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I am planning to buy a new unlocked phone within 10 days. I have the following options:
Xperia Z2($500)
Xperia Z3 Compact ($600)
Galaxy Alpha ($500)
iPhone 5S ($550)
I had made up my mind for the Xperia Z2. It is the most balanced phone providing adequate power, battery life, decent camera, storage, etc. but recently I came to know about the over heating & self cracking screen issues with the Z2( or the entire Z series including the Z3 & Z3 compact). There are quite a lot of reports of the glass on the phone cracking. Also that the phone overheats a lot. I am worried as whatever I buy, I'll have to stick with it for 2 years. Sony has refused warranty in most cases related to this issue. Same issue plagues the Z3 Compact
I recently had a look at the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. It's a good looking and decent device and offers all that I want. The primary drawback is the battery life of the phone and to some extent the pentile matrix display.
The iPhone 5S is also a good phone though it does have a smaller display. It has the best camera among all the devices I have mentioned.
So I ask you people for your opinion. Which device should I buy?
I am not a heavy user. My daily usage includes a couple of hours of offline music, roughly 1-1.5 hours of web browsing, average messaging, a couple of photos and some pandora in the evening while connected to my bluetooth speaker. I don't play games much on my phone. Maybe an hour of cumulative gaming in 3-4 days.
I am still willing to buy the Z2 if the overheating and cracking issues aren't that widespread. I have nothing against iOS or Android. I use an android phone along with an iPad Air. So no issues there. So please be neutral in your opinions( don't start bashing the iPhone). And please feel free to suggest any other phone that you think is good ( please avoid the HTC One M8 and LG G3)
I personally have the z2 and love it. The main thing boils down to design and ui you will have no issues with battery life based on your usage. Apple and ios is its own thing all together if you prefer ios as a daily driver go for the iPhone as for the Android devices Samsung is plagued by there touchwiz ui where as Sony is pretty much stock android with a few added things for the camera and Walkman app etc. The z2 is a large device there is no denying that however the larger screen if you don't mind the phone being bigger is a big advantage for just about everything. It's easier to type on and makes Web browsing easier. I haven't had any issues with mine in terms of defects. One big advantage with the Android devices is the sd card. Although you may not need it at the moment if you have got the phone for 2 years it's great to be able to expand the storage if needed. I would recommend popping into a phone shop and playing with the phones and see what you like best as everybody is different. Hope this helps you.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
nobby00900 said:
I personally have the z2 and love it. The main thing boils down to design and ui you will have no issues with battery life based on your usage. Apple and ios is its own thing all together if you prefer ios as a daily driver go for the iPhone as for the Android devices Samsung is plagued by there touchwiz ui where as Sony is pretty much stock android with a few added things for the camera and Walkman app etc. The z2 is a large device there is no denying that however the larger screen if you don't mind the phone being bigger is a big advantage for just about everything. It's easier to type on and makes Web browsing easier. I haven't had any issues with mine in terms of defects. One big advantage with the Android devices is the sd card. Although you may not need it at the moment if you have got the phone for 2 years it's great to be able to expand the storage if needed. I would recommend popping into a phone shop and playing with the phones and see what you like best as everybody is different. Hope this helps you.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your opinion. I have been to various stores and tried the devices. My major concern is the cracking, which cannot be tried in the store. Since you have a Z2, maybe you can elaborate your usage a bit. How long have you had the device? Also does the device overheat?
Also, what would be your next preference, after the Z2 (out of the 4)?
Hey, welcome to the Z2 forums.
First and foremost let me say that my phone is from the 14W28 batch, meaning it was produced between 7th July 2014 and the 13th July 2014 (both dates are inclusive). Also I am running a ExistenZ made by @niaboc79 which may have sorted some problems I may have faced if I hadn't have installed it.
The first worry you have with the phone is overheating, with my phone in particular I have not encountered any overheating problems with normal usage. The hottest it usually gets to is 50C or so. When the phone is on charge it does get slightly hotter if and when I use it, although it has never gotten past 60C. I don't think it is fair to compare the heat from usage of this phone to the Xperia M but I would like to point out when I was using the Xperia M normally the phone would hit 60C-65C and when I tried to use the phone on charge it was hitting 70C-75C. And thus I don't think there is much of a 'problem', although the constant heating and cooling down of the rear panel could contribute to it cracking. (Side note; I also did a 4K video record test to see how hot the phone could go/how long I could record for, I managed 10 minutes before I accidentally closed off the recording and the hottest the phone got was 60C and it cooled off quite quickly.)
