Review: Sony Xperia XZ – a great camera, but little else improved

Hot on the heels of the releases of the Xperia X, X Performance, XA and XA Ultra this summer, Sony has added two more models to the series – the XZ and X Compact – which makes one wonder how these six new phones differ functionally from one another. While the Japanese brand is not likely to win over loyal Apple users any time soon, existing Xperia fans might be tempted to upgrade for just one thing: the XZ’s powerful camera.

Design and hardware

It’s hard to tell the difference between the Xperia XZ and, say, the X Performance as they share the same form factor. On closer examination, the XZ is more angular but with round and smooth corners. A piece of glass with slightly curved edges covers the front, while its back is made out of what Sony calls “alkaleido metal”, which has a matt quality. The unit feels solid and good in the hand.

The minimalist design is in line with the look of the entire Xperia series, with the dual SIM and memory card slot on the left; and the on/off switch (with fingerprint sensor), volume rockers and camera button all on the right. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top and a USB Type-C port for fast charging at the bottom. The 13-megapixel front camera, sensor and notification light all sit on the top bezel.

For some reason the company insists on having a bezel below the screen that does practically nothing. Both Samsung and Apple make use of that space to house the home key and for other touch-based commands. Sony, instead, pushes those into the lower part of the 5.2-inch screen. Not a deal breaker but not a smart decision either.