Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: Not your usual suspect

12 September 2014
Of all the features that set smartphones apart, screen size is as close to a decider as they get. Counter to the trend of the last decade that saw cellphones become as small as technology allowed, the...

Sort by:

  • D
  • AnonD-145833
  • S6$
  • 02 Oct 2014

AnonD-312045, 25 Sep 2014several reasons: * a faulty battery means you have to then... moreTry charging your phone for 20 mins in airplane mode. You will be surprised how quick it is.

    • D
    • AnonD-145833
    • S6$
    • 02 Oct 2014

    On Moto G 4g there are problems with sd cards and 4.4.4.

    Those who bought on the first day, are you suffering any issues in this regards.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • JkS
      • 01 Oct 2014

      Does anyone know about the Z3C's scratch resistance? Looks like the glass is not gorilla 3.

        • D
        • AnonD-112130
        • mx}
        • 30 Sep 2014

        come on, 27 Sep 2014Main disadvantages : S*itty camera with awful color acuracy!colour is nice. blues are real nice. so don't know what your talking about

          • D
          • AnonD-297545
          • nB1
          • 28 Sep 2014

          Anonymous, 27 Sep 2014It is either this or the galaxy alpha. One of these will... moreI should choose for Sony Xperia z3 Compact, better camera, MUCH better battery, better design(for me).

            • D
            • AnonD-297545
            • nB1
            • 28 Sep 2014

            Anonymous, 27 Sep 2014It is either this or the galaxy alpha. One of these will... moreI should choose for Sony Xperia z3 Compact, better camera, MUCH better battery, better design(for me).

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • iie
              • 27 Sep 2014

              It is either this or the galaxy alpha.

              One of these will be in my hands before Xmas.

                • c
                • come on
                • 3iu
                • 27 Sep 2014

                Main disadvantages :
                S*itty camera with awful color acuracy!

                  • g
                  • ghenceaRO
                  • sp7
                  • 26 Sep 2014

                  Come on. Who needs 4K video? And how many can see 4k videos? It's just a mobile not a professional camera. AR effects again...is this for kids? Kids are going to pay 500 euros for AR? How about improving stabilisation and focus instead? How about better camera? How about the noise in the pictures?

                    AnonD-312045, 25 Sep 2014several reasons: * a faulty battery means you have to then... moreHeres several reasons why it is better

                    It is more durable

                    It keeps the build quality, which means when you drop your phone the back might damage but not the internals (which may happen if youre removable back flips off first)

                    Powerstations are more practical than spare batteries in the long run ( when you actually do need them after 2 years)

                    You can change your battery for a new one after two years in the service center. Although it is more expensive, it is a small price for maintaining waterproof and build quality...

                    So, let people choose their preference

                      • D
                      • AnonD-312045
                      • mH3
                      • 25 Sep 2014

                      Mr_AL, 17 Sep 2014Still don't understand why non user replaceable battery sti... moreseveral reasons:
                      * a faulty battery means you have to then send it off for a warranty claim (at best) or replace the whole phone (at worst).
                      * changing a battery is a quicker way of recharging the phone than a battery pack.
                      * every battery has a finite life span - after two years, the battery life will be massively degraded. if you can swap out the battery, you've just increased the usable life span of your phone.

                      that's just off the top of my head. there are probably more advantages, too.

                      of course, in this case, the trade-off is waterproofing and smaller, sleeker devices.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-312045
                        • mH3
                        • 25 Sep 2014

                        AnonD-145833, 22 Sep 2014In a nutshell: half the contrast, 720p and potentially doub... morexperia t was 720p, too, mate.

                        i'm still using mine, but i'm just about to pull the trigger on either the z3 or z3 compact myself. leaning toward the compact, though - just not sure about the 5.2" screen and the overall size of the phablets as daily drivers.

                          qiplayer, 24 Sep 2014Hi I own an iphone and I'm looking for a valid alternative ... morejust buy yourself Z3C...

