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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; 183 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, 4x4 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.
Display
To be perfectly frank, many of us thought we would never see the day OLED made its way on to an Xperia phone. But it finally happened and it's a really glorious sight to behold. Just to clear the air a little bit, we're not insinuating that LCD is bad in any way. On the contrary - when done correctly, it can provide a great visual experience. It's just that OLED has quite a few extra benefits to offer that more and more traditionally LCD-friendly companies like Apple are starting to appreciate and adopt.
The overall benefits of the tech are clear, but it might just be up to Sony to convince its users to take the plunge as well, considering the long years of LCD-only diet, accompanied by frequent praise for the benefits of the IPS liquid crystal technology.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.499 | 920 | 1844 | |
| 0 | 679 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 658 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 658 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 652 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 647 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 631 | ∞ | |
| 0.002 | 624 | 312000 | |
| 0 | 623 | ∞ | |
| 0.471 | 621 | 1318 | |
| 0.431 | 618 | 1434 | |
| 0.032 | 616 | 19250 | |
| 0.002 | 600 | 300000 | |
| 0 | 582 | ∞ | |
| 0.392 | 530 | 1352 | |
| 0.367 | 518 | 1411 | |
| 0 | 464 | ∞ | |
| 0.225 | 460 | 2044 | |
| 0 | 458 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 458 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 444 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 442 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 426 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 422 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 420 | ∞ | |
| 0.002 | 414 | 207000 | |
| 0 | 412 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 412 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 400 | ∞ | |
| 0.214 | 389 | 1818 | |
| 0 | 376 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 370 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 367 | ∞ | |
| 0.2 | 366 | 1830 | |
For instance, looking at the raw test data, there is no denying the superiority of having true blacks and infinite contrast. We do have to note, however, that, compared to other Xperia devices and many directly competing flagship offers, the XZ3 lags a bit behind in the brightness department. The panel Sony chose only goes up to 440 nits or so and has no "max auto" overdrive mode.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Apple iPhone X
5.013 - OnePlus 5T
4.789 - Samsung Galaxy S8
4.768 - Samsung Galaxy S8+
4.658 - Samsung Galaxy S9
4.63 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
4.537 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
4.531 - Sony Xperia XZ3
4.502 - Motorola Moto Z2 Play
4.459 - Oppo R11
4.454 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - OnePlus 6
4.321 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Oppo R15 Pro
4.251 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - Nokia 8
4.239 - Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update)
4.234 - OnePlus 3T
4.232 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galaxy Note8
4.148 - Meizu Pro 7 Plus
4.147 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
4.124 - vivo V11
4.113 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
4.096 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Huawei P20 Pro
4.087 - Xiaomi Mi 8
4.086 - Meizu 15
4.082 - Nokia 6 (2018)
4.052 - Google Pixel 2 (pre-update)
4.023 - LG V30
4.022 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - vivo NEX S
4.012 - Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
3.998 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3.865 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
3.842 - Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018)
3.834 - Sony Xperia XZs
3.818 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3.812 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
3.804 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Xiaomi Mi 6
3.767 - Sony Xperia XZ1
3.765 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
3.745 - Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
3.729 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone)
3.725 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.688 - Huawei P20
3.683 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Huawei Mate 9
3.68 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
3.675 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
3.597 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - Sony Xperia XZ2
3.58 - LG G6
3.556 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - Nokia 7 plus
3.479 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Huawei P10 Plus
3.456 - HTC U Ultra
3.453 - Motorola Moto G6
3.448 - Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
3.445 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Motorola Moto G6 Play
3.419 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018)
3.397 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera
3.393 - LG G7 ThinQ
3.39 - Huawei P10
3.379 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
