( AN OH ! REVIEW )
SONY XPERIA XZ
Analee Matthews roadtests the latest crown jewel of Sony Mobile ’ s range .
nyone who knows me , knows I ’ m
A an Apple devotee through and
through . So when the opportunity to play with a Sony Xperia XZ came along , I ’ ll be honest – I was highly skeptical about how impressive this device could possibly be , given my long term and unwaveringly loyal relationship with my beloved Apple iPhone .
Suffice to say , I surprised myself when just two days into the experience , I found myself actually contemplating whether I might ditch my iPhone permanently . You read that right ... I was really enjoying using an android !
I should clarify here , my previous interactions with non-iPhone handsets have been a bit dismal ; I didn ’ t really know where to find things – and I typically know my way around devices , I ’ m no techno-buffoon , ya know ! So when I got stuck into the Sony Xperia XZ , I was quite surprised at how much more intuitive it seemed to be from the ‘ olden days ’. The brochure explains the reason for this as a feature called ‘ intelligent learning ’, which apparently enables the phone to adapt to suit my needs . I began to wonder , ‘ could the divide between the two operating systems perhaps not be as enormous as I had assumed for so many years ?’
Aesthetically ( which we all know this is one of THE most important features in a phone , right ?), the device is really neat , tidy and unassuming to look at , which I quite like . It also felt sensational to hold and operate . Compared to my iPhone 7 Plus ( which I have nicknamed the ‘ surfboard ’), this phone felt so light and compact , and easy to hold in my hand ; it actually fit all the way inside the pockets of my clothing too , which I found quite a nice change .
Of course , being a Sony product I felt like I had a duty to assess the sound quality . Playing music was , of course , unsurprisingly easy and enjoyable ; however , I have to say that the quality of sound during a phone call when using the ‘ voice output ’ or speakerphone feature , didn ’ t wow me . I had hoped the sound quality may have been superior to my iPhone , which I also find difficult to hear when on speakerphone ; saying this aloud , perhaps I should get my ears checked .
In terms of it ’ s camera – another essential feature of today ’ s telephones ( who ever thought that would even be a legitimate sentence ?), I wasn ’ t let down . I took the XZ out to the mountain bike trails with the goal to capture some pretty fast moving action , and this device didn ’ t disappoint . The Xperia ’ s performance is a result of an impressive 23MP camera that goes from standby to capture in 0.06 seconds . And of course , while waiting around for the action to arrive , I took full advantage of the outstanding 13MP selfie camera , which offers a low-light sensor to ensure one always present oneself in the most flattering of lights ! It ’ s all in the name of roadtesting , of course !
The Sony Xperia XZ includes a range of other impressive specs , including a water resistant design , Qnovo adaptive charging ( meaning your phone stays full of juice for longer ), and it ’ s availability in chic shades of Mineral Black or Midnight Blue , means it complements most of life ’ s colour palettes .
The XZ is the latest Sony Mobile device , and the current flagship device of the Xperia Series . It retails for $ 999 and is available from JB Hi-Fi , Telstra and Sony stores .
28 OH ! MAGAZINE ( MARCH 2017 )