Comfortable size: review of the mini-flagship Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Smartphone Sony Xperia Z3 Compact: characteristics and reviews Z3 compact dimensions
Sony is not the only manufacturer that regularly releases compact versions of its flagship smartphones. Samsung, LG, HTC and others have such solutions. But in most cases, companies offer reduced functionality in such models.
Sony Z3 Compact is a pleasant exception. Almost nothing except display size and volume random access memory, this smartphone is not inferior to its older brother Z3. As a result, lovers of compact devices receive a smaller copy of the flagship model without any functional compromises.
Characteristics:
Standard: GSM/UMTS/LTE
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 2.5 GHz
GPU: Adreno 330
Display: 4.6 inches, IPS, 1280x720
RAM: 2 GB
User memory: 16 GB, microSD slot
Camera: 20.7 MP, front – 2.2 MP
Communications: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio
Connectors: microUSB, 3.5 mm audio
OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
Battery: 2600 mAh
Dimensions: 127×64.9×8.6 cm
Weight: 129 g
Price: 14,000 UAH
At the base of the body Sony Xperia The Z3 Compact has two glass surfaces and plastic edges. The design is monolithic, nothing creaks, and the connector plugs do not dangle. Moreover, they are not so easy to detect if you have not dealt with Sony smartphones before.
We tested the device in a discreet black color scheme. Orange or light green options look much brighter and more youthful. But for those who wear a business suit five days a week, black would still be preferable. In general, the case is practical, but personally I would immediately stick protective films on the front and back surfaces. Fortunately, they will be completely invisible here. But to hide this beauty in a case, as for me, would be blasphemy.
The plastic on the side is translucent, which adds some flair. Even the trendy aluminum side frames couldn't look cooler. On the contrary, due to the matte texture and translucent plastic, the smartphone looks original, without looking like an iPhone 5s or Galaxy Alpha. Well, for connoisseurs of cold metal, I can recommend a compact version of the HTC flagship - One mini 2 in an all-metal case.
The dimensions of the Xperia Z3 Compact are 127 x 64.9 x 8.6 cm and weighs 129 g. But only when you take it in your hand do you realize how well the device fits in the palm of your hand. If you have been using flagship models with a diagonal of 5 inches and above for a long time, long-forgotten pleasant sensations are guaranteed - as if you are putting on your favorite well-worn shoes.
Of course, viewing pictures and websites on a 4.6-inch display is not as convenient as on the screen of a phablet. But when it comes to everyday use, the Xperia Z3 Compact is a cut above. After all, absolutely all actions can be performed with one hand. At this time, another may squeeze the steering wheel of the car, hold on to the handrail public transport or warm cognac in a glass. In general, when you use compact smartphones, you don’t feel handcuffed, and it’s damn convenient.
The device is protected according to IP65 and IP68 standards. We didn’t dare bathe it in the bathroom, however, all connectors, except for the audio output, are carefully covered with plugs, so the Xperia Z3 Compact should withstand a short immersion under water with dignity. It can also be washed under the tap without harming the internal components.
I was pleased with the display. It uses a perfectly calibrated IPS matrix that displays natural, deep shades. The black color is perceived as black, and not dirty grayish, as is the case even in some top-end solutions.
HD resolution (1280 x 720) with a 4.6-inch diagonal is enough for a smooth picture. You most likely will not be able to see individual pixels without a magnifying glass. Pixel density - 319 ppi. You can play some magic with the display settings. For example, the color temperature is adjusted, there is a separate mode for increasing clarity and contrast, as well as an extreme brightness mode, which is useful in sunny weather.
The sensor responds flawlessly to touch, and a glove mode is also available.
The heart of the mini-flagship is a 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz and an Adreno 330 graphics chip. The amount of RAM is 2 GB. Perhaps due to the fact that the display here is not Full HD, the system performance is close to ideal. Perhaps any game from Google Play The smartphone will be quite tough. Desktops and menu lists scroll smoothly, without delay. The built-in memory is 16 GB, but thanks to the expansion slot this will not be a problem. MicroSD cards up to 128 GB are supported.
