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Hello guys.
I'm a long time reader but a new member.
Almost two months ago, my HTC One V was stolen by pickpockets in a crowded Mumbai train.
Since then, I was looking to buy a new phone. Soon, phones like Xperia M and L caught my eye. While I was browsing to phones, I saw Xperia SP, and the bang for the buck it gave, made me decide that this might be the phone I might buy.
Now, as I was looking and going through stuff, I came to know a lot of the cons of the phone, while pros outnumber the cons, the cons were quite important in this case. I've gone through a lots of threads and have known a lot, but some questions remain. Hence, I'm asking some questions in order to solve my queries and give a better view about it. Wish to get proper replies.
1. What version is the Indian variant. C5302, C5303 or C5306.
2. Lots of people say it's heavy. How do you feel about it.
3. GSM Arena wasn't happy with the loudspeaker, does it ring loudly? I see all the phones having a speaker in the back, causing it to ring very quietly.
4. Now an important one. On my HTC One V, I had an option to move apps to SD card. As I was browsing, through the forums, I came to know that it's not possible anymore without rooting. And rooting is something I do not prefer as of now (I had huge plans for One V, but unfortunetely, it was stolen before I decided to root it after the warranty was over).
On One V, I was having loop boot problem after moving the files to the SD card, however, that's not an issue here. Thing is, on One V, I had used AppMgr III (App 2 SD) to move my apps to SD card.
So now is my question. Will App 2 SD work without rooting? Has anyone tried using it without rooting? The Apps 2 SD page mentions this:
Move apps function may not work on your device as manufacture removes the function of moving apps to SD from Android system (not support: S4, S DUOS, Note2, Tab 2, L5-L9, OneX, 7-10" tablet)
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Does this apply to Xperia devices too?
This is very much a concerning thing to me, as 5.8 GB isn't a lot if one likes gaming.
5. Has the lack of sufficient space, just 5.8 GB, ever caused concerns for you?
6. Again, important one. How bad is the WiFi? I live in a 1BHK house in a suburb. While I mostly use WiFi (and internet for that matter) near my router and PC situated in the hall, my One V never did well for reaching the bedroom, something I was expecting SP to do well until I came to know about the problem.
Same situation here, I do not prefer to root my phone. Can the WiFi be fixed in any other way? Different channel / mode?
7. Does the WiFi fixes available here actually fix your WiFi? After using the fixes available, is it comparable to other phones' / laptops' reception? What do you think, it's software problem or hardware problem?
8. Do you expect Sony to fix the WiFI problem in in future?
9. People who have rooted then flashed their phones to latest Android should not having any WiFi problems right?
10. I remember some version of iPhone having grip of death for WiFi. Do you guys think SP's bad WiFi reception is due to this?
11. Now the camera. I've seen enough photos / graphs to say that Xperia SP probably has the worst smartphone camera I've seen. Comparing it to my HTC One V, One V was like godsent camera phone. So what to you guys think, is the camera something that is acceptable or just total deal breaker?
I personally do not have any use for the camera. However, my sister is a big camera selfie lover. While I see that the camera takes some beautiful vivid pictures outside, my use the camera would be mostly indoors.
From what I can understand is that the camera is over-compressing the images? I've seen photos very in-depth and have concluded that, one, SP pictures lack details, two, have lots of noise.
Those who wanna compare it on GSM Arena, don't use to ISO chart, see the camera on the color poster: gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=3&idPhone1=5364&idPhone2=5363&idPhone3=5375.
Compare it something like HTC One V and see the difference of quality of images.
While I've photoshopped and removed noise from the pictures I've found from the internet, from Xperia SP, I don't know if it's worth it, so I'm confused.
12. I've read some users saying that they tried 3rd party camera apps like ProCapture and they immediately saw that Xperia SP started taking great pictures. Can you say the same for yourself? Has anyone tried doing such?
13. Have people who have rooted / flashed SP to latest Android see any improvements in the camera?
14. What do you think. Is Xperia SP's crappy camera about hardware quality of the camera or the software?
15. Do you, being realist here, expect Sony to fix the camera with an update?
16. Now about rooting. Will rooting void the warranty? I read somewhere that if you do not unlock the bootloader, you do not void the warranty. Is it possible to just root the phone without unlocking the bootloader without flash it?
17. Noob question. Do you receive updates if you have rooted the phone? If yes, lets say, I made changes to the WiFi file, and then I updated the phone, will the root stay? If not, will the changes made to the file stay?
18. Now about the CPU. I know the phones are moving very faster these days. However, I'm making a big investment if I buy Xperia SP. So SP being so powerful of a phone it is, do you expect it to stay good to play generally powerful games for lets say, next 4 years? I'm not a person who likes changing his phone every year or two, nor do I have money to do that.
19. Some people are reporting screen touch issues when charging or when putting on desk. It is said to be fixed, is it true?
20. I compared the phone to Galaxy S3 and found that S3 had more contrast ratio when playing videos, however, Xperia SP seemed more bright, what to you guys think?
21. How is the front camera? I don't care about the resolution, but clear enough for video calling?
22. Any other problems / things anyone feels worth mentioning?
That's pretty much it for the phone, however, I have more questions.
23. I'm willing to squeeze out more money for a better phone like Xperia ZR, Galaxy S3 and such. However, they have their own problems. Like, S3 is nowhere to be compared with Xperia SP as SP's graphics is top-end.
As for ZR. I have two problems with it, one small, one big. The small one being people calling it's loudspeaker muffed and the big one being it not being Gorilla Glass. To understand what I'm concerned about it, see this: youtube.com/watch?v=4GzYnDnZDRg and this: youtube.com/watch?v=Q2qdwsFd-Qw. It shows that ZR screen is neither tough / shatter-proof nor, thanks to the sheet, scratch proof. And removing the sheet means warranty void. I've seen that even Xperia Z has the same thing, which makes me think how people manage with this?
