Should you buy … The Sony Xperia XZ3?



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Making a smartphone that stands out in a crowded market is a tricky business, even for established players like Sony.

The company's Xperia brand entered its 10th year in 2018, most recently adding the XZ3 handset to the line-up. Sony has resisted the popular notch trend in its newest flagship, opting for evolution rather than revolution – but has it done well to take the modest approach?

Design and display

Many of the specs on the Xperia XZ3 smartphone remain the same as its predecessor (PA / Jamie Harris)

Xperia, the XZ2, with the XZ3 is the same, except the edges are more curved, like the latest Samsung Galaxy S handsets.

This is an elegant look and it is comfortable enough to be used by many people today.

However, the elegance is let down by the smear-prone glbad body material, which stands out all over the black handset.

Smears are an issue for the phone (PA / Jamie Harris)

At 9.9mm, the XZ3 is slightly slimmer than the XZ2's 11.1mm, weighing less than, now at 193g, but this does not go far enough to remove the handset's bulkiness.

The back remains largely identical to its predecessor too, including the awkward positioning of the fingerprint sensor right at center.

Sony's saving grace and standout feature is a stunning OLED display, using its strengths as a TV-maker with the Bravia range. The 6in 2160×1080 display offers compelling color and one of the deepest blacks you will find on a smartphone, making it ideal for watching movies or videos on the go.

Performance

Much of the XZ3's hardware is the same as before, with an identical Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip-set and 4GB of RAM to handle the speed of the phone.

Despite the reasonable spec sheet, the handset does not run as smoothly as you hope, especially if you have multiple apps running in the background.

Example of a photo taken on Xperia XZ3 (PA / Jamie Harris)

Side Sense, a feature that allows you to get used to the most used apps and shortcuts, is a nice addition to the marred by accidental keys – just turn it off.

Sony also misses an opportunity to upgrade its rear camera, sticking with a 19-megapixel snapper. The photos still look decent but they do not beat other Android devices, such as Google's Pixel handsets and the OnePlus 6T.

Strangely, Sony has decided to focus on the front-facing camera, bumping it up to 13-megapixels, so you can definitely notice the difference in your selfies at least.

Verdict

Sony does well to maintain a starting price of £ 699.

If you're looking for something with a beautiful face to watch movies, you're looking into the right place, and you're just a part of the XZ3.

The form of the phone is great to be in one hand, but again, let down by the bulky weight.

It may be time for Sony to go down the path of revolution, rather than sticking to the safety of evolution.– Press Association

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