Sony has been the giant corporation for electronics and technology in the market which we are all grateful and thankful for during the rise-of-the-mobile-devices era. We have seen how their Xperia flagship devices performed exponentially compared to other brands. However in the last couple of years, there was something lackluster in their smartphones lineup which has led some of us to look towards other companies like the cheap and affordable, yet comparable specs of Xiaomi and OnePlus.

Not too long ago, Sony had introduced us with their new flagship series, the Xperia XZ2. As Sony’s US Head of Mobile Communications, Don Mesa told Gizmodo, “The XZ2 feels like a reset.” Which in his statement, made sense because the phone is a powerhouse comparable to the latest S9+ by Samsung. Sony has learnt to pick up from where they left off and made a great phone with what the latest in technology has to offer.

The Guts

Why is the Xperia XZ2 a powerhouse? Well it is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Snapdragon 845, coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage expandable with microSD; but you might say,”So does the Samsung S9+, so what gives?” Patience young padawan, it’s not over yet… It may be true that the specs of Xperia XZ2 is the same as Samsung’s S9+ but in it lies something far more important than their similarities; their camera. People can’t live without a good camera nowadays because selfies and memories are important.

The Sony XZ2 still has its 960 fps ultra-slow mode recording feature which was adapted from the previous XZ Premium phone. However the XZ2 is able to push it up to 1080p compared to S9+’s 720p, though it’s only for 3 seconds compared to 6 seconds on the S9+. Then Sony comes back even bigger with their 4K HDR video recording, which is the world’s first for mobile phones! As the XZ2 captures images with its 19MP camera equipped with MotionEye recording, it beats the S9+’s 12MP sensor.

With a 5.7 inches of 18:9 ratio display, Sony boasts crisp images and video playing with their embedded Bravia Engine in the Xperia series which can convert standard video into HDR-like clips with more vibrant colors and better contrast.

The Design, The Body

Compared to its predecessors, the XZ2’s exterior is different. It does not come with its box-like curvatures. Instead, Sony has brought us Ambient Flow Design, which aims to bring the ergonomics back to current phones. Though it still looks rectangular, the back of the phone is actually rounded. A curved Gorilla Corning 5 glass wraps around the back of the phone giving it some class which reminds us of the iPhone 3G.

While some manufacturers prefer “face recognition” to unlock their phones, Sony has stuck to their safe and secure fingerprint scanner which they have moved it to the back-center of the phone; easily reachable. Featuring true stereo speakers on the top and bottom of the screen, hidden underneath a grille, it gives an amazing sound experience for those who love airing their music on their loudspeakers. However this time, the XZ2 does not have a 6.5mm jack so people will require a Bluetooth headset to enjoy their music personally; which I wouldn’t mind because no cable, no tangle, no mess. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Sony Xperia if it does not have an IP68 rating for water and dust-resistance!

They also took the liberty to change the vibration module to a new and improved one; stronger perhaps. Because compared to the old one, this one feels like it could shake your LEGO City into smithereens. Of course I might be exaggerating, but it is more powerful than you’ve ever felt.

Also, did you know that they have a smaller version of the XZ2? The XZ2 Compact is the “mini-me” version of the standard XZ2 of course. With most of the companies out there coming up with “bigger-is-better” smartphones, Sony has not given up on trying to make small high-end devices. But the size comes at a cost of its battery life and screen dimension, which all can be overlooked.

Sony has yet to announce their official pricing and release info of the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact but it’s also good to know first hand that there will be four colors available for the model which are black, silver, green and pink. Based on some sites, the phone is expected to be available sometime later between March and April.