SONY XPERIA XZ3

The best phone for a premium build and screen, with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box

Sony delivers a fast and stylish refresh to its technically impressive Xperia XZ2 with the Xperia XZ3, bringing in a stunning new Bravia-engineered 6-inch,18:9 QHD+ HDR screen, as well as a premium new aluminium and glass design.

This notch-less, OLED beauty also comes packing some rock solid competitive hardware, too, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage space, and a 3,300 mAh battery. Combined this hardware delivers flagship level performance in games and apps.

Be under no illusion, though, the screen is the big sell here. Consuming media on it is a pure pleasure and (whisper it quietly), it’s probably the best phone screen ever made.

In terms of cameras, you get the same 19MP rear camera on the XZ3 that was installed in the XZ2, which is good and delivers detailed shots. Although, the system falls just short of that installed on Sony’s own Xperia XZ2 Premium, which is marketed as the maker’s best phone for photography enthusiasts.

That said, though, the Sony Xperia XZ3 is capable of 4K, HDR video recording, and can also capture super slow-motion footage (960fps) at 1080p, too, which is a standout ability that is currently unmatched by its rivals.

The Xperia XZ3, then, is overall the best phone Sony currently makes, and a luxe addition to our best smartphone guide.

Introduction

Few phones can claim they caused quite as big of a stir as the Xperia XZ3. After Sony dropped its first curved OLED Xperia, seemingly out of the blue at IFA 2018, reactions have ranged from overwhelming excitement, through confusion and all the way to denial and anger. That’s a level of drama typically reserved for soap operas or celebrity gossip and it all spells out one thing – a massive wave of exposure for Sony.

That being said, we won’t try and fan the flames any further. The community is already doing an amazingly good job of it. What we will do, however, is delve into the Xperia XZ3, just like we would any other flagship release and see just how good it fairs on the 2018 scene.

Sony Xperia XZ3 Specs

• Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 back and front; IP65/68; 158 x 73 x 9.9mm, 193g.
• Screen: 6.0-inch, 18:9, QHD+ OLED, HDR, TRILUMINOS and X-REALITY tech
• Rear Camera: 19MP, 1/2.3″ Sony IMX400 camera, f/2.0 lens, predictive hybrid laser/phase detection/contrast AF, burst AF, IR sensor for white balance, LED flash, dedicated hardware shutter key, Smart Launch, BIONZ for mobile image-processing engine; ISO 12,800
• Video Recording: 4K video recording @30fps, HDR video up to 4K, 1080p @60fps, 1080p @960fps, 720p @960fps, Steady Shot; Stereo audio recording; Predictive capture; ISO 4000
• Front Camera: 13MP, f/1.9; 1080p video
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Kryo 385 (8x custom Cortex-A75 @ up to 2.8GHz), Adreno 630GPU
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS + microSD (up to 512GB)
• OS: Android 9.0 Pie
• Battery: 3330mAh; USB PD; Wireless Charge (QI)
• Connectivity: Hybrid dual SIM (4G), 4G VoLTE, 5CA LTE Cat.18, 4×4 MIMO, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS, NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C
• Audio: Dynamic vibration system, High-res audio, DSEE HX, LDAC, Stereo speakers with S-Force surround, aptX HD audio
• Misc: Fingerprint sensor, SIDE SENSE, 3D creator scan with back and front cameras, SDR to HDR video upconversion

And make no mistake, the Xperia XZ3 is a fully tricked-out flagship offer. A Snapdragon 845 chipset, 4GB of RAM, a tried and tested Motion Eye camera setup, only made better through constant software improvements, a fresh and current Android 9 OS, complete with new Ai gestures and Side Sense, edge detection. Clearly, the XZ3 has a lot going for it, with the gorgeous new OLED display merely sprinkled as a proverbial cherry on top of the Xperia cake.

    
Sony Xperia XZ3 in official photos

So, whether your feeling the new display or feel let down by the latest iteration of Sony’s design, we still urge you to come along on the following pages, since, if nothing else, the XZ3 is a milestone device. One that, for better or worse, will go down in the history book. And here’s a chance to get acquainted with it.

Unboxing

If you’ve seen one Xperia box, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Sony has been sticking to the same two-piece design and grey color palette for quite some time now. Now, strictly speaking, we didn’t have the actual final XZ3 box with us, but Sony’s told us what to expect, outside and in.

On the inside: a tray, to hold the phone itself snugly in place and underneath – a few accessories. Most importantly, the charger inside is the same one as in the XZ2’s package – that is to say, the plain 5V/1.5A UCH20 unit with no fast charging capabilities. Bummer.

