i find Xperia XZ Premium's fingerprint much more accurate and fast. Have not had any problem in moisty conditions :-) The only thing which is upsetting me is camera distortion issue, i really hope Sony can fix it with software update. Anyway, great review & video. Keep doing great work. Best regards from Norway
Thank you, Erica. You should definitely continue with this new series. As always, the review was thoughtful, measured and informed. Out of all the reviews out there, this is the review I was most looking forward to seeing. I love your honesty!
Hi Erica, I believe you did an excellent job on this review, by far the best I've seen. You did a great job going over the feature's pluses and minuses while giving great explanations as to why. I don't subscribe to many but you have earned my subscription. Keep up the great work!
I bought the Sony Xperia XZ Premium when my HTC 10 gave up on me (after a fall that is all my fault) as I have a need for a good headphone jack. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised by the phone. I am very happy with it. My first Sony Xperia phone actually.
Hi Erica, I think the Likes & Dislikes concept is a success. Very helpful and an opportunity to present more details that may have been missed during the full review.
You didn't talk about LDAC, DSEE HX, or any of the sound processing. Those are some of the fundamental features of this phone, as LDAC is a proprietary Bluetooth codec that allows for nearly the same quality as WifiHifi.
*Time codes for my mobile viewers!*
1. Intro (0:00)
2. Why I like the design (0:43)
3. Why I like the performance (3:02)
4. My Favorite software feature (5:35)
5. What I like about the camera (7:56)
6. My favorite feature & why (8:57)
7. Jon & I having way too much fun with our new mattress (13:08)
8. What I'm not happy with (14:58)
9. The biggest down point FOR ME (16:24)
10. Conclusions (17:47)
i needed this
Erica Griffin Hola Miss Erica
Please do a similar video on HTC U11 and OnePlus 5. Also, include the battery life and the price of the device in your video for consumers to have an idea about what they would be paying/not paying for these features.
Thank you Erica I was waiting to see this video was checking your channel daily I was thinking of buying one and I'm kinda sold :3
Erica Griffin thank you very much for help me calibrated my xzp screen.
People criticize other manufacturers for copying each others design yet when Sony stick to their own design language they complain ! This phone is the best of this years flagships! Performance wise this is better than S8 and G6 !
Junaid Anik but not oneplus 5.
Sarthak Sadani , it's faster than the one plus 5
+BTICronox You call this mediocre display? What is your definition of perfect display then?
Butter scotch It can't really be faster, since it uses a light skin and the fastest RAM and storage currently available.
BTICronox 4K HDR is mediocre? Alright then... Oh and the battery life is amazing, mine lasts just over 2 days with really heavy usage
About 4 years ago I have been looking for a new phone and your review is the video that convinced me to buy Xperia Z Ultra. It has been four years, I have switched to HTC 10 and to iPhone 7 Plus, but I still can't stop myself from throwing the Z Ultra into my bag whenever I go out, so you have - effectively - sold me a phone that became my all-time favourite. I have been considering selling the iPhone to buy XZ Premium and and your video is what have pushed me over the edge, I'm getting this monster. Thank you!
Weembee you may like the xperia xa1 ultra
michigan1777 nah thats a budget phone too weak
Phreetrix gotcha haha
let us know how it goes
I've had Z Ultra and I loved it. I sold it later for almost the same price as I bought it for, then I got Z5 premium, which is/was great, but now I have XZ premium and this one really kicks ass :)
Erica saying that the XZP has her favorite display of the year (so far) is a pretty big deal.
I also agreed with pretty much all of Erica's criticisms. I really think that Sony needs to overhaul their Camera app and image processing. They also need to let us shoot in RAW format for those of us that want to. Doesn't matter if it's DNG or ARW files.
Sony's design philosophy is pretty divisive, but I really like it. It's straight lines, sharp corners and gently sloping sides are textbook Japanese design. It reminds me a ton of the old film SLRs from Nikon and Olympus from the 70s. They should try to slim down the bezels just a bit though.
TheHermitArcana Yhea
TheHermitArcana agreed. All phones want to be curvy nowadays, so Xperia is kinda one of a kind. People said Sony doesn't change the design. Well, they did. The curvy Xperia X, X Performance, XA and XA Ultra were disasters.
Naim Noor I actually use an Xperia X, and it's not 'curvy' at all. Sure, it's more rounded than other Sony phones, but the design is just fine to me.
