Smartphone innovation is a mixed bag. On one hand, we’re treated to fancy all-display beauties and triple camera arrangements, but on the other end of the spectrum... well, you’ll find silly side-squeezing features and naff 3D facial-scanning technology.
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Many phone manufacturers squeeze in a gimmick or two to help grab the attention of potential pundits. Sony, however, has something rather special under its sleeves this year, and this lavish addition might be enough to divert your gaze from the usual smartphone big hitters. My goodness, Sony might just pull this off.
Sony Xperia XZ3 review: Key specifications, price and release date
- 6in 2,960 x 1,440 HDR OLED display
- Octa-core 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 19-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera
- 13-megapixel f/1.9 front camera
- 64GB of storage, expandable up to 400GB via microSD
- Android 9 Pie
- 3,330mAh battery
- UK price: TBC
- UK release date: 5 October 2018
Sony Xperia XZ3 review: Design, key features and first impressions
The screen of the XZ3 has finally caught up with the times. While Sony is still rather fresh-faced when it comes to 18:9 all-display handsets, this latest model has a gorgeous 6in OLED screen on the front. This is framed by miniscule notch-free chin and forehead bezels, above and below the screen. The panel wraps around the sides of the device ever-so-slightly, just like Samsung’s Galaxy S7.
The Xperia XZ3 actually has another enticing feature akin to Samsung’s venerable flagship. “Side Sense”, as Sony calls it, allows you to double tap anywhere along the length of either side of the screen, which launches a sub-menu for easy access to your most-used applications. “AI learning” plays a big part here, too, with the phone adjusting the displayed apps depending on the time of day and your location. Essentially, the phone will make sure the apps you want are always at your beck and call.
Likewise, this feature allows you to navigate forwards and backwards within applications by simply swiping your finger across from the edge of the screen. You can also snap a picture by double tapping the side of the display in the camera app. The strength required for your double taps can be adjusted in the settings.
Rest assured, the Gorilla Glass 3-coated OLED display looks gorgeous on first impression. The first of its kind for Sony, the HDR Bravia-branded screen measures 6in across the diagonal, with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440. Watching the trailer for Sony’s upcoming Venom film during my brief hands-on session, colours looked much more natural when compared with the same footage played on my OnePlus 6, with more realistic flesh tones and deeper blacks.
While I’m yet to have a chance to turn our colour calibrator loose on a review unit, I can confidently say this is one heck of a smartphone screen. Packed with Sony’s fancy TV tech, I expect this phone’s display will set the standard for future smartphone launches.
Elsewhere, the colour and design of the materials are just as luxurious, with four styles available in the UK: Bordeaux Red, Forest Green, Black and White Silver. While the latter pair are rather bog-standard as paint jobs go, the other two are nothing short of beautiful, with an attractive colourful sheen when the phone catches the light.
As for the practicalities, there’s enough here for any aspiring flagship. On the right edge of the phone you’ll find the volume rocker, power button and dedicated camera shutter button, while the nano-SIM and microSD tray sits on the top. A USB Type-C charging port is on the bottom, and the phone is also IP68 dust- and water-resistant.
On the downside, Sony has again omitted the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a real shame. I hope you have a nice pair of Sony-branded Bluetooth headphones if you’re set on buying the Xperia XZ3.
Sony’s latest flagship is powered by Qualcomm’s fastest-ever mobile chipset, the octa-core Snapdragon 845, which is clocked at 2.8GHz and paired with 4GB of RAM. There’s a healthy 64GB of on-board storage too, which can be expanded up to 400GB via microSD.
That all sounds rather impressive, and if the similarly-equipped XZ2 Compact is anything to go by, this will be a very speedy phone indeed. Of course, I will be able to report on the XZ3’s performance when I receive a handset for review.
The Xperia XZ3 also manages to one-up the recently-launched Galaxy Note 9, shipping with Android 9 Pie, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, straight out of the box.
Finally, let’s discuss the Xperia XZ3’s rear camera. Specifications might not look particularly intriguing; the rear of Sony’s latest flagship is fitted with a 19-megapixel f/2.0 snapper, which benefits from Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) for super steady shots. Sony’s effective predictive phase-detect and laser autofocus setup is also included.
As for video capabilities, the phone allows you to record footage at 4K resolution with HDR enabled, just like its predecessor, and the XZ3 can capture super-slow motion Full HD video at 960fps.
Sony Xperia XZ3 review: Early verdict
Sony’s Xperia XZ3 is a welcome return to form. Following an abundance of middling handset launches from the Japanese firm, the XZ3 appears to be ticking all the boxes that matter: notably, top-tier performance, screen quality and a swish redesign.
Alas, at the time of writing there’s no word yet on how much Sony’s flashy flagship will cost when it finally arrives on UK shores. As such, I can’t quite deliver my final verdict just yet, but the Xperia XZ3 is shaping up to be a noteworthy phone that’s worth keeping an eye on in the months that follow.
