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Hello everybody!
I'm writing from Italy. I had a Z1 Compact that I returned to Amazon for water damages.
Now I'm thinking of buying another phone (I think Moto X) because I had some problems with Z1 Compact.
Before buying the Moto X, I'll try to find if this problems can be solved so I can buy another Z1 Compact, that is a nice phone.
My problems (not mine, but of all the Z1 Compact) were:
- Camera: The camera was pretty good, but I hated the way that it recorded videos. The stabilization was good but, moving a little the hand, all the edges of the figures blurred, and above all the focus was really slow and inaccurate;
- Audio recording: The audio recoding was really bad... I didn't like the recorded audio quality at all, it seemed like it was underwater, the quality was always crappy IMHO, and with big volumes (concert, disco) it was really really distorted;
(for these camera and audio problems I tried different camera softwares, but they were even worse than the Sony original one!)
- Multimedial audio: The multimedial audio was really low and with a normal (but not good or excellent) quality. I tried this boost; it improved the speaker volume (even if the quality wasn't good at all) but not the headphones one;
- Screen and battery: Screen's colours didn't impressed me, they were always faded. Battery was good but non excellent (however, these aren't big problems).
Now... Can I solve this problems in some ways or they are unsolvable hardware problems?
Thank you so much. Bye!
There is no perfect mobile in the market and it's the same for our phone z1c
I love this phone,for me camera is nice,video recording is good(way better then some phones i have tried(yeah its not real camcorder),audio is great recording quality and with sound boost speaker is enough loud for my taste Cheers
That's how this phone work's and if you don't like it you can always try another with things that suits you more cheers
ps. I have yet to meat the person that holded our phone for the first time,played with it and said "this phone sucks"
If you think the Moto X is a better phone overall just buy that one. If you don't like the screen,battery,camera and multimedia related stuff what's left for you to like about this phone ?! This site can only tweak some aspects about a phone , not change it entirely.
I like it because it's compact and very powerful. Plus, I like Sony interface.
But I hate the problems I listed, so I asked to know if I can solve it with mod or tweak or they are hardware "issues" and so not solvable...
Andrea45 said:
I like it because it's compact and very powerful. Plus, I like Sony interface.
But I hate the problems I listed, so I asked to know if I can solve it with mod or tweak or they are hardware "issues" and so not solvable...
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Click to collapse
The problem you listed almost all can be partly solved but there is no bugs free or perfect android phone in the world because your requirement is very high.
1. In reality, I found many of digital stabilization on smartphone somehow got some drawback like you mentioned. It will also happen on other phone but just maybe in some other ways and the perfect solution is get a OIS like HTC M7, N5(video quality is just normal in my experiences) or LG G2/G3. If you got a real fast cpu and know how to do video editing, there are some software stabilization available and they are all better but very time consuming works.
This camera has details because of 1/2.3" sensor but the focus is bad. If you need a fast and accurate focus then only HTC and Samsung can help you in my experiences, you should consider HTC M7(with OIS) or Galaxy S5 but remember HTC M7 UltraPixel is only 4MP and many guys not satisfy with that.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2730097
Indeed, the z1c focus already improved noticeably in 4.4.4(but still can't beat HTC and Samsung) and with this mod(remember to only flash v7 8MP ver) the image, video and audio quality is also improved. Our tiny phone got a small mic just never expect to get real good quality.
2. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=54328280&postcount=53
Many to complain about the multimedia and looking for some complicated solutions but I found it can be easily solved via PowerAMP. The Dynamic normaliser got boost nearly 50% volume in headphone without distort during in my experiences.
3. The screen actually not impressed me either but in general, Sony never use top quality LCD like HTC, LG and Samsung. The IPS screen on z1c is already the 2nd best in Sony history(1st sure is Z2). Battery is ok but it won't be excellent because 2300mah is not enough for S800.
MotoX won't help because it doesn't has dedicated ISP and the camera is bad overall comments on net. MotoX+1 may equipped with dedicated ISP. In your case, actually I would recommend you LG G2. The G2 mod cam is great on xda(but the dev got temp. banned you gonna find some backup download) and it also got OIS. The focus is a little bit accurate than z1c but G2 focus is also same slow, G3 focus is faster. If you think G3 5.5" is too big then consider G3 beat 5". The screen quality and battery is all good on LG.
But if you just want a small flagship, then no choice now only Z1 Compact. Indeed, with 4.4.4 and the mod cam been many things improved.
I don't like LG phones because they have distorsion with high volume too, and I think that they don't have reception and audio of Moto X.
However, what is a "dedicated ISP"? Thank you.
Andrea45 said:
Hello everybody!
I'm writing from Italy. I had a Z1 Compact that I returned to Amazon for water damages.
Now I'm thinking of buying another phone (I think Moto X) because I had some problems with Z1 Compact.
Before buying the Moto X, I'll try to find if this problems can be solved so I can buy another Z1 Compact, that is a nice phone.
