Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact review

25 September 2017
The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is a rare breed - it's small on the outside, but big on the inside. Packed with all the latest hardware and having only a small screen to power, Sony’s latest super-mini may very well be the performance champion to beat. But whenever there is a superhero, there is a villain lurking in the shadows. So yes, the Compact has its own battle to fight that’s not all about size or speed.

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crentist, 11 Oct 2017If they had kept up the high quality compacts last year for... moreSo did you change from Z3C to Iphone SE? :-ss?

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    • alessandro
    • 3mu
    • 23 May 2018

    as is the reception of the signal, I resold the xz2 compact because compared to my BB priv often lost the signal, same card placed same hours. I would like to try this maybe it has a more stable signal

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • vV5
      • 30 Mar 2018

      wild dawg, 28 Mar 2018which is better iphone 7 or xz1 compact? i have ip7 but dam... moreXz1 compact much more better than ip7 totally.Not being biase but that's true because every update in ios will ruin older phones

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        • wild dawg
        • FMY
        • 28 Mar 2018

        which is better iphone 7 or xz1 compact? i have ip7 but damn battery life is sucks. planning to buy this phone.

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          • AnonD-171425
          • Jd$
          • 08 Jan 2018

          I'm not sure why the review ends by criticising that Sony didn't "keep up" in terms of increasing screen sizes and resolutions… hello, that's exactly the point of the Compact range. The rest of the review seems to understand this. It seems as if the conclusion was written by a different author. People such as me like the Compact series *exactly* because it doesn't follow on gimmicks and trends just because they're hyped. 1080p or HDR give absolutely no benefit on a screen this size, and most of its buyers would rather have the added battery life any day. The 4.6" screen is not "three years behind", it's made for people who don't want to carry around a window pane in their pockets all day.

          The review mentions a lot of software details and changes as new, which however have been around on Xperias for at least one or two Android versions. Also, Track ID is no longer available from Google Play, since Sony have discontinued the service last year. Even if you still have the app installed on an older model, it won't work anymore.

          USB 3.1 is mentioned, everywhere else I've read it only supports USB 2.0, including GSMArena's own spec sheet. That's a bit disappointing, and I wonder why Sony decided to switch to Type-C plugs right now, if they didn't also upgrade the speed. That means I'll have to replace a whole lot of USB cables for no benefit (and won't be able to borrow from friends or colleagues as easily).

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            • Anonymous
            • Dk3
            • 25 Dec 2017

            How much is the screen on time?

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              • AnonD-393912
              • 61B
              • 24 Nov 2017

              Scoop, 11 Nov 2017Why do phones sold in the USA not have fingerprint scanner?Sony have fingerprint scanner exclusivity contract with some barely alive carrier apparently.

              It going to take quite amount of money to nullify the contract and somehow the ever so (un)wise Sony mobile division higher ups decide to not to bother to fight to nullify it.
              Somehow they thought that Android Pay and some other stuff that require or will be much convenient with fingerprint scan is not worth the fight.

              How they able to retain their position again? Maybe its like Sony other division whose units and higher ups have failed big time yet manage to convince Sony that they've do the best they could and any other management will not able to do better so lets abandon/shutdown this division. Sigh...

                RC, 07 Nov 2017When I use manual mode on night, do I need to set on the flash?Try using the red eye reduction plus hold the phone still for night shooting and backlit capture.

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                  • Scoop
                  • tDS
                  • 11 Nov 2017

                  Why do phones sold in the USA not have fingerprint scanner?

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                    • RC
                    • PFt
                    • 07 Nov 2017

                    When I use manual mode on night, do I need to set on the flash?

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                      • AnonD-711132
                      • njw
                      • 27 Oct 2017

                      AnonD-698475, 29 Sep 2017Sony, a company that nobody appreciates their mobile phones... moreSorry, but:
                      - the sound qualitiy is great, on speakers or headphones(with headphones maybe the best quality on all phones)
                      - oh yes, the really untrue colors of a AMOLED where just colorful but not true, sorry, when i view my pics on a phone i want they looks like reallife n not like a over colored bubblegum machine.
                      - the bezels on sony phones i like, play games with a bezel less phone, some mistakes will be happen when u r in action mode(one reason why apple still have bezels too)
                      - the 16:9 ratio is the best for vids n pics, the ugly 18.5:9 ratio is just awful for multimedia.
                      - so, where is ur problem dude?

                        Small comment; it's a mistake to compare this to the iPhone SE. The screen is about the same size as the standard iPhone. It's somewhere between the iPhone 7 and 8, but with an SD card slot and a $200 price cut.

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                          • Tons143
                          • IW@
                          • 25 Oct 2017

                          I love XZ1 compact b,coz 4.6 siZe its fit on my hand.

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                            • Mike
                            • av6
                            • 16 Oct 2017

                            The screen resolution is perfect for this size, making it 1080p would give absolutely no benefit, only the performance and battery life would drop. Phones used to last for 2 week on battery without charging, now they last for 2 days - do not criticize the phone for not catching up with today's poor standards, and staying better than the others.

                              AnonD-628117, 10 Oct 2017I just got an XZ1 Compact and I hate to say but my initial ... moreIn manual, set cam at 12 mpx, ISO at 100, shutter at 1/8, exposure at -0.5. Or 200 ISO and 1/15 s shutter...
                              Play a bit and see which works best.
                              Keep your manual like this for lowlights.
                              For lowlight shots just turn to this preset manual and shoot with soft button, I use it like this constantly and shots are great.
                              For everything else automode.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • JpI
                                • 13 Oct 2017

                                AnonD-628117, 10 Oct 2017I just got an XZ1 Compact and I hate to say but my initial ... moreTurn ISO down.
                                On auto ISO will probably higher than 800.
                                Do not let it go beyind 100.

                                Once you set it ob manual it keeps new setting.
                                So you can use auto in daylight, manual at night.
                                Just slide to access.. Does not take 1s.

                                  AnonD-690051, 30 Sep 2017omg that bezel is so huge. the second one from right really... moreEither the brick designs(squarish) or soap(curve) designs, it is still a smartphone, can't go an insane design anywhere from the base in reality.

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                                    • Mel
                                    • La8
                                    • 12 Oct 2017

                                    AnonD-698475, 29 Sep 2017Sony, a company that nobody appreciates their mobile phones... moreExcellent comment. I'll add overheating problems.

                                      • c
                                      • crentist
                                      • wYv
                                      • 11 Oct 2017

                                      If they had kept up the high quality compacts last year for the X Compact, I wouldn't have had to get an iphone SE to replace my trusty Z3 compact. The Z3C was fantastic, just the perfect size. Great to see Sony keeping this line alive

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                                        • Surficial
                                        • 0RS
                                        • 11 Oct 2017

                                        AnonD-628117, 10 Oct 2017I just got an XZ1 Compact and I hate to say but my initial ... moreIndoors is where my x compact does the worst, when there's bright light sources and dark corners etc the dynamic range isn't that good. Does work well taking pictures at gigs when the light show isn't directly into the lens.
                                        Noise is mainly due to instability, try using onscreen shutter button in low light and indoors to reduce shaking.

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