[Q] Would you still buy the Z3c today? - Xperia Z3 Compact Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

[Q] Would you still buy the Z3c today? - Xperia Z3 Compact Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

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!

Related

Should I upgrade?

Hi there guys,
Currently I have a S3, my friend recommended the Sony Xperia Z1 and after some research, it does seem quite a nice phone.
The issue I have with the S3 is that after a month or so of usage, it slows the hell down, im thinking kit kat would be able to resolve this regarding the way the memory store things as such.
Also Samsung has really pissed me off, my charging port on the phone is damaged, therefore I cant charge or connect to my computer. I have called up 3/4 times for a repair envelope to get sent to me, every single time I dont receive crap, all they do is send out another. Only choice I have is to take it to an authorised service centre which isnt too ideal as I work full time and by the time I get back home the centre will be closed.
I am on o2, my upgrade isnt till June, but I can buy out my contact for under £200.
I really do need to play with the phone itself, if its anything as smooth as my friends HTC One mini then I will buy it straight!
I guess I just need a nudge in the right direction?
Thanks.

I just upgraded from a Galaxy S3

pod8 said:
Hi there guys,
Currently I have a S3, my friend recommended the Sony Xperia Z1 and after some research, it does seem quite a nice phone.
The issue I have with the S3 is that after a month or so of usage, it slows the hell down, im thinking kit kat would be able to resolve this regarding the way the memory store things as such.
Also Samsung has really pissed me off, my charging port on the phone is damaged, therefore I cant charge or connect to my computer. I have called up 3/4 times for a repair envelope to get sent to me, every single time I dont receive crap, all they do is send out another. Only choice I have is to take it to an authorised service centre which isnt too ideal as I work full time and by the time I get back home the centre will be closed.
I am on o2, my upgrade isnt till June, but I can buy out my contact for under £200.
I really do need to play with the phone itself, if its anything as smooth as my friends HTC One mini then I will buy it straight!
I guess I just need a nudge in the right direction?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This comes with experience!
1. If you like to play with roms and modes, Sony is just not that great. For that HTC is the king and thats a huge thing for me
2. If you like to have a device with premium material in your hand Sony is the best, HTC is a close second and if I were you I'd blend the hell out of my S3 and then feed it to my worst enemy!
3. If you like lots and lots of software features stick to Samsung (I would advise you not to do it though!)
4. If you like the best UI go for the HTC
--------------
Pros and Cons time!
Pros:
1. Z1 imho is the best looking android phone ever (yes I had a black HTC One for a brief time and its a beautiful phone but I decided Z1 is better)
2. Z1 up until now has the best performance in graphics comparing to other "phone" flagships (not so sure about the G2 though)
3. Its waterproof (I love it, think about the opportunities you'd have by having a waterproof camera and you'll fall in love like I did!)
Cons:
1. Not even a good "8MP" camera, you figure what its fully sized pics would look like... if you can't check this out
2. Okay speaker comparing to other flagships but superb speaker among waterproofs
3. The display is power hungry
4. The display is also not that great specially if you got used to S3
5. Its an expensive phone considering your only option is 16GB (though you can add an sd card)
-------------------
all these things aside. As you can see I decided to buy this phone and I don't really regret buying it (I'm 80% happy) and again as you can see in my signature I wanna buy the Z2 too, so its really up to you to decide...
if you have any more questions I'd be happy to help you with what I know

