I have been a big fan of Xperia Z series since the first Z. I changed my phone every time the new Z came out (except Z1 since I just started my career life without much savings).
Every time the new Z came out, I could find its awesomeness, imo, for example the first Z was stylish, waterproof, and powerful but it suffers a lot from heat,washed out display, and loosen waterproof charging caps. Then Z1 came out with more charming metal body, magnetic charging port, and 20 Mpixels camera, highest for a smartphone at the time.
Z2 came out as what the first Z should be at the first place with bigger and vivid screen, stereo speakers, and battery life is awesome to the point that I never found any others with this battery longevity at the time . For Z3, is almost identical to Z2 in term of spec sheet but I found it's very nice to hold in my hand plus the speaker is a lot better, far better than even Z5.
Z4 was very good on the spec sheet, especially with no more microusb cap but the battery life is a very big disappointment with almost half what Z3 lasts. It also suffers a lot of heat from normal uses. Z5 premium is, imo, the most refined Xperia with decent battery life, big screen, stylish material and colors selection.
Also, I don't know if it's me alone but every time I got the new Xperia on my hand, I felt really good and every single one of them was attractive.
Strangely, I can't explain but when I hold X/XP on on my hand, I didn't feel a thing, not even a glimpse of attractiveness although my country is offered 64GB/dual sims variant at the same price as Galaxy S7 (32GB/dual sims variant) with contract. I was never really into Samsung before (not because I hate it but I just neither found it attractive) but this time, I event think of waiting for Note7.
What are you guys' opinions? What are your before and after buying feelings toward X Performance?
How I've tired from this speech. Shut up and go to gnusmas, apple, htc, moto/lenovo, xiaomi, zte, huawei and where u want! DON'T BUY SONY! Moaner!
Desperanto86 said:
How I've tired from this speech. Shut up and go to gnusmas, apple, htc, moto/lenovo, xiaomi, zte, huawei and where u want! DON'T BUY SONY! Moaner!
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Thanks a lot for your opinion. Actually I was about to buy XP. The price without contract is very high but the price with contract is acceptable. The plan that I will have to pay for is quite similar to what I currently use but I have to stay with it for a whole year. That's why I ask foy you guys' opinion at the first place. Because I love Xperia but this time I'm not really sure if it worth changing (not in term of spec sheet but your real experience of using it.
It seems you are extremely not appreciate the question but you made a good answer anyway. If a current user doesn't have such a good thing about it to say but purely throwing back a bad temper. It absolutely clarifies my answer.
If you are a dual sim user, you should note that the S7 forces the 2nd sim to be in 2G mode when the 1st sim is in 4G/3G, and vice versa.
On the other hand, the XP allows the 2nd sim to be in 3G-voice standby when the 1st sim is in 4G/3G. This functionality is important for countries like Korea or Japan which no longer have 2G, or countries like Singapore, Australia or USA which are going to shutdown their 2G networks soon. The other phones such as Mi5, Moto G4, Zuk Z2/Pro, etc which support this feature are from Chinese OEMs.
Another advantage the XP has over the S7 is Sony's willingness to allowing unlocking of the bootloader.
Im also considering getting a XP but with its cost here in the Philippines, i might get a S7 or a Z5.
I always look at the batt first, then the speakers, then the cam, then lastly the specs.
Get the sony xperia x performance. Hope getting a blazingly fast phone with a processor that snap dragon actually really refined and improved with a bigger jump than previous iterations.
Your being the best camera in a smart phone and one of the best android UIs on the market. And a nice phone that isn't riddled by logos. It's Sonys best. Everything you need nothing you don't. And the best waterproofing.
Sent from my F8132 using Tapatalk
^ I've been backreading the XP thread for quite some time now. How's the batt life and the speakers?
i bought mine for good stereo speakers screen size ,can change os if needed, underwater just in case , didn't but HTC cause is was to big and clumsy for me and mini specs wasn't the same at all
but sony dont have same and good speakers anymore
my last phone was twice louder and more bass (wt19i walkman)
but i would've wait for XP is about 50% different from Z5's( i have z5c) 80K and antutu against 120K (XP) and more 200$ bit didn't know how much it would take and my phone was really slow and old 6-5year old
btw Regular Xperia X is less fast than Z5's
anyway it was BIG different from my old sony (LWW wt19i) 10K score 700% LOL.... 1100% could be nicer.. but
to the point if you have Z5 dont buy the XP phone up to 40-60% overall performance does not worth spend another 750US$
The XP is waterproof, you have to get the S7 active of you want that feature, which is locked to AT&T in the US and is priced about 25% more than the XP. That made my choice pretty simple.
