Sony doesn't get as much attention for its Android-powered devices as
Samsung and HTC do, and that's a shame. For the most part, the company
has been consistent with its phone and tablet releases, manufacturing
modern-looking, angular devices with capable specs. But to really
compete with the top tier movers and shakers in the Android realm, it
has to step up its game. That means adding in features that rival other
Android handsets and sticking only with current generation processors.
With
the Xperia Z1S, Sony packed in a 20-megapixel camera sensor with
abilities that rival some of the best-selling Android phones, in
addition to a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 system-on-chip (SoC). It's a
solid handset worth taking a look at. It's only serious drawback is
that it's exclusive to T-Mobile's network.
Pretty, as usual
Around here, we always say that Sony's handsets are
"second-tier premium." The Xperia Z1S in particular is stylish in its
shiny glass casing, but it's still not quite as refined as the HTC One (M8), for example.
While
all the latest phones are getting bigger these days, I didn't find the
Xperia Z1S uncomfortable to hold or type with, despite its uncommonly
bulky build and sharp edges. However, the Xperia Z1S is already too
thick to wear a case to protect its delicate chassis. Its glossy case is
also quite the attractor of smudges and greasy fingerprints, too. It
can get pretty gross.
I appreciate the mid-line power and volume
buttons: they're easier to hit with my thumb when I'm cradling the phone
with one hand, and that's normally how I handle a phone when I'm using
it to listen to music or check the time.
Since it's waterproof, the expansion slot and
charging port are hidden behind a tiny door. They shut tightly to keep
out water when you dunk it, but as a result you'll have to really get in
there with your fingernail to pop it open. The Xperia Z1S is awkward to
use while charging because the port is placed at the top-left side of
the device and there's a flap hanging off.
Just powerful enough
The Z1S's system-on-chip (SoC) is on par with many other phones out on the market, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and LG G2,
which both launched late last year. It features a quad-core Snapdragon
800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, as well as a
microSD expansion slot. There were no issues multitasking between games
and apps of varying types and the interface wasn't bogged down either;
screens transitioned fluidly and everything felt speedy right out of the
box. The only app that took a while to settle was the camera
application, which takes a bit of time to calibrate on launch.
The
Xperia Z1S's 1080p 5-inch display is extremely bright at its highest
setting and quite dim at its lowest. There is a bit of color
over-saturation, too, though not as bad as Samsung's Super AMOLED, and
although the blacks remain relatively black, other colors appear blown
out at the highest brightness setting.
The Xperia Z1S's 3,000mAh battery pack is a huge improvement over its predecessors, especially the Xperia Z Ultra. The
Z1S managed nine hours and 37 minutes in our video rundown tests, which
places it at the top of our list alongside devices like the new HTC One
and Galaxy Note 3. It also features a myriad of power settings you can
enable in the Settings panel, including STAMINA mode, which disables the
background data when the screen is off.
Say cheese!
For the
most part, Google has left Android's camera capabilities up to the
manufacturers (that's supposedly going to change, if the recent rumors
have any validity). Sony kicked it up a notch by leveraging its some of
its point-and-shoot camera technology in its mobile devices.
The
Xperia Z1S's 20-megapixel camera is truly impressive. By default, the
camera app will shoot in Superior Auto mode and take photos and videos
with automatically optimized settings. This works much better on the Z1S
than my previous experience with last year's Xperia Z, where the camera
failed to adjust to the situation.
In our lab tests, photos came out bright a
clear in both high and low light situations. Outside shots looked great
whether it was a sunny or a cloudy day, and the flash didn't blow out
the subject, but rather enhanced it. My only concern is that it takes a
while for the camera to focus, which sometimes resulted in unfocused or
delayed photos.
There are also a few
neat tricks the Xperia Z1S can do, like add Augmented Reality effects,
Burst mode, and Background defocus, which takes photos with a background
blur and lets you select the focal point before you snap a photo. You
can then adjust how much you want the background blurred-out after the
fact. There is also a mode called Info eye that will perform a search
for you based on any landmarks, books, wine labels, business cards, and
barcodes that you snap a photo of.
The features may seem like a
gimmick at first, but Sony took the time to refine each to make them
something you'd truly want to use. The easy-to-use camera UI also
ensures that you're not pointing your finger all over the place trying
to figure out what kind of camera mode to use.
An interface that's Android-ish
Sony's
Xperia UI runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and while it isn't as vanilla
as stock Android, at least it's not as heavily stylized as Samsung or
LG's Android interfaces. It's at that sweet spot where you won't have to
forget everything you know about Android to relearn how to use another
company's version.
Some of its elements are quite helpful, too.
Sony put the Quick Settings bar at the top of the Notifications panel so
that you don't have to click through to another screen to adjust the
brightness or turn on Airplane Mode. You can adjust which ones you want
displayed from the Settings panel.
Its application drawer also offers a plethora
of viewing options, including the ability to search through apps, set
them up in your own order, or quickly launch whatever app stores you
have installed.
However,
Sony is still playing the old Samsung card by cramming in its own suite
of applications alongside Google's. On the Home screen, Sony's Walkman,
PlayStation Mobile, Movies, and Album applications are front and
center, and though Google Chrome and the Google Play Store make it into
the dock, everything else is hidden in the application drawer. At least
they're there if you need them, and Google Now is easily accessible with
an upward swipe.
Give Sony a chance
Sony's
device launches last year were a bit better than average, but this year
the company seems committed to knock it out of the park. The Xperia Z1S
isn't Sony's flagship device for the year, but its impressive camera
abilities, speedy processor, and stylish outfitting are an indicator of
how the company plans to regain some of its barely-there U.S.
marketshare. If the Xperia Z1S is where Sony's heading, then we can't
wait to see what's next.
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