Below are the results of synthetic tests in the AnTuTu application:
The front camera has a far from record resolution - 2.2 megapixels. Selfies turn out relatively good, but a little blurry. From the front camera of a modern flagship, even in a mini version, you expect more detail.
The resolution of the main camera is 20.7 megapixels. We were pleased with the manual settings and modes, as well as good job auto mode. The Xperia Z3 Compact gets white balance and exposure right, even in challenging conditions. In some aspects the camera is superior to other flagship solutions, in others it is inferior to them. Personally, I would like more pronounced detail.
Below are some test shots:
Full-size photos in a separate album on Google Drive.
A non-removable 2600 mAh battery provided about a day in my usage scenario battery life. During this time, I managed to download a dozen must-have applications to my smartphone, take several dozen photos, surf social networks, talk for about 20-30 minutes, listen to music online for an hour, and a little more on little things. The result is very good, and if you use the Xperia Z3 Compact less intensively, you can squeeze out more.
conclusions
Compact smartphones with top-end hardware are a separate cohort of devices for connoisseurs of this particular format. However, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has very serious competitors. This HTC One Mini 2, Samsung Galaxy S5 mini and, of course, iPhone 5s. Compared to them, the model looks quite decent, offering good performance, an original design, a protected body, as well as a high-quality main camera.
For fans of the brand, the choice is obvious - the smartphone is made in the best traditions of Sony and has the characteristic external charisma of the flagships of this brand. As for the hardware and performance, you can safely expect that the parameters will not become outdated for at least another year and a half.
Compact option flagship smartphone The Sony Xperia Z3 turned out to be even more interesting than its older brother - it is worth considering as a purchase if you do not need a device with a large display.
Design, construction
I received this smartphone just before a September trip to Munich, a friend and I went on a classic trip - look at the queue, drink festive beer (Oktoberfest was just beginning), buy an iPhone 6, have a delicious breakfast in a cafe near the market and go home. I took the Z3 Compact with me, I had the idea of broadcasting on YouTube, but in the end I didn’t have the strength in the evening, and the idea fell through - but you should know that the smartphone also has this very nice option. And throughout the trip, the Z3 Compact haunted my friend; he really liked it, he constantly asked to look at it, twirl it in his hands, and tell me what functions and features it had.
It would seem that the iPhone 6 has been awaited for so long. What do you care about a small smartphone on Android based? But, as practice shows, the Z3 Compact really evokes positive emotions in people and almost instant addiction. It is small - and very thoughtful. When I first saw it, I still didn’t want to come to terms with the fact that this “compact” did not have a metal frame; it was replaced by polymer. After a month of use, I can confidently say that there’s nothing wrong with it. It looks good, doesn’t slip, you can lift the device off the table simply with your fingertips (unlike the Z3), what else do you need?
The device is also very photogenic, each photo received a bunch of likes everywhere possible. For example, here's a photo.
As many as 161 likes! And here is a photo where the Sony Xperia Z3 is in full combat equipment, with a microphone, next to it is a noise-cancelling headset, all these accessories are supported, since it uses a five-pin 3.5 mm connector. And the sound quality is very good. And the speaker is very loud, about as loud as an iPhone 5S.
In addition to white, there are also black, mint and red color options. It seems to me that the Z3 Compact should be bought in some difficult version, black is too boring.
But the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is an emotional thing; it’s hardly worth putting it on a par with other Android smartphones. Samsung and LG don’t have such smartphones, I don’t even know what to call them. These are fashion devices, fashionable in terms of design, materials, a certain emotional charge - the buyer of the Z3 Compact receives a smaller version of the flagship, but not only. Also the feeling of things with capital letters V. This is very nice. Girls really like the device, it fits well in a small hand, while men are pleased with the functionality. Water protection? Yes. Good camera? Yes. Interesting accessories? Yes. Can I increase the memory? Yes. Powerful processor? Yes. All these are words for an advertising video, but this is exactly how many people choose their gadgets.
Let me remind you that there is very detailed video, where there are several colors of the device and quite detailed story about a smartphone.
