Sony Xperia XZ2 review: Modern touches, yet thick like a brick
Sony stands with the dwindling number of companies who’ve resisted dual-camera setups. The Xperia XZ2 ships with a single 19MP lens, and it’s chock full of goodies to please any photographer.
You’re able to shoot in 4K HDR, capturing every detail as the naked eye sees it. Then there’s slow-motion, but it’s not capped at a paltry resolution. Sony’s Motion Eye technology lets you get slow-motion video in Full HD at 960 frames per second. Standard shots benefit from features like Predictive Capture and Autofocus Burst, their names telling you exactly what they do.
The Xperia XZ2’s Motion Eye camera was born from the company’s Alpha and Cybershot series. Sony tossed in Exmore RS, G Lens, and BIONZ. Marketing terms? Yes, but they have a purpose. Each results in faster and clearer shots in any environment.
As was the case with last year’s Xperia XZ1, the Xperia XZ2 doesn’t blow you away with stunning photos. They’re nice, but I prefer what the Pixel and iPhone pull off. From afar, things look fine. Up close, photos drastically lose quality.
Given the history Sony has in making cameras for film studios and everyday people, I was hoping the Xperia XZ2 would be a step above the field.
The software overlay on the Xperia XZ2 isn’t a grand departure from what we saw on the Xperia XZ1. Sony is using Android 8.0 Oreo, but there’s that same clash of colors and styles going on. Rather than making something bright and fluid, the software feels dark and dated.
Sony rocks a black and white theme in some areas, and then others are splashed with colors. It doesn’t make sense. The graphics and animations also remind me of Android’s pre-Material Design days.
The Xperia XZ2 does have its fair share of bloatware. Sony added nothing of value, and its 3D Creator app is an odd approach to promoting augmented reality. The phone’s cameras scan your face or any other object to recreate it and… that’s it. This is a lame ripoff of Apple’s Animoji and Samsung’s AR Emoji.
Another complaint I have is the lack of an always-on feature. The Xperia XZ2 will serve information at a glance when you pick up the phone but not on an around-the-clock basis. All flagships should show you the time, date, and notifications without having to turn on the display. Maybe this will be realized by Sony in six months when the Xperia XZ3 hits.
Those who do muster up the strength to pull the trigger on the Xperia XZ2 will be rewarded with Android P. After participating in the beta program, the upcoming version of Android should receive the major upgrade early on.
In 2018, Sony shows it’s making an effort. The Xperia XZ2 doesn’t look old, and we couldn’t say that about an Xperia-branded flagship for several years. But the phone also lacks a sleek and sexy profile. Sony’s released an outclassed flagship with unnecessary bulk.
The truth is that, after being pleasantly surprised by how refreshing the Xperia XZ2 seemed out of the gate, this isn’t a very good flagship. Sony outdid itself, but there’s no reason to choose the Xperia XZ2 over other flagships on the market.
Go with a brand who knows what consumers want and need, not a brand who only seems to listen to itself until it’s too late.
Think about the price, too. Sony’s flagship is $800, but the Galaxy S9 and Pixel 2 are less expansive. The OnePlus 6 is also hundreds of dollars cheaper. Sony is living a false reality. Samsung, Apple, and Google are in a league of their own, and the Xperia XZ2 is being forced to fight their flagships when it just doesn’t belong.
Editor’s Note: The Xperia XZ2 was provided by Sony, and TechnoBuffalo used it for approximately 2.5 weeks before returning the unit.
Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/reviews/sony-xperia-xz2-review/