Review: Sony Xperia Z2

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

While the Sony Xperia Z2 is the evolutionary heir to its long and evolving flagship smartphone line and I can’t help but feel when I pick it up that I am holding all of Sony’s technology in the palm of my hand.

We’re talking HDTV Bravia technology with the patented Triluminous technology, 4K video recording, Walkman audio technology and music playback, PlayStation certified games, amazing CyberShot camera and Exmor sensor technology.

This is really a remarkable story of reinvention. Go back 10-11 years and Sony Ericsson and Nokia were the two brands at the cutting edge of mobile devices, now both these giants have been subsumed by other companies and may soon be gone altogether, yet their legacy looms large.

The post Ericsson evolution of Xperia smartphones has been nothing short of impressive. From the first plastic models to the first Xperia Z and the highly lauded Xperia Z1. Pushing the envelope in terms of screen technology, multimedia smarts, power and camera capabilities, the Xperia flagships have also become the biggest names in waterproof devices without looking and feeling like they were designed for military use.

The Xperia Z2 may look a lot like its predecessor, and this is a good thing, but it improves on all the aspects that set Sony phones stand out. The changes are subtle but for fans of the Xperia Z1, will definitely be noticeable. 

Water resistance is improved as the Z2 has the world’s best camera and camcorder in a waterproof smartphone, It can be kept under 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

Sony manages to do this without having to add a bunch of rubber stoppers to seal the water out. Sony's approach is done so seamlessly that you at no point feel you're using a rugged or water and dust-proof device.

My purple coloured demo unit feels solid and substantial in the hand. The melding of glass and aluminum on this smartphone is precise to the nanometer and the result is a robust device that still manages to look and feel very impressive.

The high resolution 5.2" Full HD display with Live Colour LED is bright and brings out the details when watching vide, playing games or looking at photos. Dual stereo speakers with Digital Noise Cancellation are great for handsfree use and for enjoying music without headphones. These aren't as well executed as the HTC One BoomSound speakers but better than most other smartphones.

Camera technology is quite good with a new 20.7 megapixel camera offering a staggering amount of shooting modes and options. The key feature with the Z2 is that it can shoot 4K video, which is the new Ultra HD standard Sony and other manufacturers are touting as the future of HDTV. 

While there are standalone HandyCams that can record HDTV, the Xperia Z2 is the only smartphone from Sony that can shoot this natively (4K recording isn't on by default, so the majority of users happy with standard HD or SD quality videos will have that option as well.

Aside from this feature, it is the 2.3 GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM and storage expansion for up to 128GB (using a microSD Card) that make the Xperia Z2 a notable and desirable flagship device.

Users of the Xperia Z1 won't readily flock to this new version unless they're dying to take 4K video but other Android users might find the solid and multifunctional Xperia Z2 an agreeable device to upgrade to.

Build quality, camera performance, resolution and 4G-LTE connectivity are second to none.

Sony's focus on entertainment and its various services make the Xperia Z2 a great consumption device as well.

The Xperia Z2, a Bell exclusive, feels like a mature and evolved smartphone and one that can possibly change Sony's fortunes by bringing in more smartphone users who are tired of the same-old iterative flagships offered by Sony's competitors. It is far from perfect though, as reports of an overheating camera have surfaced.

Being available on only one carrier really dampens the potential that more users will want to give the Xperia Z2 a try. I'm hoping Sony will offer unlocked versions in their Sony Stores or even consider a Google Play edition running Pure Android (fat chance, but one can dream, right?).

Right now, Canada has the Xperia Z2 through Bell, which is a start (US carriers are still on pre-order status for this phone). Despite some issues with the camera, specifically when recording 4K, the Z2's stellar battery life, impressive build quality and plethora of features as well as its market-leading durability and water-protection should make it land on anyone's top five smartphone shortlist.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Comments

[Cameron]

Sony is releasing an unlocked version through their store. You can pre-order one in store. I did a week or so ago.