There’s a USB-A to USB-C cable to go with the charger, and it’s still somewhat more versatile that way while we’re waiting for a wider adoption of USB-C on PCs – this cable can be used to connect the XZ3 to pretty much any computer.

A USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack is also included, as the phone itself lacks the legacy port. Most regions will not be getting a bundled headset, though we’re being told that in some countries a pair of basic MH750 Sonys will, in fact, be in the box to get you started. Ask around for your particular market.

Design and 360-degree spin

The Xperia XZ3 clearly represents a new and trendy design for Sony, no two ways about it. Definitely a bold step, if nothing else. As different as it is, however, it is not entirely unfamiliar, nor totally detached from the company’s long-term design continuity.

Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2

On the contrary. Even with the massive changes, implemented in the XZ3, Sony’s design team managed to preserve some staples of the design, to the best of their abilities. Starting with the overall look and footprint – the “Ambient Flow” curves are still very much present all throughout the phone.

Then new curve display lines appear to flow naturally into the frame and then on to the sloping back panel, making the XZ3 one of the “curviest” Xperias to date. This is especially noticeable near the top and bottom ends of the front panel, which almost have a Google Pixel-like appearance, in the way they flow into the side curves.

Wider curves on the front, combined with the familiar “Ambient Flow” sloping back equate to a thinner frame on the XZ3. Compared to the XZ2, that is. Arguably, this provides a little bit more grip. The bill of materials has also changed a bit. The middle frame might be thinner but is now made of 7000 series aluminum. There is no flex in the chassis of the handset, whatsoever.

Controls

Since we are already discussing the frame, we might as take a tour of the controls as well. Their number and layout is practically unchanged from the XZ2. Nothing on the left and a volume rocker, power button and dedicated shutter key on the right-hand side. However, a narrower frame has necessitated significantly slimmer buttons.

Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2

Thankfully, Sony did a pretty good job ensuring the same overall tactic feel for the buttons, as on the XZ2. We definitely appreciate the effort, but that is not to say the buttons are perfect. The are a bit “mushy” and lack a properly satisfying click. Still, we have seen a lot worse and even the new, thin variants are pretty easy to get used to.

  
Buttons, ports and SIM tray

Just to round the controls tour up, the hybrid SIM tray is still found on the top of the XZ3. It can either house two nano-SIM cards, both with LTE and VoLTE. Or, you can swap one out for up to 512GB of microSD storage. Just like the other controls, Sony’s setup of choice leaves us with rather mixed feeling. We appreciate the tool-less entry. However, we still can’t get over the fact that every time you pull the tray, the phone instantly restarts. We probably won’t stop bringing this one up until Sony decided to fix it finally (and not by splitting apart the SIM and microSD tray).

 
Bottom side

On the bottom – the main microphone and a Type-C port. The latter looks unchanged in any way and, indeed, it still supports a USB 3.1 connection. However, according to Sony’s specs, charging is now done per the Power Delivery standard. The main microphone hole appears to be slightly tilted towards the front of the device now. Probably a deliberate choice to improve sound quality, but potentially also a consequence, of sorts, of the new curvier frame design.

  
Back side

If there is one thing Sony’s design team preserved almost entirely intact in the XZ3, it is definitely the back. Besides being a bit taller, for obvious reasons, it looks almost identical in its glossy finish and curvature to the one on the XZ2, when compared side by side.

One little detail that has left us a bit puzzled is a small portion of the metal frame, near the bottom of the XZ3 that extends into the Gorilla Glass 5 back. Its purpose continues to elude us, but we can’t shake the urge to call it a “back notch”, purely for the fun of it.

We do have to commend Sony on making the infamous bulge or hump on the XZ3 that little bit smaller. The absence of the dual camera setup from the XZ2 premium definitely helped and so did the taller body of the unit. Still, at 9.9mm, at its thickest point, the XZ3 does feel a bit thinner. A feeling further enhanced by the thin frame.

Top: Sony Xperia XZ3, Middle: Sony Xperia XZ2, Bottom: Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

We are notably less impressed with Sony’s persistence, with the fingerprint placement. Don’t get us wrong; there is nothing intrinsically wrong with having a back-mounted reader. Plus, the one the XZ3 uses is just as snappy and reliable as ever. However, we do desperately wish Sony would bring it up to a more natural height. Seeing how the XZ3 is quite a bit taller, why couldn’t all the module be shifted up, vertically, at least a little bit? Since, with the current setup, tour index finger is sort of conditioned to land right on the main camera.