TheHermitArcana agree 👍🏽
iWindowz sorry I meant rounded corners lol. Yeah but people didn't really notice them at all eventhough the DxOMark for X Performance is higher than XZ. Too bad.
would i buy?? i already buy it.. underdog? for me it's a thundercat..
HAZIQ SAZALI i have the same feeling like you when i hold it in my hand buddy
how is the battery, on screen time? thx.
nahh..SONY..not the underdog..they masterpiece~
Watching this on my xperia xz premium..... Probably the best phone in market right now... Ask me anything ragarding daily usage if u r interested
Saifuddin Adnan what do you like the most about it? and how's the speed surfing in web browser. congrats btw enjoy it
Joshua Del Castillo the phone is probably the fastest I've used till now be it ganing, browsing or anything. The look in luminous chrome colour is killer! Camera is sony's best till date. The only drawbacks are that you can't shoot 960fps videos indoor as it needs good lighting conditions and indoor lights cause flickering of videos and I am tired of searching good cases for phones and using it without any case. If anyone can manage this above 2 issues this phone is a monster 😍
_ just go to my channel and watch some videos and tell me which phone in the market can record such videos 😎
I've heard that the phone has some sort of "Charging Battery save" feature? Where you charge it at night and it only reaches 100% in the morning to save it's battery in the overall run. During the daytime does it just charge quickly? I can't find a solid video using a quickcharger.
Saifuddin Adnan is it have camera distortion
I've had this phone for a month now, and I have a few notes to add to yours:
1. Under the performance segment I would highlight the browser performance as a positive that stands out. Its so fast that sometimes, ESPECIALLY if I compare it with others, its so fast that I'm seriously wondering how the hell Sony managed to accomplish it. xD
2. The fingerprint sensor performs better then the HTC 10 I had previously, especially if my fingers are wet. And it being a waterproof phone, this is great! However, isn't it so that the fingerprint reader doesn't work in the USA? Due to a patent or copyrights issue. I'm pretty sure on that.
3. My only real complaint with the phone has been camera software related; in that 3-5 times in the month I've been using it, the app hasn't launched properly or somethings gone wrong when using the app. Other then that, the camera has been fantastic, and the lack of a rolling shutter effect? MY GOODNESS!
Vandrefalk is there is camera distortion
How do you mean? Near the edges like on previous Sony phones? I'd say there is next to none. I haven't notice any to be honest. Let me know if you mean something else then this.
Vandrefalk Glad to hear the positive thought.
And regarding about the failing camera apps, what do you mean by that? Like do you get overheating warning, or stuff?
Hopefully they'll use a better camera software this time, because this is literally the same camera app as on the Z5 family.
Nono nothing like that. :) Its very rare, I use the camera all the time. It'll just get the uccational hiccup every now and then. Hm. Like, if I start normal video recording but stop it almost immediately, sometimes the camera app won't stop/cancel the recording properly and I'll have to exit the app to use it again. I mean, everything goes so friggin fast on the phone that it doesn't exactly take long, but a software update would be nice non the less. The results from the camera itself I just love, both pictures, videos and yes; that super slow motion. Once you get a hang of the timing, its really easy tbh!
i thrus you cus i own this phone too haha
Thank you so much for this review, yes it affected my opinion, now I want to buy it even more!! This is my next phone and finally the worthy successor to my Note 5
great
Ahmad Debian I have a note 3, I had a Z5 Premium. There screens don't get as bright as Samsung’s.
Chris G Yes, the Z5 Premium was 'supposedly' 4k resolution and I was super hyped to get it but when I saw it's screen brightness, i was so disappointed.... Super dim!! But the XZ is a different case, look up a video here on Erica's channel, I think it was a 'first impression' video i think, she compared the Z5 premium to the XZ premium displays side by side and the difference was huuuge.... So yeah, don't take the Z5 into consideration to judge the XZ, they really stepped up their game this year..... For me, so far it is going to be the XZ premium or HTC u11.... but i will also wait for the new pixel and iphone then decide
Since I have both phones ive done direct comparisons, this screen is way better than Z5P.
i would get the XZP over 11. The XZP seems like it has the best display on the market the 4k screen really makes a difference.
I wonder how it compares to the s8.
I don't care what anyone says... but to me, Sony is the BEST... and so is the design of the phone. Very distinctive compared to all other smartphones on the market.
