yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
BIG BIG BIG F*CKIN UPDATE

Xifil spoke to a Sony Rep from London who put him in touch with a Sony Rep in Belguim who knew more about the technology in the phone, and confirmed what we feared

xiFIL call to Sony Rep @ 20:30 18/02/2012

xiFIL: HI, its ******* from VODAFONE, i wanted to ask with regards to the technologies in the screen, we can be real with each other, i work for vodafone, work for a carrier, your Sony Rep referred me to you, how do you find the screen, how do you find the quality, do you believe the screen is up to par,

SONY REP: I'm going to be honest here, if you are someone who is an average user then the screen so much wouldn't matter much to you

but if it was me i would not buy the screen, there was no way for SONY to make a really slim device without putting an E-IPS cheaper screen in,

and because we know that everyone will not be happy with the screen, so we added the waterproof feature to subsidize for it.

xiFIL: The Dev unit had a really good screen though, it was good quality but several other devices i have tested were rubbish....?

SONY REP: The DEV units were made in Japan and came directly from there, and different to the production units, it is a variant of the Japanese variant without the branding, and all the developer tools,

SONY actually realised the xperia S was not up to par, they still went ahead with the Z being rubbish, this is first hand news from a SONY REP WHO ADMITTED THEY HAVE NOT MADE A SCREEN UPTO PAR with current devices!
[Xperia Z General] xiFIL:
Text was sharp but colours were dull and bland, the contrast and deep colours are really lacking now!
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
let's all just order nexus 4's and call it a day
[Xperia Z General] xiFIL:
No, they are the same as the final batch from three, i am so disappointed i just ordered the nexus 4, seriously sony, this was my dream phone, great!!

---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

LMFAO yup, what i done <3!
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen discussion [DISAPPOINTED!!!!![UPDATED 18/02]

Not keen on the Nexus 4 tbh, it's a nice device but no sd card, camera not as good and battery.... But has other plus points. Dam what to do! :confused:
[Xperia Z General] xiFIL:
Exactly, i would rather deal with that than **** screen, seriously, i am so upset its such a letdown!
[Xperia Z General] :
Yep no Nexus 4 for me too.. no sd and **** battery kills it for me. HTC tomorrow so see what they have or wait for Samsung.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
No nexus 4 for me due to ugly and cheaply made, m7 or z
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
There's only one solution to this problem. Got to the store, see the screen for yourself.

If you think it's okay, go for it. That's all that matters. If not, leave it. Don't pay attention to reviews/videos.

It'll be perfectly okay for the majority of the people. For others it wont.

That's it.
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Re: Xperia Z IPS Screen discussion [DISAPPOINTED!!!!![UPDATED 18/02]

Well XZ is best option for me, not keen on Nexus 4 as mentioned above, had HTC's One X was great just think their new device won't be amazing... Samsung I'm bored if now! Fancy a change so probably just get XZ.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Not really news as we already new about the e-ips. But if the screen is no better than devices xt I'm might cancel it
[Xperia Z General] xiFIL:
I really hope it goes well for you!
[Xperia Z General] marcgear:
Shame its like we all been thrown into a big pit of confusion lol, Im sticking with the Z i been looking forward to it for a while now, as long as its on par with the Xperia S im ok with that.
[Xperia Z General] Akiainavas:
Aren't you guys blowing this out of proportion just a little bit ? I know the screen might not be the best out there, but some of you picture it like it were some kind of global disaster, and many of you didn't even see the phone for yourselves ?

I don't understand any of this, for me the screen is great, maybe I have low expectations - no idea.

So again: just go and test it yourself because some say it's disappointing, while others are perfectly happy with it.

