xperia – Tech Raman

Sony Xperia Z2 launched in India for Rs 49,990; Specifications & Features

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 08 May 2014 07:15:56 +0000

A little over 15 months and Sony has pushed three iterations of Xperia Z, the Japanese company’s flagship series. Today the company launched the Xperia Z2 in India for Rs 49,990 which was announced in February this year and faced production issues that put brakes on the global roll-out. Xperia Z2 builds on its predecessors with an improved screen, enhanced hardware fire-power and a slightly more compact chassis. It is directly pitted against the strong gladiators of the year like HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5 and Nokia 930 (yet to be launched in India) Like the predecessors, Z2 features a metal and glass design giving the chassis a premium yet sturdy look and feel with a touch of Industrial finish. It also retains the waterproof and dust proof capabilities of the series. The Z2 features a 5.2-inch fullHD Triluminos display with the 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution working out to a 424 ppi. At the heart is a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SOC processor coupled with Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB of RAM and true to the flagship order of the day, it runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. There is a 16GB of internal storage which can be beefed by up to 128 GB and you would require it if you plan to do 4K videos. Ever since the first Xperia Z, Sony has always been bold with camera specs and Z2 boasts a 20.7 megapixel camera capable of 4K video recording (3840×2160 pixels/30p). The camera set up includes a 1/2.3-type Exmor RS for mobile CMOS image sensor, Sony’s G Lens and intelligent BIONZ. Then there are camera apps like Timeshift video, Creative effect and AR effect. Audio capture has also been enhanced with STM10 Stereo microphone for stereo audio recording. A 3200mAh battery should be good enough and Sony’s Battery STAMINA Mode should take care of squeezing out the best of the pack. It measures 8.3 mm in thickness and weighs 163grams. Sony also launched its fitness tracker wearable gear, SmartBand SWR10 in India for Rs 5,990 and it will offer the Smartband for free along with Xperia Z2. Now, that is one great bundle, don’t you agree?]]>

Sony Xperia M2 Dual launched in India at Rs 21,990; to be available from April 25

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:20:59 +0000

Sony Xperia E1 and Xperia E1 Dual launched for Rs 9,490 and Rs 10,490 in India

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:53:18 +0000

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact launched in India for Rs 36,990, boasts of a 20.7 megapixel camera

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:46:50 +0000

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Hands-on review

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:23:49 +0000

Sony’s big is here and it is insanely big but not just big it packs high-end specs in a super slim profile. Welcome Sony Xperia Z Ultra, a 6.4 inch smartphone just a few millimeter shy of a proper mini tablet. Two days back the device was launched in India for Rs. 46,990 and I got my hands on the super-big smartphone at the Bangalore launch event. In this Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on review I sum up my first impressions. Sony wades into the super-big display territory with Xperia Z Ultra. We have earlier seen the likes of Galaxy Mega 6.3 and Huawei Ascend Mate sporting a 6.3 inch and 6.10 inch display respectively. Sony outwits both of them by touting Xperia Z Ultra as ‘the world’s slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display’, though in this break-neck competitive mobile world, these sort of claims are sure to be drowned by a new model pretty soon. Still as of now, Sony Xperia Z Ultra beats the competition hands down with its impressive and mighty specs. The front of the device is dominated by the imposing 6.4 inch display with a screen resolution of 1080×1920 pixels stacking up 344 ppi pixel density. The display integrates Sony’s Triluminos display powered by Sony’s latest X-Reality engine. This is a big leap from the previous technology Sony used in it’s flagship device, Sony Xperia Z. The Japanese maker introduced the new technology very recently at CES with its Bravia televisions and now it finds way into its smartphone. It would be understatement to say the display is impressive. For this category, it is the brightest and vivid display I have come across and delivers rich, natural colours. The new display technology makes amends to the viewing angle proble that the Xperia Z faces. Almost to the point of flawless, the big screen is a delight and visual treat to watch movies and play games in this big screen.

Like Xperia Z, Sony Xperia Z Ultra is also made of tempered glass on front and back and a metal frame piecing them together on sides. The big device is the sleekest of all the super-big phones measuring just 6.5 mm in thickness. At 212 grams, the weight looks well distributed for its size. The big back features a 8 mega pixel camera but lacks a flash. It is capable of a full HD recording. Barring the subtle Sony and Xperia logo, the rear is clean. The rear is not removable and the device packs a 3050 mAh non-removable battery. We reserve our comments on battery performance and camera till we get a proper review device to fiddle with. It does have a stamina mode for optimum usage of battery power.

