Database Users

People ditching the Z1?

I was wandering around the city yesterday with the girlfriend and we happened across a few shops such as Game, CEX and the usual market stall type places full of cheap mobile phone cases. I noticed that the shelves are stacked with Z1 handsets! More than any other handset, aside from Blackberry Curve 8520s of course
What's going on? I asked one bloke in game and he said people just don't like the Z1. Hence so many selling them at a terribly cheap price just to be rid of them!
Any thoughts on this?
I love my Z1 and having come from the Z I think Sony are playing with the big boys now. They lagged a bit in the past, but my god they came back in true Sony style and created a range of phones that top everything on my list of what I want in a handset. Anyone who parts with a Sony is a fool in my eyes.

Kirkymole said:
I was wandering around the city yesterday with the girlfriend and we happened across a few shops such as Game, CEX and the usual market stall type places full of cheap mobile phone cases. I noticed that the shelves are stacked with Z1 handsets! More than any other handset, aside from Blackberry Curve 8520s of course
What's going on? I asked one bloke in game and he said people just don't like the Z1. Hence so many selling them at a terribly cheap price just to be rid of them!
Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For any average user the Z1 is a fantastic device. The only fib I have with it is the screen and the bezels: screen is not 2014-standards at all (viewing angles mainly) and the bezels are just way too large for a 5" phone. Otherwise great device.

Aren't they trying to sell them before the Z2 is released? Anyway, dunno... I don't see the Z1 a whole lot around me but those who have it are happy. But I can imagine it's too big for many people, too clunky.
The screen might not be the best but it ain't all that bad, and especially when not putting another screen right next to it I don't really notice it or am not bothered with it at all.
Here it's still selling for a minimum of about 470 euro's, not extremely cheap (the G2 16GB and S4 are about a 100 euros cheaper for example)

Sony gave them a headache with releasing Z2 and they ,probably, now want to sell all they have...
Z1 is best device I ever had or have and it's not big.
That all depends on subject opinion...
We will have to wait Z2 to come in stores so I wouldn't sell my device for a low price...
When Z3 comes I'll leave my Z1 for dev purpose ...and because I really like it...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

funky0308 said:
Sony gave them a headache with releasing Z2 and they ,probably, now want to sell all they have...
Z1 is best device I ever had or have and it's not big.
That all depends on subject opinion...
We will have to wait Z2 to come in stores so I wouldn't sell my device for a low price...
When Z3 comes I'll leave my Z1 for dev purpose ...and because I really like it...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
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Sure, it's all relative but it's surely bigger then it's 'rival devices'. Both in volume and in weight.. But I can imagine people being a bit put off by the large bezels and all...Especially compared to the LG G2 for example.

dagrim1 said:
Sure, it's all relative but it's surely bigger then it's 'rival devices'. Both in volume and in weight.. But I can imagine people being a bit put off by the large bezels and all...Especially compared to the LG G2 for example.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be...don't know for others but I don't care for that...
For v1 is OK, I'm waiting for v3 - that'll be the monster
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

I am ditching as soon as the new HTC comes out.
This is mainly due to huge bezels and terrible viewing angles. And I might never buy a sony phone again because of bootloader/root BS!

Kirkymole said:
I was wandering around the city yesterday with the girlfriend and we happened across a few shops such as Game, CEX and the usual market stall type places full of cheap mobile phone cases. I noticed that the shelves are stacked with Z1 handsets! More than any other handset, aside from Blackberry Curve 8520s of course
What's going on? I asked one bloke in game and he said people just don't like the Z1. Hence so many selling them at a terribly cheap price just to be rid of them!
Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can i pick up a cheap cheap z1 with unlocked bootloader if thats the case? They still well over 300 euro here

I really hope a lot of people sell their Z1, don't buy sony and stop making this forum an ad nauseum "boo hoo camera, viewing angles sob sob" place.
seriously, the phone is a beast, takes great pics (I am a photographer with a DSLR, and on holiday in Rome recently found it easier to use Z1 and got GREAT results than using my dslr.
size - fine for me
bezels - no issue
screen angle - say what now?
I honestly think that some people have either 1) got a dodgy model or 2) messed with settings and refused to admit it.
but on a serious note, please sell your phones, get a different manufacturer altogether and get off my otherwise happy forum

It probably is due to the upcoming Z2 so people selling before the value drops too much.
I switched from the Z to the Z1 so even I'm a bit annoyed to see another flagship so soon (but not that p'ed off since its not a major update).
For me the Z1 is one of the best phones I had so far....but dont enjoy it nearly as much as my previous phones all thanks to the locked bootloader. That is my biggest issue with the phone as I can live with poor viewing angles (I rarely look at my phone at extreme angles) and the huge bezels (gives me something to hold without touching the actual screen). Second time I've had a permanently locked bootloader and it stings!!!
I would have sold my Z1 already but I've slightly grazed the metal frame already so exchange price wouldn't be that great.
I actually recommended the Z1 compact to my sister so these are still good phones...just not for me.
Moral of the story: I have to make sure the bootloader is 100% unloackable on the next phone I get.

Next year the Z4 will be the beast!
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Interesting answers. All very valid and sensible. Seems a shame such a beautifully made handset it being almost sidelined for something that may OR may not be the mutts Nutts. End of the day we still don't have the full picture on the Z2, look at all the niggling little problems the 1 had/has.