Great review man, you just got another subscriber. Keep it up. : )
Saadiq Ganief she's a girl lol
I love sony
@@wilsonherbito9490 I love Sony so much that I have a Sony channel 👍. I shot this short cinematic film with my Sony Xperia 1 II ua-cam.com/video/tBTa0Mv_GY4/v-deo.html
I have a s8, but for some reason I want this phone so much.
Change!
Goffe it would be a downgrade .. dont waste money
Agree, he will feel so stupid afterwards for jumping on the hype train and buying the S8 in the first place :)
kristi leka maybe, but I have loved Sony since I was a child. On the bright side I can sell the S8 in Asia for around 9-1200 USD.
It's a huge upgrade over the S8, don't worry :) I have the XZP, but tried both, it's just simply amazing.
I don't have the issue you get with finger print sensor. Much better recognition accuracy regardless of finger orientation, and fast recognition. This is compare to Samsung S7 and LG G6.
Khoo yao jiunn when you used the finger print scanner, do you have to push in the power button or just touch the surface of it like any other scanner?
you touch the power button and click once and it unlocks
i own this phone, screen is very stunning, the best screen performance of the year!
Komiliae Hidaeyoshi you're a cutie
Brian Stewart Oops! thx you
Komiliae Hidaeyoshi you're welcome
check out my first video on my channel made by Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
Icesticker in general used around >8 hr screen on time
I'm really happy with SONY sticking to their design. People will always complain, either that the design is not original enough or that is outdated. I had a great experience with previous SONY phones and would totally recommend them. Great review Erica :)
Thank god! A reviewer who understands the connection between bezels and ergonomics instead of just going "samsung did away with bezel I don't understand why that's good but you're stupid if you're not jumping on the bandwagon too" . Subscribed!
OMG thank you. I'm not the only one that likes the Sony design for the extra practicality it gives you! ;)
Its not like it's actually ugly either, just not following the latest craziness in photogenics over function..
I am watching this on my XZ Premium. Got it yesterday.
Im thinking of buying it. Can you help me out?
cheers .. i m also planning !
Which colour iz luking gud?
Got mine yesterday too but a year after you I guess. Ammmmaaaaaazing!!!!!!!
@@shubhamrasam4106 What you want to know?
The plus out weight the minus by a large margin, until another 4K HDR display comes along Xperia XZ Premium is in a class of it's own.
Wilson Lee HDR is currently useless. 4K is nice, but not groundbreaking.
Nitemare3219 what Is ground breaking in your opinion, slimmer bezels like on the s8? shocking some of the things we read on here. This phone remains the only smartphone to date with 4k and hdr and u say it's not groundbreaking but having slimmer bezels or something else which so many other phones share must be groundbreaking.
xz1 rumored to follow new trend.
XZ1's specs is of a budget phone & even XZ1 Ultra only a midranger, the trend is for budget price consumers?
I own this phone, had it 4 days now, it is amazing, mind-blowing display and performance.Initially I was put off by the need to have such high-res on a small screen, seemed unnecessary but it does make a difference. Ignore those 7/10 reviews that complain about bezzels and old style look n' feel - that's rubbish! The current trend may be towards edgeless display but who cares about that when you have a HDR screen.
Coming from years of BlackBerry I opted for the LUMIA 950XL until I learned thay Microsoft was also letting us down. I made my research and opted for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium based on the many reports and reviews. It is my very first experience with Android and after several days of using, testing and abusing it all I can say is that I am totally impressed with its performance. Not a single thing has failed me, except, as a photographer, the camera, even though it is much better that all the other Android cameras, it is no comparison to the amazing camera of the LUMIA 950XL which I will miss. Otherwise, I believe it is a fantastic cell phone. My only sad experience is that the back is extremely slippery and it fell down from my working table "on its own" the very first day (which took me by alarming surprise), but absolutely no damage was done and the phone is still working flawlessly. Thank you Erica for your excellent reviews, of which I am an ardent follower.
I cannot understand why most people hate and dislike this phone... and this phone now received oreo.... And it give s a lot of improvements and its fast....
Yes! One of the few reviewers that still gives Sony some real love!! (other than 5 minute spec reviews). I'm really torn between this, OP5, U11 or just waiting for a Pixel 2. Seeing it already down to only $668 new on Ebay, and $50 off a U11 isn't helping me hold out for the Pixel 2 either :(
I will suggest you to try them all, but I'm leaning for the XZ Premium just because it feels to be the complete package of all.