24. What alternative phones to SP price range (Rs. 20500 to 22500 here - $330 to $360) or Galaxy S3 / ZR price range (Rs. 26500 here - $425) do you guys recommend?
25. Is the phone worth it? Will you recommend it to me?
Anyway, sorry for huge post. As so many days of sadness for the loss of my HTC One V, I'm asking this, so please bear with me. All these questions have been churning in my mind from almost month and a half now.
Any help with the questions will be greatly appreciated.
1- I don't know, It could be the 5303 or 5302
2-Yes, its heavier than the Z and ZL at 155 grams
3-Ring volume its OK, better than my previous phone (Xperia pro)
4-No. You cant move apps to the external microSD without root.
5-The internal storage its just for apps, the external for media. Its enough but could be better
6-I've never had problems with the Wi-Fi the last 5-6 months with my SP
7-They are just placeboes
8-I dont think so
9-????????????
10-Could be the metal used on the frame, If thats the reason the Z1 may have similar problems
11-Mediocre photo camera, my old pro (neo,ray and arc similar) took better pictures. Video recording is OK. You may want to use another camera app
12-Even Instagram's camera takes better pictures
13-I haven't seen any improvements
14-Could be both
15-May or may not be fixed when 4.3 arrives
16-In many countries, rooting voids the warranty...but just keep a copy of the STOCK, ORIGINAL firmware and flash it before taking it to a service shop. Bootloader unlock may void the warranty, Its better to ask before doing it because it cannot be undone. Dont worry about flashing, on a Sony phone its very easy
17-Yes, you may receive updates but you will lose the root access. Sometimes Update Service refuses to update if the phone is rooted, sometimes not. After unlockin the bootloader you cant use official sony tools, just flashtool.
18.I'm sorry to hear that...I made a huge investment on my SP too, but electronics, specifically smartphones are not designed or built to last. They are disposable. Right now its a good phone...but next year will be obsolete.
19-I had that issue. I dont know if there is a fix for that, but I tried disabling the glove mode and it seems to stop the touch issues
20-Screen isn't that great, cant compare to LED screens
21-Z and ZL have better front cameras. The one in the SP is still as bad as the one you will find on a 2011 phone
22-Phone overheats, that makes some people feel uncomfortable, up to 47 degrres celcius when playin real racing 3. No big deal for me
23-??????
24-I live in Mexico.
25-Yes, it will be a good phone for the next 12-18 months. After that time you will have to buy a new one.
As cachanilla86 answer almost everything.
for Q9. No - most of the sp suffers from wifi problems. whether rooted or not...
for Q23 Check S4 or xperia Z ultra...
1. Don’t know either
2. Yes its heavy, a manly phone
3. The loudspeaker is fine, may not be the loudest on earth but it’s fine.
4. Apps to SD is a contentious issue – the official line is that Google don’t like external SD cards and from Jelly Bean onwards it was no longer part of any Android builds. It’s the same with hardware navigation buttons, Google would prefer them to be on the screen soft keys. However manufacturers can do what they want – Samsung does what it likes and still uses hardware buttons and has tweaked their builds to allow app to sd. Sony haven’t had hardware nav buttons for some time now and perhaps their love for DRM makes them sympathetic to the idea of stopping users from moving apps around.
Anyway, it doesn’t work without rooting, hell it doesn’t work in the normal sense when you ARE rooted – hopefully a nice CM build will come along and resolve the situation for us.
5. Yes and no – it would be nice to install loads of games without a care, but I only really play one ‘big’ game at a time. Rooting can help too because you can move the data portions of big games to an external sd card with folder mount.
6. Range is excellent for me, the authentication process can take ages though, I had the same problem with my 2011 xperia – when the phone is trying to connect to the router signal strength seems to drop and I think you get into a loop of the phone thinking the wifi is too weak to connect to and it swaps to data, the signal goes up again and you try to connect but the same thing happens again. With my 2011 device most custom kernels, especially ones that were cm10 based, connection was instant – this is almost certainly a software issue.
There is talk that the most modern routers don’t have as many issues.
7. The fix that works best for me is the one that changes the level at which the phone decides the wifi reception is so bad it has to swap to data – the range is and has always been great for me, better than other devices in my house.
8. There have been 3 build versions of the phone so far – I’ve always had to apply the tweak. Don’t think Sony regard it as a problem.
9. There are no custom roms out there that provide the latest version of android, they are all based on 4.1.2. There should be a 4.2 build from FreeXperia at some point and a 4.3 build from some independent developers, but there is no ETA for either of these builds. This is not to say that the developers of existing custom roms haven’t tweaked wifi so it works better.
10. As I said, I’m certain it’s a software issue.
11. The camera’s auto mode is pretty poor in conditions which are less than optimum – you can take a nice photo if you mess with settings BUT in my opinion this is missing the point. If I want to mess with settings I’ll use a proper camera, I just want to take quick snaps with my phone in situations where I didn’t necessarily think I’d need to bring a camera. For the SP (and other Sony phones) the camera doesn’t support this type of spontaneous photography very well.
12. Haven’t heard of procapture, thanks for the tip
13. See my previous comments – the only builds available for the SP are 4.1.2 based.
14. Hope it’s the software – I’m no expert, but people talk about too much processing/compression.
15. I had a 2011 xperia with 8MP and the camera on the SP is not significantly better – I don’t think Sony believe that it’s a problem.
16. Unless the apps/mods/roms you install after root cause hardware damage, you can always just flash a stock rom – so warranty should be unaffected. Of course if you are unable to flash a stock rom because of hardware damage…
17. You do receive updates if you’re rooted. Historically if you updated OTA you kept root, via the PC meant you lost it.
