Sony Xperia X Compact review: Small and brave

17 September 2016
The Compact series by Sony used to occupy a niche of its own as it combined top-of-the-line specs with a pocketable footprint. The latter is still very much true for the just released Xperia X Compact but it no longer has the flagship specs that we’re used to.

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  • A
  • Ameer
  • 6Px
  • 19 Sep 2016

i dont understant why sony all of a sudden started making such ugly phones...

    Z3C_alive, 19 Sep 2016Its not bad for 300$...Sorry but Sony downgrade, low-mid sp... moreDon't ever underestimate the amazing power of the SnapDragon 650. That beast even beats most SnapDragon 820 devices in 2016

      • a
      • abc
      • 9xx
      • 19 Sep 2016

      the flash hole on the back looks ugly.
      this phone looks ugly if it is viewed from the back.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • ibe
        • 19 Sep 2016

        Good-ish sony phone. Is it worth upgrade from z1c to x compact or z5c? (Midrange vs powerful overheating soc)

        Need to change phone because mines has a dead screen digitizer...

          • p
          • paralepiped
          • Mfx
          • 19 Sep 2016

          Thick as brick

            • D
            • AnonD-251354
            • P@@
            • 19 Sep 2016

            AnonD-586674, 18 Sep 2016I loved the Sony Compact line. But this is priced at $500 ... moreGuys its they already released 3 compact and you haven't get use to their pricing
            simple. don't buy it or wait until it goes cheap

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • StU
              • 19 Sep 2016

              Does this have USB host, I have looked around and cant find conclusive evidence.
              I had a play with a few sony phones in a shop and it appeared that the X compact did not have USB host.
              If anyone can confirm that would be great

                • Z
                • Z3C_alive
                • L66
                • 19 Sep 2016

                Its not bad for 300$...Sorry but Sony downgrade, low-mid spec, again mid camera, no IP 68 etc.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-584268
                  • 3Nh
                  • 19 Sep 2016

                  AnonD-575504, 18 Sep 2016ouch!! with or without waterproofing, sony phones always ha... moreWait!! Iphone king of bizels and sales king.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • t7x
                    • 19 Sep 2016

                    Still mediocre camera quality. They make great sensors for other companies yet their phones' camera have poor photo quality. No wonder Apple and other brands are running circles around Sony.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • E8T
                      • 18 Sep 2016

                      AnonD-575504, 18 Sep 2016ouch!! with or without waterproofing, sony phones always ha... moreI think some of it due to the battery. Smaller battery and you take away one of the best features of the line. However, the battery is the same as the z5c, that's why i can't understand why the phone got longer.

                      It's either due to the stereo speaker or the new usb type c. Both I would have foregone it accepted lesser quality to keep the phone at least the same length as the z5c. But that's just me.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-575504
                        • akB
                        • 18 Sep 2016

                        ouch!! with or without waterproofing, sony phones always have HUGEEEEEEEEEEE bezel!

                        when will they learn that those very big bezels is one of the reasons why people virtually has no interest on their phones?

                          • D
                          • AnonD-566980
                          • 0xY
                          • 18 Sep 2016

                          AnonD-507785, 18 Sep 2016To me this brand actually died. I am a Compact user now, an... moresony said it will be xperia event in a weak if im not wrong,so maybe they will make xz compact

                            • D
                            • AnonD-566980
                            • 0xY
                            • 18 Sep 2016

                            AnonD-586674, 18 Sep 2016I loved the Sony Compact line. But this is priced at $500 ... morespecs dosent mean anything,people should learn that by now

                              • D
                              • AnonD-586674
                              • 7I1
                              • 18 Sep 2016

                              I loved the Sony Compact line. But this is priced at $500 in the US- at most it should be priced at $300-350. There are too many excellent 5.0-5.2 inch phones at the $300-400 price range for this to sell with the specs it has..

                                • L
                                • Lex79
                                • pLW
                                • 18 Sep 2016

                                Anonymous, 18 Sep 2016Which problems are you referring to with those models? I... moreThe camera set up on Xperia's tends to cause issues where thermal management is concerned, this is a long time issue for Sony and has been well documented in the X series thus far.

                                If it affects the X (and if you follow best practice, ignore fanboys and pay attention to proeffional reviews, then yes it does) then I can only assume that the XC will also be afflicted as it's has a more intensive processing workload what with the 5-axis stabilisation and such.

                                Not saying the XC is a bad device or anything, but I wouldn't be surprised to see stories of this issue popping up shortly in relation to this device.

                                Good work to Sony if they finally have the problem licked.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 648
                                  • 18 Sep 2016

                                  I love xperia x and xz and even z5 compact and z3c more than this. i will purchase one of them. sony phones is great and lovely but i don't like this. camera is great ! i don't know why u talk about nois when the nois appear when u zoooom 890precent!!

                                    • M
                                    • MIASSL
                                    • PGq
                                    • 18 Sep 2016

                                    People criticising this device needs to remember that it's the Sony Xperia X Compact, not the XZ or X Performance Compact. Sure I agree that Sony could have done better, especially considering their success with previous Compacts, but the X series is what it is right now. Putting the negatives aside, it is a rather solid device on its own, most people see the SD650 and dismisses it as a bad processor, sure it's not as powerful as the SD820, but when it comes to real world performance, it can handle 99% of the tasks just fine. Try and be positive and focus on the device's pros, you'll make the comments section a much happier place.

                                      • T
                                      • Tref
                                      • snP
                                      • 18 Sep 2016

                                      Same desing like nokia lumia 735/730.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • vgM
                                        • 18 Sep 2016

                                        AnonD-411799, 18 Sep 2016sony should put their devices on a diet. resembles like a 2... morethey better stop making new devices. because they dont have (and can't afford to employ) a good designer.