The second worry you have with the phone is the self-cracking issues. Again, I haven't encountered any problems with the phone cracking. I do keep it in a case to be safe. However, I have knocked it off of my bedside table during the night quite a few times but still no scratches nor cracks on the front (due to my screen protector) and no scratches nor cracks on the rear of the phone either. It is possible that the self cracking phones were put under 'stressful' situations like tight pockets, rapid cooling and heating, often drops/falls or maybe it could just have been a problem with the earlier batches (mine may still be subject to these issues as it is from about 2 months after the release of the phone).
I have now had my phone for 2 weeks and I am happy as Larry with it. I manage to easily get 1 day battery out of the phone (this is only cause I use it a lot at night before I charge it). If you want my opinion on what other phone I would go for after the Z2 it would be the iPhone 5S.
Having just gone though a similar decision process, I feel I am qualified to answer.
Obviously, since I am reading this forum, I went with the Z2
I also do not like the idea of a glass back. It almost made me avoid this phone. I just don't see the advantage - Thicker, heavier, slippery, and it doubles the chance of cracking.
Note that in my research, I did not see that there is any greater chance of the screen cracking on the Z2 than other similar phones, just that there is the addition of the back cracking, which doubles the statistics.
On the plus side, the Z2 was basically the only phone out there (at all) that "Checked all the boxes"
Must - haves:
4.4.x
All bands 3G and 4G
stereo speakers
NFC - Can use Google Wallet
Other "Icing on the cake"
Looks good.
1080p screen
Good Cameras
Waterproof
Other phones I was considering:
Oppo Find 7
One Plus
Xaiomi Mi3
Huawei P7
HTC One M8
I should mention that the Vertu Signature Touch (Pure Jet Calf, preferably) was the only other phone that really met all my specifications (3G/4G bands, 1080P, NFC, 4.4. stereo speakers), but even after doing a really good job of looking under the cushions of the sofa, I wasn't quite in a position to buy a $10,000 phone.
First of all, congrats for buying a new phone, having a new phone is always exciting to me.
I own a Xperia Z2, and previously owned an iPhone 5s and a galaxy S5. So as you, I don't have any concern about iOS and android.
So, let me begin with Xperia Z2. The Z2 is one of the best phones I'd ever owned, as the battery life is great, I think photos are better with this than with the iPhone 5s, it looks great, the stock UI is easy and stylish, Sony developed great tweaks such as ClearAudio or Stamina Mode and there are lots of development for this. Personally, I had problems with proximity sensor, but it was solved after I flashed a custom rom, and I'm happy after that. No overheating problems or cracking.
I consider Z3 Mini, the expensive version of Z2, as the specs are almost the same but in a smaller case, so If you want to stay with Sony, I would go for the Z2.
The iPhone 5s is such a great device, I consider this also one of the best phones I'd ever owned (Under the Z2). Camera is great, battery life is average, iOS is well balanced and stylish, tons of accessories specially designed for iPhone, and well... is an iPhone.
The Galaxy Alpha looks gorgeous and high-end, almost as an iPhone, the specs are average for the price. I think you are paying more for design than for specs. It's pretty though. In my own opinion, I don't like TouchWiz, so I will put this in the last option.
I would buy it in this way:
- Xperia Z2
- iPhone 5s
- Xperia Z3 Mini
- Galaxy Alpha
If you accept recommendations and if you want a high-end device at low prices, look for the OnePlus One. The negative aspect of this, is that you need an invitation to buy one (I have one, if you want).
Let us know which was your decision.
What about LG G3?
Sent from my D6502 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
The overheating problem with 4k video has greatly improved with software updates. Not so much an issue now. The build quality issues are never general. Luck of the draw I suppose!
The z2's got the best overall specifications on your list of devices. It's a great phone with no weaknesses side from the auto mode of the camera. Learn to use manual controls and you'll soon lose the impression that the 5S has a better camera.
Considering that is the cheapest on your list, I'd say it's a no brainier. Best phone, cheapest price! What more could you ask for. You have Sony's insane 6 month cycle policy to thank for being able to buy the z2 at such a price.
Trust me, in no way are any of the other devices on your list worth more than the z2.
That's One thing to bear in mind though when purchasing Sony devices. They don't hold their value for very long because of the rate at which Sony releases flagship phones so don't expect good resale prices should you decide to sell it on one day.
