Sony Xperia XZ2 review – is this the Samsung killer you’ve been waiting for?

SONY is back with a brand new smartphone to take down Apple and Samsung: the Sony Xperia XZ2.

It’s introducing a brand new design style, some top-end hardware, and a seriously cool camera – and we’ve had a chance to test it.

If you’re familiar with Sony Xperia phones, you’ll know they’ve always had hulking great bezels – that’s the bit of border surrounding your screen.

To keep up with the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Apple’s iPhone X, the Xperia XZ2 bezel has been slimmed right down.

It’s also completely symmetrical, with the camera now shifted to the middle of the phone. Glass on the front and back, paired with an aluminium frame make this one seriously pretty handset.

• Check out the best Sony Xperia XZ2 deals

The screen measures a generous 5.7 inches, which is only marginally smaller than Samsung’s latest blower. It’s got a Full HD resolution display too – which is what you’d expect from most living room televisions – so visuals aren’t an issue.

Better still, it runs on the powerful new Snapdragon 845 processor, so it’ll be lightning quick in terms of performance. It’s 30% faster than the old model, for a start.

But where Sony is hoping to really win is with its impressive suite of features.

For a start, the camera can record in 4K resolution – that’s four times the number of pixels compared to standard Full HD video, for a much more detailed image.

But it also shoots video in HDR, or High Dynamic Range. That means a wider range of colours, and better contrast i.e. brighter whites and darker blacks.

If you’re watching normal TV shows or movies on YouTube, Netflix or Amazon too, you can use your Sony phone to upscale the footage from Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) to “near” HDR, making for some very attractive viewing.

Another impressive feature is the Sony Xperia XZ2’s ability to capture super slow-motion video at 960 frames per second. That means you’ll get 6 seconds of footage for every 0.2 seconds of video you actually film.

We tried it out, and it works really well. Even better, it records this footage in Full HD resolution, which is slightly higher quality than Samsung’s similar feature for the new Galaxy S9.

Sony has also redesigned the speakers on the Xperia XZ2 compared to the original model, boosting volume by 20%.

And now there’s also a “Dynamic Vibration System’, which works a little bit like a PlayStation 4 DualShock controller.

The phone vibrates in sync with your games, movies, and music. So if you’re playing Angry Birds and you smash through a wooden wall, you feel it. And if your movie has music that’s building up for a suspense effect, the vibrations follow suit.

Finally, the phone is completely waterproof, and supports wireless charging (if you’ve got a Qi standard charging pad) so you can juice the battery up without plugging it in.

Sony Xperia XZ2 review verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a fantastic phone, there’s no denying it.

It’s got a fantastic camera, a gorgeous screen, and an attractive design that’s a big improvement on older models.

But the problem is that basically all new high-end phones are fantastic these days.

There’s nothing that stands out particularly about the Sony Xperia XZ2, which isn’t necessarily Sony’s fault – it’s getting harder to create useful smartphone innovations.

We’re convinced that the slimmer Samsung Galaxy S9 is more attractive. Sony still hasn’t trimmed down its thick bezel border on the front down, and the device is still too bulky. Samsung and Apple both win here.

But the Sony Xperia XZ2 is also £40 cheaper than Samsung’s latest, at just £699.

You probably won’t be disappointed by the XZ2’s performance, so if you like the look of it then it’s a great buy. Otherwise, bag the sexier Samsung instead.

• Check out the best Sony Xperia XZ2 deals

The Sun Says: Sony’s Xperia XZ2 is an incredible phone that won’t disappoint – although fans of Samsung and Apple design might not be won over. Still, it’s a bargain compared to the £739 Galaxy S9 and £999 iPhone X.

★★★★★

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is available for £699 in the UK from April 6, 2018.

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