yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
While I don't think that you are a troll, numbers in columns to make it scientific. Since we have no clue on how they do the test, and since there is no scientific method of measuring contrast ratio (since there is no scientific definition) I'm pretty sure that it isn't a scientific test.

That being said you can use your own eyes to see how it fairs against the One X, Nexus 4 and others here (provided that you have a good calibrated monitor :) ):

http://www.frandroid.com/test/128142_sony-xperia-z-test-smartphone-android/3/

I don't know if this is all at full brightness but I suspect it is, my first hand experience with the arc s and the s tells the same story, when on full brightness the black levels are not good at all. but once you adjust the brightness it will get way better. Personally I never have my phone on full brightness because it strains my eyes and drains the battery (except maybe when in full sunlight).

The whites are not the best since the One x is better at it, but all the others are worst, the blacks with 100% brightness are not great at all, so that is giving it a "bad" contrast ratio. But when looking at the color charts the color reproduction is among the best if not the best.

So in the end it is about what is important to you.

if you want the best contrast ratio and like Popsicle colors and you don't care about sunlight readability get an amoled screen. I you care about natural colors and like to have the screen on full brightness your (maybe) better off with a HTC. If natural colors are the most important to you and you don't use full brightness that much (and really like the Sony design) I don't think you will be disappointed by the Z
[Xperia Z General] ZeDestructor:
Contrast ratio is agreed by essentially everyone in the industry to be the white level luminance divided by the black level luminance at constant brightness levels.I believe gsmarena have detailed their screen testing methods in the past, but as I said before, contrast ratio and view angles don't tell the whole story. Gamut and accuracy are also important (if not even more so depending on your target workload).
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I know doesn't make it scientific though :D

edit:

Personally I would like it better if they conducted the tests with a baseline luminescence, lets say a number that makes it comfortable to read in a well lit room and than do the measurements. putting devices on 50% and 100% brightness doesn't say a lot in real world use.
[Xperia Z General] nurps:
:laugh::laugh:
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
well technically he is right it uses a bayer filter based sensor :D
[Xperia Z General] ZeDestructor:
No. Scientific tests demand that the test have a good set of criteria and be repeatable. Something that GSMArena does correctly: They have given details regarding their apparatus and test conditions, meaning I can do the tests myself if I so wanted, thus meaning repeatable, just like any other scientific test. Sure, it hits only some of the points, but the test itself is scientifically sound, if incomplete.

Automatic variable brightness means that this is impossible to do. What you would want (and myself for that matter) is something like TFTCentral's reviews where contrast stability is measured at varying brightness. Here's one of TFTCentral's newest reviews for your enjoyment: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2413.htm. AnandTech does similar reviews (slightly less extensive) but they also hit mobile devices and AIO machines over and above monitors.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
could you point me to there method of testing as I'm unable to find it?
[Xperia Z General] Shasarak:
That's certainly one of the more thorough screen-analyses I've seen, and its conclusions aren't all that good. They state explicitly that the phone *is* the final production model. They like the colour display accuracy, but the black level is simply appalling.

It's been suggested that if you push the brightness setting on the XZ up to 100% this actually affects more than just the brightness, it also engages a sort of "outdoor visibility" mode that affects the contrast as well; that seems a little unlikely, but not impossible. If it's true, and of the black-level shots were taken at full brightness, that would account for it, but that's a lot of "if"s.

Another thing I'd like to have seen is the impact of the calibration software which (I believe - but is this confirmed?) the XZ comes with: the review say that the XZ's white is a bit yellowish, but if you can actually *adjust* the colour temperature of the screen, that may be irrelevant in practice.

I'm intrigued by the side-by-side shots of the Bravia Engine in action - quite impressive.
[Xperia Z General] Gambler_3:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

I wasn't expecting stellar viewing angles but colors and contrast have always been great on Sony phones so i am really taken aback by the contrast.

Those who are saying that the outdoor mode kicks in after 70% well that honestly is not an excuse since the xperia Z isn't even the brightest unit to begin with. The one X, Nexus 4 and iPhone 5 are all brighter than the xperia Z. If those phones can retain impressive contrast at full brightness then why can't Sony?

And it seems like there is no way to disable auto brightness on xperia Z below 100% brightness so there is no way to know what the contrast is at 50% or something.
[Xperia Z General] ZeDestructor:
I was able to find this: http://blog.gsmarena.com/we-go-all-technical-about-displays-introducing-our-brightness-and-contrast-ratio-tests/, but no mention of the equipment they're using... :/
[Xperia Z General] Ambroos:
There sure is a way to disable auto brightness completely with a simple checkbox. Why GSMArena didn't test at 50% is a mystery to me. And that outdoor mode is not true, that was a feature of the Xperia P with WhiteMagic displays to boost the extra white subpixel. The Xperia Z doesn't use WhiteMagic and does not have an outdoor-mode that decreases contrast to increase readability.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Maybe the LED(s) being used are not very high quality.