  
Front side

Circling back to the beautiful OLED panel, it is worth comparing it to something like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, seeing how the Korean behemoth is the main proponent and driving force behind the curved panel trend. Compared to those two, the curve on the XZ3 seems a bit more pronounced – sloping at a higher angle. This could explain why the XZ3 seems to display a bit more color shift in those areas, compared to its Samsung rivals. This is especially noticeable on a white background when the brightness is cranked up. Since the XZ3 has a slightly colder hue to it, in most color modes, the tops of the side curves start tho show noticeable traces of blue in these conditions. Definitely not as bad as on the Nokia 8 Sirocco, though.

Sizing-wise, the side bezels, on the left and right of the screen are a bit wider than those on the aforementioned Samsung. However, the difference is hardly worth mentioning due to the nature of the design. As in, you probably won’t notice those either way.

Left: Sony Xperia XZ2, Right: Sony Xperia XZ3

The chin of the XZ3 is noticeably thinner than the one on the XZ2. Still wide enough to house one of the two front-facing speakers. The speakers themselves are, apparently, the same units found on the XZ2 and they do live up to expectations. Plus, the XZ3 also gets the potential benefit from Sony’s rather unique Dynamic Vibration System. If you are into that sort of thing, that is. But, more on that in the loudspeaker section.

  
Sony Xperia XZ3 in the hand

The forehead, on the other hand, is quite a bit wider on the XZ3. The extra space appears to be put to good use, though, considering the upgraded 13MP, f/1.9 selfie snapper. Plus, there is the other speaker in Sony’s stereo setup.

Improved 19MP MOTION EYE camera

Sony has decided to stick to what it knows in the camera department, equipping yet another generation of devices with the familiar IMX400 ExmorRS, a.k.a. Motion Eye camera. 1/2.3″, 1.22µm, behind an f/2.0 lens. Its field of view is still quite wide at 25mm (in 35mm equiv).

Sure, it’s not the dual camera setup from the XZ2 Premium that a lot of fans hoped for, but it is still a very good and above all, tried and tested snapper, as seen on the XZ Premium, XZs, as well as the XZ1 pair and the XZ2 Family. OIS is still a notable omission, but Sony’s gyroscopic EIR does have its redeeming qualities, for video at least. What is part of the package, however, is Sony’s excellent, stacked RAM chip solution. The module is the same as it has always been, unfortunately, with no increase in capacity. If you are not familiar with this sort of camera stacked memory solution, it allows really quick read-outs of the full 19MP sensor, which prevents the nasty rolling shutter in photos of fast-moving objects. The extra fast memory is also vital for proper HDR video recording at up to 4K.

It also enables the headline feature – 960fps slow-motion video. Thanks to the Spectra 280 ISP, inside the Snapdragon 845 and the RAM chip, the XZ3 can also record 960fps slow-motion video at 1080p resolution – still higher than the competition. Without an increase in the size of the buffer, however, we are still stuck with just 0.09 seconds of slow motion at 1080p. Quite tough to work with.

Sony does include some predictive capture algorithms to try and help out, as best it can. Speaking of which, the camera improvements the Xperia XZ3 brings to the table are mostly confined to software. In particular, the proprietary BIONZ processing algorithm now has a new iteration.

BIONZ has been improved in two main areas, this time around. The first is simply better detail under low-light conditions. Comparing the XZ3 samples, we captured to the ones from the XZ2, the low-light noise processing, and handling do seem a bit different.

The other BIONZ improvement is rather descriptively called “Exposure control by Deep Learning.” Since AI is involved, the inner working are going to be hard to grasp. However, the explanation and samples were simple enough – Sony found that most people ruin shots that have a cloudy sky in them – that lead to the under-exposure of other objects in the frame. Conversely – shots of greenery, which tend to get over-exposed. So, the new AI simply jumps in, recognizes the particular scenes and applies proper exposure and/or HDR, as needed. As simple as that!

  
Camera UI

Looking a the re-designed camera UI, simple is clearly what Sony was going for. Switching between photo and video mode is a one-click operation, and all the corresponding modes and settings are well contained within menus, in those modes. The camera app is also modernized with support for Android quick actions, so you can create a shortcut to photo, video or manual mode right on your home screen.

 
Manual mode

Smart Launch is another AI-infused new feature on the XZ3. It is essentially a complicated gesture detection system, which triggers when you take the phone out of your pocket and hold in horizontally. If the algorithm detects all the steps, it will launch the camera UI.