18. The smart phone market is moving so fast that I doubt any phone out today will be able to play the most demanding games from 4 years time without any trouble. The latest iphone has 64 bit architecture and this will soon follow for android. Similarly, I imagine that graphics chips are upgraded once or twice a year – so you might be as many as 8 cycles behind what is considered top of the range. The SP is a midrange phone, with some flag ship properties.
19. There are still some touch issues in my opinion, though this is improving build to build.
20. Don’t know about the S3 – the XP screen is fine though, not mind blowing, but in no sense bad or embarrassing.
21. Fine for video calling, perfect in fact. OK for selfies if close up. Do not use for anything else – as mentioned it would only be an average FC for a 2011 device.
22. Not really you’ve been very thorough
That's pretty much it for the phone, however, I have more questions.
23. Don’t think the S3 is better, the S4 mini is better in my opinion ONLY if you can live with a smaller screen. If you can stretch to the ZR do it.
My last xperia didn’t have gorilla glass – I used screen protectors and after 18 months of use I sold it to a recycling company for the maximum stated value (so they regarded it's condition as perfect). Any phone with a large screen is more vulnerable to being broken than one with a small screen. Most days on the underground and on buses I see people with busted screens - usually S3s, S4s and iphones - but I guess this is because they are the most common phones.
24. The choice for me was this or the S4 mini – I prefer Sony phones though and the bigger screen was the deal breaker. You could wait for the new Nexus, maybe a month to go? This was my plan, but my network provider offered me an early upgrade to move to 4G and I couldn’t say no.
25. The phone is definitely worth it – I’m not mad on photography and am rooted, so can get around the storage issue. After that it has most of the really important flag ship stuff, the things that you need, rather than eye scrolling or the ability to take it swimming, and the user experience is great.
Thanks for the answers guys.
After this, I'm more unsure about SP.
Now, I'm considering ZR or ZL, as both are priced similar here.
DKT27 said:
Thanks for the answers guys.
After this, I'm more unsure about SP.
Now, I'm considering ZR or ZL, as both are priced similar here.
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Unsure too as well now lol.
Might have to look for alternatives to SP with better camera for same price.
King p1n said:
Unsure too as well now lol.
Might have to look for alternatives to SP with better camera for same price.
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If camera is a priority, then Xperia M has a good camera. However, you may not find any phone with such a powerful processor and graphics card, 720p screen and other features at this price.
I read all the questions wont be answering all, but I'll suggest you to go with XPERIA ZR (Don't go for ZR if you gona be using some mods or different ROM's as ZR is a low legacy device and many don't own it so there are no good devs for ZR) or ZL or either Nexus 4 also about rooting you can root any phone it doesn't voids warranty and also removing the scratch-proof sheet on ZR can be removed it doesn't voids warranty.
RuchRha said:
I read all the questions wont be answering all, but I'll suggest you to go with XPERIA ZR (Don't go for ZR if you gona be using some mods or different ROM's as ZR is a low legacy device and many don't own it so there are no good devs for ZR) or ZL or either Nexus 4 also about rooting you can root any phone it doesn't voids warranty and also removing the scratch-proof sheet on ZR can be removed it doesn't voids warranty.
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Thanks for the answer.
I might not use any mods or ROMs as of now.
ZR and ZL seem to be priced same here. So I'm leaning towards ZL.
As for Nexus 4, it's good but no microSD card support and ZL seems better.
Thanks again for the rooting issue. However, I read that rooting requires one to change ROMs or something? I'm very much a noob in this so no idea.
About the glass and the scatter proof sheet. One, I want to know whether the glass is actually tough enough to challenge Gorilla Glass or is even near it. I'm scared for the phone hitting the ground and the expensive screen breaking. As for the warranty, see this. The only reason to remove the sheet is, that it's cloth and scratch magnet, which can be fixed by by scratch guard I think.
DKT27 said:
Thanks for the answer.
I might not use any mods or ROMs as of now.
ZR and ZL seem to be priced same here. So I'm leaning towards ZL.
As for Nexus 4, it's good but no microSD card support and ZL seems better.
Thanks again for the rooting issue. However, I read that rooting requires one to change ROMs or something? I'm very much a noob in this so no idea.
About the glass and the scatter proof sheet. One, I want to know whether the glass is actually tough enough to challenge Gorilla Glass or is even near it. I'm scared for the phone hitting the ground and the expensive screen breaking. As for the warranty, see this. The only reason to remove the sheet is, that it's cloth and scratch magnet, which can be fixed by by scratch guard I think.
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You don't need any ROM's for rooting, there are many rooting toolkits by DooMLoRD which easily roots a device, and the shatter proof glass is pretty strong (I feel far better than gorilla), my phone has felt many time (XPERIA Z) and nothing happened except a few scratches on the body but nothing on screen or back and I also have removed the scratch proof sheet and I mostly do so with all my XPERIA's it does not voids warranty.
DKT27 said:
If camera is a priority, then Xperia M has a good camera. However, you may not find any phone with such a powerful processor and graphics card, 720p screen and other features at this price.
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on a 5mp now on Galaxy Nexus and its not too great either and i see the Xperia M has a 5 MP also.
Hate the way Sony skimped on the front cam to only VGA, especially If I finally getting involved in snapchatting and what not it wont be great
I've heard people throw the 8mp camera and software in the same sentence, Im guessing its not the software that causing bad quality images?
Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
ironfoxmind said:
Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
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Click to collapse
Personally bro I'd recommend the z1, it really is a monster Android device which is SUPER smooth and handles anything you can throw at it (software wise), personally I also think it is the better looking of the two. Honestly people have ripped this phone to shreds with saying this and that but at the end of the day (I must be very lucky) mine is perfect and it works like a charm
I think Sony is definitely one of the better manufactures to release timely updates, Samsung are just horrible!!! The z1 is getting KitKat very soon, in a few weeks time so that's awesome! But NO phone on earth can compete with a Nexus device when it comes to the latest and greatest Android release from Google. I really like Nexus for that reason, and also custom firmware support far out shines most (if not) all devices.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that spec wise, the Nexus 5 doesn't even come close to the z1.
