Database Users

[Q] In Japan, Can't make up my mind!

Hello to all:laugh:. As my title implies, I am currently living in Japan where the GS 5 went on sale a few weeks ago. I first was really excited about it and even more so when I was able to hold it since the design seems to have received a lot of undeserved hate.
Since the official announce of the LG G3 however, I can't help but think that the it would be better for me since it has more features I want to use namely OIS and knock code.
Here is the catch, it seems LG has no plans to release the LG G3 in Japan other than in a somehow modified version in the form of the LG Isai:
http://www.gizbot.com/mobile/lg-isai-fl-officially-launched-features-5-5-inch-quad-hd-display-news-017078.html
That phone looks very plasticky and will probably drop the optical OIS for a regular digital one.
I have been hesitating between getting the GS 5 and waiting until the next generation of smathphones in the winter or next year.
All that said, I am still very attracted to the Japanese GS 5 since it offers a charging dock that directly connects to the phone without needing to remove the USB flap.
Japanese link with pictures.
http://gori.me/samsung/galaxy-s5/51851
I would just like to have some opinions concerning the overall value of the phone especially fromusers with kids: can you manage to take good and blur-free indoor pics of your kids?
Do you think the OIS makes it worth sticking to my GS 2 until the next Galaxy?
I really want to fall in love with that phone and buy it.
Thanks a lot!
David

Consider GS5 and G3, both are good devices, able to take indoor picture clearly.
Why not just go to store and try it, I'm sure this is the best way to clear your mind
If you want to wait until G3 release, maybe the next GS is coming after G3 release, just sayin.
Plus, you are using GS2, so better stick with GS series, so you don't need to get used to it again.
I mean the layout and buttons

xdarkkenny said:
Consider GS5 and G3, both are good devices, able to take indoor picture clearly.
Why not just go to store and try it, I'm sure this is the best way to clear your mind
If you want to wait until G3 release, maybe the next GS is coming after G3 release, just sayin.
Plus, you are using GS2, so better stick with GS series, so you don't need to get used to it again.
I mean the layout and buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true. I actually went to try in the store but since they do not have the LG 3, I have nothing to compare the GS 5 to. It seems great but I still can't find the "wow" factor. What phone do you have?

gaikokujin said:
Very true. I actually went to try in the store but since they do not have the LG 3, I have nothing to compare the GS 5 to. It seems great but I still can't find the "wow" factor. What phone do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got GS5 recently, I was thinking to get G3 but I picked GS5 at the end.
I've used iPhone 5, Sony Xperia Z, Z1, GS series and note 2.
I'm a kind of person like to control my phone with one hand and waterproof, and I'm sure you won't find any "surprise" point on GS5
GS5 is little bit disappointment because of the 2GB RAM and too many model number, such as G900F, G900K...etc.
Have to say, it confused people when they have GS5.
If you are heavy duty user, you should wait for G3, because G3 have 3GB of RAM.
Sony is also good, good camera module but their camera software are blurry somehow.
I will recommend to get GS5 or wait for G3 which is more valuable.

it hasn't been confirmed that g3 has 3gb ram as the korean version only comes with 2gb
z2 camera and s5 are on the same page, each one has its own bread and butter. but it is rumor that z2 has buggy camera hardware which could not be fixed by software update. I experienced z2 once, the fone getting hot very quickly if you take photos or 4k filming from 5 to 7 mins and cause fc.
having all said that, it depends on how you feel. for me, I bought s5 simply its over-redundance features and great community development. it doesn't look gorgeous but I believe it will not be out-dated in the next 3-4 years because galaxy families have many renowned developers support.
sent from galaxy s5 using tapatalk pro

babygau said:
it hasn't been confirmed that g3 has 3gb ram as the korean version only comes with 2gb
z2 camera and s5 are on the same page, each one has its own bread and butter. but it is rumor that z2 has buggy camera hardware which could not be fixed by software update. I experienced z2 once, the fone getting hot very quickly if you take photos or 4k filming from 5 to 7 mins and cause fc.
having all said that, it depends on how you feel. for me, I bought s5 simply its over-redundance features and great community development. it doesn't look gorgeous but I believe it will not be out-dated in the next 3-4 years because galaxy families have many renowned developers support.
sent from galaxy s5 using tapatalk pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Babygau, I have never thought about community support but am intrigued by what you said. What do you mean, practically? I can't say I am a power user of android, mostly average I guess.

