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So i have an Xperia Z, and i'm thinking of upgrading to a Z1, but i don't know if it's a worthwhile investment.
I am more or less satisfied with my Z, camera is a miss in some more difficult situations, but other than that it does what i want it do.
Bassically i want to know 3 things;
1) Does the S800 make much of a difference in real usage compared to S4 Pro?
I have very high end games on my Z, like MW4, Riptide 2, Asphalt 8, and in my opinion they are as good as they can get, but maybe i am wrong.
2) How good is the screen?
3) How good is the camera, in your honest opinion? The more in-depth answer, the better!
I know i could read reviews, but they are running older software, so i think image quality might have changed over time.
Thank you for your answers, in advance.
Warmo said:
1) Does the S800 make much of a difference in real usage compared to S4 Pro?
I have very high end games on my Z, like MW4, Riptide 2, Asphalt 8, and in my opinion they are as good as they can get, but maybe i am wrong.
2) How good is the screen?
3) How good is the camera, in your honest opinion? The more in-depth answer, the better!
I know i could read reviews, but they are running older software, so i think image quality might have changed over time.
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I love my Z1 but in my honest opinion, I would probably not upgrade yet unless you are a diehard Sony fan or definitely can't wait for next September or so. But I'll try to answer your questions best I can:
1) It makes enough of a difference to show in games but doesn't really show huge improvements in normal usage. If your Z can play the games you have without hickups, then those games aren't a reason to upgrade to S800. This of course may or may not be different for future and upcoming games but for now both chips can play those games just fine. If you are thinking of upgrading, I would probably not list this as #1 reason unless you want a more future-proof device (and more are coming out during and after Q1).
2) The screen is a bit of hit and miss. It seems Sony is using at least two if not more types of panels and some of them are better than others. If you get a good one, the screen is excellent and very enjoyable. However the lower-graded panels seem to have a variety of issues from yellow hue and bad viewing angles to even problems with the actual touchscreen. The only way to avoid these issues is to read about them and then try to examine the unit you are going to purchase at a shop. I would personally not recommend getting the Z1 online for this reason. I also had to get my touchscreen fixed because of touch issues but after repairing it under warranty it works perfectly and I am not suffering from the yellow hue issue.
3) The camera is good but the software is lacking. To be more precise the automatic setting that the camera starts with (called Superior Auto or SA) is extremely hit or miss and in many cases produces sub-par pictures. This will be an issue if you want to quickly take the device out and snap pictures without touching settings. The pros on the other hand are that the manual settings are versatile and by using manual you can take as good or better pictures than any other cameraphone on the market right now not counting the new high end Lumia's with their pureview technology. There is hope that the camera software can be improved with future updates but this is what the current situation is like. As for my own experience, I'm still getting used to the manual settings and am not yet entirely satisfied with my pictures. I'm getting the hang of it though and they are showing some small improvement - my biggest challenge is low light (100% of the time in winter for me) and noise/grain.
As of now if I was you I would wait. There are new models coming out from Samsung and later from HTC and possibly other manufacturers and the rumors are quite promising. There is some inconsistency with the Z1s that are sold and you really need to be able to examine your unit prior to purchase unless you rely on getting lucky. Also it's likely that later on in Q3 or Q4 Sony will announce the successor to the Z1 which will probably be a bigger leap from the Xperia Z that you have right now. This is just my opinion and I hope it helps.
OFFTOPIC: Also don't be surprised if your thread goes PUFF as the mods don't allow comparison threads and I'm not sure will they count this as one.
1) It's definitely faster. But with 4.3, Z is already fast enough IMO.
2) I actually prefer Z's screen. Z1's has got slightly better viewing angle but Z's colours are better IMO. And Z has got white balance settings, Z1 doesn't.
3) I don't see that much difference between the two, to be honest. But Z1 can create much better bokeh. And when it's set to 20 MP, a slightly blurry photos may still look good when uploaded on web at lower resolution (e.g. Facebook's 2048x1536 pixels). Apart from that, they seem to produce similar looking photos, esp in terms of colour tones, contrast, noise levels, etc.