Good luck in your decision :good:
EDIT: Oh I just saw on phonearena that they are pretty similar spec wise.
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
Like @NanoSurfer already says: all boils down to personal preference
I was also comparing this 2 devices. I like to have the newest OS, but I also like to have a device that is not only a plastic-bomb. So my preference went to Sony and Z1 because of the design and the specs that alltogether make my decision easy. Sure, 4.4 is out, Nexus devices had it and the number of CustomROMs is not so small. But, when the time comes, we also get 4.4 and with this there would be some other ROMs available.
I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in this thread so I'm bringing it up. The Xperia Z1 Compact is IP58 waterproof (continuous submersion at 1.5m), so on that account you can't really compare the two... and by that I mean that between the top of the line specs in a small form factor, the support for external storage, the premium feel from the Xperia Z1, the far above average developer support from the manufacturer and the waterproofing, I'd certainly have the Xperia Z1 Compact above literally any other smartphone available on the market today.
That said there are obviously pros to the Nexus 5 as well, such as the extreme level of community development going on, the wireless charging and the speedy official updates.
Compared to the Nexus 5 I think the Z1 Compact will have better battery life as well, on account of it having the same amperage battery, slightly slower clock frequency and lower (but still definitely high enough) resolution.
In the end the Z1 Compact is a clear winner in my book.
I share the exact same thoughts. Can't believe I glossed over the water-proofing in my initial comparison
-Collin-
CollinFX45 said:
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
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I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
ironfoxmind said:
I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
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Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
shem2409 said:
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
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Click to collapse
awesome review
Rekoil said:
Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately that's correct, but the addition of wifi calling is why I have to go with that version. When I step inside my building at work, T-mo drops and I rely on the wifi. The normal Z1 doesn't have it obviously.
I cannot believe they made this BIGGER! I mean, the Z1 is big, but why would this one be bigger? Argh.
-Collin-
Hi guys,
I was wondering if you can help me with a decision. I was planning to buy One plus One but realised that they don't have band 20 which means very limited/no LTE coverage in UK and I don't want to own a phone in 2014 which won't support 4G.
I am not keen on spending a lot of money on Z2 and I can get used Xperia Z1 in the range of 200-230 and was wondering if it would be a good choice?
Do you think for that price Xperia Z1 is a good phone and can be bought amongst other big guys? I mean it still has SD800 and 2GB RAM!!
Appreciate your help!
Thanks
Z2 is only a viable upgrade from Z1 if you want the better screen and speakers. The SD800 still kicks ass
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
invinciblervd said:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if you can help me with a decision. I was planning to buy One plus One but realised that they don't have band 20 which means very limited/no LTE coverage in UK and I don't want to own a phone in 2014 which won't support 4G.
I am not keen on spending a lot of money on Z2 and I can get used Xperia Z1 in the range of 200-230 and was wondering if it would be a good choice?
Do you think for that price Xperia Z1 is a good phone and can be bought amongst other big guys? I mean it still has SD800 and 2GB RAM!!
Appreciate your help!
Thanks
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Click to collapse
The Z1 is a great phone. One of the best phones currently on the market, even with its successor already on the stores. It's not a match for the Z2/S5/G3/M8, of course; but it's not outdated like the Galaxy S3 was in June/2013. I plan on keeping my Z1 for the rest of the year, and maybe upgrade when the Z4 shows up.
Qualcomm and the other mobile CPU manufacturers were on a very quick escalation of CPU power on the last few years. You had a huge jump every year, so last year's phones were severely outclassed when the new models came up. This has slowed down quite a bit since last year. The Snapdragon 801 on this year's phones is just a bit faster than the 800 on the Z1, which is not that much faster than the Snapdragon 600, which is just a bit faster than the Snapdragon S4 Pro from October 2012. In other words, except for the screen and speakers, the Z2 is just a small overclock ahead of the Z1. For a low price, it's a bargain (here in Brazil it still costs the equivalent to about US$450,00).
Steve_max said:
The Z1 is a great phone. One of the best phones currently on the market, even with its successor already on the stores. It's not a match for the Z2/S5/G3/M8, of course; but it's not outdated like the Galaxy S3 was in June/2013. I plan on keeping my Z1 for the rest of the year, and maybe upgrade when the Z4 shows up.
Qualcomm and the other mobile CPU manufacturers were on a very quick escalation of CPU power on the last few years. You had a huge jump every year, so last year's phones were severely outclassed when the new models came up. This has slowed down quite a bit since last year. The Snapdragon 801 on this year's phones is just a bit faster than the 800 on the Z1, which is not that much faster than the Snapdragon 600, which is just a bit faster than the Snapdragon S4 Pro from October 2012. In other words, except for the screen and speakers, the Z2 is just a small overclock ahead of the Z1. For a low price, it's a bargain (here in Brazil it still costs the equivalent to about US$450,00).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gpu went from 450 to 578 mhz. This is the biggest difference. Also because android is getting graphically more intense, slowly but surely.
I got my Z1 last saturday, so...HELL YEAH!
I'd still get the one plus one. Had the z1 for a while. If I was to choose what's currently available it'd be the HTC m8 then the z2. But the one plus one is worth the wait.
FYI, EE uses bands 3 and 7 which I'm assuming that the one plus works on, if not then I'll be skipping it myself. Still need to research this so thanks for the heads up, I'd missed that. Cheers m8
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
No point in even talking about the Oneplus One, it is currently "vapourware". They haven't made more than a small batch and those are not going to be sold internationally. Hopefully, over time the Oneplus phones manufacturing will catch up with its overhyped marketing.
