Sony Xperia Z3+ review: The pre-sequel

08 June 2015
The Sony Xperia Z3+ is the Japanese flagship we’ve all been anticipating, but is it really the one we’ve been hoping for? Or are the predictable chipset update and minor design touches simply a prelude to a proper upgrade later this year?

Sort by:

  • D
  • AnonD-391800
  • MuD
  • 09 Jun 2015

DanangW, 09 Jun 2015It's true. I heard Samsung and LG is developing flexible fo... moreYou need to catch up ;-) .
I heard Sony bringing Bravia design language with liquid stereo speakers, new imx230 camera sensor with 160 focus points and 23 mpx, neo ips lcd screen, onscreen sonar based fingerprint scanner, in z3+ already bought power efficient quantum dot ips lcd with highest brightness in industry, LDAC bt codec, Automatic earphone adjustment recognition, waterproof usb slot, wet condition finger tracking screen tech....

    Nicolasdi, 09 Jun 2015Oppo.. Find 5 was first FHD phone, less features like sony.... moreIt's true. I heard Samsung and LG is developing flexible foldable and rollable screen and they are developing OS, Tizen and LGs webOs. Their future is bright. I also heard Huawei develops one. I also often heard chinese patented bezelless tech, eye scanner. But I never heard anything from SONY.. so sad

      Nicolasdi, 09 Jun 2015Yes, Apple and Sammy always bring something new. We also ca... moreOppo.. Find 5 was first FHD phone, less features like sony. N1: Rotating camera, trackpad, o touch, offscreen gesture. Find 7:(1St QHD phone) 50mp shot(software trick) N3: motorized rotating cam, fingerprint scanner

        • A
        • Arcane
        • 3SI
        • 09 Jun 2015

        So, if you take an objective look at 2015s flagships yet, which one is best for you yet? Let me summarize it a bit.

        Samsung Galaxy S6

        Pro: - best Display of all phones
        - best CPU of all phones
        - great camera
        - best battery-saving phone; good battery life
        - propably best looking phone (S6 edge)
        - Gorilla Glass 4

        Con: - no micro SD (I don't care)
        - non removable battery (I don't care)
        - no water resistance (I don't care)

        HTC One M9

        Pro: - alu body (looks still really good)
        - micro SD
        - Gorilla Glas 4

        Con: - SD 810 overheating problems/performance drops
        - poor battery life
        - non removable battery
        - no water resistance
        - same design as last year

        LG G4

        Pro: - really good camera
        - design (I'm not a big fan of it though)
        - removable battery
        - sd card
        - propably best LCD screen

        Con: - poor battery life
        - only SD 808
        - no water resistance

        LG G Flex 2:

        Pro: - sd card

        Con: - non removable battery
        - SD 810 problems
        - poor battery life
        - no water resistance

        Sony Xperia Z3+

        Pro: - sd card
        - water resistance

        Con: - Sd 810 problems
        - non removable battery
        - same design for how many generations? 5?
        - same camera for 3 years with still the same software problems
        - as always, just a minor upgrade

          AnonD-391800, 09 Jun 2015All Sony can do....you are funny fun .... Well iphone 6s w... moreYes, Apple and Sammy always bring something new. We also can expect something new from LG, Oppo n other chinese. For Ex Sammy: Gal s3: pop up play, smart stay, smart video, smart rotate. Gal S4: tons of new thing. IR blaster, air view, air gesture, smart cover. Gal S5: Fingerprint scanner, heart monitor. Galaxy S6: Sam pay. People loves something new, S5 and S6 only have a few, thats why they cant beat S4 sales

            • D
            • AnonD-391800
            • m@x
            • 09 Jun 2015

            [deleted post]True that, almost everything except outer looks could be entirely different in end user available product.
            These reviews dont make any sense.
            But maybe it is manufacturer to blame for giving out a preproduction unit, so they get reviews with worse performance that a device actually will give.

              • D
              • AnonD-391800
              • m@x
              • 09 Jun 2015

              Nicolasdi, 09 Jun 2015'predictable chipset update and minor design touches'. Yes,... moreAll Sony can do....you are funny fun ....
              Well iphone 6s will be a totally different phone ....not.
              Samsungs halfyear updated s6 will be totally new design and tech phone...not.
              Htcs too, Lgs also....
              Anyones too...

              What a comment

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • Ibx
                • 09 Jun 2015

                Nicolasdi, 09 Jun 2015'predictable chipset update and minor design touches'. Yes,... moreObviously Not the.case since your on SONY post wondering how this.sleeping.Giant is impressively improving there cells so Rapidly!!! Hehe

                  'predictable chipset update and minor design touches'. Yes, thats all Sony can do..

