Review: Sony Xperia Z2

Sony's Xperia Z2 is the successor to the Xperia Z1, which took home the Best Android Smartphone trophy at this year's Digital Life Awards.

With the same waterproof and dustproof shell and rear glass panel, the Z2 retains some of the Z1's hardware, while improving on the rest.

A few of its unique features are:

Camera

While smartphone makers churn out devices with 13MP or 16MP lenses, Sony went with a whopping 20.7 megapixels for last year's Z1, and the current Z2.

The images here are sharp and filled with details and its best performance can be seen during night shots.

Where a scene has multiple light sources, cameras with small sensors tend to blend them all into one massive spotlight. But the Z2 expertly sifts though the various light sources to give each one a distinct presence.

Sony has added a 120fps slow-motion video-recording ability which allows parts of the video to be played in slow motion.

The Z2 offers 4K or UHD (Ultra High-Definition) video recording (2,160p), like that of the Galaxy S5 and LG G Pro 2.

Sadly, Sony's 4K recording mode is the most unstable of the three.

When I tested the 4K feature, the phone overheated to the point where the camera shut down automatically after 3min 39sec.

The Galaxy S5 remained cool to the touch during 4K video-recording mode, even though it can manage clips of no more than five minutes at a time.

Front-facing speakers

As the screen always faces the user, there is no reason for a smartphone's speakers to be sited at the back or the edge of the phone.

With two front-facing speakers, the Xperia Z2, like the HTC One (M8), directs the audio towards, instead of away from, the viewer.

Extras

Like the Galaxy S5, the Z2 laughs off splashes and dust.

The protection here - just two simple flaps - is simplicity itself and on that count alone, it beats that of the S5.

The removable back of the S5, which opens to reveal the battery, SIM card and SD card slots, is more complicated to lock in, and may, therefore, be more prone to an accident.

This article was published on May 7 in Digital Life, The Straits Times.

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