ara.armagedon said:
This comes with experience!
1. If you like to play with roms and modes, Sony is just not that great. For that HTC is the king and thats a huge thing for me
2. If you like to have a device with premium material in your hand Sony is the best, HTC is a close second and if I were you I'd blend the hell out of my S3 and then feed it to my worst enemy!
3. If you like lots and lots of software features stick to Samsung (I would advise you not to do it though!)
4. If you like the best UI go for the HTC
--------------
Pros and Cons time!
Pros:
1. Z1 imho is the best looking android phone ever (yes I had a black HTC One for a brief time and its a beautiful phone but I decided Z1 is better)
2. Z1 up until now has the best performance in graphics comparing to other "phone" flagships (not so sure about the G2 though)
3. Its waterproof (I love it, think about the opportunities you'd have by having a waterproof camera and you'll fall in love like I did!)
Cons:
1. Not even a good "8MP" camera, you figure what its fully sized pics would look like... if you can't check this out
2. Okay speaker comparing to other flagships but superb speaker among waterproofs
3. The display is power hungry
4. The display is also not that great specially if you got used to S3
5. Its an expensive phone considering your only option is 16GB (though you can add an sd card)
-------------------
all these things aside. As you can see I decided to buy this phone and I don't really regret buying it (I'm 80% happy) and again as you can see in my signature I wanna buy the Z2 too, so its really up to you to decide...
if you have any more questions I'd be happy to help you with what I know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was very helpful!
The pros for the Z1 out weights the negs for me, im not a big modder, i just like to install omega rom and run that.
The biggest thing holding me back right now is the news of a Z2, if I get the Z1 now and the Z2 comes out after Christmas then that will not be good news since I will be tied into a 24 month contract!
I think I should fix my S3, install the new version of Android and test it out as im still on 4.2.
Thanks you guys.

its impossible that sony will announce z2 in Q1 . it will the same date as they declared Z1 . so go for it now and dont wait cause if u do so u will not buy any phone

pod8 said:
This was very helpful!
The pros for the Z1 out weights the negs for me, im not a big modder, i just like to install omega rom and run that.
The biggest thing holding me back right now is the news of a Z2, if I get the Z1 now and the Z2 comes out after Christmas then that will not be good news since I will be tied into a 24 month contract!
I think I should fix my S3, install the new version of Android and test it out as im still on 4.2.
Thanks you guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony wont be announcing a new flagship device until Qualcomm announce theirs (Save February for Qualcomm and April/May for the Z2). I've heard that there will be a close to 2k display this time around I don't think it will be a good idea for "everybody" to buy the Z2 because of two reasons, 1. Qualcomm usually introduces two flagships a year, one at the beginning of the year and one at the end. The ones at the beginnings are always CPU jumps not graphical jumps, so considering the increase in resolution at best we will have the same performance as the Z1, 2. Since it is a new display there will be problems (which will be fixed for the Z3!)
On the other hand I'm pretty certain that the Z2 will be a considerable improvement over the Z1 camera wise that's why I say I wanna buy it.
anyways don't worry about the Z2 we wont be seeing it soon(probably!)

I decided I want it!
Now the choice is which network, three: £36 or O2: £41.17
I have used three before in an iPhone 4, it was pretty crappy in my area/house, I am willing to give them another try with the 7/14 day cooling off period, I can technically get out of the contract if I receive crap signal.
Im currently on O2, they are ok I guess, its nice to fall back on 2g if 3g isnt available.

pod8 said:
I decided I want it!
Now the choice is which network, three: £36 or O2: £41.17
I have used three before in an iPhone 4, it was pretty crappy in my area/house, I am willing to give them another try with the 7/14 day cooling off period, I can technically get out of the contract if I receive crap signal.
Im currently on O2, they are ok I guess, its nice to fall back on 2g if 3g isnt available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
got mine on EE and 4g speeds are nothing short of impressive

y2grae said:
got mine on EE and 4g speeds are nothing short of impressive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats one network I would not like to go with. Friends who are on EE in my area have crappy connection/signal, granted they are not on 4G, but still it give me the impression of not being good.

pod8 said:
Thats one network I would not like to go with. Friends who are on EE in my area have crappy connection/signal, granted they are not on 4G, but still it give me the impression of not being good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on T-mobile and upgraded. Signal stable and H+ most of the time when not 4G.
service was good on T-mobile and same levels so far from EE as same people.
not trying to sell on, just giving honest feedback from experience

I'm on 3 and it's a great network and the cheapest. What's not to like about 2000 mins 5000 txts 5000 3 to 3 mins, unlimited Internet and unlimited tethering all for £15 a month! Mind you that's a sim only deal. I buy all my handsets outright I don't do contracts!! And also when 3 roll out 4G you don't have to pay anything extra on top.....happy days
I love my z1 paying 15 a month
Sent from my Z1 using XDA Premium App

