Twice a year every year, Sony issues a new flagship Android smartphone. This rapid pace has propelled us from 2013’s Xperia Z to today’s Xperia Z5, across five generations of what’s been fundamentally the same formula: distinctive design, long battery life, the latest Qualcomm processor, and a great camera sensor. Every new iteration has chiseled away a few imperfections, and Sony has also brought out an Xperia Z Compact, which maintains all those flagship qualities but fits them within a smaller size. It’s a great story of gradual evolution and refinement, but if you’re in the United States, it might as well not be happening at all.
Ever since AT&T’s unhappy experience with the Xperia Ion in 2012, US carriers have been reluctant to invest much time and effort into Sony products. Even after all these years, we only get token efforts like Verizon’s Xperia Z4v, which was canceled a few days ago after a protracted delay. Sony is absent from the mainstream US smartphone market, which is a calamitous situation given the quality of its smartphones.
Last year’s Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact were among the best Android devices introduced by any manufacturer, and this year’s Z5 family promises even more. The new handsets are fully loaded with the latest technology — including a fast fingerprint sensor built into the power button — and they introduce the first new imaging sensor to the Z series since the original. Sony’s bumped the resolution up by 15 percent to 23 megapixels and is proclaiming the new Z5 camera the best mobile camera that it has ever made. Plus it’s done it without adding an unsightly camera bump like everyone else is doing this year.
Sony’s new Xperias share an almost identical spec sheet, diverging only in the dimensions of the display and the size of the battery, which is why I’m reviewing the 5.2-inch Xperia Z5 and 4.6-inch Z5 Compact together. The other member of the family is the 5.5-inch Xperia Z5 Premium, which will be available later in the year with a 4K display.
My first impressions of Sony’s new phones were overwhelmingly positive, and I doubt anyone else could react any differently. Sony has persisted with its OmniBalance design — even while endlessly tweaking the internals and the positioning of expansion ports around the sides — because it gives the company’s phones a beautiful and timeless look. One solid piece of glass on the front, one solid piece of glass on the back, and a strong metal frame holding them together. It’s simple and strikingly elegant. It’s also waterproof.
EVERY XPERIA Z THAT SONY CREATES IS A MINOR ENGINEERING MIRACLE
Sony never gets enough credit for this, so I’m going to reiterate it: the Xperia Z phones are, by far, the most attractive waterproof devices out there. Whether you’re looking at the Z5 or Z5 Compact, you get a slim, efficiently made smartphone that makes no aesthetic compromises for its added water resistance. Among the biggest changes from the original Xperia Z is the fact that the headphone jack and charging port are now out in the open, no longer needing a flappy cover to ensure the phone remains waterproof. Those changes were present in 2014’s Z3 generation, but now Sony’s made another improvement by also dropping the dock connector that’s been puncturing the sides of its phones for years. Sony’s proprietary docks are expensive and rarely used, so it’s no great loss to anyone, and it gives the Z5 devices smoother sides that are friendlier to the touch.
A significant alteration to the sides of the new Xperias is in the shape of the power button, which is now oblong (rather than round) in order to accommodate the new fingerprint sensor. I initially thought that this positioning would be ideal for a fingerprint sensor, however Sony’s implementation has left me preferring the front-mounted version favored by Apple and Samsung or the rear-located option that Huawei uses on devices like the Mate S. The side is just too thin to fit a full-sized sensor into, resulting in the phone seeing only a thin sliver of my thumbprint and therefore producing a lot of failed readings. When the sensor does identify me correctly, it’s almost too fast — a complaint shared by owners of the new iPhone 6S series — unlocking the phone when all I want to do is check the lock screen notifications.
I find myself conflicted about the subtle changes in the shape of the Xperia Z5 relative to its predecessors. The Z3 had rounder, softer sides, which made it more comfortable in the hand, but also easier to mishandle. The new Z5 returns to the flatter, harder sides of earlier Z devices, and it even has a distinct edge that sticks out slightly above its rear pane of glass. I don’t know why that’s there, and I’m not a huge fan of it, but it’s true that I’ve found the Xperia Z5 easier to grip reliably, so maybe it helps in that respect. The new form of the flagship 5.2-inch device now matches up perfectly with the blocky 4.6-inch Z5 Compact, with Sony opting to make the two practically identical.
