Sony xperia z2 screen resolution. The new flagship Sony Xperia Z2 was officially presented to the world – features and specifications. Delivery and configuration

The next flagship of the Japanese manufacturer, more advanced than previous generations, is the Sony Xperia Z2 LTE D6503. It received an improved hardware platform, a new screen, and more RAM. Thanks to its impressive appearance, the smartphone looks and feels quite solid. The degree of protection of the device from water and dust complies with the IP 55/58 standard.

The Sony Xperia Z2 LTE D6503 model is equipped with a very high-quality screen with an IPS matrix and new Live Color LED technology, which expands the color range. Also impressive is the complete lack of grain due to the high pixel density of 423ppi. The 5.2-inch screen is highly sensitive, responds even to a gloved hand or wet fingers, and is capable of handling up to 10 simultaneous touches. The smartphone will delight you with stereo sound, rich, clear, with low frequencies.

The smartphone will surprise you with its speed

The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor is responsible for the fast, stable operation of the device, and 3GB of RAM is allocated to help it. The performance of the device remains at the highest level, allowing the device owner to launch any applications and quickly browse Internet pages. When connected to the LTE network, you can enjoy the best quality movies online and download any files quickly. The phone supports a memory card up to 128GB, so there are no problems with storage. The main camera of the smartphone is equipped with a 20.7 megapixel sensor with a wide-angle lens.

The balance between design, technical base, and price of the Sony Xperia Z2 LTE D6503 is maintained and users are offered a very interesting option, ready to fight on an equal footing with its main competitors, the flagships Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One (M8).

Well, I can congratulate Sony, they managed to make the flagship a flagship. I always knew that Sony has a large army of fans and connoisseurs of their products, but it was hard for me to understand in honor of what? Most likely, due to old achievements, because I frankly did not understand the enthusiastic reviews towards smartphone models that are called top-end, for example, Z and Z1. If more affordable models can be forgiven a lot, then the best must be the best. What didn't I like? To be honest, there is one drawback that you can put up with; nothing is perfect. But the Xperia Z had more of them. The display on paper was very good, with a bunch of marketing names, but in fact it was much inferior to competing solutions. The viewing angles were completely useless when no one remembered them anymore (though, later LG also distinguished itself with its G2, and then with the Nexus 5). The autonomy of the Z-ke did not stand up to criticism, and the water resistance of the smartphone made it inconvenient to use in many situations, if only because of the closed headphone jack. The Xperia Z also had a weak camera and a body that was overly large compared to its competitors. After it, a very interesting phablet, the Xperia Z Ultra, appeared, which, oddly enough, was qualitatively superior to the Z in everything, but was really huge, which made it niche. However, hopes arose that since the display in the Z Ultra is high-quality, then the next flagship model will have the same quality. But something went wrong and we again saw a low-quality screen. And, although the headphone jack was now uncovered, the smartphone was still a bit big, and the camera was still inferior to top solutions from other manufacturers. And now we have the new Sony Xperia Z2, which I was skeptical from the very beginning - after all, I had already hoped twice. But from the very beginning, the smartphone pleased me more, and among the shortcomings there are no longer any that were in its predecessors. The display is now good, the camera easily competes with competitors, and the body, despite the increase in the display, has become thinner, narrower and lighter.

Design and ergonomics

The body still feels the same premium; Sony seems to have never suffered from this. But now there are no films on it, neither front nor back. Previously, the glass was covered with factory protective films, which were almost part of the structure. It was not easy to remove them, and the manufacturer’s logos were also removed along with them. But the main thing is that there was no oleophobic coating under the film on the display. Now everything is like everyone else: if you want, you can pay for the film yourself, but most people just want good glass protection. The body feels monolithic; under strong mechanical stress it does not creak, nothing wobbles. However, I didn’t really like the fact that the design lacks rigidity; I talked about this back when testing the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. The body rotates quite easily and this is noticeable, however, for this, you still need to make an effort. In real life, I don't think this would be an inconvenience to anyone. The arrangement of all elements is familiar to users of previous generations of Sony flagships. On the right: under the flap is a slot for Micro SD memory cards, a proprietary round key for blogging/turning on the device, below it is a volume rocker, and even lower is a two-position camera key. The presence of the latter is very pleasing, but I, as before, have questions only about the volume key - why is it below the waterline? It's not convenient.
On the left, under a paired flap, there is a slot for a SIM card and a MicroUSB connector, below is a connector for the dock, it is not covered.
At the bottom there is an eyelet for a strap and its presence also makes me happy. The smartphone is waterproof, so as not to drown it, floating on the surface, I would cling it to my hand.
At the top there is an additional microphone and a headset jack.
The front side is occupied by a 5.2″ display, on the bottom and top of which there are now stereo speakers that sound very good. Not the same as in , of course, but I really liked the sound. And this is taking into account the presence of additional protective membranes that provide protection from water ingress, the sound is better than that of other flagships. An LED was also placed under the top speaker, not like in most devices, but in the form of a wide strip flashing in different colors, depending on the scenario. Looks beautiful. Near the top speaker there is a 2.1 MP front camera and sensors.
The frames do not look huge, which is pleasing, but the smartphone cannot be called compact.
At the back there is a 20.7 MP camera and flash. The flash is without any bells and whistles, as in other flagship models: not double, without color diodes.
But I use the flash on my smartphone exclusively as a flashlight and it handles this easily. There is a separate application that includes it for illumination, but it looks very ugly - it stands out from the general style of the interface.

Display

Perhaps the main problem of the previous “Z” cars was the display. In case of deviations, the image was greatly distorted and became covered with a white veil. I already told you above how inferior it was to its competitors, but in Z2, everything has finally changed. Now there is an IPS display with excellent viewing angles and good brightness levels. Now I can say that I only wish the maximum brightness was higher; on a bright sunny day the picture is hard to see. Otherwise I have no complaints. The colors do not give off excessive warmth or blue, the picture looks natural, which is what you expect from IPS. We also noticed new names in the new screen, for example, Live Color LED technology, which expands the sRGB color gamut to 130%. That is, the picture becomes more saturated and contrasty, but the realism decreases.

The resolution of the 5.2″ display is 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density is 423 ppi. This is enough for the display to be in no way inferior to Quad HD displays; the pixels are indistinguishable. Also, unlike LG with strong oversharpening and Samsung with SuperAMOLED matrices, there are no outlines around the fonts, which are a little annoying when reading large texts.
Another feature that can be attributed specifically to this point is the absence of film from the box. Previously, a factory film was glued over the screen, which was very difficult to remove, under which there was no oleophobic coating, and along with which the company logos were removed. Still, if a person wants to wear film, purchasing it separately is not a problem. But there are many more of those who do not want to do this, and they had to worry a lot. In addition, any film collects scratches very quickly, because its rigidity is much inferior to glass. In general, the right move.