3.378 - Oppo R9s
3.352 - Honor Play
3.349 - Honor 8 Pro
3.341 - Oppo F7
3.333 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Lenovo P2
3.316 - Archos Diamond Omega
3.305 - Honor 9
3.289 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Nokia 5
3.261 - Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
3.244 - Xiaomi Mi 5
3.24 - Nokia 6 (Global version)
3.238 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228 - Oppo R11s
3.153 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - HTC U11 Life
3.108 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - HTC U11
3.089 - Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
3.087 - HTC U12+
3.085 - Xiaomi Redmi S2 (Y2)
3.077 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Oppo F9
3.069 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Xiaomi Mi Max 3
3.061 - Xiaomi Pocophone F1
3.059 - Apple iPhone 6 Plus
3.023 - Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL
3.019 - Sony Xperia XA1
3.012 - Motorola Moto X4
3.012 - Oppo Realme 2
3.006 - Sony Xperia L1
2.994 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Sony Xperia XA2
2.938 - Oppo Realme 1
2.932 - Xiaomi Redmi 4
2.92 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - Huawei Honor View 10
2.896 - Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
2.877 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium
2.877 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Nokia 3
2.871 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
2.867 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Nokia 3.1
2.837 - Lenovo Moto M
2.813 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - Honor 10 (Vivid)
2.757 - Nokia 2
2.752 - Meizu MX6
2.751 - LG V10
2.744 - Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
2.742 - Motorola Moto G5S Plus
2.737 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Huawei Honor 7X
2.734 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
2.714 - Meizu M5
2.71 - Xiaomi Mi A2
2.696 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Xiaomi Mi A1
2.689 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679 - vivo V7+
2.671 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658 - Huawei Mate 10 Lite
2.654 - Oppo F5
2.653 - Doogee Mix
2.642 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Xiaomi Redmi 4a
2.635 - Sony Xperia Z3
2.618 - Xiaomi Mi 5X (Standard)
2.616 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582 - Meizu M5 Note
2.189 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - LG Aka
2.145 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20)
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 - Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119 - Xiaomi Mi 4S
2.095 - Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - vivo V5
2.059 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi 3
2.001 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - Xiaomi Redmi 2
1.311 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Nokia X
1.291 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
These brightness concerns haven't affected sunlight legibility at all. In fact, the XZ3 is on par with recent Samsung devices, at the very top of the food chain in this respect. We can only imagine it's due to some very non-reflective surface on the handset.
The sub-optimal brightness results aren't really enough of a deterrent against OLED and the XZ3 in out book. If you find yourself in need of some extra convincing before boarding the OLED train, just go and check out the XZ3 in person. Specifically, the collection of demo videos Sony pre-loaded on the phone to showcase its shiny new panel. The vibrant colors, perfect blacks, infinite contrast, fluidity and snappy pixel response times just make for an objectively better experience than any Xperia LCD we have seen in the past.
Plus, Sony made sure to gear up the new shiny panel with its patented set of familiar display optimization tech. Namely, TRILUMINOS technology, X-REALITY, and a Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. So long-time fans don't have to feel like they are missing out. In fact, Sony claims it made quite a few AI-driven improvements to its SDR to HDR enhancer for the XZ3.
Speaking of HDR, Sony gave the new display its full HDR treatment, even sprinkling a few cherries on top. Just like many of its siblings, the XZ3 supports 10-bit colors and is certified for the BT.2020 standard. The display is also certified for HDR10 playback, which is the defacto standard for HDR streaming, on platforms, such as Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.
Supporting just the right amount of HDR is somewhat of an issue in 2018, with segmentation and competing standards all throughout the tech realm. In an effort to address this, Sony is now recording HDR content in accordance with the HLG standard. This is a very flexible approach, that does not alienate SDR-only playback devices and also plays well with YouTube's format system, making for easy content sharing and delivery. Quite a major concern, when it comes to HDR video. We'll go more in depth on HLG in the video section of the camera page.
Clearly, Sony has put quite a bit of effort on the HDR front, facilitating easy capture and playback. And for most users, those two points will be more than enough. However, not all HDR-certified devices are created equal and it is worth noting that by all accounts, the panel on the XZ3 is on the lower end of that spectrum.