Also, if this is a discussion thread - I think you should really change the title. "CONFIRMED DISAPPOINTED" is a bit off, it's not like majority of people taking part in this discussion confirmed their disappointment in any way.
[Xperia Z General] dibdin:
My last 2 phones have been Sony. So if the M7 ticks all the boxes, it will be my next device. But before I think about cancelling my order I am going to a phones4u store on Wednesday before making a final decision.
[Xperia Z General] Vebansen:
The same xiFIL that said the following -

Strange!
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I think it depends on what phone you have now, as I have an arc s it will be miles better, if you have a late 2012 device it's probably not worth the upgrade although it is the best looking android out there
[Xperia Z General] Akiainavas:
I have just sold my Galaxy Note 2, going to pay for Xperia Z with that money. Many reasons behind it: design, plastic ( not a bad thing, I just want something different ), touchwiz, sudden death etc. It's also a bit too big - or more likely I just fancy something a little smaller from now on. As much as I love Note's huge screen and am hurt to let it go - it was a nuissance every now and then.

But again, I don't really need the best screen - I compared both Note 2 and Xperia Z screens and they're both great and perfectly acceptable to me. Low expectations ? Probably. So what I mean is that I realize that the screen might be disappointing to some - but picturing it as a complete disaster is not fair/true to say the least.
[Xperia Z General] Ashalak:
I find it very interesting that what people 'Claim' they knew a little under 2 hours ago is completely different to what they 'Claim' they know now.

Bottom line is this,

Nobody really knows jack about what's production, pre-production, how the spec may vary, which country has better devices or whatever.. Even people who rekon they know *Cough* and state what they claim is fact is total bollocks. I actually find it hilarious that people are now 'Disappointed' with a phone that they have openly praised the screen for and defended it tooth and nail, your not telling me that each of these videos or pictures used as evidence are of Xperia Z's which don't have this 'Disappointing' display.

What we know how is nothing more than what I knew after I left the Three store this afternoon, the screen lacks some colour saturation and contrast in relation to some phones even released last year but it's still a bloody good screen and a good phone - Don't believe me? Read the reviews.. Better yet go to a Three or Phones4U store, play with the phone and decide for yourself.

The worlds gone mad! :eek:
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
He was originally comparing the Dev unit, now he has jsut seent he final units and confirmed it with SONY
[Xperia Z General] omersak:
GSMArena HTC Butterfly screen stats are up, if anyone's interested:

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_butterfly-review-888p3.php
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
As most of you probably know already I have had some hands on time with the device (video). I have to say that the first day when I went to the Sony store I was very disappointed with the screen, especially when I compared it to my gf's Xperia S or my Galaxy Nexus. The next day I decided to go again and give the device one more chance. The more time I spent with it the more I liked it. As I said before the pictures in the gallery (with BE2 on), that were preloaded by Sony, look marvelous and it isn't a bad screen at all.

Maybe the colors aren't perfect but I felt like the blacks were good ( I was worried about that aspect, switching from an Amoled display) and the design makes up for everything else. Make sure you spend a good 15 min with the device and I am certain that you will love it.

I am gonna wait to see what HTC has up its sleeve tommorow before I make my final decision but from what I heard its meant to have a tiny battery again (rumored 2100 mah) so it might be a fail again.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Better screen except from sunlight contrast where is fairs quite a bit worse than the z
[Xperia Z General] dibdin:
Shem,

I do a lot of web browsing on my phone, did you try the web on in-store and if so would you say the whites were pure white??
[Xperia Z General] namezlezz:
Hi fairly new in this forum but im impressed by the amount of inputs on the screen capabilities of the Xperia Z, before i make my purchase i wanted to ask a few qns as you guys seem to have enough experience with the screen, which is my most worrisome factor of this otherwise excellent phone:

1) Coming from an Xperia Arc, would i see a big improvement in the screen overall ???

2) Does contrast ratio matter if ur looking at images that barely have any blacks ???

TIA :)
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
I agree with you, I have Note 2 now and even though I still love it and thought I'd never ever get rid of it, it's just slightly too big! That extra 0.5" has pushed it a bit too far for me as a phone, I'm just going to get a tablet and XZ rather than a 2 in 1 device.

One handed operating is awkward, I miss my S3 at times but don't at same time!

