Sony Xperia Z2 : A Review

The Predecessor

Back in 2012. the new lineup of Xperia smartphones from Sony were the hype of the mobile world. With Sony eliminating the Ericsson branding from their line of products and building their own unique identity, it was clear they were putting their foot down in the mobile phone industry and that they are going to stay.  The new Sony Xperia S, P and U models were different, fresh and aesthetically pleasing, as with most Sony Ericsson mobile phones in the past. It was good to see that the parent company decided to keep it that way.

Back in 2012, I got my Sony Xperia P, my second smartphone with the first being the Sony Ericsson X8. The Xperia P had a 4 inch display powered by a Dual-core 1GHz processor. At that time, the standard for flagship devices wasn't nowhere near where it is today. I was happy with it. It had an aluminium unibody design. It felt great, had a very nice and solid build quality to it and it had the brightest smartphone display out there and probably still does compared to most smartphones today in 2015.

The Silver Xperia P with its not so shiny aluminium body

The highlight of the new Xperia line of products back then was the transparent band at the bottom which houses capacitive touch buttons as well as having the ability to light up and act as notification lights.

With its many battle scars and scratches, the Ericsson green sphere logo thingy is still on this phone.

Performance was rarely an issue but as the years ticked by, it had become way too sluggish for comfortable day to day use. Uninstalling useless apps and freeing memory by deleting a lot of things? That box was checked. But yet the Xperia P was falling behind. So much so that an attempt to open the Whatsapp application would result in a 30 second wait, staring at a blank screen and eventually getting an error that the app has crashed. Or turning on the WiFi guaranteed at least a 10-20 second wait.

So I decided it was time. The Xperia P has served a good 3 years by my side being my workhorse. It has endured drops, knocks and rain soaked pockets for a good deal. But now it was time for a change.

The Successor

Phone hunting probably isn't the easiest thing to do right now. I have seen people who walked into a tech shop, try out some random phones, found the one they liked and purchased it on the spot. I doubt these people have even done their research on the models. But they have the financial capacity to buy without much contemplation and I don't.
I knew I had a few brands to choose from. Sony, Samsung and HTC. Those were the powerhouses in 2014, when I started my research. I liked the Sony design language, entertainment quality, ecosystem and how they've differentiated themselves in the smartphone niche. Samsung provided a wealth of options in their models but really all I can see is a bunch of very similar smartphones with different screen sizes and processor power. Except for the Note Series. HTC provided eye popping screens with fantastic audio quality as demonstrated by the M8 and the One series of products.

And then came the Chinese.

Translation: The Chinese are here

Xiaomi and Oppo aren't relatively new kids on the block but they've managed to lure people to their products to the point where Xiaomi has managed to overtake the 3 giants in the smartphone industry. Their products come with top of the end specs and unique features all for a very low price. But somehow I've not been able to put my trust in investing my money in them. They've yet to prove their reliability and quality over time. Or maybe I'm just biased towards Chinese companies. Added to the fact that almost every smartphone retailer in Wisma Saberkas, Kuching has Oppo dealers which swarm you when you walk past them, pushing their products in your face and degrading products from other companies just so they can further stuff your face with their Oppo products. No thanks. That just fuels my annoyance and if anything they've made me detest the brand.

An accurate portrayal of me telling Oppo staff to shut their traps

And Oppo has even made its way to the airport, effectively blocking a good view of the aircraft at Bay 5 which irks me to no end.

So after weeks of consideration and comparing products, I decided the Sony Xperia Z2 would be next in line to the throne. It's water-resistant, has a nice 5.2 inch display and dual front facing speakers. Not to mention that beast of a camera behind it with 20.7 Megapixels and awesome Sony optics which has proven themselves throughout the years in many of their products. AND it's got a slot for SD cards. Take that, Xiaomi!

My first two days with the Z2 was spent transfering and recovering data from the P and getting used to everything. Which wasn't much of a learning curve because the Sony ecosystem and interface doesn't deviate much from itself with each new iteration of smartphones they put out.

What I Got

Keeping in line with other smartphone manufacturers, the device's specs and features are prominent on the back. 

As usual, Sony carries on the traditional packaging style from the S,P and U line here. Glory shot on the front, Sony branding on the top left and model name on the bottom left. The box was bigger than I expected.

Branding continues on the side.

When I found out the Z2 would be shipping with the new premium Sony Digital Noise Cancelling Headset MDR-NC31EM, I was quite excited because it's not often you get high quality earphones in the box. And based on the reviews, majority of the people who got it testified to its amazing noise cancelling abilities and rich audio quality.