Hally79 said:
I'm on 3 and it's a great network and the cheapest. What's not to like about 2000 mins 5000 txts 5000 3 to 3 mins, unlimited Internet and unlimited tethering all for £15 a month! Mind you that's a sim only deal. I buy all my handsets outright I don't do contracts!! And also when 3 roll out 4G you don't have to pay anything extra on top.....happy days
I love my z1 paying 15 a month
Sent from my Z1 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an update, I got mine on o2.
I would have liked to been on 3 but they are pricks with their credit checks, rejected me for a £36 contract via affordablemobiles.
I applied for my 02 contract from mobiles.co.uk and was accepted say 9 hours later, £42 for 8gig 4g.
I dont understand 3, just take my money and stfu, now they lost the chance to take my money as im back with o2, oh well tough luck.

[Q] Sony Z1 vs Nexus 5, Help

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??????
Click to expand...
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-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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-

Should I buy the Z3C today?

Hi everyone,
I'm using the xiaomi mi2 today and all in all happy. It got wet and screen is broken so I have to think of an alternative soon before it dies completely.
I came across the Z3c and was charmed by the similar size and great battery life.
I kind of disappointed it only have 2gb ram, okay camera, no ir.. But it's very good looking water resistant phone.
My limit is 5".
I thought maybe to wait for the z4c because of the 1080p screen, 3gb ram probably but kind of stressed by the fact it will host the problematic 810 snapdragon,which warms up AZ everyone in the Internet reports.
Should I buy it now or wait? Would you buy it today even that its almost one year out, and maybe there's better options today?
I'm also a bit amazed I can't root the phone without losing the already not so great camera quality.
How is the development community here? Is it planned to have 5.1? would you recommend CM and other roms as a good option or is it buggy and bad battery life?

I bought one today.
1080p is nice (I had Nexus 4 which is 720p and went to HTC M7 which is 1080p, it is no thaaaaaaaat difference)
2Gb of ram is enough
I don't think there are better options, and with SD810 things are getting "hotter".
You can root without loosing camera quality
5.1 is planned to arrive on July by sony.

Im buying mine next month. Same Price of G3 but that 2k display made me run away lol
And love sony too

eranyanay said:
would you recommend CM and other roms as a good option or is it buggy and bad battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried CM nightlies, performance and battery life is good. But battery life is better at stock rom because of power saving algorithms of sony.
Biggest down side is the camera in custom roms like CM. You should unlock bootloader to flash custom roms and this action removes DRM keys, resulting in bad camera quality. There is also the wide lens issue, images get distorted in camera apps other than stock sony camera app. I would like to use CM but as far as I know there is no fix for bad camera in Cm (or in other custom roms).
But the good thing is that you can restore drm keys if you have backed up drm keys with a tool in the forums, and return to rooted stock roms and regain the not-so-great-but-absolutely-better-than-cm image quality for camera.

Ok, zihinsiz say all good things, but if i can tell you something... Take care of you mi4, because with our z3c you will have no real benefits (ok, battery A LITTLE better, screen and resolution A LITTLE better) but nothing really really better that you can see as really different as your actually situation

zihinsiz, Thanks for the input. Is it possible to root without removing DRM keys (which actually means, without unlocking the bootlaoder?) , and then to have CM with the sony camera, which does all the PP and thus not losing image quality? beacuse if not, it actually means I should never exchange roms...not being able to remove embedded bloatware (which is done easily with root)
PeppeBove, I have the mi2 (bought it when it first got out, almost 3 years ago!), did you mistype and think I have the mi2, and claim there's no big difference comparing both, or did you misread and think I have the mi4?
I also have another question, Where can I find the differences between both Z3C models D5803, D5833? Which one is the "international" one?
And how is the speaker phone & speakers volume? Is it good enough?

eranyanay said:
zihinsiz, Thanks for the input. Is it possible to root without removing DRM keys (which actually means, without unlocking the bootlaoder?) , and then to have CM with the sony camera, which does all the PP and thus not losing image quality? beacuse if not, it actually means I should never exchange roms...not being able to remove embedded bloatware (which is done easily with root)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can have root without unlocking the bootloader and without losing drm related functions. So, you can debloat the stock rom, flash mods and use xposed framework without losing any function.
And trying cm or other roms is also possible after unlocking bootloader and returning to fully functional stock rom is possible with drm restore and bootloader relocking. Unfortunately Sony camera app only works in stock roms, that is the disadvantage I talked about. You should forget camera if you have a custom rom installed, that bad is the quality I think.

