Software Impressions

If you read my Xperia Z Ultra review, much of this section will seem familiar as the software used on the tablet-like smartphone and the Z1 are very similar. Out of the box, the device runs Android 4.2.2 with a custom Sony skin and a few extra features, although the additions aren't quite on the scale of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or LG G2.

For those of you who dislike 'heavy' Android skins with over-the-height designs and features, y'all'll be pleased that the Xperia Z1's skin is relatively calorie-free. In many respects the design cues of vanilla Android are kept throughout the lockscreen, homescreen and other applications, only it however leads me to think that Sony's skin is skinning for the sake of skinning, rather than trying to innovate something new to the Android ecosystem.

There's nix peculiarly unfamiliar with the fashion Sony has designed their UI. The lockscreen has widget support and a quick launcher for the photographic camera, homescreens are standard with a 4x4 grid and a traditional app launcher. There's an array of okay (just not amazing) Sony widgets to cull from, and the notification pane is bones with a few quick setting toggles. The Xperia Z1's base software provides users with few improvements to help with routine tasks, for better or worse.

Flicking through the standard range of included apps reveals exactly what you lot'd look, and cypher more. The calendar app shows your calendar, the contacts app shows your contacts, the album app shows your images, and so forth. This is a benefit of the light Sony skin, which keeps down bloatware, but also provides the blank minimum in terms of features. If you lot were hoping for some cool new way to manage contacts, or wanted an integrated messaging experience, y'all'll observe yourself disappointed; only at the same fourth dimension, the basic apps will provide enough functionality to keep near people happy. And of course, if you want anything more than, there'south plenty of option to exist establish in the Play Shop, including a range of stock Android applications equally provided past Google.

Dig into the Xperia Z1's settings and information technology becomes immediately articulate how well geared up this device is for wireless streaming. The device is easily integrated into your habitation network as both a media server and media viewer, with the capability to 'throw' content to other devices appearing in many applications. Not only that, but you tin wirelessly mirror the handset's display on your TV, and in games you can use a PS3 DualShock iii wireless controller (provided you pair it through a USB cable starting time).

Aside from the wireless streaming features integrated into the device, at that place aren't a dandy deal of other features to mention. The battery saver manner does a decent task of disabling services where necessary, and there's a find my telephone feature you can enable called 'my Xperia'. Bated from those few things, yous're basically getting the stock Android handling in terms of settings and features you can enable.

The attribute of the Xperia Z1'due south software I was virtually disappointed with was the keyboard. Later most a month of using the device, I couldn't get used to it at all, and consistently made errors when typing. Many of the bug stem from a spacebar which is too pocket-size, causing me to frequently hit the full stop fundamental, or when I was using the built-in swipe mode, the prediction engine was poor and often inserted the wrong words. Luckily, Android allows you to bandy out the keyboard, which I'd highly recommend you practice.