Hey, please note that custom software development for the special version of Galaxy S5 with the charging dock will be minimal since it is a quite rare model (this applies to the Isai as well). Hence if you are planning to root, and install custom ROM you might have a poor experience.
With that said, the Isai has a better screen and more RAM which suggests smoother real life performance while the Galaxy S5 has a better physical design for those with kids due to IP67 resistance.
So it is up to you to decide whether you would like better software performance or a higher degree of "child-proofing".

mediumsteak said:
Hey, please note that custom software development for the special version of Galaxy S5 with the charging dock will be minimal since it is a quite rare model (this applies to the Isai as well). Hence if you are planning to root, and install custom ROM you might have a poor experience.
With that said, the Isai has a better screen and more RAM which suggests smoother real life performance while the Galaxy S5 has a better physical design for those with kids due to IP67 resistance.
So it is up to you to decide whether you would like better software performance or a higher degree of "child-proofing".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THanks for the tip. I did not realize that rooting may not work on some models. I also heard it trips the KNOX counter and thus void the warranty. ALthough I have been playing with IOS and PCs for a few years, I am still scared of having too much fun with rooting on android...

xdarkkenny said:
I just got GS5 recently, I was thinking to get G3 but I picked GS5 at the end.
I've used iPhone 5, Sony Xperia Z, Z1, GS series and note 2.
I'm a kind of person like to control my phone with one hand and waterproof, and I'm sure you won't find any "surprise" point on GS5
GS5 is little bit disappointment because of the 2GB RAM and too many model number, such as G900F, G900K...etc.
Have to say, it confused people when they have GS5.
If you are heavy duty user, you should wait for G3, because G3 have 3GB of RAM.
Sony is also good, good camera module but their camera software are blurry somehow.
I will recommend to get GS5 or wait for G3 which is more valuable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony is trash. Software updates come late, bug ridden and laggy. Also Sony devices get stupidly hot.
And I don't see how 2gb of RAM is bad...my gs5 idles using 1.1gb out of 1.8gb of ram.
Also, only the 32gb model G3 will have 3gb of RAM, 16gb will have 2gb of RAM.

gaikokujin said:
Hello to all:laugh:. As my title implies, I am currently living in Japan where the GS 5 went on sale a few weeks ago. I first was really excited about it and even more so when I was able to hold it since the design seems to have received a lot of undeserved hate.
Since the official announce of the LG G3 however, I can't help but think that the it would be better for me since it has more features I want to use namely OIS and knock code.
Here is the catch, it seems LG has no plans to release the LG G3 in Japan other than in a somehow modified version in the form of the LG Isai:
http://www.gizbot.com/mobile/lg-isai-fl-officially-launched-features-5-5-inch-quad-hd-display-news-017078.html
That phone looks very plasticky and will probably drop the optical OIS for a regular digital one.
I have been hesitating between getting the GS 5 and waiting until the next generation of smathphones in the winter or next year.
All that said, I am still very attracted to the Japanese GS 5 since it offers a charging dock that directly connects to the phone without needing to remove the USB flap.
Japanese link with pictures.
http://gori.me/samsung/galaxy-s5/51851
I would just like to have some opinions concerning the overall value of the phone especially fromusers with kids: can you manage to take good and blur-free indoor pics of your kids?
Do you think the OIS makes it worth sticking to my GS 2 until the next Galaxy?
I really want to fall in love with that phone and buy it.
Thanks a lot!
David
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WoW! I wish the US version had the dock charging option! DAMN!

Thanks all for your advice. The funny thing is that some video comparison of LG G3 and GS5 camera are up on youtube and while they look legit, the differences are either small or the GS5 has better colors. I am pretty sure though that the LG phone is not fully optimized and as such the quality of the pics isn't either.

