So I have the device since about 1 month. For that I have my beloved S2 pushed into retirement and use it since actually every day.
1) Taste is not arguing nunmal. One likes it, the other not. Point! But who claimed at the edges could not hurt the unit has just had in his hand. The equipment is top handles, there are no columns, no creaking and it makes nevertheless a sophisticated look. Yes, it is made of plastic, but also has the advantage that it is sensationally light for this size. Yes, it is a strainer, it sucks dust like a statically charged record, but it is easily cleaned. You can even wash it under the tap, the XZ. But why should you remove an attached protector on a cell phone, or to complain about the fact that this is also incomprehensible to me there.
2) The speaker
Yes, which is mounted on the bottom right. Yes, a normal right-handed has there his palm but hey, it is a smart phone ... you can rotate the device and the screen rotates with. Suddenly the speaker is on the top left and bothers no one. Movies can I watch anyway in landscape mode, since the then left either at the top right, or down ... and who used anyway the speaker on a mobile phone ...? So except for teenagers who think they have to Keep the fun with the sound all the bus stop? ^^. And do not forget, the phone is waterproof! I mean, somehow the speaker holes must be sealed Yes, quite possible that some "sound" swallows.
3) The display
Okay, it's great, certainly too large for some. I have large hands and I have to quite stretch to single-handedly come in every corner, it should not be greater, probably. it is already too large ... perhaps are 4.5 to 4.8 '' the ideal for touch screens. But that is always rumgemäkelt at the quality here is not understandable for me. Who looks to please not perpendicular to his Smartphone? Have mine now consciously considered times from all angles, find it is still sensationally sharp, but even that is a matter of taste. The colors on my old S2 I was sometimes too loud (especially the green), the XZ they are more discreet, but anyway ... to evaluate the display as "bad", devoid of any logic. The milky Design is located on the Sony UI, I have another installed, there's nothing like finding. If everything is matter of habit.
4) The Camera
It is and remains a mobile phone camera and can not replace a professional camera. In good weather, it makes a lot of useful images in low light and challenging situations you have to readjust. And - unfortunately for the Japanese devices often - the automatic thinks it too well. I have often achieved better results when I have turned off the automatic. Had my S2 I think out 8 megapixels, even as I had after some practicing the trick and prop the images never find fault, it's just the XZ -. To find differences only if you look for it. The camera takes very useful snapshots and videos, they can even take you on short trips, but to make holiday trips useful pictures of the kids, I would always go for the "proper" camera that none could replace my previous mobile phones. Nevertheless, the images are by no means "bad".
5) The battery
The only complaint that I co-supporting. In principle, I have to buy even the rule no cell phones without replaceable batteries. For this device I broke the rule, I hope I do not regret it. I commute every day, for example 120 km to work (ie, about 45 minutes by train for a tour). The time I use the unit usually quite intense. Yesterday morning I turn it (fully charged), phone boots up, synchronize calendar, emails, dials into the net when I'm on the train, battery after 20 min at 93% ... Oho, I think. During the trip, I read an ebook, the screen is so constantly illuminated at the destination station 68%. In the company's mobile phone on standby in Staminia mode work after 8 hours I will raise it again, at 53%. Was still a little out on the town, have 2 short calls out 3 photos shot, surfed a little on the net again in the train 49%. Then read on the way back a bit, surfed briefly and heard a further 30 minutes to music on headphones. Back home, with 31% battery. In 30% a battery Even automatic switches that rigorously darkens the screen and wireless features off. I had some days even when I was at home.
It depends on the use from some functions drain the battery that you can watch, but I've never had to get problems during the day, but I would also think that even more of the battery of my S2 at the very same user behavior at the end of the day Power had.
6) Miscellaneous
If you prefer that your smartphone is simply much a matter of taste and many of them are some real religious wars. When you're looking at it objectively, the technically a top unit and thoroughly on the amount of time. As the devices become more sophisticated, always contain more parts, they are also becoming defective for "diseases". My Sony Ericsson 2003 runs even today, just like the Nokia-bone 1999 (with two weeks of battery life !!!), but these devices were not built so complicated by far. You can always have a time Monday device where a part is not working. Then hopefully works of Exchange smoothly. But my XZ has so far only once "hung" and could be started again with the said key combination.
7) Conclusion
I looked at the specifications of S4, nothing about it knocks me off the stool and would for me a purchase warrant (the phone detects whether one views it - ridiculous), the UI you can customize as you like (yes, if you 2 superimposes apps they make a folder that is with Samsung otherwise) and the memory is a decent size (I have also brought problems without a 64GB memory card in the device up and running). The dampers are a bit fiddly, but I have no fear that they will break off. SIM and SD cards are exchanged in any case rare, therefore no need to open.
I'm a 600 smartphone does not intentionally dive into the water, but I'm not afraid to call in the rain, at least for this device, as I had with my S2 and its huge open headphone jack on top of the device at times.
Whether one likes the design, must each / r decide for themselves and whether you're willing to lie so much money on such a device. I do not use the machine as a gaming console, hence my benchmarks are comparatively matter and whether the app will open after 0.03 or 0.05 seconds plays in daily use no Bewandnis. What had finally convinced me of the purchase, was the good, according to a test report sound for calls (which I can also fully confirmed) and the very good reception quality. Now I have, for example, at night in bed H + Internet, I had the S2 never there at best EDGE. Have always called "na, with us and behind 3 walls of the reception is just bad" and dismissed me not drum sheared further. Previously I had for 2 years and the Samsung knows quite well where I had such good reception and can personally confirm that he was nowhere worse with the XZ ;-) And what use a smartphone when I have no power?
So I bought it and never regretted. Who is on large screens and - yes now again an argument - from the iPhone / Samsung mainstream wants to break, can confidently strike here ;-)
8) Note
I have the Sony Store in Berlin the charging station and an elegant bag can buy this rather inexpensively, without delivery bottlenecks.
And for me it was really no reason supported decision by purchasing. I'm not going on and wanted to buy the best phone. I'm going on, wanted prop. Ever buy anything, have seen it, touched and had to have it easy, I can not at all logically explain ^^
