Ultimate Guide to Sony Xperia XZ Premium Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Sony Xperia XZ Premium

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a high-end smartphone that was announced by Sony on February 27, 2017, and released on June 18, 2017. It is equipped with a range of impressive features that cater to both casual users and tech enthusiasts. The phone is available in several attractive colors, including Luminous Chrome, Deepsea Black, Bronze Pink, and Rosso, and it’s priced at approximately 320 EUR.

Design and Build

The Xperia XZ Premium boasts a sleek and modern design, characterized by its use of high-quality materials. The front and back of the device are made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection, while the frame is composed of aluminum and plastic. The phone measures 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm and weighs 195 grams, providing a solid and premium feel in hand. It is available in single SIM and hybrid dual SIM models.

Display

One of the standout features of the Xperia XZ Premium is its 5.46-inch IPS LCD display, which supports HDR10 technology. The screen offers an astonishing 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, resulting in an exceptional pixel density of 807 ppi. This allows for incredibly sharp and detailed visuals, making it an ideal choice for media consumption. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring durability and resistance against scratches.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Xperia XZ Premium is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset, built on a 10 nm process. It features an octa-core CPU with four cores clocked at 2.45 GHz and four at 1.9 GHz, and the Adreno 540 GPU. This hardware configuration provides smooth and fast performance capable of handling demanding applications and games. The phone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSDXC card (using the shared SIM slot in the dual SIM model).

Camera Capabilities

The Xperia XZ Premium is equipped with a 19 MP main camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a 25mm wide lens. It features predictive phase detection and laser autofocus, LED flash, panorama, and HDR capabilities. The camera can record video in 4K at 30 frames per second and 1080p at 30 frames per second with gyro-EIS stabilization, as well as slow-motion video at 720p with 960 fps. For selfies, there is a 13 MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a 22mm wide lens, which supports 1080p video recording at 30 fps.

Audio and Speakers

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium offers a quality audio experience with stereo speakers that deliver clear and loud sound. It also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect their favorite headphones for personalized listening. The phone's audio quality is rated with noise at -90.6dB and crosstalk at -92.6dB, indicating clean and interference-free sound output.

Connectivity and Network

The smartphone supports a wide range of connectivity options. It is compatible with GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, covering an extensive array of 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, making it versatile for use in various regions. The device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, and DLNA, alongside Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, aptX HD, and LE. Positioning technologies include GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and GALILEO, while NFC is also supported. The phone lacks a radio but includes a modern USB Type-C 3.1 port with OTG support.

Battery and Charging

The Xperia XZ Premium houses a 3230 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery that supports 18W wired fast charging through Quick Charge 3.0. With normal usage, the phone has an endurance rating of around 72 hours, providing adequate battery life to get through a busy day.

Sensors and Features

The device includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor (availability dependent on region) for convenient and secure unlocking. Additional sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer, compass, and color spectrum sensor, providing a comprehensive suite of functionality for a better user experience.

Software and User Interface

Initially launched with Android 7.1 (Nougat), the Xperia XZ Premium is upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), which provides an updated user interface and access to the latest Android features and security updates. Sony has enhanced the user experience with a range of its own applications and tweaks to the standard Android interface.

Conclusion

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a powerful and well-rounded smartphone that shines in its display quality, performance, and camera capabilities. It caters to users looking for a high-end device with cutting-edge features and robust build quality. Despite being released in 2017, the phone remains a competitive choice in its segment due to its top-notch specifications and Sony's reputation for producing reliable and elegant devices.