Like Xperia Z, Sony Xperia Z Ultra is also dust and water resistant with IP55 and IP58 certification, the ports and slots are protected with plastic flaps. The front features a 2 megapixel camera along sensors above the display. There are no physical buttons on the front but only soft on-screen controls for navigation. On the right side is the now familiar rounded metal button for the Power/screen lock functions that Sony uses in all the Xperia devices now. Just below this button, you find the volume rocker key. Also found on the right side of the phone above the metal button is a microSD card and micro-SIM card closed and sealed by a flap. Above the flap is the 3.5 mm headphone jack. The left side of the device holds the micro-USB port protected by a flap again. On the left side center you find the contacts for docking the device to the dock accessory. Though, you need to shell out separately to buy one. The device features dual speaker and the outlets can be found on the top and bottom edges. [gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="4710,4711,4712,4713,4714"] The hardware internals are top notch too featuring a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. Sony Xperia Z Ultra must be the first device with this blazing chipset, correct me if am wrong. With the brief period we handled the device, it gave a snappy performance. The phone bundles free Asphalt 7 game and the gaming experience is brilliant on the big screen and with powerhouse hardware. I doubt i would ever enjoy playing the game this much in devices with smaller screen. The device runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Another interesting feature I liked is the device’s ability to support any stylus input including pencils or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm. I sketched using a normal pencil and it works like a charm. It also features a neat handwriting recognition. Though Indian languages are yet to find way. It also allows to make notes during calls. The keyboard can be toggled for one-hand usage and multi-tasking enhances the productivity.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra accessories

The following are the official accessories from Sony to enhance the Z Ultra experience. Though good in usage, we find the accessories pretty pricey. The magnetic charging dock gives a comfortable viewing angle for a leisurely movie experience. The phone can also be simultaneously charged while docked. The magnetic charging dock DK30 has to be bought separately and is priced at Rs. 2,990. Another available accessory is the Smart Bluetooth handset for hands-free calls. For a phone of this size, it is a necessary as mostly likely the phone w0uld be carried in a bag.The OLED display lets you browse you call log, view text messages and caller identification. With the ear plugs, it can also be used for stereo audio listening. Owning it will set you back by Rs. 7,490. The other available accessory is cover with battery. It helps to extend the battery range of the device when it is snugged inside. Again, priced at Rs. 11,990 it is a costly pick too. On a final note, Xperia Z Ultra impresses us with its brilliant display and blazing hardware specs. Obviously smartphones of this size are not for everyone. Many might find the super-size ackward to use as a phone. As a multimedia device for watching movies and playing games it is way ahead of it’s rivals in the super-big club right now. Ultimately if you are comfortable with this super-size or you want a secondary device which can be both a smartphone as well as substitute a mini tablet and don’t mind burning your pocket for better movie and gaming experience and high-end specs, Sony Xperia Z Ultra looks to be a device to choose. Ofcourse, do look forward to our in-depth review of the Xperia Z Ultra but the first impression is a great impression purely based on the display and hardware internals. ]]>

Sony Xperia Z Ultra with 6.4-inch full-HD available online in India for Rs 44,990

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 07:46:37 +0000

The super-sized smartphone from Sony is now here in India. Sony Xperia Z Ultra with a 6.4 inch display boasts of impressive hardware specs and is available online for Rs. 44,990. The hardware specs of Sony Xperia Z Ultra beats handsomely other monster phones from rivals including Samsung’s Mega 6.3. The 6.4 unch Triluminus display features an impressive full HD 1920×1080 pixel resolution and powered by X-Reality engine. Running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, the internals include a powerful 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with a 2GB of RAM. If the 16GB internal memory is not sufficient, it can be further expanded by up to 64GB via microSD card. On imaging department, the phone comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera with Sony Exmor RS sensor, capable of recording videos at 1080p. It’s complimented by a 2 megapixel front camera which comes handy for video calling. Similar to Xperia Z, the super-phone is also dust and water resistant with a IP55 / IP58 rating. Weighing 212 grams the phone is sleek measuring only 6.5 mm in thickness. Officially Sony has priced Xperiaa Z Ultra for Rs. 46,990 but it is spotted online at online shopping site, Saholic for Rs. 44,990. ]]>

Sony Xperia L Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 21:49:06 +0000

