topic Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate? in XZ Series

Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Tadija — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 17:19:39 GMT

Sony please tell me whether xperia xz has a metal frame or is it some kind of plastic? Thanks.

Xperia X Performance not have metal frame, frame is made of polycarbonate.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Christofer — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 11:04:32 GMT

Hi @Tadija,

I will try to get information about this.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

ClarkLong — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 16:19:09 GMT

It's all metal that is called Alkaleido(TM)

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

YoGem — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:03:23 GMT

Alkaleido aka Aluminum! Now let's see if my chemistry and mechanical engineering lessons are still in my brain..

Alkali-aluminium-anodized. It may fit, probably treating it as an "anagramma" can become alkaleido which in my opinion is just anodized aluminum treated with a coating of alkali making it hygroscopic yet not corrosive (sodium -> alkaline -> wet + alkali = no corrosion)

absorbing moisture (no fingerprints Yey!!!), anodized aluminum is "di per se" waterproof (hence the return of IP68), it won't feel cold as a typical metal, it may be used to dissipate internal heat (like a big peltier cell?) it is a conductor so maybe reception may be improved (is Sony using the entire body as a big antenna?) so.. It make sense... Gosh, it's going to be expensive just for the body :-s

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

YoGem — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:14:23 GMT

Last minute thought: If my blah blah above are just minimally correct, it is not going to be a problem as it may be not permanently scratch proof, and a minimal scratch over time can get rid of the coating and it's properties, in the long run it may provoke some corrosion which may be just a minor aesthetical annoyance...

With some pressure it may bend, so I believe that they built around the body, in the inside, some sort of frame to protect the body from losing its shape...

... Gee I wish I could read a teardown... Now I am curious

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Alessio_841 — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:37:21 GMT

Hi Tadija,

Unfortunately, the Xperia XZ doesn't have an aluminium frame, but PLASTIC (polycarbonate) one (including the bottom back strip).

This choice is inline with the new approach of Sony to contain the financial losses of the mobile sector. So, Sony give us devices (X line) not premium as the Z line, with production costs lower but at the same commercial prices of Z line devices, to improve the individual return and maximize profits (with products not premium as Apple or Samsung).

For me, this is an uncorrect approach of the company to us costumers, but the XZ remains a very beautiful and impressive device either for the hardware, software optimization and smart implementation than for property optical technologies.

I report you also two links where you can read the same words I have write.

http://www.androidcentral.com/sony-xperia-xz

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz_preview-review-1493p2.php

I hope this will be useful for your question and for all other that have the same curiosity.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Lord_viridis — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:35:09 GMT

You do realise, the internal frame of all Z models (excluding Z1) was polycarbonate too...

The XZ is no different than the Z range in that it has a metal outer shell attached to a polycarbonate internal structure. If you knew much about plastics, you'd know polycarbonate is definitely one of the strongest materials and is more rigid than aluminium of exact dimensions.
In fact, not too many of these "metal bodied" phones use a complete metal chassis.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

azzido — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 22:38:54 GMT

Agree,
too many cuts in X series helped me to skip it, but with XZ they seem to partially be back on the track with quality of components used, but unfortunately they are cutting the features (Radio, small apps, Stamina widget, no fingerprint sensor in US etc).

+ X compact is really no longer smaller flagship so it does not deserve its current price (strangly it has Radio...).
It gets mostly bad reviews and opinions on the Internet so I wonder how it will sell.

XZ seems to look better on specs, but they need to improve the soft to boost the sales + advertise it to attract new customers.

The time will show.
XZ looks promising and gathering some attention. It is all now in Sony's hands what they will do to keep or even increase it.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Nuno_sf — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 10:53:01 GMT

And no lanyard support

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Alessio_841 — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 12:28:30 GMT

Viridis,

All devices of the Z line had metal frame outdoor and polycarbonate indoor but Xperia XZ has the frame in plastic and only the back in metal Alkaleido; let's see various reviews!

I have studied a lot of different material features and the polycarbonate remains a plastic material, never similar to aluminium. The only two advantages are:

1) lower costes than the aluminium;

2) little higher permeability to radio signal.

Polycarbonate is a kind of plastic, but it is not premium as the aluminium and has not the equal features and behaviuor of the metal one. But, if Sony wants to compete against Samsung and Apple and chinese brands, it would return to use aluminium and leave the external plastic.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Christofer — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:52:33 GMT

Hi all, I received information today that the frame of Xperia XZ is made from nylon.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Sunking1011 — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:30:40 GMT

That's sexy then😊

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

n13L5 — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 17:48:41 GMT

Good job remembering all that

Sadly, the thing about fingerprints doesn't actually seem to work.

I've had mine for 2 hours and its got finger prints all over the back - even though my hands are generally dry to the touch and not sweaty.

Not too bad though.

The important part is, that Aluminum is a good heat conductor - unlike previously used glass and plastic backs, which certainly didn't help with the overheating problems on various Z phones.

These phones shouldn't overheat with that big aluminum slab in the back. Though my camera causes "heat rising, functions are being disabled" messages to pop up within 2 minutes

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Nuno_sf — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 01:47:33 GMT

Probably less resistant that Z5 frame. Reported result of a XZ drop:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-xz/help/sexy-durable-t3485665

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

mariagi27 — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:12:13 GMT

Why not lanyard suport,why Sony?

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

JRDGM1993 — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 23:52:17 GMT

Is there a chance of the colour peeled off from the long time usage of a sweat hand? It happened with the old galaxys S5 the "metal colour" peeled off

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Sunking1011 — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 00:20:16 GMT

I'm worried about that too. I'm wanting to use a flip case but I'm worried the plastic 'bumper' case that holds the phone will rub away the paint.

Xperia XZ frame

adamlee2014 — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 09:34:57 GMT

Why did Sony ditch the aluminium frame? I've had my phone since October and it has screen protector and case on but the left side of the frame has several marks all the way down, probably the paint coming off!!! Paid a lot of money for this device

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

Lord_viridis — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 09:07:59 GMT

And aluminium doesn't mark?
I've had mine for a while and don't have a mark on the polycarbonate, similarly I had Z5 premium a week and the side panel was scratched.

Re: Xperia XZ have metal frame or polycarbonate?

adamlee2014 — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 17:37:55 GMT

Well considering I had my Z5 for a year in a similar case with not a mark on the frame then yes aluminium doesn't mark as much as this plastic crap.