Sent from my F8132 using Tapatalk
I had XPERIA Z5 and bought XPERIA X Performance. This is the best Sony phone to date with no good battery life (battery life is better then one on XPERIA Z5 at the moment). Only reason to buy XPERIA X Performance if you already have XPERIA Z5 is because of heat. XPERIA X Performance only heats when using camera longer or if you play games too long and now in Croatia outside temperature is about 35 C. So if the heat is your reason buy it. Otherwise don't buy it. But if you have some older phone you should buy it.
About swiching to Samsung instead I don't know. I am not Samsung fun because of their UI.
Coming from z1c, z3c, z5c to now owning the XP for less then a week.
Before the XP the z5c was a let down compared to its predecessor the z3c. Particularly in general performance but moreover the lacklustre camera performance (the plagued 810 chip didn't help the Z5 line.)
Now, the XP.
Hands down is a far more refined device. As refined as the z3c. The performance is lightning - thanks to the 820 chip and the extra GB ram (3gb.)
Coupled with the lightning performance on the camera FUNCTIONALITY (I'm not stating the QUALITY of the Shots are the best - however the quality is drastically better then the z5c predecessor.)
But what I am stating is that the camera responds and opens and takes pictures faster then on any Sony I've played with (those of you coming from the z5 line know exactly what I'm on about.)
For instance, from standby/sleep mode. As long as the camera settings are preset to 'Launch & Capture.' Then when taking a picture from standby you will notice the picture that has been captured is of that instance of when you clicked the camera button... Although the UI hasn't even rendered. Try this with a moving object and you will notice how frkin fast the capture time is.
Again not professing the QUALITY of the Shots are superior, but simply that the function of the camera is now quite sublime.
The XP works VERY VERY WELL, overall outstanding performance. Yes it will have its niggles. But generally it's the best of what Sony have been trying to achieve.
I don't care for 4k video capture. Nor a 4k or QHD screen. This 1080p is more then ample for a phone. For me coming from the zCompact series (720p screens), this XP screen is amazing and more then enough.
I am very pleased with this device.
The only drawback is the lacklustre Sony Stamina mode. But this is almost not there fault. For OEMs to provide Android phones officially they must adopt key features from Google's updates, hence Sony HAD to employ Google Doze feautre, in this forced effort they clearly couldn't employ Sony's native Stamina Mode (succesfully at least) in the way we'd been accustomed to especially on the z3 line (you can imagine Doze and Sony Stamina not working happily hand in hand, as they both in essence are trying to achieve the same thing, albeit Sony Stamina Mode was far superior.)
Just my 2cents on anyone fighting with Sony Stamina Mode.
Fantastic device.
Sent from my F8131 using XDA-Developers mobile app
I agree with every word you wrote.
tomo100brt said:
I agree with every word you wrote.
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[emoji106]
Having read through the XP forum here, and then this thread, I felt some '1st Hand Heritage Sony User' experience and comprehension was required.
I also can attest that the fingerprint sensor on the XP is insanely faster then the z5c. Wasn't expecting it to be quite this responsive. Impresses on that front too.
Sony UI is second to the Nexus Line. That's a fact.
As good as Samsung's hardware is, there software is like a step backwards from Androids look/feel. Whereas Sony manage to keep the look/feel impressively Stock (replace Sony Launcher with Nova all day everyday, and I don't think you would notice much difference between a Nexus user experience and the Sony User' experience - again this is from my 1st hand experience.)
1 niggle I've noticed, actually since the z3 line, is that the WiFi signal has typically got poorer over longer distance from the WiFi router.
I can achieve a better WiFi signal on my z3c then I can on my z5c and XP.