Camera quality is the only thing gets bad while bootloader is unlocked? and in any case, using any other camera app will get bad results?
gps and all other sensors behave OK no matter what?
Is it possible to get google dialer or some of the stock feeling of aosp/cm roms?
As a Z3C owners can you see any other competitor with better specs at this dimensions (< 13CM height) ?
Im already looking at the devilcase metal bumper...

eranyanay said:
Camera quality is the only thing gets bad while bootloader is unlocked? and in any case, using any other camera app will get bad results?
gps and all other sensors behave OK no matter what?
Is it possible to get google dialer or some of the stock feeling of aosp/cm roms?
As a Z3C owners can you see any other competitor with better specs at this dimensions (< 13CM height) ?
Im already looking at the devilcase metal bumper...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can look at the topic in my signature for example pictures. I think my pictures are at the last or 1 before last page.
I took the pictures with Camera FV-5 and an unlocked bootloader.
They really aren't bad in my opinion, you will probably only notice a difference with low light.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4928&idPhone2=6538. Thats a spec to spec comparison. I just got the z3 compact too and have had to switch over since my m7 decided to conveniently die on me without any warning sign. Overall I cant really tell the difference in the resolution partly because in day today applications it doesn't really matter. I suggest investing in a magnetic charger as well in order to maintain the water- resistance of the phone. The battery life is yet to be put through the paces but it's already shaping up to be much better than my heavily customized m7 was. Both my phones had 2 gigs of ram and I never saw myself using more than 1.5 gigs at the most. Overall I'd say it was worth the upgrade especially since I got my z3c for 300 AUD . Also the bluetooth low energy is handy if you use bluetooth headphones or if your car supports it. After the oneplus one, this is the second best phone in terms of price to specs to the fact that it is actually small enough to call a phone. My 2 cents would be not to wait since sony supports their devices for 18 months so you do get Android M and possibly the next iteration as well so really you've got all bases covered here

i wouldn't buy one today. it feels more sluggish than my wife's galaxy alpha, so i would go with an S6, even having the battery+screen size+water proofness penalty.

reg-sux said:
i wouldn't buy one today. it feels more sluggish than my wife's galaxy alpha, so i would go with an S6, even having the battery+screen size+water proofness penalty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you are running the exact same apps on each phone it's very hard to justify a sluggish statement. You can certainly have a rogue app bogging down your phone.
I'd buy the Z3c again as there really isn't anything else to compare it to in the sub 5" category. While I'd like the camera on the S6 I'm not sure I could deal with the decrease in battery life and the overall size..as well as TouchWiz.

I saw this on ebay which is really cheap, i don't know if its some deal or sale, do y'all think its worth it? Here is the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...858?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4e0b155a
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...929?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487f6513b9
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...931?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487f6513bb

The Z3c is a decent enough phone that feels snappy, is the perfect size and has amazing battery life, but it has its quirks . If I were in the market today I'd wait to see what the Galaxy S6 Mini brings to the table. I might even sell my Z3c if the S6 Mini packs as much performance as the regular S6.

uchechris said:
I saw this on ebay which is really cheap, i don't know if its some deal or sale, do y'all think its worth it? Here is the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...858?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4e0b155a
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...929?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487f6513b9
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XZ3D58...931?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487f6513bb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are Seller refurbished, not factory refurbs either. I personally wouldn't chance it, but thats up to you. Also it states that there could be signs of use. I'd either buy new or keep an eye out on swappa.
I've been debating on getting a z3c myself but i might wait for z3+c possibly even s6 mini. Its a tough call.

