Sony Xperia XZ1 Review

The 3-Minute Sony Xperia XZ1 Review

Performance that doesn't justify the price

By Zach Riley | October 12, 2017

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Tinh tế Photo on Flickr.

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 3.5/5 ● Performance: 4/5 ● Value: 3/5

The Best:

The Sony Xperia XZ1 does quite a bit right with an excellent screen, smooth performance, and a battery that will last all day on a single charge.

The Bugs:

The Xperia XZ1 is not without its issues. The phone is relatively expensive considering what you get, the camera leaves much to be desired, and the design feels dated and uninspired.

Is it for you?

The Sony Xperia XZ1 is a decent phone that will give you solid performance, a decent screen, and good speakers. While it doesn’t do anything wrong, it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well either. Its big bezels, lack of fingerprint scanner, and disappointing camera make it relatively expensive considering its technical specs. If you watch a ton of video or play a lot of games, it’s a phone worth considering. With that said, you can get a Samsung Galaxy S8, the soon-to-be-released LG V30, or the iPhone 8 or 7 Plus for a similar price.

“Just keep in mind that you’re spending a little bit more for a little bit less.”

Meet the Sony Xperia XZ1

While Sony isn’t typically the first name that comes to mind when you think of smartphones, they have had more than a few successes over the years. The Sony Xperia XZ1 is their latest attempt to gain a bigger foothold in the competitive flagship smartphone market. While it’s Sony’s newest phone, it may be hard to tell since it sticks with the same design that they've been using for years. While its design may be dated, its hardware isn’t.

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Tinh tế Photo on Flickr.

What we like

The Sony Xperia XZ1 does a lot of things right. It has some top-end hardware that makes it blazing fast. The operating system also doesn’t stray too far from stock Android and that’s a good thing in our book. The result is that you’ll find the phone snappy, responsive, and easy to use.

The Xperia XZ1 also boasts a solid, but far from class-leading, HD screen that gives you a bright, crisp picture. While its camera is disappointing, it isn’t bad. It still takes decent shots and lets you capture slow-mo and 4k video.

In 2017, we expect that our smartphones last through the day on a single charge. The Sony Xperia XZ1 doesn’t disappoint on that front. The phone is pretty efficient when it comes to power usage and you should be able to get a full day of moderate use out of it. It’s also water and dust resistant, so it should survive any spills.

What we don’t like

There are more than a few drawbacks to the Xperia XZ1. One of the biggest problems worth mentioning is its cost. While the XZ1 is a capable smartphone, it’s priced a little too steeply when you consider what it has to offer in comparison to its rivals. While it doesn’t do anything wrong, the Galaxy S8 or Note 8 look far nicer, the iPhone 7 or 8 are easier to use, and LG V30 or G6 have bigger and better screens.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 features a design that’s a little bit different from most Android smartphones. In this case, that’s not necessarily a good thing. By opting for a rectangular design that features big bezels, it looks very dated for a phone being released in 2017.

The screen isn’t bad, but it also doesn’t stand out. With many phones featuring better 4k or OLED displays, it’s a little disappointing that the Xperia XZ1 fails to measure up. Another major offender is the camera quality. It’s not as good as you’d expect for a phone at this price range, especially in low light situations. Add in the fact that the phone lacks a fingerprint sensor and it’s easy to see that Sony missed the mark in more than a few areas.

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Tinh tế Photo on Flickr.

Should you buy it?

While the Sony Xperia XZ1 performs well and has a respectable screen and camera, there are some better options in this price range. If the phone was priced lower, it would be a worth a look, but right now it’s just not worth the cost.

With that said, if you’re a Sony fan or someone looking for a fast phone with a unique look, you could do a lot worse than the Xperia XZ1. Just keep in mind that you’re spending a little bit more for a little bit less.

Check out the product video:

About the Author / Zach Riley

Zach Riley is a tech author who's combined a love of gadgets with a love of writing.