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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  • K
  • Kil_er2001v
  • n{S
  • 30 Apr 2014

I think the Xperia ZR was the first mini gone big. The ZR opened a new way to explore for Sony. And it was a succesfull one.

    • h
    • hkboy
    • K8%
    • 26 Apr 2014

    z1c is good fast performance. Sharp screen, camarea excellent but sound not so loud n camera shutter botton doest work properly means u need to press many times to open camera like 3/4 times n need to open charging cover when u charge n if u use case then u need to take off case when u charge by dock

      • M
      • Magnum
      • T3f
      • 24 Apr 2014

      AnonD-227883, 24 Feb 2014what is exactly fraudulent and poor about your Z1C? or did ... moreI like your drift! But i don't know, is that other guy wrong or not ( i'll figure that out when i'm going to get Z1c)!? You just give/have better food for the thoughts...

        • D
        • AnonD-166556
        • 6%a
        • 21 Apr 2014

        I just buy this phone 3 days ago, and guess what??? Man, this is amazing phone, like super car, small size but very powerful engine and beauty. :-) The screen is the best among other Xperia I have seen on store, very good viewing angle, you can see the screen clearly at sunlight it awesome (I live near equator, tropical nation). Battery is very good, I'm heavy user, often browsing and play game sometime, the battery survive about 16 hours with Stamina Mode.
        I hope my short review can help you chose the good phone depending on your needs and taste.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • UD{
          • 15 Apr 2014

          Sony's Original
          unique
          future proof
          every flaws = lesser price
          every excellence = still lesser price
          definitely would last
          Ratio of price to efficiency
          1:2

          some 2:1 right lol

            • j
            • jezza
            • uBF
            • 12 Apr 2014

            Hey has anybody used the camera extensively with KitKat update and comment on the below..?
            I loved the camera on my nokia N8 but almost 4 years later have yet to see any androids come anywhere near as good.. I could take photos any time of day or night, even after several beers an they'd consistently come out good and clear..
            I believe the best way to get a decent shot with Z1c was using superior auto which limited to 8MP, but this has been updated with kitkat to 15MP.. How are night / low light pics now and could you take pics without too much concentration and expect them to look ok? Also are any of the other flaws listed in the review like poor panorama sweep or poor looking manual shots sorted now? Can it take any higher than 30fps?

              • D
              • AnonD-251575
              • am7
              • 06 Apr 2014

              Great sized phone,top spec,battery great,screen great,fast processor.
              Keep in a case with screen protector-no fingerprint issue-use magnetic charger or magnetic lead to save keep opening flap,camera good outdoors,best without flash indoors.to me it is an android iPhone,it should give iPhone some competition.waterproof too!
              I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PHONE-SONY HAVE DONE WELL.
              The main difference between iPhone 5s & this is nfc or fingerprint scanner.

                • t
                • thegame
                • 4Nn
                • 31 Mar 2014

                Is anyone using this device on the US T-Mobile network? I am curious about its coverage/signal strength.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-248021
                  • K@X
                  • 26 Mar 2014

                  dott, 12 Mar 2014My z1 compact's battery doesn't last, please what do I do?Do an software upgrade

                    • L
                    • LTOB
                    • tuf
                    • 23 Mar 2014

                    Finally, a pocket size - power packed -water resistance phone. Come with hi res camera. Great phone for business and outdoor activities roll into one.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-69919
                      • sqb
                      • 15 Mar 2014

                      I've been waiting for this phone ever since it was announced. It's an awesome phone and I can keep it comfortably in my jeans' pocket.
                      The camera is ok. Not the best I've ever seen and that's a disappointment - specially with the 20MP. The battery is nice but for a person like me it just isn't amazing, it's just ok: at least it lasts all day with intense usage (3G always on).
                      It's awesome that I can connect my Xbox and my PS3 controllers with ease. It's awesome that I can watch any video with it (although some codecs will need MX Player plus a custom DTS codec - get this at XDA Developers forum).
                      The back is plastic and it's a shame.
                      The camera doesn't shoot 720p@120fps and it's a shame.
                      It's an Android phone and it's a shame.
                      The included charger isn't magnetic and it's a shame.
                      The magnetic charging plug is on the same side as the USB plug and it's a shame - it gets messy to use the dock and the Xbox controller at same time.
                      It doesn't have a 10" padfone-like tablet option and it's a shame.
                      But it's an amazing phone and I don't regret spending €550 on it.