The rule-based detection logic and deep learning that go on behind the scenes to enable this feature are quite impressive. Still, we have to wonder about the actual practicality of the gesture. It’s not that quick, plus it requires an extra press on display. All the while, a double press of the power button will also get you in the camera app.

And, while on the topic of gestures, just for the sake of thoroughness, the new Side senseplatform is also integrated into the camera app, which we already mentioned in the software section. You can double-tap anywhere on the curved display edge of the XZ3, and the camera shutter will trigger. Well, after a delay of a second or so, obviously put in place to protect against unwanted camera shake from the taps.

Image quality

Staying close to recent Sony trends, the Xperia XZ3 delivers very pleasing photos in good light. Pixel peeping reveals a fair share of noise, but also plenty of fine detail. At normal magnifications, you’d be enjoying the rich colors and nice contrast.

  
  
  
Camera samples, Auto

Still, despite the relatively wide dynamic range, you’d need to resort to the HDR toggle in Manual mode, because the Auto’s Backlit scene doesn’t always handle highlight preservation ideally. Mind you, highlight preservation is all that the HDR on will give you – there’s not much shadow recovery to speak of.

  
  
Camera samples, Auto vs. Manual, HDR on: Auto • Manual, HDR on

In low light, the Xperia XZ3 copes equally well. There’s plenty of noise, granted, but there’s also a lot of detail captured. There’s no washing out of colors either; saturation is kept in check.

  
Camera samples, low light, Auto

You’ll notice, comparing to the Xperia XZ2 Compact’s shots, that the older generation produced less noisy, albeit softer images. We’d say we prefer the new approach.

  
Xperia XZ2 Compact camera samples, low light, Auto

Once you’re done examining the real-life samples you can have a look at our Photo compare tool for some studio shots. We’ve pre-selected the Galaxy S9+ and the Huawei P20 Pro to pit against the Xperia XZ3, but you can, by all means, pick any other set of phones to compare once you’re there.

  
Sony Xperia XZ3 against the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and the Huawei P20 Pro in our Photo compare tool

Sony’s had the Bokeh mode since the previous generation, an implementation that works with just the one camera, obviously. It’s capped at 8MP, but is not half bad, producing portraits with a similar gritty look to what we’d get out of a Pixel 2. Subject separation is good (though clearly not infallible), and the background blur looks natural.

  
Bokeh mode samples, human (sort of) subject

It works well enough with non-human subjects too. We’ll reiterate that your mileage will vary depending on the subject type, distances, and whatnot.

  
Bokeh mode samples, non-human subjects

13MP selfie snapper

One clear camera upgrade the XZ3 offers over the XZ2 is the selfie camera. The XZ3 offers a 13.2MP autofocus enabled snapper. It’s a new and improved module, as well, since it has a brighter aperture of f/1.9, compared to the f/2.0, the XZ2 Premium is rocking.

Still, we can’t exactly bring ourselves to call the selfie “new”, since the Xperia XZ1 already featured a similar camera. It’s just that the XZ2 pair downgraded it quite a bit, with a 5MP module. So, we consider this is righting a wrong on Sony’s part, more than anything else.

There is also a Portrait selfie mode, with variable strength, which Sony is throwing into the beauty mix, along with the other portrait improvements. Selfies get to benefit from a new beauty system, complete with 5 distinct components: Face slender, Eye enlargement, Skin brightness and Soft skin. The intensity of these can be fine-tuned and adjusted individually, though once again we feel like we’re outside the target audience.

Just like on the XZ2 Premium we had over recently, selfies from the XZ3 end up looking great when there’s plenty of light – lots of fine detail, nice colors and decent dynamic range. If light levels drop, however, photos quickly turn softer, though still plenty good for social media and fit-to-screen viewing.

  
Selfie camera samples

The Portrait selfie mode is again capped at 8MP as it is on the main cam, only it isn’t quite as proficient when it comes to subject separation.

  
Selfie camera samples, portrait mode

4K and HDR video recording

Just like its XZ2 siblings, the XZ3 has quite a few tricks up its sleeves, when it comes to video recording. Sony’s memory-stacked Motion Eye camera module, combined with the Snapdragon 845 and its Spectra ISP, make for a really potent duo.

  
Video UI

Sony’s approach to HDR is particularly intriguing and deserves some attention. On the surface, the XZ3 appears unassuming enough, rocking an HDR10 certification on its panel, like many other modern flagships. HDR10 is great to have, seeing how it’s somewhat of the defacto standard for consuming online HDR content, from the likes of Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.