Without getting into too much detail, let's just say, standards vary and are often bent slightly to accommodate a larger number of devices. For instance, the most widely used Ultra HD alliance HDR standard originally required a maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2, a black level of less than 0.05 cd/m2 and a contrast of at least 20,000:1. Obviously, by nature, OLED panels have no issue with the contrast part. Which, in turn, means that even if they don't reach those eye-blinding brightness levels, they will still benefit from an HDR signal. And the reality is that for most OLED panels, even when measured in a tiny spot, 1000 cd/m2 are simply unattainable.
Hence, a more OLED-relevant standard was developed by the Ultra HD alliance, requiring 540 cd/m2, the same blacks and a contrast of at least 1,080,000:1. Now, since this lacks any additional parameters as to the size of the measured area for that peek brightness (an important aspect for testing OLED screens). Our standard tests measure brightness with the test pattern filling 75% of the area of the panel - a case in which the XZ3 fails to meet those requirements. But is should be noted that competing offers, like on recent Samsung devices do manage to cope. Shrinking the area of the test pattern, we were able to measure 540+ cd/m2 on the XZ3, so Sony is definitely not cheating.
VESA has a competing and arguably more precise HDR standard, in recently released, which defines three tiers of HDR (HDR 400, HDR 600 and HDR 1000). Without digging too deep into the standard itself, we can clearly see the XZ3 only covers the first level. The point we are trying to drive across here is that, as far as HDR screens go, the XZ3 is not the end-all of mobile devices. Something we felt we had to address, after reading some of the discussions about Sony's latest flagship.
That being said, the XZ3 is not necessarily any worse off than most consumer-grade HDR tech, currently out there. Standards like HDR 600 and especially HDR 1000 are still meant for professional-grade laptops and monitors, not consumer smartphones. The only tangible benefits Sony offers with its approach to HDR are a wider compatibility for both consumption, as well as content sharing.
Quite frankly, even the "pro-sumers" out there, the ones willing to drop money for a beastly 2018 flagship, like the XZ3 won't likely be consuming too much HDR content, given the lack of a steady source of such material. General color accuracy, on the other hand, might be a bit more important to a wider portion of XZ3 potential buyers.
Honestly, the XZ3 didn't really blow us away in this department. With the "Standard" color mode, it ships in, our review unit managed an average deltaE of 6.2 and a maximum of 9.8. The main problem seems to be a blue tint, a cold hue, which is fairly common on mobile devices. Luckily, there are both other color profiles to try out on the XZ3, as well as a custom white point adjustment.
Best custom white point settings
We tried fiddling about quite a bit with the manual adjustment, measuring with the colorimeter every step of the way. The "Warm" color profile remedies the blue situation quite a bit and brings down the delta values. If you don't feel like wasting too much time, you should go with that. Otherwise, you can use the custom white point values from the screenshot, which brought our dealtaE calues down to an average of 4.6 and a maximum of 9. And that's about as color-accurate as the Xperia XZ3 can get.
All this display talk and we still haven't even mentioned resolution. With QHD+ native, the XZ3 sits nicely, in the middle ground between the FHD+ XZ2 and the insane 4K resolution of the XZ2 Premium. It's an incredibly sharp display.
Oh, and there is one more benefit to be gained from the OLED technology as well. Sony has implemented an Always On Display option for the XZ3. It's called "Ambient display" and already comes with a selection of five different clock styles, extensive notification controls, music controls, as well as some user-customizable graphic content.
Stickers allow you to place a static image from a pre-loaded set or your gallery near the bottom of the display. There is also a Photo playback option, which surfaces around windows with your photos in random sizes and locations on your lock screen. The XZ3 typically selects the most recent shots you have taken, but if it finds shots of the place you are currently at in your gallery, it will start cycling those. Neat!
Battery Life
The Xperia XZ3 is fairly beefy, which typically leaves more space for a sizeable battery, to match. With a typical capacity rating of 3,300 mAh, the pack, inside the new flagship is pretty adequate in size. Sony obviously did their best and at least tried to cram as much juice in there as possible, compared to the Xperia XZ2 and its 3,180 mAh rating.
