Sony Xperia XZ1 First Impressions: Best of audio, display and camera in one phone

Design-Seems a bit dated but looks premium and is also durable

One can argue that every Xperia device looks similar and flaunt the same rectangular outlook; however Sony's Omnibalance design strategy ticks almost all the right boxes and has improved in a significant way in last four years. And while the design keeps on improving with each passing generation, it still preserves the originality of first Xperia handset ever came out. You can instantly spot an Xperia handset among the myriad of Android devices which more or less look like Apple iPhones.

As far as Xperia XZ1 is concerned, the smartphone is built on Sony's 'flagship loop surface' design blueprint and looks every bit of premium. Xperia XZ1 is made out of a single block of metal making it feel sturdier yet surprisingly lightweight in hand.

The edges are rounded, just like the Xperia XZ Premium to make the handset comfortable to use with one hand. Like previous Xperia handsets, Xperia XZ1 also has a fingerprint scanner embedded on the power button which is placed on the right side of the smartphone. The smartphone is also water and dust resistant with an IP68 certification.

Overall, the omnibalance design with subtle changes makes the handset slick and premium. My only complaint with Sony XZ1 is the presence of large bezels on top and bottom of the screen, which really looks dated in the days of FullVision and Infinity screens.

Sony has to catch up with the rivals as the world has already shifted its focus from standard 16:9 ratio screens to taller 18:9 aspect ratio, and it is high time Sony also does the same.

Display and Audio: HDR supported screen and Hi-Res. audio support

As I mentioned in the design part, the XZ1 sports a standard 16:9 aspect ratio display with noticeable bezels on top and bottom; however the screen itself is brilliant to look at. The smartphone sports a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) HDR display powered by Sony's Triluminous display and X-Reality technology configured for mobiles.

Now one must expect a QHD screen at this price-point, but the added HDR support compensates the same and offers bright and clearer and stunning visuals during gaming and video playback.

Sony Xperia XZ1 can stream HDR content from supported services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix. Backed by Sony's Bravia TV technology, the display is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Sony has always made sure that its devices offer best-in-class audio performance and the same goes with the Xperia XZ1. The smartphone comes with industry's leading audio technologies featuring Hi-Res Audio, digital noise cancellation, S-Force surround sound, stereo recording, and Qualcomm's own aptX audio software.

The dual front-facing speakers work on new S-Force surround technology, which as per Sony provides 50% more sound pressure than the speakers on the previous Xperia XZ device. We will evaluate the audio-video performance while reviewing the handset in the coming week.

Camera: 19MP Motion Eye camera with 3D Scanning

Coming onto the camera, Sony Xperia XZ1 is another worthy addition to flagship camera smartphones in the market. The smartphone comes with Sony's tried and tested 19MP MotionEye camera that works on Exmor RS sensor and can record super slow motion videos at a stunning 960 fps. We have tested the camera on Xperia Z Premium and you can read our complete review here. What's new in the camera department is the 3D scanning abilities, the first-of-its kind feature on a mobile phone camera that creates a 3D avatar of a person or an object in focus. All of his is done by Sony's 3D Creator application that post completing the 3D scan also allows you to share the results across different platforms and media.

The camera can render the 3D scans of objects in 60 to 90 seconds using four scan modes; head scan, face scan, food scan and freeform scan. The scanned objects can then be shared on messenger apps using 3D stickers or uploaded to 3D communities such as Sketchfab. More so, Sony also showcased a demo where a 3D scanned face was fused on a character in a game to show the endless possibilities of the camera technology.

The 3D scans of objects and humans can even be printed on a 3D printer and converted into memorable keepsakes. You can scan an object and upload the file on www.3dPrintmyfile.com to get a 3D print delivered at your doorstep.

Coming onto other important aspects of the camera department, the rear camera supports 5-axis stabilisation and also supports 4K video recording. You also get industry's first Autofocus burst mode, which tracks and captures sequences of moving objects in sharp focus to avoid blurred action shots.

On the front, Sony Xperia XZ1 features a 13MP camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and 22mm wide-angle lens for group selfies. It is also powered by Sony's Exmor RS mobile imaging sensor.

Hardware: Flagship Snapdragon and latest Android 8.0 Oreo

There's no compromise in underlying hardware as the smartphone is backed by the latest and most powerful CPU in town. Sony Xperia XZ1 is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and Adreno 540 GPU.

The handset offers 64GB of inbuilt storage which can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD card. The combination in presence of Google's latest mobile OS will deliver on everyday and performance intensive tasks without breaking up a sweat.

Sony Xperia XZ1 is backed by a 2,700 mAh battery unit, which seems a bit smaller in numbers but Sony promises that it will last for a complete day even on a heavy usage. The smartphone comes with ‘Stamina mode' which cuts energy consumption so your battery lasts longer.

We will evaluate the claims in our detailed review of the handset. As far as connectivity is concerned, Xperia XZ1 has Wi-Fi Miracast, Bluetooth 5.0, DLNA, LTE 4G, NFC, USB 3.1, GPS and Google cast.

Last but not at all least, the smartphone runs on the latest Android 8.0 Oreo with Sony's Xperia UI. There are no bloatwares and you can even uninstall whatever preloaded apps are there on the device.

Conclusion

Sony Xperia XZ1 gives us no major reasons to complain about. The smartphone runs the latest software, packs in the flagship hardware and brings forward some of the industry's first camera, audio and display technologies for a complete audio-video package. While the Motion Eye camera is bound to please shutterbugs, the HDR display will keep you hooked to your mobile phone for gaming and video playback.

The design can be dated for some but it is durable, ergonomic and also makes the handset looks premium. We might face some battery troubles, but the real performance will only be evaluated after a thorough test process. Wait for our comprehensive review of Sony Xperia XZ1 on GIZBOT.