Xperia L: Build, design and display Xperia L takes its design cue from the Xperia J launched last year and Xperia T made famous by James Bond in the last 007 movie, Skyfall. Again the concave design was earlier made famous with Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. The Xperia L brandishes a 4.3-inch FWVGA LCD display with an 854 x 480 resolution numbering a 228 PPI which is underwhelming but comparable with most members of the mid-range segment. There is no Bravia Mobile Engine 2 technology to fire the display which made the Xperia Z a delight to watch videos. Still, Xperia L does not disappoint us when it comes to clarity, brightness and contrast. In outdoors especially under sunlight, it’s bit constrained viewing experience. Overall, the display is decent enough for the segment. There is also a scratch-resistant coating over the screen. The distinct feature of the phone is its curved back. Xperia L weighs in at 137g and at 9.7 mm thick, it cannot claim to be the thinnest block around. The curved rear looks good with a matted finish. I am not a big fan of arched back but many does feel it is comfortable on hand. The sharp corners does not excite much on the design front. On top off-center is a 8 MP camera flanked by a LED flash. The camera is protected by a nice looking metal ring which gives the protection when the camera is placed down. Talking about camera, the front shooter disappoints with a meager 0.3-Megapixel VGA camera. The right side of the Xperia L is crowded with all the buttons. The volume rocker is perched at the top while the conspicuous metal screw power button finds its place a little down, almost in the middle. At the bottom half of the right side is the physical camera button which is a good addition. The left side is bare except for a lonely USB port while the 3.5mm headphone jack sits on the top middle of the device. [gallery link="file" ids="4284,4285,4286,4287,4288,4289,4290,4291"]

Xperia L: The hardware internals

Dual-core is almost a standard now, even though quad-core are increasingly making their way in. Xperia L features a Dual-core 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon processor and 1 GB RAM mated to a Adreno 305 GPU. The specs are on expected line for this segment and Xperia L makes good use of it. There is a 8 GB internal storage out of which 5.8 GB is free to use, you also get to expand the memory upto 32 GB via microSD card.

Xperia L: Software

Running on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean Xperia L is laced with Sony’s own user interface. The OS should be upgradable to 4.2 whenever Sony updates. The UI is not heavily skimmed like Samsung’s TouchWiz UI or HTC Sense. Alongside the expected Google Apps, one also find Sony’s own apps like Walkman for music and own apps for photo albums and videos. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G connectivity, NFC, DLNA and Bluetooth 4.0. So Xperia L is capable of connecting with many devices including compatible speakers and Sony TVs.

Xperia L : Battery

Rip the back cover off and you will find the removable 1,700mAh battery which Sony claims to give up to 8 hours and 30 min in 2G and up to 9 hours in 3G In our tests involving phone calls, 3G and WiFi and media playback and few games thrown in between, we came out impressed with the company’s claims. On a normal usage, the phone should see you through the day.

Xperia L: Camera

With 13 MP camera making into all the top rung smartphones, 8 megapixels has become the de facto shooter for the mid-rung devices. Adorned by a raised metallic ring to protect the camera when placed with the camera side down, the shooter is boosted with a Exmor RS sensor for enhanced low-light functionality. It also has a 4x digital zoom with auto focus and HDR, which works for both video and still images. Though the specs are impressive, the actual images are not up to the mark. The images are bit warmer. Also noticeable is the shutter lag. Video recording yields just 720p HD compared with the Xperia SP which is 1080p. The VGA front camera is nothing to write about. Just a bare basic for your video chatting. On the final note Xperia L camera is decent stuff though not the best shooter even in it’s league. [gallery link="file" ids="4367,4366,4365"]

Xperia L: The verdict

Sony Xperia L is a good phone but not a great phone even in the category it fights it out. It has a solid build quality and fleshes out decent performance. Pitted in a segment that is as crowded as the by-lanes of Indian cities and cut-throat competition with almost comparable variables, the differentiating factor for Xperia L narrows down to its design which is highly opinionated.]]>