All in all, I don't think you should upgrade now. It's already a bit late for you to do that. Better wait for the 2014 flagship (Z1's successor).
I've owned the Z and I had a love/hate relationship with it for the following reasons:
-Battery : It sucked. No really, I've tried and tried to make it last at least a day and never succeeded. Yes, I'm a heavy user, but when I switched to the G2 I never ran out of juice with the same use.
-Screen: The screen on the Z1, no matter what these people are saying, is MUCH better than the Z. Not just in terms of viewing angles and washed out colors (which obviously have improved remarkably), also in terms of brightness and color reproduction.
-Lag: The S800 is a beast, after using the G2 I knew for a fact that any phone I buy next would absolutely have to have it. In real world use, its snappy as hell and even under the most intense 3D gaming and heavy multitasking it never skips a beat.
-Camera: the camera on the Z1 has improved after the latest update, and for me, the rule of thumb is quite simple. Use Superior Auto for night shots and Manual 20 MP the rest of the time and you won't need much tweaking to create some absolutely brilliant photos. The Z no matter what I tried It wouldn't hold a candle to the Z1.
This is my opinion having used both phones and a G2 - the upgrade is welllll worth it.
I'd definitely wait for 2014 flagships
few reason why I didnt get the Z and got the Z1
1. Z covered headphone jacks... really annoying to take out the flaps everytime you want to listen
2. battery life sucks
3. mediocre camera... (I expect sony to revolutionize smartphone camera at every flagship, same with that they did on Xperia S, first 12 mp camera)
which all the above was resolved at Z1...
---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------
2 things:
1. if you are a person who has the cash power to upgrade your handset every year? then do it.
2. if you are a person who upgrades rarely and have to buy the absolute value for money handset every time (every only 2-3 years)... then don't do it, wait for the successor by end of the year.
Ask yourself, do you really need a new phone? Does your Xperia Z not perform as you like?
I would strongly recommend that you wait for few days until the CES (tech conference) ends. for the past few years sony has revealed new flagship during this conference (they might or might not do this year because the Z1 was released not to long ago). But you should wait and see if they release anything interesting for you.
regarding your question, The Z1 is an upgraded Z in almost every aspect including screen, battery, camera, chipset... etc and is more future proof because it has newer chipset and because it was released later so it will be supported for longer. However, if you are satisfied with your Z, I suggest that you wait for 2014 H2 flagships (not even the one that might be released in H1) which will be using chipset based on ARMv8 architecture because this will be a big step forward in the mobile industry. Chipset is the most important part of the phone because better chipset means better performance, gaming experience, camera, overall experience ...etc
thank you for opinions. I decided not to do the upgrade from the Z to the Z1, and i will wait to see what 2014 will bring.
i admit that the camera was really the singular compelling reason for me to switch, my Z does good pictures, except ones w/ bad light. but i can live with that.
hopefully the new flagships won't be as big as the reports are predicting. the Z is right at the edge of my comfort zone in terms of size, and i have big hands mind you.
Hello everyone!
Right now I own a Moto X (2013) and I love it mainly because of the size of the screen, it actually fits in my pockets! But as of late, the battery is already draining a bit fast, and the camera has never been very good either. So I'm looking for a phone to replace it that has a better camera, battery and keeps about the same performance. The problem lies in the big sized phones available today! They're huge. I don't want it to exceed the 5.2 inch display size, nor it be larger than 140mm approximately.
So I thought about the Z3C. I also considered the new Xperia M5 (not yet on sale) (145mm long) or even wait for the Z5 Compact. What do you guys recommend? Is the Z3C still worth it?
I think the camera is is pretty good on the Z3C but I am no photographer. It suits my needs well. I think you will have a hard time finding a small phone (or any phone) that matches the battery life of the Z3C. For that reason alone, I think it is work it. I also think the Z3C is a nice looking phone. I also have a 2013 Moto X and loved it until I got spoiled by the Z3C's battery. You should find the Z3C to be faster and have better performance overall.
Z3 battery life is great and it fits in pocket much better than some of the slabs available now.
If you dont want to pay a premium for the absolute latest and greatest but want a phone that just works really well, i think the z3C is pretty good value.