Cameras

And the second complaint after the display was the camera. The new product has been significantly improved and now it easily competes with the most powerful smartphones in the world. But the flaw that frankly annoyed me back in the Z1 was not fixed here. Sony favors its automatic shooting mode, which produces 8 MP widescreen images. There is nothing wrong with having such a mode, but I don’t like widescreen frames with distorted edges, and when you start the camera using a mechanical key, the automatic mode is activated, even if you manually set another one before.
And one more nuance, which, perhaps, is present only in my copy - sometimes (literally a couple of times) the camera refused to start, and did not start until the smartphone was rebooted. And this happened, of course, just at the “right” moment :)
However, the quality of the images now covers everything. Particularly pleasing is the opportunity to shoot underwater, because the smartphone is protected, and there is a mechanical button to release the “shutter”, which, moreover, is two-position. When I had the Z2, we went to instameet in Buki and only there I was able to immerse the smartphone in the rushing water, the footage was worth it. Here is the finished card: More in full resolution in the gallery below. Also note how the camera “washes the background” when focusing close; the aperture here is 2.0. Video is recorded up to 4K resolution. Level stabilization. The camera interface is significantly different from that in stock Android; there are quite a lot of settings, including white balance, shooting modes and additional applications.

Photo examples

Video examples 1080p 1080p 60 fps 4k

Sound

Perhaps this is a rare case when I will pay a little more attention to sound quality. The fact is that the main stereo speakers are now located on the front side of the gadget, like in the HTC One. At the same time, despite the security of the case, they sound much better than in other flagship models, with the exception of the mentioned One and its successor One M8. And here there is protection according to the IP55 standard against water pressure under low pressure and according to the IP58 standard for immersion to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes - doubly respect. We can clearly distinguish the stereo effect, the volume is decent, but most importantly, the sound is quite well detailed. It’s clear that few people will enjoy the sound of their favorite songs from external speakers, but showing someone an excerpt of a song or watching a video with sound will be more convenient here than on many other flagship models. And I find the front placement the most convenient.
But the main thing is the sound in the headphones, it is extremely good. There are no blockages across the entire frequency range, which means that even specific headphones will be easier to adjust with an equalizer. The standard Walkman player, by the way, allows you to do this. There are many presets and a customizable equalizer.

Specifications and software

The performance is driven by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a clock frequency of 2.3 GHz, graphics - Adreno 330. The amount of RAM is pleasing - as much as 3 GB. Today, only one of the modifications of the LG G3 and the SGN3 have so much. Considering the non-gluttonous software from Sony, the smartphone behaves very well. However, you can warm up the device, and quite simply - using the camera, rummaging through the browser, or, even worse, playing a demanding hairpin game. Battery capacity - 3200 mAh. In principle, the smartphone is quite good, but compared to its predecessors. And competing models are still ahead, the same SGS5 and HTC One M8 last longer in any mode of use, to say nothing of real long-livers. But, in general, I have enough autonomy for a day.

Competition in the mobile device market is only intensifying every year and is therefore becoming more and more interesting. As a result, we all - the end consumers - benefit, receiving a wide range of devices for every taste and budget. A division of the Japanese company Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB, continues its struggle in this market segment. This is evidenced by the adopted strategy of releasing new flagship smartphones every six months, which allows the company to more quickly respond to market needs and satisfy them fully.

A striking example of this is a top-end smartphone that has absorbed the main advantages and lost the key disadvantages of its predecessors. As befits a flagship, the new product is equipped with a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display, a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, a 20.7 MP main camera and a number of other equally interesting features, which we will consider in detail below. We suggest starting the review of the new product with technical characteristics:

Manufacturer
Type, form factor	Smartphone, monoblock
Communication standards		850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
		850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
		700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2300 / 2600 MHz
High speed data transfer	GPRS (32-48 Kbps), EDGE (236 Kbps), HSDPA (up to 42.2 Mbps), HSUPA (up to 5.76 Mbps), LTE Cat.4 (up to 50 Mbps UL, up to 150 Mbit/s DL)
SIM card type
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB): 4 Krait 400 cores, up to 2.3 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 28 nm HPm process technology
Graphics adapter	Qualcomm Adreno 330: up to 550 MHz, support OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenVG 1.1, OpenCL 1.2 and DirectX 9.0c
	IPS, 5.2" TRILUMINOS, 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi), touch, capacitive, multi-touch up to 10 touches, Asahi Dragontrail Glass, X-Reality and Live Color technologies
RAM	3 GB, dual channel LPDDR3
Persistent memory
Card reader	microSD (up to 128 GB)
Interfaces	1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack
Multimedia	Audio processing
	Acoustics
	Microphone
	Main	Exmor RS (1/2.6"): 20.7 MP, BSI, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, SteadyShot digital image stabilization, HDR shooting, 4K Ulta HD video recording (30 FPS)
	Frontal	2.2 MP, f/2.8 aperture, fixed focus, 1080p video recording
Communication capabilities		802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) (Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot)
	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, LED indicator, geomagnetic sensor (compass), barometer
Battery	Li-ion, non-replaceable: 3200 mAh
Charger	Input: 100~240 VAC eg at 50/60 Hz Output: 5 VDC e.g. 1.5 A
	Dust and moisture protection according to IP55 and IP58 standards
	146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm
operating system	Android 4.4.2 KitKat + proprietary shell
Official guarantee	12 months
Products webpage

Delivery and configuration

The smartphone comes in a traditional compact square package made of relatively thick cardboard. It has a restrained and laconic design. On its front side there is an image of a smartphone indicating the name of the model, as well as the logos of the company and the World Cup in Brazil. In addition, the image of the included headset, which is equipped with a digital noise reduction function, attracts attention.

On the reverse side you can see the main features of the Sony Xperia Z2, which are presented in the form of icons. Here you can also find images of the new product in available color variations.

In the kit you will find everything you need to fully work with your smartphone:

• user guide;
• warranty card;
• charger (5 V, 1.5 A);
• micro-USB↔USB cable;
• Sony MDR-NC31EM stereo headset with vacuum design headphones and digital noise reduction system.

There is also an additional range of accessories that can be purchased separately. A complete list of them can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Appearance, arrangement of elements

Although we already have the third generation of flagship smartphones, they all have similar features that were laid down back in the days of Sony Xperia Z. Sony decided not to experiment with the appearance of its next flagship, but to use the time-tested OmniBalance concept. As a result, we have the most symmetrical candy bar, which looks quite beautiful and stylish. It should be noted that, for example, Samsung uses a similar approach to the release of flagship smartphones (all representatives of the Samsung Galaxy S series are quite similar to each other). Like its predecessor, the Sony Xperia Z1, the main body materials of the Sony Xperia Z2 are glass and metal. The front and back panels are made of strong mineral glass (Asahi Dragontrail Glass), and the frame is made of anodized aluminum, which is protected from corrosion and has electrical insulating properties. The new product is available in three color variations (white, black and purple).