My problems (not mine, but of all the Z1 Compact) were:
- Camera: The camera was pretty good, but I hated the way that it recorded videos. The stabilization was good but, moving a little the hand, all the edges of the figures blurred, and above all the focus was really slow and inaccurate;
- Audio recording: The audio recoding was really bad... I didn't like the recorded audio quality at all, it seemed like it was underwater, the quality was always crappy IMHO, and with big volumes (concert, disco) it was really really distorted;
(for these camera and audio problems I tried different camera softwares, but they were even worse than the Sony original one!)
- Multimedial audio: The multimedial audio was really low and with a normal (but not good or excellent) quality. I tried this boost; it improved the speaker volume (even if the quality wasn't good at all) but not the headphones one;
- Screen and battery: Screen's colours didn't impressed me, they were always faded. Battery was good but non excellent (however, these aren't big problems).
Now... Can I solve this problems in some ways or they are unsolvable hardware problems?
Thank you so much. Bye!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get your phone under warranty. On mine, screen is sharp as knife, audio quality on headphones is a KILLER. Just send it to warranty or whatever. Battery on Z1 Compact is one of the best out here (comparing to i9505, 801n etc). Maybe you have chinese copy Or sell your phone and problem will be solved.
Andrea45 said:
I don't like LG phones because they have distorsion with high volume too, and I think that they don't have reception and audio of Moto X.
However, what is a "dedicated ISP"? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There won't be perfect phone in the world atm as we all mentioned in this thread. You either need to accept one or two problem existed or else your decision making is ridiculous and just wasting your time.
Things changed, LG is much better now. But if you want good audio, I think only HTC BoomSound and Sony Z2 S-Force speaker do the job on android. HTC M7 got OIS and BoomSound but the camera is just 4MP. Nokia almost did all things you want but it is a WP device. If you are so like MotoX then just get it, don't ask.
i've several phones here: N4 / N5 / One Mini / Xcover2 / Moto G / Z1c
washed out Colors? That would Fit N5, not Z1c. Z1c has great colours, only the blacks are to black
Audio sucks? have you exer listened to N4 / N5 / Xcover? I mean, it is not HTC Boomsound, but it is a phone, and thats okay. The only real drawback from a One: like all Phones with one Speaker, is does matter how you hold it while listening to the speaker...
are you sure your z1c has no physical problem?
For audio recording i guess you are using the stock recording app? I use the app ASR and it is amazing. beautiful stereo audio.
In apps and themes section is mod which one activate headspeaker and when you listen to music 2 speakers works fine and you have stereo music the same situaton is when somebody calls to you 2 spekares are on about camre i think that update after update something is changed and works always better. Nothing is perfect remember that everyone!))
Screen is great really great but no compete with old s2 super amoled
i have both fones and when i compare in the same situations amoled was always better but this is my own private opinion. I was thinking for a long time about changing my s2 and z1c is the only one phone for me there is no better phone in this size
mosespl said:
In apps and themes section is mod which one activate headspeaker and when you listen to music 2 speakers works fine and you have stereo music the same situaton is when somebody calls to you 2 spekares are on about camre i think that update after update something is changed and works always better. Nothing is perfect remember that everyone!))
Screen is great really great but no compete with old s2 super amoled
i have both fones and when i compare in the same situations amoled was always better but this is my own private opinion. I was thinking for a long time about changing my s2 and z1c is the only one phone for me there is no better phone in this size
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Click to collapse
I come from HTC One S and also used 4.3" Super AMOLED from Samsung. They both have pros and cons. The color is much accurate on IPS but lack of contrast and saturation levels, amoled does much better job but somewhat over as we all know. So, they are just 50/50. No winner.
The real advantage is the touch sensitive on amoled is better than IPS panel. But since the galaxy s5 mini spec. is very ****, we have no choice but z1c.
1. Display screen by SRGB standard or SRGB mode (or better yet automatically switch between color profiles)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2742538
2. Better sound in the headphones and more powerful
3. OIS
4. Better camera soft (now is not a good detail (for such a large sensor), and the colors are a bit pale
Just stop.
Nothing new will be added.
Personally I hope it's a piece of [email protected]#t having just bought a Z2 I'd like to see that remain king of the hill for a while yet.
ghostofcain said:
piece of [email protected]#t.
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Click to collapse
its me?
As for the next generation z series, z3 or z4 I would say
1 up to date processor and ram improvement well.
2 screen quality improved not just resolution they have to improved with color production and other factors. Z2 is great but why stop there push it for more
3 thicker phone or retain z2 thickness so that more battery capacity 3500 mah preferably or more if 2k resolution 3,800 is needed and camera sensor bigger, maybe they should start improving camera lens at the back and 5 mp to 8 mp front camera with led flash.
4 front stereo retain and improved audio quality but headphone quality included should be as good as my xperia s. Up today that headphone is the best I used. Maybe xba 2 dual armature will be a dream come true
5 charging dock should be available to all z series and I think it is better to have additional used such as stereo mode even with good quality sound output
6 software improvement from camera from superior mode, faster focus and user interface; video quality; walkman; social life and all other software sony app needs also a better widget. Put some transparent type this is android.