But nooooo I didn't get that. I found out that the shipments sold in Malaysia were actually brought over from Singapore and those shipments unfortunately didn't have them. Bummer.

But instead I got these (MH410c) which were pretty decent. The audio quality was much better than the ones I had previously, at least. Maybe because it's coupled with the Hi-Res Audio software of the Z2. I haven't tried it out on the Xperia P yet but they are pretty damn solid. The retail price of these things are like RM20 and the MDR-NC31EM costs a whopping RM230. Hmmm okayyyyy

Design
With a front and back glass design, you really can't go wrong here. Sony has once again done a great job with the product design and build quality. The white version is elegant, luxurious and will turn heads. The design language from the original Xperia Z continues here with the silver beautiful power button and the sleek unibody sides. The design is consistent, yes. But so is the case with Samsung products. But Sony has kept its consistency while at the same time offering a premium feeling and looking device. No flimsy plastic back covers here, oh no! And of course, the trusty and invaluable dedicated camera button is here to stay on the Xperia Z2.

5.2 inch IPS LCD screen. I love how the white just shows itself around the edges unlike the black and purple model.

Solid front and black glass design. It puts out an aura of style and sophistication.

20.7 megapixel G Lens camera from Sony

The signature power button with volume rockers close to its side. And the flap concealing a micro SD card slot.

And that favorite ol' camera button makes a return here.

The notification light is a nice bright 1.4cm strip above the Sony branding and below the top front-facing speaker. I prefer this over the conventional blinking dot on other smartphones. Being both side glass, the smartphone is a fingerprint magnet like no other and your screen will pretty much be covered in smudges in no time. I put a case on mine so the back is protected from any scratches or smudges. The front however is all smudges.

Look at all that! Ugh

The magnetic charging port. In some countries the Z2 ships with a magnetic charging dock.

Product shots by Lucas Moh. You can visit his photo blog here at http://justfortography.tumblr.com/ and also here.

Display & Performance
Basically owning this smartphone is like owning a mini Sony TV in your hands. The Z2 features a 5.2 inch IPS LCD Triluminos display with Sony's own image processing software, the X-Reality engine. I must say playing a HD movie on this is quite a treat. Colors are never dull but instead are vibrant and true to life. If you're ever unsatisfied with the coloration, you can always change the white balance in the Display section of the phone settings.

Performance. Now this phone is no slouch. It is powered by a Snapdragon 810 processor with a 2.3GHz CPU. It has 16 GB of internal memory and carries a crazy 3 GB of RAM. And it is running Android 4.4.2 KitKat with plans to upgrade to Lollipop in February.
Compared to the Xperia P, WiFi turns on almost instantaneously and connected to a network in just within seconds. Apps open and close effortlessly and the whole experience is buttery smooth. I have not experienced any significant stutters in this phone nor any overheating issues yet as accounted by other users of this phone.

I have been careful not to install too many apps that I know I won't be needing or even using very much. Just the necessary ones that I know will come in handy when I need them. I don't wanna drown the phone in too much junk in the first month of its time with me. Speaking of junk, the Xperia interface is clean, minimalist and there's none of those heavy bloatware you'll find on Samsung devices. Sure it has its own apps which will pull you deeper into the Sony ecosystem but they've kept it to a minimum. Sony's custom Android UI is light and close to pure Android.

Battery Life
With minimal usage, I was able to squeeze out more than a day out of this phone. And that involved on and off mobile data, the occasional web browsing and some texting. With the old phone, I would be paranoid leaving the house without it being at 100% charge. With a 3200mAh battery onboard, I wouldn't mind leaving the house with 60% or so. And I haven't been using my power bank ever since.

Sony also offers its own power saving features which include Stamina Mode which turns off all background activity when the screen is off and Ultra Stamina mode. Sony even threw in a Low Battery mode just in case you feel like saving every single drop of blood from that dying beating heart.

Camera
Shooting with the Xperia Z2 was something I've been looking forward to. Throughout the years I have trusted and preferred Sony when it comes to mobile photography. The Xperia P took great pictures but I was eager to see what the Z2 might bring to the table. Armed with a 20.7 Megapixel camera with some magical wizardry behind the lens, I embarked on a nice day for photo snapping. Below are some pictures I took. They have been processed by Vscocam but I will link the gallery of unedited pictures below.