Z2 TO G3

G3 got released here in canada today. Is it worth switching from Z2 to G3? i care for
Battery
camera
Thats it

There is no reason for you to change.. In all respects Z2 is far better than G3.

sofia-captivate said:
G3 got released here in canada today. Is it worth switching from Z2 to G3? i care for
Battery
camera
Thats it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Suggest you ask this in the LG G3 Forum - they are far more likely to own one and impart USEFUL information rather than just individual opinion and conjecture without actual G3 ownership.
I would also recommend that you view/read the various Reviews around that offer fairly unbiased comparisons between the 2 devices

zadusimple said:
There is no reason for you to change.. In all respects Z2 is far better than G3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your opinion.

sofia-captivate said:
G3 got released here in canada today. Is it worth switching from Z2 to G3? i care for
Battery
camera
Thats it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have owned both devices.
The LG G3 battery time will be disappointed. Sony STAMINA mode is very nice feature.
Instead, the LG G3 Replacement Battery.
G3 is faster focusing. Otherwise, no special features.
On the other hand, Z2 has many features, including the Professional mode.
LG G3 is a little less performance, but similar specification.
I do not recommend the LG G3, but the product of our country.

just like samsung, lg phone is ugly

Let's not forget the G3 has no development at all.

G3 isn't better as per your requirements.
It suffers from battery and performance issue, thanks to the QHD display.

sofia-captivate said:
G3 got released here in canada today. Is it worth switching from Z2 to G3? i care for
Battery
camera
Thats it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from a g3 to the z2
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

I went from g3 to z2 and I am much happier. G3 has crap battery life and really laggy.

soulzero said:
Let's not forget the G3 has no development at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G2's had a lot of development, so I'd assume the G3 would, too. Besides, it's recent to the market. Give it a little time; I'm sure the development would get going.
Now, to answer the question, I wouldn't suggest upgrading from the Z2. There are just two areas I believe the G3 scores over the Z2. One, is the display. It's simply amazing. It's not to say the Z2's display is bad, but nothing rivals the QHD panel on the G3 as of yet. Two, the G3's got a user-replaceable battery, and that's something that truly comes in handy if you're a really heavy user. On the downside, the battery does drain pretty rapidly, and the phone does feel quite slippery, too. Otherwise, mostly everything is pretty much the same. So, unless you're a new buyer that's torn between the two, I'd suggest you stick with the Z2 for the moment. Putting in the extra money just to upgrade on the display isn't a prudent choice.

MarcSinger said:
The G2's had a lot of development, so I'd assume the G3 would, too. Besides, it's recent to the market. Give it a little time; I'm sure the development would get going.
Now, to answer the question, I wouldn't suggest upgrading from the Z2. There are just two areas I believe the G3 scores over the Z2. One, is the display. It's simply amazing. It's not to say the Z2's display is bad, but nothing rivals the QHD panel on the G3 as of yet. Two, the G3's got a user-replaceable battery, and that's something that truly comes in handy if you're a really heavy user. On the downside, the battery does drain pretty rapidly, and the phone does feel quite slippery, too. Otherwise, mostly everything is pretty much the same. So, unless you're a new buyer that's torn between the two, I'd suggest you stick with the Z2 for the moment. Putting in the extra money just to upgrade on the display isn't a prudent choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the g3 and can honestly say display on the z2 is better. G3 display for me was washed out. Never mind the over sharpening issue.

sgtmedeiros said:
I went from g3 to z2 and I am much happier. G3 has crap battery life and really laggy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just switched to G3 and couldn't disagree with you more. The Z2 was way more laggy and the G3 doesn't heat up anywhere near what the Z2 does.

LG G3:
- worse camera (except focusing)
- bad performance (even worse in games)
- bad display (low contrast, sharpening artifacts, not even SRGB color gamut, low brightness)
- plastic build
- overheating even when browsing
- battery life far worse than Z2
- worse speakers

shollywood said:
I just switched to G3 and couldn't disagree with you more. The Z2 was way more laggy and the G3 doesn't heat up anywhere near what the Z2 does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Z2, OPO and M8 currently, had the G3 for couple of weeks. I didn't find difference in performance between Z2 and G3 that different but found the Z2 to be little more smooth after using for longer durations. Display wise I like M8 the best out of all, followed closely by G3, Z2 and lastly OPO.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk

shollywood said:
I just switched to G3 and couldn't disagree with you more. The Z2 was way more laggy and the G3 doesn't heat up anywhere near what the Z2 does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What?! No way. You must be blind or in denial. I owned both devices at the same time and the G3 was way laggier. It stuttered doing basic UI animations (opening the app drawer, switching between apps, going back to the home screen). For a top end phone to stutter like that is just unacceptable. I ended up selling it and keeping the Z2. Even my G2 with custom rom was better than the G3.

used Z2 for a month, never even come close to being hot. Only time it over heat is when you do 4k vid recording, which does up to 8-10 mins now after new FW update. LG and Sammy don't get reported about overheating as much because they both put 5 mins cap limited for 4K recording. Battery for sure is worse than Z2 even without using stamina mode on z2.