Sony Xperia ZL review

Lakshmi Rajan — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:52:29 +0000

Along with Xperia Z, Sony also launched the Sony Xperia ZL, a slightly smaller twin version. Xperia ZL shares the same underlying specs but has a different casing and unlike Xperia Z is not waterproof. So don’t try wetting it in water. Since Xperia ZL has almost the same identical innards as Xperia Z, we have the same Full HD 1080p Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine 2 on a 5-inch screen with a 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution stacking in a very impressive 441 ppi. Other shared specs include Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 Pro quad-core processo, an Adreno 320 chip for processing graphics, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage which can be expanded upto 32 GB via microSD card. The camera tech is also the same to its twin model with a 13 MP EXMOR RS camera on the rear camera and a 2 MP front camera. The camera features include Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization, HDR, sweep panorama. Though there is no digital zoom and burst mode in Xperia ZL. The camera is capable of capturing HDR photos and 1080 p videos. Sony has given Xperia ZL a dedicated camera shutter button which comes very handy while clicking pics and something most of the Android smartphones neglect to add. Wonder why the dedicated camera button did not find place in Xperia Z. [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="3043,3044,3045,3046,3047"] Sony Xperia ZL has a slightly smaller dimension when compared to Xperia Z, though they both has the same 5-inch display. It measures 131.6 x 69.3 x 9.8 mm compared to Xperia Z’s 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm. Though smaller in dimension, Xperia ZL is slightly heavier at 151 grams compared to Xperia Z’s 146 gms. The difference does not matter much, since the devices snugs nicely into your palm. The rear is curved with a textured plastic case. Nothing compared to the glass clad casing we saw in Xperia Z. But it also means Xperia ZL is more pleasant to grip. There is a flap at the bottom of the rear that covers the microSD and microSIM ports. It’s the only fault line in the otherwise good looking device. As you see in the image, it does not sit seamlessly with the device and looks bit cheap. The delicate hinge that holds the flap also gives us a nightmare though it might not snap easily. Xperia ZL has a 2370 mAh battery Li-ion battery which is marginally better than the one in Xperia Z. Xperia ZL with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean that boasts of Project butter navigation is as smooth as butter and a delight to use. The device is quiet fast and blazing thanks to the software and hardware setup. Sony has introduced it’s own tweaks and twists to the stock Android though not very heavily skimmed, which is good. Software features are similar to Xperia Z and you can read more about it in our Xperia Z review

Sony Xperia Z review

In India, Sony Xperia ZL comes with a free snap-on cover out of box.

[pros]

Brilliant display
Dedicated camera shutter button
Good camera

[/pros]

[cons]

Rear SIM flap

[/cons]

Key differences between Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL

Form factor and casing material used
Xperia ZL has a slightly smaller dimension and weighs slightly more
Xperia ZL has a dedicated camera shutter button
Xperia ZL has a Infrared blaster
No burst mode and digital zoom in Xperia ZL
microSD max storage 64 GB in ZL, 32 GB in Z
2,370 mAh (ZL) vs 2,330 mAh (Z)

Living in Bangalore? Planning to buy a Xperia Z? Visit SONY WORLD @ 12th Main, Indiranagar Call: 080-42116677 / 88]]>

Sony Xperia SP with 4.6-inch HD display now available for Rs. 27,490

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:51:42 +0000

Sony Xperia SP was announced globally in March, 2013 and now Sony has launched it in India and will hit the stores in mid-April. The device features a 4.6 inch HD display powered by Sony Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology, 1280×720 piexl resolution that stacks up a neat 319 ppi, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus dual-core processor along with Adreno 320 GPU, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB (5.8 GB user available) expandable upto 32 GB via microSD card and a 2370 mAh battery. On the shooter front, Sony Xperia SP packs a 8 MP rear camera with features like Geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, HDR, sweep panorama etc. It also has a secondary VGA camera in the front. Xperia SP scores high on connectivity bringing on-board 4G and NFC, DNLA along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0 Remember Sony Xperia U and the transparent strip below the screen that changes the color, the band finds its way in Xperia SP too and it can the color can be personalized and works as a notification for incoming calls and text messages. Sony has priced Xperia SP in India for Rs. 27,490 ( US $504)

Sony Xperia SP Specs

4.6-inch display with Sony Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology
1280×720 pixels resolution, 319 ppi
1.7 GHz Dual-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB through microSD
8-megapixel rear camera with LED Flash
VGA front-facing camera
4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 820.11 a/b/g/n, DNLA, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/ GLONASS, MHL, NFC
2,370 mAh battery
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
155 grams

]]>

Sony Xperia Z review

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:12:24 +0000

The big battle for survival. 2013 is going to be a do-or-die battle for many notable mobile companies, so expect aggressive products with cutting edge technology, design and features and also good amount of marketing blitzkrieg. Sony has declared it would like to be the third biggie in the mobile league with Apple and Samsung sitting comfortably on the top. So, the Japanese giant might be heard ‘May the force be with us’ with the launch of it’s new flagship model, Xperia Z. Going by the early indications of the device Xperia Z does indeed has the momentum in it. Oh, wait any doubts on that? We are here to find it out and let you know in our Sony Xperia Z review. A super- slim design cased in glass slabs, crispier large display and who-cares-about-dust-and-water am born resistant makes Xperia Z pretty interesting and a phone that shouts no-nonsense attitude and commands attention, something which was rarely seen from Sony of late. My initial thought? Sony does finally seem to have got a hint of how a flagship device really should be and the targeted buyers pulse.

