There are many solutions when it comes to wireless charging on smartphones, although they all still have their limitations. However, one handset that overcomes some of these constraints is the Nexus 4 from LG, because it’s a lot better than some of the charging docks we have seen in the past, and even the one for the Sony Xperia Z.

The ultimate wireless charging solution would be the ability to charge your smartphone without the need for any wires, even those that need to supply the power to a dock. As we said before, the Nexus 4 is able to sit on its dock without having to plug a wire in, although the base itself still needs to connect to a power source with a lead.

However, this solution is far better than the Qi wireless charging platform for the Sony Xperia Z, as it’s a lot like going back a few years, as you need to put your handset in a case first. According to Reuters, the custom case from Ipan Ipan works through magnetic induction and can be customized in a choice of several different colors.

Ipan Ipan had a tough job getting their case to work with the Xperia Z because the rear cover is made from glass, and you are unable to remove the battery. Thankfully they were able to overcome this obstacle, but we still feel as though the wireless charging for this handset is a bit of a workaround.

The price for the case on its own is €39, but if you wish to purchase the case and charging pad then you will have to part with €89. The Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb is around the same price as the case, although there is no need for any other accessories.

The iPhone has suffered from a security flaw for a while now, but just last week we were informed the issue had been resolved by way of iOS 6.1.3, but we have been hearing reports that this lockscreen problem still persists. However, we are now hearing you can also bypass the Sony Xperia Z lockscreen, which does make us a little concerned.

Locking your phone is meant to give you peace of mind that someone is unable to gain access to your handset, and the ongoing issue with the iPhone is certainly cause for concern. However, with the Galaxy Note 2 and now the Xperia Z suffering from the same issue – well it’s kind of hard to put your faith in this so-called security feature.

As a result this will make owners of these troubled devices far more conscious of where they leave their phones. For those who have yet to see this issue with the new Sony flagship smartphone, then we ask you to view the video demonstration below.

It’s far easier to watch the video than rather explain to you how to bypass the Xperia Z’s security settings. However, what makes this issue worse than the other two handsets mentioned above is the fact the entire phone is unlocked.

We have to wonder how long it will be before Sony issues an update for this security bug, even though they recently made an update available to resolve the random death problems.

Some people must live very boring lives if all they do is punch in some random numbers in order to bypass a smartphones lockscreen, although we have to thank them at the same time for finding those vulnerabilities.

The Sony Xperia Z is the latest flagship smartphone from the Japanese electronics giant and boasts a full 1080p HD display, quad-core processor, and 13 megapixel camera. As well as featuring these notable specs, the Xperia Z is also water resistant. But, even though this device seems very exciting, is it such a far departure from Sony’s pervious flagship, the Xperia T?

We’ve taken a look at the Sony Xperia Z vs Xperia T and in our review we see how much Sony has evolved its flagships since the Xperia T’s release, and if the Xperia Z is worth its expensive price tag…

Design and durability – When the two mobiles are placed side by side it’s easy to see they are part of the same lineage, however, the Xperia Z is the more sophisticated device and its glass back casing is very eye-catching. The Xperia T is not a bad looking phone either, but the rubberised material that covers the chassis can sometimes look a bit grubby because it picks up dirty smudges when handled.

The Xperia Z is the more durable of the two devices as well, and although the Xperia T is scratch resistant, the Xperia Z is water and dust resistant and can be submerged into freshwater up to a metre deep for up to 30 minutes. Cool huh?

Screen off – Although the Xperia Z is the smarter looking device, the Xperia T is a little more comfortable to hold as it measures 129.4mm x 67.3mm x 9.35mm. The Xperia Z is larger measuring 139mm x 71mm x 7.9mm, but this bigger frame does allow for a 5-inch TFT display, in comparison to the Xperia T’s 4.5-inch TFT screen.

