Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact review
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- AnonD-628117
- 3aV
- 10 Oct 2017
I just got an XZ1 Compact and I hate to say but my initial impressions of the camera in low light situations are not good. Comparable, in fact, to the Xperia X. Huge amount of noise. And I need it to be good in this scenario for taking pictures of my decorating work. Will have a fiddle with it tomorrow but my first thoughts are; 'a £500 smartphone should have much better indoor camera performance' and I am inclined to return it. It doesn't seem any better than the A3 2017 for example and even the J5 2017. Would love it if anyone has any tips that might help! HDR does absolutely nothing. The phone is lightning quick in operation though....as you would expect.
- L
- Lex79
- pL%
- 09 Oct 2017
nothing-, 09 Oct 2017Opps, i didn't know that. Glad that I haven't get one yet a... moreHey look I would never want to influence anyone else buying decisions. My hesitation is based on my past experience with various Xperia devices that runs up to the XZ.
With regard the XZ1 Compact itself. My concerns could be proven wrong, and the camera may indeed function as advertised.
I guess if I were to offer any advice toward a potential purchase of the XZ1 Compact, it would simply be (as it always has been for any device) to read and watch as many reviews and hands on as possible from as wide a range of sources as possible. Look to see what issues are pointed out, and if there is any consistency in those issues (i.e. they are all mentioning the same thing).
Finally, do not what ever happens listen what the fanboys on the comments sections of sites like this may tell you, remember they are simply seeking confirmation of their own bias in others.
For my own opinion, if (that big old if again) the camera issues are no more, then the XZ1 Compact looks to be a truly great device. If your looking for a compact yet flagship grade powerful smartphone its pretty much the only game in town (even if the camera might possibly be prone to shutting down from time to time) apart from an iPhone, and that is an entirely different debate :)
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- nothing-
- PSv
- 09 Oct 2017
Lex79, 09 Oct 2017Yep, limits are imposed on many handsets and yes there vide... moreOpps, i didn't know that. Glad that I haven't get one yet as I was looking for a new phone this year. I think I should wait till next year for their new flagship.
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- Lex79
- pL%
- 09 Oct 2017
nothing-, 09 Oct 2017I've seen the camera comparison of xz Premium vs other flag... moreYep, limits are imposed on many handsets and yes there videos showing Xperia devices recording 4K video for extended lengths of time.
Often these videos have the device (in flight mode) sat on a table or something, recording a static image. Now whilst thats great and all, it was a similar such video that tricked me into believing that the problem had been fixed on the XZ.
Not so, try recording 4K whilst out and about, walking, panning with shifting planes of focus, differing lighting conditions and with full network capability enabled. Because that is what I did frequently, and that blasted The device temperature is rising......... message would very quickly show up!
Look I have acknowledged that Sony have made good progress on this front, but I am just unwilling to again bet £500 or more of my own money that they finally have it solved.
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- nothing-
- v0q
- 09 Oct 2017
Lex79, 26 Sep 2017Not so much concerned with the output of the camera across ... moreI mean "storage" not memory.
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- nothing-
- v0q
- 09 Oct 2017
Lex79, 26 Sep 2017Not so much concerned with the output of the camera across ... moreI've seen the camera comparison of xz Premium vs other flagship and I was surprised by the fact that other phones stop recording 4k after 5 minutes but sony continues until it runs out of memory.
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- Jumbo
- n%q
- 08 Oct 2017
Anonymous, 01 Oct 2017sony = bad quality control---Fake--- poster. The phone wasn't even released on this day he posted. Just a paid troll..
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- Anonymous
- 043
- 05 Oct 2017
As I heard many Sony users telling us iPhone users that we should stop to hate, I have one thing to say: we aren't it, it is mostly Samsung users. For example, I like almost every phone which is not overpriced as heck and calls itself an iPhone competitor while being low end (sorry Nokia 6 and Galaxy A3, you may look as good but your are ugly from the inside). And to convince you, I will tell you my honest opinion about this phone.
It really like it's simplistic design. Those sharp edges and corners don't feel as good in the hand, but they better use the available space and it usually looks better. I am amazed by this battery life while it is at the same time not as thick as a brick. I don't like the fact that the bottom bezel is bigger than the top one, because it looks weird. It is great how it is small while being high end, because the iPhones are missing competition here and Apple is likely to kill the small phones, but I am dependent on it. So if Apple completely moves to oversized phones, I have still a great alternative. And while Sony cameras aren't the best, you can see the evolution and how they get better with every generation.