The Design – Dressed to kill

First impression is the best impression has been told and retold many a times, as I caught my first glimpse on Xperia Z, it got all the right vibes to impress. A plain black slab? Yes but Sony manages to present it beautifully and the device looks all premium and high quality. Made of tempered glass both in the front and back with reflective coating and fibreglass inserts on the sides, Z looks classy with solid built. No glossy plastics and chrome embellishments here, thankfully. Being a 5-incher , the Sony Xperia Z is undoubtedly large at 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm, occupying your entire palm though it does not sit awkward in hands and we get used to it pretty quick. Weighing 146g, it is heavier than iPhone 5 but then hey, it is quiet bigger and dwarfs the apple phone. So for the large device, it does feel light on palms and no one should be complaining. Being water-resistant and dust-resistant, Xperia Z is well encased and closed, so all the ports and slots are closed by watertight port covers. The ports are spaced out neatly with the headphone jack up top, the microSD and charging ports are on the left, alongside contacts for accessories. The most attractive design feature that adds to the style volume is the protruding silver power/standby button similar to the crown of a watch. It is flanked on either side by the SIM slot and volume rocker. On the bottom there is no port but you get a lanyard hole. The front of Xperia Z has only a Sony logo and front-camera along with sensors and notification LED while the rear sports the Sony Xperia logo, an NFC symbol, camera lens and LED light and a microphone. You also find various tech info printed on it in the bottom. [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="2595,2596,2597,2598,2599,2600,2601,2602,2603,2604"] The device comes in a choice of black, white and purple but irrespective of what color you choose, you get a dark black slab on the front.

The hardware – dressed to perform

We mentioned Sony Xperia Z features a 5-inch display. Now more about the display, it’s a TFT display with a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution that packs in a 441 ppi pixel density. The full HD display may not be featuring a AMOLED screen or super LCD 3 but the display is quiet vivid,bright and crispier. Thanks to Sony’s own Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 what you see on-screen be it images or texts look brilliant especially when you look straight at the screen. Though, the viewing angles from the sides has small reasons to complain. The Xperia Z is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 Pro quad-core processor clubbed to a 2GB RAM and an Adreno 320 chip for processing graphics. Sneaked in is a 16 GB internal storage which can be expanded upto 32 GB via microSD card. Another highlight of the Xperia Z is the ever-increasing camera mega pixels. Wasn’t it just couple of years back we were shooting with a 3 MP rear camera? It’s 2013 and not just the big phones are the norm but also bigger mega pixels, though there is no correlation that bigger the mega pixel better the picture quality. Ask HTC. Xperia Z packs a 13.1 mega-pixel Exmor RS rear camera shooting at 4128 x 3096 pixels with autofocus, LED flash along with features like geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization, HDR, sweep panorama along with other selection modes. The front shooter is a 2.2 MP quiet good for video calls and self shots. The camera app on the lockscreen means you can fire the shooter instantly from the lock screen. A dedicated physical camera shutter button would have been a welcome addition. I am surprised Sony decided to omit it in Xperia Z while it’s twin sibling Xperia ZL features it. Why Sony why? The Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery is non-removable. We will discuss about the battery performance especially the stamina mode later in the review.