7 sunlight legibility this is a simple and really waterproof but barely see during sunny days is kinda weird. We expect a premium and kinda outdoor user friendly.
8 ois hardware or not we really need a good used of stability of taking video just improved it. The trend now is more people going outdoor and take a video or picture themselves doing even a crazy things such as zip lining or even biking during selfie or taking video. If they can maximized software and have a quality video why would we buy a go pro when we can used our phobe to have a great time taking video.
9 synchronization of all sony product I think all in one software is a good start for mutimedia devices. Cause we don't really like many app each device.
10 improved wifi and gsm reception signal
11 improved hardware connection device such as USB, hdmi and others. I really dont know if z2 is updated well better to say than be sorry
12 stop pushing bigger device. Many consumers have small hands like me im having difficulty using my z2.
13 new physical design we need it now.
14 one thing I observed is we have to choosed different type of packages such as there are package include a good headphone and a dock other headphone only and another dock. And sometimes no dock and cheapskate headset. Really one package is enough to all of us sony make up their mind if they're gonna a package one package is enough.
15 Well to retain pricing, I think sony should have a better value added feature or hardware include to retain competitive China phone such as xiaomi mi4 it cannot justify the introductory price of z2.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------
I personally think we should make a bucket list even though they are many leaks almost true. We can tell them we want this and that maybe after z3 they will give them. Let's say there might be a sony marketing employees here reading and got an idea to put it in the next product series.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
See it here.
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_compact-review-1135.php
So according to this review, the screen, the speakers/audio quality and the camera aren't that great. ... What gives?
according to the review the screen, audio quality from the speaker and camera are better than the Z1C. I own a Z1C and a bunch of Samsung galaxys, that's how I see it:
I found the Z1C screen to be great except in sunlight. (better colors than my AMOLEDs, but the AMOLEDS worked a tad better in sunlight)
GSMA says the Z3C is similar but is better in sunlight.
Audio on my Z1C from the speaker was good enough that i never had an issue with it. Mainly, I listen to audio through the headphones most of the time (which has good audio quality) - but the few times I didn't it was decent. The iphone 5s of a friend did a bit of a better job tho. So anyway, thats supposed to be better in the Z3C according to GSMA.
The camera.. the camera has pros and cons on all the xperias IMO (Z1, Z2 and now Z3). It does look better in 20MP mode and I don't know if they changed the processing, lens, tweaked the sensor, or a bit of everything.
On the Z1C it made great pictures, worked well with low light, but in some conditions the sides of the pictures wouldn't be as great. You can look at the user samples on XDA, which are IMO a much better benchmark than the crops of GSMA. Almost every phone has a thread about photography.
In my eyes the competitors here are:
- iphone5s/6
- galaxy alpha
- z3c
and while they all have some advantages here and there, the z3c seems to have the most advantages where it matters to me: much greater battery life, very good camera, good audio via the audio jack, waterproofing, fast CPU/GPU, sdcard expansion slot, supports a bunch of frequencies.
Sony also support USB audio out of the box if you want to pipe out to a quality USB DAC
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
I wasn't that pleased with the review part of the camera especially =/ I was expecting much improvments with software/lens/everything this time around. I had a s5 for a while and i really liked the camera on it and i was hoping to see similar results from this camera - but i still need to check some more samples to see analyse photo quality better. I might check the z1c and z2 camera threads as suggested, but i thought they improved some things on this camera so i guess the results can be a bit different
The second I saw that battery rating, it was a done deal for me. I had heard the Z1C was already pretty amazing, but to find out the Z3C had double the rating was shocking. Now I don't expect the Z3C to last twice as long as its predecessor, that would be absurd (and a pleasant surprise), but if can last as long or longer, that would be fantastic!
With my current phone, I'm getting on average 6hrs on screen time (no power saving or dimming of the display), lasting me the whole day, that is for 24 hours, not just the work day, so if the Z3C can match or exceed that slightly, which I'm expecting it to, I'd be VERY happy!
techguyone said:
GSMArena Review in - and it's a cracker
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cracker? (I assume that means "and it's a good review")
For those who don't want to read through the full thing, here's a highlight of points by GSMArena's review:
Built quality is top notch, and stands apart from the rest of the Z3 series
The display is adequately bright and has good sunlight legibility
Battery life is phenomenal
It has an all-round connectivity package including LTE, USB Host and FM radio
Speaker loudness scored an Average rating, likely due to the IP rating
Benchmark performance is flagship grade, although helped by only having to push out 720p pixels
Audio quality is very good, with minor exceptions in some areas
Video player handles all the major formats except for AC3 audio and AAC audio with AVC video
Camera is OK, but not as good as competing offerings from Samsung. 2160p videos come out smooth
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes good review, good phone hopefully, might be my next as motos latest are woefully short in battery and almost phablet size elsewhere. z3 c might just fit the bill.