Speaking of displays, the 1080p full HD screen sported by the Xperia Z is nothing short of jaw-dropping, and produces images that are incredibly detailed and vivid. You’d have no trouble watching a movie in high definition comfortably, whereas you might have to squint to see the action when watching films on smaller non-HD displays. The Xperia T’s screen has a 720p resolution, so the images produced aren’t quite as sharp, and it’s not as good for watching videos and gaming because of its smaller stature and lack of full HD quality.

Power and software – On the power side of things, the Xperia Z has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB RAM, in contrast to the Xperia T’s 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM. When navigating around the phone’s apps and features you probably won’t see much of a difference in speed and fluidity between the two, as the Xperia T’s processor is very capable. But present both devices with heavy multitasking or HD graphics-laden gaming and you’ll see the Xperia Z is quicker and offers a lag-free experience.

Both devices come with Android Jelly Bean 4 .1 installed out of the box, so they are on a par when it comes to software, but the phones’ resources run more smoothly on the Xperia Z because of its faster processor and larger amount of RAM.

Camera functionality – As both of the smartphones have 13 megapixel cameras, you would imagine they’d offer the same standard of photography. Well, as you can see from our camera comparison, the Xperia Z actually performs better in low light conditions, producing images that are sharp, vivid and true to life. This is due to the Xperia Z’s Exmor RS technology, which includes the Exmor RS image sensor with its unique ‘stacked structure.’ This means the camera can capture the same image at different exposure levels and layer them to create one optimised photo.

Both devices feature a selection of shooting modes such as Panorama, and Smile Detection, which makes the camera take a snap when a face in the shot smiles. However, the Xperia Z has more advanced options including Superior Auto, which detects the best camera settings for your surroundings, and automatically sets them. Both have 1080p video recording too, but the Xperia Z is the only device of the two that you can watch the videos back in full HD.

Of course, because the Xperia Z is the current flagship handset from Sony it’s going to set you back a bit more than the Xperia T. Judging by the features we have compared though, the Xperia Z is definitely the superior smartphone when it comes to display, power, and camera technology. Although the Xperia T impressed at the time of its release last September, the Xperia Z has wowed even more with its slick design and high performance, and it’s the Sony smartphone we would recommend. To see the Xperia Z in action check out our handy video review below.

Thanks to Abbi Cox of Phones 4u, who offer a selection of deals on the Sony Xperia Z and Sony Xperia T.

Smartphone users turn to their handsets for all manner of things these days and are known to use them almost anywhere. But, this matter of urgency to check Facebook and update your Twitter status has resulted in some pretty disastrous endings for smartphones up and down the country.

Dropping it down the toilet, drilling a hole through it and dousing it in acid are just some of the extraordinary ways users have managed to damage their handsets after leaving them lying around.

The results, obtained from a Phones 4u survey, also reveal the most durable handset ever is the sturdy Nokia 3310, which blew the latest line up of premium smartphones out of the water.

But, Sony has now produced a high-end, fully water resistant smartphone, in the form of the Xperia Z, boasting a design which is as impressive as its specs sheet, to put an end to these harrowing handset stories.

The Xperia Z has been built to deal with an array of bumps, knocks and falls, and to mark its launch the team at Phones 4u has complied an infographic, which delves even deeper into these smartphone disasters to bring you some utterly bizarre statistics.

Check out the findings below and prepare to be amazed…

Infographic thanks to phones4u.

There were several companies who wanted to get the jump on MWC, so felt that they would announce their new handsets before the event. One company that announced a new model just days before the Mobile World Congress was LG with the Optimus G Pro. We thought today was an ideal time to see how this smartphone compared to the Sony Xperia Z.

There are already a multitude of video comparisons on YouTube pitting the Sony Xperia Z and the LG Optimus G Pro against each other, so which of the two wins out in the end?

The first video is titled the final battle and while it does not offer a huge amount of details, it covers all the important specs just to see how the two stack up against each other. However, you are asked to choose your side, it’s like a fight of good against evil, but which is which?

The second video looks at every single specification of each handset, just so you know you have not overlooked anything, which can often be the case and by then it is too late.