I'm mainly looking forward to getting the Z for that reason, camera and a sexy looking phone! :cool:
[Xperia Z General] shem2409:
I am afraid I haven't checked the browser :-/
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
I agree its not a disaster, but very disappointing, next to my one x it did look rubbish at the three store, but the final units are no different now, for me screen is everything, i spend all day looking at it,

and for £530 i cant spend that on a screen which isnt better than what i already got :(
[Xperia Z General] Vebansen:
Oh I see!

So what about all that talk regarding updating the firmware and then using the screen calibrator to choose screen type presets such as 'movie', 'light', 'dark' and 'vibrant'? Did he/she check that out. Would be nice to know what the final device will perform like with the relevant updates present.
[Xperia Z General] dibdin:
Totally agree with that.

Have you decided as to what you may go for instead?
[Xperia Z General] Droidyou:
Well, I just read the first post and this makes me a bit sad:(

I get the device this week, and if I don't like it I'm gonna sell it, enough people who still want it :)
[Xperia Z General] maverick1103:
Thing is I've always been dissapointed with all new phones, I'm not going to list them, but I will still get the XZ if I don't like it then will get something else. I know where you are coming from, I was far from happy with the one I saw in 3 so will stick with it.
[Xperia Z General] Shasarak:
If it's really the case that the Japanese version of the phone has a much better display than the European version, then Sony can f*ck off: they're not getting any of *my* money.
[Xperia Z General] RCJ89:
Well looks like alot of pre orders are going to be cancelled... mine is staying put I will see what the M7 has to offer tomorrow but very much doubt it will sway me from the Z atall. If anything I will buy that later in the year too.
[Xperia Z General] Droidyou:
I still can't believe they would equip there flagship with a bad screen, just doesn't make sense.
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Im going to wait see what the M7 offers or S4, i dont particularly like s4, might just keep the one x,

i double checked with xiFIL, the calibration tool let you change hue saturation levels, but it wasn't a major difference, if you are expecting it to be suddenly eye popping and contrast to dramatically improve, it doesnt do that, as SONY rep confirmed to him they simply had to use a cheap screen to fit everything, SOC, battery, camera, flash, speakers, waterproofing and screen all that into 7.9mm.

so they jut used a cheap display

M7 looks promising with the solux 468 ppi display they go on about with dual stereo speakers and the ultrapixel camera

but if its a fail then definitely might just skip an upgrade this year!!!

i am not trolling or slagging SONY off because i am a massive SONY FAN, PS4, Bluetooth walkman and headset, Sony Xplod car stereo, but i am very disappointed with the Z, i hated the demos and was hoping the final units will be like the DOCOMO versions but they are not, otherwise the sony stores in prahan or france or wherever they are they would not have had the washed out devices on display as well as phones 4 u.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
I don't think that it would be the case, it could just be that the Dev unit was calibrated differently since the screen looks good with bravia engine turned on it is obviously capable of more intense color. Apparently they choose the e-ips screen because it was the only way to get such a thin phone since the Japanese phones has the same thickness you have to conclude that it is the same screen.

The Samsung s3 didn't have the best screen still many consider it to be better than the one x. According to GSMArena in a vs they just posted between the z and the s3 they actually said the z had the better screen. So if to have the best screen possible is your number one priority don't buy the z, otherwise I don't think it is a bad choice and neither does any of the reviews in fact most think it is the best on the market.

---------- Post added 19th February 2013 at 12:01 AM ---------- Previous post was 18th February 2013 at 11:58 PM ----------

It's not a bad screen just not the best, but I agree would have been very nice. At least it would save me the trouble of making a choice between the m7 and the z:)
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
I for one think the Galaxy S3 screen is inferior to the one X, the pentile matrix display just killed it, Also screen is major for me, i watch a lot of movies on my one x, alot of browsing, i dont want it to be good just when i go to movie player or album, i want it good when playing games, browing the internet, watching youtube, gsm arena commented on its sharpness but i have seen the screen in person, i am so used to the one x, the ui looked dull and drab with the colours, even when i clicked on a few apps, it just lacked something.

