If you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it all before; as you might expect, the Sony Xperia XZ looks very similar to its predecessors, with a boxy design and smooth, rounded edges that ensure the flagship smartphone sits comfortably in one's hands. Also, despite no longer using glass on the back, the Sony Xperia XZ’s updated metal backplate is very shiny, almost glass like, giving it the same abilities to pick up grime and dirt as its predecessors. Thankfully it isn't as much as a proper glass-enhanced back, though if you’re the picky sort that needs to be clean, then using a case is your best bet.

As usual, the odd shape of the scanner can make it slightly tricky to unlock—you will need to consciously position your finger just right to make it work. Given time, it is easy to engage it with just a tap, but that's the case with all Sony Mobile smartphones that use this security feature, it needs a bit of getting used to.

With the exception of the USB Type-C port, which has been given proper protection against wet and dusty environments, the Sony Xperia XZ still relies on rubber-type seals to keep its phone safe, so make sure the flaps are sealed nice and tight at all times. Also, while fresh water is fine, you probably won’t want to drop it in salt water.

Defying convention, Sony Mobile has opted to load out the Sony Xperia XZ with a mere Full HD display, meaning its screen resolution maxes out at 1080p. This is a step down from the 4K screen of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium from a year ago, a move that feels a little disappointing.

In terms of audio, the Sony Xperia XZ scores big with an effective stereo setup. It's very rare to see such a design being considered for a flagship, what more from a brand like Sony Mobile. The last time this concept had been used is when HTC made it the defacto design for its HTC ONE line.

Like most smartphones with the excellent Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, the Sony Xperia XZ will demolish most productivity tasks with aplomb. Add in a decent amount of RAM, and lags and crashes are few and very far between. This is encouraging as there had been numerous problems with the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, including a fair bit of overheating.

In my testing, the Sony Xperia XZ opened apps quickly and reliably, with even intensive games like Vainglory not being able to make this empowered flagship smartphone choke. Thermals are also well sorted, with only minimal heating of the chassis. Sony Mobile has certainly come a long way in optimising its software with the accompanying hardware.

In terms of battery life, the Sony Xperia XZ can easily last through a working day, though I had expected a little bit more given its Full HD display compared to what the competition offers. As usual, Sony Mobile has included its fast-charge technology, so those who are deskbound won’t find much to complain about.

There is a pretty interesting new feature where the Sony Xperia XZ will learn your charging patterns and will adjust the rate at which it charges accordingly to prolong battery life. It's an exclusive function to this Sony Mobile flagship, though I'm sure it also appears in the lower spec iterations of the Sony Mobile X range.

Like it’s design, if there’s one thing you can count on in a Sony Mobile smartphone, it’s that the cameras used within offers loads of innovations. The 23MP shooter in the Sony Xperia XZ, is decent on many counts, though it carries over the unfortunate stereotype that the Japanese smartphone vendor is known for: a mixed bag for the rear-facing snapper.

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