That's still shy from the 3,500 mAh of the Xperia XZ2 Premium, but that is an entirely different beast. One that, most notably, needs all the electricity it can get for that power-hungry 4K panel of its. In contrast, one of the many benefits of switching to OLED is a lower typical power draw from the display - likely the single biggest consumer in a modern smartphone. All this, combined with the XZ2's great 88-hour endurance rating, naturally set our expectations pretty high for the XZ3.
And we have to say, the XZ3 definitely delivers. Perhaps not quite the astonishing improvement over the XZ2, we were hoping for, but the XZ3 still won't fail to last you through an entire day. Naturally, it should be noted that our standby test was conducted with the always on display feature Off. OLED or not, it drains the battery really fast.
Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Sony Xperia XZ3 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern, so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
We're less excited about the charging situation. You see, our review unit arrived with the UCH20 adapter rated at 5V/1.5A, which takes a lengthy 2:50 hours to get the XZ3 from flat to 100% and is only a quarter of the way to full after a half hour charging session. The much better QC3.0-compliant UCH12 adapter supplied with the XZ2 Premium that we had on hand, yields almost entirely the same numbers, and so does a third-party QC3.0 charger - not really surprising since Sony makes no QuickCharge-compliance claims in the Xperia XZ3's specs.
In fact, Qualcomm's QuickCharge is incompatible with USB Power Delivery, which is the standard supported by the XZ3. However, you'd need a PD charger, which Sony isn't making yet - seems like a good explanation why there isn't one in the box. Anyway, we tried with the Pixel 2 charger, and oh miracle - the XZ3 does top up faster. It still takes a little less than 2:30 hours for a full charge, but a 30-minute stint leaves you with a more usable 43%, and an hour into it you'd be looking at 73%, as opposed to the 55% with either of the Sony chargers above.
Don't get us wrong here, we're all for USB Power Delivery and applaud Sony's push for this standard, but a compatible charger in the box would have made a much stronger statement.
Loudspeaker
The Xperia XZ3 practically borrows its audio setup entirely from the Xperia XZ2. That, of course, entails some great things, like the impressive stereo speaker setup and the intriguing Dynamic vibration system. But, also, some less than ideal choices, as far as most fans are concerned, namely the refusal to bring back the 3.5mm audio jack.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing |
Overall score | |
| 67.8 | 69.5 | 71.5 | Good | |
| 66.0 | 71.6 | 76.4 | Good | |
| 66.2 | 70.4 | 78.2 | Good | |
| 70.2 | 74.7 | 70.0 | Good | |
| 68.1 | 73.2 | 73.7 | Good | |
| 66.1 | 71.8 | 78.1 | Good | |
| 68.9 | 74.0 | 76.2 | Very Good | |
| 68.7 | 72.7 | 78.3 | Very Good | |
| 68.4 | 74.0 | 80.1 | Very Good | |
| 68.1 | 72.3 | 82.2 | Very Good | |
| 66.7 | 73.3 | 83.3 | Very Good | |
| 68.8 | 73.9 | 80.8 | Very Good | |
| 66.9 | 72.3 | 84.5 | Very Good | |
| 68.5 | 74.3 | 81.1 | Very Good | |
| 71.2 | 74.9 | 80.2 | Very Good | |
| 70.7 | 75.2 | 81.2 | Very Good | |
| 68.0 | 75.3 | 84.0 | Very Good | |
| 70.1 | 73.8 | 84.2 | Excellent | |
| 71.0 | 75.4 | 82.9 | Excellent | |
| 76.0 | 74.6 | 79.0 | Excellent | |
| 71.8 | 69.2 | 91.0 | Excellent | |
| 77.6 | 74.5 | 80.7 | Excellent | |
| 71.3 | 74.5 | 91.0 | Excellent | |
| 78.3 | 76.4 | 82.3 | Excellent | |
| 76.0 | 73.6 | 88.5 | Excellent | |
| 80.1 | 73.2 | 85.0 | Excellent | |
| 83.6 | 76.4 | 80.7 | Excellent | |
| 77.0 | 73.8 | 91.1 | Excellent |
Interestingly enough, the XZ3 appears to have slightly better acoustic properties than the XZ2. Perhaps, the taller body helped clear out bigger chambers for the speakers. Then again, it might come down to tuning. Regardless, the XZ3 managed an Excellent loudspeaker score.