If you are still finding it hard to decide which of the two handsets you should chose, then an in-depth review looking at the Xperia Z, Optimus G Pro and also a couple of other handsets might give you the answers you need. However, if you have yet to make a decision after reading over several reviews on the Internet, then maybe you should wait around until next month, because the Galaxy S4 will be unveiled on March 14.

With the BlackBerry Z10 already on the market (not in the US), the HTC One coming next month and the Sony Xperia Z expected to be released pretty soon, it has never been a better time to buy a new handset. Okay, so we know that these are not the big players, but not everyone wants a new Galaxy S handset or iPhone.

By March all three of these handsets will be available to purchase not only in Europe but also in the US and other parts of the world, so which is best because we know that it is much more than the specs?

We have two videos for you; the first (above) is a BlackBerry Z10 vs. Sony Xperia Z review, while the second is a Sony Xperia Z VS HTC One. In the first video you are made aware from the start that the Z10 is using new software while the Xperia Z is using a tried and tested Android mobile OS, so should not throw up any nasty surprises.

If you were to go on looks and design then the Sony handset would win out, which you will see for yourself in the video. We’re told that batteries in both handsets are pretty even, which is a worry because we already know that there are a few issues with the BlackBerry Z10 battery. If you want a platform to be used as a workhorse the Z10 wins out, but if you are looking for something more for everyday use, then the Xperia Z with its stable OS and multitude of apps is the way to go.

The Sony Xperia Z and HTC is a fairer match because they both use the same platform and while the second video (below) does not go in-depth as the previous video review, it does look at how the specifications of the two compare. Both smartphones have Full HD displays, but the former has the edge when it comes to size, although there is only 0.3 inches in it.

Before you look over those video reviews we have to say just how much more striking the Sony Xperia Z looks against the HTC One or the BlackBerry Z10, we also like to point out just how alike the latter two look very similar to the iPhone 5.

On a side note, we know that the new Sony handset is water-resistant, but testing it in a toilet was a bit gross. Also if you were put off by what we said in regards to the Xperia Z looking better than the HTC One, might we suggest waiting out for the red version, as this does look rather stunning. If you would like to know how the Xperia Z compares to the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 then we already have that covered.

Since the moment that the Sony Xperia Z was announced and that one of its keys features would be waterproof (although we are more inclined to say that it is water-resistant) we’ve already seen a number of videos appear on YouTube showing just how well this latest handsets handles being submerged in water, but the latest one is a little too gross for us.

Someone decided that the best way to test the waterproof abilities of the Sony Xperia Z was to place it in the toilet. Okay, so we assume that the toilet would have had a clean, but it doesn’t take that long for the germs to build up once again. Before we go into the review of this video, it demonstrates people’s fixation on just one feature.

The reason why the video was made in the first place was because there are a number of insurance claims where people have dropped their handsets down the toilet, so the person in the video just wanted to demonstrate that this would no longer be an issue. This means that there will be less fraudulent insurance claims with the Sony Xperia Z. He not only placed the handset in the bowl, but after flushed the toilet and then put the phone underneath the flowing water.

However, we already knew this, so why would the guy put the phone down the bowl not once but twice? While we expect the handset had a good clean with some anti-bacterial wipes after, it might still put you off putting your mouth near the mic. Wonder if the same guy will try this with the ZL or tablet version of the Xperia?

We had assumed that the Sony Xperia Z release date would be February 28, but this was brought forward by a week to the 21st. However, we have now heard from several readers that these handsets are already available in France with a listed price of €649.

We still have well over a week until the release of the Sony Xperia Z and already there is talk of its successor. It’s good to see that Sony is already making plans for the future, but to learn of this before their latest flagship handset has even been made available does seem a little premature.

We already know of this future flagship model because of its codename that appeared on a recent HTML5 test, which you can see here. The codename for the Sony Xperia Z successor is called C6802, which is to form part of the new C680X range,

In the test you can clearly see that the handset was running on the latest version of Android Jelly Bean, but it’s more than obvious that the smartphone to succeed the Sony Xperia Z will run on Key Lime Pie. However, we have to be weary of this test, as it could easily be fake.