Still, what if besides consuming HDR video you also want to share your own recordings in some convenient way, since passing the XZ3 around at parties is far from ideal. That’s a trickier task, and it’s where the Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) standard comes in.

Unlike most competing standards, like HDR10 and Dolby, HLG uses a standard SDR video feed at its core. This makes it backward compatible with older non-HDR devices, so you don’t have to worry about washed out colors and a ruined experience on those. It also helps to make HLG a lot more usable for streaming content – an issue HDR10 and Dolby Vision have. The actual high dynamic range part of the video is encoded as an extra logarithmic curve on top of the regular SDR gamma curve. Hence, the “log” and “gamma” parts of the name.

But the real “secret sauce” is in the easy online sharing of these clips. Through a collaboration with YouTube, Sony has enabled the XZ3 (among other devices) to upload the HDR HLG content it captures straight to YouTube in 10-bit HEVC format. YouTube digests that and converts it over to 10-bit VP9, which can then be delivered to a wide range of HDR devices. That helps you share your HDR creations with the world.

Anyway, the Xperia XZ3 records video at up to 4K/30fps, but there’s no 60fps mode in 2160p resolution. 1080p comes in both 30fps and 60fps flavors, plus a 120fps slow-motion mode. There’s super slow motion at 960fps, which is either 720p for 0.18s or 1080p for half that duration.

Video is encoded using the h.264 codec, but you do get the option to switch to the more efficient h.265 for 4K capture. HDR footage is in h.265 regardless.

4K/30fps gets a 54Mbps bitrate with the h.264 codec and 34Mbps with h.265, 1080p/60fps is encoded at 30Mbps, while plain regular 1080p/30fps gets 17Mbps. Audio is recorded in stereo at 156kbps in all shooting modes.

In good light, 4K footage out of the Xperia XZ3 is sharp and detailed, and there’s little noise – that’s to say, the XZ2 Premium’s clips are marginally cleaner, but it’s some serious hair-splitting. And since we’ve gone there, the XZ3’s 4K videos are that extra bit sharper. Looking at our studio scenes, we dare say the XZ3’s videos show some more signs of sharpening, but the real-life footage is still very natural to our eyes. We are liking the balanced color rendition and the wide dynamic range too.

There’s hardly any difference between h.264 and h.265 4K videos so at this point you might as well go ahead and save some space by shooting h.265 – compatibility is no longer the big issue it once was. Perhaps only the fact that older computers will find them more taxing to playback might be a consideration to some.

Now, most of the above hold true about 1080p video as well, only we’ve seen sharper FullHD videos, both in 30 and 60fps. These will do too, but they do look like they weren’t a top priority when working out the processing algorithms.

Shooting HDR makes sense in very contrasty scenes, which our usual test setup isn’t necessarily. We’ve shot a sample nonetheless and you can find that towards the end of the playlist below.

Stabilization is available all the way to 4K, but since Sony’s SteadyShot-branded algorithms come in two tiers, only the Standard is available at the highest resolution. The more competent (and apparently more processing-intense) gyro-assisted Intelligent Active mode is only available in up to 1080p/30fps.

The lack of intelligence in the Standard mode in 4K doesn’t make it unusable. Quite the contrary – it provides a very respectable level of shake reduction and smoothness already. Switching down to 1080p for resolution and up to Intelligent Active for SteadyShot-ness does bring a slight, but noticeable improvement. You certainly don’t want to be shooting handheld with the help of SteadyShot – that ends up much too shaky.

Low light recording isn’t the XZ3’s forte quite the same way as it was on the XZ2 Premium and its dual camera and crazy high ISO. Even so, it’s capable of recording watchable videos. The HDR mode does help in these cases, particularly if you have both deep shadows and bright sources of light. Mind you, when it’s dark below a certain threshold, the phone will inevitably struggle to focus reliably and will likely hunt for focus.

Sony’s super slow motion is as good as before and it’s still the only one to come in 1080p. But we’re spoiled by the ease of use Samsung’s auto trigger mode provides. We hope Sony catches up soon.

The last stop is, of course, our Video compare tool where you can compare the Xperia XZ3’s output against other phones we’ve tested. We’ve pre-selected the Galaxy S9+ and the Huawei P20 Pro, but a different set of devices is only a few clicks away.

  
Sony Xperia XZ3 against the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and the Huawei P20 Pro in our Video compare tool