Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have

<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefEQYTMd59hJFHP_QeQQg4pvlnIuuFGnNSh9cs9JEcCNO4aTHFaYALDWNB90mgcIiOImgKA3uiqAYtz7AMuN8xvbMqkfs_7CAJhkZnjVMg6BoU3n5wKSQQvrsIs2yCuPWu7XZVkp7R0A/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefEQYTMd59hJFHP_QeQQg4pvlnIuuFGnNSh9cs9JEcCNO4aTHFaYALDWNB90mgcIiOImgKA3uiqAYtz7AMuN8xvbMqkfs_7CAJhkZnjVMg6BoU3n5wKSQQvrsIs2yCuPWu7XZVkp7R0A/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bland Z5 Premium is redeemed by a genuinely jaw-dropping display</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A FRUSTRATINGLY mediocre flagship smartphone – with a world class Ultra HD 4K display.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony's flagship Xperia Z5 Premium has an unbelievable Ultra HD 4K display. Unfortunately it's about the only thing about it that is.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Z5 Premium has a build quality worthy of its name, but its classic Sony design is starting to look a little dated, especially in a year when Samsung unveiled the staggeringly beautiful Galaxy S6 Edge.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <em>NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com</em> tested the jet-black Z5 Premium, which is especially dull – and lacks the wow factor of other flagship smartphones.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Fortunately the Z5 Premium is redeemed by its truly awesome display.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The 5.5inch screen packs four times the resolution of a standard Full HD screen. And the result is jaw-dropping.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 4K footage looks pin-sharp and vibrant on the phablet-sized display, which packs 806 pixels per inch.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENpIaJWUIc46NRCj9e72iqS8rxoakncyhiixrRZetZ5iaMHEgYad3_KIDo0PaEKvW5iVz59DyM8Y_jjsBltLLxblno_rzWreix_j8xsZPQNUQQA7mgBy_jdxAiiU71Bv3Mgq63ZOQhvE/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENpIaJWUIc46NRCj9e72iqS8rxoakncyhiixrRZetZ5iaMHEgYad3_KIDo0PaEKvW5iVz59DyM8Y_jjsBltLLxblno_rzWreix_j8xsZPQNUQQA7mgBy_jdxAiiU71Bv3Mgq63ZOQhvE/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+2.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful 4K Ultra HD display on the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is truly awesome</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It's by far the best display currently on the market, however there is an issue and that's content.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Unfortunately, aside from a number of hit shows by on-demand video firms like Amazon and Netflix <em>– but who is going to stream those to a 5.5inch smartphone? –</em> Ultra HD video is still frustratingly sparse.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However the eye-popping 4K display on the Z5 Premium means you're future-proofed as more and more content is released for the ultra-sharp format.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> And until then you can shoot your own footage, since the rear camera on the Z5 Premium is capable of filming 4K video at 30fps.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjvhgUFr5ORiA_qb6BC1NypUoj2VO0ePO3z6hhrCXmOuithlPLI1SR0y5oootkfSDFyeyTfTlBRzNm_4JAzc_i2fMD5em3aJ21JRbfhfI8h-YsB8GlMdny9D26kGyu6Wx2-UfBDSgTVU/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjvhgUFr5ORiA_qb6BC1NypUoj2VO0ePO3z6hhrCXmOuithlPLI1SR0y5oootkfSDFyeyTfTlBRzNm_4JAzc_i2fMD5em3aJ21JRbfhfI8h-YsB8GlMdny9D26kGyu6Wx2-UfBDSgTVU/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+3.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place the 4K Xperia next to a 1080p smartphone display and you can really see the difference</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony has included a brilliant 23-megapixel camera on the Z5 which can produce some stunning snaps.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In fact, a number of high profile industry tests have singled-out the rear camera on the Z5 Premium as the camera to beat.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pictures are clear, crisp and – coupled with the world’s fastest autofocus – you are almost guaranteed to capture a decent photos every time you hit the dedicated shutter button.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony also bundles a ton of extras with their camera including multi camera, virtual reality and face in picture modes, which all add a bit of fun to your photography.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQd85ET5GnWmPmMtRt7vMhDIsoZFNiOMEi3tQ0A28-2C1EnE8QyfyuP4yOeB67b5DZtRourlHJqWWigQCVJ2FkAVXRUGUNpSJ4ZdO44SWkmp67jUXr-YctLEPbq1WC7LJo4uce_aru-Ko/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony has finally ironed out the over-heating problem its 4K mobile cameras had experienced</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The technology firm has also finally solved the overheating issues that dogged its 4K smartphone video recording on previous releases.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Hi-Res audio playback and a hassle-free waterproof design are another great win for Sony with the Z5 Premium.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony promises two-day battery life with the Z5 Premium – and it comes close.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alongside its standard Android battery saving mode, the Z5 Premium has some clever tech which powers down the CPU when there's a static image on the screen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> side from gawping at the Ultra HD screen, this is easily our favourite feature on the Sony flagship smartphone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Battery life is still a major issue for smartphone manufacturers and Sony's decision to sacrifice a svelte design for a 48 hour battery is a good one.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Z5 Premium is powered by a fast 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Hi-Res audio playback and a completely waterproof design are another great win for Sony with the Z5 Premium.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Unfortunately the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium only ships with 32GB of internal storage, which will quickly fill-up if you record all your home videos in 4K.