Sony Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact and XZ1 Dual smartphones - pros and cons

The Sony Xperia XZ1 comes with updated specifications to keep it competitive with other premium phones. Some performance characteristics have been carried over from the still fresh XZ Premium phone. And if the 5-5-inch XZ Premium seemed a bit bulky, then this smartphone may well be exactly the right option.

With this model, the manufacturer Sony has taken a good step forward. Users will note a more comfortable 5.2-inch frame, an updated Snapdragon chipset and an excellent MotionEye camera. The Sony Xperia XZ1 is the choice of music lovers and gamers alike. And camera technology is one of the best tools for those who love capturing memorable moments. In this article, in parallel, we will consider other options for the Xperia Sony XZ1 2017 XZ1 Compact and XZ1 Dual phone models. Many users get lost when choosing a smartphone and track the rating of high-quality smartphones among both budget and premium series.

Basic equipment Sony Xperia XZ1

In recent years, the design of Sony smartphones has moved closer to a certain pattern. There have undoubtedly been some changes in the materials used, be it metal or glass, while the finer details are often revised. Nevertheless, if we compare the models of the flagships of Sony Mobile devices over the past few years, then there is a clear similarity between them.

Immediately, we note that the parameters of Sony Xperia XZ1 and Sony Xperia XZ1 Dual have the only difference - there is a separate slot for a memory card, so it makes no sense to describe the Dual option separately.

Display and multimedia

The Sony Xperia XZ1 has an excellent 5.2-inch IPS display with a Full HD 424 PPI LCD. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 plus an oleophobic coating. That is why the screen is protected as much as possible and gives an excellent image without drops and creases in the picture.

At first glance, not much different from the display of last year's Xperia XZ. The diagonal remains the same and the screen resolution has not changed. Visual effects, thanks to the Full HD format, keep your images and videos beautiful and sharp. The Trilumino display has HDR10 and Multi-touch support.

Of course, this isn't as clear as the visuals produced by the Quad HD competitors, or of course the 4K panel found on the XZ Premium. However, the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is great for watching movies on the go, offering high levels of detail combined with robust brightness levels.

Ease of use

The Xperia XZ1 is another subtle evolution, although the template remains unchanged in terms of highlights. Yes, all the same short bezels around the display, and they significantly increase the overall volume of the smartphone. That said, while not as cutting edge as the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, users still love the lineup as Sony's phones are so unique.

Compared to the XZ Premium, this new phone is certainly much better suited for one-handed use thanks to its reduced dimensions.However, the final design of the Premium contour was still received, rather than the blocky design of the Xperia XZ.

Sony's Xperia XZ1 offers a nice curved edge that definitely feels better in the palm of your hand and is pleasant and comfortable to hold in your hand. The Sony Xperia XZ1 phone is a great flagship, a hybrid of last year's Xperia XZ and the ultra-powerful XZ Premium.

Camera

The rear camera in the Xperia XZ1 protrudes slightly from the surface, this is one of the design changes - fewer lines than before. This smartphone will give you a great multimedia experience on the go. It is also worth noting the technological settings of the camera - the lens captures beautiful photos and helps you make great home videos.

Comes with a 19MP rear camera with features such as intelligent phase detection and laser autofocus, LED flash, face / smile detection, panorama and HDR.

Hardware platform and software

When launching its flagships on the market - both budget and premium models, Sony always uses the most up-to-date software in the "filling" and the Sony Xperia XZ1 model is no exception. Snapdragon 835 shell, 64GB internal memory and 4GB of RAM, expandable memory up to 256GB via MicroSD, NFC, USB 3.1, Bluetooth with AptX and more. Maybe not the maximum set, but very much even sufficient.

The smartphone is smart in operation, there is not even the slightest delay. The proprietary shell from Sony works perfectly and the latest Android 8.0 operating system also plays a role here.

Memory

The smartphone is equipped with 4GB of RAM and a built-in 64GB internal storage. Expandable up to 256GB (micro-Sd card).

Expandable microSD memory, up to 256GB (uses SIM 2 slot) - Dual SIM model only

Battery

The Sony Xperia XZ1 has a 2,700mAh battery, which is average in terms of power under heavy use.