---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:03 PM ----------

Thanks,

Regardless I was just poking a bit of fun for the use of the term scientific, as I'm sure they don't have laboratory like conditions as this would be a bit ludicrous for a phone review site. But I'm sure the measurements given are accurate enough. Hope to see a none 100% brightness measurements as I think I saw a a brightness control in the settings this should be possible. Hopefully the measurements don't translate over to real world use as they are quit a bit worse than my arc s.
[Xperia Z General] ZeDestructor:
Not really. Colorimeters/spectrometers used for testing screens don't need lab conditions since they make a small darkroom spot on the screen and work from there to get good results.
[Xperia Z General] ethan3686:
Check out the black levels here : http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?featur...ch?v=ZHuj_jGdwio&feature=youtube_gdata_player
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
for those who find it interesting lab vs real world (and a bit on how it is done in a lab)

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.94.6632&rep=rep1&type=pdf
[Xperia Z General] Gambler_3:
You CANNOT judge black level on videos geez people. Even if you have 2 phones compared side by side the camera might be focusing on only one spot making other spots darker.
[Xperia Z General] ZeDestructor:
That's not how focus works.... Focus only takes care of how sharp (in focus) object are. As for darkening/brightening, this is taken care by exposure. Cameras can only change exposure over the entire frame due to how it works (attenuates the raw signal).
[Xperia Z General] samxool:
THE screen is all washed out, appaling viewing angles, poor camera with lots of noise in photos, poor speakers that make music sound tinny when listening to music on bus/train with friends (without headphones) and music doesn't go loud enough to drown out other people's annyoing conversations on train/bus.

guess i'm going to have to cancel my pre-order.

can't believe sony have faile dus.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Dude seriously get this phone, as it is very annoying to listen to somebody else's music on public transport and if this phone is stopping you from doing that I implore you to get this phone! ;)
[Xperia Z General] Al Gore:
Who the hell does this? I'd probably get up and smack the phone out of your hands.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I think (hope) he was being sarcastic.
[Xperia Z General] RCJ89:
I totally disagree with people playing music aloud on buses and trains, because not everyone wants to hear your music or people being loud on transport, that is why headphones were invented and the Z is easily loud enough tbh.
[Xperia Z General] samxool:
And when you're with a group of friends, headphones aren't an option.

Not sure what the issue is.

I know some people get annoyed with it, but they need to get a life.

Its only music ffs.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
yes because your way of traveling should be every body's way of traveling, and the same for your music tasted. I don't understand why people don't see that the earth revolves around you.
[Xperia Z General] samxool:
get off your frigging high horse & stop dragging this thread off topic to fuel your own socialist agenda.

You know nothing about me.

Its a free country and i can do as i like with my music
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
it's a free country and I can sit on my high horse for as long as I like.

but you'r right we should continue discussing the screen quality of the xperia Z and not if listening loud music in public transport is anti social behavior or not.

I really hope to see the screen in real life soon. Pretty weird that there is no consensus regaring the quality. Maybe that's telling though since the one x didn't have that problem
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

Can we all stay on topic. If you don't like the phone or not happy don't get it. No one is forcing you
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Exactly what I said, but I got attacked! :(

---------- Post added at 04:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------

Well if you are not a troll then I take it back, but from what I have read so far from you and some others is slating a phone that no-one has seen the final version (maybe a couple), they are basing their opinions from a pre-production version, including GSM Arena who have given us a preview....until we see a final version or a review that clearly states it is a retail version then I will hold my judgement.

As I have said before with other phones, if you don't like it don't but it.....I sure the hell will! :cool:
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
Will get a sneak peak of a retail XZ hopefully next week. Make or break time for me.

It's interesting that the Japanese S-02 XZ's seem to have a much better screen than the ones released to the european reviewers.
[Xperia Z General] sturmtruppler:
AW: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

Any chance screen values can be improved via firmware update by sony?

Read somewhere that values for contrast (e.g.) are hard-coded in kernel.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I really hope to see the screen in real life soon. Pretty weird that there is no consensus regarding the quality. Maybe that's telling though since the one x didn't have that problem

(yeah I posted this before, but I think it wasn't noticed since it was in a off-topic post)
[Xperia Z General] Ambroos:
Those things are 100% hardware, nothing you can do about that with an update.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I think Sony added a calibration tool, but apparently it will arrive in an update
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
The One X, HTC Droid DNA (Butterfly), Oppo 5 and iPhone 5 didn't have that problem.

Truth be told, I'm not expecting much when I finally see the retail unit. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised because I'm smitten with the design.

