SONY’S XZ1 brings 3D scanning technology to a smartphone for the first time but is it enough to rival the competition.
- PROS - Good screen with HDR technology • First 3D scanner on a smartphone • Ships with Android Oreo
- CONS - Uninspiring design • Lacking a dual-lens camera • No edge-to-edge display
A year after Sony refreshed its lineup of devices with the launch of the Xperia XZ, the Japanese technology giant is back with the refreshed XZ1.
This latest flagship brings new features and upgraded specs with the device even able to produce a full 3D scan of pretty much any object you point it at.
However, whilst the competition continues to push the boundaries of design with edge-to-edge displays, wireless charging and dual-lens cameras, Sony is sticking with its classic, and slightly tired, design.
So can this new Sony smartphone really compete with latest and greatest devices from the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple?
Express.co.uk has been putting the XZ1 through its paces and here’s our full review.
DESIGNDie-hard fans of the Sony brand will no doubt love the Xperia XZ1.
With a metal design made from one single sheet of aluminium, this device is well built and clearly made to last.
There’s also some very refined colours, such as Moonlit Blue, which add a huge amount of appeal to this new flagship.
However, despite some nice design touches it’s hard to ignore that it looks almost identical to last year’s XZ.
In fact, it looks pretty similar to almost all of Sony’s previous smartphones dating back to 2013.
This wouldn’t be a problem if other companies weren’t producing such groundbreaking phones.
Samsung, LG and Apple have all revealed devices in the past few months which feature incredible screens that cover almost the entire front of the phone.
Glass and metal cases have also been added to these rivals making them look and feel even more premium.
Some may like Sony’s design ethic and the XZ1 is still a good looking device, we just feel it’s time the Japanese tech firm surprised us with something different.
3D SCANNING AND CAMERAIf you’ve always wanted a 3D scan of your face then the XZ1 is the phone to buy.
This device uses its new camera and some clever software to produce renders of your face which can then be 3D printed or used in a number of apps.
It’s a nice idea from Sony but in reality it’s all a bit of a waste of time.
Firstly, scanning your friends and family isn’t that easy with the lighting needing to be perfect to get the ideal render.
Then there’s the question of what you do with it once you’ve managed to get the scan - which can take numerous attempts.
Yes you can send it away to have a 3D model made or pop it on characters which can then be viewed in augmented reality, but these really are gimmicks and it’s not a reason to buy the XZ1.
Luckily although the scanning isn’t a top feature the camera certainly is.
For photography there’s an improved rear Motion Eye camera which has been created using Sony’s knowledge from its award-winning ‘α’ and Cyber-shot camera ranges.
Although there's no dual-lens, this new rear snapper has plenty of neat tricks ups its sleeve including the ability to shoot video is ultra slow motion.
Like the Xperia XZ Premium, the XZ1 can shoot at a speed 960 frames per second - around four times slower than the iPhone 8.
There’s also a new Predictive Capture which is able to automatically buffer images when it detects action or even a smile.
Once the shutter button is tapped, the XZ1 will give you a selection of images before and after, so you can pick the best shot.
And to help improve images even further a technology called Autofocus burst, intelligently follows your subject adjusting the focus to make sure your action shots stay sharp.
On the front of the XZ1 is a 13-megapixel selfie snapper which uses the display as flash to brighten up images when the lights are low.
Pictures from the XZ1 continue Sony’s impressive photography form and the pictures from it are certainly as good as most of the competition.
DISPLAYThere’s no AMOLED or edge-to-edge screen on the XZ1 but this 5.2-inch display is still pretty decent.
Colours are bright and content looks crisp with Sony using it years of TV experience to produce something that’s definitely worth watching.
Another feature of the Xperia XZ1 is that it includes HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology which means your get razor-sharp, detailed and brighter images on the screen.
It’s a nice extra to have and Sony has partnered with both Amazon and Netflix to make sure that there is HDR-ready content available to watch on the XZ1.
We’re really not knocking Sony for this display, as we’d clearly rather have the best screen possible, but with a limited amount of free HDR TV shows, we don’t think this makes it a must-have feature just yet.
Some may also question the point of having such big-screen TV technology on such a small display.
BATTERY AND PROCESSORSony has always had good battery performance on its smartphones and the XZ1 certainly held up well in our daily tests - easily powering us through 24-hours without needing a charge.
If things do run low there’s also the usual Stamina and Ultra Stamina modes which will help extend battery life when things get critical.
Although the XZ1 performed well in our daily test it wasn’t so impressive when put through our Star Wars Trilogy test.
Sony’s flagship barely survived the six hour movie marathon - something Samsung’s Galaxy S8 managed whilst still maintaining over 60 per cent of its power.
Although the battery didn’t impress in all our tests the processor certainly did.
Sony has packed the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor inside its flagship and you really won't find any issues when it comes to performance.
Many of the latest top-end devices have opted for the 835 and it’s no surprise as this thing will power through everything you throw at it without breaking into a sweat.
ANDROID OSony has been incredibly smart by including Android Oreo out of the box on its XZ1.
Many smartphone makers, including Samsung, are lagging behind when it comes to pre-loading this latest Google operating system on their devices and this is one area where Sony is leading the pack.
If you buy the XZ1 you’ll be treated to all the latest Android updates long before other smartphones.
Sadly, Sony still insists on clogging up its smartphones with bloatware and you’ll find plenty of duplicate apps and things you simply don’t want when you hit the on button for the first time.
EXTRASSony was one of the first manufacturers to include a waterproof design and the XZ1 continues to be able to cope with soaking.
There’s also a fingerprint scanner neatly positioned on the side of the phone which actually works well.
We like this scanner and it’s certainly better than Samsung’s rear mounted nightmare.
Sony’s flagship ships with 64GB of internal memory but this is upgradable via a MicroSD card.
It's also fully compatible with High-Res Audio.
PRICEIf you are looking for a bargain, stop reading now as the Xperia XZ1 is firmly in the flagship price bracket.
This phone will cost you £599 SIM-only and contracts start from around £36 per month.
This includes 1 GB of data and unlimited calls/texts.
Sony’s prices are similar to most other Android flagships but, with devices such as the £449 OnePlus 5 offering just as much at a cheaper price, Sony needs to be careful it doesn’t lose out its cut-priced rivals.
VERDICTThe Xperia XZ1 is a solid smartphone that will easily get you through your two year contract and beyond.
It's built well, has an excellent screen, decent battery life and good camera.
Plus, if you really want a 3D scan of your head this new Xperia offers a relatively easy way of producing one.
With the Snapdragon 835 powering it, this is also one of the fastest Android devices you can buy - especially as it ships with Android Oreo straight out of the box.
These are clearly all great features but, sadly, there’s simply no getting away from the fact that the Xperia XZ1 simply isn't exciting enough.
With no edge-to-edge display or DSLR-style dual-lens camera, this new Sony phone looks like every other Xperia device that’s gone before it.
If you’re a massive fan of the brand then this will be a decent upgrade but, with so many of its rivals pulling groundbreaking devices from the bag, we’re finding hard to fully recommend the XZ1.
We’re huge fans of Sony and, in the past they’ve pushed the boundaries with water resistant designs and top-notch cameras.
Let’s hope the next-generation XZ2 can go back to those winning ways.