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Sony Xperia Z2

Sony Xperia Z2 Review – The Sony Xperia Z2 has a lot to prove. It was launched just six months after its predecessor, the Xperia Z1, prompting anger from those that had just bought the original, and suspicion from others that the Z2 was just a stop-gap for an even better phone. However, though it was only a minor upgrade, the Z2 is packed with features that prove it is a premium product that deserves to stand on its own merits.

Sony Xperia Z2

Not content to boast a 20.7-MP camera, the most powerful in this test, it also has Sony’s G-Lens and BIONZ mobile image-processing engine, plus a range of great photo apps. These can shoot 4K videos, add AR effects, capture panoramas and includes integration with Vine. Capitalising on all that entertainment content Sony owns, the Xperia Z2 is a made for consuming media. As well as the 5.2-inch screen and two front-facing speakers, the Walkman app enables online and offline listening, while Movies is a one-stop video app.

PlayStation Mobile is a killer addition for all gamers, providing cross-platform support with the handheld PS Vita. All these features don’t cause any drag, the Xperia Z2 performed best of all in our performance tests. However, the features, in particular the screen size, have taken their toll on the Xperia Z2’s design: it’s very blocky and sits awkwardly when held in just one hand. But, Sony will claim its build has an ace in its hole in the form of military-grade dust and waterproofing. With rubber-lined flaps over all the ports that seal them tight, you can take photos underwater for half an hour and dive to a depth of 1.5 metres. This is undeniably impressive and, coupled with its life-tracking features, makes the Xperia Z2 an excellent choice for both mobile entertainment and on-the-go action.

However, though Sony is keen to crow about its waterproofing in adverts, the Samsung Galaxy S5 boasts similar water resistance that has proved to be just as effective as the Xperia Z2 in tests, which makes it less of a selling point.

Screen

At 5.2 inches, the screen-to-phone ratio on the Xperia Z2 is high, ideal for enjoying its vast multimedia features. Made with real glass rather than plastic, the screen gives the Xperia Z2 a premium finish its design is otherwise lacking.

Performance

The Xperia Z2 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3GHz and a whopping 3GB of RAM. In our benchmark tests, the Xperia Z2 performed the fastest out of all the premium phones for system-wide speed.

Features

There is lots going on with the Xperia Z2, both under the hood and in the OS. Its headline feature is its extreme waterproofing, but we were also impressed by its powerful camera and PlayStation Mobile and Walkman apps.

Value

More expensive than the Galaxy S5 and Moto X, but ultimately in line with what we would expect to pay for a flagship phone. However, if Sony launch the Z2’s successor as fast as it launched this one, the Z2 is going to quickly be obsolete.