Have you ever owned a Sony phone? Statistically, the answer is probably no. Sony has dug into the U.S. market with dozens of decent phones as far back as 2002, but it’s never struck gold. Its latest flagship, the new Xperia XZ2, is a perfect example why.
The XZ2 will likely be a blip on most iPhone or Galaxy buyer’s radars because it's just a little too expensive and hard to find. Every Sony phone has been available somewhere, but I can't recall one of its phones that’s been available everywhere. It’s often a struggle to buy Sony's phones in the US, and it latest Xperia (along with its two siblings) are only available unlocked on Amazon[1] and from Best Buy[2]. They also only work on AT&T and T-Mobile. Sprint and Verizon subscribers, you’re out of luck.
Sony
The good news is that if you do use T-Mobile or AT&T, this is a speedy, capable Android phone that you can use on either carrier freely (and travel with worldwide) since it’s not locked to any single network. The bad news is that it’s hardly your best choice.
Baby Got Back
Like nearly every Sony Xperia smartphone for the past five years (and what seems like every major smartphone in 2018), the XZ2 is a waterproof glass sandwich with smooth aluminum oozing out the sides. This year, it’s practically Double Stuf'd, too. The Gorilla Glass back bows toward the middle, making it one of the thickest high-end phones, at the waist, you can buy. It’s about 11mm, or roughly as thick as an iPhone 4, if you can remember that far back.
It’s noticeably fatter than a OnePlus 6 with a case...