Glass screen protector and decent case are a must though as although IP68 rated, dont think its very "drop proof".
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the best performance.
- The camera's auto-mode is decent in well lit conditions (tends to over-expose), but is sub-par indoors. It lacks sharpness once you zoom in on the picture. It actually excels in some low-light conditions due to the higher ISO, but most people don't need to take photos in a dark room.
- Over all, you won't find a better phone with more features at this price point that actually fits in one hand comfortably. Plus, it's waterproof.
That being said though, the new Z5C is supposed to be announced this week. Wait a few days and see if it's worth the upgrade or not.
Still the best compact phone (< 5") out at the moment. I just find Sony's politics towards homebrew and open source dev going slowly from mediocre to worse.
Z5c may be announced tomorrow so you may as well wait a day and see, but if it's, as rumoured, released with a Snapdragon 810 chip, Z3c may remain on top of the category until the next iteration...
Until the Z4C releases yes.
There is no Z4C - Sony skips a generation for the compacts. It will be a Z5C instead.
PuffDaddy_d said:
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the best performance.
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MobileRadioActiveFix
rafabr4 said:
Hello everyone!
Right now I own a Moto X (2013) and I love it mainly because of the size of the screen, it actually fits in my pockets! But as of late, the battery is already draining a bit fast, and the camera has never been very good either. So I'm looking for a phone to replace it that has a better camera, battery and keeps about the same performance. The problem lies in the big sized phones available today! They're huge. I don't want it to exceed the 5.2 inch display size, nor it be larger than 140mm approximately.
So I thought about the Z3C. I also considered the new Xperia M5 (not yet on sale) (145mm long) or even wait for the Z5 Compact. What do you guys recommend? Is the Z3C still worth it?
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I am/was basically in the same situation as you! I also own a moto x 2013 an love it because of the screen size. It has a great feel in the hand, actually usable with one hand and it fits in the pocket nicely. But my battery life has gotten horrible since Lollipop, even with cm 12.1. I don't really care about the camera that much, and the performance was always great although lately its been starting to feel a little sluggish.
I researched for over a month but couldn't find any other good alternatives at this size. The only other option is the galaxy alpha ( but there are various complications with rooting, versions, LTE etc).
I finally gave up and went with the Z3C. Just got mine like yesterday though so I'm still in the process of setting everything up and transferring my stuff over. So far I really like it. It looks and feels nice and premium. It doesn't have as nice of a feel in the hand as the x because the back is flat and not curved. Software wise I will probably miss active display, but it seems like sony also included some neat features. Stereo speakers are just a different (better) experience than the moto speaker on the back. The contrast of the screen isn't as nice as the AMOLED on the x. But I definitely notice it being faster, which is nice. and so far the battery life seems to be amazing. I'll see how it is in a few days once everything is set up and I'm using it more, and then I can let you know. But so far it seems like I made a good decision.
Hope this helps.
I would go for the new z5 compact , if you dont care about custom roms, then go for the z3c , that is if you care about camera.
overall, get z3c for performance, looks, and cheaper than new z5c.
or z5c if you have money, probably better performance, bit expensive, no root yet.
PuffDaddy_d said:
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the be.
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There is a working Xposed module that fixes that.
ifonuser78 said:
There is a working Xposed module that fixes that.
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I know, but does it actually with for you? How much improvement have you seen? The thread for that fix is full of mixed results.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Before buying/ordering the Z5c I would strongly advise anyone to wait until someone reliable thoroughly tests the Z5c to make sure the Snapdragon 810 version it sports has no heating induced performance issues.
It's not because "they" say the issues have been fixed that you should trust them. Anyway it's your call...
The reviews I've seen show that the camera is still painfully slow between shots. That .003 sec autofocus doesn't do us any good if you have to wait 2 seconds to take the next picture.
I am looking for an excellent camera. The Xperia Z3 sounds good. I do see the Z5 has a little better resolution, but I do need to root and fix up the software to run Xposed, so Z3 sounds better.
Is the Z3 camera actually excellent?
Xperia series of camera are good in my oppinion, a lot better compared to iPhones due to the number of features added.