As expected, turning on Sony's ClearAudio+ enhancement does take away some of the loudness. However, the hit isn't all that big on the XZ3, even though the overall loudness score dropped worn to "Very Good". In any case, ClearAudio+ gives back more than enough in a richer sound stage to compensate for a few decibels less in the volume department.
Audio quality
The Sony Xperia XZ3 delivered perfectly accurate output with an active external amplifier, while its performance with headphones was good to very good. Stereo crosstalk rose a moderate amount with our standard set, while the kind of intermodulation distortion that appeared is hard to detect outside a lab.
Much like most of its predecessors, though, the Xperia XZ3 failed to match its rivals when it comes to volume levels. It was below average in both tests, suggesting that its loudness might be problematic with high-impedance headphones.
| Test | Frequency response | Noise level | Dynamic range | THD | IMD + Noise | Stereo crosstalk |
| +0.01, -0.02 | -91.2 | 93.2 | 0.0024 | 0.0080 | -88.7 | |
| +0.38, -0.21 | -93.1 | 92.5 | 0.0049 | 0.233 | -61.7 | |
| +0.01, -0.02 | -91.0 | 93.4 | 0.0026 | 0.0082 | -87.6 | |
| +0.40, -0.20 | -92.9 | 91.2 | 0.0049 | 0.236 | -61.7 | |
| +0.01, -0.03 | -93.7 | 93.7 | 0.0017 | 0.0074 | -94.1 | |
| +0.03, -0.02 | -93.6 | 93.5 | 0.0033 | 0.046 | -93.2 | |
| +0.03, -0.07 | -93.4 | 93.9 | 0.0012 | 0.0063 | -89.3 | |
| +0.01, -0.58 | -92.2 | 93.5 | 0.0088 | 0.330 | -55.7 | |
| +0.02, -0.15 | -94.3 | 94.3 | 0.0021 | 0.0069 | -94.3 | |
| +0.18, -0.13 | -93.7 | 93.6 | 0.0024 | 0.104 | -52.7 | |
| +0.02, -0.01 | -93.2 | 93.1 | 0.0008 | 0.0069 | -94.2 | |
| +0.03, -0.02 | -92.9 | 92.9 | 0.0057 | 0.051 | -68.1 |
Sony Xperia XZ3 frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
Xperia launcher, with a side of Pie
Regardless of your particular feelings towards the XZ3, it undeniably represents a major new step in Sony mobile design. Contrasting that, however, the the Xperia launcher and the general UX, which exhibit a formidable level of continuity. Especially, considering, the XZ3 ships, running Android 9 Pie, instantly joining the still quite exclusive club of smartphones reaping benefits from Google's latest and greatest in mobile OS tech.
Xperia launcher • Settings • Notifications • Quick toggles • App drawer
Sony has really been cleaning things up in recent iterations of its Xperia launcher. Reapply putting in the effort to keep things clean, orderly and as "Vanilla" as possible and it shows. Sans a few of its less universally applicable apps, like the PS App, Sketch the Xperia Lounge and a few good, but not necessarily essential third-party apps, like AVG Protection, Facebook and Netflix, there is no real bloat to speak of. Menus are well organized, with attached convenient search boxes. Even the feed page is optional.
Familiar as it might be, there are some aspects of Android 9 that shine through the Xperia UI we remember. If you look close enough, the signs of Pie are clearly there, only scattered about. Like, the new and improved volume controls and the slider placement, on the side of the UI. Of course, Sony's own Dynamic Vibration adds and extra layer of settings on top.
Volume slider • Volume slider • Volume controls • USB Preferences
Some other small additions are present and accounted for, as well. Like the in-depth USB Preferences menu.
Speaking of advanced settings, there is no shortage of those for the display of the XZ3. Sony left no stone unturned in its transition to OLED, implementing an extensive always on display feature. This one, in particular is dubbed "Ambient display" and already features a selection of five different clock stiles, extensive notification controls, music controls, as well as some user-customizable graphic content.