Software and Performance

Xperia Z ships with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and thanks to Project butter navigation is a delight and without any lags. The device is quiet fast and blazing thanks to the software and hardware setup. Though we don’t see a heavy blend of custom overlays like Samsung’s TouchWiz and HTC Sense 5, Sony has added it’s own few tweaks and customizations. When you on the phone quiet an interesting small addition is the unlocking gesture of the lock screen. You sweep you finger that opens something like windows blind and opens the home screen. It’s a refreshing screen gesture. Two shortcuts are present in the lock screen to directly unlock and fire the Camera app and Walkman app (for playing music). Unfortunately, you cannot customize or change the app shortcuts. So how to navigate? Sony Xperia Z does not come with physical keys nor dedicated capacitive buttons, instead you get an on-screen buttons similar to Nexus devices. So everything is done through the screen. So you get the standard back, home and multitasking – on-screen buttons. Tap them they appear and then disappear. Neat. Sony has ditched stock android keyboard and browser and replaced it with it’s own Xperia keyboard and chrome browser. How is the keyboard? Verdict is split. You might like it or not. If you don’t , simply find an alternate from Google Play. As for me, I don’t have much to complain. It works once you get the hands on it. You can use it as a standard touch QWERTY or add few shortcuts to it, if you want to. You can also Swipe through or use it as plain old T9 input. Predictive typing is quiet decent and intuitive. The notification tray gives access to toggle sound, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile data and a shortcut to the settings menu. There is also a widget that gives direct quick access to toggle on/off more settings. Also included are additional apps like a Back up & restore app, McAfee Security, NeoReader for reading QR codes, a Notes app, TrackID (a Shazam like music recognition app), PlayNow, Smart Connect (somewhat similar to Samsung Galaxy Page buddy option, it lets users set an event when an accessory is connected to the phone), Xperia Link (to share Internet connectivity with Sony devices), and Wisepilot (for navigation). Sony’s gallery app ‘Album’ allows the users to view their online pictures from online services like Facebook and Picasa directly from the gallery app in addition to displaying the pictures stored in the phone. You also get a built-in photo editor within the app. To boost the battery performance, Sony Xperia Z offers a Stamina mode for better power management. When the phone is on Stamina mode, it disables mobile data when screen is off, thereby ensuring the battery is not wasted for juicing up apps hungry on network data. In case, you want to allow few apps to access network data, you can customize and allow the apps you want to keep running when the screen is off. There is also other power management options like low battery mode and location based WiFi. Irrespective of 13.1 MP camera, Sony doesn’t exactly fire up the camera department. The new Exmor sensor does provide for a good low light shooting capabilities. Yes, there is lot of scene modes to choose from but most smartphones have it these days. There are few ‘extra touches’ like smile mode. Yes, we all know smile mode is there in even budget smartphones now but Sony has added the smile mode to allow you to choose between big smiles, average smiles or small smiles. Yes, I am serious about it. No laughing matter here. How far it works, we will cover in an extensive camera shoot-out review later. As far the real image talk, Sony Xperia Z does not gives a mind-blowing result but good images that you expect from a premium device. Sony’s Walkman app comes alive in Xperia Z to provide for a beautiful music experience. The app stands out even on visual count the way it spreads out the tunes, albums and the visualizer. Even on a basic earphone the music is lively thanks to the Walkman app pushing the sound experience to the hilt and you have lots of settings to fiddle around. Similar to DLNA, Sony has what it calls ‘Throw’ where you can stream media from your phone to other compatible devices. As mentioned earlier, the lockscreen has a Walkman app shortcut for quick access. With a big screen real estate, it’s understood Xperia Z gives a good video watching experience. Add to that the Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 backed crisp and vibrant display watching movies is a pleasure. Being a full HD display, it plays all full HD movies and plays almost all video formats. Xperia Z really comes all out as a handy media device on the move. The massive 2330mAh battery gives a decent output and combined with smart power management options including the stamina mode we talked about earlier, you might not complain much. Overall, the performance and user experience of Sony Xperia Z is up to it’s premium mark. In India Sony also offers for free an ear can (MDR-ZX-100A) worth Rs. 1490 and a case. [gallery link="file" ids="2611,2612,2613"]

The final verdict …

[pros]

Brilliant full HD display
Solid build quality
Water and dust resistance
Great media experience
Good all around performance

[/pros] [cons]

Non-removable battery
Side viewing angles

[/cons] Sony has finally found its winning punches with Xperia Z. With a minimalistic yet captivating design, a brilliant full HD display, a spectacular media experience to bask in and good features combined with the water and dust resistance ability places Xperia Z on a winner’s pedestal. With a price tag of Rs. 38,990 ( US $ 708) in India, Sony has smartly priced it’s flagship model. With freebies like headset and case thrown in, Xperia Z is more attractive. But Sony has to battle it out with HTC One and not to forget the new Goliath, Galaxy S4, Samsung will unleash on March 14. The good news is this year, Sony has a worthy candidate to battle out the smartphone war. For now, Sony has sounded the war bugle in style and looks pretty armed. Living in Bangalore? Planning to buy a Xperia Z? Visit SONY WORLD @ 12th Main, Indiranagar Call: 080-42116677 / 88]]>