So if the rapid devaluation in value isn't an issue for you, the z2 is the one and only real choice you have. Unless, that is, you want to settle for less and pay more for the privilege lol
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
As far as i can tell, ive owned two z2s... The self cracking is an earlier build issue.
My 2nd one has had no issues.
Also after some fighting with sony and getting the better business bureau involved sony fixed the first one at no cost.
Self cracking is an issue for a small, but vocal, minority so can be ignored. overheating similarly isn't an issue for most users in normal usage, sure Z2 gets warm but what superphone doesn't only real issue is if you want to record long videos in 4k,which if you bear in mind most phones are limited to 4 minutes is a problem whatever device you get. Z3 compact will likely be more prone to overheating, much the same hardware in a smaller package.
As for iPhone 6,if it fits your criteria and you can live with its closed environment go with it, an android device probably isn't for you anyway.
ghostofcain said:
Self cracking is an issue for a small, but vocal, minority so can be ignored. overheating similarly isn't an issue for most users in normal usage, sure Z2 gets warm but what superphone doesn't only real issue is if you want to record long videos in 4k,which if you bear in mind most phones are limited to 4 minutes is a problem whatever device you get. Z3 compact will likely be more prone to overheating, much the same hardware in a smaller package.
As for iPhone 6,if it fits your criteria and you can live with its closed environment go with it, an android device probably isn't for you anyway.
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Click to collapse
What makes you think android devices are not for me?
I just found out about this phone and I am in a similar situation as the OP.
I am looking for a used/new phone for less than $500 dollars, has an above average camera, good battery life, and no lag issues.
Currently, I am using HTC one m7. A few problems with it is that a camera is super slow and crappy at low light situations. The camera takes like 1-2 seconds to focus on the subjects in dark environments. Next, the phone lags and hiccups quite a bit. I've tried a few custom roms but the performance is still not flawless.
In the past, I have owned an iPhone 5 and it was great except I got tired of the OS, that's why I went back to android. iPhone took best pictures in my opinion. The camera was fast. The phone did not have any hiccups. One big thing I noticed going from iPhone to HTC was that songs don't skip as fast as on the iPhone. It takes a split second more for songs to skip in an HTC music player. It kinda took time to get used to it again. I would consider getting the iPhone 6, but it is too expensive.
I am also considering oneplus one, m8, and maybe moto x or nexus 5. But overall, I think z2 is the best all-round performer.
Ananay Singh said:
What makes you think android devices are not for me?
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With iPhone everything is designed to just work, if it doesn't tough ****. Android, still IMHO, lacks the polish but there are almost always work around to any major issues.
In my experience the people willing to work around androids foibles find the locked down world of iOS too constrained, and those who put up with those constraints find the fiddling with android to get it set up to their liking too much. But that's just my take on it.
I was kinda skeptical too after reading about all those Issues but still bought the Z2 1 month ago and I couldn't be happier.
No heating issues, no call issues, no cracking glass (so far)
Everything works flawlessly ?
Sent from my Xperia Z2
Ananay Singh said:
I had made up my mind for the Xperia Z2. It is the most balanced phone providing adequate power, battery life, decent camera, storage, etc. but recently I came to know about the over heating & self cracking screen issues with the Z2( or the entire Z series including the Z3 & Z3 compact). There are quite a lot of reports of the glass on the phone cracking. Also that the phone overheats a lot. I am worried as whatever I buy, I'll have to stick with it for 2 years. Sony has refused warranty in most cases related to this issue. Same issue plagues the Z3 Compact
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Self-cracking is not a thing. If it was, you'd be seeing the forum flooded with complaints, not just a handful of people moaning.
Those claiming self-cracking most likely damaged it themselves through abuse, possibly knowingly, or possibly not.
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Dsteppa said:
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
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Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?
Jkay7 said:
Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price won't fall THAT much, but the recent price drop could be because of that.
The phone is still worth to buy for sure as for bootloader problems, they should be history now.
There is no real evidence of a z4 compact being released anytime soon. For now, pretend like it doesn't exist and get whatever phone you want. Besides, the rumors indicate the phone will only be a marginal upgrade: newer processor and increased screen resolution.
Sent from my Xperia Z3 Compact
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just my opinion and I don't intend to talk trash about Sony phones but I'm gonna just tell you like it is.
