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Note: I only do TL/DR reviews, oriented toward other techs. I'm not a gamer (and indeed have never downloaded or played a game on a smartphone since the pre-iPhone period). I am a business user (and have provided IT support for over 30 years).
So if you just want the quick exec' summary review impression: "there's no reason at all not to own an XZ2 regardless of the reviews you've read". Moreover, Sony pretty much provides a superior "phone experience" which offers unexpected and under-appreciated-by-reviewers benefits to Sony phone owners over the long run. I "appreciate" Sony in the same way I "appreciated" Nokia back in the pre-Microsoft-purchase days.
History...
I purchased an XZ1 compact (my first Sony) in Nov 2017 - close to when they were released - after Microsoft confirmed they were ending support for Windows Mobile, and I felt forced to move back to Android. I'd tried using an iPhone (5s) for a couple of months... but the UI was just so dated (compared to Windows Mobile), I couldn't get past the step back in time (both the iPhone and 'Droid UI were so dated by comparison, it was like having to step back in time to Windows 3.1 lol). But I did like having a smaller form factor of the iPhone 5s, so I looked for a 'Droid equivalent, and the XZ1 compact was the only one even close with spec's that I could accept.
Fast forward to 2019. My wife had *never* liked the mid-range Huawei 8 plus she bought in 2016 (her previous phone was a Nokia 1020). But she really didn't want to pay for a "flagship level" device. I'd already been kicking around the notion that I needed a bigger display (swyping on a small display is prone to constant errors). So. I offered to give her my XZ1 if she'd pay half of my $300 (or less) budget for an equivalent used Sony (XZ1, XZ2, or XZ3) with larger display. No-brainer for her (and which she's been entirely happy about as she's used the XZ1c), and "opportunity" for me to slightly upgrade (and try out a larger display).
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Sony...
After having spent almost two years with a Sony, I'm a brand fan-boy. I like the timely and constant updates (the XZ1c came with 'Droid 8 and was upgraded to 'Droid 9 in a timely fashion, with numerous security patches intervening... and I expect will be version updated to 'Droid 10 during my wife's tenure). The minimal issues (none I can recall). The obvious quality of engineering and manufacturing control. And Sony's ongoing customer support via their "features updates" (they constantly have free offers, and low-price offers). Actually, pretty much every-d@mn-thing about the brand; Sony spoils you lol. Reviewers simply miss how important those things are when you keep a phone for a few years... so even though I read the reviews, I have my own opinions and experience which tempers the reviewers.
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XZ2 features...
I'm not going to delve into the usual specs. At this point (June 2018) the XZ2 is already a year past phone release (April 2018) as I write this, so the phone's general specs are available all over the Internet. So my review will only address my impressions of some of the features that had me a bit worried from the many reviews I read prior to purchase.
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1. Slipperyness. It really truly is. Slippery, I mean. It couldn't be any more slippery if it was live and wiggling (and when it buzzes, it DOES wiggle lol). But... how does that matter when the first thing you're going to do after buying it is putting it in a case? And how exactly, is that a distraction by comparison with every other glass back phone out there lol? Ding ding ding.
Note: if you aren't going to put it in a case 1) the curvature is lovely in your hand (the feel in use is superb), and 2) for gawd's sake be careful when you're holding it, and 3) be mindful that it *wiggles* even on a flat surface. That curve and that glass are definitely "gravity sensitive"; it will find minor slopes you would've sworn couldn't exist.
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2. The fingerprint scanner location... which I was concerned with (from the countless reviews I read)... just isn't that big a deal. In my case (I have smaller hands), the mid-longitudinal-axis location is a *plus* (and not the "poor location" practically every user complained about). How you hold your phone in hand, and how you "slide" your finger onto the scanner, and how large your paws are... which quite obviously varies user-to-user... means that you can (and probably should) just ignore every reviewer's complaint about the Sony engineers' placement of the fingerprint scanner mid-phone on the longitudinal access.
And actually...
I. Like. Where. The. Scanner. Is. Period. LOL.
... because my index finger naturally reaches there (small hand: large phone: two hand w/ LH top hold and bottom RH quadrant scan reach... I hold the phone in use in my left hand).