Body materials and buttons

The phone has a body dimensions of 129 x 64 x 9.3 mm, so it is lightweight - only 140 grams. This model traditionally has a metal back panel and glass in front. The body colors have been updated and the metal finish is also different from previous releases.

The panel is matte smooth, smooth transition to the side edges with plastic plugs at the ends. The shape, as before, is rectangular, but the smartphone is very easy to use. There is no discomfort from the form and the phone does not slip in your hand.

There are no complaints about the location of the physical keys, there is an update - there is a small key above the on / off button to adjust the volume.

The fingerprint scanner is combined with the unlock button and the whole structure is pressed into the side edge. For the scanner to react, you first need to press the unlock button. Typically, the system performs fingerprint recognition immediately.

The smartphone supports additional features such as active noise canceling with dedicated microphone, fast battery charging (Quick Charge 3.0), IP68 certified - dust / water resistance over 1.5 meters and 30 minutes.

Protection against moisture and dust

Currently, most of the flagships among mobile phones are fully protected from moisture and ingress of dust and liquids. Ratings of quality phones show that such models can be dropped in the bathtub or used if necessary during a rainstorm. This smartphone is no exception. The IP68 rating means that you can soak it for about 30 minutes, in one and a half meters of water. Although it looks like Sony has improved the display sensitivity more seriously when this phone is wet. If in ordinary smartphones, even a slightly wet screen is in most cases already unusable, since it fixes all touches to the glass, which in fact are not. And the Xperia XZ1 works fine, even with the display covered in water. This is amazing.

With the shortcomings noted by Sony Xperia XZ users, it stands out that the phone is very easy to scratch. This metal cover looked pretty worn out after just a couple of weeks. Fortunately, this device, the XZ1, seems much more solid.On the plus side, the Xperia XZ1 has a sleek body and is no longer a massive evolution of previous models when it comes to design, although the rugged unibody body looks wonderful and is completely water resistant. On the downside, it's worth highlighting - at a time when the company is adding distinction to the look of all Sony phones, these chunky bezels seem a little old-fashioned these days.

• Sony Xperia XZ1 doesn't have FM radio;
• No Java;
• No wireless charging
• The battery is average;
• The design is outdated;
• Temperature sensor missing.

• Sony Xperia XZ1 comes with the latest Android OS, v8.0 (Oreo);
• It supports hybrid dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by);
• Performance is very smooth with no lag
• Supports almost all connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, 3G, 4G, NFC;
• Supports sensors such as Fingerprint (Side Mount), Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Barometer, Compass, Color Spectrum;
• The build quality is excellent;
• Large and loud stereo speakers;
• 19 MP camera.

Available colors to choose from

• The black;
• Warm silver;
• Venus Pink;
• Moonlit Blue color.

Simplified Compact model - an alternative solution

There are about thirty phones in the company today. The latest trends in Sony Xperia smartphone updates are a gradual reduction in body dimensions and thinner bezels around the display. And those screens that were previously considered too bulky and inconvenient, today are already referred to as compact. But still, not everyone prefers large phone models.

Sony recently launched the excellent Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact smartphone, which is more affordable and could be a great alternative to the quality XZ1 hardware. The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact offers a range of top-end features in a relatively small package.

Camera

This smartphone is equipped with a high quality 19MP main camera with LED flash. In addition, the camera has an EIS (gyroscope) and a laser detection autofocus. Additional features of the camera include geo-tagging, touch focus, face / smile detection, panoramic shooting and HDR. With these camera features, the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact delivers stunning high quality photos. Video filming is possible in 4K format. Equipped with an excellent 8MP front camera.

Features of photo and video shooting

The manufacturing company has equipped the Xperia XZ1 cameras with a special sensor and built-in memory. This will allow you to shoot video with a frame rate of 960fps. And this is a very high level - not all professional cameras can shoot with such a frame rate, and competitors among phone manufacturers did not even dream of this at all. Official themed videos also look impressive.

Normal shooting, as before, everything is perfectly coordinated.

With each new release, the updated Sony models shoot even better than the previous ones. Shooting with the camera of the device in natural light gives a pretty good result, but if you look closely at the frames, the accuracy of color reproduction and focusing can cause some questions.