This thread should be changed to 'Why wouldn't you buy the XP?' ?
Sent from my F8131 using XDA-Developers mobile app
I've been a Sony Fanboy since the Release of the Xperia S, I owned the SP, the ZR bought the Z1 Compact as well and finally the Z3 Compact and I must say they did really well on those devices, especially the Z3 Compact. But looking at the X Performance, I think they're just trying too hard, the price tag to begin with doesn't even look welcoming at 700 Dollars for a phone without any fingerprint scanner, and the battery life isn't any good as well reading from numerous reviews which compares it to the previous flagship the Z5. For now I have my eyes set either on the S6 or the One M9, especially the M9. Those boomsound speakers sound better than Sony's speakers any time.
This is just my opinion tho, If coming from the Z3 Device line, stick with your Z3 and wait for newer models. The Z3 is by far one of the best Sony Z Line phones, stable, doesn't overheat and an active community to keep it going.
So true RE Z3 as the standout of all Sony's.
When it comes to a price war, then yes, the XP price is very overzealous. Can't argue there.
But i find when it comes to a User requiring the 3 points below (such as myself, typically coming from Sony's compact range):
1. Comfortable 1 handed ergonomics.
2. Up to date hardware
3. a Nexus like - look & feel (an unadulterated Android experience.)
Then I conclude the XP is at the forefront in this regard.
Personnel preferences as always ?
Sent from my F8131 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Related
Hello everybody,
Actually I was planning to purchase new xperia device... according to my budget, I thought of going for Xperia SP.
The reason for this thread is .. Can I go for SP as I am getting it in 19000 INR from ebay.in.. It is worth to buy or should i go for ZR which is 8000 INR more than SP price..
Will SP be future proof for atleast a year and will it Honami style 4.3 update. or just a common 4.3 update.
What do you think guys please.. suggest me!!!
and about considering the problems SP users are facing.
I don't Know how much is this in €. But SP is a really good choice! Buy the SP!
Sent from my C5303 using xda app-developers app
Test the Camera before by XSP. Picture size and quality is no more up to date. Not poor, but other devices (XS or HTC one) make better pictures. All other works great.
Value for money phone
Since I own a Xperia SP for more than 2 months now, following are my impressions. Since I am being critical I'll list negatives first.
Negatives:
Xperia SP's biggest weakness is its camera. Pictures in low light are very bad for its price... pictures in day light are ok, but nothing too good. Pictures taken by SP have more noise in them. So over all SP's camera is very much worse as compared to, say, Galaxy S3's.
The screen is not as good as Super Amoled screens of Samsung's Galaxy series or HTC's & LG's IPS LCD. However, while indoors you will not have any issue. While outdoors, the screen is a bit reflective but is still manageable. I haven't faced any other display issue till now.
Wi-fi reception is truly a bit weaker than other phones, but the internet speed is not affected. Only range is lesser.
Some people have encountered the touch issue when the phone is kept on a table & not in your palm. Some people have also faced a bit of trouble while the phone is plugged in for charging via AC adapter. However, I haven't faced any of these issues.
Positives:
The best part about SP is its performance. Snapdragon S4 Pro is simply a beast and Adreno 320 GPU blows the competition out of water. Current flagships of various brands like Xperia Z, ZL, ZR, HTC One and LG Optimus G Pro all have the same GPU.
SP has 1 GB RAM, which although is not equivalent to these flagships, is enough even for the heaviest of games/apps available in market. However, real racing 3 has some issues. Other games run very well.
Another plus point of SP is its build quality & design. It doesn't look cheap like Samsung GS3 or GS4. The illumination bar at the bottom is a very nice aspect of the design.
The battery performance of SP is one of the better ones.
When used with Bravia Engine 2, the display is awesome while indoors. It is sufficiently bright.
PRICE!!! A total value for money.
So, keeping all these in mind I would suggest:
If you are too much in cell phone photography, explore other mobiles. Galaxy S3 could be good choice in that case. Glaxy S4 mini and Nexus 4 are also there. However, all these cost slightly more than SP.
If 20K is your budget, then go for SP. You won't find a better phone at that price.