I was particularly impressed with the low light capabilities. Sure noise reduction isn't the best but hey, it's a smartphone camera. It has limits too. But in the end everything worked out okay. Below you will see two photos of empty cinema halls. Those were taken in moderately dark situations. I mean the theater halls were empty and the only source of light were the dim spotlights above and a little bit of sunlight from the open exit door. So yeah pretty good.

Taken at night, fully auto with no flash. There was a little bit of moonlight but other than that, nothing else.

Same situation as the above.

Same as the above.

This was in my pitch black bedroom with the curtains letting in some light from the bulb outside at night.

All photos below are taken using the Superior Auto mode in 8MP-16:9 resolution, edited by Vscocam.

Links for the unedited photo samples are here!

Background defocus mode is another feature commonly seen in other flagship phones.But often, it is a hit and miss and requires precise positioning and distance from the object you wish to focus on. 

Features & Media Consumption

The Z2 is a Sony phone and thus one might expect above average quality on the media consumption front. The Z2 doesn't let down. It has dual front facing speakers and they are surprisingly good. Not great but certainly more than above average. The Z2 does a good job of reminding people that the speakers on your phone should be facing you and not away from you! I mean what's the point if they're facing away from you, right?

Who remembers the Sony Ericsson W595? It had speakers on the top and bottom and it was also THE Walkman phone of its time. And I was a proud owner of one ^_^ Until I lost it =(

The Z2 has speakers both on the top and bottom of the device. In the past I used to cup my hands over the phone speaker in a vain attempt to amplify the sound and redirect it towards me. None of that crap anymore! 

In terms of audio quality, the Z2 does live up to my standards. Which I guess are not that high, anyway. The dual speakers do a good job and they sound amazing in a moderately noisy environment. I daresay they are louder than the speakers on my laptop. And that is why I will always watch The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls and Once Upon A Time on my phone from now on.

With an option to include a Micro SD card, I might as well have an SD Card full of movies and shows just to watch on the Z2.

However it is threatened by HTC's One M8 which is a bloody fine boombox and is pretty much the one dominating the 'phones with dual front facing speakers' category right now. The Z2 is very close to achieving that standard and in some cases, both phones are equal, none better than the other. Which is somewhat disappointing because hey, you're Sony! You're supposed to make bloody fine boomboxes out of your phones!

Next on the much paraded list of special features of the Z2 is the waterproof and dust-resistant capability. It is IP55/58 rated which means it can withstand being submerged in 1.5m of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Some have reported the phone withstanding longer and deeper but I won't push my luck. 

I haven't tested the waterproof capabilities yet and I don't think I will anytime soon. I won't go dunking it in a pail of water just to test it. Unless I accidentally dunk it in a pail of water. But it does give me some peace of mind knowing that I won't be damaging it if I somehow find myself in less than favorable or wet conditions.

Final Thoughts

This phone will be my daily workhorse for hopefully another 3 years or more. During my time with this device (which is less than 2 weeks), I've found it to be a reliable piece of tech. Like a mini laptop. But then again that's how I felt about the Xperia P three years ago. But as always, technology is evolving rapidly with flagship phones flying off the shelves every year and just when you think smartphone makers have exhausted almost every single idea or "innovation" they can slap on a slab of stuff, there'll always be something new. Will the Xperia Z2 be able to hold on and prove itself against that challenge?

I can't wait to find out.

Taylor Swift - 1989: Track by track review

Musicians come and go. Some leave significant marks and some, maybe not. And then there's Taylor Swift. Not only is she a musician but she is also a woman of her own empire and career. With physical album sales decreasing each year, is she going to be the one who changes that? With brilliant promotional efforts (Polaroid copies in physical albums)  and not to mention a cult following consisting of fans ranging from young teenage girls to God knows who else called Swifties, 1989 might just be a game changer. Here is my review of Taylor Swift's fifth studio album, 1989 (Deluxe version).

Few artists make a change in direction musically and few have done such drastic changes such as Swift. From the girl next door singing out country tunes, our own diaries and stories to a woman selling out stadium shows with 3 major headlining tours worldwide, let's see how Swift's new musical path fares.

1. Welcome to New York

"It's a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat"
Right from the get go you know from this track this is something completely different than what she's ever done but she still manages to keep to her old self. "took our broken hearts/put them in a drawer". The usual writing style of metaphors and visualization remains. Sonically, this is so different. Synths and mildly heavy drums dominate this track. It is lively and bright. Much like the city of New York.