This is where I’m at too, the pixel 2 looks so good for the price but also, so does this phone!
I just bought brand new 1 week ago. And it is absolutely wonderful. Runs perfectly in dec 2023. And it is so unique
Had this phone in chrome a day after it released in UK.... For a £600+ phone... I have no regrets paying that money, it's the best phone I've ever had :) and I've had a lot!
listen to you doing this review make me feel that this phone is your favorite one so far for this year 2017!
It's definitely one of my favorites but I don't think I have an overall favorite. New phones keep coming out. I have no time for favorites.
Erica Griffin Not having time to have a favorite, is a choice.
Erica Griffin which one is beter black or chroom
She said it alredy, it"s the black. I have the black, and i can agree with her, more stylis, less reflective. Less of a fingerprint magnet.
Erica Griffin you forgot to say about Heating issues, that's common in the past Sony Phones, and the quality of Sound tru headphones since it's a Sony phone i hope it's a good music phone
What makes Erica wonderful is her talking. No matter, what phone she Reviews, she gives unbiased explanation, that a common man needs. Other Tech UA-camrs look like Pros but she is actually the *Girl Next Door*
*Erica You are Awesome*
you're right, she isn't over reacting, not sponsored, honest and everything we need. I don't like those bis and overeacted reviews
I just ordered one online. so excited to have it. thanks for helping me decide which phone to get.
I bought this phone, stunning display.. im so amazed! kudos to Sony
I'd just ordered the Sony Xperia XZ Premium today after agonising over leaving the world of iPhones. I was looking for information on set-up and use and found this video. Firstly, this is one of the most informative, concise and well realised reviews of a mobile phone I've seen. Secondly, it affirms that ordering this model phone was a wise decision. Lastly, I wish I'd seen it thus video before beginning my mobile phone journey. Post purchase, I will use this video as a guide for set-up, especially the info on white point, and for general usage. Mucho kudos to Erica!
1. You seemed to complain about the camera's oversharpening, but not so much, or not at all, with low light pictures. Does this mean it's not a bad low light shooter? If so, then I'm getting it. Others may have better low light cameras, but I don't find myself taking low light photos that often.
And regarding oversharpening, I wonder if it does wonders in lower resolution 12mp, and if that's a different case with Manual Mode (with settings all in Auto).
2. Thank you so much that you can still appreciate the bezels. People are really nitpicky at times. My phone pretty much has large bezels but I quite ignore them when using the phone.
With the stereo speakers, are they really that quiet? Or just that you forget to adjust some audio enhancing settings?
I saw the real life speaker test of this phone in Tech Guy Charlie's channel and it was quite loud. And it is front-facing, so it's a huge plus there.
So in conclusion, it's not a bad low light shooter at all by any means.
Some One only if you use a tripod... otherwise low light is poor.
Johnny Pigman it's not good.
Nitemare3219 Yeah it's not that good, but neither does others do better.
S8 is just noise-fres but lacks a lot of details, and same is for the others.
Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020 are still the low light champs to be beaten.
Irelia The Will of the Blades Again, it may have that bit more detail, but still nothing in comparison to say the Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020.
It's less blurry, but it would be funny if it is, with OIS.
I am big fan of Sony, should I buy in 2019
Should i just buy it
yes, you should coz im also planning to buy one of these
...Not exactly an "Underdog"... XZs are known to have the power and processing speed second only to the Note... Only other handset that comes close this year is the HTC U11, and it's still behind the XZP...
Crazcompart XZ looks super outdated even the UI. Definitely not close to the best. Htc>Sony
John - I was just saying... I already own an HTC 10, and am not about to replace it...
I enjoyed this episode. I hope you keep making more!
Personally, I recently (about three weeks ago) bought a Sony phone. But I decided to save some money and (especially as I'm a big-screen fan) I bought the Xperia XA1 Ultra. The performance is obviously not as good as the XZ Premium, but I honestly prefer the XA1 design (with no side bezels at all). And the best part is that the price is almost half that of the XZ Premium! It is an upper-mid-ranger with many of the same good features as the XZ Premium. For example, it has the same great, fast, smooth almost-stock software experience. So if you like big phones (6-inch display size) and want to save some cash, I definitely recommend the Xperia XA1 Ultra!