Well, that's great news! For normal people, at least.
I bought my z1 for 360€, 3 months old, regular 2 year guarantee, without a scratch! The person that used it stated it to be to complicated an bought iPhone 5! Bad for her, great for me.
Xperia tablet Z sgp321 was bought the same way last year for 380€ just 2 weeks after European premiere. Man was ipad user for years, asked friends for the best and most expensive premium Android tablet, tried it for 2 weeks, tried to sell it for better price but couldn't as it was already to expensive for used stuff. I ran by luck at him and couldn't believe, thought it was maybe tablet S, but no, everything was regular and I got the tablet I could never aford at full price thanks to another iPhone/Ipad user!?
So, long live Sony mobile and Apple users!
On the other side, people really don't know what Sony is until they put hands on it. Clean close-to-nexus-line interface, extremely stylish and modern hw, no stupid bugs like in Samsung touchwizzed apps, no ugly dropdown menus like on LG, no undeinstallable bloatware like In Samsung or HTC, everything works and looks just like it was supposed to be.
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

y2grae said:
I really hope a lot of people sell their Z1, don't buy sony and stop making this forum an ad nauseum "boo hoo camera, viewing angles sob sob" place.
seriously, the phone is a beast, takes great pics (I am a photographer with a DSLR, and on holiday in Rome recently found it easier to use Z1 and got GREAT results than using my dslr.
size - fine for me
bezels - no issue
screen angle - say what now?
I honestly think that some people have either 1) got a dodgy model or 2) messed with settings and refused to admit it.
but on a serious note, please sell your phones, get a different manufacturer altogether and get off my otherwise happy forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because you decided to 'ignore' these issues doesn't mean they don't exist. The viewing angles are bad on all the Z1's, so unless your model is custom made, there IS an issue. If it bothers you or not, is another question. But the problem is there.
I like the phone a lot, don't get me wrong, I think that Sony would do much better in the market if they didn't have to worry about these IP-certifications - it's a great feature to have, but in the end, if they can shave off a few millimeters of bezel and eliminate these water flaps, the phone would be much nicer to use. I've tried every manufacturer and the only one that seems to care about build materials and quality is Sony, that's why I'm sticking with them - with all these quick releases (Z, Z1, Z2) it seems they are always trying to improve an already fantastic device when they hear complaints. The Z2 has less bezels and a phenomenal screen from what I hear.

I like SONY products, but every purchase....

Hi,
I recently bought the SONY Z2. I was happy with it until today, my fourth day of ownership. Don't get me wrong, I like SONY products, but every single Sony item I buy leaves me with regret. In the last four years I've spent close to $10,000 on Sony items.
Ok... so the Sony Z2. I was hesitant at first, but I ended up making the plunge. I've been happy every day until today. I think the phone is a really good phone, but those stupid flaps that cover the ports leave a lot to be desired. I didn't like flaps on my Sony tablet, but they've proved to not be a problem after 3 years of ownership. In light of this, I ignored the Sony's choice of using flaps only giving them a brief moment of disapproval. Well, today I am giving them a lot more than a brief moment of disapproval.
Here I am at work, I pull the Z2 out of my pocket and guess what? One of the flaps on my fourth day of ownership is missing. My work area covers nearly a million square feet so I am very unlikely to find the flap. Thinking back to my initial distaste of the whole idea of using a flap to cover a port, I immediately blame myself for accepting a high priced item with a poorly designed feature. I am unhappy and I am doing the whole face plant in my palms over this. Why SONY? WHY?
My work environment is extremely dusty, which is one of the reasons I bought the phone. Now I can only imagine the dust this thing is going to fill with. I bought the phone very slightly used, so there's no warranty. I can only imagine walking into the SONY store, paying $30 for the part, $20 for a shipping stocking fee and having several hours of a couple of days wasted on this stupidity.
Once more SONY, I am unhappy. Your products are always the same for me. I pay a lot of money for a brief period of happiness only to find out that you don't update software, or to find inherent design/software flaws that you wont admit to or fix, or you outright design something like these flaps which don't hold up well in the real world. Yes, the real world. Some of us have lives were products we use need to able to stand up to minor abuse. Not all of us work in clean climate controlled offices where we can baby ourselves and our devices.

Wow, yet still you've spent $10,000 on products that constantly dissapoint you.

dberladyn said:
My work environment is extremely dusty, which is one of the reasons I bought the phone. Now I can only imagine the dust this thing is going to fill with. I bought the phone very slightly used, so there's no warranty. I can only imagine walking into the SONY store, paying $30 for the part, $20 for a shipping stocking fee and having several hours of a couple of days wasted on this stupidity.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://dx-box.com/black-micro-sd-si...over-plug-replacement-for-sony-xperia-z2.html get one for $12,99 yourself and save.

Get a magnetic cable for charging, i am using magnector btw. Very hassle free ime

Haha !! Yess! Another person with same point of few! I agree, I've been a SONY fan since childhood, started with SE V600 and my last phone was Z1, every year I purchased SONY flagship phones and what was miracle in the beginning , was nightmare in the end, the overall design is good but really these flaps, that " unscratchable gorilla glass" screen as it turned out to be scratchable with soft cleaning cloth : | , also all these slow software updates and unoptimized camera .... c'mon sony ... SONY was first because of quality not quantity ... what's the point of releasing a new flagship twice a year without optimizing it ... they just fix old phone problem in a new phone which costs 600$ and will probably have same problem .... First time in my life I moved to HTC One ... and I really miss SONY but I know that I'll spend another 600$ and will cry in a few months ... SONY you make tons of money and you cannot put a simple magnet charger in the box? let alone HDMI cable .. is that fair? I understand you mate this sucks ... and same design over 2 years now ... do something guys ....

Don't stress it dude. Many phones have little small breakable pieces.
But, as Lawido stated. Those are easy and relatively cheap to replace.

