For the original German review, see here.

Sony has a vision: connected, smart devices will change our lives. The manufacturer is a little behind the times, as this vision is already becoming reality with the likes of "Smart Homes", Amazon Echo and smart wearables. The new Xperia smartphones are tagged with a big "X" and aim to be part of this new, interconnected world. Thankfully, while moving towards their new goals, Sony has kept true to their old values, such as stylish design, sturdy case, long battery life and good cameras.

The reviews of the Xperia X series (Xperia X, Xperia X Compact, Xperia XA) show that these devices are more reliable than revolutionary. In fact, at times, we liked the predecessors from the Xperia Z5 generation more.

The Xperia XZ can change all this, as it is a high-quality smartphone for 700 Euros (~$763). Most manufacturers do not even dare to put their devices in this price range, as the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7 are the undisputed kings of this price class.

The Xperia XZ is the successor to the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. It not only competes with the high-end devices of Apple and Samsung but also with smartphones like the HTC 10 and, the much cheaper, OnePlus 3. In the following review we will check to see what the Sony flagship model has to offer.