So that's all the good things I can say about it.
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- AnonD-705331
- Iae
- 04 Oct 2017
AnonD-700950, 27 Sep 2017it scores well just like the oled screens. and 1080p is imp... moreIt is less about resolution than it is about PPI there really is no need for much more than 400ppi. I also would be very wary to increase screen size because that would make the phone wider and will reduce its one hand usability and also its usability while having a firm grip on the device. Possibly taller screen would be cool.
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- AnonD-705331
- Iae
- 04 Oct 2017
This is basically what the Z5 compact should have been. Don't be fooled the XZ1 compact is what I want for my next phone.
This phone is definitely the narrowest flagship at the moment making it the easiest to operate with one hand. It also is one of the only phones to have a two stage shutter button. 32GB is fine and I hope it also allows to format SD as internal storage though I wonder if it has a UHS-II bus and how fast of a speed does it support. I hope it also supports USB 3/3.x but also not really a big deal. The Album and Music app are pretty good I kinda wish I could have Album on my HTC. The aperture in the camera isn't really too important as long as it continues to improve the actual images it takes. I is a little sad that sony isn't the ones getting the best out of their sensors.
There are shortcomings of the phone:
-It would be nice to see a higher pixel density, maybe about 400ppi. You can also add a lower resolution mode to save battery. Also I understand why they didn't
-HDR would be nice
-The forehead and chin could be smaller. Though I think the phone already has trouble with mounting onto in-car mounts.
-I personally like a perfectly centered display so to move the screen and to change the aspect ratio to accommodate the on screen OS buttons would be nice.
-The removal of FM radio is sad on a public safety front.
-Optical image stabilisation would be good.
-The Xperia launcher design I don't really like.
-The USB and 3.5mm jack could also be on same side though layout can be argued so many ways except sideways. I like both on top downside is docking.
-FYI XZ1 compact is taller thicker and heavier than the Z5 compact.
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- Anonymous
- ang
- 03 Oct 2017
Jd, 03 Oct 2017I think this phome is more worth than iphone 8Well said, definitely it's the best phone ever made.
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- DRONGO
- rA{
- 03 Oct 2017
It's a very small mistake, but let me know, Which USB connectivity standard Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact have? bcoz Specifications page tell USB 2.0 type C 1.0 ; whereas Review page tell otherwise; in your words i.e. "The same goes for the fast USB 3.1, Type-C data interface and"
so please clear my doubt, ASAP.
if possible, plz reply to email - talkyash@gmail.com
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- Jd
- RIL
- 03 Oct 2017
I think this phome is more worth than iphone 8
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- NotAFanboyy
- q{3
- 03 Oct 2017
Anonymous, 29 Sep 2017JDI = Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba The oled project betwee... moreIt has NOT ended, they formed a new company called JOLED and they've been doing R&D since 2014 and have made some huge advancements this year in high yield with inkjet printing. JOLED will merge with JDI next year to cross license technologies.
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- Anonymous
- q}M
- 03 Oct 2017
AnonD-704993, 02 Oct 2017I am wondering did you guys really tested XZ1/XZ1 Compact's... more? These phones run Android 8 out of the box...
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- Surficial
- HCh
- 02 Oct 2017
AnonD-704993, 02 Oct 2017I am wondering did you guys really tested XZ1/XZ1 Compact's... moreIn my experience, battery life was worse just after installing a new update, I think there's some automatic optimisation stuff going on for a week or so.
More than 400mah a day of phone idle?
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- AnonD-704993
- tmf
- 02 Oct 2017
I am wondering did you guys really tested XZ1/XZ1 Compact's battery life.
I've a friend brought XZ1 and another friend brought XZ1 Compact. Both of them have "Phone Idle" drains battery issues. This issue starts in Sony's Android 7 firmware and never fix till now. Search on Sony Mobile's support forum and you'll see.
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- Anonymous
- LkD
- 02 Oct 2017
AnonD-704886, 02 Oct 20174k video recording.. but you can't even watch in half of th... moreSame happens on QHD phones, they record 4K but you cant watch 4K on them.
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- AnonD-704886
- vxn
- 02 Oct 2017
4k video recording.. but you can't even watch in half of the half of the resolution of that footage on your own phone screen. LoL.
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- Mikey
- nCd
- 02 Oct 2017
As usual, a fantastic review.