Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Sony Xperia Z preview: A serious smartphone contender finally emerges from Sony

Published Feb 25th, 2013 12:15PM EST
Sony Xperia Z Hands-on

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

Whereas the seriously unimpressive Xperia Z tablet poses no threat to any tablet vendors, Sony’s (SNE) new Xperia Z smartphone is poised to make a slightly more significant mark in the smartphone world. With the requisite laundry list of impressive specs, the Xperia Z leaves nothing to be desired in terms of sheer brute force.

A 1.5 ghz quad-core Snapdragon chip powers a slew of onboard radios, including LTE, WCDMA, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and NFC. Onboard storage is limited to 16GB, but a microSD slot allows for up to 32GB of additional space. The NFC chip supports short-range wireless connection to a host of Sony devices, including all 2013 Sony TVs and a new line of headphones and speakers. The 13-megapixel camera is very fast and images captured appear quite clear, though we weren’t able to view any photos on a larger display. Audio quality is crisp, as well.

Most impressive, however, is the 441 ppi display — this might be one of the most incredible screens we’ve ever seen on a mobile device. Colors are sharp and clear, video just about leaps of the screen… it’s really an impressive experience.

In addition to the handset itself, Sony is launching an entire line of accessories designed to compliment the Xperia line. NFC enabled speakers and headphones, Bluetooth smartwatches and a number of docks designed for everything from traditional car dash mounts to handlebar installations are all set to debut in the coming months. It’s clear the company is trying to provide a wind range of accessory options to entice potential buyers.

Josh Karp Distinguished Fellow

Josh Karp followed his love of technology since a kid through to the present day. As a Special Correspondent at BGR, and part of the first editorial team, Josh covers press conferences, trade shows and other events around the world. An expert in all things mobile, Josh has more than eighteen years of experience covering the wireless industry.