You should try use other brands as well. Sony isn't the only good brand there is.

guggaburggi said:
You should try use other brands as well. Sony isn't the only good brand there is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do use other brands. In fact, my first purchase with Sony other than cameras was probably four or five years ago. When I first bought Sony, I wanted to believe they were good because I like brand loyalty. Stupid I know and I kept up with them only to start finding that they pushed out products that they didn't follow up on. I wouldn't touch Sony for home theater aside from TV's and Projectors. I'm a Denon fan.
My two Ps3's and Ps Vita, no complaints other than they don't play mkv files, etc. Plenty of updates, I just don't use them, good for the niece/nephew.
Camera's though, Sony for sure. Yes, there are other good, perhaps better brands but I'm happy with Sony. Although I do admit, the WiFi feature of my NEX6 could be a LOT better.
Sony reader, I am happy. It works well for what it is.
The Sony Dash, Sony S1 tablet... seriously lacking in support. In fact, I felt abandoned with the flaws and that's exactly what Sony did.
My $2000 TV. Nice picture, but again abandoned as far as updates to software.
My Z2 phone, I am happy with it, but... the stupid flaps....
Honestly, I will probably buy from SONY again, probably never again retail. Waste of money on the mark up, especially when I now view their products with a jaundiced eye. Yes, there are other good brands. For personal reasons I won't touch them. Samsung for example, I just can't.
Thank you to the person who posted the link for new flaps. I greatly appreciate it. I am a bit tempted to "glue" it shut but at the moment I only have one magnetic charger. Speaking of which, it seemed to charge slower but I have to test that to know for sure.

I understand how you feel as I was same boat during my xperia z days. Flaps even though you carefully take care of it. It will loosen upv if you used it daily. Anyway it has a purposed and to protect from water. As of today, there is no technology to protect our phone from frying if water sips inside our phone it actually is a genius of sony to come up this. But it has also hassle to us. So Before I buy z2 I said it to myself no matter what happens i get charging dock. And used it whatever it takes. I really recommend it. I hope sony should supply us with this from high end phone cause it is really a necessity. On the brighter side I think z2 is the overall the best phone in my opinion.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

Having loved my Z , ( i had no problems with the flaps after i got the desk charger) .
i made the mistake of upgrading to the s5, i regret that so much and still use my Z a lot ...
what i am trying to say is the grass ant always greener , defo not on the Samsung side anyway..

Same feeling like me. Disappointed about sony.I had use three xperia series phone all end with some issues. But I just like sony phone design very much so I still bought my fourth sony phone z2 hope don't become nightmare again. If do, I will never ever buy sony phone again in my life.Finger cross
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

First Sony phone after Samsung galaxy S + , i am just shocked how good it is.

dberladyn said:
I do use other brands. In fact, my first purchase with Sony other than cameras was probably four or five years ago. When I first bought Sony, I wanted to believe they were good because I like brand loyalty. Stupid I know and I kept up with them only to start finding that they pushed out products that they didn't follow up on. I wouldn't touch Sony for home theater aside from TV's and Projectors. I'm a Denon fan.
My two Ps3's and Ps Vita, no complaints other than they don't play mkv files, etc. Plenty of updates, I just don't use them, good for the niece/nephew.
Camera's though, Sony for sure. Yes, there are other good, perhaps better brands but I'm happy with Sony. Although I do admit, the WiFi feature of my NEX6 could be a LOT better.
Sony reader, I am happy. It works well for what it is.
The Sony Dash, Sony S1 tablet... seriously lacking in support. In fact, I felt abandoned with the flaws and that's exactly what Sony did.
My $2000 TV. Nice picture, but again abandoned as far as updates to software.
My Z2 phone, I am happy with it, but... the stupid flaps....
Honestly, I will probably buy from SONY again, probably never again retail. Waste of money on the mark up, especially when I now view their products with a jaundiced eye. Yes, there are other good brands. For personal reasons I won't touch them. Samsung for example, I just can't.
Thank you to the person who posted the link for new flaps. I greatly appreciate it. I am a bit tempted to "glue" it shut but at the moment I only have one magnetic charger. Speaking of which, it seemed to charge slower but I have to test that to know for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a sleeve to put it into before going into your pocket. I use a neoprene sleeve I got for one of my galaxy notes l few years ago and it works fine for my Z2. Just another measure to protect your investment and it was about 5 bucks.
Sent from my Nexus 5

MADNJPN said:
Haha !! Yess! Another person with same point of few! I agree, I've been a SONY fan since childhood, started with SE V600 and my last phone was Z1, every year I purchased SONY flagship phones and what was miracle in the beginning , was nightmare in the end, the overall design is good but really these flaps, that " unscratchable gorilla glass" screen as it turned out to be scratchable with soft cleaning cloth : | , also all these slow software updates and unoptimized camera .... c'mon sony ... SONY was first because of quality not quantity ... what's the point of releasing a new flagship twice a year without optimizing it ... they just fix old phone problem in a new phone which costs 600$ and will probably have same problem .... First time in my life I moved to HTC One ... and I really miss SONY but I know that I'll spend another 600$ and will cry in a few months ... SONY you make tons of money and you cannot put a simple magnet charger in the box? let alone HDMI cable .. is that fair? I understand you mate this sucks ... and same design over 2 years now ... do something guys ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your problem is, you own the Google play edition of HTC one M8. You should have got the sense version. The only thing I regret about the HTC one M8 is, its not totally water proof, I am about to go to boracay philippines so I like something to be water proof.