I just feel in denial, all that hype, pre order, first time i pre ordered a phone and for what, ?

i for one think if there was any question of the display being brilliant in europe, we would have seen it in the sony stores and phones 4 u stores by now, SONY would not pruposely show us rubbish screens till launch date then all of a sudden come out with good screens, besides i rang xiFIL, he tested the delivery of the new Xperia Z due to be handed out on the 28th or launch date, they screen was exactly like the demos
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
I think i now know why they are giving away £300 headphones, free docks, cases, speakers, etc,

because they know their device is not going to be upto par so they are giving away free stuff to get us to still buy :eek:

I've pre ordered just like everyone else, i get nothing out of trolling, just really disappointed, for a flagship costing me an arm and a leg, half a GRAND$$$ i dont expect a cheap screen,

i wouldnt have minded if the xperia z cost £300 or something, but £530 for that i cant justify it, i'm sorey if people are going to cancel their pre orders, its the bitter truth and i am certainly going to cancel mine, no headphones are worth it if my screen is going to make me feel like crap!
[Xperia Z General] kyogiro:
Thank you Viper and xiFIL for the insights. So my worst fear has been confirmed, like many of you, screen is almost everything to me and after testing the device, I just can't bear having a top smartphone where I put top money in it with such a wash out colors (then again, just my feeling).

At least, now we know.

Are you sure about that comparison? I can't find the article talking about the GS3 and XZ.
[Xperia Z General] :
Seriously refuse to believe a big company like Sony would put a ****ty screen on a flagship phone. Must be defects or software problems
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
If the reason to use a cheap screen is the thickness and the Japanese z has the same thickness shouldn't that mean they have the same screen?
[Xperia Z General] :
Yep its rubbish because they both are the same thickness.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
Sorry it was the other arena

http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Sony-Xperia-Z-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S-III_id3254
[Xperia Z General] sneakingimperator:
why DOCOMO looks better?
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
wait till launch date, i think its time we opened our eyes and get away from the propoganda, nearly every review comments on poor viewing angles which i could live with but also a less than vibrant screen, bad contrast,

also sony are giving away lots of free stuff, headphones, speakers, cases, docks to buyers,

All the sony stores and phones 4 u previewing live units which are all showing washed out colours and bad viewing angles.

Dude i SERIOUSLY refused to believe it, look at how much hope i HAD!!

to the point where i rang xiFIL and we both agreed we did not care what happened we will go for the XZ and forget the negativity and we dissed the M7 and nexus 4.

Its only today his store received the final units delivery batch, think about it its going live in Germany and France already the UK are almost ready, they just have to QA test some of the devices before they sell, and on testing he actually found that out of the several final devices, every single one of them looked washed out liek the demo units, no change whatsoever

AND YES the JAPAN VARIANTS are DIFFERENT phones, they have no stamina mode and also an IR remote blaster as well as some very minor changes.

I was very excited just like all of u, the screen in the 3 store put me off, but i still had hope seeing xifils dev unit and the docomo units, but now after he rang the sony rep then rang me, after so much excitement for the phone it put me off for good, i dont think you will see xiFIL in this forum again either, solely because he handled the dev unit which he loved so much the screen was brilliant, and now seen the dev units on sale at vodafone with demo unit screens, being a vodafone tech employee he has access to manufaturer reps so fair play to the sony rep who decided to jsut be simple and honest. its good but its not the best and we know it
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
Japanese variant got much better screens no idea why or how,

the dev units came direct from Jap as well,

but the final units are not, when you do get it, if it looks washed out, then do not say we didnt tell u, i for one am going to wait, maybe the first batches are all inferior and later on sony will correct it who knows, but you cant ignore the demo units and all the videos and reviews out there with the washed out displays,

i cant understand why the japs screen looks better either, but look at the sony centres in europe, surely sony would not display a flagship in their promotional stores for customers where the display is poor, unless it actually will be
[Xperia Z General] sneakingimperator:
Will DOCOMO (or JAP Variant) work in EUROPE?
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
no idea, i dont even wanna import it anymore, just can't believe SONY would do this purposely and take us for muppets. NOt giving them any more money till they prove worthy!