Despite the rather larger screen (5.2 versus 5 inches), the smartphone has become only slightly larger (146.8 x 73.3 mm versus 144 x 74 mm) and even thinner (8.2 mm versus 8.5 mm), and also lighter (163 g versus 170 g) compared to the Sony Xperia Z1. In addition, the new product has lost the rather controversial protective films on glass surfaces, which actively collected abrasions and were problematic to remove. If necessary, the user will be able to independently find the necessary film and stick it.

Along the contour of the glass there is a shock-absorbing matte plastic edging, which rises above the glass by a fraction of a millimeter and can thereby protect it in the event of an unfortunate fall from a small height. The width of the frames around the display is: on the sides - 5 mm, on the top - 17 mm, and on the bottom - 16 mm. Above the display are proximity and light sensors, the company logo and the front camera peephole. At the very edges, bottom and top, there are slots for stereo speakers, covered with a black metal mesh (previous flagships had only one speaker, which was located at the bottom end). The top one doubles as a conversational one and has an integrated alert sensor that flashes in different colors (white, green, orange and red) depending on the event. Illumination can be turned off in the settings. The lower part is empty, since the buttons are on-screen.

The metal edging (it feels quite pleasant tactilely) is somewhat beveled at the edges and has curves at the ends. Its central part is left in its original form, and along the edges and at the ends it is painted black with a noticeable purple tint.

At the top end there is an additional microphone and a universal audio jack (mini-jack 3.5 mm). The latter does not have a plug, but it will not allow water to seep further inside the new product. However, the manufacturer does not recommend using it within 2 hours after immersing the smartphone in water. The bottom edge contains the holes for the main microphone and a mount for a strap or key fobs.

On the right side of the Sony Xperia Z2 body there are: a microSD connector (covered with a metal plug with a seal), a proprietary round “Power/Lock” key (you can unlock it by double-tapping the screen, but this method must be activated in the settings), a volume rocker and a two-position key cameras. The left side (under the plug) contains: an MHL connector, which combines the functionality of HDMI and micro-USB interfaces; red button to restart the device if it freezes; plastic tray for Micro-SIM, which can be easily removed without additional tools. Below you can find open contacts for connecting the new product to the docking station.

On the rear, non-separable surface of the smartphone there are: the main camera lens framed in a metal ring; a bright single-section LED flash (flashlight software is present) and an NFC module antenna icon. Below is the Sony logo, and near the very edge is the Xperia logo.

Like its predecessors, the Sony Xperia Z2 has dust and moisture protection according to Ingress Protection (IP) 55/58 standards. Thanks to this, the smartphone is able to painlessly survive immersion in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 m for a duration of up to half an hour, especially since it is capable of shooting photos and videos in this mode. And this, of course, will be useful for many when traveling, because it is quite possible to use the device in sea water, but in this case it will need to be washed in a running stream, thereby protecting it from all kinds of salts. By the way, Sony Xperia Z2 asks for careful treatment and every time after charging is completed, it reminds the user of the need to check the tightness of the closure of the corresponding plugs.

The new product is assembled at the highest level: there are no gaps or backlashes. The case is characterized by sufficient rigidity, although it has some torsional flexibility, but this is not critical and is a consequence of the specifics of the materials used.

In general, the Sony Xperia Z2 is quite easy to use, but the size makes itself felt. Although users who are accustomed to working with modern flagships or phablets will be quite satisfied. The controls are located in good places and are easy to find blindly. But, unfortunately, the smartphone turned out to be quite slippery and easily soiled, despite the high-quality oleophobic coating. You should be careful not to let it slip out of your hands, especially wet ones.

In previous flagships, some of the most controversial decisions were mediocre screens, which spoiled the overall positive impression of smartphones. And this was quite surprising, given Sony's colossal experience in producing televisions. Finally, on the third attempt, she took this factor into account and corrected this deficiency. Sony Xperia Z2 is equipped with a proprietary TRILUMINOS display (IPS matrix), which uses X-Reality image processing technologies (can be turned off in the settings) and LED Live Color, which have a positive effect on contrast and color gamut. There is no air gap between the glass and the sensor (OGS - One glass solution technology is used). The display is protected by tempered Asahi Dragontrail Glass, which has a relatively good anti-reflective filter and a high-quality oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating. Thanks to the latter, the fingers glide quite comfortably and easily and the speed at which fingerprints accumulate, which can be easily removed with microfiber or a simple cloth, is reduced.

The resolution of the 5.2-inch screen is 1920 × 1080 (Full HD), which, in our opinion, is the optimal indicator for such a diagonal. At the same time, the pixel density is 423 ppi, which is quite enough to display very smooth fonts and obtain a highly detailed image in general. It is hardly possible to see individual pixels with the naked eye, even with all the desire.

Traditionally, for IPS matrices, the screen is characterized by maximum viewing angles and a high level of contrast (although it is quite a bit inferior to competitors at maximum backlight brightness). The image boasts bright and saturated colors (especially when viewing photos and videos), which are subjectively correct, although somewhat oversaturated. But this only makes the picture more realistic.

Like most modern flagship smartphones, the new product provides settings for white balance and main color channels (RGB). Thanks to this, each user will be able to adjust the display to their own taste.

The screen brightness can be changed manually or automatically adjusted. The maximum level is enough to view information on a sunny day. But the minimum brightness indicator is quite comfortable for working in the dark. The proximity sensor locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. The touch display substrate recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches, and their processing is carried out without any complaints. There is support for a high sensitivity mode for working with gloves.

In general, according to subjective impressions, the Sony Xperia Z2 display has reached a qualitatively new level: bright, contrasty, with maximum viewing angles and rich colors, although somewhat oversaturated.

Sound

As already mentioned, the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone is equipped with stereo speakers, which are located at the very edges of the front panel (bottom and top). The multimedia speakers produce quite pleasant and quite loud sound, especially considering the security of the new product. There is no distortion throughout the entire volume range: a fairly wide frequency range is reproduced, and there is even a hint of low frequencies. Overall, they provide high-quality sound, which is enough for games, videos, speakerphone and even listening to your favorite songs.

The new product features a bright branded Walkman player, which traditionally has a large number of technologies and settings (surround sound, equalizer, the ability to edit tags, etc.). Among them, I would like to highlight the ClearAudio+ function, the activation of which not only increases the volume, but also improves the clarity and richness of the sound. At the same time, activating individual options (Clear Stereo, Clear Bass and Clear Phase), which are part of ClearAudio+, subjectively only worsens the sound quality.

The included Sony MDR-NC31EM stereo headset with vacuum-type headphones supports digital noise reduction (enabled in the settings). It is equipped with a 5-pin connector and two microphones that monitor the sound background of the environment. The reproduced sound in the headphones is clear and characterized by relatively good quality and a large volume reserve. The maximum benefit from the noise reduction system can be appreciated at low volumes: in this case, noise is eliminated quite well. But at high volumes you can’t hear them anyway.