Havent had a G3 in my hands to directly compare, so my opinion might be slightly inaccurate/biased,but here goes.
For me there simply is no other android device available with to build quality of the Xperia, it does not feel like a cheap piece of junk in your hand but like a premium device justifying its price tag, not that im saying the G3 does,but maybe. The camera on the Z2 is above average and certainly good enough for me even with CM11 running it.
The battery life of the Z2 is where in my opinion the Z2 excels (When using STAMINA mode), it simply magical. I have also read a few articles of the G3's QHD display being washed-out and annoyingly hard to read outdoors.
For me the pinnacle of android bliss is this: Xperia + CyanogenMOD !

Every time I tried to use it outdoors it would be way too dim to use and throttle itself. Even when I used lux it would cut it down too dim for outdoor use.

G3 is a "wish" that not came true.
QHD displays will be effective ONLY with 64bit SOC and powerfull GPUs +lot of RAM. (4GB @1GHz+ minimum)
S5 LTE-A version with Snapdragon 805 left only 850+MB of free RAM having 3GB!
It's a overkill gimmick at the moment.
Z2 is the best all around smartphone out there, PERIOD.

[Q] Is still a good buy?

Hello guys! I just want to ask you G2 users if this phone is still a good buy? I'm planning to upgrade my phone by next year.
I'm still using my LG Optimus Black and it has been my companion for more than 4yrs if I'm not mistaken. The G2's price here has dropped significantly so I'm thinking of getting one
Feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys!

I think it is. It's a great piece of hardware with excellent developement, great display and performance is on par with newer phones. There's no wear and tear on the buttons after a year of using it, they still feel solid. It's also getting the G3 UI in an update soon.
I don't know how long LG supports their devices with updates though, maybe you'll be a better judge of that after having one for so long.

Thank you but what about its performance? i also have a friend who owns one but his lags a lot. i dont know if it's because he's just stupid or it's the device itself?
Software updates don't bother me much since I have had good experience with LG's support on the OB. It was launched with 2.2 froyo, got 2.3 gingerbread and they ended support on 4.0.4 which is kinda respectable since it got through 2 major updates and we got a stable kitkat rom and LG's build quality is also commendable.

JB laggs a lot tbh. KK is good but you will see imrovements if you root it and flash a custom rom. Honestly, both battery and performance-wise.
If you get a good price on it, then go for it. Root it right away lol you can always return to stock as it if it was rooted
Good thing you would enter the G2 world just like I did: with stable G3 ROMs ready to go
Sent from my LG-D802

If you aren't one of those who demand the latest and greatest, the G2 is pretty much one of the best picks for money right now. The screen and CPU is on par with most newer phones (Nexus 6, G3 and Note 4 aside) and it can be acquired for a very little price. It has been confirmed to get Lollipop and that's most likely the last update this phone will get
But it's super fast, has a good battery and it just WORKS. I still say that if I had to replace my phone, I would still get myself a G2 because there's no other phone out there that is that much better.

This device currently, with maybe Nexus 5, has best price/quality ratio. For not too much money, you will get hardware that is still quite powerful (S800, 2GB of RAM, 3000 Mah battery etc.).
Also, considering that you had LG Optimus Black, the LG G2 will be great leap forward in terms of quality and performance.
Hope this helped a bit OP. :highfive:

Thank you for all your input guys! This will surely help with my decision. But what do you think about the Nexus 5? It's just 5-10 dollars more expensive than the G2 here, which one will you go with?

The Nexus 5 has a brighter screen if that's something that really matters.
Other than that and ROM support, I'd definitely choose the bigger display, better camera and battery, and the other benefits of the G2.
I'd choose the G2 over most, perhaps all phones out atm. Maybe not the Xperia Z3, just because of really similar specs but withthe addition of waterproofing.
Samsung phones have the horrible AMOLED displays, HTC is too big for its screen, and the G3 has worse battery life and barely any performance difference. Not miles better camera and I prefer the G2 display.
The G2 is the best phone to buy

I have a G2 and OPO. OPO is a better choice.... same price almost.