I've had this phone since release, and I agree with the negative bits about the camera, but I can't say i've ever had the problem with the fingerprint sensor. If anything, i feel like the sensor is doing a hell of a lot better than my old Nexus 6P which i considered to be pretty good originally.
Other than that - i'm extremely happy with my fingerprint magnet, i mean... phone.
Kenneth Jørgensen is the phone prone to overheating?
never had a single overheating issue so far
Kenneth Jørgensen How is the battery life ? Both standby and SOT, if you could.
TIA man...
I have this phone. For the price it was the best bang for buck I could find for an android based phone. Another great feature that really swayed my decision is the HiFi audio. When using HiFi earphones the audio quality is next level awesome. Even if you use regular earphones the audio is by far the best I’ve ever had on any phone. For me a big downside is the lack of time lapse. I shoot time-lapse video all the time and not having it here bummed me out a bit. There is also a caveat to having a 4K screen and it’s this: any video you watch that is below 1080p will look bad. Even 1080p doesn’t look great. It’s just too much upscaling. They really should have added the ability to switch to a 1080p mode as well. Other than that I’m really liking this phone. It’s a bit big for typing so it’s not my daily drive for business but I use it for all my media consumption and web surfing and whatnot.
best display phone ever !!!
crissn srogi you mean phone display, no؟!
Just 'upgraded' from z3 to xz premium. Liking it so far. The z3 has always been an amazingly solid phone. And my decision to go to xz premium is based partly on your benchmark tests. Sticking with Sony as I love the utilitarian look of their style.
The 14:10 shot made my day 😂
Nice review, Erica! Thank you for your hard work!
So glad you liked it! Tons of fun!
Erica Griffin
what happened to the cat?
The Legend34 It's a dog lmao
Emperor Valkorion
She had a cat, look it up
Just got mine yesterday and i'm well impressed. After i ordered it i began to notice it isn't black at all and far closer to indigo, so i wonder if i ought to have gone with the chrome version instead.
The performance is amazing and the screen is as well. The auto-brightness is weird, as had been repeated in numerous reviews.
The speaker quality is good and volume (on Oreo) is fine. It isn't as loud as some other SFF speakers, but it is definitely loud enough. The headphone output is superb.
The chamfer at the base is less than comfortable in the hand, but the sides are.
All in all, i agree with your "hell yes" buy it assessment 😊
Great phone! Planning to buy one for myself once bronze pink color is available ... :)
I have had this phone for a few months now. Performance is fantastic. Word of warning, get a cover! I dropped my phone a few days after buying it and the back completely cracked. Luckily it's still working.
People are tired of this design . but buy the iphone every year . stupid . I like this design way better .
Honestly, my mind got blown when I looked at the settings menu for sound. You should too, because if you change a few settings, every sound coming out of the XZ Premium will be boosted and even the music will have a way better feel to it.
I like the box edges... it's is a beautiful phone...
I have this phone which I swapped a z5 compact for. I also have a galaxy s8+ (personal phone) and I much prefer the XZ premium.
The battery like can be improved if you turn off the email syncing to hourly or manual. I find this ties in with GTD theme I am working on too. I get 2 days out of a Charge in the office when the phone is connected to Wi-fi. And about 30 hours when the phone is off Wi-fi.
I love the unlock sensor and have not expended the point you made.
If you have a Sony data logger or watch this will contribute to the lifelong. Especially the sleep function, walking etc.
This the best phone I have had by a county mile even better the the Samsung 8+
I will buy sony xz premium 👍👍♥️♥️
I have it for over 1year right now and it`s great. I am working in the mobile communications sector and think it`s still one of the most underrated phones available.
Where can I get the chalkboard bear wallpaper? 😊
Want that bear theme too
i think the most important thing in a phone is the software
software is the thing that make different between a big company phone and a small company phone
any company can buy great phone hardware but only a good company can make a software that let those hardware work well
I've got the camera fix in Android Oreo update, yay!
I switched from an iPhone 7 plus to a Xz3 Sony xperia and it's a great phone. I love the performance and graphics are really good.
What about battery life?
This is looks like a beginning of a great series. I'm very fascinated by how much you geeked out about display calibration.
I am one of those great fans of the old school launcher
Would u still buy it? How Is It compared to Honor 8x?
Will It be updated?
So you have gone Flossy Carter style?