The smartphone has a built-in radio module that allows you to listen (without recording) to FM radio stations operating in the frequency range from 87.5 to 108 MHz. Traditionally, to turn on the radio, you must connect a headset, which is used as an antenna.

During testing of the earpiece speaker, no shortcomings were found: the quality of speech transmission is clear, loud enough (even too loud, but this depends on the operator and the phone of the interlocutor) and with a fairly pleasant sound transmission.

Overall, the Sony Xperia Z2 sounds quite good both with and without headphones. Music lovers should appreciate it. In addition, thanks to a high-quality complete headset, there is no need to buy headphones.

Camera

Sony Xperia Z2 is equipped with two digital camera modules. The front one has a 2.2 megapixel sensor and a lens with an f/2.8 aperture. It is capable of recording photos and videos with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, that is, Full HD. The focus here is fixed.

The video and photographic material captured by the camera is of fairly high quality. Its capabilities are enough for video communication and selfies, which are now popular. Detailing is at an acceptable level. The viewing angle is not very large, but quite sufficient and does not cause complaints.

The main camera received a proprietary Sony Exmor RS module (1/2.3’’) with a resolution of 20.7 megapixels and a fairly fast six-lens lens (Sony G Lens series) with an f/2.0 aperture. The focal length in 35 mm equivalent is 27 mm, which gives a fairly large viewing angle. The image received from the sensor is processed by the proprietary Bionz processor. There is also a bright single-section LED flash, fairly accurate and fast autofocus, as well as digital image stabilization (SteadyShot). The maximum photo resolution is 5248 × 3936 (20.7 MP) with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and 3840 × 2160 (8 MP) with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Video shooting is possible in 1080p (at 30 and 60 fps) and 4K Ultra HD (3840 × 2160) formats.

Note that the light receiving matrix is ​​quite large in size for a smartphone (1/2.3" versus the more usual 1/3"). Similar solutions can be found in entry-level cameras, which should have a positive effect on the quality of the resulting images (the larger the matrix, the better).

The overall quality of photos and videos fully corresponds to the status of a modern flagship. This time Sony has done a good job on the algorithms for processing the data received from the photo module. The resulting picture is characterized by excellent detail across the entire field of the frame with pleasant and natural color reproduction and high contrast. Of course, in low light, blurring may occur, but you can turn on digital stabilization, which will partially correct the situation by raising the ISO. The “HDR” mode deserves high praise, as it does a good job of expanding the color gamut, although it is somewhat inferior to its main competitors. All of the above can be applied to video. The sound and picture do not cause any complaints.

It is important to note that when you start the camera with a mechanical button, it goes into super-automatic mode (iAuto), which always shoots at 3840 × 2160 (8 MP). But this does not make the picture lose any quality at all. Those who are accustomed to simple pointing and further shooting will be very pleased. And for those who want to delve into the settings, you should start the camera in “Manual” mode using the on-screen button. Although at maximum resolution for some reason there is no access to all functions, which is somewhat disappointing.

Also noteworthy is the fact that thanks to the presence of moisture protection and a mechanical camera button, shooting can be done even under water.

The main camera settings menu visually looks very simple and intuitive. It has a huge number of settings, functions and modes. Among them, we should highlight: “HDR” (“Dynamic mode”), “Info-eye” (the ability to add virtual reality objects to the frame), “Timeshift burst” (the camera takes 61 frames before pressing the shutter, which makes it possible to select only the best) , “Social live” (the ability to immediately upload photos to Facebook), “AR effect” (the ability to add various animation effects and elements of additional reality to photos and videos), “Timeshift video” (HD video shooting mode at 120 fps and further selection of a segment with slow motion), “Background defocus” (the ability to blur the background), “Creative effect” (effects for video such as mirror reflection, motion reflections, color correction and miniature). If this is not enough for you, then when selecting modes, click the “+ Applications” button to download new ones.

Examples of photography

Video examples

An example of daytime shooting from a Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone at 1080p resolution at 30 fps

An example of daytime shooting from a Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone at 1080p resolution at 60 fps

An example of daytime shooting from a Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone at 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps with basic settings

Example of daytime shooting from a Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone at 1080p resolution in “Timeshift video” mode

User interface

Sony Xperia Z2 comes with a pre-installed Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system, on top of which the latest version of the proprietary Xperia UX shell is installed, which minimally changes the appearance of stock Android. At the same time, there is an optimal number of applications, settings and functions designed to simplify the user’s life. Let's take a closer look at the most interesting points and innovations.

The appearance of the lock screen, as well as desktops, has remained quite similar since the days of Sony Xperia Z. As before, you can launch the camera from the lock screen and place the necessary widgets. There are five desktops, with the ability to add new ones or remove unnecessary ones. You can place widgets and applications on them. There is also an option to group programs into folders. There are flexible appearance settings: desktop background and lock screen, installed themes with the ability to download new ones.

The main changes include the appearance of the “Quick Settings” menu (the second tab in the notification shade), which allows quick access to the most necessary functions of the smartphone. By bringing up the menu of recent running applications, a rather necessary “Close All” button appears. There are also regular mini-applications that provide quick access to a calculator, calendar, voice recorder, notes, etc. (you can edit and upload new ones). In addition, there is a multi-window mode that allows you to work simultaneously with several applications from the list.

The application menu is divided into matrices of 20 icons (5 x 4) and has its own settings panel. It is called by simply waving from the left edge of the screen. There is the ability to sort applications, group them into folders and quickly search. Quite a convenient solution, especially if you have a large number of programs installed.

The proprietary keyboard is visually quite ordinary, except that it lacks an additional row of numbers, so you need to switch to them every time. Like competitors, there is the ability to slide the keyboard for more convenient one-handed operation and the Swype input method. “Phone” has support for Smart Dial, that is, automatic search for contacts by first letters or numbers.

Among the installed applications, mention should be made of What's New, Sony Select and TrackID, which make it possible to quickly find and download the necessary content (music, games, movies, etc.). In addition, we can note the file manager (File Commander), a proprietary navigation system (Navigation), a simple photo editor (Pixlr Express), a drawing application (Sketch) and an office suite for viewing documents (OfficeSuite).To get all the free content from Sony, download the Xperia Lounge app from the Google Play Store. Omnivorous branded music and video players deserve attention: Walkman and Gracenote, which have a pleasant appearance and excellent functionality.

The smartphone settings menu is made in light colors and looks like vertical columns, which are divided into sub-items. There is access to almost all the parameters of the new product: communication capabilities, appearance, screen calibration, sound effects, etc.

The “Simple Home Screen” mode looks interesting, which will make it easier for people with disabilities to operate the smartphone. The presence of a full-fledged data backup and recovery tool deserves special attention.