2. Blank Space

This song is breathy with quick pauses and short, few-worded sentences. Swift pokes fun at herself singing "got a long list of ex-lovers/they'll tell you I'm insane". The synths continue their dominance here albeit being slightly hidden in the background for the earlier parts of the track. And oh that pen click. Seriously? Genius. The signature guitar sound that Swift is known for is barely audible in the midst of the drum and synth heavy production. This is one song you'll dance to in public without you noticing.

3. Style

The intro guitar riff is sick. Then comes the disco beats. Swift's vocals are smooth, soft and clear. She describes that he has that "James Dean, daydream look" which I'm sure prompted a sudden spike in James Dean searches on Google. Transition from the verses to the chorus is quite significant. It sounds like you're thrown into another different song but you're still listening to that one song. But the pre-chorus covers that transition nicely. I can imagine how many commercials this song will be used in. A very nice song for cruising along in your car singing along to. This is so clearly pop but Swift just manages to make it sound like a different kind of pop.

4. Out Of The Woods

By far this is the most metaphorically visual song on this album. Sure, it is repetitive but somehow you can't bring yourself to press that Next button. The spaces between the repeated words are filled with background vocalizations that you can't help but sing along to. This track showcases the best bridge in this entire album, demonstrating that the maestro songwriter that Swift is hasn't lost her touch to connect deeply through lyrics which hangs in the balance between the emotional spectrum. You can hear sadness, nostalgia, joy and fear.

5. All You Had To Do Was Stay

I classify this song as an in-between/transition song. There is nothing much that stands out in this song except for the word "Stay" sung in an opera voice in the choruses and also the line "You were all I wanted/But not like this". This song sounds like generic pop. I wouldn't skip this song in a full album listening session. Rather I'd go grab some snacks or something with this song playing in the background. The acoustic guitars make a return here in the chorus background. Lyrically, heartbreak is still the main driving force.

6. Shake It Off

This was the first track from 1989 which was released to the world two months before the album itself was available. Since then it has garnered positive feedback and earned a lot of number 1's in a lot of countries all over the world. Sonically, the trumpets are a nice welcome into Swift's changing repertoire of sounds. However I was surprised it wasn't continued throughout the rest of the album. This is my new hairbrush/shower song and it's hard not to get caught up in its catchy tune and repeated choruses. Also the track involves many different minor production details which you might find fun listening out for. It is fun and unapologetic.

7. I Wish You Would

You can hear the 80's influences right from the guitar intro. It has short verses and choruses. Lyrically, it is reminiscent of 'I Almost Do' from Red. Though short, the words seem to speak your inner thoughts and blow your mind with how simple and straight forward they are. Swift's vocals are showcased clearly in this track. This is another repetitive track. I guess that's the inevitable direction that pop songs seem to gravitate to in the end. But it is still bearable.

8. Bad Blood

"Still got scars on my back from your knife". Of all the times I've used the term 'backstabber' I've never thought of phrasing it that way. Damn you, Swift. This is the angriest track on the record, even by my standards surpassing "Better Than Revenge" from Speak Now. Sonically it is rebellious, excellent to strut to and daringly bratty, After the powerful punchy verses and choruses, she tones it down in the bridge only to come back louder and stronger. Also, can we take a moment to go to 02:51 to 02:54 and just listen to that angry high vocal run in the background?

9. Wildest Dreams

This track cries out hopelessness, letting go and hope. The emotion and vulnerability in the vocals make a statement that this track is going to be timeless and it is a gem among the many pop heavy songs on this album. Many have likened it to a Lana Del Ray sound. I honestly have never heard any songs from Lana Del Ray but in my opinion it sounds Lorde inspired. Swift's vocals are always at its best when singing slow ballads and it is evident here as well as on other slow tracks on the record. The instrumentation is unobtrusive. In this track, less is enough.

10. How You Get The Girl

 I wouldn't exactly classify this as bugglegum pop but it sure sounds like it is aiming for that direction. This is definitely radio material and nice to be played out loud cruising on long sunny roads. The old Taylor signature guitar sounds are back here. The track gives you the impression of a happy romance which makes you go head over heels about. Also, I liked the combination of synths and modern beats. However, still not the strongest song on the record.