Well, let's go back to the traditional review. I like the way the smartphone looks when viewed from the front. They tried to remove the frames, the polymer ends are rough, and the device as a whole fits better in the hand and is easier to take out of your pocket. The buttons are well made, and despite the compactness, they left the camera button. Like the flagship, there are rounded inserts at the ends. Neat plugs, the 3.5 mm jack without protection supports work with all branded accessories for this pinout, the device is protected according to the IP68 standard.
It's a pity that summer is over and all Z3s will go on sale in the fall; the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact would look great somewhere on the beach. Although the winter holidays are coming soon, and many will fly to warm countries. So, don't forget about this one small smartphone.
Let me remind you that nanoSIM is used here, you will need to change your large SIM card - but iPhone users The 5S will be a no-brainer to upgrade to Sony's new little flagship.
Regarding the reliability of the glass panels on the front and back: the device fell once from a height onto a stone floor in the kitchen, I did not find any damage. Fingerprints and scratches are invisible on white, so keep this in mind when purchasing.
If the end cap annoys you, use magnetic charging. However, you will have to buy it separately. And one more complaint about the assembly - everything is very cool here, glass panels and all that, but the buttons move a little. This is especially noticeable on the volume button.
Display
The diagonal of the IPS display is 4.6 inches, resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels, everything is not bad with brightness and viewing angles. I like how the fonts have been changed here, pay attention to the branded clock on the screen in standby mode, it’s done well. And in general, the fonts are chosen interestingly, but the icons seem too large. On the other hand, they are clearly visible on a small screen, you can immediately select the desired program, you don’t have to look around the screen.
In the display settings, you can enable the “With Gloves” mode, select white balance, and there is a function to activate the device by double-tapping on the screen when the smartphone is turned off. Previously, this feature was only available on large flagships. The smart backlight function is supported - the screen remains on while the smartphone is in your hand. You can choose the brightness yourself, or trust the automation; I prefer the first option.
This is not entirely related to the display, but the proximity sensor did not always work adequately for me; during a conversation, I opened the quick settings menu with my cheek several times, turned on the flashlight, etc. If you have the same problem, tell me in the comments.
I would like to note one more point. Small screen - small keyboard. Writing large SMS or long messages on Facebook here is a real pain, I’m already used to turning my smartphone over and writing with two fingers. But the keyboard itself is not bad.
Contents of delivery
I want to say this separately - I still wouldn’t advise Sony to skimp on things; many people are upset that there is no headset, stand or any other accessories. The “you can buy this separately” strategy is good, but even Apple tries to give the user everything they need to use a smartphone. And Sony has always pleased us with interesting “extras”. I would like to believe that in the Sony Xperia Z4 everything will return to normal and at least a headset (preferably with noise cancellation) will be included.
Performance
Uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 c processor clock frequency 2.5 GHz, Adreno 330 video adapter, 3 GB of RAM, Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has 2 GB of RAM, but you don’t need more, the display diagonal is smaller. 16 GB of memory is installed, you can use microSD, cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB are supported. All devices work very quickly, this also applies to the E3. Android 4.4.4 is installed, but of course there will be an update to the latest version. Branded wallpapers are used, icons have been redesigned, the clock widget has undergone changes, the hour numbers have become thicker - or rather, the font has become thicker, the minutes have remained unchanged. We'll see how the software changes by the time the devices hit the market.
Wireless interfaces are typical: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC. It uses a five-pin connector, like on the Z2, and supports all new accessories that require power from the gadget, such as a microphone and a noise-canceling headset. There will probably be other things as well - for example, headphones with support for Hi-Res audio. The magnetic stand on the end allows you to charge the Z3 without using the microUSB connector. If you get tired of the plug, we recommend purchasing a docking station. By the way, the headset will be removed from the package of all Z3s; you will have to buy it separately.
IN Sony review Xperia Z3 Eldar told everything about performance, I recommend reading the article.
About the features Sony interface There is also a separate article, I recommend reading it.
