For $99.99 down and 24 monthly payments of $20 after that, the Sony Xperia Z for T-Mobile offers a thin design plus a water- and dust-resistant chassis.
Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett is a former senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET.
The Sony Xperia Z sports a huge 5-inch full-HD (1,920x1,080-pixel) LCD screen.
2 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
Dark and mysterious
In keeping with the Sony Xperia Z's all-black monolithic design, the back face of the phone is dark and almost featureless.
3 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
Trim and sophisticated
Despite its high level of durability, the Sony Xperia Z manages to keep an ultrathin profile. Show here on the phone's right edge is the circular power button and the volume bar.
4 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
A stealthy Micro-USB port
On the Sony Xperia Z's left side sit a Micro-USB port and microSD card slot hidden under protective flaps.
5 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
An undercover headphone jack
On the top edge of the Xperia Z is a hidden 3.5mm headphone jack.
6 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
A sharp shape
The angular edges of the Xperia Z could be more comfortable to hold.
7 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
Reflections aplenty
Since both sides of the Xperia Z are made from glass, the phone is a magnet for reflections and fingerprints.
8 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
All buttoned up
Flaps seal all the Xperia Z's ports and slots to protect against water and dirt.
9 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
Don't try this with ordinary phones
Unless your smartphone meets the IP55/IP57 standards for water and dust ingress like the Xperia Z, don't try this at home.
10 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET
Wet and wild
Here's another demonstration of the Xperia Z's water survivability.