In addition, the “Power supply” item deserves attention, where settings for increasing battery life are concentrated. Thus, the “Stamina” mode stops running applications and unnecessary background processes (you can configure which of them will remain active) when the screen is locked, which has a positive effect on energy consumption.

In general, the interface has a rather pleasant and discreet appearance, but here it all depends on personal tastes. The speed and smoothness of the interface does not cause any complaints. During testing, no slowdowns or twitches were noticed: everything works relatively quickly and smoothly.

Hardware platform and performance

The Sony Xperia Z2 is based on a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (modification MSM8974AB). It is manufactured using a 28-nanometer process and includes four proprietary Krait 400 cores based on the ARM Cortex-A7 microarchitecture, which operate at a nominal clock speed of 2.3 GHz (2.27 GHz according to CPU-Z indicators). The L2 cache size is 2 MB. The graphics subsystem uses the Qualcomm Adreno 330 solution integrated into the CPU, which has support for the DirectX 9.0c API and OpenGL ES 3.0. The graphics adapter operates at a clock frequency of up to 550 MHz.

The amount of RAM is as much as 3 GB (dual-channel LPDDR3), and the permanent memory is 16 GB (11.5 GB available to the user). This space can be expanded using microSD memory cards (up to 128 GB). This platform supports OTG mode, which makes it possible to connect an external USB drive, keyboard and mouse when using the appropriate adapter.

As expected, the performance of the new product is sufficient for most mobile tasks, including comfortable operation of relatively demanding games. For example, a popular game like Dead Trigger 2 demonstrates a high frame rate at maximum settings, but the new game, Asphalt: Overdrive, can experience stuttering with the same settings. However, you should reduce the graphics settings and you can get a comfortable level of frames per second.

It is also worth mentioning the heating of the smartphone, which can become noticeable only during prolonged maximum load (shooting video in 4K Ultra HD format or protracted gaming battles) and cause some discomfort. Thus, the upper part of the back side can warm up to 50°C, and the temperature of the side edges reaches 35-40°C. In addition, you should remember the properties of heated glass and do not place it on cool surfaces. Note that such heating is a price to pay for high performance and is found in most modern flagship devices. If you don't overload them, you won't even notice it when performing most everyday tasks.

Communications

The smartphone works in all modern mobile networks: GSM, UMTS / HSPA+ and 4G with support for LTE Category 4. There is only one radio module, just like the number of SIM cards. The plastic tray for the Micro-SIM is easily removed without additional tools, but inserting it back together with the card is not so easy. Call quality is at a high level: there are no interruptions or self-drops, and voice transmission is clear, but depends on the user’s location and the quality of the network itself.

The range of communication capabilities is represented by NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi modules. The latter has support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac protocols, Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Hotspot functions, and is also capable of operating in two frequency bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz. In addition, thanks to Miracast support, it is possible to transmit multimedia content (audio and video) and display images via Wi-Fi. Traditionally, there is DLNA support. And thanks to support for the MHL standard, which combines the functionality of HDMI and micro-USB interfaces, the smartphone can be connected to compatible monitors or TVs. However, the interface cable is not included in the package.

The global geopositioning navigation module supports work with GPS and GLONASS satellite systems. The first of them, in an open area (connection is also possible indoors), simply instantly detects about 21 satellites and just as quickly connects to them. Communication is stable with most of them. Under test conditions, the detection accuracy was up to 3 meters.

Autonomous operation

Sony Xperia Z2 is powered by a relatively large capacity lithium-ion battery (3200 mAh). With an average and moderate load, this should be enough for the user for a day and a half of uninterrupted operation. And if you use the new features to a minimum and enable the “Stamina” energy saving mode, you can expect more than two days of battery life. If we talk about the maximum load (games, GPS, Wi-Fi, shooting video in 4K Ultra HD format), then the device can be discharged in a matter of hours, especially at elevated battery temperatures. According to the manufacturer, the smartphone is capable of talk time of up to 19 hours and up to 740 hours of standby time. In music (headset) mode, it should remain on for up to 110 hours, and video will play for 10 hours. The last figure is confirmed by our traditional autonomy tests.

As a result of watching HD video (MPEG-4 / AVC, MKV container, 4 Mbit/s stream) using the MX Player (50% display brightness, Wi-Fi and GPS modules turned on), the phone was discharged in 10.5 hours (if to be precise, in 10 hours and 32 minutes). A gaming simulation using the Epic Citadel application (Guided Tour mode) with 100% display brightness and Wi-Fi and GPS modules turned on was repeated for a little over 3 hours until the battery charge was exhausted. The estimated operating time of the smartphone according to the GFXBench benchmark is 213 minutes, that is, over 3.5 hours.

The battery charging time from the complete unit (5 V, 1.5 A) is about 2.5-3 hours.

Results

Summing up the results of a rather detailed acquaintance and testing of the flagship smartphone, we can safely say that Sony managed to release a flagship that fully meets all modern market requirements. The new product has absorbed all the advantages of its predecessors and has lost its annoying shortcomings.

In addition to its stylish appearance, the Sony Xperia Z2 can offer high quality build quality, an excellent 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display with maximum viewing angles and pleasant color reproduction, fairly good sound and a high-quality Sony MDR-NC31EM stereo headset with digital system support noise reduction, modern digital camera modules (2.2 MP and 20.7 MP), which boast high quality content, as well as a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, which is enough for most mobile tasks, including quite demanding games. In addition, all modern communications are in place and work properly. Like its predecessors, the new “Zetka” has protection against dust and moisture (IP55/58) and a mechanical camera key, which makes it possible to shoot even underwater. All this runs under the current version of Android OS 4.4.2 KitKat, on top of which the latest version of the proprietary Xperia UX shell is installed. The latter has a pleasant and discreet appearance, wide possibilities for personalization and sufficient functionality.

The only unpleasant thing about the new product is the heating of the case during prolonged use of resource-intensive applications. But if you remember modern flagship smartphones, it becomes clear that this is a price for high performance, which is quite common in devices of this class.

Overall, we have an excellent modern smartphone that has its own style and charisma, which can also offer high-quality performance and remarkable functionality.

Advantages:

• stylish appearance;
• high-quality body assembly;
• protection against dust and moisture (IP55/58);
• excellent 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display with maximum viewing angles and pleasant color reproduction;
• good sound quality;
• high-quality complete stereo headset Sony MDR-NC31EM with support for a digital noise reduction system;
• excellent photographic capabilities of digital cameras (2.2 MP and 20.7 MP);
• productive hardware platform;
• support for global positioning systems GPS / GLONASS;
• the presence of NFC, Miracast, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi with support for the 802.11ac standard;
• pretty good autonomy;
• support for USB OTG specification and microSD memory cards up to 128 GB;
• current version of Android OS 4.4.2 KitKat;
• discreet and quite functional proprietary Xperia UX shell;
• MHL 3.0 support.

Flaws:

• noticeable heating of the body, especially when shooting video in 4K Ultra HD format;
• slippery and rather smeared glass surfaces.