Yep, this will be my next phone - sorry to let my S4 Mini down after only one year but this one just looks great (and the battery!)
Btekt just posted a sample 4K recording and the audio is pretty bad:
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact 4K video sample http://youtu.be/ak9Q4c6m534
Especially when compared to the Galaxy Alpha sample:
Samsung Galaxy Alpha 4K video sample http://youtu.be/kRK48rDnjwk
boojay said:
Btekt just posted a sample 4K recording and the audio is pretty bad
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Click to collapse
I personally don't give even the slightest consideration to 4K recording when I buy a smartphone.
The main things I care about is the size, battery life, screen quality, and camera.
That did sound terrible. Oh well. Can't win them all can we.
I currently run the z1c
Camera on z1c is terrible in my opinion... I have little faith that the z3c camera will be a vast improvement upon the z1c camera
This typical scenario on the z1c detailed in this thread is very annoying indeed http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2780290
I hope Sony has rectified this bug within the z3c - otherwise poor show.
never had the slow loading issue except on cyanogen roms on the z1c
it always loads at worse in like 1 second at best instant
dillalade said:
That did sound terrible. Oh well. Can't win them all can we.
I currently run the z1c
Camera on z1c is terrible in my opinion... I have little faith that the z3c camera will be a vast improvement upon the z1c camera
This typical scenario on the z1c detailed in this thread is very annoying indeed http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2780290
I hope Sony has rectified this bug within the z3c - otherwise poor show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's an interesting result though; I tried viewing the same two sample clips I shared in my previous comment at home on my theater system, with the volume turned up relatively high (I watched them on my work PC and mobile earlier), and I got the exact opposite result. That is, the Z3C footage sounded better and the Alpha fared worse. The latter was too bassy and the former's quality improved a great deal. Weird.
Also, in terms of picture video quality, the Z3C was the clear winner on my HD LED TV.
charliebigpot said:
Yep, this will be my next phone - sorry to let my S4 Mini down after only one year but this one just looks great (and the battery!)
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Click to collapse
That's exactly what I'm doing too.
Apparently this guys at DxOMark do not know what they are talking about?
I have the same result with this video comparison:
iPhone 5s vs Sony Xperia Z3 Compact http://youtu.be/M3SZQCm2DDM
That is, the iPhone sounded better on my phone, but the Z3C was much clearer sounding on my home theater system. The iPhone was muted in comparison.
While the Z3C was overexposed, its colors were more accurate, autofocus and image stabilisation were better, and it let in more light in the shaded areas.
Can't wait for the low light video comparison. The Z3C should be crushing the competition!
Wow... Battery life is out of this world. I have never seen any results like this before, not even on the LG GFlex. Wow.
Sent From my Nokia Lumia 635
Even though GSMarena does their own audio tests, can someone with a Z1C please confirm the audio quality is very good?
(I know, everyone has their own opinion about sound quality)
I remember that in a video someone said that the software they were reviewing were not final. So could it be that these more disapointing results of the camera were due to that and that it can be fixed?
Hi
I got the phone from amazon yesteday. My previous phone is z3 compact.
Build quality:
To start with fingerprint is disabled on us version. I really like the new glass material on the back when compared to my z3c. The lock/unlock button is big and pronounced and feedback is good. Over all build quality is excellent. I prefer this phone for form factor. I did not find any phone in the market nearly spec'd as this in compact size.
4/5
Display:
A part from that display is the same as z3c. No improvement at all except it is more brighter. But for some reason it feels dim under sunlight. I dont have z3c with me right now to compare. But i think z3c is a little more bright under sunlight. Other than that i hate the display. I am ok with 720p but the colors suck. Blacks are better than previous model but still have greyish tint.. Overall i hate this display.. I dont understand why sony makes such beautiful displays for TV's and worse displays on their smart phones.
2/5
Sound:
Speaker volume is tiny. Even though they are front facing volume is too low for my liking. Speaker phone volume when on calls is terrible. For the earphones its the other way round. Clarity is excellent. Sony did not include any earphones despite charging 499+tax which is a shame. I did not experience any bluetooth issues. Worked fine in my car and with my lg headset.
3/5
Performance:
I dont see noticeable improvement in performance from z3c to z5c. Apps open a tad bit faster. Ram is the same so dont except much with multitasking. It handled decent.. I see lagging and frame rate drop from time to time.. May be lollipop? Because i tested nexus 6p on marshmallow with sd810 and it flies.. Hopefully update should fix it. Also i noticed back of my phone very hot when i am restoring apps from google play after first boot.. I also feel the heat when its charging.. After that i did not feel heat again.. I dont play any games on my phone so not a deal breaker
3/5
Camera:
As sony touts, focus is very quick. But my god.. It takes forever to launch the app and take a photo.. Photo quality is decent in day light but low light it is terrible with a lot of noise. Again the same.. Sony makes some great point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Provides sensors for major manufacturers but fails with their phones.. Need major work especially with software.. I did not test video recording
3/5
Battery:
The biggest pro for this phone.. I did not have it longer to give statements but from what i see it is amazing.. Standby drain is ok.. Lost 9% over the course of 8 hours which is acceptable.. currently at 63% with 2 hrs 14 mins screen on time which is great..
