Worth buying in 2018? - Sony Xperia X Compact Questions & Answers

I'm looking for a small phone but there are no cheap options with decent specs, I can only find from 5.2" inches and above. Is this still a good option or should I look for another phone?
Thanks in advance!

Hi,
In my opinion, device is still good yes but maybe you should go for the XZ1 Compact. It's more recent so you will have a better support (OS update)

I would say yes. I just bought a second hand one last week and I've been having a great time with it. I'm confident they will release 8.1 to help fine tune things too. The xz1 would be nice since it will have an extra year of updates, but it would have been twice the price for me. I used a Pixel for a week after my Nexus 5 and I just couldn't get used to the side, but the X Compact has been perfect in that regard!

I've had mine for about 6 months now, bought it new on clearance from Best Buy. Very satisfied with it. If I were to break it I'd go find another.

if you are on a budget, yes it is, specially second hand (used) but if you got a little bit more get the XZ1 Compact

Related

Should I wait to buy?

Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Dsteppa said:
It seems as if there will also be a z4c.
You might want to wait for that, but if you fancy a good camera Sony phones wouldn't be something for you.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?
Jkay7 said:
Generally speaking I'm not quite sure how much the price of the z3c will fall with the introduction of the z4c.
However I'm curious about the overall performance of the phone: Do you think it is worth the buy?
And what is more, I've seen there is quite a struggle with the bootloader and with developers, but with official CM nightlies this should be fine, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price won't fall THAT much, but the recent price drop could be because of that.
The phone is still worth to buy for sure as for bootloader problems, they should be history now.
There is no real evidence of a z4 compact being released anytime soon. For now, pretend like it doesn't exist and get whatever phone you want. Besides, the rumors indicate the phone will only be a marginal upgrade: newer processor and increased screen resolution.
Sent from my Xperia Z3 Compact
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just my opinion and I don't intend to talk trash about Sony phones but I'm gonna just tell you like it is.
Just so you know, I'm in IT field (Windows) and I have a comprehensive knowledge about PC hardware tech. Since I switched to android from iPhone about 2.5 years ago, I had bought quite a few phones that included 3 Sony phones.
- ZR with overheat problem even only on browsing the internet with Chrome and very poor quality display (made with TFT) => RETURNED with 15% restocking fee.
- ZL Same poor quality TFT display => I ended up gave it to my sis.
- Z3C made with IPS but with poor touch panel. Annoying touch pattern grids are visible. IPS display quality of the Z3C is well below average even compared to the iPhone 4's. Camera is mediocre at best but all the hype makes me really look down on Sony - the only company who created TA partition just to put their crappy softwares on it and tied the bootloader with it. Not that I give a rat ass about losing its DRM functions, it's just that errors pop up here and there when I unlock the bootloader.
My other 2 Android phones are the Nexus 5 and LG Optimus E970. These 2 phones' displays are superb. I wish the Z3C has the same display quality as those 2. I love its size and battery performance but Sony mobile display sucks big time. Don't get me started on Sony bloatwares (2 ecosystems on 1 device is a joke).
I have many Sony devices in my home (laptop, bluray player, tv...) but when it comes to Sony phones, I'm sure next time I'll pass.
I bought my Z3C for $520 USD. It's still 99.99% new. I would sell it to you for $300 USD if you live in my area (I wouldn't buy it even for $300 though)
Some of the cheaper Z3C listings in the US are for the D5833 overseas model. Be careful with this version, as it will suffer from limited 4G compatibility in the States.
phoneowner71 said:
Hi
I'm pretty much committed to buying a Z3 Compact or the Z1 Compact as they seem to be the only smaller Androids out there.
I've noticed the price has dropped a little (£292 on Amazon) which I presume is something to do with the imminent arrival of the Z5 compact - do you think if I wait a little longer the price may fall some more?