The problem with Samsung is that their devices is always very "tall", because of the hardware buttons, plus no sdcard, no water proof...
maybe the camera will be a plus.
Im going to buy the Z3C. I made up my mind
Now I struggle where to buy it from.

eranyanay said:
The problem with Samsung is that their devices is always very "tall", because of the hardware buttons, plus no sdcard, no water proof...
maybe the camera will be a plus.
Im going to buy the Z3C. I made up my mind
Now I struggle where to buy it from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure where you are located but amazon and fleabay seem to have some of the best prices on new device.
I'm itching to buy one myself and kills me that there is no word on when to expect the z3+c. I think id rather have the new version but it will also come with a higher premium as well. My guess would be Sept release
Things that bother me most about the z3c are poor indoor shots, cap over charging port, and the docking pins on the side.

Don't hold your breath for a Z3c+ to be released. Mini/Compact phones are going the way of the Dodo Bird (sadly). Get the Z3C now or possibly even the Samsung Alpha. The Galaxy S6 mini could be awesome (minus touchwiz) or it could be crippled like the previous mini versions have been. If you can wait, do so, so you won't have any regrets. The price will only get lower.

I bought my 1st in November white color, Sold it to some1 last month and bought green one. Giving it to my wife next month and again buying new white one next month. Its the perfect phone.

INFRNL said:
Not sure where you are located but amazon and fleabay seem to have some of the best prices on new device.
I'm itching to buy one myself and kills me that there is no word on when to expect the z3+c. I think id rather have the new version but it will also come with a higher premium as well. My guess would be Sept release
Things that bother me most about the z3c are poor indoor shots, cap over charging port, and the docking pins on the side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here in Portugal most of stores aren't getting more Z3C.
I asked about 3 or 4 stores and they either say they don't have stock for some months or that the device was discontinued, that's why I bought it now.
Best prices here are around 256-370eur on unknow stores, but on orange (it's a store from expansys group) at 389eur (discount code deal10). On physical stores the best price I saw was 411 or 550eur with the sony smartwatch.
On international stores like dvdandorra you can get it at 339eur .

What will be your next smartphone?

I am exploring options for my next phone. What will be your future pick?
I was looking forward to a new sony device, but I am not blown away with the xperia x. But I guess it is still top of my list.

Guids said:
I am exploring options for my next phone. What will be your future pick?
I was looking forward to a new sony device, but I am not blown away with the xperia x. But I guess it is still top of my list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably a Z5 compact. The Z5 is cheaper but has the same spec as the X.
Sony have the market on small top spec phones. I like a small phone in my hand, not some massive phablet.
Plus it's waterproof and has all the features. Top audio, noise reduction technologies built in. IPS screen, there aren't any other manufacturers that come close.
But it won't be for another year, hopefully by then there will be some development on it and things like rooting will be easy.

Didgesteve said:
Probably a Z5 compact. The Z5 is cheaper but has the same spec as the X.
Sony have the market on small top spec phones. I like a small phone in my hand, not some massive phablet.
Plus it's waterproof and has all the features. Top audio, noise reduction technologies built in. IPS screen, there aren't any other manufacturers that come close.
But it won't be for another year, hopefully by then there will be some development on it and things like rooting will be easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah unfortunately support on xda is virtually non existent for the z5 (compact). And I do not think it will surge eventually, then it would have happened already. It is also the main reason why I didn't switch earlier. But yeah.. Xda support is really important for me since I like to tweak certain aspects

I am going with the Huawei P9 Plus. It will be a step up from the z3c in a few areas. First off, the P9 has 4gb of ram, so multitasking is easier, and the chipset is a solid foundation as well. The z3c has a higher megapixel camera 20mp vs the 12mp P9 Plus. The P9 Plus is almost an inch bigger in size 4.6 vs 5.5 but I still think that it does not qualify as ( as Didgesteve called it ) a phablet.

Nokia's (the Finnish company) non compete clause expires next month, so in 8 days I believe, I'm waiting to see what they bring to market - I bet it'll be good - they've had years to prepare.

