iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy Alpha vs. Xperia Z3 Compact: Three kings

13 October 2014
We're looking for the best phone with a sub-5" screen. At a time when the best features seem to only come with the largest display, there's a strange, almost rebellious feel to it. No need to tell you, we're enjoying it. The Apple iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy Alpha and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact are...

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  • D
  • AnonD-256629
  • nCf
  • 14 Oct 2014

SONY XPERIA Z3 COMPACT is the only real king..
but Sony should look for shorter name :D

    • D
    • AnonD-256741
    • KSw
    • 14 Oct 2014

    i just wish that GSMArena would post a definite winner and not go full-on diplomatic at the end

      • D
      • AnonD-319193
      • ImT
      • 14 Oct 2014

      The Z series might not always be the best in every category but they won't be beat overall. I've had the z1, z ultra an z2 as well as a iPhone 3gs,4s and 5s. The build quality and waterproofing is second to none. I wouldn't trust another phone underwater.

      That said I'll be switching up my ultra for a z3 compact.

        • D
        • AnonD-319141
        • YYX
        • 14 Oct 2014

        Many analysts claim that the Z3 Compact by SONY is the best gadget in 2014, and I DO agree. I'm getting it soon in NYC !

          • D
          • AnonD-319182
          • v{u
          • 14 Oct 2014

          In this review, as the xperia compact is a white phone, it would have looked lot better if the author had submitted product photos with a black background.

            • D
            • AnonD-230821
            • vjr
            • 14 Oct 2014

            hm... seems like Z3compact really worth for its price... thanks for this comparison, i might upgrade to it from my Z1compact after all

              • A
              • AdamBoy64
              • Fv4
              • 14 Oct 2014

              Nice comparison.
              I really liked it. Seems very fair and well-rounded.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • PSv
                • 14 Oct 2014

                Yeah sony is more practical and better than those 2, but hey, people are the new sheep, so iphone and samsung ftw

                  • D
                  • AnonD-185369
                  • v0q
                  • 14 Oct 2014

                  If you think this is a poor review, get yourself an iPhone 6, Z3 Compact and a Galaxy Alpha. Make your own review and we'd be happy to read what's that 'predictable' thing...

                  Anyway, thanks for this review GSMA. Having been reading most of your reviews, i say this is fair and transparent.

                  As your last words:
                  "It's impossible to tally up a final score for this but that was never the point - as usual, the point is to help different users pick out the phone that's right for them."

                    • D
                    • AnonD-293547
                    • t7X
                    • 14 Oct 2014

                    Did sammy and appy eat sony dust!!!
                    Great comparison!! For me battery is a MUST!!

                      • D
                      • Dave Granger
                      • mpx
                      • 14 Oct 2014

                      Must say the iPhone's performance results are very, very impressive. I'd still buy the Sony though, I like the design, the water resistance and I like phones with camera shutter buttons, like the old Nokia flagships always used to have.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-184689
                        • 35T
                        • 14 Oct 2014

                        iphone 6 wins

                          • D
                          • AnonD-209094
                          • Kg%
                          • 14 Oct 2014

                          Anonymous, 13 Oct 2014Ok. Right off the bat the Alpha is by far the most compact.... moreI dont think you had very many different smartphones? Slimness doesnt mean anything, width is less important as well, at the end of the day its the length that matters. Just try to pocket a short but fat and wide old BlackBerry qwerty phone, then try with a slim modern long narrow one, like HTC One Mini, carry them around for a few days. Slimness is just a fashion gimmick, even a Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro at around 20mm thick is very small in pockets compared to the superslim Alpha. Weight vs length? A long thin light bamboo stick is impossible to put in a pocket but a round heavy stone will fit just fine.

                            • Y
                            • Yo
                            • snR
                            • 14 Oct 2014

                            Why you dont compare iphone 6 to Lg G3, Sony Z3, Galaxy s5, Htc One m8? Because its in their price range. Why you compare it to the mid ranger?

                              • D
                              • AnonD-209094
                              • Kg%
                              • 14 Oct 2014

                              booking , 13 Oct 2014Just one important feature they didn't test here and people... moreYou never had an Xperia have you? Their front cams are useless in anything else than very strong light and remains one the weak points for Sony mobiles as a whole. Samsung easily wins both on front and rear camera, but the bad performance in low light is a dealbreaker for many, as is the region lock and the lack of memory expansion.

                              But at the end of the day, Alpha and iPhone6 are both too long, in fact ip6 is as long as Xperia Z, a 5 inch phone. Z3c is the only compact phone here and its only competitor is the iPhone 5s.

                                • S
                                • SEA
                                • ScS
                                • 13 Oct 2014

                                Love my Z3C. I recommend it to anyone looking for top notch phone with smaller size.

                                  • x
                                  • x
                                  • vx6
                                  • 13 Oct 2014

                                  This review only proves that Larger spec #s is not equal to power results..hehe

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-251095
                                    • 3Dx
                                    • 13 Oct 2014

                                    The ending paragraph is great. Cool comparison.

                                      • R
                                      • R2d2
                                      • mk3
                                      • 13 Oct 2014

                                      What about the new sharp crystal it has 5 inch display but it's smaller than the iphone 6. Seems like a worthy candidate if you are into compact phones

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • i}3
                                        • 13 Oct 2014

                                        X, 13 Oct 2014Just for your info you can greatly extend the battery charg... moreput the z3 in super stamina mode (grayscale like you do on the iphone) and enjoy your 20 days of actual battery life... and over a month if you just leave it idle + screen off.
                                        the iphone battery life just doesnt come close (which according to your measurement loses 2.5% per 24h thus would last 40 days in full idle.. which is just not true)

                                        the iphone is better in other areas though.