5/5
Conclusion:
Overall i am disappointed with the phone. What ever it does it is just ok except for battery and build quality. Display and camera are deal breakers for me. I have the same impressions with my z3c but compact size won me over display and camera issues. After 1 year i cannot take this anymore.. 23mp camera upgrade is a dud.. same display.. bad speaker quality despite of front facing.. Some heating issues which is ok but still for a $500 phone.. With fingerprint disabled in us markets i dont see a good reason to upgrade from a z3c if you have one. If you want compact size phone with great battery , excellent build and dont mind short comings of display and camera look no further. For me sadly i will be returning this phone.
Let me know if you have any questions
Pretty fair review. I agree with all your points. The Z5 series is very disappointing, and the awful firmware doesn't help. I'm not very impressed by Sony (it's my first Sony phone) and I will probably replace my Z5 soon for something better.
Sadly, I don't think they belong in the same league as LG, Motorola, a Nexus or Samsung (despite Touchwiz). I wouldn't recommend someone to buy a Xperia over a Nexus or Galaxy. Too many issues and flaws
fair review and agree with most points..
sravanz said:
Let me know if you have any questions
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Click to collapse
I have other thoughts. IPS screen you must have grey scale issues it's just more or less, if you want true black go get an Amoled. The screen on Z5c is excellent and color is more of a personal taste, on Z5 the color style tend to the more accurate side not the eye catching one. The same on the camera color reproduction, my Z1c photo provided more vivd color and sometimes it does look better. But in fact, the Z5c color is closer to real scene.
I've heard the speaker volume is a bit lower than Z3c but the quality on Z5c should be better, more stereo output.
Marshmallow will optimize the big.Little CPU so expected speed gains later.
Camera is good within 200iso range both day and light. Low-light photo is also good but only if you manage to shoot at low ISO without OIS...lol... It real better than my Z1c at low iso but above 200iso my Z1c outperformed Z5c noticeably, I think it is a software issue waiting for 6.0 to fix the camera driver.
The official price of Z5c in Hong Kong dropped to USD460 now in all major provider channel, I think it is more valuable here.
The speaker on Z5c is great. Go to sound settings and turn on Dynamic Normaliser only. And turn off all the other settings. And you'll get great sound on speaker. It's much much better than on Z3c. Nearly as good as Boomsound and no I'm not exaggerating. Sound also depends on the app or the kind of music.
You can try the song " Diary Of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin on Youtube after setting it up like I said, to test how loud the speakers are.
TheEndHK said:
I have other thoughts. IPS screen you must have grey scale issues it's just more or less, if you want true black go get an Amoled. The screen on Z5c is excellent and color is more of a personal taste, on Z5 the color style tend to the more accurate side not the eye catching one. The same on the camera color reproduction, my Z1c photo provided more vivd color and sometimes it does look better. But in fact, the Z5c color is closer to real scene.
I've heard the speaker volume is a bit lower than Z3c but the quality on Z5c should be better, more stereo output.
Marshmallow will optimize the big.Little CPU so expected speed gains later.
Camera is good within 200iso range both day and light. Low-light photo is also good but only if you manage to shoot at low ISO without OIS...lol... It real better than my Z1c at low iso but above 200iso my Z1c outperformed Z5c noticeably, I think it is a software issue waiting for 6.0 to fix the camera driver.
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Click to collapse
I understand your point about deep blacks. I have seen several other screens which are not amoled and produce not only better blacks but also have a vibrant display.. I dont think iphone or htc m9 has amoled screen. I am comparing to those because for the price we are paying we should get a better quality display considering iphone 6s also has 760p screen and is better overall.. May be i prefer vibrant or saturated colors rather than real life ones as you are stating.. Even nexus 5x screen looks amazing to me and its not amoled..
For the sound as you said clarity may be good but it is very low and if you are outside you can hardly hear it..
For camera even though there is manual mode i prefer phone to handle it automatically rather than me tinkering with settings. I like how well optimized samsung's and apple's camera software.. I want to see that level of output with sony's. Sadly it is no where near it..
I havent used z1c.. From what i can see you are quite happy with the jump.. But from z3c to z5c that too us variant there is no good reason to upgrade
sravanz said:
I havent used z1c.. From what i can see you are quite happy with the jump.. But from z3c to z5c that too us variant there is no good reason to upgrade
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In my experiences, Apple & HTC & LG always use top-notch LCD screen, they pretty much represented the best screen you can get on market. I've to admit Sony usually only used second grade panel but Z5c isn't bad in my opinions. There are many beautiful FHD/2K but you hardly could find one small screen 720P better with the only exception of IP6/IP6s. The official price of Z5c is USD460 now in HK and to that price level, I think worth it. Yes, I think you prefer vibrant or saturated color.
