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The Sony Xperia XZ3 vs. the XZ2: What's changed?
If it feels like it hasn't been that long since Sony's last flagship phone, you're not wrong. It was only a hair over six months ago that we met the Xperia XZ2 at this year's Mobile World Congress. We liked it well enough, though the XZ2 still fell a bit shy of the competition in our review two months later. Today we're looking at the new Xperia XZ3 and if you're thinking that there hasn't been enough time for major changes, you'd be somewhat right: This new handset still boasts a Snapdragon 845 processor and a 19-megapixel rear camera. But the screen did get bigger, and there are a few more notable upgrades if you dig in, including a better resolution and a larger battery. Check out the chart below for the full rundown versus the XZ2, and stay tuned for our review later this fall.
Sony explains why Android updates take so long
If you're like many smartphone owners using non-stock versions of Android, you're probably twiddling your thumbs waiting for your device maker to release an upgrade to Android 9 Pie. But have you wondered why you're waiting so long when your Pixel- and Essential-toting friends already have their upgrades? Sony can explain. In a blog post promising Pie updates for recent Xperia phones (the XZ Premium, XZ1 family and XZ2 series) in November, the company also provided an infographic outlining the steps between Google's OS release and seeing the new software on your handset. It's a simplified take on what's happening, but it does provide a good summary of what's involved.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium review: Too quirky for the mainstream
Sony's latest flagship is all about 4K HDR. The Xperia XZ2 Premium not only has a 4K HDR display, but it's also one of the first phones that can record video at that resolution and dynamic range. It's also the first Xperia to sport dual rear cameras and, like its predecessors, comes with two front-facing speakers and shoots super-slow-mo clips. The Premium also offers stronger-than-usual haptic feedback that's meant to enhance music playback and gaming, something its brothers from this year's XZ2 family also offer. On paper, the XZ2 Premium is a promising device, but only for a very specific audience.
Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact arrive in the US on April 20th
If you're an American and have had your curiosity piqued by Sony's heavily redesigned Xperia XZ2, you can indulge your curiosity in the very near future. Sony will sell both the XZ2 and the XZ2 Compact through Best Buy starting online April 20th (with pre-orders beginning April 13th), and retail on May 6th. Amazon and other retailers will sell the handsets on May 20th. Be prepared to pay a premium for the cachet of owning a relatively uncommon phone in the country, though: the XZ2 Compact will cost $650, while its full-size counterpart will carry a $800 price tag.
Sony Xperia XZ2 review: Memorable looks, forgettable features
Sony isn't the big hitter in mobile it once was. It hasn't been one of the popular kids for a while now, but that hasn't stopped the company from producing new smartphones at a steady clip. At Mobile World Congress in February, Sony announced its first new hopes for 2018, the frontman of which is the Xperia XZ2. The flagship marks something of a fresh start for Sony: a departure from the recycled design language that's touched every Xperia for several years. What you get is a device that's curvier, glossier and an absolute dream to use in several respects. The problem Sony still faces, though, is a lack of unique features to entice people away from the brands and lineages they've become familiar and comfortable with.
The Xperia XZ2 is Sony's fastest, strangest flagship phone yet
Sony has longed to find lasting success in the smartphone market, but none of the devices it released in the past few years have done the job. It's clearly time for a change, and Sony knows that — that's why the new Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are notable steps away from the company's smartphone norm. They're fast, fascinating and pretty (to me, anyway), and it seems obvious that Sony wanted to strike a balance in these devices between immersive media consumption and powerful content creation. After a little bit of hands-on time with the XZ2 and its little sibling, I don't think Sony hasn't gotten everything right, but at least these things are pleasantly strange.
Sony’s new flagships ditch an aging design for full screens
Sony's phones have looked largely the same for years now, but that's apparently about to change. The electronics company has redesigned its flagship phone to be full screen. Venture Beat has pictures and descriptions of the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact, which will be revealed at MWC 2018.
