Now that the Sony Xperia Z2 has started to trickle out to very select users in Asia, we wanted to pose a question that has been on our mind for a while i.e. how worthy is the Xperia Z2 as an upgrade over the Xperia Z1? On a quick glance, it appears that not much changed, but when you dig into the detail there are a number of significant upgrades.
If you are being critical, the Sony Xperia Z2 is perhaps what the Xperia Z1 should have been all along. Indeed, if Sony had a one-flagship-per-year policy, no doubt this is the phone that Sony would have delivered to sucker-punch its rivals. However, given so much was already seen in the Z1, particularly in design, many people see the Z2 as an incremental upgrade.
In our view, this is a disservice to the Xperia Z2. One of the major changes includes a significantly better and slightly larger IPS panel, which has won wide praise. The fact that Sony are no longer including the shatter proof protector is also a plus point for the Xperia Z2. As the screen is a major part of any smartphone – the new display appears to be a big upgrade over the Z1.
Despite the bigger screen size the phone is marginally smaller in terms of width and depth, whilst offering a lighter footprint of 163g (versus 170g in the Xperia Z1). The new chipset may offer incremental improvements, however the extra 1GB RAM in the Xperia Z2 should deliver benefits in memory-hungry applications and games.
The 4K video and Timeshift video camera features are also nice to have, but there is every chance these could hit the Xperia Z1 at some point down the road. The same goes for a whole host of software additions including tap to wake, Smart call handling and Smart backlight control. Then there are other additions including the noise-cancelling technology built into the phone and stereo speakers.
Despite this, we can see why current Xperia Z1 owners may not have any impetus to upgrade so soon after the handset launched. The other question for Sony fans is that there is every chance another flagship will launch in the autumn. Given the limited and delayed rollout of the Xperia Z2, we can see why some might want to wait to see what Sony has in store with the Xperia Z3.
Anyway, what is your view? Do you see the Xperia Z2 as a true upgrade over the Xperia Z1? If not, what else could Sony have added to give it that status? Do you plan to wait for the Xperia Z3 instead and, if so, why? We’d love to hear your thoughts below.
Spec compared: Xperia Z2 versus Xperia Z1
| Phone | Xperia Z2 | Xperia Z1 |
|---|---|---|
| Display size (inches) | 5.2-inch IPS with Live Colour LED | 5.0-inch |
| Screen Resolution | 1080 x 1920 | 1080 x 1920 |
| PPI | 424 | 441 |
| Construction | Glass with metal frame | Glass with metal frame |
| Water Resistant | Yes (IP55/IP58) | Yes (IP55/IP58) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974-AB | Qualcomm MSM8974 |
| Processor | 2.3GHz Quad-core | 2.2GHz Quad-core |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| Android version | 4.4.2 | 4.4.2 (with latest update) |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes | Yes |
| Size (mm) | 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 | 144 x 74 x 8.5 |
| Weight (g) | 163 | 170 |
| SIM | micro SIM | micro SIM |
| Colours | Black, Purple, White | Black, Purple, White |
| Rear Camera sensor | 20.7MP Exmor RS | 20.7MP Exmor RS |
| LED Flash | Yes | Yes |
| HDR | Yes (photo/video) | Yes (photo/video) |
| Video Recording | 1080p Full HD | 1080p Full HD |
| Front camera sensor | 2.2 MP | 2 MP |
| Dedicated camera button | Yes | Yes |
| Other features | 4K video, Timeshift video, Stereo speakers,Noise cancelling | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 (aptX) | Bluetooth 4.0 (aptX) |
| Location | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Battery capacity (min) | 3200 | 3000 |
| Sealed Battery | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI | MHL | MHL |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| PlayStation Certified | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Magnetometer | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | - |
| Game rotation vector | Yes | - |
| Geomagnetic rotation vector | Yes | - |
| Step counter | Yes | - |
| Step detector | Yes | - |
| Significant motion detector | Yes | - |