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKvPeA4NnY8XsIOafLZDWfdMht7j7KfZwe1OTO7vjA02kza0W_f-8RZnMDym6fUoBvJpk0L-j1sKJQjufKSydxgLd9dg28Ng7FVFzLJove2cubWS3hqf_7u8dvbPSxJpHjapgJ2lwgg0/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKvPeA4NnY8XsIOafLZDWfdMht7j7KfZwe1OTO7vjA02kza0W_f-8RZnMDym6fUoBvJpk0L-j1sKJQjufKSydxgLd9dg28Ng7FVFzLJove2cubWS3hqf_7u8dvbPSxJpHjapgJ2lwgg0/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+5.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony has baked its fingerprint sensor into the small power button on the side of the smartphone</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qEEy4XsSvia_4-3OnMAb7kwpc9V4u4XhUnzV4unMLL-iaFkQtxiui27vdgEWri5spt3g1h_FGdEWqtOjNw8PSuBzmrH0rEaB3dPsoKwfOd8Cgyn54sIHVjacZK7uCPVuK8QKPbCq0yg/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qEEy4XsSvia_4-3OnMAb7kwpc9V4u4XhUnzV4unMLL-iaFkQtxiui27vdgEWri5spt3g1h_FGdEWqtOjNw8PSuBzmrH0rEaB3dPsoKwfOd8Cgyn54sIHVjacZK7uCPVuK8QKPbCq0yg/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+6.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Xperia Z5 Premium is completely waterproof, which should appeal to clumsier phone fans</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Z5 Premium does support expandable storage, something Samsung has ditched in its stunning new Samsung S6 Edge, which allows smartphone owners to add a massive 200GB of extra memory.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Another neat feature on the Z5 is the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner. Whilst this is nothing new, Sony has managed to squeeze it onto the side of the device which makes it incredibly easy to use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sadly, there’s no Android Marshmallow on the Z5 Premium, so don't expect to get any of the new privacy, battery management or Google Now functionality.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Marshmallow is sorely missed and could push Android fanboys towards the excellent Nexus 6P over Sony's latest.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Xperia Android skin is also clunkier than many of its peers. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJtdFgQyVgOZSD-jgLYTnzQ233T9HcZcNupDDYxwAmXdMaWwnu4C1emuLhXilHQa3r5XnCkLABShUvQusgkDYaEZIa01za7ykbmxSblOxNKd70a1055on4LP6Xvl3smNLLWwr_5L29zw/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJtdFgQyVgOZSD-jgLYTnzQ233T9HcZcNupDDYxwAmXdMaWwnu4C1emuLhXilHQa3r5XnCkLABShUvQusgkDYaEZIa01za7ykbmxSblOxNKd70a1055on4LP6Xvl3smNLLWwr_5L29zw/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+7.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Xperia Android Skin is clunkier than other third-party alternatives </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Out of the box, the flagship smartphone has a number of preinstalled apps from the likes of Amazon, Facebook, Vine, TV SlideView and Kobo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony's own Shazam-like TrackID app and Playstation apps also make an unwelcome appearance.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is one final complaint and it's one of the most frustrating aspects of the Sony Xperia – the volume switch position.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NWM1cOugr9u9g0wfku_7WbKDgrN11gHrBQ6FoymgMV4UwOBKRLh0pM669gcaArXhhFarJE6EOk2qPkowuPke7EjxNTJsLrpHVgJh1Iijav9uYa5rSAj_Bi185KjegGED5cNj-gDX3uM/s1600/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NWM1cOugr9u9g0wfku_7WbKDgrN11gHrBQ6FoymgMV4UwOBKRLh0pM669gcaArXhhFarJE6EOk2qPkowuPke7EjxNTJsLrpHVgJh1Iijav9uYa5rSAj_Bi185KjegGED5cNj-gDX3uM/s640/Sony+Xperia+Z5+Premium+review-+Stunning+4K+display+fails+to+make+this+flagship+a+must-have+8.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony has placed the volume rocker BELOW the power button - which makes the smartphone cumbersome </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony has placed the volume rocker underneath the power button, on the right-hand side of the device.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Right-handed smartphone owners will find the volume controls naturally nestle into your palm, which makes adjusting the volume an infuriating exercise in thumb gymnastics.</div> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Final Verdict</strong></h2> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony has always built solid smartphones with a great camera and the Z5 Premium continues that proud tradition.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Unfortunately Sony's smartphone design is starting to look a little tired and dull – coupled with a slippery glass back and infuriating volume buttons, the Z5 Premium is truly cumbersome to use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The waterproof design and expandable storage are great but the lack of Android 6.0 Marshmallow is a glaring omission.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Android Lollipop is still a great operating system, although the Xperia Skin's plethora of unnecessary bloatware and unattractive software design does its best to help you forget that.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony Z5 Premium is clearly a great smartphone but it lacks the excitement of some of the competition.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It feels like Sony has played it too safe. As a result, the idea of spending the next two years with the Z5 Premium as our smartphone is far from appealing.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Avid Xperia fans will no doubt love the specs upgrades, but Sony probably hasn't done enough to convince the Samsung, Google Nexus and Apple faithful to ditch their trusted devices.</div> <ul> <li><div style="text-align: justify;"> Sony Z5 Premium will set you back <strong>£629 sim-free</strong>, contract prices start from around <strong>£36 per month</strong></div> </li> </ul>

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review: Stunning 4K display fails to make this flagship a must-have

 The bland Z5 Premium is redeemed by a genuinely jaw-dropping display  A FRUSTRATINGLY mediocre flagship smartphone – with a wo...

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