Xperia Z3 Compact

As we knows, Sony has released their 3 flagship devices during IFA in Berlin. The devices are Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.
So below is the review of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, the best mid-sized Android phone that you can buy right now.

Of course there are plenty of good top-tier Android devices out there, but pretty much all of the latest releases offer 5+ inch screens and I’m one of those people that just can’t use a handset that big. And here’s where this Z3 Compact comes in play, as it offers the hardware and features of a high-end device, without compromises, in a smaller body.

Design and looks

As a result the Xperia Z3 Compact is one of the few premium smartphones that can be actually used comfortably enough with a single hand. It packs a 4.6 inch screen with a thin bezel around it, and the main navigation controls are also integrated within the display, so you don’t have to stretch your finger beneath it, like on some other phones.

The Z3 Compact also sits nice is hand and it is fairly grippy, thanks to its rounded sides and a bit chunkier body. Some of you might complain about its the plastic edges, but I for one won’t. However, I’m not a big fan of the glass covered back that catches smudges and fingerprints easily, although its does add a fair amount to the Z3’s premium feel and aesthetics.

 Like all the other smartphones in the Z line, the Z3 Compact is waterproof and dust-resistant, IP 68 Certified. As a result though, the ports and trays are hidden behind some plastic caps placed on the left edge of this handset, while all the buttons are lined on the right: the redesigned Power knob and the volume rocker and shutter key, which are a bit flimsy and just don’t match the overall solidness of this Z3.

I should also add a few things about the front-facing speakers on this Sony. There are two of them and they flank the screen, but their cuts in the front glass are rather narrow, and that on one side leads to overall low volume, although the sound quality is not bad at all, and on the other makes them easy to cover and muffle with your thumbs when using the phone in landscape mode.Another aspect worth mentioning is the notification LED, which sits in the left-top corner of the front-face, but is actually really small and difficult to spot in bright environments.

Screen

Anyway, enough about these outer aspects. Let’s have a look beneath the hood. Unlike the Z1 compact that settled for a 4.3 inch 720P display, the Z3 gets a larger 4.6 inch 720p screen with an IPS Triluminos panel and there’s hardly anything you won’t like about it. It is very sharp, bright and can paint natural colors and clean whites.

The viewing angles aren’t great, but since I doubt you’ll watch your phone’s screen from the sides too often, this aspect shouldn’t bother you much.

Hardware and everyday use

That aside, the Z3 Compact provides a really solid daily use experience. The final version will run Android 4.4.4 KitKat, with Sony’s UI tweaks and customizations, as well as their own proprietary apps preinstalled, including Walkman and Playstation, Music and Video Unlimited or Xperia Lounge.

And everything just works really fast on this thing, from launching apps to scrolling between home screens and performing all sorts of everyday activities, like making calls, texting, browsing, watching videos and running games.

So performance wise, the Z3 Compact is a match for any top-tier Android smartphone of the moment, and that’s no surprise, since it packs the same hardware combo we’ve also seen on the Galaxy S5, with a Qualcomm 801 processor, Andreno 330 graphics and 2 GB of RAM, plus 16 GB of storage space with support for microSD cards.

Battery

The battery size is perhaps the only aspect where the Z3 Compact falls a bit short, as there’s not enough room to pack a huge battery on it. But this phone still offers decent battery life and will easily get you through at least one day of average use, even two in most cases and there are ways to get the most out of the phone’s lungs, like using the Stamina mode.

If you need even more though or if you’re a really heavy user, you might want to look elsewhere, especially since the battery in encased on this Sony and cannot be swapped with another one on the go, like with other phones. Or you can get yourself an external power brick.

Camera

When it comes to taking pics and videos, the Z3 Compact puts a fair fight once again, as it gets the capable 20.7 MPx shooter we’ve seen on the previous Zs.

A larger sensor and the highest ISO

With Exmor RS™ for mobile sensor and the first ISO 12800 in a smartphone, you can take your smartphone to new levels of low light and still get the shot you want.

(1) The highest ISO of any smartphone

Compared to the average smartphone ISO at the time of release

(2) Larger camera sensor

Compared to the average smartphone sensor size at the time of release

4K – Ultra high-definition video recording

Sony’s best phone camera, the Xperia Z3 Compact lets you capture everything you see in brilliant high-resolution 4K video. Four times the detail compared to Full HD 1080p image quality, your footage is delivered in Ultra High Definition, for unparalleled sharpness full of authentic details. This model supports 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and playback on a 4K TV or projector using the latest MHL 3.0 connector.

Wrap-up

Alright, now, towrap this up, if you want a mid-sized smartphone with top features and specs, the Xperia Z3 Compact should sit at the top of your list, right next to the Apple iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

There’s really no other phone that offers as much as this one does in this size factor right now and I just couldn’t fight anything majorly wrong with it, perhaps except for the battery size, in comparison to what’s inside the larger Android heavyweights. But even so, the Z3 Compact does not disappoint with its battery life.

So yes, I like this one and I believe it’s also the go-to device if you plan on switching from an iPhone to Android and don’t mind paying for the best.
                         
source:tlbhd.com