After much deliberation and hands-on investigating of all the competition, I got a Z1 recently (picked it up for 250, brand new in unopened box). The Z2 has better battery and the GPU is better but disappointingly the screen isn't that much better. The HTC M8 is amazing unless you intend to use the rear camera which is pants. The Galaxy S5, while packed with features, feels like most high end Samsungs cheap and plasticy. The HTC E8 looks to be worth waiting for as does the LG G3.
Apart from battery life, I am happy I got the Z1. The build quality, the camera, the fantastic work XDA devs have done and the UI experience go a long way.
dladz said:
I'd still get the one plus one. Had the z1 for a while. If I was to choose what's currently available it'd be the HTC m8 then the z2. But the one plus one is worth the wait.
FYI, EE uses bands 3 and 7 which I'm assuming that the one plus works on, if not then I'll be skipping it myself. Still need to research this so thanks for the heads up, I'd missed that. Cheers m8
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I was following 1+1 since the beginning and was all set to buy it and was thinking to use it on 3G. But after recent upgrade to 4G and using it for couple of months, I know it's going to be difficult to switch back to 3G just because you are getting a good phone.
EE are good but on the expensive side even for a sim only deal and the LTE-A they are working on will soon be on 800 MHz and band 20. I just don't want to buy a phone which in theory will be unlocked but would still in a way be locked to EE.
gandalf_grey91 said:
No point in even talking about the Oneplus One, it is currently "vapourware". They haven't made more than a small batch and those are not going to be sold internationally. Hopefully, over time the Oneplus phones manufacturing will catch up with its overhyped marketing.
After much deliberation and hands-on investigating of all the competition, I got a Z1 recently (picked it up for 250, brand new in unopened box). The Z2 has better battery and the GPU is better but disappointingly the screen isn't that much better. The HTC M8 is amazing unless you intend to use the rear camera which is pants. The Galaxy S5, while packed with features, feels like most high end Samsungs cheap and plasticy. The HTC E8 looks to be worth waiting for as does the LG G3.
Apart from battery life, I am happy I got the Z1. The build quality, the camera, the fantastic work XDA devs have done and the UI experience go a long way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
250 is a a really good price for a brand new phone. May I ask where did you get this deal? (ebay?) Thought the battery is really massive for Z1? 2800ma?
I agree about the xda devs, but its hard to get a fully unlocked phone. If someone has bought it via carrier and got it unlocked, it will still have bootloader unlock allowed = No.
invinciblervd said:
250 is a a really good price for a brand new phone. May I ask where did you get this deal? (ebay?) Thought the battery is really massive for Z1? 2800ma?
I agree about the xda devs, but its hard to get a fully unlocked phone. If someone has bought it via carrier and got it unlocked, it will still have bootloader unlock allowed = No.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In all honesty, including postage, it came in a little over 260, and yes, it was aquired from a popular auction site. Battery is good and I get about 3 days of moderate use but it has a strange quirk in that it loses 10 - 12% of battery in first 5 minutes of being turned on. Never had a phone that does that before. After that initial battery drain it settles down and lasts, as I said, quite well.
My Z1 is fully unlocked. I bought a couple of Xperia SPs for the parents soon after they were released and it was difficult to get fully (SIM and bootloader) unlocked models. But, especially, with carrier supplied models, as time goes on they simply replenish stock from what sony have available (in channel) rather than insisting on the locked bootloader models that are part of the initial deal the companies sign before the device is released. Same goes for phones supplied via insurance companies, usually the more time that passes after release the more likely you are to be supplied a sim-free fully unlocked model (although some insurance companies have deals to buy/supply refurbished models which means read the policy carefully).
For the same money, I considered a Galaxy S4 but having held it and tried it, I could not part with the money for such a cheap and plasticy POS. Seriously, even cheap end ZTE and Huawei phones feel better made than "flagship" samsungs. If HTC had included removable battery, SD card slots and a better camera on both M7 and M8 for the last 2 years, samsung would have sold half as many Galaxy S models.
saintgein said:
The gpu went from 450 to 578 mhz. This is the biggest difference. Also because android is getting graphically more intense, slowly but surely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that you can overclock the Z1 GPU to 533 MHz, so that is a <10% difference. Overclocking both CPU and GPU, the Z1's 800 (2.4GHz/533MHz) is very comparable with the Z2's 801AB (2.3GHz/578MHz) and within striking distance from the S5's 801AC (2.5GHz/578MHz). No idea on how those overclock, though.
Steve_max said:
Remember that you can overclock the Z1 GPU to 533 MHz, so that is a <10% difference. Overclocking both CPU and GPU, the Z1's 800 (2.4GHz/533MHz) is very comparable with the Z2's 801AB (2.3GHz/578MHz) and within striking distance from the S5's 801AC (2.5GHz/578MHz). No idea on how those overclock, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say "you can overclock the Z1", you mean if you unlock bootloader, lose bravia engine / drm keys and install a custom kernel.
gandalf_grey91 said:
When you say "you can overclock the Z1", you mean if you unlock bootloader, lose bravia engine / drm keys and install a custom kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but why would you not unlock the bootloader? You can backup the TA partition and just restore it if needed, and everything just works without the DRM keys (if you believe you lost something, restore TA, install stock kernel, and you're back to stock). This is a development forum; I assume people here are willing to modify their devices to extract the maximum from them (in speed, battery life, whatever).
Steve_max said:
Yes, but why would you not unlock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have thought that was obvious. Unlocking the bootloader on my old Motorolas or HTCs provided more function and in the case of the HTCs made things better with custom Hboots. But the current crop of Sony's use the bravia engine to enhance the screen which is an integral part of the user experience and unlocking the bootloader disables it. Yes, by backing up the TA partition it is possible to revert back if the bootloader has been unlocked. But, unlike some other phones, with Sony phones the users can only choose to either unlock the bootloader to flash non-stock ROMs and custom kernels and lose the Bravia engine or leave the bootloader locked with working bravia engine but never gain the ability to flash AOSP ROMs. You can't have both because of that pesky TA partition. Because the Sony stock ROM experience is so good and thanks to the fantastic work some devs have done on modules for the Xposed framework, some designed especially for Xperia phones, Sony users have 2 strong choices.