A Galaxy Note 6/7 or a Nexus phone. My biggest priorities are vanilla, lag free, good battery and waterproof. If google makes a nice Nexus that's waterproof and has good battery, lag and vanilla are given. For the Note, I'm not so sure about the UI. But my Z3C has become laggy as of late, even with a factory reset. Constantly at 1.6-1.9 gb memory usage.

Xiaomi Mi 5 is cheap and really rocks!!! :good:

istux said:
Xiaomi Mi 5 is cheap and really rocks!!! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely not Z5 Compact, I'd rather wait for the Xperia X to have a compact version than buy a phone with barely any support from the community and not to mention Snapdragon 810 Problems

istux said:
Xiaomi Mi 5 is cheap and really rocks!!! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ways also looking forward to this. But that video showing that it breaks easily scared me off. The camera is also underwhelming.
I like specs from oneplus 3, but it is just too damn big.

Much as i like the z3c for it's size and specs, my next phone will most likely be a nexus.
While Sony's firmware isn't bad i do miss the variety of 3rd party, AOSP based roms, something that a nexus won't lack thanks to the open bootloader and abundance of developers.
For now, until we know anything about the next Nexus devices, i just hope the PA team will manage to resolve some of the more pressing bugs, a daily-driver aosp MM rom might just keep me around for a bit longer.

Definitely not a Xperia!!

i switched from z3 compact to iphone SE

I went from a HTC Desire to a HTC Sensation, then a Xperia ZR and I have enjoyed my Z3 Compact since October, 2014. I wanted a new Xperia for the summer of 2016, something like the Z6 Compact but the new Xperia X series is not what I wanted.
The only Xperia X I wanted is the X Performance but it has failed to pique my interest. Battery tests look underwhelming compared to the Z3C, the camera isn't up to the other flagships and the price is too high for a smartphone that wont' be released in Europe until July.
So I have jumped ship and went to buy an S7 Edge that features great battery, screen, camera, waterproofing and Material themes so TouchWiz isn't annoying. Maybe the screen is too big at 5.5", but the AMOLED readability in summer is top-notch and the pictures and videos taken are miles better than any other phone camera I tried.
The S7 Edge was 570 euro including the Samsung VR glasses (thanks to Vodafone). The Xperia X Performance hasn't been released yet, but I expect it to cost around 630-650 euro.
Sony has failed me first choosing the SD 810 for the Z5 line and now leaving the Z series aside (Z6 Compact, Z6 and Z6 Premium was what I wanted).
I may return to Sony when they offer something that fills the void of the Z series, not right now with overpriced phones that are released too late.

I get my Nexus 5X tomorrow! YAY! Not the newest device, but almost anything seems to be better to me than any Xperia. I really like the Nexus line. If I hadn't been that misinformed by Sony about being open blabla I would have bought a Nexus instead of an Xperia. Actually using a Z3C, going to sell it as soon as I was finally able to recover DRM with Windows 10 or Linux (Arch). So my Nexus 5X will cost me about 100 Euro. Nice price for a quite decent upgrade of camera and processor (Snapdragon 801 --> Snapdragon 808) and for a device I can fully customize and which got amazing support in FOSS community / XDA.
I think smartphones today are really fast (more than 200 (!!) times faster than my first PC., an Intel 80386. Imagine 200 PCs in your room, haha) and it's not top priority for me to have the fastest device in the whole universe. What counts for me is that the device is fast enough to be ready for daily usage, that I can modify my device to my needs without losing any feature (camera quality, sound quality), not the needs a company wants me to have... and to have a good camera (battery of the Nexus 5X is not the best but acceptable). At first I was quite satisfied with my Z3C but that slowly turned into frustration and anger. It took months to root this unholy device without losing DRM forever (thank God for the dev that finally got it!). Afterwards it was a pain in the ass to do such simple things like rooting it, install recovery (compared to my S3 and Nexus 7; atm trying to recover my DRM for selling this crappy device but ADB won't call SuperSU - wtf?!)... then saw how "good" the open-source output of the so-called developer-friendly company was and I was massively disappointed, to say it in very kind words. Still there is no fully working (--> fisheye) AOSP for Z3 series. Lollipop got fisheye, CM13 for MM is not available yet (LOL?! The only manufacturer left... what a shame) because Sony released first MM working stuff (RIL, camera) in May 2016 afaik) - more than half a year after release of MM. That's what I call developer-friendly... lol. I never gonna buy any Xperia anymore, never in a million years, that's for sure, and try to avoid buying anything made by Sony in general.
Now I'm very glad to get a Nexus (I'm still very satisfied with my Nexus 7 2013 already) because the needs of the user and customizability are top priority and it has a very good cam, which won't produce (reverse) fisheye-pictures when unlocked. I won't need to use stock ROM for this device to be fully working, nor a locked BL and a thousand hacks for stock to be comfortable with (still no dark settings for MM stock, only eye-killing whiteness). Feels like not being in bonds any more...
My brother and my sister-in-law both got the same device (Z3C stock, not rooted) and are very satisfied (for whatever reason... camera on stock with DRM is even worse than on my old Galaxy S3)... so, well. For everyone who still likes Xperia, I wish you the best with that, honestly.
Good riddance, Sony...

