Sony Xperia Z (T-Mobile) review: Good looks only take this phone so far
Sony hopes to tempt potential phone shoppers with the Xperia Z's unique mix of durability, sexy design, and a powerful camera. Now available for preorder at T-Mobile for $99.99 down (and 24 payments of $20 per month) and hitting stores on July 17, it's billed as the company's top mobile device and has a lot to prove. Sadly, the Xperia Z's pokey imaging system and short battery life can't stand up to the likes of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, both sold by T-Mobile for the same up-front price. Those competing gadgets add up to better buys, that is unless you absolutely must have a water- and dust-resistant smartphone.
The Sony Xperia Z makes sense if a water-resistant design and excellent photos are a priority, but skip it if you demand blazingly fast performance and long battery life.
The Sony Xperia Z boasts a thin, attractive design that’s also dust- and water-resistant; It’s equipped with a big, bright screen and 4G LTE, takes great pictures, and has sharp call quality.
The Sony Xperia Z’s battery life is short, its camera is slow, and its processor is not as peppy as those found in other flagship phones; Its glossy chassis attracts fingerprints easily.