G1_enthusiast said:
your problem is, you own the Google play edition of HTC one M8. You should have got the sense version. The only thing I regret about the HTC one M8 is, its not totally water proof, I am about to go to boracay philippines so I like something to be water proof.
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Click to collapse
Nope! I bought Sense version and it sucked because it had too many things and i converted it to GPE, and now switched to Nexus 5 and I'm very happy

MADNJPN said:
Nope! I bought Sense version and it sucked because it had too many things and i converted it to GPE, and now switched to Nexus 5 and I'm very happy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your the first I have heard to say that HTC one M8 sense had "too many things" all of the reviewers says that its as close to stock as you can get.
I guess to each his own I love Blinkfeed, its actually pretty useful.

It doesn't matter if you bought the phone used. If it's under a year since manufacturing date then it's covered. I bought mine from eBay "new" but I'm sure if it's not a retail sales outlet then there's no difference. I'm sending mine in for a warranty repair this week. They didn't refuse.

SONY Great in hardware and Design. :good:
but honestly Poor in Software Distributing.
and I prefer Hardware!

just drop it
you can also drop your phone and crack your screen like me...:crying: then it isnt waterproof anymore and you can cut of those annoying things :laugh:

Tell your frustrations by Sony.
What can XDA do about that !
I never had or will get problems with Sony products because i make the right choise !

Considering Z3, but......

Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.

I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off, even many iPhone 6s are being returned to TMO, it happens as the device is new and sometimes there is a bad batch. TMO got dumped a bad batch, just go to store and check there if it has issues they will open another one and you can get a good one. Remember even the the HTC M7 had issues with purple cam etc and the G3 with cracks near the mic, for some batches, no company is immune. Mostly people with defects are vocal on forums and those without issues generally don't come on forums to praise so obviously on forums talk will be skewed towards the problems/defects.
Its a good phone, but if you think you may be careless the M8 is better as its more impact resistant as corners of LCD are protected by a much thicker metal frame.
Overall though the Z3 has better battery life, camera, and speakers are "almost" as good as the M8, and as you mentioned before its not as bulky. Waterproofing is also a plus.

abhinav.tella said:
I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off, even many iPhone 6s are being returned to TMO, it happens as the device is new and sometimes there is a bad batch. TMO got dumped a bad batch, just go to store and check there if it has issues they will open another one and you can get a good one. Remember even the the HTC M7 had issues with purple cam etc and the G3 with cracks near the mic, for some batches, no company is immune. Mostly people with defects are vocal on forums and those without issues generally don't come on forums to praise so obviously on forums talk will be skewed towards the problems/defects.
Its a good phone, but if you think you may be careless the M8 is better as its more impact resistant as corners of LCD are protected by a much thicker metal frame.
Overall though the Z3 has better battery life, camera, and speakers are "almost" as good as the M8, and as you mentioned before its not as bulky. Waterproofing is also a plus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very encouraging indeed. Im on my 7th day, 2nd phone replacement due to screen gap and some bugs. So far, im "ok" but not 100% yet, I hope ? everything's gonna be alright AFTER the 14th day(exchange/return period)

abhinav.tella said:
I am that guy with the 4th handset lol. Don't be put off,.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your upbeat attitude towards this phone is very encouraging. Funnily enough just as you were posting this, another user on whirlpool (Australian based forum), reported another crack.
I might wait it out and see if they make changes to resolve these issues.
Has anyone else here come from the N5 or moto x 2014? Do you like the change?

cubic25 said:
Your upbeat attitude towards this phone is very encouraging. Funnily enough just as you were posting this, another user on whirlpool (Australian based forum), reported another crack.
I might wait it out and see if they make changes to resolve these issues.
Has anyone else here come from the N5 or moto x 2014? Do you like the change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from a G2 which is basically a Nexus 5+, its a good upgrade, though I still love the G2 as well. G2 (6-7Hrs SOT) gets pretty close battery life to the Z3 (7-8.5 Hrs SOT), but N5 (3-4Hrs SOT) and Moto X users will see a night and day difference in battery life as the Z3 is that much bettery in terms of battery life.

cubic25 said:
Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I ordered my Sony Xperia Z3 this week after browsing the forums for some time. I was previously using the S5 which worked great, but I wanted a phone that was more stock and aesthetically pleasing. After careful consideration, I realized that I could do with the QC and ordered a white d6603 Xperia Z3 from eBay. It just arrived today and I have to say that it is perfect. I don't have any screen gap, pink lens, nor misshaped cover flaps. While you do read a lot about the problems, do consider that this is a small portion of the total consumers of the Z3 and it does not affect everyone. Currently, I've been using this phone for a day and have had only one problem. I activated google now for all screens and I get this camera message saying "Recording in progress in another app. Cannot record error." A simple google search fixed my problem as it seems there is a bug where google now will cause that message to pop up.
Overall, its a great phone. Although the camera is not as great as my previous S5, I can live with it. I just wish I had gotten the black because the white gets dirty pretty quick. I'd definitely recommend this.

Funny enough, when I sent in my first for a replacement I cancelled the online reorder as they had no stock. Ironically yesterday I get a notification that "your phone is one the way". I had to call T-Mobile and tell them to pull it out of UPS, otherwise I would now have a 5th phone as well lol.
I have now 3 EIPS that I have to pay because they still havent verified my returns, because apparently they are too busy handling a large number of defective iPhone 6s lol, according to a rep.