THE Z5 COMPACT OFFERS A TRULY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF POWER AND POCKETABILITY
Compared to other leading Android smartphones, the Xperia Z5 feels angular and rough. I prefer the smoother, softer shape of the Samsung Galaxy S6 or, alternatively, the more refined lines of the HTC One M9. Neither of them gives me a waterproof phone, but there’s something to be said about wanting to pick up and play with a smartphone, and Sony’s new Xperia just doesn’t do that for me. It feels too workmanlike and functional. It still looks elegant, but it doesn’t feel as pleasant as it looks. That being said, the smaller Xperia Z5 Compact has a definite advantage over all other Android smartphones, which stems from its unique combination of power and size. It has almost everything (a 1080p display would be nice) you could ask for from a modern flagship phone, but fits it into the most unobtrusive dimensions. The Compact also has thinner bezels than the regular Z5, making its compactness all the more pronounced.
Having reviewed all previous iterations in Sony’s Xperia Z line, I thought highly of their durability, however my experience with the Z5 has given me cause for concern. At some unidentifiable point during my review of the new device, I managed to crack its frosted glass back. It wasn’t due to some big drop or otherwise obvious bump. What worries me more, though, is the outpouring of stories from current and former Xperia Z owners saying that they’ve had similar problems. Cracked or shattered glass backs are actually a recurring issue with Sony’s devices, and the only reason we haven’t heard more about them, I imagine, is the relatively low sales volume of these handsets and their absence from the most demanding US market. This problem could also be part of the reason why Sony’s phones are absent from the US. A case or some other protective measure would seem advisable for future Xperia Z5 owners
EASILY SONY’S BEST MOBILE CAMERA AND ONE OF THE BEST ON ANY SMARTPHONE
The big reason for why you’d want to be an Xperia Z5 owner is the camera. I’m not going to waste time with any preamble: this is easily Sony’s best mobile camera and absolutely one of the best on any smartphone. The new camera has surprised me in different ways: from its ability to focus in low light, to its image stabilization ensuring steady shots, to the quality and detail of its final output. I’m discovering intricate details like the thinnest of spider webs — unnoticeable to the naked eye — when I zoom in on the full-size 23-megapixel photos. Sony defaults to capturing 8-megapixel stills in a 16:9 format, which use the full resolution of the imaging sensor to algorithmically improve the quality and cleanliness of the final, smaller image. Basically, shoot the lower resolution for the best possible quality or the full resolution for the most pixels.
Last year’s Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact were among the best Android devices introduced by any manufacturer, and this year’s Z5 family promises even more. The new handsets are fully loaded with the latest technology — including a fast fingerprint sensor built into the power button — and they introduce the first new imaging sensor to the Z series since the original. Sony’s bumped the resolution up by 15 percent to 23 megapixels and is proclaiming the new Z5 camera the best mobile camera that it has ever made. Plus it’s done it without adding an unsightly camera bump like everyone else is doing this year.
Sony’s new Xperias share an almost identical spec sheet, diverging only in the dimensions of the display and the size of the battery, which is why I’m reviewing the 5.2-inch Xperia Z5 and 4.6-inch Z5 Compact together. The other member of the family is the 5.5-inch Xperia Z5 Premium, which will be available later in the year with a 4K display.
EVERY XPERIA Z THAT SONY CREATES IS A MINOR ENGINEERING MIRACLE
Sony never gets enough credit for this, so I’m going to reiterate it: the Xperia Z phones are, by far, the most attractive waterproof devices out there. Whether you’re looking at the Z5 or Z5 Compact, you get a slim, efficiently made smartphone that makes no aesthetic compromises for its added water resistance. Among the biggest changes from the original Xperia Z is the fact that the headphone jack and charging port are now out in the open, no longer needing a flappy cover to ensure the phone remains waterproof. Those changes were present in 2014’s Z3 generation, but now Sony’s made another improvement by also dropping the dock connector that’s been puncturing the sides of its phones for years. Sony’s proprietary docks are expensive and rarely used, so it’s no great loss to anyone, and it gives the Z5 devices smoother sides that are friendlier to the touch.