I unlocked my bootloader and x-reality (bravia engine) and BIONZ are still working flawlessly.
gandalf_grey91 said:
I would have thought that was obvious. Unlocking the bootloader on my old Motorolas or HTCs provided more function and in the case of the HTCs made things better with custom Hboots. But the current crop of Sony's use the bravia engine to enhance the screen which is an integral part of the user experience and unlocking the bootloader disables it. Yes, by backing up the TA partition it is possible to revert back if the bootloader has been unlocked. But, unlike some other phones, with Sony phones the users can only choose to either unlock the bootloader to flash non-stock ROMs and custom kernels and lose the Bravia engine or leave the bootloader locked with working bravia engine but never gain the ability to flash AOSP ROMs. You can't have both because of that pesky TA partition. Because the Sony stock ROM experience is so good and thanks to the fantastic work some devs have done on modules for the Xposed framework, some designed especially for Xperia phones, Sony users have 2 strong choices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dislike the idea of special postprocessing on images on the screen. The X-Realty engine is that: some processing on your pictures/movies when the phone shows them on its own screen. They won't appear like that on your computer, or when you share the picture with anyone, out when you print them. It is a fake improvement, and I prefer to keep it disabled.
Anyway, AFAIK there are ways to make that work on UB. Never tried, but this is said to work well: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2635986
You are right, I don't like it either, any thing that only affects the devices own screen is a fake improvement. But thank you for including the link, I didn't know I had the option to unlock the bootloader and keep the bravia engine/x-reality.
Hi
I wanted to buy this phone. do you recommend it or not? why?
It was a great phone ... a year ago, but still good for its price
mahdi87_gh said:
Hi
I wanted to buy this phone. do you recommend it or not? why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you just want an android phone, look at samsung or lg.
If you want Xperia now, go get t2 ultra, its screen is better, front cam is better, and runs 4.4.2 (same as ZR), and can app2sd.
The only situation when I will recommend this phone (again, in 09/2014) is the fact that it can switch batteries.
paulson881 said:
If you just want an android phone, look at samsung or lg.
If you want Xperia now, go get t2 ultra, its screen is better, front cam is better, and runs 4.4.2 (same as ZR), and can app2sd.
The only situation when I will recommend this phone (again, in 09/2014) is the fact that it can switch batteries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, thanks
I want a phone not more expensive than this phone. I checked for T2 ultra. It's cpu, gpu, memory is lower than ZR
I just wanted to know if ZR devices have any particular problem? does it get new updates?
Thanks
Reply
mahdi87_gh said:
First of all, thanks
I want a phone not more expensive than this phone. I checked for T2 ultra. It's cpu, gpu, memory is lower than ZR
I just wanted to know if ZR devices have any particular problem? does it get new updates?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the specs are slightly lower classed, but the ability to app2sd sort of nailed it.
As for update, for ZR, after the planned 4.4.4, I highly doubt 5.0 will ever come.
A very good phone
mahdi87_gh said:
Hi
I wanted to buy this phone. do you recommend it or not? why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think it is the best phone that you can get with the same price
very good phone and i have no issues with it and i can play any game without lag and it performs really good
about apps2sd i use foldermount and this is not a problem for me
the only thing is, that sony released a lot of updates to it and we might not see android L but android 4.4.4 is just days away
Recommended
Price/Performance: I get around 33U$ I still find it worth the price, now some shop in my country was down price to 26U$.
Water-Resistance: I found it easier to clean, Use when you go to bathroom etc.
Prime camera: The main reason I'm still use Sony... Even an after-sales service suck so bad in my country.
Not Recommended
Price/Performance: Some phone have cheaper price with nearly performance: like Moto G, Xiaomi etc.
Water-Resistance port-cap: I found sometime it made me annoy to open, which quite difficult on this model(I'm use Xp Acro S before, it whole lot easier)
Front Camera: yeah let have VGA front cam... which can only find in a phone below 20 U$ (except from sony lol)
Speaker sound: Since it on the back of the phone you barely hear it clear or loud... except you turn it around, turn a volume up or used you hand to redirect a sound.
Internal Storage: 8GB.... while system eat up nearly 3GB. and no way to move app to SD card without a root.
And some rumor I heard was All Z series will have Android L for sure.
ps. I'm not good with english
ZervZ said:
And some rumor I heard was All Z series will have Android L for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source?
paulson881 said:
Source?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, a rumor.
Source from a shop in my country, Its in Thai language. that why I won't quote at first place.
If you want to read, here
https://www.facebook.com/sonyxpth/p...1312/796772170365461/?type=1&relevant_count=1
They said
"Every Xperia phone in Z series going to have an update to Android L.
Congrats all of Z series owner.
The other series are not going to have it.
Got it?"
Still no more trust worthly source talk about this yet.
Cons: You pay extra for the xperia brand, get a Xiaomi or Oppo etc. if you dont care about waterproofing etc.
Pros: ITS WATERPROOF. Also its exactly the right size for a phone IMO.
Totally worth it.
stormsaber said:
Cons: You pay extra for the xperia brand, get a Xiaomi or Oppo etc. if you dont care about waterproofing etc.
Pros: ITS WATERPROOF. Also its exactly the right size for a phone IMO.
Totally worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note : you pay extra(EXTRA)++++++++ for a SAMMY.:laugh:
No. Wifi and Bluetooth issues. Otherwise, fantastic phone
Sent from my C5502 using XDA Free mobile app
Yes You Can Buy
Xperia Zr is best phone.its same as xperia z.hardware are same in both phone.