I have Z3 for 3 weeks now and it works perfect. No flaws in design too. Only thing I regret is that I did not get some other color. I got black, but it was the only option get here.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

abhinav.tella said:
Funny enough, when I sent in my first for a replacement I cancelled the online reorder as they had no stock. Ironically yesterday I get a notification that "your phone is one the way". I had to call T-Mobile and tell them to pull it out of UPS, otherwise I would now have a 5th phone as well lol.
I have now 3 EIPS that I have to pay because they still havent verified my returns, because apparently they are too busy handling a large number of defective iPhone 6s lol, according to a rep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that's why my EIP didn't come off yet

You will find problems with every single phone. There are no perfect devices.
Buy the Z3 if you like it - if there is anything wrong with it, just replace it - that's why we have warranties, that's why we have consumer laws.
Really happy with my Z3:
"Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality."
No cracks on mine, waterproofing works just fine, reception is at least 2 bars better than my iPhone 6 in most places, no noises, camera button works just fine.

Coming from a Nexus 5, I've spent a lot of time analyzing what would be my next Android phone. I considered the Moto X (2014) as well but what was turning me off was the battery life and camera performance though I love the feel of Motorola phones and their Android skin is the best this side of the Nexus phones. As my main gripes with my Nexus 5 were battery life and screen brightness outdoors (not the camera which I actually liked), I just can't go back to a poor performing battery so the Moto X is out.
I picked up a Z3 and had it for few days and I have to say the battery life was great and the screen was really bright so my two Nexus 5 issues were addressed.
I can't say I liked the performance of the speakers (no where near as good as my Z30) but definitely better than the Nexus 5. Camera performance didn't do much for the few indoor tests I did but I didn't try it enough to put it through its paces. I also can't say I liked the feel of the phone in my hand. I'm used to larger phones but it just didn't seem to fit right (again, not as nice as a Motorola phone or my Z30).
In the end, while 'technically' proficient, I just didn't 'love' it so I returned it. But in many aspects, I think it is one of the best Android phones you can buy right now as it does many things well, just not in a package that suits me. I can't see going for a HTC One M8 right now as there will be a new one in... what... 4 months? Not to mention that the battery life with the M8 wouldn't be as good as the Z3. Since an Android phone is a secondary phone for me, I can live with waiting a while longer before committing to something but if I had to buy today, I'd probably go with the Z3 despite my issues with it. Afterall, no phone is perfect.

Fr3lncr said:
Coming from a Nexus 5, I've spent a lot of time analyzing what would be my next Android phone. I considered the Moto X (2014) as well but what was turning me off was the battery life and camera performance though I love the feel of Motorola phones and their Android skin is the best this side of the Nexus phones. As my main gripes with my Nexus 5 were battery life and screen brightness outdoors (not the camera which I actually liked), I just can't go back to a poor performing battery so the Moto X is out...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was exactly how I felt about the Z3, also coming from the Nexus 5. A lot of improvements coming from the Nexus 5, mainly the battery life and screen, but I think I expected a lot more from the camera. This is where it is weak.

So do you guys think the droid turbo, despite being 11mm thick, might feel better in the hand? I remember holding the z2 and instantly hating the way it felt. It was like holding a slab of glass. I thought the z3 would be better due to its thinness and curved edges.
EDIT: Watched a few more clips about the Droid. No one has mentioned how thick it is. In-fact, most commented on how nice it was to hold.
I think I am going to jump ship from the Z3 and get the Droid. I also like that it will be more drop resistant.
Thanks for the input from everyone. Greatly appreciated.

deleted

For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?

jamespat93 said:
For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's faster than nexus 5.
Root and ubl could only increase the gap of performance

jamespat93 said:
For those that came from nexus 5, how is the performance of the z3 compared? Is it just as fast?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a N5 and then M8. To me they are all around the same speed. You probably couldn't tell unless you did a side by side comparison

How is reception vs LG devices(N5/G2/G3)?

As good if not better than my LG G2, on par with my moms' IPhone 6.

cubic25 said:
Recently my N5's screen cracked after a fall. I love the N5, but couldn't justify spending $200 to fix a $400 phone. (In Australia. Not sure how much it is to fix in other countries). Besides, the GPS is near useless, even after the fix.
I considered getting the M8 due to the aluminium construction, but the massive bezels and weight really put me off. It has a 5inch display, yet is the same size as the Z3. Shame.
I really like the Moto X (2014), for its shape and size, but for its price here in Aus, $700, it isn't an upgrade from the N5, and the battery sucks. Maybe if it was <$600, I would seriously consider it.
The Droid Turbo is everything I want in a phone, but at over 11mm thick.......No thanks.
Then I noticed the Z3. It is perfect, especially in copper. It is the only phone that gets everything right. The battery life is fantastic, the screen looks brilliant, it has an SD card slot, the camera is great, it feels fantastic in the hand, front facing speakers, etc.......It just seems like the perfect handset.......until you hear about all the QC issues.
Screens cracking, waterproofing not working, very poor reception (in AU at least), chassis creaking noises when pressed, dodgy camera buttons, inconsistent screen calibration, inconsistent picture quality.
The reception issues alone are a massive put off. I was in the Telstra store today, the big one in the city, (Melb CBD), and the Z3 that was on display was bouncing between 4g, 3g and, surprisingly, 2g. It spent most of the time on 3g/2g and least time on 4g.
All this while my N5 was solidly on 4g with 3 bars the whole time.
Pretty piss poor. Especially considering that that store has its own in building cell, so it should have full 4G at all times.
I've noticed one person on this forum is onto his fourth handset!
What's going on?
Can any long term users put my mind at ease? Should I get this phone, or should I stay away?
Any input is greatly appreciated. I really want this phone, but these QC issues really leave a bad taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The M8 betters my Z3 in almost every single aspect. And in a fall, i'd take the M8 any day. I made a mistake getting the Z3. It's a good phone, but the M8 it replaced walks all over it.
Don't expect good build with the Z3 because mine started perfect, but is slowly starting to creak shall we say...
As for speed, the M8 is faster, at most things, unlocking, scrolling, opening apps, camera etc etc.