is there any phone out there with similar dimensions to the z3 compact? i would like waterproofing as well, but not sure what's out there these days. i have to admit i love the concept rom

tronjojo said:
is there any phone out there with similar dimensions to the z3 compact? i would like waterproofing as well, but not sure what's out there these days. i have to admit i love the concept rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Z5 Compact

deniz2694 said:
i switched from z3 compact to iphone SE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know a lot of ppl that had made that switch and was satisfied about it

I'm looking for the best smartphone that does not tells itself that the system was been tampered if i root and modify something (Like KNOX or HTC do tell it), because if i want to bring my warranty back, i simply re-flash the firmware and it become unrooted.

No idea. I will be sticking with my Z3c for the foreseeable future.
I recently purchased a Galaxy s6 and was missing my Z3c within a few days. I have also recently used the LG G4 and Nexus 5x. All of these feel like a step down. The Z3c with the MM Slim rom is so fast and fluid and the battery life is ridiculous. The galaxy S6 could kill itself in 12 hours with almost no interaction. Also, it is hard to go back to a phone as large as those. Once you put a case on them, you may as well be using a tablet.

I would go for OnePlus 3 right now, but it's huge, i just don't get the hype for 5.5" screen, that requires your device body to have more than 15cm in size. All of a sudden 5" was not enough so they all had to go for more, not to mention big bezels on top and bottom of the screen even on those 5-5.2" devices.

Should i get a nexus 6?

Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.

I'm using it for 2 years and didn't face any battery bulge problem, at least not yet.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

The phones dated march 2015 or later did not suffer the battery bulge problems.

Simplyeduardo said:
Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite a few people got phones with bad speakers. They make hissing crackling sounds when the battery gets to lower percentages. Mine does this and it's a minor annoyance. Everything else about this device to me is SWEET! I LOVE my Nexus 6, but it's roulette getting a device without the speaker issue. Like I said, minor annoyance and totally usable without too much issue, but noticeable nonetheless. Great phone however, love mine.

Simplyeduardo said:
Hello, i was wondering if its worth getting a nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250. im just scared of the battery bulge problem, any advice will be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I would say Go For It...especially at that price!
I got my Nexus 6 in March of 2015 and Love It. So far it is the best phone I have owned so far. And that is say a lot since I previously owned the HTC EVO, HTC M7, and HTC M8.

Simplyeduardo said:
.... nexus 6 sealed in box bought in june 2015 for 250.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep your 250 and by a newer model.
In a few months their will be complete new Nexus models.
I am using N6 for about 2 years.
Out of the box the battery life wasn't enough for intensive use between 9 to 17. Cause the white user interface. I needed to unlock the bootloader and root the N6 to change the dpi and install layers and apps with a black background.
The N6 is good but the Google stuff is not.

Personally I would say for the next few months, try to put away $50-$100 each month until the new devices are released. While this phone is still operable for the age it is at, it lacks a few things such as fingerprint scanner and a nice camera. Not to mention the size, which can be off-putting for some.
My suggestion - Save your pennies and buy something with a Snapdragon 820+...That is at least my plan.

