Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact now available

Sony's new pair of high-end smartphones - the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact - go on sale today, priced at $1,099 and $949 respectively. 

While they've both gotten the obligatory spec bump, their newest "feature" is design. It took five years, but Sony has finally deviated for the brutalist aesthetic that permeated through its smartphone family since 2013. The pair have traded in bulky bezels and blocky design for extra-tall displays and curvy bodies.

Sony's new design language is all about curves; the XZ2 has curved Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, and the XZ2 Compact has a curved Gorilla Glass 5 front and a polycarbonate back with a much more prominent curvature. Sony says this is so the phones give you "the best comfort in your hand". The designs aren't dissimilar to the what the rest of the mobile industry is doing - the XZ2 is a little reminiscent of HTC's U11 - but it’s a nice change of direction for Sony.

As is in vogue, the pair have extra-tall 18:9 displays running at 1080p+. The XZ2 measures in at 5.7-inches, while the XZ2 Compact is obviously smaller, with a comparatively teeny tiny 5-inch screen.

One other feature exclusive to the larger XZ2 is Sony's "Dynamic Vibration System". This analyses the audio from videos and games (looking for bass frequencies), and provides haptic feedback to "bring them to life"; it's almost like the rumble pad found in the PlayStation 4 controller.

The other main difference between the phones is the XZ2 supports wireless charging, while the XZ2 Compact doesn't. 

Otherwise, key specifications are almost identical for both models. Sadly, neither have have a headphone jack. The rest is as follows:

Both phones are available outright from Sony Kioks, Kogan, and amaysim's online tech store. JB Hi-Fi is ranging the Xperia XZ2, but not the XZ2 Compact. 

If you'd prefer a contract, Telstra will have the regular XZ2 "soon". 

You'll be able to the full range of colours for both phones (variatons ofblack, silver, green, and pink) direct through Sony, but unsurprisingly, everyone else will only have black at this stage. 

Read our hands on preview of the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact from earlier in the year here.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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