A small review over the results of these tests shows that the Sony Xperia Z successor will come with a Full HD 1080p display, but as for those other specs it’s all about the guess work we’re afraid.

It’s clear that this rumor is in its infancy, so it will be interesting to see how it progresses over the coming weeks and months. However, in the meantime we don’t have that long to wait until the release of the Sony Xperia Z along with the tablet to match.

Let’s hope that Sony and the carriers are able to get the price right, because it’s going to be a busy few months for Android phones, so it’s not just about the specs but also that all important pricing as well?

The launch of the BlackBerry Z10 is sure to be the biggest news today, but that doesn’t mean that we should forget about other handsets that are looming. Take the Sony Xperia Z, which is due to be released in the UK on March 1. Well it looks like those of you who are a little impatient might be pleased to learn that there could be a premature Sony Xperia Z release.

Okay, so we know that it’s just one day early because the official release date is expected to be February 28, but we all know how consumers love to get their devices before others. However, not all retailers are allowing this early release but one is and we’re sure they have done this just to gain more customers.

The retailer in question has already started to take pre-orders for the Sony Xperia Z (which we have to say looks stunning) and is charging £497.99, which seems a pretty reasonable price. However, if you are looking to purchase the handset from a more well established online retailer, then Amazon UK will be selling the Sony Xperia Z SIM free model for £550, although they will not release the device until March 1.

Another website offering the new Android handset from Sony are selling it for just over £520 for the 16GB black or white models. However, we have to point out that the release date and final price are always subject to change, although one would assume that these online retailers will honor the price that your pre-ordered at.

One smartphone that caught the eye of a number of tech fans at CES had been the Sony Xperia Z, and a few of our readers commented on how this phone impressed them the most so far. While this wouldn’t be the case for the majority of our readers, especially considering the amount of smartphones being introduced at CES 2013, we wanted to feature some Sony Xperia Z visual reviews taken after a hands-on at the event and also a detailed technical visual that explains the finer details.

We will also list the full Sony Xperia Z specs and main features on this page, so if you know these already then skip to the hands-on videos to see a close up with Sony’s new smartphone. You can read about the battery life potential in this article that we published shortly after the reveal at CES, which touches on the 2330mAh battery and the Android 4.1 Stamina mode.

Sony Xperia Z full specs – the smartphone weighs in at 146 grams, has a 13.1MP camera with auto focus, measures 139x71x7.9mm with a 5-inch display that includes 16M colors and a 1920×1080 pixel resolution. The 2330mAh battery is quoted to achieve up to 11 hours talk time and 550 hours standby time, although it is worth noting these are figures Sony put on paper and not after a real-world review with the Xperia Z.

The handset is powered by a quad core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm APQ8064+MDM9215M chip and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. If you’re looking for Sony’s full Xperia Z specifications then see the details below.

Sony Xperia Z visual review – we have featured a number of video reviews from CES this year, which give you a closer look at how the new Xperia smartphone looks in-hand. The first video below delivers just over 5 minutes of hands-on time with Sony’s next flagship Android device and takes a close look at all the main features, although the background noise is pretty bad considering how busy CES had been at the time of recording.

The second video delivers a better look at the main Sony XPERIA Z features and why they were decided upon thanks to a walkthrough with a Sony official. This demonstration is pretty impressive considering it also shows the Sony XPERIA Z being dropped in a bowl of water, and the handset can apparently handle being submerged in up to one meter of water for around 30 minutes. You can see a screenshot from this video above and it is worth pointing out that this technical demo includes another part in the third video as well. You will also find another hands-on review with the Sony XPERIA Z in the last video, which delivers another perspective.

After taking a look at the full Sony Xperia Z specs and detailed hands-on videos on this page, what are your thoughts on the Sony Xperia Z? You can see the official website for the Xperia Z smartphone here.