I recomamded this zr because price is cheap then Z:good:
do not buy
mahdi87_gh said:
Hi
I wanted to buy this phone. do you recommend it or not? why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please never buy this phone. I am using this phone and having bluetooth and wifi problem. I can't use bluetooth and wifi. I insist you to buy Z instead of ZR. You can search on google that 50% users having problem with wifi and bluetooth. This phone is not water resistance well.
Hello from North Carolina, US.
After carrying the Note 2 for two years, I am over the large phone form factor and was considering the Z3c back when it was released. But, I'm on Verizon (CDMA) and it just wasn't a good time to shift to TMobile. My Note 2 died, and I started carrying my wife's old Galaxy S3, which confirmed my preference for a smaller handset. Since my contract with Verizon is over in June, I figured I would carry the S3 until then, see what phones were announced at MWC and make my next phone decision based on that.
Frankly, for my use cases... MWC was MEH.
The S6/edge and HTC One M9 are both lovely phones, but I don't feel like they meet my needs as well as the Z3c. With the Z3c, I love the small form factor, the waterproofiness, the battery and the dedicated shutter button. Also, an S6 with as much storage as the SD card I already own will be hundreds of dollars more expensive than the Z3c.
That said, is it crazy to buy a 6 month old phone? Considering my use cases (primarily utilitarian - music, email, rss, news/weather, social, navigation, camera - no processor intensive games) and considering how surprisingly well the S3 is still running with these use cases at nearly three years old, I am thinking the Z3c may still be a good fit for me. And, I don't want to wait as long as the rumors are saying I would need to wait for the Z4 series (autumn 2015).
What about you, would you still buy the Z3c today? Do you think, based on how I've described my uses, that it would be a good fit for me? Is there another small form factor device I should be considering? Should I suck it up and wait for autumn and the Z4's?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
Cheers
Jack
JackinNC said:
Hello from North Carolina, US.
After carrying the Note 2 for two years, I am over the large phone form factor and was considering the Z3c back when it was released. But, I'm on Verizon (CDMA) and it just wasn't a good time to shift to TMobile. My Note 2 died, and I started carrying my wife's old Galaxy S3, which confirmed my preference for a smaller handset. Since my contract with Verizon is over in June, I figured I would carry the S3 until then, see what phones were announced at MWC and make my next phone decision based on that.
Frankly, for my use cases... MWC was MEH.
The S6/edge and HTC One M9 are both lovely phones, but I don't feel like they meet my needs as well as the Z3c. With the Z3c, I love the small form factor, the waterproofiness, the battery and the dedicated shutter button. Also, an S6 with as much storage as the SD card I already own will be hundreds of dollars more expensive than the Z3c.
That said, is it crazy to buy a 6 month old phone? Considering my use cases (primarily utilitarian - music, email, rss, news/weather, social, navigation, camera - no processor intensive games) and considering how surprisingly well the S3 is still running with these use cases at nearly three years old, I am thinking the Z3c may still be a good fit for me. And, I don't want to wait as long as the rumors are saying I would need to wait for the Z4 series (autumn 2015).
What about you, would you still buy the Z3c today? Do you think, based on how I've described my uses, that it would be a good fit for me? Is there another small form factor device I should be considering? Should I suck it up and wait for autumn and the Z4's?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
Cheers
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For sure I'd still buy the Z3C today.
You're using your wife's S3 which is over 3 years old, so calling a 6 month old phone 'old' is kind of bs (No offense @ all)
As for the Z4, well.... there is no word about a Z4C and based on what Sony previously did, there shouldn't be a Z4C, but a Z5C (if ever).
The Z3C is a great phone, besides the occasional build flaws and bad camera under low light conditions.
That's great feedback, thank you.
Dsteppa said:
You're using your wife's S3 which is over 3 years old, so calling a 6 month old phone 'old' is kind of bs (No offense @ all)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None taken. The last 5 phones I've bought for myself or my wife have been purchased within 2 weeks of release, sometimes by me standing in line on release day. I buy them early, use them for 2 years when I can contractually upgrade and get a new one and start the cycle over. I typically use a phone for two years and it starts to feel "old" to me at ~18-20 months when a couple new cycles of phones and android versions have been released. My concern is not that the phone is "old" now, rather that, being 6 months old now, it may start to feel old at 12-14 months rather than 18-20.
Btw, I followed your photo link from another post of yours. Like you comments here, your sample photos are really helpful.
Thanks again
Jack
JackinNC said:
That's great feedback, thank you.
None taken. The last 5 phones I've bought for myself or my wife have been purchased within 2 weeks of release, sometimes by me standing in line on release day. I buy them early, use them for 2 years when I can contractually upgrade and get a new one and start the cycle over. I typically use a phone for two years and it starts to feel "old" to me at ~18-20 months when a couple new cycles of phones and android versions have been released. My concern is not that the phone is "old" now, rather that, being 6 months old now, it may start to feel old at 12-14 months rather than 18-20.
Btw, I followed your photo link from another post of yours. Like you comments here, your sample photos are really helpful.
Thanks again
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
Well I don't know, in terms of specs I don't see much changing any time soon, unless all manufacturers decide to make 64bit phones or use a new type of battery that either lasts long and/or charges super fast.
In the end as long as you're doing 'normal' things the phone should be your companion for at least 2 years without you really noticing a difference between your phone and other people's.
Z3 and Z3 compact are best options on android right now.
implying you don't want a phablet.
new phones like GS6 and ONE M9 are cool but you can find a Z3 for 500€/$ and a Z3C for 400, (gs6 and one ~750$)
you'll have same software 5.0.2 with better UI, and better battery, only the camera will be a bit behind but still excellent.
so unless you have money to waste just go for it it's a good deal
I love my z3 compact but if I were to buy a new phone now, I would get the galaxy s6 edge.