+amb 019 huh? This has been my format since I started UA-cam
Erica Griffin nothing wrong with that. Just pointing out the similarities :)
Erica Griffin I think he was specifically referring to when you said, "It feels so good in the hand". 😅
Please do a comparison of this display to the iPhone X. Many tech writers are completely ignoring the only 4K phone which now sells for a reduced $630 here in the U.S. when comparing the best Android phones to the insanely expensive iPhone X. I frankly found the iPhone X display to have lost a great deal of "realism" switching to OLED to the point that I find my V20 LCD to be far more realistic than the yellowy-orangy colors of the iPhone X, V30 and Note 8.
I guess im buying this one, since 2018 Xperia was horrible in my opinion
Love how detailed your videos are. Don't care how long they are. They are detailed. And I love that!
Stepping up the thumbnail game.
Before, I was always bothered why Sony keeps putting huge top & bottom bezels but after owning the XZ Premium (last Sony was Xperia Pro), I kinda understand the reason. It seems that they meant to use the phone mostly on landscape. Listening / watching / gaming is better on landscape because of the dual speakers & ease to hold because of the space. Yes, sometimes the bezels are too much & I wish that they minimize it like at least 20-30% but hating it because Samsung, Xiaomi, and LG are going to bezeless design is unfair. They are keeping for a reason and not just going with the trend.
I've heard that the phone's camera doesn't do so well in low-light conditions. Can you confirm?
Earle Greene you should search for a camera shoot-out between this, the G6 and the S8 over at GSMArena.. they do a very good job showcasing those phone's strengths and weaknesses on the camera department :)
it's a long read, but I think it is worth it.. very educational ;)
Thanks! I've read a lot of GSMArena reviews in the past, and they are very informative.
Earle Greene It does not do as well as 12MP cameras. Too many MP so it goes grainy in low light. That's why so many brands use 12. It's a good compromise between low light and full light performance. But again the Sony camera will destroy others in normal light
I respect you as you are almost the only reviwer on UA-cam that really test the mobiles to the limit, you mentioned the fingerprint scanner issue on last year Xperia z5 premium and also on this new model too! As a user for z5 premium I'm noticing this fingerprint scanner issue on daily basis
Sides are plastic?? That's it for me.
Antennas are placed on the sides that's why it has the best signal reception.
Hi, how do you know it has good signal reception? Have you compared it with other phones in an area with poor signal? i think i read somewhere that XZ Premium has 8 mimo antennas. Unfortunately most if not all phone reviews don't test signal reception.As far as I know from 2016 comparison study Samsung S7 has one of the best signal reception, better than Iphone.
Just see some speed tests on PhoneBattles channel.
I don't think she said the term "underdog" in a negative way. Some times the underdogs can take the win you know.
I've got one. It's bigger than I thought but I love it and the finger print works every time. Everyone said get a iPhone but I don't like apple there phones are good but it's them. Like on the news media Apple are messing with there updates to slow there older stuff down to keep the battery running longer. Come on who believes that ? SO I went for this one. I love an underdog
Cheaper than Pixel 2, much much better.
Another biggest down point is that services like Android Pay won't work on the ZX Premium because of its stylised ROM. That made me change my mind about buying this phone.
it's funny how every moans about the oneplus 5 uninspired design . Sony never changed the design language of the experia screen is crazy sexy, if they would just squeeze it in a better design they would sell like hot cakes
sasch bresemann
That's cause it's their own design 😑😐😒
sanity I am aware but they could reduce the bezel and make the edges less sharp . just changing the footprint
sasch bresemann
Now that you mentioned it I do agree, They could have trimmed the benzels along that a bigger screen
Sony at least has it's own design, and they where doing very well built good looking waterproof phones for a very long time while samdung had it's shit packed in to a soup holder. The oneplus is a straight ishit 7 plus copy. Other than that that"s a fine phone, just nothing special, copy of last year top(ish) ideas, good spec still reasonable price.
I really admired sony for being unique. All phones out there looks the same.
What a lot of reviewers never mention is that Xperia XZ is the last phone that can record binaurally. Using nc31e earphone, that also have active noise cancellation as well as binaural microphones that are very sensitive. If you want better sound, get nc750. Now 4k HDR content is more common even in youtube.
I came very close to getting this phone, in the end went for the htc u11
Carl Price How is your experience so far? I have an htc 10, is it worth upgrade?
you made the better choice unless you're a Sony design fantastic or absolutely need a headphone jack.