However i suggest not getting a Z3 Compact (Or any xperia compact) as they are quite dodgy (hardware problems all the time)
But in conclusion the Z3 camera is good, but if you wanted 20MP in superior auto you need to root and install xposed anyway.
interestor said:
I am looking for an excellent camera. The Xperia Z3 sounds good. I do see the Z5 has a little better resolution, but I do need to root and fix up the software to run Xposed, so Z3 sounds better.
Is the Z3 camera actually excellent?
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I can tell you one thing for sure excellent it is not. on the contrary, far from that, average at best I'd say. The stock camera app is very slow compare to other flagship smartphones which were available at the time of the release of the z3. The auto focus is also pretty slow and quite bad. Moreover, the front-facing camera is also average, but I haven't seen any smartphone excel at that area. In addition, I don't really know if its a factor to you or not, but the flash is by far THE WORST flash I have ever seen a smartphone to be equipped with - a single LED flash which can with very little power to it.
The only positive thing I can say about it, that if you go manual in the stock app you can get some very good shots with it, but I doubt anyone does that with a smartphone on a daily basis.
Don't get me wrong, its a decent phone for it's price. However, the sole reason I sticked to Sony is because they are the only company to release a below 5" flagship speced smartphone in 2014.
nzzane said:
Xperia series of camera are good in my oppinion, a lot better compared to iPhones due to the number of features added.
However i suggest not getting a Z3 Compact (Or any xperia compact) as they are quite dodgy (hardware problems all the time)
But in conclusion the Z3 camera is good, but if you wanted 20MP in superior auto you need to root and install xposed anyway.
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Damn! I am leaning toward getting one mainly because of small size (and lanyard mount and button). What are the common problems with the compact?
What, an xposed module lets you run the camera at higher performance? What's its name? what's it do?
Sydrox said:
I can tell you one thing for sure excellent it is not. on the contrary, far from that, average at best I'd say. The stock camera app is very slow compare to other flagship smartphones which were available at the time of the release of the z3. The auto focus is also pretty slow and quite bad. Moreover, the front-facing camera is also average, but I haven't seen any smartphone excel at that area. In addition, I don't really know if its a factor to you or not, but the flash is by far THE WORST flash I have ever seen a smartphone to be equipped with - a single LED flash which can with very little power to it.
The only positive thing I can say about it, that if you go manual in the stock app you can get some very good shots with it, but I doubt anyone does that with a smartphone on a daily basis.
Don't get me wrong, its a decent phone for it's price. However, the sole reason I sticked to Sony is because they are the only company to release a flagship speced smartphone in 2014.
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Thanks. Yeah, I have read about lag, and focus hunting. Good to mention the flash.
I am interested in the manual controls, but also shooting from the hip.
Now that it is a coupla years old, price is getting better, making me think about redefining excellent.
interestor said:
Damn! I am leaning toward getting one mainly because of small size (and lanyard mount and button). What are the common problems with the compact?
What, an xposed module lets you run the camera at higher performance? What's its name? what's it do?
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Commonly they will have water proofing failures, or bad batteries, but some people are lucky and get away with no problems.
Yeah i believe its called 20MP xperia or something similar and there is also this modded camera which adds many funtions to camera like more ISO options, exposure, shutter speed etc.
I have one z3c and the camera it's ok much better than most of phones. I have xposed as well and camera fx, i don't have troubles yet so far so good.
Nope, it's pretty bad and certainly a big disappointment.
In good light and with a bit of luck it can take great pictures, but most of the time it's just frustrating (mainly because you know that it is capable when it feels like it). In poor light or with the flash it's just a terrible smudgy mess, my old Galaxy S3 is considerably better. After 6 months I got sick of it and bought a Galaxy S5 which blows it away all the time.
In all reality though, if you wanted to take good photos, use a proper camera, phone cameras are only point and shoot, and are pretty crap compared to what a good camera can do
This device is catching my eyes. I hope the reviews will be good !
It's time for my good old Z5 to retire...
Who is thinking to buy it and why ??
I am thinking about buying it if supports VoLTE on T-Mobile and the new Band 71.
I travel a lot for work and need all the coverage I can get.
It will be the XZ2 or the XZ2 Premium which is supposed to be announced in May.