Just so you know, I'm in IT field (Windows) and I have a comprehensive knowledge about PC hardware tech. Since I switched to android from iPhone about 2.5 years ago, I had bought quite a few phones that included 3 Sony phones.
- ZR with overheat problem even only on browsing the internet with Chrome and very poor quality display (made with TFT) => RETURNED with 15% restocking fee.
- ZL Same poor quality TFT display => I ended up gave it to my sis.
- Z3C made with IPS but with poor touch panel. Annoying touch pattern grids are visible. IPS display quality of the Z3C is well below average even compared to the iPhone 4's. Camera is mediocre at best but all the hype makes me really look down on Sony - the only company who created TA partition just to put their crappy softwares on it and tied the bootloader with it. Not that I give a rat ass about losing its DRM functions, it's just that errors pop up here and there when I unlock the bootloader.
My other 2 Android phones are the Nexus 5 and LG Optimus E970. These 2 phones' displays are superb. I wish the Z3C has the same display quality as those 2. I love its size and battery performance but Sony mobile display sucks big time. Don't get me started on Sony bloatwares (2 ecosystems on 1 device is a joke).
I have many Sony devices in my home (laptop, bluray player, tv...) but when it comes to Sony phones, I'm sure next time I'll pass.
I bought my Z3C for $520 USD. It's still 99.99% new. I would sell it to you for $300 USD if you live in my area (I wouldn't buy it even for $300 though)
Some of the cheaper Z3C listings in the US are for the D5833 overseas model. Be careful with this version, as it will suffer from limited 4G compatibility in the States.
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a D5803 running stock 5.0.2 and I'm very happy with the device.
It's compact, fast and battery lasts for 2 days minimum (if you don't play games).
The user interface is simple, fast and close to AOSP look&feel .
I saw no reason to hack the phone with custom ROMs or mods, since I found it to be VERY stable and basically everything works.
If you plan to heavily customize your phone, be ready to face some obstacles mainly due to the fact that Lolipop is quite new on this phone and mods are not yet perfect (although they are improving). I've gone that route before with previous phones, and usually the outcome is that you get some visual adaptations to your taste, but in fact the overall stability/performance will be worst.
Some may argue that the camera software could be better, and I tend to agree. But you will be able to take good pictures, if you use some manual settings.
In my experience, Bluetooth/NFC works very well with different gadgets/systems: hi-fi, Pebble watch, BT headphones (even using aptX), car system, ...
I haven't tested audio high-res external DACs, but some users report some devices are tricky to interface well using Lolipop. Other report their device works. Basic audio play is quite good if you have good headphones and choose the right eq settings.
Some users report the glass may crack due to overheating, and I saw many friends with other phones (like Samsung) suffering from the same issue. Mine is in perfect condition and I hope it stays that way.
In summary: I'm very happy with my gadget and I wouldn't change it for anything out there with similar form factor. And although Lolipop 5.0.2 is not perfect, I got used to it and don't see a reason to go back to KK. And 5.1 will certainly come...
Is there a perfect smartphone (hw+sw+UX+price) ? No, but in my opinion this one is a good step forward.
Oh, and if you don't want to fiddle around with connectivity issues, be sure to buy the phone that maps to your geography and operator (D5803 vs D5833) and use a ROM that was built for it.
z4c would defiantly be a "want to have" but at a premium price point, that's why i picked z3c and i got a great deal. In my eyes it's the best phone on the marked atm. If you exclude all the minitablets which i have 0 interest in.
I am in the same position as the OP.
I had some android devices (nexus s, gnexus, htc incredible s, nexus4, htc one m7), right now I have no smartphone.
Z3C seems the "right choice" except for a couple things:
1) Price: here in Portugal the lowest is 400eur. For that price you can also have: htc desire eye, galaxy s5, and a lot of other non-waterproof phones with better cameras and better screens, but also worse battery.
The Z1C is 100eur cheaper.
2) Camera: it seems that sony camera is not on pair with others, even with everyone saying that is software the truth is that nobody solved it.
3) Sudden death: there are some cases (see sony's forum) of sudden death phones.
4) Cracked glass: this I don't know if is hype or not.I had a nexus 5 and people said that it broken by itself but mine only broke by hitting the floor.
I guess that if the Z4C brings the Snappdragon 810 it won't be very good because of overheating and throttling...
Only option is to wait.
Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.
phoneowner71 said:
Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect .com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/"]http://www.whatsontech.com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.