Carl Price im sorry for your loss good luck 🏃
Carl Price you made the right choice, the Sony looks super outdated Design and UI
I've been in the exact same situation, Carl. Went for the XZ Premium first, was about to click order, but then.. I kept watching more videos and the more I watched the more I was convinced XZ premium wouldn't be a worthy upgrade package wise. I personally upgraded from LG G4 to U11
Heyyy! I loved your captured photos! Can you upload them to file share site?
Best female reviewer after mkbhd and fisher.
I own this phone and it is the best phone i ever had, and no issues with the fingerprint scanner at all!
the longest Mini series on Utube ....:)
I've just discovered your channel whilst searching for reviews on this phone. I subscribed about a week ago but this video is outstanding! The detail you go into impressed me, especially with the white colour settings. I'm holding out for the Note 8 reveal before I buy a new phone but until then this phone was and still is the front runner. Awesome work, please keep it up 👍
Anybody who is reading this comment
Have a great day
thanks
Erica, thank you for talking about the camera distortion. I have the chrome one and I agree with almost everything you said, except the fingerprint. For me it's 99.9 accurate, the only thing I hate about it is that they disabled the double tap and when you listen to music and want to skip a song you can accidentally unlock the phone and that is unnecessary since you can use the controls on the lock screen. Awesome review as always!
For a 5.5 inch screen device this is just too damn bulky for 2017.
Bon Jorte Badiango So?? Is it unusable because of that? I heard the next iPhone will be thicker, that means is gonna be a bad phone?
bottom firing mono speakers in 2017 is more of a concern
Bon Jorte Badiango The only downside of this smartphone is that it is slightly bigger than it should be for a 5.5 inch display, i wish Sony could squeeze it a little bit.
Bon Jorte Badiango I have a 15 size ring finger this does me just fine no need to get smaller
Ali Bashir if that's the only downside then I can definitely handle it. I was looking for something with this performance that doesn't have a gigantic screen. Question is does it have a physical button in the bottom?
One VERY important thing, in my opinion, which you haven't talked about is media management. Sony is one of the only companies which offers media management software between your phone and your PC. To me, personally, it is a very important thing. I've been an iPhone user a while ago and I got very used to iTunes which served to be a VERY convenient way to manage your music library on your phone. When I switched to Android and got my first Xperia Z3, I was very pleased to find out that Sony offers a great alternative which is called MediaGo. It is basically the same thing as iTunes and it allows me to manage my phone's photos, videos and music easily. Samsung and Google, for example, do not offer that, and that's a huge bummer...
Nothing can replace my s8+
:))) i don t care about thouse
I Am please those are garbage.. just shut the f up boy..
I m not your boy
RI P Sony is just way better
4 u maybe
Thanks for helping me decide Erica ... I currently have the Z5P and yes the fingerprint scanner can be a drag sometimes, especially in that it's not "one-touch" i.e. I have to click the power button & then do the FP thingy, as opposed to other phones where I could just touch the FP scanner & the phone is unlocked straight away! Having said all that, I still want the XZP =)
Xz premium is good phone but it's not the best and just because it opens apps or games half a sec or two faster it doesn't mean better than S8. S8 really stands out among the rest of bunch including iphone right now. Despite a few flaws it provides very unique experiences that no other smartphones ever did. So I think people are being irresponsible by saying things like "Xperia is best phone in the world!" "Don't buy S8!"
you have your opinion and other as well.
Maria Z the HTC U11 is the faster phone compared to all 2017
Lol
I have had this phone for a few months now. I go between the iPhone X and this unit. I pretty much like everything about this phone. The front facing speakers could be louder but they are clear and sound really good outside of the high end volume. Content looks amazing on this phone including Netflix and Amazon Prime videos. Erica, have you noticed whether speakerphone on your unit is very low? I am in the process of sending the unit back to Sony for repair, because I feel that speakerphone is just way too low and its making it difficult to use this device for work calls. Outside of the speakerphone, Diag tests are loud for the loudspeaker and typical output is decent. But when I am on a phone call (on speakerphone) the sound just kind of dies down and is ,much too low.
I can't stand those square edges on Sony phones! Time for them to get back to the drawing board and come up with a new revolutionary design.
Marlon Johnson then look somewhere else. It has been Sony's trademark for years now. Unlike all the others with rounded corners and they all look the same.