Among the pre-installed programs there is Deezer, a music service (its usefulness is questionable),
Already in November of this year, a very interesting feature will appear for the entire Z3 family, called Remote Play. The firmware for PS4 will be released, the Z3 Compact will have a function, and what will happen? Here's what: you can connect a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi to the console and use the device's screen to play together with the DualShock 4 joystick. The display ceases to be touch-sensitive; the image from the console is transferred there. To put it into words, the Z3 Compact turns into a miniature TV. There will be a special holder for the joystick; you can put a smartphone or tablet there. For now, all this will only work within the limits home Wi-Fi networks, but they promise to expand the possibilities - for example, in Berlin I could turn on the console using the Z3, launch BF4, put the smartphone in the joystick and calmly play for an hour before going to bed. But in the case of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, there is a question of whether this should be done, given the size of the display.
Yes, the Z2 will not have such functionality.
Camera
Camera 20 MP, front – 2 MP, there are a number of new effects, for example, you can draw something like graffiti in the air, the drawing will freeze and become three-dimensional, the camera can be held under different angles and look at the resulting something. This is also very, very unusual. There is a video recording of what is happening on the screen, which will appeal to authors of reviews of applications and Android games, and there is an online broadcast on YouTube. There are other effects, see the video at the beginning of the article for more details. The quality of the images, as they say in the company, has not changed or has become better - in my opinion, there are few differences from the Z2. In his review of the Z3, Eldar spoke in detail about the camera and effects, I recommend reading his article.
Note that the default value is not the most best quality and I advise you to play with manual settings, the Z3 Compact is capable of a lot. A separate shooting button plays a very important role; you can quickly launch the camera and take the first frame. And it works like a camera: press the button - focus, press all the way - shoot.
Nutrition
The smartphone uses a 2600 mAh battery, they promise a battery life of up to two days even without Stamina mode, you can use any microUSB cable. Here's an observation: if you use a watch with Android, then in Stamina mode no notifications will be received on the watch; one friend complained that the Moto 360 paired with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact simply turns into a watch - until you activate the smartphone, nothing happens is happening. And Stamina should be turned on, as it seriously affects the operating time. For example, with my quiet use, the device lives quietly for a couple of days - in this sense, the smartphone behaves much better than flagships with huge displays.
And besides the simple Stamina mode, there is an UltraSTAMINA mode, only phone and messages work. If you suddenly find yourself in a situation where there is 30% charge left and you know that you won’t be able to charge your smartphone for a long time, feel free to turn on UltraSTAMINA - you’ll last until the evening (you’ll last a very long time). Pay attention to the screenshot: battery charge is 56%, approximate operating time is 10 days 16 hours. Not bad, right? I personally often find myself in this situation; I have to carry external batteries with me.
conclusions
The smartphone retails for about 23,990 rubles, the price seems quite reasonable to me - behind the “cute” appearance lies a functional and powerful device that can serve you faithfully for years. After all, many people still use Sony Xperia Z, we have such a person in our editorial office - why not, if everything suits you? Likewise, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact can become your faithful companion. Interesting design good display and a camera, protection from water - and not just protection, you can literally wash yourself with your smartphone. It's a shame there aren't any accessories included, but you can buy a noise-canceling headset or a stereo microphone if you want to receive good videos from concerts. The fonts in the menu are well chosen, there are really interesting effects at the camera, if you are sitting in a group and have nothing to do, turn on the AR Effect and enjoy. The speaker, as I already said, is quite loud, there are no complaints about the quality of reception. LTE is supported, everything worked perfectly with Beeline and MegaFon.
The quality of speech transmission is at a good level, unlike Z2, there is no effect when you catch sound from the speaker with your ear - one of latest firmware For Z2 I fixed this bug, in Z3 Compact everything is fine. There are also no complaints about the volume of the speaker in the Z3 Compact.
There are no films. This is also a huge plus.
In times of huge smartphones with large screens, finding a quality small smartphone turns out to be very difficult. It is gratifying that Sony is following the previous path, when the miniature version of the flagship is identical in characteristics and has its own features. What would I like in the Z4 Compact? Maybe they’ll do without frames entirely and add them to the kit good headset, the frames will be made of metal - after all, users love metal, no matter what. They will completely get rid of plugs while maintaining protection from water. What else do you dream about for little ones? Sony flagships, write in the comments.
If you're looking for something small and functional based on Android, be sure to take a look at the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. There are many advantages, there are also disadvantages, but the advantages outweigh. In my opinion this is one of the best smartphones at the end of 2015, you can safely buy.