For 250.00 its still a solid option. The camera is fine and finger print scanner is not a huge deal. I would say it is a bit better then "operable". You will be looking at spending 600.00 to get the newest Nexus when it drops.

@smokinjoe2122: What do you define as "nice" in regards to the camera?
I personally find the camera to be quite excellent. It's no substitute for a dedicated camera if you have one. At the same time the best camera in the world will not help you if it's sitting in the camera bag when you need to get a picture.
Case in point, this picture would not have happened if I had to look for a dedicated camera in a bag. However, because I had my N6 on me, a seagull casually standing on a car was immortalized. But à chacun leur propre.
None of the things you mentioned, except for the size, are truly dealbreakers. The size can be intimidating, but to gain converts to the cause you simply have to time it right and hope they can keep an open mind. I managed to convert my roommate to a large-screen phone simply by letting her play with my N6 for a little while after I had gotten it. She got a Moto X Pure two months ago and couldn't be happier.
@Simplyeduardo, go ahead and spend the money, but you might want to invest in an OTG drive while you're at it. Especially if the phone only has 32GB of storage on it.

To answer your questions:
Comparing my Nexus 6 camera to my girlfriend's Nexus 5x, the difference is night and day, especially when it comes to HDR or low light pictures. There's also missing support for the latest features such as 4k video.
I also feel like finger print scanners are getting even more important for things such as Android pay and enterprise applications. If you've used an iPhone, many applications can be locked down with security only to be unlocked by the fingerprint scanner or pin. The Nexus 6 unfortunately will never have that technology (Sure you can use a pin, but FP is much better imho).
Lastly, the performance of this phone isn't the worst out there, but it defintely isn't the best. There's plenty of posts here and on Reddit that talk about performance issues, lag, stutters, ect. I for one can validate that, and I have a feeling it'll only get worse as Android will be designed to run better on the newer generation hardware.
So, do you spend $250 on a 1.5-2 year old phone, or do I put away another hundred to two hundred and get the newer generation Nexus or OnePlus 3?

my november 2014 bought n6 has an ever so slight buldge, with the back cover raised about 1mm(yes, barely). i bought mine for the full $650, plus tax. anyways, ive never even considered getting it relaced, as it does absolutely no harm to me or my use. ok, i cant use my n6 under water for sure, or water will get in..
but for $250, i wouldnt even think about it.

With all the development we have these phones are still relevant, and will be for quite some time. I used to trade up every 6 months to a year, but I have had this phone for almost 2 years now and see no reason to get a new one. IMHO a new phone wouldn't be an upgrade anyhow, we would have to wait on development. Just look at all the sweet mods and roms these awesome devs. Have created for us! There's something for everyone. Good luck, Happy flashing.

smokinjoe2122 said:
To answer your questions:
So, do you spend $250 on a 1.5-2 year old phone, or do I put away another hundred to two hundred and get the newer generation Nexus or OnePlus 3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question in the singular. I only asked one.
The larger CCD pixels in the sensor do make a difference, I do admit. Especially if using the Google camera app as it is barebones. However, switch the camera app to one with manual controls and that advantage is lost, since it's possible to adjust not only the ISO of the camera, but how long the shutter stays open. If you adjust the ISO to 1600 or more, you improve the sensitivity of the CCD. If you can control the length of time the shutter is opened, more light is let in. Recording more light is the name of the game.
The camera is not a deal breaker. It's a good camera that gets better when coupled with the right software. 4K video is a non-starter to me, i.e. it's irrelevant.
Fingerprint scanners are a security hole, since you can be compelled to unlock your phone without need of a warrant. One of the reasons I DIDN'T spring for a 6P at Christmas 2015 was because of the fingerprint scanner. So, not a deal breaker.
As someone who has used Touchwiz, I'm very familiar with lag. I have yet to see any lag on this device. But not everyone is as fortunate as I am, I guess.
I still would recommend this phone over other Nexus devices. The 1+3 is a tougher sell.

Database Develop

welcome