And is the Z3C that much better than the Z1C?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a D5803 running stock 5.0.2 and I'm very happy with the device.
It's compact, fast and battery lasts for 2 days minimum (if you don't play games).
The user interface is simple, fast and close to AOSP look&feel .
I saw no reason to hack the phone with custom ROMs or mods, since I found it to be VERY stable and basically everything works.
If you plan to heavily customize your phone, be ready to face some obstacles mainly due to the fact that Lolipop is quite new on this phone and mods are not yet perfect (although they are improving). I've gone that route before with previous phones, and usually the outcome is that you get some visual adaptations to your taste, but in fact the overall stability/performance will be worst.
Some may argue that the camera software could be better, and I tend to agree. But you will be able to take good pictures, if you use some manual settings.
In my experience, Bluetooth/NFC works very well with different gadgets/systems: hi-fi, Pebble watch, BT headphones (even using aptX), car system, ...
I haven't tested audio high-res external DACs, but some users report some devices are tricky to interface well using Lolipop. Other report their device works. Basic audio play is quite good if you have good headphones and choose the right eq settings.
Some users report the glass may crack due to overheating, and I saw many friends with other phones (like Samsung) suffering from the same issue. Mine is in perfect condition and I hope it stays that way.
In summary: I'm very happy with my gadget and I wouldn't change it for anything out there with similar form factor. And although Lolipop 5.0.2 is not perfect, I got used to it and don't see a reason to go back to KK. And 5.1 will certainly come...
Is there a perfect smartphone (hw+sw+UX+price) ? No, but in my opinion this one is a good step forward.
Oh, and if you don't want to fiddle around with connectivity issues, be sure to buy the phone that maps to your geography and operator (D5803 vs D5833) and use a ROM that was built for it.
z4c would defiantly be a "want to have" but at a premium price point, that's why i picked z3c and i got a great deal. In my eyes it's the best phone on the marked atm. If you exclude all the minitablets which i have 0 interest in.
I am in the same position as the OP.
I had some android devices (nexus s, gnexus, htc incredible s, nexus4, htc one m7), right now I have no smartphone.
Z3C seems the "right choice" except for a couple things:
1) Price: here in Portugal the lowest is 400eur. For that price you can also have: htc desire eye, galaxy s5, and a lot of other non-waterproof phones with better cameras and better screens, but also worse battery.
The Z1C is 100eur cheaper.
2) Camera: it seems that sony camera is not on pair with others, even with everyone saying that is software the truth is that nobody solved it.
3) Sudden death: there are some cases (see sony's forum) of sudden death phones.
4) Cracked glass: this I don't know if is hype or not.I had a nexus 5 and people said that it broken by itself but mine only broke by hitting the floor.
I guess that if the Z4C brings the Snappdragon 810 it won't be very good because of overheating and throttling...
Only option is to wait.
Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.
phoneowner71 said:
Thanks for the replies.
For me the Z3C choice comes down to physical size.
I want a smaller phone but good specs, and as far as I can see there is no competition in the Android sphere (happy to be proved wrong).
I'll be keeping the phone pretty much stock until I need to start tinkering, so mods are not a problem for me currently.
I suspect .com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/"]http://www.whatsontech.com/2015/04/22/sony-xperia-z4the Z3C will have OS support for longer than the Z1C so that may make the £100 difference worth paying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.whatsontech-compact-e5803-z4ultra-e6683-e6883-certification-details/
Z4c and Z4U are real coming and they already passed the certification process with the model number being leaked out. I guess they will out on Sep.
But if you are speaking for the battery life, Z3c with s801 and 720p will be much better. All I can think is Z4c will improve the camera software further(and also fixed the Z3/Z3c red/green/purple tint issue) and upgraded to FHD screen. I've got a Z1c, if you want a cheaper phone to wait Z4c then Z1c is still doing good. If you want battery life for all then go for Z3c now.

I must say i am really loving this phone.