P.S. Many people ask whether it is worth replacing the first generation Compact with the model reviewed. It seems to me that you shouldn’t do this, the old one is also cool and if the thing works and makes you happy, then there is no need to look for good from good.
The fashion for mini-smartphones has not yet passed. Various manufacturers Every now and then they announce smaller versions of their flagships, counting on a decent level of sales due to the sounding and memorable name. Unfortunately, in most cases this is pure, unadulterated marketing in the bad sense of the word. Mini-copies often have nothing in common with flagships, except for a vaguely similar design, and their technical content leaves much to be desired. We swam - we know.
The real mini-flagship from Sony, which appeared last year along with the Xperia Z1, has somewhat changed the attitude towards this class of devices. It really was a smaller copy of the older device: platform, camera - all the technical stuff of the compact version was borrowed from the flagship. “Compact” even took over its protection against dust and moisture. The only differences were the size and resolution of the display - for 4.3 inches Full HD is simply not necessary. Sony understood this and decided not to waste resources.
In our memory, the Z1 Compact is one of the most productive smartphones with a 4.3-inch screen diagonal. Literally a gift that has no analogues for those who wanted a compact but powerful gadget. Obviously, Sony decided to update the Compact once a year, unlike the usual “Zetok”. And to avoid a lag in the serial number, the number 2 in the new generation of the “compact” had to be omitted. So welcome to Sony Xperia Z3 Compact! Before testing begins, we note that the Z1 Compact dropped to a very “tasty” fifteen thousand rubles in various online stores. For such a price this is truly a gift! It’s all the more interesting to see if there’s anything in the Z3 Compact that will make the user pay about seven thousand more for it.
⇡ Specifications
| Sony Xperia Z1 Compact | Sony Xperia Z3 Compact | |
|---|---|---|
| Touch screen | 4.3 inches, 1280x720 pixels, IPS; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches | 4.6 inches, 1280x720 pixels, IPS; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches |
| Air gap | No | |
| Oleophobic coating | Eat | |
| Polarizing filter | Eat | |
| Factory film | No | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974: four Qualcomm Krait-400 cores (ARMv7); frequency 2.15 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC: four Qualcomm Krait-400 cores (ARMv7), frequency 2.46 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
| Graphics controller | Adreno 330, 450 MHz | Adreno 330, 578 MHz |
| RAM | 2 GB LPDDR3-1600 | |
| Flash memory | 16 GB (about 11.5 GB available to the user) + microSD | |
| Connectors | 1 x Micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 x MicroSD 1 x Micro-SIM |
1 x Micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 x 3.5mm headset jack 1 x MicroSD 1 x Nano-SIM |
| cellular | 2G/3G/4G One SIM card in micro-SIM format |
2G/3G/4G One nano-SIM format SIM card |
| Cellular connection 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz DC-HSPA+ (84 Mbps) | |
| Cellular 4G | LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps) band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 (2100/1900/1800/1700/850/2600/900/800 MHz) | |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct | |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | |
| NFC | Eat | |
| IR port | No | |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| Sensors | Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer ( digital compass) |
Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer |
| Main camera | 20.7 MP (5248x3936), Sony Exmor RS matrix with back-illumination, 1/2.3 inches Autofocus, LED flash | |
| Front-camera | 2.1 MP (1920x1080), Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor | |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery: 8.7 Wh (2300 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 9.88 Wh (2600 mAh, 3.8 V) |
| Size | 127x65 mm Case thickness: 9.5 mm |
127x65 mm Case thickness 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 135 g | 129 g |
| Housing protection | IP55, IP58 | IP65, IP68 |
| operating system | Android 4.4 KitKat Sony Xperia's own shell |
|
| Average retail price | About 15 thousand rubles | About 23 thousand rubles |
⇡ Appearance and ergonomics
Let's start with the obvious. Smartphones with a screen diagonal of 4.6 inches are no longer in fashion - we have already begun to forget how convenient it is to use them. The Z3 Compact fits easily into any pocket without sticking out. The device is really easy to operate with one hand - even the fair sex does not have to reach with its thumb to any of the four edges. Your hands don’t get tired from prolonged interaction with this gadget, because it weighs less than 130 grams.