                        • R
                        • Randy
                        • U@C
                        • 15 Mar 2014

                        djz, 22 Feb 2014Just bought it. And love it. Good camera, great battery. It... moreIs not real

                          • d
                          • dott
                          • fuN
                          • 12 Mar 2014

                          My z1 compact's battery doesn't last, please what do I do?

                            • K
                            • Kantutan
                            • 7X9
                            • 05 Mar 2014

                            If only there is a Xperia ZL Mini/Compact that would be the perfect phone for me. Now waiting for GS5 Mini and HTC One Mini. =)

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • nI7
                              • 26 Feb 2014

                              This phone does not look so "compact" to me. The Moto RAZR m/i has the same sized screen and is physically noticeably smaller. At these dimensions you should be able to get a 4.7" screen like the Moto X.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-235183
                                • 5gm
                                • 25 Feb 2014

                                AnonD-227883, 25 Feb 2014And how does the plastic back make the phone poor quality? ... moreI know it's poor quality because it gets scratched really really easily, even if you take extremely good care of it. So no this phone won't look clean as long as you take care of it, it will look scratched even if you truly value it and take care of it. And yes I have studied materials science, although that doesn't make a difference here, because you don't need to be an expert to know this plastic is not high quality, you just have to use the phone for a few hours. Also the flash bleed issue that many users have reported is likely due to problems caused by a last minute change from glass to plastic in the back panel.

                                Anyway, regardless of whether you'd prefer low quality plastic or "durable tempered glass" as Sony initially claimed, the real problem is that Sony has let many reviewers mistakenly tell consumers that it is glass, with most reviews still uncorrected. Sony potentially sent out review units that did have glass backs and only changed the white paper to reflect this after many people had received their phones. Needless to say this is not the behaviour of a company that is proud of the build quality of their phone.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-227883
                                  • Tkh
                                  • 25 Feb 2014

                                  AnonD-235183, 24 Feb 2014The fraudulent part is how Sony probably sent out review un... moreAnd how does the plastic back make the phone poor quality? Are you an expert on plastic? There are different types of plastic, and you know it. Glass scratches too, even Gorilla Glass gets nicked, microscopic it may be. Polycarbonate resists impact better than glass. I admit, this mishap by Sony is quite strange, but in the end what would you prefer? Polycarbonate plastic on the back or wherever, which is robust and with a few small scratches BUT not shattered from a fall OR all-around glass which might shatter when you drop it clumsily and you'd have to walk around the rest of your time with a piece of shattered glass in your hand? Shatter-proof or scratch-proof it is only in name, nothing is indestructible if you try hard enough. If you buy the phone as something you truly value and take care of it, your phone will last a lifetime and will remain clean and looking new for as long as YOU let it.

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-235183
                                    • 5gm
                                    • 24 Feb 2014

                                    AnonD-227883, 24 Feb 2014what is exactly fraudulent and poor about your Z1C? or did ... moreThe fraudulent part is how Sony probably sent out review units with glass backs but changed to cheap plastic for the retail units. The plastic back is of very low quality, and gets scratched very easily, which would not happen with the "durable tempered glass" that every review and the initial Sony white paper describe. This phone feels significantly worse in hand than any of the other Z-series flagships (Z, Z ultra, Z1).

                                    One of the reasons the Z-series flagships have been popular is the high quality materials that have been used, so it is important that people know that the Z1 Compact is not made of high quality materials, unlike all of the previous flagship phones.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-227883
                                      • mxg
                                      • 24 Feb 2014

                                      AnonD-236177, 22 Feb 2014Same here, returning phone back for fraudulent Sony specs a... morewhat is exactly fraudulent and poor about your Z1C? or did you come here just to troll and veer potential buyers away from it for no reason?

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-67363
                                        • vG7
                                        • 24 Feb 2014

                                        How weak is the LED flash of the Z1 Compact? Some others say it's quite powerful