And seriously, if you're reaching from a side-quadrant hold (i.e., across the narrow width of the phone) to scan your fingertip, you have to scrunch your finger at the joints anyways, right? And aren't there *always* slight variations in scanner location phone-to-phone, brand-to-brand anyways?
Whatever. You'll get used to the mid-phone location... and might find you prefer it. I did. (And the first few times you use it, you may end up wondering what the particular fuss was all about.)
Full disclosure: the Sony XZ1 I came from used the *excellent* finger scanner located on the side on/off button. And EVERY other scanner location on EVERY other phone is sub-standard compared to that side-button location.
Well, "IMHO" lol.
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3. Smoothness. The XZ1 came with a Snapdragon 835. The XZ2's Snapdragon 845 is superior. Call the qualitative difference "smoothness". The XZ1 was never laggy... but the XZ2 just seems "smoother" doing the same things; there's not a noticeable "performance" difference in day-to-day use, but there's a "something-something" difference in feel and impressions. (Or maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just the increase screen size. Dunno.)
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4. Features. There's no difference between the XZ1 and XZ2 in daily use. Sony doesn't load up their UI with worthless crap, and they do a minimal app pre-install, period. No complaints.
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5. Microsoft Launcher, Your Phone, and W10... offer almost perfect integration on the XZ2 (and the XZ1 before it) with Android (the integration improved with the release if Android 9 over Android 8). As a business focused tech user, I've long since grown accustomed to - and indeed, need - my phone to seamlessly connect to all my devices (which are almost all W10 centric at this point), and the XZ2 does this brilliantly.
Note: And kudos to Microsoft for fully supporting Android connectivity, after making the decision to abandon Window Mobile. At this point, the only thing lacking in Android is the UI; features-wise, its finally holding its own. (Yeah, I know about Squares and such... but skinning Android with tiny squares isn't fooling anyone that the UI doesn't suck-by-comparison with the finer touches in the old Windows Mobile OS.)
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6. Updates... deserving of another mention. Sony update policy isn't specific to the XZ2 in particular, but still may be THE reason to buy any Sony phone, by preference... especially for sophisticated business oriented techies. There's nothing you won't find you prefer about Sony's continued and prompt update policies. Much appreciated.
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7. T-Mobile. Although the XZ2 doesn't support VoLTE (like the XZ1 compact did), I haven't noticed the lack thereof... which I kind of expected. (We don't have a great signal at our location, but we do have a CellSpot LTE.) That might be due to the larger antenna's in the larger phone? Or to the glass back? Or "who knows". Anyways, they're fine on TMob'.
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8. Listening. The XZ-series Sony have dual, screen facing speakers. Worthy of notice and mention: they provide actual stereo separation at ample volume for in-close listening.
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9. Earbuds. I don't use 'em, so as far as I'm concerned not having an audio jack on the XZ2 just means one less lint trap lol. But my wife does use 'em, and she appreciates the audio jack on the XZ1. If I used 'em, I'd likely prefer blue tooth anyways.
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10. Accessory: screen protector. Both the XZ1 and the XZ2 have this slightly concave (i.e., they aren't perfectly flat) screen surface which isn't condusive to tempered glass screen protection. Use film instead (if you must) for best fitment. (All tempered glass review averages are three stars or less... it's just Sony has concave screens.)
That said, these "fit" (and I use the term "fit" in the widest possible interpretation) as well as you can probably hope for until they have bendable glass, and includes two glass screens: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FNZ3WPP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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11. Accessory: case 1. I like ultra-thin design cases, and so, for now, I'm using the Anccer case available on Amazon for $12, here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BD5R6H6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.
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12. Accessory: case 2. In general, my experience is that Ringke smartphone cases simply offer the best protection in a sub-Otter-box-protection design. Depending upon how I feel about the Ancerr after a while in daily use, I also bought an XZ2 Ringke case from Amazon for $11, here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BYTLYQD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Final thoughts... I bought my listed-as, "used-very good", XZ2 from an Amazon vendor for slightly less than three benjamins delivered. A screamin' deal for a one generation old flagship.
In use, I've already found I actually *do* prefer the larger screen.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the fingerprint scanner - whose location I was prepped to not like - was almost perfect for my hands.
And I unconditionally recommend Sony in general, and the XZ2 in particular.
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