All Fauly of the Sony Xperia Z3

I Just Owned this Xperia Z3 for a month,and i dip it in the water and suprise suprise its not waterproof at all
List Of Problems:
-The Camera it always fogged,and i read it will be gone in a hour or two then its already 5 hour and nope
-The Mobile data problem,No Signal at all so its pretty much a trash outside of wifi zone
-Cant Charge at all , i only could charge it with the magnetic charging cable
Just Read online in here too the back cover is not sealed completely
This is my First sony phone, well my experience is , Sony Phone is bad

Ryu5671 said:
I Just Owned this Xperia Z3 for a month,and i dip it in the water and suprise suprise its not waterproof at all
List Of Problems:
-The Camera it always fogged,and i read it will be gone in a hour or two then its already 5 hour and nope
-The Mobile data problem,No Signal at all so its pretty much a trash outside of wifi zone
-Cant Charge at all , i only could charge it with the magnetic charging cable
Just Read online in here too the back cover is not sealed completely
This is my First sony phone, well my experience is , Sony Phone is bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add to list...top speaker crackling, gap between display and frame, display shows ripple effect when pressed, bright spots on the max brightness at the bottom of the display...all hardware based on bad manufacturing...

I am pretty happy with mine, considering it's the D6616 T-mobile version and flashing anything besides stock is not doable at the moment it still satisfies me.
I had an xperia z ultra and besides the poor quality camera, I loved the phone. After selling it, I went back to my note 3 then the g3, sold my note and gave the wife the g3 when T-mobile put the Z3 on sale for 500. Sure it's not perfect but what is? I have no display issues, glass and frame line up and tested the waterproof ability of the phone prior to getting it wet, did that because I understand that errors in manufacturing can and do happen.
If you have issues with the phone, contact your provider or Sony, it has a warranty because they also know errors in manufacturing occur. I always go back to T-mobile when I have issues, they have always handled it for me.
As an example, when I decided to get this phone, did some research on it and found the screen is subject to cracks caused by temperature changes, I asked the T-mobile rep about it and he had heard of that, I asked him to note my account with the issue and that if I have that issue they will send me a new phone, he was more then happy to do that. Once I received my phone, knowing I have a 14 day buyers remorse I called T-mobile back and verified that my account was notated about the screen and that if I have that issue, they will infact replace it, which they will.
Point of all this is know what you are buying and know that you have certain rights as explained in the warranty, I have always found if you approach them in a polite manner, most people will help you, the times they don't I hang up and call right back, get a different rep and try again.

Ducter said:
I am pretty happy with mine, considering it's the D6616 T-mobile version and flashing anything besides stock is not doable at the moment it still satisfies me.
I had an xperia z ultra and besides the poor quality camera, I loved the phone. After selling it, I went back to my note 3 then the g3, sold my note and gave the wife the g3 when T-mobile put the Z3 on sale for 500. Sure it's not perfect but what is? I have no display issues, glass and frame line up and tested the waterproof ability of the phone prior to getting it wet, did that because I understand that errors in manufacturing can and do happen.
If you have issues with the phone, contact your provider or Sony, it has a warranty because they also know errors in manufacturing occur. I always go back to T-mobile when I have issues, they have always handled it for me.
As an example, when I decided to get this phone, did some research on it and found the screen is subject to cracks caused by temperature changes, I asked the T-mobile rep about it and he had heard of that, I asked him to note my account with the issue and that if I have that issue they will send me a new phone, he was more then happy to do that. Once I received my phone, knowing I have a 14 day buyers remorse I called T-mobile back and verified that my account was notated about the screen and that if I have that issue, they will infact replace it, which they will.
Point of all this is know what you are buying and know that you have certain rights as explained in the warranty, I have always found if you approach them in a polite manner, most people will help you, the times they don't I hang up and call right back, get a different rep and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I went to repair center to claim warranty, and after ten days they gave it back to me with few more scratches and wrote they cant find any fault, so I took photo of the display showing issue (lucky me I got gift from my brother Samsung NX1000, making some nice photos) and transferred it to Z3 and set it as wallpaper LOL
Then went back to service and showed them after that they told me next week I will get my phone, and they should replace display and motherboard...
But all of this HW issues are well known so far...all reported...

Ducter said:
I am pretty happy with mine, considering it's the D6616 T-mobile version and flashing anything besides stock is not doable at the moment it still satisfies me.
I had an xperia z ultra and besides the poor quality camera, I loved the phone. After selling it, I went back to my note 3 then the g3, sold my note and gave the wife the g3 when T-mobile put the Z3 on sale for 500. Sure it's not perfect but what is? I have no display issues, glass and frame line up and tested the waterproof ability of the phone prior to getting it wet, did that because I understand that errors in manufacturing can and do happen.
If you have issues with the phone, contact your provider or Sony, it has a warranty because they also know errors in manufacturing occur. I always go back to T-mobile when I have issues, they have always handled it for me.
As an example, when I decided to get this phone, did some research on it and found the screen is subject to cracks caused by temperature changes, I asked the T-mobile rep about it and he had heard of that, I asked him to note my account with the issue and that if I have that issue they will send me a new phone, he was more then happy to do that. Once I received my phone, knowing I have a 14 day buyers remorse I called T-mobile back and verified that my account was notated about the screen and that if I have that issue, they will infact replace it, which they will.
Point of all this is know what you are buying and know that you have certain rights as explained in the warranty, I have always found if you approach them in a polite manner, most people will help you, the times they don't I hang up and call right back, get a different rep and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Man im thinking to take the warranty but it said, no water damage i meant realy can i warranty it or im pretty much a dead man