The jump from Z1c to Z5c is big enough to stay but it's a mixed result to me bcoz sometimes I also prefer more vivd color photo/video from Z1c(but overall I prefer accurate color) and 320iso started better than my Z5c, not to mention my Z1c 4K video(with 4K mod) at low-light even got better focus and quality. If Sony doesn't fix the camera in 6.0, I may sell it out and stick with Z1c and wait Z6c/Z7c.
TheEndHK said:
In my experiences, Apple & HTC & LG always use top-notch LCD screen, they pretty much represented the best screen you can get on market. I've to admit Sony usually only used second grade panel but Z5c isn't bad in my opinions. There are many beautiful FHD/2K but you hardly could find one small screen 720P better with the only exception of IP6/IP6s. The official price of Z5c is USD460 now in HK and to that price level, I think worth it. Yes, I think you prefer vibrant or saturated color.
The jump from Z1c to Z5c is big enough to stay but it's a mixed result to me bcoz sometimes I also prefer more vivd color photo/video from Z1c(but overall I prefer accurate color) and 320iso started better than my Z5c, not to mention my Z1c 4K video(with 4K mod) at low-light even got better focus and quality. If Sony doesn't fix the camera in 6.0, I may sell it out and stick with Z1c and wait Z6c/Z7c.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.. Its 499 here and with tax it came to 540 for me.. Hopefully marshmallow update should fix some of the issues.. Amazon has 30 day return policy so i will see if i get update and if it fixes camera issues.. i might keep it
Sadman Khan said:
The speaker on Z5c is great. Go to sound settings and turn on Dynamic Normaliser only. And turn off all the other settings. And you'll get great sound on speaker. It's much much better than on Z3c. Nearly as good as Boomsound and no I'm not exaggerating. Sound also depends on the app or the kind of music.
You can try the song " Diary Of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin on Youtube after setting it up like I said, to test how loud the speakers are.
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It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..
sravanz said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.. Its 499 here and with tax it came to 540 for me.. Hopefully marshmallow update should fix some of the issues.. Amazon has 30 day return policy so i will see if i get update and if it fixes camera issues.. i might keep it
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wow it's freaky expensive 540, no wonder you are unhappy. It's only 460 here no tax and small retailers may even sell a bit lower but no return policy.
TheEndHK said:
wow it's freaky expensive 540, no wonder you are unhappy. It's only 460 here no tax and small retailers may even sell a bit lower but no return policy.
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I see a lot of listings on ebay for international version around 430 and no tax but problem is no returns and no warranty
sravanz said:
It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/themes-apps/split-thread-soundmod-xperia-z5-project-t3255636
I think sound mod might be able to fix your issue but you got to root your phone to void the warranty.
---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------
sravanz said:
I see a lot of listings on ebay for international version around 430 and no tax but problem is no returns and no warranty
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460 here comes with warranty.
TheEndHK said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/themes-apps/split-thread-soundmod-xperia-z5-project-t3255636
I think sound mod might be able to fix your issue but you got to root your phone to void the warranty.
---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------
460 here comes with warranty.
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If unlock bootloader i think i will lose drm keys which makes camera even worse and no warranty so not gonna do that right now.. thanks
sravanz said:
It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..
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What podcast app do you use? If you use Pocket Casts, there's a feature that's kind of hidden away that boosts the volume substantially. You have to play an episode of a podcast, and bring up the control screen (the screen where you would skip back or skip forward the audio). On the bottom left hand corner should be what looks like a dial. If you click on it, you should get an option to "Volume Boost" that you can click on. Made a huge difference for me.
Adrift98 said:
What podcast app do you use? If you use Pocket Casts, there's a feature that's kind of hidden away that boosts the volume substantially. You have to play an episode of a podcast, and bring up the control screen (the screen where you would skip back or skip forward the audio). On the bottom left hand corner should be what looks like a dial. If you click on it, you should get an option to "Volume Boost" that you can click on. Made a huge difference for me.
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Yes i use pocketcasts.. will try that.. thanks for the tip
sravanz said:
If unlock bootloader i think i will lose drm keys which makes camera even worse and no warranty so not gonna do that right now.. thanks
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Been used DRM patch for 2~3 weeks on my z5c.
I've been debating weather I want to go back to the z5c. (had one but sold to try the 5x) Is there any real reason to buy the US version over the UK version besides warranty? I'd buy the UK model to save for sure.
*edit.. Sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but I would love an answer
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Notchr302 said:
I've been debating weather I want to go back to the z5c. (had one but sold to try the 5x) Is there any real reason to buy the US version over the UK version besides warranty? I'd buy the UK model to save for sure.