We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the company Sony Mobile Communications AB for the smartphone provided for testing.

All prices for Sony+Xperia+Z2

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Contents of delivery

• Telephone
• Charger with USB cable
• Noise canceling headset
• Tabletop charging stand
• Instructions

Positioning

In recent years, Sony has been creating visually interesting smartphones that always suffer from minor technical flaws, each of which can be tolerated, but together they create an impression of incompleteness and can irritate users. Sony's flagship Xperia Z was announced in September 2013 at the IFA exhibition in Berlin and appeared on shelves a short time later.

Literally from the first days, buyers began to complain about the not very high-quality screen, which had small viewing angles; it had to be looked at strictly perpendicularly. There were quite a few shortcomings in the device, as a result, the company took an unprecedented step and decided to correct the shortcomings by releasing a new model, which they called Z2. The bug fix was announced on February 24, 2014 in Barcelona. None of the smartphone manufacturers, except Nokia, and now Sony, breaks the annual cycle of launching flagship products - they come out once a year. This is justified both from an economic point of view and from people’s perception - it’s a shame when you shell out a large sum for a company’s flagship, and after a short period of time it turns into an obsolete device.

On the other hand, it was necessary for Sony to fix the problems of the Z1, but not to admit the existence of shortcomings, but to quietly withdraw the model from the market, replacing it with a new product. It is curious that specifically for the Sony Z1, the company is fighting to maintain the price of the device by any means - it does not want discounting, as this will affect the entire model range. An amazing situation has arisen when the price of the Z1 is maintained despite the market situation - this is an artificial restraint against the backdrop of very low sales in its price segment. In Russia, at the time of writing the review, the cost of this device was 24,990 rubles in federal retail, and at the start the device costs 29,990 rubles.

The Z2 was scheduled to be released in most markets around the world at the end of March 2014, this was Sony's official position. In particular, the official Twitter account of the company in Russia announced this; the same data was provided to all publications, but the cost of the product was not reported.

Already in March it became known that the deadline was being postponed to an unknown date - sales began in limited quantities in a small number of markets. Unofficial rumors linked this to a lack of components, which is partly true. Firstly, the company does not have a sufficient number of screens made using the new technology, since their production turned out to be not so simple. The screen also has a number of serious shortcomings that came as a surprise - the brightness level, the display of colors, in particular, the white color here is gray and has a purple tint. Secondly, technical problems arose with the assembly during production - the glass panels covering the device have gaps, which, in theory, violates the seal of the case; the protection standard for it is IP58. There are a number of other shortcomings that Sony began to correct so as not to encounter mass negativity. In those countries where the device has appeared, users are complaining about some of these problems.

Design, dimensions, control elements

The Z2 model is fully the successor to the previous device - the same body materials, almost the same size (Z2 - 146.8x73.3x8.2 mm, Z1 - 144.4x73.9x8.5 mm), comparable weight - 158 grams (Z1 - 169 gram).

Sony Xperia Z2 and Z1

Compared to HTC One M8

Compared to Samsung Galaxy S5

Compared to Sony Xperia Z

This device cannot be called compact; it is very close in size to the Galaxy Note 3, which, however, does not prevent it from remaining comfortable in the hand. Current flagships are quite comfortable, and the fear that a large phone is inconvenient in everyday life, it seems to me, has left most people. In terms of size, there are and cannot be any complaints.

Compared to Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The model is available in three colors: white, black and purple.

I like each of these colors, they are quite bright, and the purple color looks metallic in the light, which gives it a certain charm. The case materials differ from competitors, the side frame is made of metal, and the screen and back surface are covered with DragonTail glass, this is a feature from Sony - today Alcatel and a number of other companies use similar glass, this is an inexpensive analogue of Corning Gorilla Glass. For Sony, it seems to me, the question was not the cost of glass as such, but the desire to distinguish itself from competitors, to show that they have something unique. But in fact, such glass has no difference in its characteristics - plus or minus they are the same.

Unfortunately, the oleophobic coating of the glass is such that fingerprints remain on it, and it gets very dirty - and on both sides. A cloth along with this device is simply a necessity.

The use of glass makes it impossible to ensure the IP67/68 protection standard; the device is fragile, and the glass may crack if dropped. We've seen this many times on the iPhone, but the design in the Z2, as well as in the Z1, is completely different - the force of the impact is transferred to the inside of the device, and, most likely, you will break not the glass at all, but the electronics. This is confirmed both by user experience and unsuccessful phone drops, and by independent tests.

Display

A shoemaker without boots - this is the slogan that best characterizes the situation in Sony’s mobile division and the quality of phone screens. The company, which is known for its developments in the field of LCD panels, was one of the leaders in the TV market, could not create decent screens for its mobile devices.

The Z1 featured an LCD screen that could easily be called the worst we've seen in a flagship at the time (just six months ago). It was possible to look at it only at a right angle; any deviation would cause the screen to fade. However, the previous Sony Z device had the same problems, which was disappointing with its screen. For example, screen technology experts conducted a series of measurements and noted that the results were shocking.

Another disadvantage that is known to many users of Sony smartphones is the “ingenious” solution in the form of a non-peel film on the phone screen, which annoyed many users.

There is no film in the Z2, for which we can say special thanks to Sony, it finally happened, and you don’t have to be annoyed by its presence. For many of my friends, this was a factor that convinced them not to buy Sony phones. Such a small thing, but it had such an impact on the process of choosing a device.

The technical characteristics of the screen in the Z2 are as follows - 5.2 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels (423 dpi versus 440 in the Z1). The screen uses the famously named Triluminos technology, which suggests that the picture has better RGB coverage than conventional LCD screens. In theory this is true, in practice there are certain flaws. An explanation of the technology can be seen in a promotional video from Sony.

Also in connection with this device, Live Color Led technology is often mentioned, which, in fact, is responsible for the color gamut, which is somewhat misleading to the user - these names make your head spin. From a marketing point of view, it is noted that the red and green subpixels are made using phosphor, which improves the quality of the color gamut; colors look saturated.

Unfortunately, big words and reality are somewhat at odds with reality, since, in addition to the color gamut, the screen has other parameters that should be taken into account. In particular, the main parameter is the brightness of the backlight, which helps to see the contents of the screen in most places. Here Sony has clearly gone overboard with energy saving; in terms of brightness, the screen is much inferior to modern devices - it is worse than the HTC One M8, and therefore significantly worse than the Galaxy S5, where the brightness at half is already very comfortable, and the maximum value is unnecessary for many it just won't be needed.

In my opinion, it is the brightness of the backlight that is the Achilles heel of this device; it is comfortable at maximum, but has no reserve, which is frustrating. In terms of picture quality, the phone is quite comparable to its competitors - as usual, I’m not sure that photographs can convey the difference in the picture, its differences. But in most cases the images are comparable, the only question is which color option you like better ().