The biggest issue I have with the z3c is the speaker. Currently if I am in a semi loud surrounding, I can hardly hear the other person on the line.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
As usual it depends on what you need. Me personally there is no other phone than the Z3c atm. Size/hardware/design... its perfect for me.
So if you're looking for a smaller phone (one hand use) with excellent battery life and fast hardware just go for it there is nothing that comes even close in that department.
I'm very torn right now, I'm frustrated that I would have to use the bloated stock software to get decent camera quality (no barrel distortion and better low light) and that CM12, while it runs decently doesn't support the features locked away by DRM. I'm contemplating reverting back to a Nexus 5...I think my biggest issue would be the camera, I thought it would be superb but in reality it only matches my nexus considering the distortion. And Sony's DRM and bootloader locking nonsense seems ridiculous to me.
zander21510 said:
I'm very torn right now, I'm frustrated that I would have to use the bloated stock software to get decent camera quality (no barrel distortion and better low light) and that CM12, while it runs decently doesn't support the features locked away by DRM. I'm contemplating reverting back to a Nexus 5...I think my biggest issue would be the camera, I thought it would be superb but in reality it only matches my nexus considering the distortion. And Sony's DRM and bootloader locking nonsense seems ridiculous to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can just root and then debloat.
2mal16 said:
you can just root and then debloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's easy...the hard part is losing all the customizations. I went to stock 5.0.2 rooted, system R/W support isn't there, I lose all sorts of little features like expanded desktop, quick unlock, navigation customization...
zander21510 said:
That's easy...the hard part is losing all the customizations. I went to stock 5.0.2 rooted, system R/W support isn't there, I lose all sorts of little features like expanded desktop, quick unlock, navigation customization...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rw is already fixed though you wont like the process if you want to Stay on locked bl. Those features will be implemented either by Sony or more likely xposed working. Just give it some time
2mal16 said:
Rw is already fixed though you wont like the process if you want to Stay on locked bl. Those features will be implemented either by Sony or more likely xposed working. Just give it some time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure Sony is done with us after this update, minus maybe a couple security patches there won't be any new features. I already tried CM12 for a good month, just couldn't stand the camera and the bugs were a bit too much for a DD. Hoping for xposed and working recoveries on lollipop...that's about all I can do right now.
zander21510 said:
Pretty sure Sony is done with us after this update, minus maybe a couple security patches there won't be any new features. I already tried CM12 for a good month, just couldn't stand the camera and the bugs were a bit too much for a DD. Hoping for xposed and working recoveries on lollipop...that's about all I can do right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jeah it will Come soon enough, I mean lolli was just released and recoveries,custom Kernels and a working xposed will all make their way on this device sooner or later. Just play the waiting game... again
zander21510 said:
Pretty sure Sony is done with us after this update, minus maybe a couple security patches there won't be any new features. I already tried CM12 for a good month, just couldn't stand the camera and the bugs were a bit too much for a DD. Hoping for xposed and working recoveries on lollipop...that's about all I can do right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's see... The Xperia Z that has been released for about 2 years also received the Lollipop update, why would you think that Sony would stop update a phone that's just been out 6 month's. Can you please tell me your logic?
Sent from my D5803
Nice Features
There are some things which are so nice. Most of the new phones arent waterproof. Phones are getting bigger and bigger. But the z3c is smaller but quite good.
I certainly would buy the Z3C again, the biggest gripe I have is the lack of Quality Case choices. Great phone IMO, size, battery, speed and takes above average pictures(Auto mode) and if you take the time to use the manual settings it can take excellent pictures.
So far, Sony Z3C has no real competition. In android world. I just bought one.
Dsteppa said:
Let's see... The Xperia Z that has been released for about 2 years also received the Lollipop update, why would you think that Sony would stop update a phone that's just been out 6 month's. Can you please tell me your logic?
Sent from my D5803
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well with the persisting rumors that Sony is either scaling back or dropping their mobile division...I just have a gut feeling.
And I guess I changed my mind. Just ordered a replacement Nexus 5 like my old one. I will miss the size and it is a sharp looking phone, but the broken features that can never be fixed (mostly camera stuff) and the DRM nonsense really turned me off of this phone. I may be an oddball but I just don't like that I'm missing all the little customizations and things on CM12 when I'm on stock, and Xposed will probably only fix about half of those features. Miss Privacy Guard, Quick unlock, all that good stuff. And I just don't like the UI design choices. Plus all the no-name "device reporting" and "anonymous reporting" services running in the background that can't be disabled.
I'm sure in a few months CM12 will have the microphone & other issues ironed out, but what's the point of having a 20MP camera that has distortion and poor image quality that (from what I've read) can never be fixed in an AOSP rom?
I would recommend it to my fiancee that doesn't use her phone for much more than texting and Youtube, but not for a tinkerer like myself.
FOR SURE! Unless you want to wait for a Z4 Compact to even be announced, and then eventually come out, I'd say the Z3 Compact remains the best phone at it's size from anyone, still to this day. The Galaxy S5 Mini just came out recently, and it's a Snapdragon 400! The Z3 Compact has a great, waterproof build, MicroSD, Camera Button, and 801 processor. Nothing else comes close unless you're okay with a leviathan of a phone I love my Z3 Compact and really do not desire a new phone or ever again something larger...
Would definitely still buy again. Just ticks so many boxes that other devices don't (size, speed, battery, microSD, camera). It really has no competition. I'm not sure we'll see a Z4 compact at all - doubt z3 compact is a big seller and with Sony in such a mess, they may just focus on the Z4. If that happens, we're in bad shape for fully spec'd < 5" Android devices. The good news is that the hardware is advancing so slowly now, the z3c will probably be a viable platform for quite awhile.
My Galaxy S4 (two generations old!) still runs CM12 perfectly fine. It's an SD600!