Hope Sony haven't dropped the ball on such a basic yet key issue. Should've just gone for either your own panel (i believe HTC used them on the One X/+) or the Sharp one that every other 1080p phone is using.
[Xperia Z General] Shasarak:
This review explicitly states that it's the final version of the product: http://www.frandroid.com/test/128142_sony-xperia-z-test-smartphone-android/3/

Their photo comparing different phones' black levels makes the Xperia Z look very bad, but they're reasonably complimentary about the colour accuracy.
[Xperia Z General] sturmtruppler:
AW: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

Well. I'm not sure about that! On nearly every display (tv, pc-monitor,...) you can change those values. And why are those coded in kernel when there's nothing to change?

I still have hope that sony can change them, but they sure will have to adjust bravia in the same step.

Just my opinion, I'm neither dev nor hardware-tech... :D
[Xperia Z General] Warren.D:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

How did you find the volume on externel speaker with your work's demo units? Is it comparable to the likes of a GS2 or GS3?
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Thanks for the share, looks like a rather in-depth review.
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
Xperia Z mediocre screen

So I went to a Sony Center store in Poznan, Poland today and to my surprise they had an Xperia Z on display. The first impression that I got was that the phone looked amazing. Once I turned the screen on I was a little bit disappointed though. The colors looked grey and the contrast as well as viewing angles looked poor. I compared the screen (setting the same wallpaper) to my girlfriend's Xperia S and to my own Galaxy Nexus and in my opinion both screens looked a lot better than on Xperia Z. The colors were more vivid and more enjoyable to look at.

When searching through the gallery of Xperia Z, I have to admit that pictures looked a lot better and you could see what difference the Bravia Engine 2 does. Unfortunately there is no setting to keep it on at all times.

For me the quality of the screen is very important on the phone as that's what I see when I look at my phone or when I present it to others.

Although I have preordered the Xperia Z, I am not going to complete the order as for me it is a deal breaker. I am gonna wait and see what HTC One has to offer and if I don't like it I am just gonna get the Nexus 4.

I would highly advice anyone who preordered the phone to find a place where you can get some hands on experience because you might be disappointed, same as I was. It might be worth checking your local Sony store cause most of them have it on display already.
[Xperia Z General] Warren.D:
What people fail to remember is Sony has used a very dull coloured UI. The app drawer with the grey 'almost' transparent box behind the icons. It'd be like putting tracing paper over a painting. its going to look like its been through 800 washes. They should have used 100% transparency throughout their UI.

Someone should try Nova launcher and post some photos.

I have played with 2 XZ's. I liked it and didn't think that display was bad at all. I don't know if they were prototypes or not.
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
Here's a russian review who's run the full gamut of display tests and graphs on the XZ vs the Butterfly:

http://hi-tech.mail.ru/review/misc/Sony_Xperia_Z-rev.html

hint: the XZ screen is way, WAY worse. Poor from sony, why couldn't they use a different panel?!
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
Xperia Z in P4U stores

LONDON, 14th February, 2013: Phones 4u today announces that it is the only independent retailer to offer consumers live devices to preview and trial of the new the Sony Xperia™ Z ahead of the handset’s general release at the end of February. From 15th February, consumers can visit over 300 Phones 4u stores across the country to trial live Sony Xperia Z smartphones, experience the handset’s flagship features – including the stylish, waterproof body and powerful 13 megapixel fast-capture camera – and pre-order the newest addition to the Xperia range of handsets.

http://www.androidcentral.com/sony-...head-release?utm_source=ac&utm_medium=twitter

This should be good news for any potential buyers. As I said before try before you buy :)
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

I'm going
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
wow that would be truly bad, than I will send it back, if it is slightly worse than the quality of the One X I would keep it as I'm to lazy to send it back
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
"Our hardware tests showed that some parameters were significantly lower than claimed. Brightness at different points on the screen reaches 400-440 cd / m 2 instead of 500 - it is not too critical. What is really critical, contrast barely reaches 570:1 - almost half of the declared value! This leads to the fact that the image literally and figuratively looks too pale on a background of contrasting rivals. And it is noticeable to the naked eye. Alas, affects low dynamic range."

Looks like I am not the only one who experienced that:

http://hi-tech.mail.ru/review/misc/Sony_Xperia_Z-rev.html

Its a real shame cause that was going to be my next smartphone. I just cancelled my order from clove today. Well, HTC One or Nexus 4 it is, for me
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
"Given the weak performance screen Sony Xperia Z looks somewhat unconvincing in its class. Other high-end devices though not always boast Full HD, but often have a higher quality and vivid image in terms of contrast and color reproduction. Next to them, the screen Xperia Z seems to fade, and no resolution of this will not save."