EDIT: Actually don't think so , they maybe sim locked, those units specifically for JAP Sony have contract with DOCOMO for them
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
You didn't see the Japanese one in real live just via video, video is not a good media to judge screen quality. When the live video was posted here from a UK demo unit, it was being hailed as the proof that the screen was great. This while the poster recorded the video to make the case that the screen was not very good.

First there where mythical demo units now there are mythical Japanese units
[Xperia Z General] Infinity1988:
They say the main reason is the thickness of the device. But they can somehow fit a better display in the japanese version which has the same thickness. It even has an IR remote, so there should be even less room. And i don't see how a cheaper display would be that much thinner than a better display. The iphone 5 is thinner than the xperia z i believe and it has a high quality display. Also i'm from Belgium and i really doubt anyone from sony mobile Belgium would know such information. Sony mobile Belgium is too small to be important enough.
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
i think it was belgium or sweden or something,

but it wasn't a sony store, jsut a sony rep, but i just hope maybe the 28th will bring good screen devices, but i have no hope,

i have no idea why the japsn got a better screen than the EU,

just wait till the 28th, my pre order is cancelled tomorrow, just lost all hope now
[Xperia Z General] Ambroos:
Ugh, I can't believe this is still going on. I've had a retail Z as my primary phone for nearly two weeks now. And trust me, the display is absolutely fine. It's not washed out, the viewing angles are ok and the contrast isn't all that bad.

Most people are judging the Xperia Z by the default wallpaper. The problem is that that wallpaper contains quite a lot of grey, just like the notification bar and softkey background. Open an image with deep blacks in the Album app, even without Bravia Engine, and you will see that blacks are truly black, colours are rich and the white balance is very accurate. If I was home I'd have grabbed my DSLR and shown you myself. If you are in a store and can play with a Z then try setting the wallpaper of the blue flower on a black background. Then set the brightness to an acceptable level. I promise you everything will look just fine.

Yes, the display is e-IPS (or something similar). But you know what, so are some of Dell's most popular PC monitors. And as far as I know the DoCoMo units use the exact same panels. If you see images online where the display looks washed out it means the brightness is set too high.

If anyone in Belgium can and wants to come to Leuven to have a look for yourself over a drink, send me a PM. You can bring your camera and shoot some pics to prove it. That's how confident I am.
[Xperia Z General] barondebxl:
The display will definitely not be the best. I expect the ones from competing OEM to be much better.
[Xperia Z General] stefanve:
This and the strange office hours
[Xperia Z General] xl VipeR lx:
strange office hours?
[Xperia Z General] Ashalak:
But it must be true.. The mate of someone who works at Vodafone (Who could be the tea boy for all we know) said it was! :rolleyes:

Nobody of any real importance would ever be either privileged enough or able to disclose the kind of information that has been proposed to have been released by this 'Rep'. The whole thread stinks of bull****, it is what it is and if your dumb enough to get caught up in it all instead of going and looking at the bloody phone yourself then more fool you - Maybe an iTard device might be better suited to you, I've heard they're the best thing in the world! :highfive:
[Xperia Z General] kyogiro:
Well they didn't say one was better than another. With Amoled displays, it's always hard to compare because of the choice made (true black, infinite CR, false colors very vivid). At the end of the day, if you're goind for the Amoled of the other, it's really a matter of likes/dislikes whereas you can compare effectively 2 LCD diplays.

So far, XZ has been outperformed by the others.

Dude, I really feel for. I feel let down by Sony but your disappointment seems far deeper than mine.

Well, I got to say that in my case, my feelings towards the XZ radically changed when I tested the product myself.

But I think, you're really good to go for an extra year with the HTC One X. Its contrast ratio is one of the best, it got deep blacks and I don't think it will be matched by any 5" display during the first semester as the full HD displays are fairly new.