                    • w
                    • walkman8
                    • LiP
                    • 09 Jun 2015

                    What a useful, review, GSMArena, thanks you! I have no idea what's the battery endurance like, nor camera quality- 2 things I value the most on smartphones!

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 4ST
                      • 09 Jun 2015

                      Mick, 09 Jun 2015You don't need to make it smaller, and same in case of g4 w... morePlease No low grade, no comparison to SONY flagships!

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • Uim
                        • 09 Jun 2015

                        Why does gsmarena continue to push for QHD displays. In their review they never class them as any better than 1080p screens although always in their conclusions they conclude that it's a massive disadvantage... Also is the Samsung S6 really the benchmark phone currently...

                          • M
                          • Mick
                          • fsT
                          • 09 Jun 2015

                          Anonymous, 09 Jun 2015And lg went the other way. Two years in a row got taller an... moreYou don't need to make it smaller, and same in case of g4 why does it hv to be bigger, with same specs ??? LG g2 was best of LG. I had one. the g4 with the size of g2 wld be the burner.... But as I said just my opinion.

                            • M
                            • Mick
                            • fsT
                            • 09 Jun 2015

                            Anonymous, 09 Jun 2015And lg went the other way. Two years in a row got taller an... moreYes ur right. That's why I don't like the g4. I had the g3. It was a good phone with sucking unnecessary qhd screen . Now I hv a m8 cos I don't care much about camera and its ok for me. Boom sound video and performance is fine. Seriously I would buy the z3+ cos I think Sony is still a great company, and diversification on market it very important.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • kr@
                              • 09 Jun 2015

                              Mick, 09 Jun 2015Was hoping Sony would make a better job with this awful fai... moreAnd lg went the other way. Two years in a row got taller and wider and this year grew to almost 10mm thick and still used the original 3000mah

                                • M
                                • Mick
                                • fsT
                                • 09 Jun 2015

                                Was hoping Sony would make a better job with this awful failure sd 810. Z4 tablet results were promising. This soc might be fast enough but simply inefficient. No company like HTC LG Sony was able to solve this overheating and throttling crap with effective software. Shame on Qualcomm. I will keep my sd801 device with good battery life and performance with lollipop. Most 2015 flagships are overpriced unnecessary gadgets. Samsung made a good hardware and software job with the s6 but will pay the price for cutting main features like sd card and removable battery. I'm just disappointed. As for me battery life is most important, so I don't understand why they produce smaller batteries only for the body design. Seriously who tf cares for 1 mm more thickness?? Ok. Maybe I'm too old-school but 2015 flagships didn't gave me a really great improvement, so why dont just make things better for every day usage. back to topic. Never had a Sony device but would hv buy it immediately if there was a real improvement to the z3. The + is nothing better than the z3 only 80% more expensive. It will be the same failure as the m9 . And yes it's only my opinion and no one cares about it.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • kr@
                                  • 09 Jun 2015

                                  Anonymous, 09 Jun 2015The amount is negligible. S6 and S6 Edge have a 73-hour end... moreFar superior display and performance with same battery life on smaller battery yes.
                                  Far superior camera. In video yes. If you use the manual controls on the Z3+ I don't think the S6 is far superior.
                                  Definitely has the OIS and our light advantage though.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • kCQ
                                    • 09 Jun 2015

                                    Anonymous, 09 Jun 2015At the end of the day Z3+ battery lasts longer than S6 AND ... moreThe amount is negligible. S6 and S6 Edge have a 73-hour endurance while the Z3+ has a 74-hour endurance.

                                    That's only a 1.3% advantage on Z3+'s end. If the S6 manages to get a 5 hour SoT usage, the Z3+ would only get 5 hours and 4 minutes of SoT under the same usage, hardly a notable difference, and not a big enough difference to justify the Z3+'s purchase, especially since the S6 has a far superior display, far superior camera, wireless charging, and better performance.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-89109
                                      • ute
                                      • 09 Jun 2015

                                      What kind of review is this GSMA? There is no comment about the camera photo quality!

                                      Please don't do this, I like the old GSMA, who didn't rush things up.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • kr@
                                        • 09 Jun 2015

                                        Anonymous, 09 Jun 2015Why does sam fanboy bashing this page. They are just jealou... moreOh god. It's the same thing on every Sony page. Nobody is really bashing. Even if someone just happens to mention another brands name there is Sony fanboy talking about bashing while they are the ones bashing. Congratulations