What's good
- Vivid, bright display with excellent viewing angles
- Snappy processor performance
- Water and dust resistant
- 4K video recording
What's bad
- Some images look unnaturally vivid
- Not worth upgrading from Z1
The Sony Xperia Z2 was released only several months after the Xperia Z1, but many critics view the latest update to Sony's flagship phone to be markedly better than its predecessor. Design-wise, reviewers can hardly tell the difference between the Z1 and the Z2 except for its weight and thickness. The Z2 is 7 grams lighter than the Z1 weighing in at 163 grams and 0.01 inches thinner at 0.32 inches. As with the Z1, the Xperia Z2's body is constructed from an aluminum frame and tempered glass front and rear panel. Sony also boosted the device's ruggedness by upping its IP certification to IP58, allowing it to be dust resistant and water resistant for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water.
Despite its lighter weight and thinner body, the Z2 manages to pack additional features. At 5.2 inches, the Z2 beats out its predecessor by 0.2 inches. With that being said, most critics could barely tell the difference not only in size but quality as well.
The LCD display offers the same HD resolution of 1080 x 1920 and a pixel density of 423ppi. Sony has improved upon the display by adding IPS technology and proprietary color technology called Live Color LED which adds red and green phosphors to widen the color gamut. According to Sony, the technology allows users to boost colors without oversaturating. In real life testing, critics were impressed with the vivid colors, contrast and excellent viewing angles though Expert Reviews states, "some example photos we saw looked unnaturally vivid."
Running the smartphone is a 2.3GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM. PCPro describes the performance as "exceedingly snappy" though they go on to mention that the gaming performance remains the same as the graphics chip has not been updated from the Z1. Generally, however, fast speed was enjoyed and there was no noticeable lag even when utilizing more processor intensive apps. The device also comes equipped with 16GB of internal storage and a 3200mAh battery.
Despite all of these improvements, Sony opted to keep the same 20.7 megapixel camera from the Z1. In addition to many of the same camera apps, it also offers SteadyShot image stabilization. When tested, experts did notice a significant reduction in visible camera shake. Much of Sony's focus went more into video recording as evidenced by the Z2's ability to record 4K video and new Timeshift Video feature that enables users to capture 720p video at 120 frames per second.
As a whole, most critics were impressed with the Z2. Expert Reviews states, "Sony appears to have listened to its critics and genuinely improved its flagship smartphone for the Xperia Z2." KnowYourMobile adds that the new display and faster processor has made "a great handset even greater." Tech Radar, on the other hand, is a bit more reserved about their praise noting, "…it's too much like the Xperia Z1 – albeit a better version."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jamshed Avari, Gadgets 360Sony might have a tough time going up against Samsung and HTC, but it does have a few tricks up its sleeve.
- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviewsThe Xperia Z2 is a great phone in most respects. It has a very good camera and outlasts the competition without compromising the experience. However, it is a bit awkward to use at times and gets hotter than the other top phones when under strain.
- Blake Stimac, GreenBotI really like this phone. In fact, had I not recently purchased the G3, and the Z2 was available on AT&T, it might be in my pocket. I can live with the big port covers and the sometimes finicky camera, as the whole package is still very appealing. Of course, if it were in the market this second,...
- Saqib Shah, What MobileIt may not have evolved much, but the Xperia Z2 is still a powerful smartphone that can match its rivals in terms of power and usability. The lack of design innovation and similar specs may put off owners of the Z1and the large size may not appeal to fans of smaller devices, but ultimately this is s...
- James Pearce, CoolsmartphoneI really liked the Sony Xperia Z2, having been disappointed with previous models I was really pleasantly surprised with the Z2. Yes the launcher might be a bit iffy and yes the overall size of the device compared to the screen size is huge, but I really liked it. The overall speed of the device, a g...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia Z2 user manual here.
Sony backs up the Xperia Z2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Xperia Z2 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Sony Xperia Z2 Manual (PDF)
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