How am I loking to service repair in my country (Croatia). They are all tomfools. Not only they don't now how to repair big problems but are avouching you in their stupidity. I saw that many times. And I had my experience with them when back glass cracks on XPERIA Z2. When I brought them device I was polite and they told me that it is foulty device and I will probebly going to get new one. But after a week they called me asking me if I dropped it. And then I realized how stupid they are. Crack was one line from edge of phone to the camera, not from some center point of impact if you understand me. And they were trying to avouch me that this was dropp and warrenty is off. So when I threatened them with accusation they told me they will advise with Sony UK. After 10 days servicce repair gave me new XPERIA Z2.
So you have to be persistent if you wan't to achieve something. It is not Sony to blame if repair service is bad in your country.

So heres my opinion. Just dont believe in sony's advertising . If you know an electronic device will spoil in the water, well dont put your device in water. I dont say sony doesnt have responsabilities. It happened to me.
I put my xperia z3 in water then i lost signal and data. When i take my device to warranty after two weeks i just got the answer : "does not apply for misuse of the device" .
So Sony is telling me something. They dont care about costumers or costumers having troubles with their device. They just care about selling lies, because when someone tells them they just did what their advertising told them what can you do then is your fault.
Anyway.... I am so disappointed about Sony. Is a good device. The best i have ever had but in customer care they stink

Ryu5671 said:
I Just Owned this Xperia Z3 for a month,and i dip it in the water and suprise suprise its not waterproof at all
List Of Problems:
-The Camera it always fogged,and i read it will be gone in a hour or two then its already 5 hour and nope
-The Mobile data problem,No Signal at all so its pretty much a trash outside of wifi zone
-Cant Charge at all , i only could charge it with the magnetic charging cable
Just Read online in here too the back cover is not sealed completely
This is my First sony phone, well my experience is , Sony Phone is bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So.... nobody has a solution for the Mobile data problem and No Signal?

In Australia, Sony have been taken to task on the whole waterproof claim. They have pretty much said that they will replace devices with water damage.
Thankfully, we have strong consumer protection laws to hold them to account.
Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

I'm sorry to hear Sony has a bad camera because Sony has a long-standing reputation for its excellent camera and even Samsung uses Sony's camera on their cellphones. I'll never put my phone into water to test its waterproof. I'd rather try the pressure sensor thing.

dizzyman44 said:
I'm sorry to hear Sony has a bad camera because Sony has a long-standing reputation for its excellent camera and even Samsung uses Sony's camera on their cellphones. I'll never put my phone into water to test its waterproof. I'd rather try the pressure sensor thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not bad at all, camera is at least good if not better then good...

Z3 is a fantastic device. Along with the Note 2 (before Samsung's awful firmware upgrade which trashed it) it's the best phone I've ever had. However, like many others have found, it simply isn't waterproof. Mine got replaced but I now treat my new one like I would all previous phones i.e. keep it away from water.

wifi reception is terrible. i am at hotel now. i can even watch video with my asus tablet but xperia z3 doesn't even connect to same wifi. i am considering to sell this phone because of that.
the phone always saying "saved" for the connection.

I have this terrible WiFi too on Sony products I've ever gottten.. BEFORE I got my Z3, the WiFi reception is great to me, better than my old Xmp, XL, and GTab 2 10.1
Sent from my D6653 using XDA Free mobile app

i srewed up pretty good, follow my advice

so,yesterday i swapped my LG g3 for an Xperia Z3 +65€. My G3 was in mint condition, with screen protector from the first day and case. Never broken. The guy also said that his z3 was also in perfect condition. I wanted to change cuz my mom has a z1 and it's a great phone, i like sony's phones, and the battery is great, while on g3 is awful, and the screen on g3 is also awful if you ask me. The guy was working and he sent his girlfriend to come and swap phones with me. She said she was in a major hurry and she will be late for her trip and we need to do this fast. She handed me the original box and there was everything inside, and the phone, and immediately took my phone and started examining it. Everything was okay, and i examined the z3 and at the first look, everything was alright too. No scratches, the ui was smooth and no cracks/chunks at the sides. I immediately fell in love because the phone just feels great in hand and the screen is beautiful. As she was in a hurry, i gave her the money, we shook hands and she was on her way. All of this lasted like 3-4 minutes. Then i tried to put my sim card in, and it has nano sim, so i immediately went to the mall and t- mobile center to get my sim. While i was waiting for my turn, i accidentaly opened the camera, and whoa- water spots. Awesome. I call the guy, but no answers. Great. Immediately dissapointed by myself, but oh well, i never use the camera anyway. Then i go to my gf's place, wanna watch some youtube, try to turn the volume up, and guess what? vol up button also not working. great. Run the diagnostics, and light sensor also fails. And on top of that, the back panel is loose a little bit on the bottom. great. And all of this because i was stupid and didn't look closely.
And on top of all this, i have the version that cant have it's bootloader unlocked.
When you swap phones, examine the every last bit of it.
But i seriously love this phone, i'm just afraid i'll break it.