Screen

This smartphone has received IP68 certification, which means it is protected against dust and moisture. Under water at a depth of more than 1.5 meters, it can safely stay for 30 minutes.

The touch screen in this model has a color resolution of 16 megapixels, a display diagonal of 4.6 inches. This is perfect for games, and for watching videos and movies, and just for viewing information in web browsing.

The phone offers Multi-touch function. High quality Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to protect the display.

Software and performance

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact comes with the latest Android 8.0 (Oreo) operating system, a fast processor and excellent results in performance tests. There are no hiccups in the smartphone.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact albeit a simplified model, but also a flagship. This means that inside it has almost the same software "stuffing" as more premium models - an 8-core processor, as in the XZ1 - Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and performance is provided by 4 GB of RAM. The difference is that the volume of internal memory has been reduced twice - 32 GB instead of 64. Otherwise, the same AC Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.

Of course, loading such a smartphone so that it can tense up is difficult. In testing, performance and responsiveness are maximized. Overheating was not observed.

Memory

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact comes with good expandable storage via a microSD slot, up to 256GB. There is a built-in memory of 32 GB, and support for 4 GB of RAM, which again is positively reflected in the multitasking mode.

The smartphone is equipped with one SIM-card (Nano-SIM) or there is a variant of this model Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual standby).

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Dual SIM is also known as Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Dual with dual SIM slots. This model provides sound signals such as Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones. The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Dual has a loudspeaker and good stereo speakers. The phone has a 3.5mm jack, 24-bit / 192kHz audio, and has excellent active noise canceling with a dedicated microphone.

Communication capabilities

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact provides WLAN communication such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, 2x, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0 connections, A2DP, aptX HD, LE, technologies GPS, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS and includes NFC function.

The smartphone offers an HTML5 browser, as well as built-in fast battery charging (Quick Charge 3.0) and a quality Xvid / MP4 / H.265 player.

In the pre-installed programs, the MP3 / eAAC + / WAV / Flac player stands out, and it is also worth noting a document viewer and an excellent photo and video editor.

Audio settings

This model is pleasantly distinguished by stereo speakers, as in previous Xperia flagships. Not very loud, but watching videos with these speakers is still more enjoyable. The audibility of music in the headphones is excellent, the sound is of high quality, on a par with the popular flagships.

As for telephone conversations, there are no complaints about the sound - a good volume reserve. The audibility in the speakers does not cause any particular problems either. The vibration alert is average, it won't always be felt.

Autonomous work

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is equipped with a non-removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of only 2700 mAh. Nevertheless, he has no particular difficulties with autonomous work. When testing the smartphone, it showed an average performance per day - an actively working display for 6-7 hours.

• Body materials;
• OS Android 8.0 (Oreo);
• Stereo speakers;
• Battery autonomous work;
• Enough RAM;
• Crisp and bright display
• The phone screen has large viewing angles;
• Fast response of the fingerprint scanner;
• Fast charging;
• Excellent LED flash
• Great shots even in low light;
• Interesting features in customizable camera modes;
• Slow motion;
• This model offers access to almost all connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB, 3G, 4G and NFC.

• Old design;
• Minor software errors;
• The light sensor is poorly adjusted;
• Cold display;
• Less built-in memory.

Summarizing

Sony Xperia XZ1 can be considered a kind of "cosmetic" upgrade. The manufacturer is moving in the right direction - fixing outdated shortcomings of past models, while adding new exclusive functions, but these changes are definitely slowly being implemented. The price may indeed seem slightly overpriced, although in reality the value of the XZ1 is average.

One gets the impression of a good and practical gadget. Nevertheless, it loses among the competitive models in terms of design, and you can find a more convenient smartphone. Lovers of simplicity and angular shapes should like this model.

The color rendering of the IPS matrix is ​​at a high level. The only thing Sony is seeing is that the display is too cold. The smartphone has the ability to customize three color profiles - "Professional" and more saturated "Standard" and Super-vivid mode.

As a smaller analogue of the flagship, the XZ1 Compact is quite successful. And despite the angular body, lower screen resolution and one SIM, the phone shows excellent performance results and works stably.