Sony engineers pleasantly surprised us by increasing the display of the Compact - from 4.3 to 4.6 inches, but leaving the dimensions of the device the same. They are the same for both Compact models: 127 mm in height and 65 mm in width. It is noteworthy that the thickness of the case was reduced by almost a millimeter - from 9.5 mm to 8.6 mm. In general, the Z3 Compact turned out to be even smaller than its predecessor.
The layout of the keys and connectors on the device is the same as on the vast majority of Android smartphones - you get used to the Z3 Compact very quickly. Perhaps the main innovation in terms of design can be considered the transfer of the external speaker to the front panel - the calculation is that the phone is usually placed on the table “face up”, so that the speaker will not be covered.
The signature round power key, made of aluminum, now has a slightly larger size. Next to it is a rocker button for adjusting the volume and a dedicated hardware camera key. All buttons have a short and distinct stroke.
The side edges of the body of the new “Compact” are made of transparent plastic. Due to this, it seems that they are concave, although in reality they are, of course, convex. The inscriptions on the ends cast a shadow “deeper” into the smartphone - an interesting optical effect. At the corners of the body there are special inserts, which protect the body from impacts when falling. Whether this works is unknown: we did not dare to check.
The card slots here are hidden under special plastic plugs in order to maintain the tightness of the structure. The device is protected from dust and moisture according to IP65/68 standards. The manufacturer states that if all the plugs are tightly closed, the gadget can be in fresh water at a depth of up to one and a half meters for no more than thirty minutes.
Under one flap there is a Micro-USB interface and a slot for a microSD memory card, under the other there is a slot for Nano-SIM. Between them is a traditional Sony magnetic connector for connecting the device to the docking station. At the top end there is a universal 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting a wired headset, and at the bottom there is a loop for a strap.
The “back” of the new Compact is made of glass, while its predecessor was made of plastic. Despite this, the smartphone does not slip in your hands at all, and it looks much more expensive and interesting previous version (The opinion of the author may not coincide with the opinion of the editors. — approx. ed. ). On the back panel there is a lens of the main 20-megapixel camera along with a diode flash.
The available range of colors for the Z3 Compact is its own - it has nothing in common with either the colors of the “regular” Xperia Z3 or the colors of the Z1 Compact. This season, Sony designers, along with the traditional black and white colors, offer bright orange and mint green. In promotional photographs, the new colors look very interesting and unusual. Obviously, they will resonate with young people.
The constant increase in smartphone screen diagonals does not suit all users. Not wanting to buy a “shovel,” many people use old models until the last minute, and when choosing a new thing, they are ready to put up with simpler characteristics in order to maintain the desired dimensions. In such conditions, individual compact flagships are of particular interest, and today we will get acquainted with perhaps the most interesting of them.
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a mini version of the Xperia Z3, the company's flagship launched a few months ago. The Compact prefix in the case of Sony characterizes only the dimensions of the model, because from the point of view of the hardware platform, software and the capabilities of smartphones are similar. In order not to repeat ourselves, in some places we will refer to what was written, and in this material we will try to draw attention to the differences and features that make the Z3 Compact stand out from its competitors.
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (D5833) comes in a simple box along with charger one and a half amperes, a cable, a regular headset with in-ear headphones and documentation.
The D5803 model is officially sold in Ukraine; it comes without a headset.
Design and usability
The design of the Z3 Compact is reminiscent of other flagships Sony models. Front and back panels made of glass, and this time the sides were made of a special polymer. They are translucent and feel like very hard rubber.
Let us immediately note that this has a positive impact on the ergonomics of the smartphone. Compared to the regular Xperia Z3, which, due to its thin body and smooth rounded sides, is difficult to lift from the table, the Z3 Compact turned out to be noticeably more grippy - this is due to the polymer and the slightly increased thickness of the body.
| Device | Sony Xperia Z3 Compact | Samsung Galaxy Alpha | Apple iPhone 6 | Huawei P6 | Motorola Moto G (1st. Gen) |
| Screen diagonal, inches | 4,6 | 4,7 | 4,7 | 4,7 | 4,5 |
| Battery capacity, mAh | 2600 | 1860 | 1810 | 2000 | 2070 |
| Dimensions, mm | 127 x 64.9 x 8.6 | 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7 | 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 | 132.7 x 65.5 x 6.18 | 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 |
| Weight, g | 129 | 115 | 129 | 120 | 143 |
The layout of the controls is similar to the flagship. On the front panel you can find the manufacturer's logo, stereo speakers, a set of sensors, front camera and an indicator light in the upper left corner.
