Sony Xperia Z deals and reviews

What Hi-Fi?

Leaner and meaner than previous Sony handsets, it's in its practical aspects that the Xperia Z really shines: a 16GB device with expandable storage to make room for all those HD downloads, a waterproof chassis and a battery Stamina mode that means your smartphone's standby is your new faithful friend.

Stuff | Sophie Charara

With a stunning screen and plenty of power, this is one of our favourite smartphones. The Xperia Z even stands tall in a downpour.

T3 | David Phelan

The Sony Xperia Z is a pretty spectacular phone.

Expert Reviews | Chris Finnamore

The Sony Xperia Z has the looks and the high-resolution screen to make it a worthy high-end smartphone.

Eurogamer | Damien McFerran

The Xperia Z offers a good overall experience, but the specification demonstrates that it lags behind both the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One in processing power.

AndroidPit | Nico Heister

Sony offers an overall successfully-made smartphone with its new Xperia Z, which has only a few weaknesses: animation and operating could be a bit smoother in some places. However, there's a good chance that Sony will tweak its performance with a future update.

SlashGear | Vincent Nguyen

The Xperia Z is a surprise. From our original review, we knew it was a solid performer, but even with the Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One on the scene, it's impressive how well it holds up to - and, in some cases, out-performs - its newer rivals.

ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel

Sony's handsets tend to frustrate me more often than they please me, showing glimpses of greatness let down by some annoying issues. The Xperia Z, however, gets so much right that my grumbles seem almost wilful.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

The Xperia Z is the first smartphone which Sony has really nailed. We love the stylish, desirable and rugged design. The combination of excellent performance, a stunning screen and great cameras make the Xperia Z a force to be reckoned with.

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

If you can handle the size and the weight, it's a phone to be proud of.

TechRadar | Phil Lavelle

There is so much to love about the Sony Xperia Z - and while there are some annoyances, they pale in comparison.

CNET UK | Damien McFerran

The Sony Xperia Z combines looks, power and connectivity to supply one of the most impressive Android experiences we've seen in quite some time.

phoneArena | Ray S

Sony has done a wonderful job with the design of this phone.

PC Pro | Mike Jennings

The sharpest screen, fast components and ample battery impress, but we still - just - prefer the Samsung Galaxy S III.

TheEffect.Net | Tony

The Xperia Z is Sonys flagship phone and it shows!

Digital Trends | Jeffrey Van Camp

The Xperia Z is as good as any top phone on T-Mobile, but it's water and dust proof case sets it apart from the crowd.

MSN Tech | David Phelan

This is Sony's big and beautiful handset. It's fast and capable, matches great build quality with stylish and appealing design. There are some hands that will find it just too big, but for many it will be the ultimate mobile phone.

Know Your Mobile | Basil Kronfli

Well done, Sony; a fetching flagship and one phone we'd happily recommend.

Engadget | Mat Smith

The Xperia Z proves that Sony has what it takes to make a compelling phone in an increasingly competitive market, but issues like battery life need to be confronted, even at the expense of the design.

Trusted Reviews | Luke Johnson

With the IP57 waterproof coating lining up as an inspired addition that we now covert on all future handsets, the quad-core CPU and 5-inch Full HD display of the Sony Xperia Z take it so close to becoming the next must-have handset. However, struggling to achieve close to a day's standard use severely knocks the Xperia Z's footing in our eyes and is an issue that could well be its downfall.

Mobile Choice

Sony's Xperia Z may rock a hefty body that proves best friend to dust bunnies, and suffer from sub-par battery life, but it's still a sleek, desirable and durable superphone that's loaded with power and killer features.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

The Xperia Z is a gorgeous smartphone – Sony's best to-date. The all-glass design is something that any user would be proud to hold, but one must be careful not to drop it. Other than aesthetics, there is no real reason to choose the Xperia Z over the ZL, which is cheaper, smaller and available across more carriers.

TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton

Its hardware is good, but the screen really let us down and we aren't overly pleased with the phone's industrial design. It's not a bad phone with any means, but it's hard to justify buying an Xperia Z when you can get a better device.

The Verge | Vlad Savov

Much like the Xperia S that came before it, the Xperia Z suffers from the unfortunate duality of being both Sony's best phone to date and a merely average Android handset.

Which?

It has an excellent display, a speedy processor and an extra-long battery life that beats many other high-end rivals, including the iPhone. [subscription required for full access to review]

The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team

The Xperia Z is the best smartphone Sony has ever built. It has an amazing display, a powerful processor and a strong camera that can even shoot photos or videos underwater.

V3 | Alastair Stevenson

A solid smartphone, bristling with camera and screen innovations, but let down by poor battery and a lack of storage space.