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...

The Z3 might not be a significant change-up of Sony's flagship Xperia formula, but the combination of a bunch of minor tweaks and upgrades has made this handset one of the best on the market. I'll start with the standout feature of this handset: its battery life.

Awesome battery life without sacrificing high-end performance; Refined design is comfortable, stylish and waterproof; Fantastic display that's both crisp and vibrant; Familiar camera hardware is still pretty decent

Frustrating app prevents the camera from reaching its true potential; Software feels bland and outdated compared to the competition

For a phone that, initially at least, looks a lot like the one it's meant to replace the Z3 has a few tricks up its sleeve. Best of all is the standout battery life. Android photographers will love the camera too. It's easy to recommend the Z3, unless you're upgrading from the Z2, of course.

Fantastic battery life; High-quality finish; Great camera

Software feels a little dated

This is a quality handset which oozes style and has a premium feel. The Z3 is a lot lighter and easier to hold that the Z2 but, as Leigh stated when he looked at the HTC One M8, if you already have the Z2 you'd be fine to hang on to it.

The Xperia Z3v is an excellent smartphone , but Sony had to ditch an already-refreshed design to deliver a unique device on Verizon. The resulting phone looks more like the older Z2, while adding features like Qi wireless charging and unfortunate bloatware to curry favor with Verizon.

Slim, refined design; Dust- and water-proof; Excellent camera; Long battery life; PS4 game streaming

Wi-Fi could be faster; Sony and T-Mobile bloat

We'll say this: if you currently own a Z2, you might want to wait for the Z4, which should land early next year. If you are looking to upgrade your current Android phone, or you want to switch platforms - while not coming from the Xperia Z2 - the Xperia Z3 should definitely be on your top 3 list.

+ beautifully built; If you live in the US; as of October 9; when Sony officially unveiled its Xperia Z3 plans for the States; you can grab the Xperia Z3; under the Z3v name; on Verizon; starting October 23; for $200 on contract.

If you live in the US; as of October 9; when Sony officially unveiled its Xperia Z3 plans for the States; you can grab the Xperia Z3; under the Z3v name; on Verizon; starting October 23; for $200 on contract.

Very good phone. Now with root available without unlocking bootloader... Even better! Feels amazing. Sleek. Stands out. Quick. Great camera. Battery life is insanely good!

Amazing phone; Great battery; And waterproof is a sweet add on

Flashlight slightly weak compared to past phones; No fingerprint scanner

This is the Xperia Z3, Sony's third flagship Android phone in just over a year. It looks very similar to its predecessors - and inside the specs are almost identical to the Z2 - but a thinner chassis, better heat management and improved battery life mean this could be third time lucky for Sony.

Great screen; Excellent camera; Market-leading battery life

Slippery; difficult to hold comfortably; Can overheat under stress; Feels like a small update over the Z2

Sony has been revising its Z series and it's getting steadily better. The distinctive blocky shape has been softened and the specs remain impressively high, with a terrific screen, powerful processor, waterproofing and outstanding camera.

Solid build quality; fine screen; very powerful processor; waterproof and dust resistant; good camera; good battery life; 4G

Autofocus not as good as it should be; not cheap

While it doesn't seem like very long ago that Sony released its last flagship device, and while it doesn't bring many updated features, the few it does offer make the Xperia Z3 is the best smartphone Sony has ever released, proving that the firm is getting better at developing good, sturdy and...

Internal storage could be bigger; reflective screen; Nothing