Always on display settings
Stickers allow you to place a static image from a pre-loaded set or your gallery near the bottom of the display. There is also a Photo playback option, which surfaces round windows with your photos in random sizes and locations on your lock screen. The XZ3 typically selects the most recent shots you have taken, but if it finds shots of the place you are currently at in your gallery, it will start cycling those. Neat!
Display settings
Besides the always on interface, we already mentioned, color and contrast are subject to tweaking. There is even a custom white point adjustment. These might just come in handy in easing long-term fan transition from LCD to the particular feel of an OLED panel.
Side sense is a particularly interesting addition to the Xperia launcher experience. It is a custom drawer-like interface that can be triggered by tapping twice anywhere along the curved display edge of the XZ3. The detection seems to be done via the display digitizer, as opposed to certain similar solutions, that utilize specialized hardware in the frame of the phone.
The menu itself is sort of a take on the Android Pie recent apps interface, which is notably missing from its intended location, as a role in the app drawer. The Side sense menu handles these AI-infused features, surfacing a list of recent apps, mixed in with user-customizable shortcuts and quick toggles.
Side sense
In its current shape, the menu is convenient enough, but it does lack depth and polish. You can manually add apps, though, which is nice.
The Side sense platform actually extends beyond this double tap gesture as well. For one, while inside the camera app, double tapping anywhere on the edges acts like a shutter key. This, however, seems like a gimmick, more than anything else, since you really want to be holding you phone steady while shooting, not tapping it. Sony has solved this self-inflicted issue by introducing a shutter delay, making the whole endeavor look a bit pointless. The edges can also recognize swipes - a gesture currently mapped to the back button across the entire XZ3 UI.
Sony is still keeping up its own software effort when it comes to certain parts of the Android experience. Some of these in-house apps include standard things, like Messages, Phone, Contacts and a custom Email client. There are also News, Clock and a Weather app.
Phone • Messages • Email • Weather
Then there are what we would call Sony ecosystem apps, like the PS App and the Xperia Lounge.
PS App • Xperia Lounge
Sony also notably handles its own multimedia playback. Album features both photo and video support, can connect to cloud and local network services and is pretty good at organizing galleries and doing the occasional light edit on a shot.
Album app • More album app • Photo Editor
The Music app is simple and well organized, without lacking any important features. All the while, it looks very appealing with large format album art (and automatic art download) and a flat design. It also features Google cloud integration.
Music app
In keeping with tradition and to go with the excellent stereo speaker setup, Sony has a number of advanced audio options to tweak and play around with. Some, like the DSEE HX up-scaler and the Automatic optimization require the use of headphones. Others, like aptX HD, compatible Bluetooth devices.
Extensive audio settings
However, there is also the general purpose ClearAudio+ optimizer, which widens the soundstage and enhances most audio experiences automatically, at the cost of a few decibels of loudness. Naturally, an extensive manual equalizer is also part of the mix, complete with convenient presets.
Interestingly enough, the Xperia Assistant seems to be absent. At least in our review unit. In case you are not in the know, it is more of an interactive manual, arranged by topics and a centralized location for various battery, storage and connection optimization tools and some light automation. Even though its name suggests otherwise, there is no real AI or voice assistance going on. Perhaps Sony didn't have the time to properly port it over to Android 9 and is currently working on it?
Synthetic benchmarks
The Xperia XZ3 borrows its internals pretty much entirely from the XZ2. Frankly, this should come as no surprise, since Qualcomm's next flagship chipset is still not in circulation. Plus, the two devices were released only a few short months apart. Sony will be selling the XZ3 alongside the XZ2 lineup, at least for the time being. But, we digress.
So, for raw computational power, we are looking at a Snapdragon 845, along with 4GB of RAM - a very familiar setup. Hence, it should be entirely predictable as well? Well, for the most part.
Starting with GeekBench, which gauges CPU power, the XZ3 tends to lead the pack of Snapdragon 845 devices when it comes to single-core numbers. The Exynos Galaxies and the iPhones (which were just superseded) are out of reach, by design.
GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone X
4256 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus
4232 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
3771 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
3642 - Sony Xperia XZ3
2486 - HTC U12+
2456 - Sony Xperia XZ2
2454 - OnePlus 6
2450 - Xiaomi Mi 8
2431 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
2419 - LG G7 ThinQ
2395 - Oppo Find X
2322 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
2199 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
1934 - Motorola Moto Z3
1924 - Google Pixel 2 XL
1915 - Huawei P20 Pro
1907 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
1902 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
1807
When it comes to multi-core performance, a few of the current S845 flagships pull ahead of the XZ3, but not by all that much. The iPhones remain in a different league, and that's even before the A12 chip, which was announced yesterday.
GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Apple iPhone X
10215 - Apple iPhone 8 Plus
10037 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
9026 - OnePlus 6
9011 - HTC U12+
9001 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
8883 - LG G7 ThinQ
8865 - Sony Xperia XZ3
8607 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
8509 - Xiaomi Mi 8
8494 - Sony Xperia XZ2
8466 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
8349 - Oppo Find X
8018 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
6783 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
6725 - Huawei P20 Pro
6679 - Motorola Moto Z3
6614 - Google Pixel 2 XL
6428 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
6055
In graphics-focused GFXBench's 3.1 Car scene, one of the benchmark's more demanding tests, the XZ3 posts the same score as virtually all S845 devices in the offscreen part, rendered at 1080p. The 1080p competition gets an edge in fps numbers in the on-screen tests, but the Xperia is on par with the 1440p rival, give or take a frame a second. There's a bit more variation in the lighter 3.1 Manhattan test, with the XZ3 within 10% of the chart-topping Galaxy S9+ in both the offscreen and onscreen tests.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2
35 - Sony Xperia XZ3
35 - Oppo Find X
35 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
35 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
35 - HTC U12+
35 - LG G7 ThinQ
35 - OnePlus 6
35 - Xiaomi Mi 8
33 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
28 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
28 - Google Pixel 2 XL
25 - Motorola Moto Z3
25 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
25 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
24 - Huawei P20 Pro
23 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
22
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
37 - Sony Xperia XZ2
33 - OnePlus 6
33 - Xiaomi Mi 8
33 - Oppo Find X
28 - Motorola Moto Z3
23 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
21 - Huawei P20 Pro
21 - HTC U12+
20 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
20 - Sony Xperia XZ3
19 - LG G7 ThinQ
18 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
15 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
15 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
14 - Google Pixel 2 XL
13 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
13
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
61 - Oppo Find X
60 - HTC U12+
60 - OnePlus 6
58 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
58 - LG G7 ThinQ
57 - Sony Xperia XZ3
56 - Sony Xperia XZ2
55 - Xiaomi Mi 8
53 - Apple iPhone X
51 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
47 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
45 - Motorola Moto Z3
42 - Google Pixel 2 XL
42 - Huawei P20 Pro
40 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
38 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
34 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
30
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
57 - OnePlus 6
55 - Sony Xperia XZ2
51 - Oppo Find X
50 - Xiaomi Mi 8
50 - Apple iPhone X
44 - Motorola Moto Z3
37 - Huawei P20 Pro
37 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
35 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
34 - HTC U12+
33 - Sony Xperia XZ3
31 - LG G7 ThinQ
30 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
25 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
24 - Google Pixel 2 XL
21 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
18 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
15
In Antutu, the Xperia XZ3 posts top scores, just short of the Oppo Find X, and comfortably ahead of the XZ2 and XZ2 Premium.