From top to bottom: HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2

In the sun, the screen behaves well, it is quite comparable to the same Galaxy S5 - everything is readable without any problems.

When turned off and in the light or on the street, the touch grid on the screen is visible, this may irritate some - on most other phones it is never visible. When switched on, it may also be visible in the sun.

The device has a technology for improving pictures in videos and images, it is called X-Reality and replaced the Bravia Engine, which proved to be absolutely useless and even harmful - the picture deteriorated irrevocably and had to be turned off. It's nice that this parameter remains unchanged - in X-Reality the picture on the screen also deteriorates, although this technology should have exactly the opposite effect. It's good that you can turn it off.

In the screen settings you can set the white balance, but it’s better not to touch these settings, they still won’t give you anything. See how the white color compares to the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 on the Z2 screen (Top to bottom: HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2).

From top to bottom: HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2

But the difference is visible only with direct comparison. In everyday life, when you use the device, you will not notice any tints of white or incorrect color rendition for other colors. Therefore, this should definitely not be considered a disadvantage.

For Sony, the appearance of such a screen as installed in the Z2 can be considered a breakthrough - there is no film, viewing angles are normal, color rendition has improved, but the backlight brightness has limitations that, on the other hand, will affect few people. This is not the best screen on the market; the same Galaxy S5 has a display that has no analogues, as experts say.

But Sony is catching up with the market and doing it slowly, but in the end they got a readable screen, which, although different from other flagships, is not as much as in previous devices.

Battery

The phone has a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh (Z1 has 3000 mAh). For a flagship, this battery capacity is excellent, it is quite comparable to Note 3, however, these devices are similar in terms of operating time.

Under normal load, the device will work from morning to evening - during this time you can surf the network for several hours (500 MB of data in 3G/4G, about 100 MB of Wi-Fi), two hours of screen operation or so, about 20 minutes of calls and minimum SMS.

With less consumption, the device will work quietly for about 2 days. The weak point is the screen's operating time, that is, all functions that do not require it, for example, radio or music, will last quite a long time, but as soon as the display is activated, the operating time is greatly reduced.

For music playback, the manufacturer claims 110 hours of operation, while in other modes the figures are significantly less. It is curious that the Sony website is full of errors in the descriptions of devices, for example, the video playback time is indicated as 400 hours, although in reality it is about 8-9 hours (which is less than competitors, with smaller batteries - that is, this is a screen problem and its energy consumption).

Full charging time (2A charger) is about 3 hours to one hundred percent. Up to 90 percent will be enough in just over 2 hours. From my observations, the device is very sensitive to the quality of the network and its coverage; if you have data transmission and the network is not of very high quality, then the discharge will go faster than on other phones. But if the network is good, then the operating time, on the contrary, will increase. In any case, this device differs in operating time compared to its classmates (Galaxy S5, HTC One M8), beats them and is comparable only to Note 3.

In my opinion, this phone can be recommended to anyone who wants to quietly live until the evening without charging during the day; this is a huge plus of the model. Among the proprietary features, I would like to note the ability to see approximately how long the device will work in the selected mode; there is also a Stamina function, which increases operating time by disabling data transfer in the background, unloading applications from memory, and so on. This is a lifesaver if you need to hold out until the outlet appears. In principle, the function works, although there are some rough edges in the implementation. Most people don’t use it, especially since this device will rarely need it.

Memory, memory cards

The phone has 3 GB of RAM (933 MHz, dual channel), which is unusual for models of this level; until recently, only Note 3 could boast of this, and the Galaxy S5 had only 2 GB. Simply increasing the amount of RAM does not solve anything; it all depends on how it works with the processor and what the overall system performance is. Below in the tests it will be clear that the memory increase did not provide a breakthrough in performance. After startup, about 1 GB of RAM is free.

The built-in memory is 16 GB, of which 11.57 GB is free for you, this can be considered a sufficient amount and typical for Android smartphones. You can connect memory cards of any capacity, which is also good.

Hardware platform, performance

The model is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB) chipset; it is a quad-core processor with a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz per core. At the moment, this is the most productive solution; exactly the same processor is found in the same Galaxy S5 (though the frequency there is higher - 2.45 GHz). But depending on the shell and the decisions made by the manufacturer, performance may also differ; it cannot be compared only by paper characteristics. I was sincerely surprised that with more memory than the S5, this device shows worse results in synthetic tests.

In real life, when working in the interface, the difference is almost unnoticeable; if it exists, it is minimal. Some say Sony is faster, others say Galaxy S5, and others praise HTC ONE M8. As for me, they are all approximately comparable and the difference can only be felt in individual applications, and then it will be measured in fractions of a second.

In resource-intensive applications (games, 4K video recording), the device gets very hot, due to the glass of the case this is more noticeable than in the same HTC M8 or Galaxy S5, where the heat is not so strongly felt on the surface of the case. Sony has already responded to this complaint and suggested not shooting 4K video for more than a few minutes, since then overheating can cause applications to spontaneously close, plus the camera will turn off automatically.

In most situations, the average user will not (should not) encounter overheating of the device, but this is a possible situation. In this case, we can only recommend turning it off and waiting for it to cool down; this will happen in 10-15 minutes. It is possible that in new firmware the software operating modes will be adjusted to avoid this local overheating, and then everything will be much better. It is impossible to say that the problem is very serious - yes, the device heats up more than other flagships on the same chipset, you can feel it, but it is not a problem on a cosmic scale.

Communication capabilities

The device has NFC, which has already become a good tradition, Bluetooth version 4.0 with ANT+ support. The microUSB connector supports the MHL v3.0 standard, which allows you to output video to external sources. USB 2.0 version, USB Host supported. Supports LTE Cat 4, download speeds up to 150 Mbit/s. Wi-Fi version a/b/n/ac.

Camera

The device uses exactly the same Sony EXMOR RS module as the previous Z1 model. In theory, this should have given exactly the same characteristics when shooting, in practice a lot depends on the image processing algorithms, and here Sony tried, did a lot of work on the mistakes, which resulted in better quality of the final images.

First and foremost, the device has a camera button, which allows you to launch it quickly. This is a huge plus, which Sony spoiled with its implementation. The camera has an intelligent mode that selects the best shooting parameters and takes the shot. It always turns on when you press a key by default, and there is no way to fix this! The image resolution for this type of shooting is 8 megapixels, not 20.7, as in manual mode. I am sure that many would like to shoot on automatic, but with maximum resolution. For some reason Sony did not allow this to be done.

The matrix in the device is 1/2.3 inches, which is larger than on the vast majority of phones today, and in theory the matrix can give a better picture. In practice, the Z1 did not produce a more interesting picture than its classmates. The Z2 has greatly improved image processing, and in automatic mode it is quite good. This is not the case in manual mode.

