Very thick and very heavy, this thickness is normally seen in cheaper or more compact flagship spec level phones. And the thickness is not even justified by an outstanding battery capacity. I will not even consider buying it.
What are you comparing it to that is much lighter and much thicker? Google Pixel 2 XL: 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm @ 175 grams S9+: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm @ 189 grams
Seems pretty close to me! Plus its obvious that they traded the 1.4mm thickness for a much high resolution rear camera...19 MP vs 12 MP (Google and Samsung) and it has DualSIM / microSD over the Google Pixel 2 XL....
All phones look the same. Just like the iPhone. No one dares to create a unique design anymore. If it doesn't look like an iPhone executives think the phone would not sell.
The war on bezels(and previous war on buttons) makes it hard to look like anything at all from the front, no matter how much you want to have a unique design. Also makes these pocket Pcs hard to hold without touching the touchscreen, but... whatever, who cares as long as it looks cool!
I think the resolution is supposed to be 2880x1440, not 2280x1440.
Any word on the subpixel arrangement, or whether this is WOLED or RGBOLED? My last phone with an OLED display was a Galaxy Note 3, and unless serious progress has been made with the life span of the blue subpixel, I'd be wary of buying another RGBOLED phone. The white point on my Note 3 shifted dramatically between when it was new and when I replaced it.
Small typo in the specs: I think the resolution is supposed to be 2880x1440 in order to get to the prospected 18:9 (or 2:1) display ratio.
The display panel bears striking similarity to the LG P-OLED panel used in the Pixel 2 XL & LG V30, which leds me to believe that Sony might've teamed up with LG and fine-tuned LG's existing panel (although in a newer revision) to fulfill Sony's requirements for the screen.
I don't think Sony produces any of their own (for phone sized panels, I think it was basically just Samsung for years, then LG tried, gave up, and then finally went back in after Apple paid them a lot to develop better OLED panels so that they wouldn't be stuck to Samsung when they wanted to switch; and then LG's wasn't ready so they ended up using Samsung anyway for the iPhone X). They have a deal to get LG OLED panels for TVs, so I'd guess its a similar situation here, its an LG panel which Sony claims they've tweaked somehow.
The price is kinda high for a phone with such unexciting specs (for a flagship). With an uninspiring design with thicker than average bezels and a thicker than average phone... with no headphone jack it could easily have fit (OncePlus 6 has one and is 7.8mm).
I'm not saying it's bad, but it's not that competitive. Seems like this might only appeal to Sony fans and people who get one at a steep discount.
Looks like a good phone I always liked Sony for their phones I still have a Sony Xperia ZL that I use as a music playback device in the car and for out door events at home and the thing is still on it's first battery.
About the only thing I do not like about the new trend including Sony phones is the lack of 3.5 head phone jack. I have several nice sets of headphones from ear bud size to full size head phones all with 3.5 plug. Yes I know it can be setup to work with a adapter but that is not the same and you most likely lose the ability to charge your phone while using head phones.
What's with the floating video widget on mobile. It takes up damn near a quarter of my screen, covering over lots of content. It takes s not even relevant for the page. Its CD about CPU picking and shows up on every article CV page as b.v est as I can tell. I can't even read half this post due to it.
As you see on the 1st pick, how idiotic are those curved edges, a video/image/etc ruined by the white glow produced by the rounded screen... looks so stupid. Another useless and detrimental "feature".
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
38 Comments
Back to Article
automator_devops - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Very thick and very heavy, this thickness is normally seen in cheaper or more compact flagship spec level phones. And the thickness is not even justified by an outstanding battery capacity. I will not even consider buying it.chrnochime - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
And we REALLY care whether you want to buy it or not /sautomator_devops - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
And I really, really care about the fact that you don't careSpunjji - Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - link
You cared so little that you replied. Heh.Manch - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
Very thick and very heavy? Go to the fricken gym!! Actually, go get some physical therapy. You're in trouble if this is too heavy LOLautomator_devops - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
You are missing the point about practicality but I rather think that you must be 12 considering the tone of your comment.semperdiscens - Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - link
What are you comparing it to that is much lighter and much thicker?Google Pixel 2 XL: 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm @ 175 grams
S9+: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm @ 189 grams
Seems pretty close to me! Plus its obvious that they traded the 1.4mm thickness for a much high resolution rear camera...19 MP vs 12 MP (Google and Samsung) and it has DualSIM / microSD over the Google Pixel 2 XL....