If you don't want even slightest of performance issue, surety of many more updates & have the extra budget then you can also give Xperia ZR a serious thought. It has a faster processor, more RAM & better camera in addition to being dust & waterproof. Battery life of ZR is even better than SP's.
Pretty much agree with the post from the_helix.
I think Sony have been clever with this device, they have taken away the things that average/practical users don't really care about.
Do you really need 400+ PPI, 1080p screen, a big internal memory if there's space for a memory card, more RAM etc? They have instead made sure that the processor is top notch, given it 4G and NFC - so you get almost flagship performance at half the price.
Yes some things could be better (there is always something to complain about - the S4 and HTC One are not immune from this either), but with a bigger screen and more robust build than the competition in this price range (the mini S4 and mini HTC One) I think this is the best mid-range phone on the market.
I think it's future proof - but within reason, some games developers always push the boundaries and make software that will only run really well on top devices. I think/hope it will see the next iteration of Android - is it really going to be called kit-kat?
hi,
purchased today my xperia sp in ebay.in. waiting for delivery. so now i being here for have a glance. iam biggest fan of sony till now i used four mobiles from sony, ( J230i, w810, x8, mini pro). and this is my fifth from sony. hope this mobile will meet my expectations. will join u later guys after getting my sp in hands. cheers!
Well guys, I finally ordered Xperia ZL. Thank you everybody for replies.....
session20 said:
Well guys, I finally ordered Xperia ZL. Thank you everybody for replies.....
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why bro? not satisfied with sp?
rajkumar85 said:
why bro? not satisfied with sp?
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nope....Actually, I got some extra money, so thought to go for ZL... for 27000 INR
rajkumar85 said:
why bro? not satisfied with sp?
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Good choice, the sp is just ****ed up!
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.
Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
ironfoxmind said:
Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
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Personally bro I'd recommend the z1, it really is a monster Android device which is SUPER smooth and handles anything you can throw at it (software wise), personally I also think it is the better looking of the two. Honestly people have ripped this phone to shreds with saying this and that but at the end of the day (I must be very lucky) mine is perfect and it works like a charm
I think Sony is definitely one of the better manufactures to release timely updates, Samsung are just horrible!!! The z1 is getting KitKat very soon, in a few weeks time so that's awesome! But NO phone on earth can compete with a Nexus device when it comes to the latest and greatest Android release from Google. I really like Nexus for that reason, and also custom firmware support far out shines most (if not) all devices.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that spec wise, the Nexus 5 doesn't even come close to the z1.
Good luck in your decision :good:
EDIT: Oh I just saw on phonearena that they are pretty similar spec wise.
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
Like @NanoSurfer already says: all boils down to personal preference
I was also comparing this 2 devices. I like to have the newest OS, but I also like to have a device that is not only a plastic-bomb. So my preference went to Sony and Z1 because of the design and the specs that alltogether make my decision easy. Sure, 4.4 is out, Nexus devices had it and the number of CustomROMs is not so small. But, when the time comes, we also get 4.4 and with this there would be some other ROMs available.
I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in this thread so I'm bringing it up. The Xperia Z1 Compact is IP58 waterproof (continuous submersion at 1.5m), so on that account you can't really compare the two... and by that I mean that between the top of the line specs in a small form factor, the support for external storage, the premium feel from the Xperia Z1, the far above average developer support from the manufacturer and the waterproofing, I'd certainly have the Xperia Z1 Compact above literally any other smartphone available on the market today.
That said there are obviously pros to the Nexus 5 as well, such as the extreme level of community development going on, the wireless charging and the speedy official updates.
Compared to the Nexus 5 I think the Z1 Compact will have better battery life as well, on account of it having the same amperage battery, slightly slower clock frequency and lower (but still definitely high enough) resolution.
In the end the Z1 Compact is a clear winner in my book.
I share the exact same thoughts. Can't believe I glossed over the water-proofing in my initial comparison
-Collin-
CollinFX45 said:
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
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I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
ironfoxmind said:
I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
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Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
shem2409 said:
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
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awesome review
Rekoil said:
Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
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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-
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 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.
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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.
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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:
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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:
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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
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Z5 Compact
deniz2694 said:
i switched from z3 compact to iphone SE
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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.