AnTuTu 7
Higher is better
- Oppo Find X
291218 - Sony Xperia XZ3
284555 - Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
264734 - OnePlus 6
264200 - Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon)
264044 - HTC U12+
263696 - LG G7 ThinQ
259393 - Sony Xperia XZ2
259244 - Samsung Galaxy Note9
248823 - Samsung Galaxy S9+
246660 - Xiaomi Mi 8
217298 - Huawei P20 Pro
209884 - Nokia 8 Sirocco
209577 - Motorola Moto Z3
207903 - Google Pixel 2 XL (Android 9)
206711 - Google Pixel 2 XL
203119
It is, however, important to point out that the numbers in these charts represent the Xperia XZ3's performance in initial runs of the benchmarks. Repeated runs resulted in progressively lower scores, particularly in Antutu where it dipped to about 255K, and to a degree in GFXBench, but not so much in GeekBench. That's not uncommon, and we rarely see sustained benchmark performance on any phone. In any case, the Xperia XZ3 does perform to a flagship standard.
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 sense platform 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
Competition
A bit of a Galaxy S9+ lookalike, the Xperia XZ3 warrants an immediate comparison with the Samsung flagship. The Galaxy will give you slightly more display area in the same footprint and maybe slightly better battery life (depending on usage) in a slimmer body. The Xperia has no answer to the Galaxy's tele camera but it's not hurting it terribly in portraits, and that leaves the Galaxy with advantage only when zooming in. The S9+ does have the superior display, though. And with the Galaxy already being a few months old, it can also be had for less than the Xperia pretty much in every market.
Samsung Galaxy S9+ • Huawei P20 Pro • LG G7 ThinQ • OnePlus 6 • Xiaomi Mi 8
The P20 Pro's also shaved a few dollars off of its launch price, and it challenges the XZ3 with its three cameras which allow for monochrome shots, lossless zooming, and an awesome Night mode - all features which the Xperia can't match. We do prefer the XZ3's selfies, but the P20 Pro has better battery life with the display on - ah, but it's a smaller and lower-res display, notched too. We admit, not everyone is a fan of Huawei's EMUI and also, Sony's skin is lighter. Plus it's Pie-based vs. the Oreo on the Pro.
Another in a long list of multi-rear-camera phones, the LG G7 ThinQ sticks to a formula few want to replicate - it's got an ultra wide-angle second shooter. For some, this alone could be a decider against any other phone with a secondary camera, while the Xperia doesn't even have any. Then again, others couldn't care less about that, and go for the Xperia on the grounds of its OLED display, longer battery life and non-LG software (with the Xperia being a generation ahead in candy terms once again). The G7 is practically a steal at the current pricing though.
Speaking of great deals, few are as good as the OnePlus 6, even though a T-version is around the corner possibly bringing an under-display fingerprint reader. You can safely disregard its second rear cam, so it's practically on level terms with the Xperia in this respect. Sony's got the overall better display in this clash (color accuracy excluded) and possibly better battery life, but OP makes up for it with charging speeds that XZ3 owners can only dream of. Plus it comes bundled with the charger to provide it.
If you want to save some cash, but you'd like to have a useful tele camera, after all, a Xiaomi Mi 8 might be your answer. It does require a slightly more adventurous mindset to gray import it from Asia. MIUI and Xperia UI couldn't be more different, but hey, we won't judge if you're leaning towards MIUI.
Verdict
One Xperia flagship had a camera that wasn't quite up to the task, another had poor battery life, yet another was too bulky - sometimes it was more than one issue that made them tough sells. It appears that with the Xperia XZ3 those times are behind Sony and there aren't any dealbreakers.
Sure, Sony could have done something about the charging speed and could potentially have placed the fingerprint sensor higher. And even if we may criticize the display for this or that, it's plenty good for a first effort.
Design is trendy without compromising continuity, battery life is hard to complain about, and the great image quality no longer surprises us. The up to date OS at launch is a nice bonus too; we wish others would be this speedy with adoption.
Brand loyalists will no doubt love it, but we have a feeling that the Xperia XZ3 may be the first recent Sony actually capable of converting long-time naysayers too.
Pros
- Top quality build is both sturdy and good-looking
- All around great camera performance
- First phone to run Android Pie out of the box
- The display is sharp, colorful, HDR-capable and well visible in the sun, but... look below
Cons
- Awkward fingerprint reader placement
- Even though third-party chargers can up the speed, the bundled adapter is way too slow
- No auto brightness boost, some color shifting at the curved edges, less than stelar color calibration (or lack of one)
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