V900 - Thursday, September 13, 2018 - link
Ehm... Itbweighs roughly the same as an iPhone 8 Plus, so I got no idea where you got “thick and heavy” from?!?jvl - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Hey, that looks like a Pixel 2 XL! Great job Sony!A5 - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Kind of like a S8 and P2XL had a baby, but yeah.Lord of the Bored - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Looks like a piece of glass with a picture under it to me. It's been a while since phones actually had distinctively different appearances.mooninite - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
All phones look the same. Just like the iPhone. No one dares to create a unique design anymore. If it doesn't look like an iPhone executives think the phone would not sell.Lord of the Bored - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
The war on bezels(and previous war on buttons) makes it hard to look like anything at all from the front, no matter how much you want to have a unique design. Also makes these pocket Pcs hard to hold without touching the touchscreen, but... whatever, who cares as long as it looks cool!V900 - Thursday, September 13, 2018 - link
The war on bezels is absolutely idiotic.Hopefully that trend will die a sudden an well deserved death soon.
I want the bezel back! And so will most people after using them for a whole, I suspect.
Inteli - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
I think the resolution is supposed to be 2880x1440, not 2280x1440.Any word on the subpixel arrangement, or whether this is WOLED or RGBOLED? My last phone with an OLED display was a Galaxy Note 3, and unless serious progress has been made with the life span of the blue subpixel, I'd be wary of buying another RGBOLED phone. The white point on my Note 3 shifted dramatically between when it was new and when I replaced it.
Lolimaster - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
You should about them being pentil, the only good mobile AMOLED is the ones on galaxy tab tablets S3 and the S4 uses full RGB subpixels.N Zaljov - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Small typo in the specs: I think the resolution is supposed to be 2880x1440 in order to get to the prospected 18:9 (or 2:1) display ratio.The display panel bears striking similarity to the LG P-OLED panel used in the Pixel 2 XL & LG V30, which leds me to believe that Sony might've teamed up with LG and fine-tuned LG's existing panel (although in a newer revision) to fulfill Sony's requirements for the screen.
iwod - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
If that was the case it would still be LG OLED, and not Sony OLED. Since they specifically mention their name in it, it must have mean something.darkswordsman17 - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
I don't think Sony produces any of their own (for phone sized panels, I think it was basically just Samsung for years, then LG tried, gave up, and then finally went back in after Apple paid them a lot to develop better OLED panels so that they wouldn't be stuck to Samsung when they wanted to switch; and then LG's wasn't ready so they ended up using Samsung anyway for the iPhone X). They have a deal to get LG OLED panels for TVs, so I'd guess its a similar situation here, its an LG panel which Sony claims they've tweaked somehow.Lolimaster - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
It's a JDI OLED.4everalone - Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - link
Where did you find this info? I can't find it anywhere. In-fact, this video says "Tech of the sony bravia in your phone":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug8AOu5faS0
zoxo - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
oh nooooo... curved edge :(Flunk - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
The price is kinda high for a phone with such unexciting specs (for a flagship). With an uninspiring design with thicker than average bezels and a thicker than average phone... with no headphone jack it could easily have fit (OncePlus 6 has one and is 7.8mm).I'm not saying it's bad, but it's not that competitive. Seems like this might only appeal to Sony fans and people who get one at a steep discount.
rocky12345 - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Looks like a good phone I always liked Sony for their phones I still have a Sony Xperia ZL that I use as a music playback device in the car and for out door events at home and the thing is still on it's first battery.About the only thing I do not like about the new trend including Sony phones is the lack of 3.5 head phone jack. I have several nice sets of headphones from ear bud size to full size head phones all with 3.5 plug. Yes I know it can be setup to work with a adapter but that is not the same and you most likely lose the ability to charge your phone while using head phones.
yhselp - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
According to GSMArena the new model is also 5 mm taller.iwod - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Are the Sony OLED from Japan Display?Sttm - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
You can get an S9 unlocked for less than $600, and Sony expects people to shell out $1000 for roughly the same specs? LUDICROUSDug - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Not to get Samsung's crapware, yes, sign me up.Peskarik - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
No 3.5 jack - no sale. Simple as that.kb9fcc - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
"The XZ3 is largely based on the internals of the XZ3"quiksilvr - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
The XZ2 NOR the XZ3 have Optical Image Stabilization.quiksilvr - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Neither* the XZ2 nor the XZ3 have Optical Image Stabilization.ipkh - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
What's with the floating video widget on mobile. It takes up damn near a quarter of my screen, covering over lots of content. It takes s not even relevant for the page. Its CD about CPU picking and shows up on every article CV page as b.v est as I can tell. I can't even read half this post due to it.Diji1 - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
How do you even use mobile sites without an adblocker?Dug - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
It's also Daydream (VR) compatible along with improved 3d scanning.Lolimaster - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
As you see on the 1st pick, how idiotic are those curved edges, a video/image/etc ruined by the white glow produced by the rounded screen... looks so stupid. Another useless and detrimental "feature".Manch - Friday, August 31, 2018 - link
It's only a problem if you only observe your phone through photo shopped pictures. Otherwise, you wont notice it at all. ;)Penti - Saturday, September 1, 2018 - link
Is the screen from JDI/JOLED? Why call it a Sony OLED? They own a few percent of that venture and how much of Sony is left in it?