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The Xperia ZL is an improvement over the Z, but doesn't shine as brightly next to many of its contemporaries.

So while the Xperia ZL is Sony's best smartphone to date, and a very good smartphone in general, it's hard to get past the sticker shock of that nearly $800 price tag. If you've got money to burn and you want the most comfortably designed phablet there is, the Xperia ZL won't disappoint.

The unlocked Sony Xperia ZL's camera captures excellent images and makes clear calls but has a price that's hard to swallow.

When you get right down to it, the Xperia ZL isn't a very remarkable phone. It's certainly not bad, though the screen's viewing angles would probably keep me from choosing it for myself; it's just that, once again, Sony has been beaten to the punch by other vendors.

The Sony Xperia ZL features a superb camera, a 5-inch full HD display and powerful processor for unlocked phone fans, but you don't get enough battery life for your money.

The HTC One and the Galaxy S4 are simply better than this phone in almost every way, and that's all there is to it. Sony is moving in the right direction, it's just too slow in getting there.

If you’d like your handset to have a massive amount of glass, you’ll want the Z. If instead you want a slightly less pretty machine that’s better for an accident here or there, go ZL.

Should you run out and buy an Xperia ZL? In a word, no. There's nothing expressly wrong with it ... But there are just too many great options out there, and while the Xperia ZL won't disappoint, your money will be better spent elsewhere.

Note that the Sony Xperia ZL is not a smartphone for those who value fashion over functionality. Rather, it is a capable multimedia device meant to be used extensively, not admired behind a glass window.

The Sony Xperia ZL is not as good looking as its glass-clad sibling, or most of the direct rivals for that matter. Nor is it the most powerful device on the market. We're tempted to call the Xperia Z the better part of the pair and forget about it.

The Xperia ZL is a decent handset, but when you frame it alongside its more premium sibling, the Xperia Z, and other new or forthcoming products, it can't compare.

It's a worthy contender to rival high-end devices, and if you're considering the Galaxy S3 or iPhone 5, take a look at what Sony has to offer.

In all, the ZL's shaping up to be a solid effort on Sony's part -- just the type of handset we've been waiting for.

Overall, the rectangular-shaped Xperia ZL feels like a well-constructed, solid phone.

In the hand and its actually very manageable, with the rubberised textured backing giving plenty of grip on which to hold ... In our play with the new phone it is certainly zippy, happily coping with anything asked of it.

There is an unusual hardware bit on the Sony Xperia ZL, though. There's a flip-out plastic hatch on the rear that hides the microSD memory card and SIM slot, and the user-facing camera is in a very unusual position.

The Sony Xperia ZL is set up to be a blockbuster of a device with a fantastic array of features making it a highly desirable smartphone.