The back has the usual main camera lens with flash, NFC area, Sony and Xperia line logos.
On the top edge you can find a headset jack and a hole for the second microphone, on the bottom - the main microphone and a hole for attaching a wrist strap.
The right side contains the power keys, volume keys and a two-position camera button. In the center of the left side there is a connector for connecting to a proprietary docking station with two wide plugs on either side of it. Under the left is a tray for a NanoSIM card, under the right is a MicroUSB connector and a memory card slot.
Our sample was assembled perfectly, there were no large gaps, all parts fit tightly together, and the structure is rigid and does not lend itself to deformation.
If plastic inserts solved the problems of case slippage, then with the convenience of physical buttons everything is not so simple. When you pick up your smartphone for the first time, your attention is drawn to the very short volume and camera keys. In addition, the power and volume keys have an unusually stiff movement. By and large, this does not worsen the ergonomics of the smartphone; you quickly get used to them.
Many of those who picked up a smartphone noted the specific appearance of the docking station connector, which stands out from the overall proven design. From the point of view of ease of use, it would be better to close the connector with a plug and remove it from the MicroUSB connector, especially since it is not a mandatory attribute of a waterproof smartphone.
Like the Xperia Z3, the Z3 Compact received new body colors.
The black version we reviewed best demonstrates the disadvantages of using glass as a material for the back of a smartphone. It actively collects fingerprints, which are clearly visible from almost any angle.
They are easy to remove by simply wiping the Z3 Compact with a cloth, but to maintain its appearance, the operation will have to be repeated after each use. On other color versions this feature will appear to a lesser extent.
Thanks to its compact size, the smartphone is easy to use with one hand; even people with small hands will not have any problems using it.
Display
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has a 4.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. In terms of the set of available settings, the technologies used, color rendering and other features, the display is similar flagship Xperia Z3.
The screen brightness varies from 3 to 449 cd/m², the contrast is 1:782 - according to the basic characteristics, the display is quite good. HD resolution on such a diagonal gives a pixel density of 319 ppi, which is comparable to “Retina screens” - it is very difficult to see individual elements of the image even with thin fonts, the picture looks smooth.
As we said, color reproduction is similar to that of the flagship. The color temperature is very high - at the level of 10-11000K, so the image takes on a blue tint that is not the most pleasant to the eye, and other parameters also noticeably deviate from the norm.
Measurement results with default settings:
This can be corrected in the display settings, where there is a “White Balance” item. By adjusting it, you can reduce the color temperature to an almost normal value and get a more pleasing picture to the eye, although even after such manipulations the screen will lose to initially correctly calibrated IPS matrices.
Measurement results at manual setting white balance (255:190:0):
Vertical and horizontal viewing angles are maximum, but when viewed diagonally, fading is noticeable, black becomes gray.
In terms of color quality, the Z3 Compact's screen looks average, but its other characteristics smooth out the overall picture. These include a normal oleophobic coating, which allows the finger to easily slide across the glass, good readability on the street, a wide range of brightness adjustments, and the ability to operate with gloves.
Hardware platform
The hardware platform and set of communication modules of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact are completely inherited from the flagship, the only exception is 2, not 3 GB of RAM.
The capabilities of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC are more than enough given the small screen resolution. The smartphone works very quickly, in some tasks it even feels like it’s faster than the flagship.
Such performance sometimes results in slight heating of the case, which is felt, but does not go beyond acceptable limits.
There were no issues with the operation of the GPS and Wi-Fi modules.
Calls, multimedia
The multimedia capabilities of the smartphone are completely identical to those of the Xperia Z3. A scattering of branded accessories is supported, there are software function improved sound quality and much more.
