Sony claims the Xperia XZ Premium boasts the first ever HDR 4K screen to be seen in a smartphone, as well as a brand new 19MP camera sensor that's capable of capturing 960fps slow-motion videos.

In a number of key areas, notably camera and screen specs, the Xperia XZ Premium beats the iPhone 7 Plus pretty comprehensively - at least on paper. Whether it will provide a better overall user experience, or can back up its specs with real-world performance, is another matter, and one we cannot...

After years of foisting overpriced mediocrity like the Xperia X Performance and the Xperia XZ on us (phones which were even outclassed by their predecessors), Sony has delivered up the Xperia XZ Premium.

Good at everything; 4K screen

Needs content for 4K screen; Bulky

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a gorgeous 4K display. Better yet, a 4K HDR display! The latest Snapdragon 835 chipset is pulling the strings and delivering lightning-fast LTE while the Adreno 540 is firing up millions of pixels in a heartbeat.

Is the Sony Xperia XZ Premium as aggressive, forward-looking and dynamic as the Samsung Galaxy S8+ or LG G6? Nope. The design is familiar, and it crams in fewer screen inches per square inch of phone. As with the Xperia Z5 Premium, the 4K screen doesn’t seem essential, and it’s actually the eye-popping colour that slaps you across the face more. Similarly, all the extra camera megapixels don’t amount to much, with much less consistent results than a Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone 7 Plus. It’s a good job, then, that there are some fun tricks under the hood, such as the ultra slo-mo video shooting and neat little side orders like Sony LDAC support for wireless headphones. All that colourful glass is sure to turn a few heads, too. What you're left with is a phone which adds up to less than the sum of its parts. If Sony could just get a bit of consistency they'd be on to a winner here, but as it stands, the XZ Premium just doesn't quite compete with the best phones where it really matters. Buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium here from Sony

Super-saturated screen; Plenty of power; Decent battery life;

Camera not close to the very best; Bulkier than the Android competition ;

Is the Sony Xperia XZ Premium as aggressive, forward-looking and dynamic as the Samsung Galaxy S8+ or LG G6? Nope. The design is familiar, and it crams in fewer screen inches per square inch of phone. As with the Xperia Z5 Premium, the 4K screen doesn’t seem essential, and it’s actually the eye-popping colour that slaps you across the face more. Similarly, all the extra camera megapixels don’t amount to much, with much less consistent results than a Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone 7 Plus. It’s a good job, then, that there are some fun tricks under the hood, such as the ultra slo-mo video shooting and neat little side orders like Sony LDAC support for wireless headphones. All that colourful glass is sure to turn a few heads, too. What you're left with is a phone which adds up to less than the sum of its parts. If Sony could just get a bit of consistency they'd be on to a winner here, but as it stands, the XZ Premium just doesn't quite compete with the best phones where it really matters. Buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium here from Sony

Super-saturated screen; Plenty of power; Decent battery life;

Camera not close to the very best; Bulkier than the Android competition ;

The burger, the crab, the puttanesca and the ribs? Tell them it's your Birthday, when it's actually just a Wednesday? This sort of excess is what the Sony Xperia XZ Premium is about.

4K HDR display The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a large 5.5" 4K HDR display. We have seen Sony use a 4K display before (Sony Xperia X Performance) but this is the first time that we see a 4K display enhanced with HDR.

Ultimately, there is plenty to love about the Sony XZ Premium, especially if you're a Sony fan and you're into that flat-slab design. It's a flagship device with some great features, some of which can't be found elsewhere, but in the current fabulous smartphone world, it's sadly just not quite as...

Great 4K display with HDR technology; Good battery life; Super slow-motion feature is excellent; Good overall software experience; Waterproofing; Cheaper than some other flagships

Design hasn't moved on much; Camera isn't as good as competition; Display doesn't manage well in super bright conditions; Occasional lag in performance