Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: Mini gone big

28 January 2014
Sony is the first to deliver a smartphone, which wouldn’t let size get in the way of performance or screen quality. It’s no accident that it’s called the Compact version of Xperia Z1 rather than a mini...

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 4QS
  • 29 Jan 2014

Anonymous, 29 Jan 2014Do you have experiences Sir? I compared a real life phot... moreI completely forgot about that one. GSM even had a blog on that for the Z.
Sony makes some great camera sensors indeed, but need new developers on the software side.

It would be nice if GSM would show the burst mode functions of Z1/compact.

    • a
    • advice
    • fwM
    • 29 Jan 2014

    i waited a lot for this phone but i am a little disappointed by the loud speaker performance and camera performance....i will wait for another month hoping htc or samsung will build a mini version with similar specification to the z compact,but with a better speaker and camera,i don't care about water resistant thing,if my phone survive accidental water dipping like the galaxy s4 that will be enough for me...

      • t
      • the_seba
      • mN}
      • 29 Jan 2014

      I have o admit it's a fantastic little piece of hardware but Sony needs to adopt IPS screens for their smartphones, ASAP.

        • D
        • AnonD-111315
        • 953
        • 29 Jan 2014

        Anonymous, 29 Jan 2014Do you have experiences Sir? I compared a real life phot... moretrue.. sony post processing not good enough

          Makozak, 29 Jan 2014People saying that Sony don't have good camera .. but you d... moreThis isn't a dslr .... In this kind of camera, a good sensor and a well balanced software are way more important that those tiny lenses.

            • m
            • maxpayne123
            • vGt
            • 29 Jan 2014

            Thank you Sony , for listening to consumers :)

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 4QS
              • 29 Jan 2014

              AnonD-81000, 28 Jan 2014I just can't understand why some people say Z1/Z1 compact's... moreIt is in no way shape or form Sh**....But it has many set backs aside from it's great picture taking ability. Software draw backs and fine tuning. Why so many modes only work in 8MP and HDR/Panorama still take extreme hits. And that video focus.
              And incorrect about it beating out the zoom.
              And you daylight 8mp idea do you have proof???

              Overall it is a GREAT snapper and among top in Android...But Sony tends to have some software tuning issues.
              The Z1 did get an update to help though...Not all around. You would think it would come already on compact...Though it is actually a bit early to tell though.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 4QS
                • 29 Jan 2014

                Zitadelle, 29 Jan 2014"... but not a single Android smartphone manufacturer ... moreThat was not the same thing at that point

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 4QS
                  • 29 Jan 2014

                  AnonD-81000, 29 Jan 2014You shouldn't probably talk about k800i, it is a 7 year old... moreAnd 808 PurView

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 4QS
                    • 29 Jan 2014

                    AnonD-81000, 29 Jan 2014You shouldn't probably talk about k800i, it is a 7 year old... moreYou are forgetting Galaxy Zoom too

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • uvu
                      • 29 Jan 2014

                      Will buy this phone after kitkat update(immersive mode)

                        • D
                        • AnonD-19190
                        • KIQ
                        • 29 Jan 2014

                        I wanna to say only one thing
                        " weldone sony"

                          • K
                          • Kai
                          • s8f
                          • 29 Jan 2014

                          AnonD-81000, 29 Jan 2014You shouldn't probably talk about k800i, it is a 7 year old... moreThe ips display also helped much better onscreen time rather than just talktime(xperia z, z1).

                            • K
                            • Ken
                            • Lpr
                            • 29 Jan 2014

                            You don't want to wake the dragon, do you?

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 95m
                              • 29 Jan 2014

                              AnonD-81000, 29 Jan 2014You shouldn't probably talk about k800i, it is a 7 year old... moreDo you have experiences Sir?

                              I compared a real life photography from XZ, XZR, XZL, S4, One, and iPhone 5S (I tried them all, thanks to my friends), the results are the Sony devices pretty much left behind. The clarity (for a pixel peeper like me) is better when it set on burst mode than on normal mode. Burst mode is where the image is less-processed than normal mode.

                              If you still doubt it, try compare the filesize of 13MP image from XZ and 8MP image from S3 (yes galaxy S3), the 8MP image have a nearly 4MB, while the 13MP image just a merely 3MB. This level of compression really affecting the quality of the image.

                              Therefore ,my conclusion is Sony devices have a GOOD SENSOR (in camera ofc), but bad post-processing.

                              that's why, the still image quality in Sony Devices somewhat is horrible even on high resolution images

                                • v
                                • vboechat
                                • JXV
                                • 29 Jan 2014

                                is Audio Quality on this device a concern? I intend to use it as a music player, but i come from Apple devices which audio quality is top notch. Should i care about distortion and things like that?

                                  • C
                                  • Chris
                                  • v$g
                                  • 29 Jan 2014

                                  The review says the camera is better than the one from the Iphone but to me the sample shots look much softer on the z1 compact.

                                    • D
                                    • DQ
                                    • JPU
                                    • 29 Jan 2014

                                    Zitadelle, 29 Jan 2014"... but not a single Android smartphone manufacturer ... moreYes, and also, not too long ago, the ZR is considered to be the "mini" version of the Xperia Z. Sacrificing only storage and resolution, but improving with shutter button, screen quality, battery, etc...

                                      • N
                                      • Nexperia
                                      • s8e
                                      • 29 Jan 2014

                                      See sony the advantage of better IPS panels, the impressive contrast, the great viewing angles, whites and blacks spot on for an LCD.

                                        • K
                                        • Kai
                                        • s8e
                                        • 29 Jan 2014

                                        We can consider the xperia ZR as the mini of Xperia Z. Just that it was made of plastic rather than glass and the name was misleading.

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