*edit.. Sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but I would love an answer
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/e6653-flash-e6603-firmware-enable-t3307158
It's very easy to enable fingerprint sensor without root and void warranty on US Z5, I think it's just same on US Z5c.
sravanz said:
Hi
Camera:
As sony touts, focus is very quick. But my god.. It takes forever to launch the app and take a photo.. Photo quality is decent in day light but low light it is terrible with a lot of noise. Again the same.. Sony makes some great point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Provides sensors for major manufacturers but fails with their phones.. Need major work especially with software.. I did not test video recording
3/5
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Could you let us know which firmware version is running on your Z5c? On my phone with firmware 32.0.A.6.200 (unlocked German version) the camera app starts up quickly when I firmly push the camera button. Also starting the app from the app drawer doesn't show noticeable delays. Maybe an update will resolve (some) of your issues.
I agree with:
- Build quality.
- Performance
-Camera: I'd rest 1 more point; 2/5 in total because I don't like the FoV of this camera and the minimum focus distance of 12mm, bad for really close close-ups. Obviously, considering the price of the phone. As you said, photos under a LOT of light are fine). I really don't like the camera of this phone is my biggest disappointment.
- Battery
I disagree with:
> Display: for me it's fine, 4/5 or 5/5. I'm happy with it (except for the Auto Brightness bug), I love the idea of a 720p screen with 2015 hardware (I know you didn't complain about the resolution), battery and performance is incredible thanks to this resolution and DPI settings. Brightness is high enough for me under the sun. They should tweak a little more the auto brightness levels in dark rooms.
> Sound: I don't care too much about, I mean, speaker is hi enough. It's stereo. Sound is fine for games and some quick videos. Not good for music, like any small speaker. But I never use small speakers for that. Maybe not a 5/5 but 4/5 would be my score.
One important point is the time to update after a new version is released. Sony has a 0/5 in that. At least for the Z5 line.
If I were you I'd enable the fingerprint sensor. But if you need to open the bootloader I'd wait some more time before do it.
As an audio-lover coming from HTC's and later the Google Pixel devices, the Xperia 5 II got me very excited not only for retaining Sony's signature dual front-firing speaker setup but also for re-introducing the headphone jack. I understand that I am very much in the minority here with my wants and needs but, having access to a wealth of audio gear and competing audio-focused smartphones, I thought it would be helpful to draw some attention to one of the 5 II's best-performing features that hasn't been given justice yet online. Jump to the speaker quality section to skip the rambles.
To add context, I've owned the Xperia Z2 and loved it overall. However, while it ticked a lot of boxes, I was left dissatisfied with the performance of each feature - i.e. the cam was noisy and slow, the speakers very tinny, the headphone out lacking volume and I haven't returned to Sony until now. Until then, I was content with HTC's approach, their Boomsound stereo speakers were much richer and louder, the headphone jack implementations up to the U11 were also very good; the 10 especially had a dedicated audio section which delivered a very low noise floor, albeit a higher output impedance which made it a no-go for expensive multi-driver earphones.
Before the 5 II, I owned the Pixel 3 and 4, the Pixel 4 I found to offer the best speaker quality with good sound chamber design providing nice fullness and volume albeit at the cost of no headphone jack and abysmal battery size and life. So of course, audio is a priority for me. I have a wide collection of high-end earphones and headphones and like to travel light without an additional DAP, dongle or BT receiver. The 5 II is an audio lover's dream with regards to its speaker quality/volume/setup and headphone jack output. It also comes across as a substantially more refined Android experience than past Xperia's I've used to the extent that it rivals Pixel smartphones in fluidity.
Speaker Quality -
Though not the best on the market, of the devices I've owned, the Pixel 4 actually has the best speaker quality in terms of max volume, frequency balance and bass extension and I would say any user would be satisfied with the performance. The speaker setup on the 5 II is immediately more immersive and symmetrical - I'm not a huge fan of the popularisation of downward-firing woofer + earpiece tweeter as I find the volume discrepancy between the two distracting. The stereo setup is a big plus here for media consumption, and something I missed from my old HTC's and the PIxel 3. The 5 II, thankfully, also has far better speaker quality than previous Xperia's.
They are no longer tinny in the slightest with a nice body and balance to the midrange. With Dolby on, you even get a little bass punch in addition to a healthy jump in volume. There's more depth and fullness on the Pixel 4, but the difference was not as big as expected and I can personally forgive that given the real symmetry and stereo separation of the dual front-firing setup. Max volume is also excellent, easily as good as the Pixel and the audio reproduction is clearer and more balanced in the midrange. As such, vocals are easier to discern e.g. listening to videos while showering. I also don't find the 5 II to distort as much at max volume, where the Pixel 4 earpiece speaker became peaky and distorted on the top few notches. So though the Pixel may measure louder in some reviews, in use, the 5 II has the same useable volume range and both easily sufficient for listening to/sharing videos and music in loud environments.
It would be great to see Sony continue to work on the speaker quality in future models with a bit more bass extension, but this is definitely not an area where potential buyers should feel concerned that the 5 II is lacking.