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http://www.whatsontech-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/
Z4c and Z4U are real coming and they already passed the certification process with the model number being leaked out. I guess they will out on Sep.
But if you are speaking for the battery life, Z3c with s801 and 720p will be much better. All I can think is Z4c will improve the camera software further(and also fixed the Z3/Z3c red/green/purple tint issue) and upgraded to FHD screen. I've got a Z1c, if you want a cheaper phone to wait Z4c then Z1c is still doing good. If you want battery life for all then go for Z3c now.
Hey, guys,
I love the wireless media transfer feature on my xperia z2 tablet, but this feature seems to be sorely lacking out of the box on the xperia z5. I'm also kind of annoyed that sony did away with the IR blaster. I know I can buy accessories to solve that. It's just kinda odd that with the Z5, they've reduced the battery capacity, removed some hardware and now, apparently, also some software features from their flagship phone. I specifically waited for the Z5 because I wanted a fingerprint reader and a waterproof phone with a dedicated camera button. (my last phone was the galaxy note 2. (still was a great phone for a long time)) But, I digress, I don't understand why they removed this awesome feature. Is it possible to set it up somehow with DLNA?
Have you guys noticed any other missing features or reduced capabilities in the Z5? I was really looking forward to never really using the USB port, or rather using it to connect a qi wireless charging adapter and hiding it in a case, which, more to the point, it's 2015, why didn't they include wireless charging out of the box? (rhetorical question, feel free to ignore this rant/whine)
I can assume they didn't put wireless charging on because it causes quite a bit of heat
Sent from my Xperia z5 using Tapatalk
Sony actually had wireless charging on Xperia Z3V (Verizon version) last year. I'm also surprised that this feature didn't make it to their 2015 devices. I don't miss it big time as the phone still needs to be on the charging plate which needs to be wired to power outlet - so it's not that 'wireless'. But they should add it to their flagships anyway.
ZL had IR blaster, Z did not (because of waterproofing as they said) & we all know what happened - Z won! ZL also had insane screen to body ratio, bigger battery in a thicker non-waterproof body (& an amazing screen with poor viewing angle that actually gave me the privacy I wanted at times :laugh. It'd be great if they could start offering a ZL variant again. I think they're currently trying to streamline their offerings.
I'm not sure why wireless media transfer is missing though. I just noticed it as I haven't been using it lately (it stopped working on my Z2 couple months ago after I updated my PC). They should add this feature back!
What did you want to do? The DLNA server sounds like the same thing and would work better being a proper standard.
Leaks for all other phones are all over the place but nothing ever gets leaked for Sony phones (save for maybe 2 days before announcement). Any body remember if Sony made any comments about the future of compact line? I just put my pixel back in the drawer and started using my z3 compact (trying out lineage os 7.1.2). Such an awesome phone, perfect size and battery. Almost pulled the trigger on xc, but the thought of mid range specs (particularly no water proof) kept me from buying it. Wish they released a compact version of XZs, without any compromises, except for thickness which is understandable and acceptable. That would be perfect....
flintfirewalker said:
Leaks for all other phones are all over the place but nothing ever gets leaked for Sony phones (save for maybe 2 days before announcement). Any body remember if Sony made any comments about the future of compact line? I just put my pixel back in the drawer and started using my z3 compact (trying out lineage os 7.1.2). Such an awesome phone, perfect size and battery. Almost pulled the trigger on xc, but the thought of mid range specs (particularly no water proof) kept me from buying it. Wish they released a compact version of XZs, without any compromises, except for thickness which is understandable and acceptable. That would be perfect....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the x compact is still a very capable phone. i think sony didnt release a x compact successor, because it's without competition. if you want a small android phone, you're gonna get the x compact. and i haven't regretted it.
tempurastyle said:
the x compact is still a very capable phone. i think sony didnt release a x compact successor, because it's without competition. if you want a small android phone, you're gonna get the x compact. and i haven't regretted it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, exactly, it's like they know they don't have to push the limit and make the best, coz they don't have any competition. It's a niche market already with a smaller number of buyers to win over, so they are doing the minimum required. (I'm not counting the iPhone se, coz ios folks will buy iphone se and Android folks will buy Xperia compact). But where they excelled was making the very best phone possible, but in a compact smaller screen format. That seems to have changed starting x series (assuming compact line isn't dead altogether).
