Sony Xperia XZ3

Sony might not be a leader in the Android market, but that hasn’t kept the company from churning out high-end phones every six months. The Xperia XZ3 isn’t a huge leap from the XZ2 , but does it offer a solid upgrade to their last release? 

The XZ2 was a huge departure from previous iterations and while the XZ3 doesn’t stray too much, reviewers called it “stunning.” It comes in five different color options, but all include IP65/68 waterproofing as well as glass front and rear. 

The edges are much softer than previous models, making it more comfortable to grip. But the glass means it’s slippery and a fingerprint magnet. While thicker than other smartphones, it’s thinner than the XZ2 and weighs only 193 grams (0.42 lbs). 

While it might look great, the overall layout isn’t perfect. Many found the fingerprint sensor too low, which often led to them accidentally placing their finger on the camera lens instead. 

Perhaps the biggest difference between the XZ3 and its competitors is its lack of a notch. Instead, Sony kept the blackout bars above and below the screen. While it might make the phone a little tall (6.22 inches), it provides a more immersive viewing experience overall.

Speaking of the viewing experience, the 6-inch OLED display provides excellent sharpness thanks to its 2960-by-1440 resolution. 

As expected of OLED, the blacks are dark and inky while the colors are vibrant and punchy. When critics compared it side-by-side to similarly priced flagships, they discovered that it was sharper than the iPhone X with more realistic colors than the Samsung Galaxy S9 . TechRadar called it, “the best smartphone screen ever made.”

There are no issues with performance either. The Xperia XZ3 comes with a Snapdragon 845 processor and 4GB of RAM. While less than other smartphones in its price range, experts had no issues with navigating the phone’s menus or opening apps. Games and other processor-intensive apps worked seamlessly with no hiccups.

Battery life was average. Reviewers hit a full day’s worth of use from the 3,330mAh battery during moderate to heavy use. The phone also has fast charging, allowing a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

While other companies are opting for a dual-lens rear camera, Sony stayed with a 19MP single-lens rear camera — the same lens used on the XZ1 . Despite this, it surprised reviewers with the improvements on offer compared to earlier models. They noticed much better image quality overall — especially in regard to low-light performance. 

With that said, when compared to cameras found on flagship phones like the iPhone XS and Google Pixel 2, it lags behind. In good lighting situations, it takes excellent pictures, yet experts noticed it struggles with dynamic range, often blowing out the highlights.

In medium-to-low light, they found grain creeping in sooner when compared to other phones like the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 .

Overall, reviewers were happy with the XZ3 despite its high price tag. Engadget states, “The Xperia XZ3 is a pretty, powerful flagship phone… You’re not going to be disappointed if you do spring for the XZ3…” Pocket-Lint adds, “The Sony Xperia XZ3 is the Xperia flagship we’ve been waiting a very long time to see.”