A t a time when OEMs are struggling to differentiate their offerings in terms of design and specifications, simply upping the MegaPixel count just won't cut it. Sony has always been a frontrunner when it comes to smartphone cameras.

Hot on the heels of the Z2, Sony is taking another shot at the top of the flagship Android charts with the tweaked and optimized Z3 . Reviews are starting to roll in and things are looking good for this one. How good? Let's get into the details.

Water resistant; Bright HD screen; Blazing performance; PS4 Remote Play; Long battery life

Camera Auto mode is hit or miss; Limited US Availability; Sony bloatware and interface tweaks; Speaker distortion at high levels

Sony has a rough time selling phones in the US. While it has managed to become one of the few Android makers to turn a profit on the backs of its global sales, Sony's presence in the US has been crippled by delayed launches and carrier exclusives.

Fast performance; Great battery life; Good camera

Clumsy; dated design; Lots of bloatware

With the waterproof Xperia Z3v, Sony is out to make a splash -- ahem -- with Verizon shoppers. But this smartphone ($200 on contract) has a lot more going for it than the ability to get wet.

You know how you sometimes look back to the past and wish you could have done something in your life differently?

Bright; vibrant display with customizable settings; Water and dust proof-mostly life proof; Front-facing stereo speakers for groovin

Camera can be a bit inconsistent depending on lighting situation

Sony's pint-sized smartphone packs in a host of premium features without the high-end price

Having criticised the earlier Xperia Z1 and the Z2 models, we feel like Sony has made the right moves in its latest handset. The Z3 gives you the design, the power, the display, the camera and importantly, the battery life. It's the flagship device where Sony has got everything right.

Battery life; great build; waterproofing; camera performance; powerful

Sony bloatware; still a little tall; design could be a little more seamless

Sony produces flagship smartphones at such a blistering pace that there are rarely any significant improvements made between models. However, while its new Xperia Z3 arrives only 6 months after the Z2, the upgrades this time around are easily apparent.

Highly attractive; water-resistant body; One of the best cameras on an Android phone; Excellent battery life

Large and heavy; Underwhelming viewing angles; Tiny camera key

Without a doubt, the Sony Xperia Z3 is a flagship on the level of - and in some ways above - the One (M8), Galaxy S5, or any other its better-known Android competitors. It's attractive and powerful, with top-tier battery life, clever integration with the PS4, and a waterproof build that makes it...

Existing customers might take offense that Sony rapidly updates their products: They might just have bought the Xperia Z2 and the new model is already available, which is even better in several respects.

nice materials; stylish design with rounded corners; dust and water protected; great cameras; very good connectivity; very bright display; very clear voice quality; numerous accessories are available; Remote Play with PlayStation 4; very good battery life; very powerful; great software equipped with...

back side is a bit slippery; prone to fingerprints; bluish display; battery is not replaceable; low internal memory; GPS is partly inaccurate; speakers are only good average; shorter battery life under load than predecessor; Sony should improve the speakers and the accuracy of the GPS