I remember reading some review that claimed Sony said their compact buyers don't care for performance, they care more for battery and camera in smaller form factor. If that is true, then compact line is dead for me. A mid range cpu like 650 may be capable, but it's not future proof and won't age very well. I wish another company would enter the compact market and infuse some competition.
I tend to agree: I'm afraid sony is going to "non hi-end" devices for their compacts, which I do not prefer.
Nevertheless the X compact is a very good device, and regarding water proof ...
The real downside I see is the lack of interest on latest sony devices, compared to the Z series era (I mean from developers, so less mods and customizations).
flintfirewalker said:
Right, exactly, it's like they know they don't have to push the limit and make the best, coz they don't have any competition. It's a niche market already with a smaller number of buyers to win over, so they are doing the minimum required. (I'm not counting the iPhone se, coz ios folks will buy iphone se and Android folks will buy Xperia compact). But where they excelled was making the very best phone possible, but in a compact smaller screen format. That seems to have changed starting x series (assuming compact line isn't dead altogether).
I remember reading some review that claimed Sony said their compact buyers don't care for performance, they care more for battery and camera in smaller form factor. If that is true, then compact line is dead for me. A mid range cpu like 650 may be capable, but it's not future proof and won't age very well. I wish another company would enter the compact market and infuse some competition.
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I agree with you that the compact line went from high end back to medium specs. But the 650 processor runs well on this phone and the battery life is nice too. In some Youtube videos the X compact beat some flagship phones on side by side speed tests, I forgot which though. The screen resolution may be 720, but I don't see a difference to the last Quad HD display phone I owned (V10). In general the CPUs in phones have hit a peak, like laptop or computer CPUs. It's not like back in the days when you needed the fastest CPU to get the most out of your device. My laptop runs on a Core M, it's 3 years old, and still works great. I don't think our phones will need any higher processing power. The future will rely on software optimization, just look what Apple is doing with minimal specs and great software. And the future will be about picking which manufacturer releases the newest Android OS version the fastest. Besides the Pixel phones, Sony is doing a superb job recently. It's the first manufacturer to release Android 7.1.1, although it's limited on 2 phones at the moment. If you look at the X compact and which updates the phone has been receiving, you will see that Sony treats it as a flagship model, because the updates are very consistent and fast. I'm sure 7.1.1 for the X compact is just around the corner. I have spent much more money on real flagship phones from Samsung, LG and HTC, but they all fail to deliver updates on time.
I agree that sony should have used a more high end cpu on x compact but I must say the performance on this phone is like nothing I have seen before! so the only thing I dont like about it is being 28nm and not lower.
Also about waterproofing I can assure you that this phone is water proof:
-The phone size and weight is exactly the same as the waterproof model which is released in Japan only.
-There is a youtube video testing the phone with cocacola
-I accidentally dropped my phone into water and I wasnt able to take it out for about 15mins and the phone didnt take a bit of damage(But I turned it of after that and let is sleep in rice for a little time because it didnt have warranty anyway)
So I would recommend you to go for it and Im sure the first thing that catches your eye would be the screen quality
I hope in future sony releases another capable compact phone with less screen bezzels and borders...
Compact line is 100% fine, only released 1x per year in the fall.
Only the A4 broke this tradition ( which was a re-release of the Z3 compact in plastic vs glass )
http://www.sonymobile.co.jp/xperia/docomo/so-04g/
Next Xperia compact coming in September.
I have my xc for a month now. I'm surprised it's the most satisfying phone. I never thought a mid range phone was enough for me. It is. This phone flies, even compared fine to an iPhone 6s. You really don't need SD820, 821 unless you're a gamer which I'm not. Sony's thin Android skin means I'm not missing any native Android functions. I now only get compact phones, width less than 70mm. I'll definitely buy the next Sony compact phone.
Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk
Personally I have no need to upgrade a phone every year, or 4-6 months like some other brands. This is getting ridonculous - what ever happened to making a device last more than 3 years (even by the community, if not by the manufacturer)? Look at the HTC HD2 as a good example of device obsolescence.
That's a phone that was released in November 2009, initially using Windows Phone. 7 years, still has XDA support to the day, very efficient use of developer resources.
Devices have been barely incremental upgrades over the past 3 years.
Gadget Stockholm syndrome should be a term added to the vernacular, it's really a sad state (non-removable batteries are not an excuse either).
The spirit of XDA is keeping a device ALIVE.