damn, ouch. sorry to hear that.
i'm also one of the "screwed" ones, but it was actually my own fault.
last month on my 4 week thailand holiday, in the first week my phone fell down and the glas broke.
display and everything still worked, but the touchscreen broke and i couldn't use the phone anymore.
since i wanted to use it as a camera on my vacation, i had to replace the display FAST,
but the next sony support center was 450km away in bangkok. there was another repair
shop that did some awesome work before (i checked their website, facebook, ratings, etc.)
so i decided to give them a try.
the display he ordered even came from sony itself (i have seen the package arriving the next day)
and the display is definitely genius and everything is working perfectly again, but there's one
bitter aftertaste with it: i have definitely lost waterproofing (checked through pressure sensor)
and i can see a small bit of light coming through the display and the case on the right side.
i wouldn't blame that service center for it, because if i wanted waterproofing again, i should
surely have sent it to sony instead.
actually i am thinking about if i should open the phone myself and replace the glue stickers
to attach the display. but i am scared a bit that i break more. everything's working perfectly,
and i think, as long as i don't submerge it into water, it should be fine.

Sorry to hear that man...
I have two Z3 phones and love them.
Better luck next time, I have been screwed ttoo, but now I only buy from new

That's not good.
Someone I know had a similiar 'I'm in a hurry' experience..
Turned out the phone had almost literally fallen off the back of a lorry . . . a delivery lorry, and was subsequently barred from all networks by the carrier
As for the waterproofing on the other phone, well, you could completely strip it and rebuild it with new seals, but there's still no guarantee it would be as waterproof as it was when new. They're not hard to get apart, just a bit of heat, and a being careful, and slowly does it. Watch a few dissassembly videos on YouTube (as guides only) and see if you feel capable of doing it. One word of advice, be very careful when disconnecting the ribbon cables as the sockets on the circuit boards are easily damaged.

MickieH said:
That's not good.
Someone I know had a similiar 'I'm in a hurry' experience..
Turned out the phone had almost literally fallen off the back of a lorry . . . a delivery lorry, and was subsequently barred from all networks by the carrier
As for the waterproofing on the other phone, well, you could completely strip it and rebuild it with new seals, but there's still no guarantee it would be as waterproof as it was when new. They're not hard to get apart, just a bit of heat, and a being careful, and slowly does it. Watch a few dissassembly videos on YouTube (as guides only) and see if you feel capable of doing it. One word of advice, be very careful when disconnecting the ribbon cables as the sockets on the circuit boards are easily damaged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have many experience with dissasembling/reassembling phones and changing parts, i've changed so much faulty hardware on various phones that i could easly work in an IT store . It's okay, the light sensor works, i had the phone checked out, turns out they will change my buttons and camera+seal it for small amount of money. I'm overall satisfied. Only thing i'm not satisfied with is the damn bootloader, i don't think i can live with it man. My device history is pretty big, and never i ever had a phone that didn't run a custom ROM or at least a custom Kernel on it. And now this. This is just soul crushing for me. I installed the Marshmallow concept today, and while it's pretty good and AOSP(ish), the thought of at least not having root and installing AT LEAST layers on it is killing me slowly. And just to think i swapped the phone mainly because of the battery and because of jerpelea and his aosp contribuitons and kernel contributions i really like.. Damn. Im seriously gonna cry now.
Sent using XDA One

DeHuMaNiZeD said:
I have many experience with dissasembling/reassembling phones and changing parts, i've changed so much faulty hardware on various phones that i could easly work in an IT store . It's okay, the light sensor works, i had the phone checked out, turns out they will change my buttons and camera+seal it for small amount of money. I'm overall satisfied. Only thing i'm not satisfied with is the damn bootloader, i don't think i can live with it man. My device history is pretty big, and never i ever had a phone that didn't run a custom ROM or at least a custom Kernel on it. And now this. This is just soul crushing for me. I installed the Marshmallow concept today, and while it's pretty good and AOSP(ish), the thought of at least not having root and installing AT LEAST layers on it is killing me slowly. And just to think i swapped the phone mainly because of the battery and because of jerpelea and his aosp contribuitons and kernel contributions i really like.. Damn. Im seriously gonna cry now.
Sent using XDA One
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, so sorry to hear this story mate. I honestly HATE cheating bastards. I'm on the same boat with you regarding custom roms ,kernels and stuff. I know, we can unlock bootloader but it is NOT even close to be the same as with most other phones.(except Samsuck and their knox) . Maybe it hit me too hard since my last phone was nexus (and my next android phone will be nexus again). Was looking forward for AOSP and LAYERS to play with. Don't want to put extra salt on your wound,but shame we don't know each other , I would probably switch my mint condition Z3 to G3, just for change sake (and some custom ROM flashing sake), regardless of battery life of G3.
On the other hand, concept ROM rocks, I won't be getting back on L or stock Sony till it's M

When she said she were in a hurry you should've started to suspect that something was fishy. I would probably never by a used phone seeing how a lot of people treat their phones but if I did I'd certainly would back off if they tried to hurry me into buying/trading.

@DeHuMaNiZeD
I'm sorry for you too. But sometimes you can read from people mouth/face that something isnt okay...
Anyway if you remember their faces, you can talk with them and so on...

OP where did you get the contact info for the trade?
If it was in a page like Ebay,write a bad review and let us know his name, so we can spread out he's a cheater.
Sorry to hear that man...

Dandgqro said:
OP where did you get the contact info for the trade?
If it was in a page like Ebay,write a bad review and let us know his name, so we can spread out he's a cheater.
Sorry to hear that man...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, it's a croatian trading site, he didn't have an account. Anyways, i swapped my Z3 for an OPO, and i couldn't be happier. The best phone i owned. With my xperia being with locked bootloader, this phone is like a miracle for me.