Sony Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact Q&A: Your questions answered

PA: Simply put, the 5-axis stablization of the Sony Xperia XZ is a software-based one that compensates for movement in five different axis, including shift and shake. This shouldn't be mistaken with your regular optical image stabilization, which counteracts any unwanted tremors or accidental shakes by physically moving the optical system on your phone with the help of miniature motors. 

By the way, it's worth noting that the stabilization of the Xperia XZ is turned off by default, so make sure to enable it before you try to capture your kid's first steps on video!

PA: Well, if you're into selfies the Xperia XZ could be a better pick as it has a slightly better front-facing shooter than the OnePlus 3; there's also a microSD card slot which could be sitting high on your wishlist. Otherwise, we are definitely inclined towards the OnePlus 3, all things considered - it's just way better value for money.


PA: The Xperia XZ indeed has very good points highlighted in the 'Pros' of our review, but the fact that it has just as many or even more bad ones highlighted in the 'Cons' section simply can't be overlooked. Also, the Pros and Cons of a review don't necessarily convey the full picture - reading the whole review usually helps understanding why a phone has received its final score.

PA: No, the Xperia XZ does not ship with an external DAC, but rest assured that the built-in ones are pretty good. You get hi-res audio output from both the 3.5 mm audio jack and the USB port at the bottom; the Xperia XZ also supports quality audio output over Bluetooth as the phone supports all aptX, A2DP, and Sony's own LDAC standards. As usual with Sony's top-shelf phones, the Xperia XZ boasts Digital Noise Cancelling ,or DNC for short, but in order to benefit from this feature you'd need to get a pair of DNC-enabled headphones made by Sony.

PA: Yes, you can change the ISO in manual mode and still shoot 23MP pictures on the Xperia XZ.

PA: Sorry, no FM radio on the Xperia XZ.

PA: While far from perfect, the phone has a slew of nice features - like the sturdy build and clean design of the phone, the stereo speakers at the front, and especially the fact that the phone is water-proof. It would have been an excellent pick if it was priced a bit more reasonably, but the 700 bucks Sony asks for it are definitely downplaying all of its good traits.

PA: We honestly have no idea why Sony decided to cut so many corners with the X Compact. The mid-range Snapdragon chip inside is indubitably holding the phone back, making it a far cry from Sony's previous compact powerhouses that packed a lot of oomph.

PA: Yes, it has one.

PA: In terms of raw performance the iPhone SE is superior; it's also a bit more compact and noticeably lighter. Still, we shouldn't overlook the fact that the X Compact packs a larger, 4.6-inch screen, whereas the iPhone SE comes with a 4-inch display. So, yes, they might be in the same league, but the iPhone SE would likely be a wiser investment for someone who's looking for a compact but not underpowered handset. 

PA: Both lock focus quite fast and it's quite hard to tell which one has the upper hand - there are differences, but they are miniscule. As far as the UIs are concerned, Sony's UI is largely the same to what you'd find on an Xperia Z5 or a Z5 Compact, as all of these share the same uniform look. And now, to answer your 3rd question - sorry, but we wouldn't try scratch ours!

PA: Most likely a patent issue, since nothing else actually makes sense. 

PA: Provided you've got the dual-SIM version of the Xperia Xz, you have only two options: you either put two SIM cards inside or a microSD card and a SIM card.