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Sony Xperia XZs
Sony Xperia XZs
Sony Xperia XZs
Sony Xperia XZs
...


7.3/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia XZs currently has an Informr score of 7.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 12 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Super slow-motion video capture
  • Excellent detail and color reproduction in photos
  • Bright and sharp screen
  • Good performance

What's bad

  • No fingerprint sensor for US phones
  • Almost same phone as Xperia XZ
  • Large bezels above and below screen

After less than six months, Sony has unveiled the upgrade to their 2016 flagship phone - the Xperia XZs. When compared to its predecessor, there are only a few upgrades. Is it enough to excite reviewers?

Let’s see what they have to say!

Those hoping for a new design from the XZs will be disappointed. The XZs features the same loop design of the predecessor complete with rounded sides that taper to the front and back. Critics found this design comfortable in their hands. It also is IP68 certified, making it dust- and water-resistant.

Besides this, it comes with the same metal plate back, plastic sides and glass front. For those looking for thin bezels, look elsewhere as this has a large top and bottom bezel when compared to other flagship phones.

Another annoying issue is the fingerprint sensor. For international versions, the scanner is on the power button. Many experts found the placement awkward. If you live in the US, you won’t have a fingerprint scanner at all.

The 5.2-inch 1920-by-1080 display is unchanged as well from its predecessor, which isn’t a bad thing. Reviewers were pleased with the good viewing angles, color reproduction, contrast and overall sharpness. While not the brightest smartphone on the market, they had no issues viewing the phone outdoors on a sunny day.

The differences show up in performance. The Xperia XZs comes equipped with the same 1.6GHz quad-core processor and graphics processor as its predecessor. It does, however, get a RAM boost—up to 4GB.

Although the processor isn’t top-of-the-line, critics were happy to note it still hummed along well during day-to-day and more intensive tasks. They didn't notice sluggishness or lag. Though when compared side-by-side with its competitors it is slightly slower.

Battery-life was neither good nor bad. Reviewers could get around a full day’s worth of life with moderate usage. With that said, Phone Arena adds, “… if you play a lot of heavy games, or rely on your navigation a lot, you might want to keep a USB-C cable close by for emergency charging.”

While Sony has gone for minor changes in most departments, they saved the major upgrade for the 19MP main camera. Sony makes use of its latest smartphone sensor, which comes with 1GB of its own DRAM.

What does this mean? It can shoot super-slow motion videos at 960 fps. There are two super slow-motion modes—regular and one-shot. Regular allows you to shoot normal video, but with a click of a button, you can switch to slow-motion in the middle. The second records a short 960 fps video.

If you’re not into taking videos, that’s okay. Reviewers were pleased with the overall picture quality as well. Highlights include lots of detail, excellent color reproduction and little noise in good and low light conditions thanks to its 5-axis stabilization.

While a solid phone, critics have a hard time recommending the Xperia XZs over its predecessor due to the minor upgrades. Gadgets 360 states, “Sony needed a more drastic hardware change compared to its previous flagship, and the Xperia XZs doesn’t deliver that.” Android Authority agrees stating, “The Xperia XZs is not worth an upgrade from its predecessor, and if you are in the market for a new phone, there are quite a few options out there that undercut [it]… If you want a real upgrade… you are better off waiting for the more powerful Xperia XZ Premium.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.2 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
19+ MP, f/2
Camera
Camera
19+ MP, f/2
2900 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

We’re glad to see Sony bring its amazing camera technology from its Cyber-shot cameras to the realm of smartphones. Shooting 960fps slow-motion video can get addictive really fast, and we hope to see it on other phones too. This is the sort of unique feature that was missing from the Xperia XZ, and...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
Gadgets Now
Gadgets Now

Sony is unlike any other smartphone making company. The handset it manufactures is aimed for a completely different audience, not the masses. If you are one of those who is looking for high-end specifications based on the price tag, this handset is not for you.

- Robin Sinha, Gadgets Now
TechRadar
TechRadar

Sony’s slo-mo focused phone impresses with its camera trick, but this phone is too expensive for being a mostly iterative experiment.

- Cameron Faulkner, TechRadar
tech2
tech2

I mentioned before that I love Sony smartphones. I still do, they have a certain place in my heart. But the past few flagships devices from the company have not been up to the mark and not been able to justify the price. The Xperia XZs is a minor update from the XZ and frankly it doesn’t make...

- Kunal Khullar, tech2
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

The Xperia XZs is a solid device, don't get us wrong. But it's still too similar to its predecessor, the XZ. Everything, from the design, through the hardware and software, could have benefited from some more revisions. What was changed, though, is pretty good. Of course, we're talking about th...

- Damian M., PhoneArena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia XZs user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia XZs with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia XZs has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.2"

The Sony Xperia XZs's screen size is 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
19+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 19+ MP, f/2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 13+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2900mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2900 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 1050 minutes, 497 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia XZs Specs

Overview
Release Date April 5, 2017
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.1 Nougat (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.2 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.81 W/kg
Body: 0.35 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX, LDAC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
19+ Megapixels, f/2
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Brightness control, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, HDR, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4, XviD, AVI, MKV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 424 pixels
Size 5.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2900 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 690 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 497 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1050 minutes
Standby Time Up to 25.8 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Black, Warm Silver, Ice Blue
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.6 x 7.2 x 0.8 cm (5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 161 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony G8231

Also available in dual-SIM variant.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia XZs Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia XZs
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