It depends on the price.if around 600$ I might buy it day one. anything more than 700 I will skip it and go for XZ1.
josephnero said:
It depends on the price.if around 600$ I might buy it day one. anything more than 700 I will skip it and go for XZ1.
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AFAIK, its price will be 799€ at its release.
But yes, sooner or later, it will be below 700€ ^^
I intend to buy both XZ2 and the Compact, for my wife and I (respectively)!
serajr said:
I intend to buy both XZ2 and the Compact, for my wife and I (respectively)!
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Your wife is somewhat more a spender than you
Thanks, great news !!
@nreuge Hey man,
Good to see you still up and around.
My contract is up for renewal and I was really looking forward to get my hands on a new Sony device.
I've been with Sony since Xperia Z1 and I have loved their phones very much ever since.
But the XZ2 is just to thick for me.
I don't know what the hell they were thinking when they decided that.
Plus fingerprint on the back... Is just really inconvenient for me.
Having it on the side power button has always been one of the most important features that kept me buying Sony phones again.
I hope Sony will step up soon, but for now I'm very sad and disappointed to say im skipping them this time and I'm looking at other phones to upgrade my Xperia XZ.
nreuge said:
AFAIK, its price will be 799€ at its release.
But yes, sooner or later, it will be below 700€ ^^
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That's for Europe buddy. Normally USA prices are lower.
Btw great to know that master serajr will get it too.
koekoek91 said:
@nreuge Hey man,
Good to see you still up and around.
My contract is up for renewal and I was really looking forward to get my hands on a new Sony device.
I've been with Sony since Xperia Z1 and I have loved their phones very much ever since.
But the XZ2 is just to thick for me.
I don't know what the hell they were thinking when they decided that.
Plus fingerprint on the back... Is just really inconvenient for me.
Having it on the side power button has always been one of the most important features that kept me buying Sony phones again.
I hope Sony will step up soon, but for now I'm very sad and disappointed to say im skipping them this time and I'm looking at other phones to upgrade my Xperia XZ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is thick only at the very center...
You might change your mind when you can see it, touch it.
But I understand, every design cannot satisfy every people...
About the fingerprint sensor, I don't care I never use it.
Cheers !
nreuge said:
It is thick only at the very center...
You might change your mind when you can see it, touch it.
But I understand, every design cannot satisfy every people...
About the fingerprint sensor, I don't care I never use it.
Cheers !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will go to my carrier shop once it arrives there so ill have a look how it feels.
Fingerprint really is a deal breaker for me because I always use it and I always use a case. So having it on the back would really suck for me.
Anyway I hope you will enjoy the phone if you get it
Hey, I too want to buy The XZ2, what really got me into Sony Xperia smartphones is their multimedia features and they still do, That 4K screen and the advanced X-reality, conversion from SDR to HDR is just all what I'm looking for in a smartphone (I watch alot of movies and videos on my smartphone so yeah), BTW I really like that they put the Fingerprint scanner in the center (so I won't accidentally smudge the camera) it's convenient for me.
Edit: add to it how Sony is fast to update their phones next to Google, and because of how light their stock roms I won't ever think of custom roms.
AbduSharif20 said:
Hey, I too want to buy The XZ2, what really got me into Sony Xperia smartphones is their multimedia features and they still do, That 4K screen and the advanced X-reality, conversion from SDR to HDR is just all what I'm looking for in a smartphone (I watch alot of movies and videos on my smartphone so yeah), BTW I really like that they put the Fingerprint scanner in the center (so I won't accidentally smudge the camera) it's convenient for me.
Edit: add to it how Sony is fast to update their phones next to Google, and because of how light their stock roms I won't ever think of custom roms.
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You're welcome
The XZ2 screen resolution is not 4K, it's FHD+ (this is really sufficient because you wouldn't see at all the difference with 4K and 4K would suck more battery for nothing...)
The Sony roms overlay is clean and fast. Their updates are relatively fast (but not too fast because they usually don't release bugged roms...)
nreuge said:
You're welcome
The XZ2 screen resolution is not 4K, it's FHD+ (this is really sufficient because you wouldn't see at all the difference with 4K and 4K would suck more battery for nothing...)