11. This Love

Wow where can I even begin. I think this and Wildest Dreams are my absolute favorites. This track is so raw, so imperfect. The intro sounds a little like something from Lady Antebellum but it ends there. If you have sharp ears you might be able to hear the slight imperfection in the guitar picking. And that is why I love this track. It is not as polished as the rest and it helps in projecting the emotion and rawness of it all. Swift's vocals are breathy, soothing, haunting, slow and beautiful. It has excellent production value and the background vocals towards the end are just so crystal clear it rings in your ears. If you can turn beauty into a song, this is it. Another diamond in the rough.

12. I Know Places

Dark tones mixed with mid tempo beats, haunting piano. They mix well together. Swift's vocals go into unfamiliar territory here. I mean just listen to that line "And we run" at 1:39. I am unsure what to make of this song. It kind of makes you want to scream this song out loud but also drunk-dance to it. Lyrically it talks about hiding from other people who are going to say things about your relationship with someone else. Production and vocal processing is mildly heavy here but with the piano in the background, you can surely imagine it would sound great acoustically. Another favorite of mine.

13. Clean

Metronome beats, electronic basses, light synths and Imogen Heap in the background. Add in Taylor Swift into the mix with lyrics so good and it becomes a sound of liberation, completeness and closure. Clean is the closing track for the record. It has a sound which is very different from the previous 12 songs. It is slow and nice, like a much slower version of Hillary Duff's "Come Clean". Imogen Heap's background vocals are tastefully placed, the production gives way to Swift's soothing voice and this track just puts you gently back down to earth, ready to remove your earphones after a roller coaster ride of an album.

So with the Deluxe version of 1989 you get 3 extra songs and 3 voice memos. The voice memos are basically Swift explaining her songwriting process and provides audio taken directly from her phone when submitting song ideas to producers. It was really interesting to listen to them because Swift has had 4 studio albums and people often ask her how her songwriting process usually is and I'm glad that she decided to include the voice memos to give us a little sneak peek of how a song is created and ends up being on the record.  

Also if you buy a physical copy of the album (normal and Deluxe), you will get 13 Polaroid pictures included. That's a really nice marketing strategy seeing how physical album sales have been in the decline. But whatever it is, 1989 is heading straight up with 600,000 sales within 24 hours of its release. Billboard has also just announcer 1989 to have sold 1.287 million in its first week, beating Red which sold 1.208 million. This makes her the only female artist to have three million-selling figures in her album's first week debut.  

Now on to the review of the 3 bonus tracks from the Deluxe version. 

14. Wonderland

Initially, this song was my least favorite but as I listened to it more each day, I got quite hooked on it. Sonically and lyrically, it sounds like a mix of I Knew You Were Trouble and I Know Places with the dubstep and electronic sounds combined with the lyrics of shielding your relationship away from the public eye. This is a song you'd find yourself headbanging to with arms in the air. The line "And life was never worse but never better" is exquisite.

15. You Are In Love

The best way I would describe this track is a very vivid description of a couple truly in love with each other. With years of singing about her own love life, Swift has decided to turn it around and sing about her producer Jack Antonoff and his girlfriend, Lena Dunham. And hey, it works just as well as when she's singing about her own love. Lena described this song as their wedding song and I think she made the right call. This song could very well be playing in the background of a Nicholas Sparks/John Green movie. The emotion is so clearly heard and the message is loud and clear. You can see that these two people are truly in love. This is the longest song on the Deluxe version of the record and I liken it to "Last Kiss" from Speak Now. Just that it's written from the opposite side of the emotional spectrum.

16. New Romantics

"Heartbreak is the national anthem/We sing it proudly/We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet/Baby we're the new romantics/The best people in life are free"
Okay dance party anyone? Swift exhibits a young, rebellious, fun and bratty sound in this one. I dare you to tell me you did not sing the "ahaahaahahahahahhahah" part sounding totally annoying. Swift's vocal range has clearly improved and it is showcased here in the background vocals. Quite a suitable song to be played in clubs but I don't actually go to clubs so I wouldn't know. But anyhow, this track ends the Deluxe version on a cheery, positive note. Not the best of them but certainly not the worst. Just in the middle.

In conclusion, I really like to describe this album as a roller coaster ride. From the first track which talks about moving somewhere else to begin again and experiencing so many different new sounds, it is anything but below expectations. You've done it again, Swift. Well done. I must note that the strengths of this album are the slow ballads and the catchy tunes. Yes, love and heartbreak is still the main theme behind this album, such as it has always been. But it comes not from a place of tragic loss but instead from a perspective of starting anew and being happy. And with this album, I am happy. 

Thanks for reading.