I have had my G2 for just over a year. I would agree with others it is still a top notch phone for the money. But beware i have had to replace the usb/ headphone board. And now my screen has the dead spot towards the top, so it will need replaced soon also. I dont know if i just got a bad phone or if the quality is just sub par.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

[Q] Still worth to buy?

I am going to buy a new android cellphone tomorrow and after too much research LG G2 is the phone that fits my budget to its worth with specifications. So my question is after approx 1 year is it Still a value for money? Are there any issues i should be worried about?
My alternate to this is Xperia Z1. Thanks in advance.

kdarknight said:
I am going to buy a new android cellphone tomorrow and after too much research LG G2 is the phone that fits my budget to its worth with specifications. So my question is after approx 1 year is it Still a value for money? Are there any issues i should be worried about?
My alternate to this is Xperia Z1. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is still very worth it. I'd go for whatever is cheaper, cant go wrong with either.

kdarknight said:
I am going to buy a new android cellphone tomorrow and after too much research LG G2 is the phone that fits my budget to its worth with specifications. So my question is after approx 1 year is it Still a value for money? Are there any issues i should be worried about?
My alternate to this is Xperia Z1. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still got a Good Processing power and [email protected] Video-Recording.
Yes, it's worth it.
Even the Galaxy S2 is not outdated yet in my opinion!

You have used xperia Z2 and Lg G2 both before so i think you can help me out here. If i ask you to choose one out of two for free, i.e. LG G2 or Xperia Z1 what would you pick?

It's a very good buy for the money. Buttons on the back were something I was worried of, but now I cannot imagine my life without them
Snapdragon 800 still can manage anything you throw at it and the camera, the display (slim bezels and such colors, I love it!) and the battery are just outstanding.
As for comparison between Xperia Z1 ang G2 I would choose the G2 thousand times, Z1's got a little faster camera but I would stand that s****y display and the big clumsy body. The xperia Z line are the most impractical phones I've ever had in my hand (I also tried the Z2).

Go for it.. Its cheap now and still great.
I Had one, sold it and got the Xperia Z3. Got tired waiting for Root exploit, bought another G2 again with erased IMEI, restored IMEI.. Love it again,. Best phone i ever had. HAIL the G2.

kdarknight said:
You have used xperia Z2 and Lg G2 both before so i think you can help me out here. If i ask you to choose one out of two for free, i.e. LG G2 or Xperia Z1 what would you pick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me personally, id go with the xperia. Such a premium feeling device with waterproofing (which is good since 1 device ive had died due to water..) and the stock rom is by far one of the best IMO, if not the best. The camera quality was relatively equal but the z2 seemed to film better (or at least at a higher consistent framerate while the g2 even with 60fps selected can drop frames). Only issue is that there is a lack of development for the z2. Sure there are some roms and kernels, but there arent as many roms and kernels there when compared to the g2 (this is z2 development, z1 may be different). The speaker of the z2 was much better as well (however, the z1 is probably worse than the z2 and equal to the g2).
In the end, id still choose the xperia... Such a shame mine cracked so easily as they're generally really tough devices.
The battery life of the z2 was also noticably better in my own experience, however, thats probably due to the stamina mode included.
My only issue is that this is my experience with the Z2, not Z1. They are similar devices but not identical and a lot of the pluses of the z2 i listed might not be in the z1. (Like speaker or battery life)

Should I wait to buy?

Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks

phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app

Dsteppa said:
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?

Jkay7 said:
Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price won't fall THAT much, but the recent price drop could be because of that.
The phone is still worth to buy for sure as for bootloader problems, they should be history now.

There is no real evidence of a z4 compact being released anytime soon. For now, pretend like it doesn't exist and get whatever phone you want. Besides, the rumors indicate the phone will only be a marginal upgrade: newer processor and increased screen resolution.
Sent from my Xperia Z3 Compact

phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just my opinion and I don't intend to talk trash about Sony phones but I'm gonna just tell you like it is.
Just so you know, I'm in IT field (Windows) and I have a comprehensive knowledge about PC hardware tech. Since I switched to android from iPhone about 2.5 years ago, I had bought quite a few phones that included 3 Sony phones.
- ZR with overheat problem even only on browsing the internet with Chrome and very poor quality display (made with TFT) => RETURNED with 15% restocking fee.
- ZL Same poor quality TFT display => I ended up gave it to my sis.
- Z3C made with IPS but with poor touch panel. Annoying touch pattern grids are visible. IPS display quality of the Z3C is well below average even compared to the iPhone 4's. Camera is mediocre at best but all the hype makes me really look down on Sony - the only company who created TA partition just to put their crappy softwares on it and tied the bootloader with it. Not that I give a rat ass about losing its DRM functions, it's just that errors pop up here and there when I unlock the bootloader.
My other 2 Android phones are the Nexus 5 and LG Optimus E970. These 2 phones' displays are superb. I wish the Z3C has the same display quality as those 2. I love its size and battery performance but Sony mobile display sucks big time. Don't get me started on Sony bloatwares (2 ecosystems on 1 device is a joke).
I have many Sony devices in my home (laptop, bluray player, tv...) but when it comes to Sony phones, I'm sure next time I'll pass.
I bought my Z3C for $520 USD. It's still 99.99% new. I would sell it to you for $300 USD if you live in my area (I wouldn't buy it even for $300 though)

Some of the cheaper Z3C listings in the US are for the D5833 overseas model. Be careful with this version, as it will suffer from limited 4G compatibility in the States.

phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a D5803 running stock 5.0.2 and I'm very happy with the device.
It's compact, fast and battery lasts for 2 days minimum (if you don't play games).
The user interface is simple, fast and close to AOSP look&feel .
I saw no reason to hack the phone with custom ROMs or mods, since I found it to be VERY stable and basically everything works.
If you plan to heavily customize your phone, be ready to face some obstacles mainly due to the fact that Lolipop is quite new on this phone and mods are not yet perfect (although they are improving). I've gone that route before with previous phones, and usually the outcome is that you get some visual adaptations to your taste, but in fact the overall stability/performance will be worst.
Some may argue that the camera software could be better, and I tend to agree. But you will be able to take good pictures, if you use some manual settings.
In my experience, Bluetooth/NFC works very well with different gadgets/systems: hi-fi, Pebble watch, BT headphones (even using aptX), car system, ...
I haven't tested audio high-res external DACs, but some users report some devices are tricky to interface well using Lolipop. Other report their device works. Basic audio play is quite good if you have good headphones and choose the right eq settings.
Some users report the glass may crack due to overheating, and I saw many friends with other phones (like Samsung) suffering from the same issue. Mine is in perfect condition and I hope it stays that way.
In summary: I'm very happy with my gadget and I wouldn't change it for anything out there with similar form factor. And although Lolipop 5.0.2 is not perfect, I got used to it and don't see a reason to go back to KK. And 5.1 will certainly come...
Is there a perfect smartphone (hw+sw+UX+price) ? No, but in my opinion this one is a good step forward.
Oh, and if you don't want to fiddle around with connectivity issues, be sure to buy the phone that maps to your geography and operator (D5803 vs D5833) and use a ROM that was built for it.

z4c would defiantly be a "want to have" but at a premium price point, that's why i picked z3c and i got a great deal. In my eyes it's the best phone on the marked atm. If you exclude all the minitablets which i have 0 interest in.

I am in the same position as the OP.
I had some android devices (nexus s, gnexus, htc incredible s, nexus4, htc one m7), right now I have no smartphone.
Z3C seems the "right choice" except for a couple things:
1) Price: here in Portugal the lowest is 400eur. For that price you can also have: htc desire eye, galaxy s5, and a lot of other non-waterproof phones with better cameras and better screens, but also worse battery.
The Z1C is 100eur cheaper.
2) Camera: it seems that sony camera is not on pair with others, even with everyone saying that is software the truth is that nobody solved it.
3) Sudden death: there are some cases (see sony's forum) of sudden death phones.
4) Cracked glass: this I don't know if is hype or not.I had a nexus 5 and people said that it broken by itself but mine only broke by hitting the floor.
I guess that if the Z4C brings the Snappdragon 810 it won't be very good because of overheating and throttling...
Only option is to wait.

Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.

phoneowner71 said:
Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect .com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/"]http://www.whatsontech.com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.whatsontech-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/
Z4c and Z4U are real coming and they already passed the certification process with the model number being leaked out. I guess they will out on Sep.
But if you are speaking for the battery life, Z3c with s801 and 720p will be much better. All I can think is Z4c will improve the camera software further(and also fixed the Z3/Z3c red/green/purple tint issue) and upgraded to FHD screen. I've got a Z1c, if you want a cheaper phone to wait Z4c then Z1c is still doing good. If you want battery life for all then go for Z3c now.