Sony Xperia Z1 deals and reviews

What Hi-Fi?

Much like the Xperia Z, this is a brilliant smartphone not just for sophisticated picture and sound quality that's a cut above most rivals but also as an all-round package. The design is sleek, if not the most manageable, the camera is reliable, the battery life excellent, and Sony's entertainment services brilliant.

Stuff | Jools Whitehorn

One of the quickest Android phones on the planet Good battery life Waterproofing Narrow viewing angles Camera could be better Still not especially ergonomic

Mobile Choice

From the seamless NFC connectivity with a great range of Sony accessories to the excellent 20-megapixel camera, there's a ton here to recommend.

phoneArena | Ray S

With the Z1, Sony has not only caught up with the competition. It's safe to say that it has even managed to leapfrog it in some areas.

International Business Times | David Gilbert

The Xperia Z1 Compact lives up to Sony's claims of putting the full feature set and performance of its flagship smartphone in a smaller phone.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

It's a powerhouse with an all-round impressive specification.

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

The Sony Xperia Z1 makes a few improvements to what was already a cracking smartphone. The screen looks great, the processor is the most powerful we've yet seen and the camera is very fine indeed. It's not cheap, but it's waterproof, looks great and it's extremely fast.

NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

The Sony Xperia Z1 is a well-executed renovation of the Xperia Z. The smartphone is a little heavier and bigger, most noticeably in the area around the display, but the bulked-up device feels a little more costly and robust.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

Ultimately, there is very little for which to criticize Sony this time around. The Xperia Z1 may not be as compact as the G2, nor as immediately feature rich as the Galaxy S4 or as beautiful as the HTC One, but it's a fantastic all-round smartphone choice.

TheEffect.Net | Tony

Not only is this Sonys flagship phone, and rightfully so, it's probably the best phone on the market right now.

The Mobile Indian | Anil Satapathy

Undoubtedly, Sony Xperia Z1 is one of the most powerful smartphones available today and it gives top-notch performance ... however, the phone has a serious heating issue, battery backup is not very encouraging either.

Australian PC World | Ross Catanzariti

The Sony Xperia Z1 boasts an attractive, glass-back design, a fully waterproof body and an impressive 20-megapixel camera. It's let down by poor ergonomics and a display with mediocre viewing angles, but remains a worthy choice overall.

Android Authority | Joshua Vergara

After using the Sony Xperia Z1 extensively, we've come to appreciate it for all its qualities, in spite of the blemishes that mar certain aspects of the phone. The Xperia Z1's design is exquisite and its performance leaves nothing to be desired. The truly great camera, large battery, and unobtrusive software complete the picture of a best-in-class device.

AndroidPit | Nico Heister

With the Xperia Z1, Sony delivers a strong and high-quality smartphone where many of the criticisms of its predecessor were eradicated. Only the camera is worse than it could have been. Both Samsung and LG have installed better lenses on their new devices. As an owner of an Xperia Z, currently thinking about an upgrade...in my opinion I would rather wait for the sequel to the Z1, because as an upgrade, Sony's newest flagship simply doesn't offer enough unique features to justify a new purchase.

Digital Versus | Romain Thuret Axel Mendy

While other companies quickly caught up with and surpassed the Xperia Z, the Xperia Z1 is a great addition to the high-end Android stock, all without outperforming the competition. The camera isn't the leap forward Sony says it is, but the overall smartphone experience is nonetheless fun and effective in a stylish, responsive and powerful smartphone.

The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team

The Xperia Z1 is a slick looking premium phone which will sway most people at first sight. Its powerful processor, good screen and waterproof design will likely convince the remaining people that this phone is top-notch.

ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel

The Sony Xperia Z1 has some endearing features. The camera is a winner, the processor is top notch, and the design is good. However, the chassis is perhaps larger than it needs to be, and the display is not the best I've seen - it suffers from less than stellar viewing angles.

The Inquirer | Lee Bell

We weren't the biggest fans of the firm's custom software skin or the handset being prone to scratches, but the Xperia Z1 is a huge leap for Sony. Thanks to its excellent touchscreen display, 20.7MP camera and slick performance, we think the Xperia Z1 handset gives the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One a run for their money, even if it does annoy those that just invested in the now old flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z.

The Gadget Show

The Xperia Z was already a cracking phone, and Sony has only improved it with the Z1.

Trusted Reviews | Lee Bell

The Xperia Z1 is Sony's best smartphone yet.

What Mobile | Jamie Feltham

... the pros of the Z1 far outweigh the cons, making for Sony's best effort in the smartphone industry for a while.

T3 | David Phelan

There's a lot to this phone, and its high-end credentials are not in doubt. It looks good, feels great in your hand and the Sony speciality of waterproofness remains a key, if gimmicky, feature.

Engadget | Sharif Sakr

The camera, the screen, the processor, the battery life, the build quality - none of them are market-beaters on their own, but together, in one package, they make a sensible buy for anyone looking for a big-screened, high-spec Android smartphone.

Expert Reviews | Chris Finnamore

Great build quality, huge performance and an impressive screen, but its camera lets the Z1 down.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

The Xperia Z1's slick, waterproof design, its good screen and of course its monstrously powerful processor make it a hugely impressive phone, easily justifying its flagship status. It's let down, however, by a high-resolution camera that doesn't produce attractive photos, and its battery life is disappointing too.

Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden

Sony has truly refined and distilled the highlights of previous devices into one cohesive and well-rounded package. It has its missteps but on the whole this is a brilliant smartphone.

TechRadar | Gary Cutlack

The Xperia Z1 feels sturdy, is powerful enough that it won't be outdated at the end of a two-year contract, plus it's sleek and big enough to turn heads - although some of those heads might be turning to laugh as you try to manhandle such an enormous slab of extravagant phone hardware.

The Verge | Vlad Savov

There's much about the Xperia Z1 to like. It has one of the best cameras on any Android phone, a superbly fast processor, and a large battery to keep it all going.

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

Ultimately, it's the camera that will sell the Xperia Z1, as it's clearly the best aspect of this device. For users where the camera is less of a concern, I wouldn't go so far to say the Xperia Z1 is the best device you can get.

Ubergizmo | Daniel Perez

If you need an Android device with a large megapixel camera and powerful specs, then the Xperia Z1 should be up your alley. Just don't expect it to have anything else to set it apart from the rest of the pack.