The Sony roms overlay is clean and fast. Their updates are relatively fast (but not too fast because they usually don't release bugged roms...)
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Oh really, I think I missed between the 4K HDR recording and XZ2 having a 4K screen, well that's a bummer but I hope the upcoming premium/pro will do so (just like XZ Premium), thanks for noting it out.
Yeah that's good too, still Sony's updates are always ahead of other OEMs (except for Google), and not to mention most of their smartphones comes with the newest android version (at the time) out of the box.
Im also thinking about buying this one.
But ill wait so i can se how its feels in the hand.
My previous sony phones are zr and z5.
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Mario.D said:
Im also thinking about buying this one.
But ill wait so i can se how its feels in the hand.
My previous sony phones are zr and z5.
Skickat från min E6653 via Tapatalk
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I can assure you that it's the most comfortable Sony Xperia smartphone on the hand, didn't touch it but it's obvious and that's what reviewers say.
Great and detailed review of gsmarena...
It seems very very good !!
https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz2-review-1735.php
nreuge said:
Great and detailed review of gsmarena...
It seems very very good !!
https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz2-review-1735.php
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Yeah, I was waiting for days to read it, and the phone did fulfill expectations on pretty much all fronts. But the thing that impressed me the most was obviously the camera. The have really stepped up their game and image processing and brought it on par with S9 duo.
Now this may seem as an exaggeration, but it's actually just like that. I've downloaded full pictures from GSMArena tests and zoomed in as much as it was on S9 and all 12mp cameras, or simply put I've scaled pictures down to 12mp (as of course you are zooming in a bit more because of higher resolution). Did a comparison with S9 directly and I can tell you, although the noise levels are higher on XZ2, the amount of detail is the same, and in some areas maybe a bit better, but also in some a bit worse, so it's balanced out.
But, here is the point, if you take into consideration that XZ2 hasn't got OIS, has notably smaller aperture, smaller individual pixels and lack of dual pixel focus while having admittedly a bit bigger sensor, and all of this contributed to ISO levels 3 times higher than on S9 (or the correct term would be 2 stops higher?) yet it produced pictures with quality that is closely comparable, that just tells you much they achieved and how good the sensor is and processing as well.
Furthermore, studio shots have proven that quality of XZ2 in low-light surpasses S9 while being on nearly the same ISO, which means that processing has matured and paid off. And if Sony improves the specs of their camera setup for the next generation, it will easily top the competition.
Cirra92 said:
Yeah, I was waiting for days to read it, and the phone did fulfill expectations on pretty much all fronts. But the thing that impressed me the most was obviously the camera. The have really stepped up their game and image processing and brought it on par with S9 duo.
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yep, it did well. but remember that GSMArena uses a tripod for many of their shots, which the XZ2 camera software notices and then lowers the ISO and slows shutter speed, giving better detail. handheld shots won't be the same.
still, in many cases it's a marked improvement over the XZ1 and XZ Premium, which use the same sensor.
As an XZ1 owner, I'm tempted to wait and see the model that uses the new dual-sensor module coming later this year, rather than jumping on the XZ2.
eelpout said:
yep, it did well. but remember that GSMArena uses a tripod for many of their shots, which the XZ2 camera software notices and then lowers the ISO and slows shutter speed, giving better detail. handheld shots won't be the same.
still, in many cases it's a marked improvement over the XZ1 and XZ Premium, which use the same sensor.
As an XZ1 owner, I'm tempted to wait and see the model that uses the new dual-sensor module coming later this year, rather than jumping on the XZ2.
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They do use tripod for studio shot, however they don't use tripod for those outdoor shots in order to replicate everyday usage, you can even see that based on shutter speed, which is 1/16, mostly what is used by Superior Auto on handheld usage. When it's on tripod, it goes slower than that.
The point is that even at high ISO values, it's on par with the S9 duo, objectively speaking and when the ISO is matched, XZ2 goes ahead, due to detail preservation. I'm not saying it because I am biased, as I'm not, I've downloaded the pictures, scaled them and compared. Now, I'm far from photographer and have scarce knowledge about it, but I have good enough eyes and common sense ( I hope so ).