Headphone Jack -
Onto the headphone jack, I have read that Sony have utilised custom amplifiers in their phones rather than the in-built audio from the Qualcomm chipset in previous models, and I wouldn't be surprised if this was also the case on the 5 II. In my eyes, a good audio source should provide 3 fundamental qualities:
- A low output impedance
- Ample driving power with low noise floor
- Linear frequency response
The 5 II ticks all boxes and it ticks them well for IEMs especially. It has a relatively low output impedance, just a few ohms at most. I tested by hooking up the Xperia and my desktop amp (THX789 with 1-ohm impedance) to the Campfire Audio Andromeda (5-driver BA earphone) with an in-line switcher. This revealed a slight bass drop-off, but pretty similar audio balance overall, a very good result. The Andro is notoriously sensitive to source impedance meaning that the vast majority of other IEMs, even high-end multi-drivers such as those from Empire Ears, Shure, etc, will sound accurate and faithful to their design on the 5 II - whereas, a higher OI will result in a shift in the sound signature.
Similarly, it has a flat response when measured using right RightMark Audio Analyser (Dolby off) and a black background with zero hiss even on the sensitive Andro. Of course, the detail retrieval and soundstage are not as strong as the THX desktop amplifier, but this is one of the best phones I've used in terms of audio output; it is simply clean and balanced. Even the LG V30 with its ESS audio hardware is not vastly more resolving and its output impedance is only slightly lower (measured at 1.5ohms) so both are equally good choices for the audio conscious. Power output is on the lesser side but easily adequate. I required 60% volume to get the Focal Clear to a comfortable listening volume leaving plenty of headroom for listeners preferring higher volumes. The THX amp obviously had a tighter, more extended bass but surprisingly, the Sony was not too bad, delivering a balanced sound and good soundstage. There was no bass drop-off and good detail retrieval. Impressive for a phone driving a high-end full-size headphone.
TLDR -
I think this is a pretty impressive smartphone all around and it's good to see that being recognised by critics and users. I am not personally hugely enamoured by the camera performance coming from the Pixel but there's definitely potential there especially if you like to tinker in post. The screen with warm colour temp in creator mode is a sight to behold with great accuracy to boot, and the battery life and audio performance are both sensationally good. In fact, 2-day battery life is very achievable with 3hrs SOT per day, not something I could say about any phone that I've owned prior. So hope this write up helps hobbyists on the fence. If you're looking for a good all-rounder smartphone with a clean headphone out, this is a great option!
Thanks a lot for this comprehensive writeup!
I'm in a similar situation to you, except I jumped ship from my previous Xperia's a bit later, ending up with a HTC U11+. Unfortunately the USB port has became faulty, meaning that I can't use the Usonic earphones that came bundled with the device. Flashing Android 10 to the device using a GSI image also means I can't even use a dongle anymore. Rough.
I had already planned to get the Xperia 5 last year, but managed to keep using my U11+ because it is still lasting me all day and I was afraid of having to face a worse camera in the X5 compared to the U11+.
With this post I think I'm pretty sure I'll love the X5 ii, it confirms everything I was thinking and have seen, from the display quality, the audio chipset, the speaker performance, etc.
I'm curious, on your profile it says you're a Physiotherapist but your level of understanding of tech is quite advanced for someone without any formal design/engineering background. I'm studying Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the moment, but I can say that a lot of my knowledge is from before I started my degree studies.
Shrenade514 said:
Thanks a lot for this comprehensive writeup!
I'm in a similar situation to you, except I jumped ship from my previous Xperia's a bit later, ending up with a HTC U11+. Unfortunately the USB port has became faulty, meaning that I can't use the Usonic earphones that came bundled with the device. Flashing Android 10 to the device using a GSI image also means I can't even use a dongle anymore. Rough.
I had already planned to get the Xperia 5 last year, but managed to keep using my U11+ because it is still lasting me all day and I was afraid of having to face a worse camera in the X5 compared to the U11+.
With this post I think I'm pretty sure I'll love the X5 ii, it confirms everything I was thinking and have seen, from the display quality, the audio chipset, the speaker performance, etc.
I'm curious, on your profile it says you're a Physiotherapist but your level of understanding of tech is quite advanced for someone without any formal design/engineering background. I'm studying Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the moment, but I can say that a lot of my knowledge is from before I started my degree studies.
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Thanks! HTC made some great smartphones, wish they'd done better after the original One, such a goodie.
And yep, I studied Physio in my undergrad but tech/audio is my passion. I mostly lurk on forums reading the work of far more intelligent writers. On the side, I run an audio review website and through both I've picked up some knowledge - about audio especially.
I definitely am not a professional here in any way and love the perspective true pros bring to the industry, always a fascinating read. Hope you're enjoying your studies!
As a lurking audiophile, I wholeheartedly second this! I find that LG headphone jack still wins by virtue of having more volume steps. Sound quality wise, it is truly barely discernible given my portable usage of these two in my daily commutes.