"The final version of the Russian HTC Buttefly here again sprang a surprise. Color coverage was calibrated as accurately as white balance. The colors look very close to the reference values ​​of sRGB, DeltaE deviations were back in the 3 points. No joke, this accuracy can boast, not every TV, and in fact before us - the normal mobile screen! Describe the image even pointless - has excellent color accuracy. Image as a positive and natural, without any discounts."

Look at the graphs of the Butterfly! Absolutely perfect. Wish the XZ had that display
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Thanks for the review very insightful.

They end the review stating that if you are in the marked for a new phone than this is the one to get, so that tells you that the screen isn't that bad.

Also I don't think that the result aren't that bad for the Sony, it's more that the results for the butterfly are insanely good.

When looking at the photographs I have to say that the screen looks great, yes it can be better, but I for one am not planning to use the phone to work on my photographs I have a very nice screen at home for that :). to me it is like having a couple of more points in a benchmark cool to say, but not something you are going to notice on a day to day bases
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
I agree with what you're saying but a contrast ratio of 570 vs 1000+ of all other modern day mid to high-end phones is very noticeable in day to day usage.

If things stay as it is then I'm going to skip the XZ. There's no use of a 1080p screen if it'll look poor and will make me want to look at the screen of my iPhone or Padfone 2 instead. A 1080p screen should be the end of all screens on a mobile phone, not some wishy washy excuse for a panel.

I want to use the XZ for reading ebooks - with text being crisp and sharp because of the 1080p screen, and jet black. Alas, text was actually very dark grey on the test unit. I don't think things are going to improve too much.

Besides, I refuse to be shafted yet again when making the leap to a supposedly superior screen. My first WVGA device was the HTC Desire and it looked ugly with its horrible pentile screen. My first qHD device was the HTC Sensation - i ended up with the variant who's screen was grainy due to the overly visible digitizer beneath the glass. My first 720p device was the Galaxy Nexus - and it had the worst, piss stained pentile AMOLED imaginable. The screen of my first 1080p device has to have no obvious flaws; i want to be blown away.

I absolutely hate Sony for compromising here.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
That would suck indeed as I use my phone mostly for reading, really strange that the contrast ratio is cut in half. I hope against my better judgment that this will not be the case with my unit :D.

The only thing that's keeping my hope up is that every one says that the BE2 makes it allot better, since that means that the screen is capable of better results.
[Xperia Z General] dibdin:
Going to take a look at the Z at phones4u tomorrow. If I end up feeling unimpressed by the display, I will cancel my pre-order and look at the HTC one/M7 as a viable option instead. Would be a great pity though, as I have had my heart set on Xperia Z for weeks now.
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

Same here at the Manchester store
[Xperia Z General] Gambler_3:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

If a thread is boasting about something then everyone has a right to provide a sensible counter argument whether they are buying the phone or not is not relevant. I have never seen a gsmarena review where the screen was drastically different than in the preview. We will see.
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
I don't think that Sony would have preproduction models on display at official retail centers...
[Xperia Z General] ethan3686:
SONY should have faltered in other departments..Screen is the heart of a mobile device..Why did they go for the cheap panel? :(
[Xperia Z General] Gambler_3:
Ya really...
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
CAN EVERYONE Please calm down, about what panel sony used and how **** it is, till its launched, once its launched, if its not good, bash the phone and don't buy it.

Clearly there is a massive difference between the Docomo screens and the demo units So wait 14 days that is all!
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen PHENOMENAL with good viewing angles! [VIDEOS UPDATED 14/02]

Totally agree!

---------- Post added at 10:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 PM ----------

Let me know what you think, I've pre-ordered mine and I'm getting rid of my Note 2 for it. I was happy with what I saw of the demo until tbh, this seems to of got blown out of proportion.
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Phones 4U chief commercial officer Scott Hooton said: “We are delighted to be enhancing our in-store experience by offering the opportunity to fully experience the Sony Xperia Z before it lands on general sale. By doing so, we’re giving people the freedom to test out the handset before they commit to a pre-order, ensuring they’re picking the smartphone that’s right for them.”

I will be going to the Manchester store tomorrow at 15:00 GMT, Spend quite some time with the device, try to get some pictures and videos,

I am very nit picky about the screen, hate pentile matrix, sh!t colours, silly black levels, dull whites etc

for me screen is everything

so once i have seen it

1. I will confirm if they have the demo units or production units

Phones 4u today announces that it is the only independent retailer to offer consumers live devices to preview and trial of the new the Sony Xperia™ Z ahead of the handset’s general release at the end of February

Judging by the comment LIVE DEVICES i assume they are production units, the final deal!

2. if it is production units then Full review of the screen

3. Pictures and videos if possible

Don't slate me if pictures look rubbish, One X is pretty crap at pictures