For those interested, X compact was first leaked around end of august (around 23-27 august). Compact series always released in 2nd half of the year with the exception of Z1 compact which is released feb 2014, but have the japanese version released earlier at the end of 2013
Compacts are released once per year every fall with the exception of the A4, which was basically a Z3 compact with a plastic back, which was released alongside the Z4 two years ago.
X compact is amazing, anything beyond this build would have been unnecessary Overkill, especially when you take into account the Japan Home Market and the intended consumer it's built for originally. Xperia phones are not built for worldwide consumers at all, they are very much crafted for the Japanese consumer and then just happen to be released in other parts of the world after the fact.
Here is the latest news:
http://www.gsmarena.com/specs_for_sony_xperia_xz1_xz1_compact_and_x1_leak-news-25138.php
BadBoy4490 said:
Here is the latest news:
http://www.gsmarena.com/specs_for_sony_xperia_xz1_xz1_compact_and_x1_leak-news-25138.php
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Moving on, the XZ1 Compact will also be powered by a Snapdragon 835 SoC, and will sport a 4.6-inch HD display. RAM will be 4GB, while a 2,800mAh battery will be tasked with keeping the lights on.
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Unless other phone models by Sony have done this, going to say this rumour is salty. Otherwise this doesn't make sense.
Mine even last for 5 days with lower brightness. No alarm clocks, No vibration, No sound, No Wifi, no bluetooth. No background apps running such as location services are off. 3G/4G data off. Pure call and text usage.
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Commenting on a comment from this article - but I never understood why people buy expensive flagship devices for features then feel the need to turn it all off, making it as useful as an old T9 phone (when it can be done for much less coin). It makes no sense.
volcolm said:
Unless other phone models by Sony have done this, going to say this rumour is salty. Otherwise this doesn't make sense.
Commenting on a comment from this article - but I never understood why people buy expensive flagship devices for features then feel the need to turn it all off, making it as useful as an old T9 phone (when it can be done for much less coin). It makes no sense.
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Z1 compact does have same SoC and RAM as Z1, so having XZ1c with same SoC and RAM as proper XZ1 is not out of the question. However sony just increased the ram from 2gb to 3gb from z5c to xc, while it stagnated between z1c to z5c. Will they increase it again so soon? Even the proper flagship stagnated the RAM (3GB) between Z2 to XZ
But yeah that one looks more of a hope. A hope of what would be a no compromise compact phone: return of highend end SoC, same RAM, maybe even throw the certified water proof back as well.
PS: tbf I usually turn my old phone into glorified media player with airplane mode, but only after i have newer phone. People need to realise that there is middle ground for battery vs feature. But People sometime just go extreme on saving battery.
i was hoping for next model with <=14nm cpu (660?), but im not so sure if there will be anything at all after reading this:
http://www.xperiablog.net/2017/05/2...expect-a-successor-to-xperia-x-and-x-compact/
650 is still capable processor and i might just purchase kugo if there is indeed none upcoming, but i hope to be proven wrong about that...
Hey guys,
I'm thinking about getting one of the above devices to replace my C6603. The reason I have asked here is because I know Xperia Z users will want the same things as I do. Now we know how durable the Z is so based on mainly durability which of the above would be best for me?
Apparently dragontrail glass is no longer used on these models which is my main worry, I don't want a phone that will break easily as I use the phone around engine bays and all sorts.
Cheers for any input guys,
:good:
You're right.
I'm about to replace my C6603 too.
Well, if you seek for a device that won't break easily like a glass, then the above 3 choices is fragile.
If you want a reliable, not easily break devices, you can start with Xperia X or X Performance. But, if you search for a budget device, I suggest you go for Z3. Z1 is good, but not good enough (screen, battery, RAM and chipset) compare to Z2. And Z2 has some software issue on Marshmallow firmware (related to WiFi).
If you ask me, I would buy Z2. I like the design.
I've recently replaced Z to Z2 after four years. I like it a lot. It's a great phone if you don't need the newest gear. All major disadvantages that was bothering me on Z is gone on Z2. Good Speakers i think one of the best in Z series. Good screen, great battery life comparing to Z. I didn't noticed any wifi problems but cellular signal is weaker on Z2 perhaps because of full aluminum body. My Z was holding good signal like a beast i could talk clearly when other people just can't even make a call. Only in this case Z2 is a little dissapointment to me. Also i miss FM transmitter i used it a lot in car.