Bong de Pano I did, I have an s8 plus.
Hope you're happy with your phone now.
I would still get the Deepsea Black XZ Premium just because of its different design which makes it standout from the crowd.
you mean, your mama would get one for you,right ?
Perfection shouldn't be changed.
If you use the Xperia lounge app, it gives you the updated Amazon prime video app which has the 4K HDR content on it and ready to watch!
the design of sony is soooooo *MEH* eventhoe it have good stuff
mo101epic true
Love the little commercial/advert with the hubby! That was funny.
I also like this style of video - gets 'down to the brass tacks' and gives us the pros/cons in an easy to consume video. Great job!! :)
I own the u.s model chrome xz premium and I'm loving it so far. still have my Z3 and Z1s too! it's a amazing overall phone and agree with pretty much everything you said erica. I also personally don't mind the bezels. My main gripe is the plastic sides, but Sony did a great job making it still feel premium. I have it in a clear case anyway. speakers could be louder but sound good. I don't have any light bleed like some are saying in comments. camera is good enough for me and if I really want amazing pictures, that's what my a6000 is for. Go buy this phone!!!
I really liked how you emphasized the advantage of a 4k screen.
I've been using this device since June 28 and the uploader of the video nailed it. I've been using smartphones since 2002 ( Windows mobile OS ) and used to change device every 3 months. Looks like this phone is gonna be my daily driver for the next year. Never seen a display like that and yes I'm happy that someone other than me is a fan of bezels. I can't stand accidental touch.
Also the device is among the fastest I've seen ( I don't believe in benchmarks as my experience is enough to tell me that the XZP is one of the fastest if not the fastest I've had my hands on )
Sony needs to fix the Wifi power output as the range isn't the best and it suffers with 5GHZ bands. Another area as pointed out is the camera which doesn't mean a lot to me as I don't see the issue a deal breaker. The camera is already very good, probably not the best but it has the potential.
Eagerly waiting for the next major firmware update were I will confidentially say the XZ premium is a perfect device.
I love your review style, easy to understand, not too technical, but very informative, and personal- not full of marketing/ tech buzzwords. And having the downsides was a great help too. Thank you! Still gonna buy it as the price now is crazy low here! Like $130usd :D
Did you have wifi issues with your model? I just purchased the XZP but was constantly losing connection even though it was always connected to Wifi. And speed tests were showing 0.5mbps download speeds (I usually get around 70). I know Sony just released a software update on Sept 11 that was supposed to address the Wifi issues. Anyone see improvements? I returned my XZP but would like to repurchase if the update fixed the wifi issue.
I really love the display features.
I bought this phone over the s8 plus today how can it be the under dog when it has Bluetooth 5.0 4K hdr screen 960fps who's the real under dog in terms of specs
I have xperia z2 for 2+ years now and it's still running smooth. The only reason i'm thinking to upgrade is wireless charging and USB charging port. I will def buy sony again.
Best review of Xperia XZ Premium i have seen so far. Great job Erica :-) I own this phone and i am completely agree with everything you said except fingerprint. I previously had Galaxy S7 Edge and i find Xperia XZ Premium's fingerprint much more accurate and fast. Have not had any problem in moisty conditions :-) The only thing which is upsetting me is camera distortion issue, i really hope Sony can fix it with software update. Anyway, great review & video. Keep doing great work. Best regards from Norway
Thank you, Erica. You should definitely continue with this new series. As always, the review was thoughtful, measured and informed. Out of all the reviews out there, this is the review I was most looking forward to seeing. I love your honesty!
Hi Erica, I believe you did an excellent job on this review, by far the best I've seen. You did a great job going over the feature's pluses and minuses while giving great explanations as to why. I don't subscribe to many but you have earned my subscription. Keep up the great work!
I bought the Sony Xperia XZ Premium when my HTC 10 gave up on me (after a fall that is all my fault) as I have a need for a good headphone jack. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised by the phone. I am very happy with it. My first Sony Xperia phone actually.
Hi Erica, I think the Likes & Dislikes concept is a success. Very helpful and an opportunity to present more details that may have been missed during the full review.
You didn't talk about LDAC, DSEE HX, or any of the sound processing. Those are some of the fundamental features of this phone, as LDAC is a proprietary Bluetooth codec that allows for nearly the same quality as WifiHifi.