A significant alteration to the sides of the new Xperias is in the shape of the power button, which is now oblong (rather than round) in order to accommodate the new fingerprint sensor. I initially thought that this positioning would be ideal for a fingerprint sensor, however Sony’s implementation has left me preferring the front-mounted version favored by Apple and Samsung or the rear-located option that Huawei uses on devices like the Mate S. The side is just too thin to fit a full-sized sensor into, resulting in the phone seeing only a thin sliver of my thumbprint and therefore producing a lot of failed readings. When the sensor does identify me correctly, it’s almost too fast — a complaint shared by owners of the new iPhone 6S series — unlocking the phone when all I want to do is check the lock screen notifications.
I find myself conflicted about the subtle changes in the shape of the Xperia Z5 relative to its predecessors. The Z3 had rounder, softer sides, which made it more comfortable in the hand, but also easier to mishandle. The new Z5 returns to the flatter, harder sides of earlier Z devices, and it even has a distinct edge that sticks out slightly above its rear pane of glass. I don’t know why that’s there, and I’m not a huge fan of it, but it’s true that I’ve found the Xperia Z5 easier to grip reliably, so maybe it helps in that respect. The new form of the flagship 5.2-inch device now matches up perfectly with the blocky 4.6-inch Z5 Compact, with Sony opting to make the two practically identical.
THE Z5 COMPACT OFFERS A TRULY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF POWER AND POCKETABILITY
Compared to other leading Android smartphones, the Xperia Z5 feels angular and rough. I prefer the smoother, softer shape of the Samsung Galaxy S6 or, alternatively, the more refined lines of the HTC One M9. Neither of them gives me a waterproof phone, but there’s something to be said about wanting to pick up and play with a smartphone, and Sony’s new Xperia just doesn’t do that for me. It feels too workmanlike and functional. It still looks elegant, but it doesn’t feel as pleasant as it looks. That being said, the smaller Xperia Z5 Compact has a definite advantage over all other Android smartphones, which stems from its unique combination of power and size. It has almost everything (a 1080p display would be nice) you could ask for from a modern flagship phone, but fits it into the most unobtrusive dimensions. The Compact also has thinner bezels than the regular Z5, making its compactness all the more pronounced.
Having reviewed all previous iterations in Sony’s Xperia Z line, I thought highly of their durability, however my experience with the Z5 has given me cause for concern. At some unidentifiable point during my review of the new device, I managed to crack its frosted glass back. It wasn’t due to some big drop or otherwise obvious bump. What worries me more, though, is the outpouring of stories from current and former Xperia Z owners saying that they’ve had similar problems. Cracked or shattered glass backs are actually a recurring issue with Sony’s devices, and the only reason we haven’t heard more about them, I imagine, is the relatively low sales volume of these handsets and their absence from the most demanding US market. This problem could also be part of the reason why Sony’s phones are absent from the US. A case or some other protective measure would seem advisable for future Xperia Z5 owners
EASILY SONY’S BEST MOBILE CAMERA AND ONE OF THE BEST ON ANY SMARTPHONE
The big reason for why you’d want to be an Xperia Z5 owner is the camera. I’m not going to waste time with any preamble: this is easily Sony’s best mobile camera and absolutely one of the best on any smartphone. The new camera has surprised me in different ways: from its ability to focus in low light, to its image stabilization ensuring steady shots, to the quality and detail of its final output. I’m discovering intricate details like the thinnest of spider webs — unnoticeable to the naked eye — when I zoom in on the full-size 23-megapixel photos. Sony defaults to capturing 8-megapixel stills in a 16:9 format, which use the full resolution of the imaging sensor to algorithmically improve the quality and cleanliness of the final, smaller image. Basically, shoot the lower resolution for the best possible quality or the full resolution for the most pixels.
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