From the point of view of telephone functionality, the smartphone is doing well. The earpiece is loud enough to allow you to communicate without problems in almost any environment. The stereo speakers play nicely, although they are very far from those in the HTC One (M8). The vibration alert can be felt in your trouser pockets.
Operating system and shell
The smartphone runs under control operating system Android 4.4.4 KitKat with branded shell, completely similar to that in the Xperia Z3 and Z2.
Working hours
The Z3 Compact body houses a non-removable 2600 mAh battery. As with the flagship, the manufacturer claims two days of operation at an average load; this data can be considered reliable.
| Device | Sony Xperia Z3 Compact | Sony Xperia Z3 | Sony Xperia Z1 Compact* | |||
| Music | 100:00:00 | 66:40:00 | 100:00:00 | |||
| Reading | 33:19:59 | |||||
| Navigation | Watch HD video | Watching HD videos from YouTube | Antutu Tester (points) | 6810 | 6773 | 519* |
| GFX Bench (minutes) | 192 | 193 | 213 | |||
| GFX Bench (points) | 2279 (40.7 fps) | 1625 (29.0 fps) | 1954 (34.9 fps) | |||
| PCMark | 6:59 | — | — |
Cameras
The photographic capabilities of the review hero are similar to those of the flagship. The user has two cameras at his disposal - the main one with a 20.7 megapixel sensor and the front one with 2.2 megapixels. The camera application has many settings and shooting modes, which can be supplemented with the help of various extensions installed directly from the program.
When you launch the camera with the shooting button, the smart mode is always turned on; photos in it are saved in 8 megapixel resolution.
Examples of photos taken in automatic mode:
In general, the picture is similar to the flagship - the smartphone takes good pictures, but is inferior to current flagships. The Z3 Compact offers an excellent module in terms of characteristics, a camera application with interesting functions, but does not provide normal image processing algorithms to get the most out of the hardware.
Examples of photographs in maximum resolution:
Example of a photo taken with the front camera:
Results
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – good example compact and productive smartphone. If we look at it head-on, then we will see simply a smaller version of the flagship, with all its inherent advantages and disadvantages. Among the latter, it is worth highlighting the very specific color rendition of the display, crude photo processing algorithms, and the considerable price of the smartphone can also be attributed to them. Replacing metal sidewalls with polymer ones, no matter how controversial it may sound, did the Xperia Z3 Compact good; it became more grippy, such a solution looks fresh from an aesthetic point of view. But the hero of the review wins from the point of view of emotions - the powerful filling and compact dimensions make it easy to stand out against the background of large flagships, and due to the proprietary Sony-style, water resistance, good battery life and the presence of a slot for memory cards, the “compact” will not fade in comparison with the others.
Liked:
Design, materials, case dimensions
Display: oleophobic coating, wide brightness adjustment range, glove operation
Hardware platform and excellent performance
Water protection
Multimedia capabilities: stereo speakers, wide selection of branded accessories
Autonomy
Did not like:
— Display: very cold, specific color rendering
— Case heating under load
— Controversial ergonomics of the keys, camera software is still damp, price
The editors would like to thank the Stylus online store for providing the device for testing.
The amount of RAM on board is 2 GB, which is more than enough for work without delays. Even devices with Full HD resolution feel great with 2 GB of RAM. 16 GB is provided for storing content, some of which is reserved for the OS and factory applications. The situation can be changed thanks to the microSD slot, which can charge cards up to 128 GB.
Communication Xperia features The Z3 Compact is completely identical to that of the current flagship of the line. On board there is support for all current Wi-Fi standards, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA, LTE, NFC, GPS and GLONASS, but there is no infrared port.
Capacity battery has increased compared to its predecessor and is 2600 mAh. Thanks to energy-saving technologies, Sony managed to increase the stated battery life to two days, but in reality this value is lower. The charge is enough for a day of active use (with music, maps, social networks and SMS), or for a day and a half of work at a more relaxed pace.
Software
The smartphone runs on OS Android versions 4.4.4 KitKat. It has a browser installed by default Google Chrome instead of the standard one for Android OS. The list of proprietary pre-installed software includes Sony apps Smart Connect. The standard application for working with NFC allows you to connect only with branded Sony SmartTags.