However, look at the quality of the pictures in comparison with the Galaxy S5, I think you will say that they are approximately comparable, in some places one device wins, in others the other. And this can already be considered an achievement, since the Z1 was much inferior in terms of white balance to the Galaxy S4 and other devices. Here we see approximate parity, although detail in some scenes may suffer.

From the point of view of the average user, the photo quality will be good, because few people will compare it with other cameras in practice. On the screen the pictures look good, and that’s okay. Here are a few dozen pictures you can look at.

In terms of settings, this camera has many additional functions, each of which is more or less familiar from Sony cameras. Let me start with what is being advertised with great fanfare: 4K video recording. In my opinion, this function does not make much sense; you can view this video on a computer or on a device. For now, this is more of a toy than something serious. However, look at examples of shooting in 4K.

Just like in previous models, there is an AR Effects option, these are drawings that are superimposed on a photo in real time, you can create a background of flowers or something similar - a great option for entertainment, however, the same can be done in any graphic editor .

TimeShift video – high frame rate and slow motion effects may be of interest to some, especially when filming sports events.

Defocusing the background is implemented quite controversially - you adjust the focus with the slider, then there is blur, you can choose the geometry of this blur.

Artistic effects are a whole set of different effects, each of which can be applied to a photograph. It also replaces a graphic editor, but usually they don’t use effects, since they spoil the original photo; it’s easier to edit it than to get a modified photo.

Info-eye - the ability to point the camera at a famous building or something similar and get a quick hint about what it is. Explicit borrowing from the Googgles program.

The camera settings are quite simple and clear, you can look at them in the screenshots, I will not describe them separately.

For those who want to upload photos and videos to the network, there is a proprietary PlayMemories service, also familiar from cameras. You can set downloading only via Wi-Fi, but I prefer to use DropBox for these purposes, it is more convenient.

Videos can be recorded in FullHD, the quality of video recording is not bad, there are no complaints here.

The bottom line is that we can say the following about the camera - formally it is the same module as in the previous model. But in reality, the shooting algorithms have changed, and as a result, the quality has changed a little - the device shoots best in a resolution of 8 megapixels and with automatic settings. For the average person, this camera is enough for the eyes, in the “point and shoot” mode it copes with its tasks with a bang, autofocus is quite fast, although it is inferior in speed to the Galaxy S5, in some modes it blurs, and the result is a blurry picture. But these are, rather, individual shortcomings that can be found in one mode or another in almost any camera on the market. In terms of picture quality, this camera is already above average and quite at the level of top solutions, it outperforms all devices in the Lumia line (give or take, but, as a rule, this is true), takes pictures at the level of the Galaxy S4/Note 3, which can be considered a good achievement .

Multimedia capabilities – player, video, sound

The Walkman brand is well known to Sony fans, and it has found a second life in phones. Until recently, this meant the presence of various equalizers, the SensMe service, music recognition and other proprietary features. In terms of the number of different sound enhancements, Walkman is clearly ahead of the rest of the planet, but this does not mean that it plays your MP3 files much better - because in addition to the software component, the headphones that come with the phone also play a big role.

The device comes with the MDR-NC31EM headset, which has a 5-pin connector and also has a built-in noise reduction function. Separately, such a headset costs about 1,700-2,000 rubles; its presence in the package makes the device much more interesting. It should be noted that before purchasing you should check what exactly is included in the package, since in China the device comes with a regular headset, there is no desktop charging stand, and so on. The kits directly depend on the country in which the device is sold and can vary greatly; this is normal practice for Sony.

The device itself also has a noise reduction system, but there is no doubt that together with headphones you can achieve very good sound. Unfortunately, there is no answer button on the wire - that is, when using these headphones as a headset, you cannot answer by pressing, you must use either a voice command or take out your phone.

I tested the sound quality on a noisy street (almost complete isolation, music sounds very good, the main thing here is not to get hit by a car), on an airplane - the sound is also good, although somewhat inferior to models with active noise cancellation, but such headphones require a separate battery and a little more.

How much do headphones contribute to the sound of music? Of course, this is one of the most important parts. I tried DNA headphones with the device, which give a good sound, in general, for the vast majority of people this device will be interesting in terms of sound out of the box.

It's also worth mentioning that, like HTC, there is a built-in FM radio, which is missing in the Galaxy S5 (I think it was a mistake to abandon the radio).

In the picture below you can see the supported audio and video codecs out of the box; they are quite sufficient to work with most files downloaded from the network.

Impression

All Sony models have a loud ringtone, and this device is no exception. When there is an incoming call, only one of the two speakers is activated, which upsets some buyers; they want it even louder, even more. After all, there are two speakers, why not use both? Particularly impressionable people even “hear” what the second speaker sounds like. On two Z2 models (for Russia and for Taiwan), I was not able to hear the sound of the second speaker, but by and large, this is not necessary - a loud, clear call is heard in all conditions.

The vibration alert is not very weak, but not strong either - it differs from devices from other companies, which may seem unusual to some. But I couldn’t miss calls on this device; I always heard or felt it.

The review says nothing at all about the Sony shell, which runs on top of Android 4.2.2. It has flaws in localization into Russian, some inconsistencies, but overall it is exactly the same level as similar shells from Samsung and HTC. Some things are implemented worse, some are better and more interesting. I want to talk about the shell in a separate article, since it will also be useful for reviews of other models from Sony - after all, they all have the same shell.

If the Z1 turned out to be an unsuccessful device, and there were many reasons for this - crude camera software, a mediocre screen with small viewing angles, ineffective operation in Stamina mode due to the new chipset and a number of other shortcomings, then in the Z2 most of the issues were removed, this device can be considered not just a continuation and development of the line - de facto, it is exactly the same model with slightly changed specifications, which offers a modified version of the same capabilities.

The display has become better and is almost at the level of competing solutions; the backlight is not bright enough, but for many this will not be an obstacle. Color rendition in isolation from direct comparison with competitors is quite normal, it should not bother you much. The touch grid on the screen may irritate some, but it is only visible in strong light or in bright sunshine.

The phone does not have any serious or critical shortcomings, but at the same time, there are many minor flaws that may be noticeable, but in the aggregate do not make the device bad or do not worsen its perception. Unlike all previous models of the family, the Z2 turned out to be more successful and is quite comparable to the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. A separate comparison of these models will appear in a week, but for now I’ll note that Sony can rightfully be considered one of the flagships of the season, which should be seriously considered as an option for purchase.

Separately, I would like to note the delivery package (depending on the country in which the device is sold). Noise-canceling headphones, the presence of a desktop charger - all this undoubtedly distinguishes the model from similar offers from other companies and makes its purchase more profitable.

With a price of 29,990 rubles and sales starting in May, this device is on par with the Galaxy S5 in terms of price, but offers a better package package. And, of course, it beats the HTC One M8, since the latter costs 32,990 rubles, but it had a head start of a month and a half, which made sales.

Thank you to BoomMarket.ru store for providing the phone number..

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