SonyXperia XZ2 UK SIM-Free Smartphone - Liquid Black [UK]

The XZ2 is an outstanding flagship phone and not in any way lesser than the S9+ / S9 , iPhone X Huwawei P20 / p20 PRO.The Camera on the XZ2 can take better quality photos with more realistic colours than the S9. The XZ2 camera is also better than the iPhone X camera.The XZ2 is faster than the S9 in terms of switch on time, app opening.and more user friendly.The XZ2 has a curved design, with glass back and aluminium edges. It is surprising easy to hold and the bezel does not actually look ugly or cause an eyesore when you use the phone.The XZ2 come equipped with the traditional English keyboard, along with Chinese and Japanese keyboards.The so called dodgy fingerprint scanner position that many internet reviews moaned about is actually not that bad,.I find myself holding the phone at around 40 height from the bottom, and the bending of my index finger does not create any extra work to reposition my hand to use the scanner.On the whole, even though the XZ2 does not seem the strongest on paper compared to the XZ2 or other flagships, it is a very user friendly phone that priortise function over specs on paper.The XZ2 is definitely not lesser than the other flagship phones, despite what others have said. XZ2 is faster at opening most apps than the S9/ S9+ and its camera quality can take pictures better than the S9 (despite having only single lens).I chose the official SCTH40 case from sony to go with this phone. The case is great except it does not have a hole for the front facing camera. The case screen does not have a magnetic attachment, but it can be opened fully (bent backwards) to allow users to use the screen directly if needed.

Upgraded to this from a Z5 and though I was concerned about the curved back and extra thickness, once you have it in your hand it is much more comfortable to hold than the Z5. The performance is very fast and the camera is a great improvement over previous Xperias especially in low light conditions. I deliberated whether to move away from Sony and considered the P20 Pro but I am glad I stuck with Sony. I have always preferred their android versions and build quality. I was put off by all the editing that the P20 Pro does to photographs and lack of wireless charging. Battery life is excellent and the wireless charging a welcome addition. The one thing I don't understand is the 5mp front facing camera which seems like a step back from it's predecessors 13mp unit and this might bother users who like to take selfies or video chat but was not a deal breaker for me. I highly recommend this case https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lightweight-Ultra-Clear-Resistant-Protective-Silicone-Transparent/dp/B07B9XH1QM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533648839&sr=8-1&keywords=j+and+d+xz2 which fits the phone perfectly ad provides corner protection(Note: This case doesn't seem to come up in search results for XZ2 cases on Amazon, I stumbled across it by chance whilst looking for a screen protector.)UPDATE:Having had the first unit for a month, the earpiece developed an annoying tinny distortion on calls even though the speakers seemed fine when listening to music or videos. Amazon sent a replacement and though this did not have an issue with the earpiece, the volume rocker was excessively loose and the box damaged. Amazon sent a second replacement and so far so good but all three devices have had damaged boxes. Whether this is a Sony or Amazon quality control issue, it is disappointing that a £600 + device cannot be delivered to the customer in perfect condition.

I had an Xperia Z5 for 3 years, sadly the battery was getting weak so I had decided to upgrade. I like Android's OS and started looking at my options. Most of the phones were quite expensive and didn't offer me more for the asking price. XZ2 was an obvious choice considering that the price was around £300. It feels a little heavier than Z5 but feels sleek. The camera is good and has a lot of different functionalities. At first, it might seem like Pixel or iPhone cameras are easier to use and produce better images. However, Sony offers you more settings which are great once you know how to use them, plus better low light images and a much better resolution with 19 megapixels. I like the fact you can customise your home screen with different themes, colours, grid layout and widgets. Another useful feature is the single hand mode. All of those features are very limited on some Android devices that I have used as well. If you are looking for a stylish phone, that does not cost like a laptop (£800+), I would definitely recommend. Plenty of useful functionalities at a good price. Anything else that might seem better, cost an extra £200-400 which is almost another phone.

Being a couple of years old now, this phone is currently available at a very sensible price. OK, so it's not a cutting edge Sony flagship phone, but it's still a really good spec and works perfectly. Everything is logical and easy to access, the camera is excellent, the memory doesn't lag even when playing games, and the sound quality is superb - and it has stereo speakers! Plus, of course, it's got a decent amount of water resistance so it's rain proof and beach proof! If you want a good phone at a good price, and can get your hands on a brand new one, I'd thoroughly recommend it, though stocks of new ones seem to be dwindling.