Anyway, the improvement is here and a big one at that, so this is a very good sign. Unfortunately it will be a while until I can buy this one, but since you have XZ1, you can wait for XZ Premium successor, it should be even better than this
Just ordered from Amazon US. Supposedly in stock. Expected delivery is March 22 - March 27. 6GB RAM model, dual SIM.
Edit: shipped March 16, delivery expected March 20
I'm thinking about replacing my XZ1C with something/anything else.
The camera is horrible (for a somewhat premium phone), and I absolutely hate what Sony did with unlocking the bootloader, which makes everything a pain in the arse.
Could anyone possibly recommend me something that is 1) similarly small, 2) more or less equally powerful (I don't play games or watch Youtube so I don't need a hardware monster), and 3) with a little better camera?
If the size of the phone is important to you, I guess you're out of luck... At least I haven't found alternatives of similar size that would be better.
Sony have cornered the market with compact phones and there is very little that comes close.
I know the bootloader thing is a pain in the neck, but have a look about, there are very few manufacturers that let you 'open up' their phones these days, Sony aren't the only guilty party in locking down the proprietary software. I think Xperiafix is a small price to pay.
I haven't had any issues with the camera, although it is particularly slow to focus, compared to all the Xperia's I've had before. There's a helpful guide here.
Perhaps hold out for the XZ4 compact...
Edit: My personal favorite compact was the Z3c. Powerful enough to run games and stream, good battery and good camera. You can pick them up for > $100
Well, seeing as the camera hardware is identical, I don't think that would help me in any way.
I know I cannot expect much from a phone, but damn the pictures that come out of mine are ****! Horrible blurry mess. It's not a problem with settings either, because the photos look identically crappy whether I use auto or manual mode.
Xperifix at least lets me fix the green photos "feature", but it barely ever gets updated and still installs old TWRP and Magisk (ok, that can be updated).
Basically, this whole DRM crap leaves me majorly unimpressed from user experience.
Friend of mine has phone with Zeiss lens, and despite not being a whole lot more expensive, the camera difference is night and day. Bah.
After another search on GSMArena it looks like the situation is completely hopeless though. The only phone that seems to come close in dimensions is Galaxy A3, 2017 model. And that'll never get newer Android anyway, and LineageOS doesn't support it. Nor does it support XZs...
But I just have to have a small phone. Ffs.
Oh and don't even get me started on the selfie camera. That's flat out disaster.
WalrusInAnus said:
Well, seeing as the camera hardware is identical, I don't think that would help me in any way.
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If it's Sony stock cam that's driving you nuts and you already have a rooted phone @russel5 has got a proper Gcam port working on his AospExtendedRom, including HDR.
It's not the stock cam as an app, it's what the hardware is (not) capable of that does my head in.
No app can fix that
I tried his rom in the early days of experimenting with the phone, and it behaved all kinds of crazy. There are barely ever any updates too.
...and I can't even update the Phone to Pie, because Xperifix doesn't work with that, and apparently not even the author knows if he will be able to get around the changes.
I've also been keeping an eye out for a replacement as my XZ1 Compact hasn't felt like a worthy successor for my Z3 Compact.
The XZ4 Compact looks promising, but recent news leaks have been hinting that the entire compact line will be discontinued.
The only alternative at this moment that I would consider is the Pixel 3. It's only about 3mm wider, but feels just as small width wise due to being thinner and having rounded corners. The height is definitely a major step up, but I'm willing to give it a try for the much better camera. I'd also welcome the return of double tap to wake, which Sony silently decided to remove.
WalrusInAnus said:
...and I can't even update the Phone to Pie, because Xperifix doesn't work with that, and apparently not even the author knows if he will be able to get around the changes.
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There have been some comments around the forums that with Pie, you don't need a DRM fix - camera works with unlocked bootloader. I can't vouch for this personally, but I've read multiple posts claiming that.
EDIT: here is one such post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...-to-backup-t3795510/post78346086#post78346086
WalrusInAnus said:
...and I can't even update the Phone to Pie, because Xperifix doesn't work with that, and apparently not even the author knows if he will be able to get around the changes.
