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I was all set to become an iPhone X owner, but the Sony Xperia XZ1 has broken my Apple addiction and made me an 'X' iPhone user.

Every time I upgrade to the latest iPhone after a two-year contract, I tell myself that this time things will be different and it won't smash.

But when my iPhone 6S was horrifically injured in a routine drop from no higher than 4ft, I was given the Sony Xperia XZ1's predecessor to try out, and I began to see things differently.

That was a year ago. And, ever since, I’ve carried two phones around with me.

The iPhone 6S has continued to rack up more chips and cracks through everyday use, but the Sony Xperia XZ is pretty much pristine - and I’ve probably dropped it more because I've found myself using it every day.

(Image: Sony)

Despite this, I found myself looking forward to upgrading to the iPhone X – but already it looks like the glass will crack just as easily as all the other iPhones I’ve owned.

By contrast, the Xperia XZ1 has a tough aluminium case on the back, and there are no reports of it exploding or bending in trouser pockets.

In short, it does everything you would expect a good smartphone to do very well – but there’s a sturdiness and toughness to it that you feel you can depend on.

There’s no need to mollycoddle it as if it was some precious pedigree show cat.

Tough display

The Xperia XZ1 doesn't have the phoney allure of a flashy exterior that only lasts if you buy a cover for it. Instead, it boasts extra-tough Durable Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen, which means it will survive a drop on rough surfaces from 1.6 metres, 80% of the time.

Plus, it keeps a frame around the screen, so your thumbs aren't all over the display when it’s in landscape mode.

This might be a downer for those hooked on the idea of an all-screen display - like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or Note 8 - but I like the space for my thumbs, and there’s no nasty notch, like on the new iPhone X.

(Image: Sony)

Design

The only possible downside of this phone is that, to some, it might look a bit dated. But this is probably what makes it half the price on contract to comparable high-end phones from rivals.

The XZ1 is noticeably thinner than its XZ predecessor - a whole 0.7mm slimmer - and it’s wider and lighter too, so it feels better in the hand.

The metal body is wrought from a single piece of aluminium, adding strength. It's also dust-and water-resistant.

Fingerprint recognition, built into the on/off switch at the side, has been improved too, so that it takes more initial scans of your thumb at set-up. This means the phone starts working even faster when you pick it up.

(Image: Sony)

And, in my hand, moving to the very responsive on-screen home button at the bottom is easy - making single-handed use a doddle.

It uses Android 8.0 Oreo, the latest version of the the Google operating system, which I now prefer to Apple's iOS. The graphics are better. And the voice-activated assistant is friendlier than Apple’s Siri.

PlayStation 4 owners can also play a console game on the XZ1 when they’re on Wi-Fi at home.

Camera

The Xperia XZ1's ordinary looks conceal some extraordinary features that make the phone a lot of fun to use.

The front-facing camera delivers crisp selfies and video calls, while the rear facing camera has stand-out functions including super-slow motion, giving you some pretty dramatic footage.

Simply select the feature and press the dedicated button at the key moment while shooting video, and you’ll be amazed at the results.

It works by boosting the video frame rate from 30 or 60 frames per second to 960, depending on which high definition format you choose.

(Image: Sony)

I managed to get some good footage of birds in flight and someone practising their wheelies on a moped.

Another feature, Predictive Capture, catches movement and facial expressions before you even press the dedicated camera button.

The Xperia XZ1 also takes a burst of shots, like a paparazzi – with virtually no blur.

Creative effects

There are some great free camera apps, which let you create outlandish video and still effects.

They are found in the camera apps on your camera control screen, and add weird and wonderful effects to your videos or stills - including Pencil Sketch, Fish Eye and Comic modes.

(Image: Sony)

See the video with this post, above, for more examples.

The augmented reality or AR effects provide hours of fun, allowing you to put dinosaurs, masks and props into your pictures.

3D sculpting

The 3D sculpting mode, that creates a 3D printable face or object, will blow you away - even if it is a bit of a gimmick.

Simply open the app and follow the instructions to the letter and you get spookily good 3D renders of heads and faces.

(Image: Sony)

You can even incorporate these 3D face scans in the Miniatures section of the AR app, for some really out-there effects.

Good reception

The Xperia XZ1 has great phone reception, with crystal clear calls, due to the triple phone aerial points on the case.

It allows me to make and receive calls in an area of my home where neither the previous XZ model nor the iPhone 6S worked.

The audio is superb too, with stereo speakers on the front, software that upgrades the sound quality of music files, and a headphone jack on the top.

Battery and specs

The battery has a superb 30-minute fast charge. And the phone warns you if an app is eating up battery power, alerting you when need to go into stamina mode, which is very useful as it can extend your phone use for hours - minus the power-hungry features.

(Image: Sony)

But Ultra stamina mode will keep it going for two days and 10 hours when activated at 57% battery level. This is very useful if you want to stay in touch via text and calls, if you are abroad with limited access to electricity.

But I found I never had to worry about battery power on an average day. This phone learns to anticipate your power needs through your usage and adapt accordingly, through special software.

(Image: Sony)

The phone comes with 64GB of internal memory, but there’s also a MicroSD tray to boost your memory with a stonking 256GB card - enough for 32 hours of high-definition video.

It has a state-of-the-art processor , or main engine. It's the same one used in the Samsung Galaxy 8 and other flagship Android phones, allowing phones to work faster on less energy.

Survival tool

It’s as if Sony has thought about the really important survival tool basics of a phone, like battery, call clarity, toughness, and screen sharpness, delivering on these first – then adding some fun areas for entertainment.

It's like a good football manager setting up a rock solid defence, before thinking about the attack.

The great audio and slow-motion video capture, which set this phone apart from its rivals, are exactly those kind of extra features that make this a great toy as well.

(Image: Sophie Curtis)

It’s available in four colours: Black, Warm Silver, Horizon Blue and Venus Pink.

I give it five stars, as it's the best in class for a mid-priced smartphone - and I'll have no difficulty upgrading to it in favour of the new iPhone X.