Sony Xperia Z2

Verdict

There’s no doubt that the Sony Xperia Z2 is a lot of phone, even for its high asking price. It’s got quite a few things going for it, including premium looks, waterproof capabilities, a gorgeous and vastly-improved display, useful software features, a compelling camera, speedy performance and good battery life. The blocky design may not be enticing for some, and we aren’t exactly in love with the way Sony’s stuff encroaches upon the Google Now functionality. We could be nitpicking here, but our biggest gripe with the Xperia Z2 is that while it is a jack of all trades, it doesn’t have... Read Full Verdict

There’s no doubt that the Sony Xperia Z2 is a lot of phone, even for its high asking price. It’s got quite a few things going for it, including premium looks, waterproof capabilities, a gorgeous and vastly-improved display, useful software features, a compelling camera, speedy performance and good battery life. The blocky design may not be enticing for some, and we aren’t exactly in love with the way Sony’s stuff encroaches upon the Google Now functionality. We could be nitpicking here, but our biggest gripe with the Xperia Z2 is that while it is a jack of all trades, it doesn’t have any killer feature that blows our socks off. But then, we’re a hard bunch to please.  When it comes to making a choice between the Sony Xperia Z2 and its closest rivals, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One (M8), we’ll admit it’s a tough question to answer. Each shines in its own way, without being perfect. There’s really no perfect smartphone out there if you ask us, but profound statements aside, the choice really depends on the individual. We have yet to review HTC’s contender, so we’ll refrain from making judgements. However, we’ve seen enough of it to say that it’s the most drool-inducing smartphone we’ve ever had the chance to lay our eyes upon. It’s got some pretty sweet camera features too, thanks to its depth sensor. We still have to test it out properly to judge its features, shooting prowess, performance and battery life, so that’s all we’ll say for now. Between the S5 and the Z2, we don`t think they differ significantly when it comes to real-life performance, while the camera quality is quite close too, despite the Z2’s more powerful specs. While Sony’s offering is better in terms of a premium feel, the S5 seems to edge out because of its extra features, namely its fingerprint scanner and the heart rate sensor. The question you’ll need to ask yourselves is whether these features are important enough for you. The S5 also feels a tad more ergonomic in the hand, but then, its battery life doesn`t quite match up and it lacks the premium build sported by the Xperia Z2. Truth be told, Sony’s latest flagship is a capable, well-rounded device, and one that has enough to please most users. The bundling of a premium flip cover worth Rs 2,999 and company`s life-logging tracker, the SmartBand worth Rs 5,999 as an inaugural offer makes it even more compelling option.Price: Rs 49,990Rating: 8 10