                          first: you'll charge it once in two days, with stamina mode probably once in three days

                          second: best camera out there, closest experience to your iphone, especially video

                          third: best android UI, fast-beautiful-responsive-without lag, again closest experience to your iphone, but better looking and with much more features

                          fourth: stereo speakers with best hifi sound

                          fifth: NFC that actually works with all NFC peripherals, not just ipay,
                          connectivity that works with all the tech out there,not only apple products

                          sixth: unbendable and waterproof

                          seventh: all that for a much,much lower price tag...

                          enjoy...

                          p.s. you have a couple solutions for youtube video download: one being "UC Browser"(best out there)+ "UC browser video dowloader addon"(google it on the web)
                          other being "TubeMate" (google it on web)
                          those apps are not supported on googleplay because of rights infrigement, but are free for download from alternate sites

                            • D
                            • AnonD-70078
                            • 39x
                            • 24 Sep 2014

                            qiplayer, 24 Sep 2014Hi I own an iphone and I'm looking for a valid alternative ... moreCant believe you charge your phone twice a day mate. That's good enough reason to jump ship. I use Lumia. Keyboard is fastest I have tried. But I have preorder of Sony z3c .i should have it on Thursday or Friday. Will be interesting. It seems apple is getting left behind to be honest. No innovation. Windows is making the biggest changes. One to watch

                              • q
                              • qiplayer
                              • JJe
                              • 24 Sep 2014

                              Hi I own an iphone and I'm looking for a valid alternative that is compact. The Z3C looks still to big to be handled well, but I can't wait to try it.
                              How is it texting on android devices nowadays? Can you write 20 sentences without missing a letter, fast and with 1 hand?
                              I fear to need to stick to iphone, because of the touch screen: I was in shops before buying the iphone 5s, I tried all models exposed, about 20, only a nokia lumia had that responsivity by letters coming up instantly when pressed, as the iphone does.
                              All the samsung and htc had a visible delay in time, that didn't allow me to write half the fast I do with apple phones. I don't remember the sony I tried.

                              About the camera, it is one of the reasons I'm looking for another device, the first is that I am sick of charging my iphone twice a day.
                              By the way with the 3g 3gs 4s and 5s I took a lot of pictures and never had shaking problems. I take pictures of nature not selfies.

                              If you wish you can answer my question on youtube.com/qiplayer on any of the vids I posted.

                              Are there apps on android to download the music of youtube directly on the device and play their music in playlists. I'm used like this by the old mctube pro app (the new doesn't save videos anymore).
                              Cheers
                              Jonathan

                                • D
                                • AnonD-70078
                                • mx}
                                • 22 Sep 2014

                                AnonD-145833, 22 Sep 2014In a nutshell: half the contrast, 720p and potentially doub... morehave u got the shakes

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-145833
                                  • S6$
                                  • 22 Sep 2014

                                  In a nutshell: half the contrast, 720p and potentially double battery life. I had xperia T which is z3c size but with 1080p. Charging it daily. Given the screen size 720p is acceptable. I like this handset.

                                  As far as pics go it is extremely difficult taking pics on phones without shaking. No matter what flagship. They will be okay for social media apps. If quality is such a big deal you could get $100 canon with wi-fi to accompany you. Or get the cheapest available handset with nfc and buy a Sony RX100 mk1.. That would cost the same as z3.

                                    • G
                                    • Grag
                                    • meM
                                    • 21 Sep 2014

                                    darkraver, 21 Sep 2014http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BwgYJh2zGVs Furthermore, je... moreI read some reviews and watched about three or four videos comparing the Z3c's speakers to other phones'.
                                    The Z3cs were described and sounded just as loud as e.g. the M8s.

                                      http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BwgYJh2zGVs

                                      Furthermore, jere is a test of Z3 speakers against htc m8 ones...
                                      IMO they are as loud as m8, while z3 having much better sound with less background noise, and z3c is equaly loud...
                                      But the review somehow listed them as average loud

                                      ???

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-70078
                                        • 39x
                                        • 21 Sep 2014

                                        darkraver, 20 Sep 2014Hmmm, my z1c with 65 endurance rating lasts me. 24 + 8 hour... moreOh right. I'm just going by a review on u tube. But I guess it depends how hard you are, on the device. But I think they had it continuously on doing something