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The first build of Pie works without DRM fix, so grab a copy of 47.2.A.0.306 while you can via Xperiafirm.
Seems like Sony forgot to include DRM check in the first build, but the 3 builds since then give you green camera on unlocked bootloader.
Try Aquos R2 Compact from Sharp, provided that you know where to buy it (￣∇￣), which I don't.
Unfortunately, i am searching for the same answer.
In my case i have been swinging between Xperia compact phones and Galaxy S series phones (not the plus ones), although are big for my hand.
As it seems, i read in a article recently that Sony is going to halt production of compact phones.
Xz2 Compact or Pixel 2 ( not XL)
If your looking for a compact Xperia, the SO-05D, Xperia SX is by far the most compact. It's my favorite Xperia, I've owned 2.
The camera of Xz1c is terrible. It doesnt seem to be the software, it's the lens, the lens on my unit is not properly clear, it's like foggy, no matter how much I try to polish it. The images are mushy with dull colors. My full sized Xz1 takes great pics (I have both phones). I owned 4 different z series phones since 2013, Xz1 is the worst cam for me. I think iPhone 5c is compact and great camera. Z5c also great.
Dean F said:
The images are mushy with dull colors. My full sized Xz1 takes great pics (I have both phones).
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Strange. The back cameras are supposed to be identical, lens too. Numerous reviews also claim identical photo quality. Maybe it's a physical defect on your specific xz1c unit.
This being said, while the cam is very average, it is hardly poor. It runs circles around the Z5c and Xc cameras, though it's definitely inferior to the xz2c.
landsome said:
This being said, while the cam is very average, it is hardly poor. It runs circles around the Z5c and Xc cameras, though it's definitely inferior to the xz2c.
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I think the main problem with the camera is lack of OIS and too much processing and noise reduction which makes the pictures lose detail.
I wonder what they made different with xz2 as the image sensor should be identical to xz1/c...
landsome said:
Strange. The back cameras are supposed to be identical, lens too. Numerous reviews also claim identical photo quality. Maybe it's a physical defect on your specific xz1c unit.
This being said, while the cam is very average, it is hardly poor. It runs circles around the Z5c and Xc cameras, though it's definitely inferior to the xz2c.
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Maybe some of the camera parts are the same. I agree with u, many reviews simply said 'both xz1 and xz1c camera are the same'. But just looking at the phones - the lens are totally different physical design, in size, shape, and lens material. The XZ1 lens is harder and clearer, feels more like glass. The xz1c feels like it is plastic. Taping on the lens feels and sounds very different.
We'll have the agree to disagree about the z5c camera vs the xz1c. The Xc i didnt own (because its lower cpu), so i cant comment on its camera performance. In house I also have a normal size z5, which has an exceptional camera.
Let me clarify what I mean when I say a camera is good or bad. I mean that, in full daylight, taking a park or street scene - the image is razor sharp. In my experience, Z5, Z5c, Xz1 all take these razor sharp images. Xz1c, mush...
vofferz said:
I wonder what they made different with xz2 as the image sensor should be identical to xz1/c...
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I have both phones. The xz1c has, in my view, a problem with exposure in daylight. Tpo much light. And it processes images in an unbalanced way, reducing noise AND detail too much if you pixel peep (the same problem that the z5c and Xc also have, too a larger extent in my view). The xz2c is better on both counts, and on low light as well. Otherwise, both have excellent color rendition.
I also have an OG pixel, which is still plenty fast, has great camera (very, very reliable) and in my view is better in hand than the Pixel 2. Still, battery is mediocre and, most importantly, it is too big. Nothing beats the xz1c in this respect.
With the XZ2c bumping up to a 5" screen, there's not a true Sony compact anymore. So now you have a lot more options - and a lot of great cameras - in the 5" - 5.5" screen range. Just compare battery life, waterproofing, or whatever matters to you most. Now that I can't get a great <5" phone, I'm looking at the Pixel 2, Oneplus 3, and the Fairphone 2. At least I can finally get OIS
https://www.gsmarena.com/results.ph...ected&sOSes=2&sOSversions=2900,2810,2800,2710