Firstly stability is great.
It's actually quite fast.
The build quality is great.
The stock rom is damn functional.
The battery life is great if you use the device wisely.
a thumbs up to sony.
:good:
I'm also in love with this phone, I had ghost touches but fixed 'em by installing a glass screen protector. will use this for a year.
I am still using this phone from 2013 when I bought it. I really want to buy Z5 or X, the new phone. But, does it worth the upgrade?
The phone is fast, camera is super great, everything is awesome! I Don't have any problems, so I don't really feel like buying a new phone.
What do you think?
Agree
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
I was also thinking about getting a new phone (I'm using the Z1 since the release). The Huawei Mate S was for sale for 199€ here in Germany today. But I didn't buy it because my Z1 is still running very nice. There are also things that I don't like about it. For example the poor quality of the front facing camera and my battery is getting old (capacity 2000mAh left). Maybe I change the battery and use the phone for another year or two
A legendary phone together with the Z2. Yet to this day it can compete and even beat the best of other brands offers of this year in several or all categories. Hall of fame material.
Hi all ! I have Z1 and Z1 Compact.
Z1 is SH from Vodafone Germany. I haven`t got the time to read anything yet on the forum, but what ROM can anyone recomand for it - stable, everything working great and better battery ?
Z1 Compact is bought online from UK, new - usually works fine but has some glitches - ghost touches, unresponsive screen when somebody is calling me, wierd app freezing, restarts.
What ROM can you recomend for it ?
Battery dries fast for both of them. But Ultra stamina is great.
Thank you !
yup agree too!
Evertime when I see New phones launched I wanted to buy a new one.. But then I try to compare the specs....nothing outdated with this hardware..
May be another 1 or 2 years lifetime is for sure...
And your gps work?!
Vengeance66 said:
I am still using this phone from 2013 when I bought it. I really want to buy Z5 or X, the new phone. But, does it worth the upgrade?
The phone is fast, camera is super great, everything is awesome! I Don't have any problems, so I don't really feel like buying a new phone.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are willing buy XZ instead of X. Won't regret the decision.
manojepita said:
Evertime when I see New phones launched I wanted to buy a new one.. But then I try to compare the specs....nothing outdated with this hardware..
May be another 1 or 2 years lifetime is for sure...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an xperia z1, i was planning to get motorola droid turbo. Is it worth it? As it has 3gb of ram and 32gb internal, 5.2" screen, etc
The thing with all items one has to consider, even when you can afford a new purchase is, does it live up to the task? Is it perfoming its functions adequatelly? Do i really need the newer functions from the newer line?
To me, the Z1, offers all that i need to the ot. Id like a better camera\flash, but not such a big issue to make me replace the phone.

Z users what will be your next phone?

Z was released 3 years ago, still usable but its always nice to have a new phone, me myself would probably wait for mine to be completely dead before replacing it, but i was wondering what would everyone get if they are gonna to replace their Z right now, OCT 2016?
tbh the Z is a very disappointing phone, after owning many sony phones i wont be buying from them again, or any flagship phones for that matter. i think the Zenfone 3 or Oneplus3 would be a great and cheap option right now, and i am asking for your opinion/suggestion
I bought a Xperia Z2 after my Z. The Z belongs now to my wife and after 3 years it's still rocking.
Enviado do meu Nexus 7 através de Tapatalk
ymc1988 said:
Z was released 3 years ago, still usable but its always nice to have a new phone, me myself would probably wait for mine to be completely dead before replacing it, but i was wondering what would everyone get if they are gonna to replace their Z right now, OCT 2016?
tbh the Z is a very disappointing phone, after owning many sony phones i wont be buying from them again, or any flagship phones for that matter. i think the Zenfone 3 or Oneplus3 would be a great and cheap option right now, and i am asking for your opinion/suggestion
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zuk z2 pro with 6g ram and snapdragon 820,
le pro3 with 6g ram and snapdragon 821,
xiaomi 5s plus with 6g ram and snapdragon 821.
I just ordered Nexus 5x, im moving from sony after 7 years using it[random sony phones]
None - I currently own 2 6603, just transfering the primary one to Resurraction Remix after 1/2 year testing on the secondary one. And Nougat will come from the same source. There is no real reason anymore for a new gadget - as long as the current one is supported here.
I upgraded to the T-Mobile LG G Stylo that I got used, via a local Facebook "yard sale" group, for $100 with some accessories.
The only thing I really miss is USB OTG, so I still use my Zperia Z for OTG with my SDR receivers (RTL-SDR, SDRPlay) and my FLIR One Thermal imaging camera.
I love the larger 5.7" screen, and the phone's not really that much bigger, band 12, which gives much better data coverage in many places for me, Marshmallow, better performance, longer battery life and replaceable battery, and more. And it has a stylus, which comes in handy for some web sites that don't have a good phone-friendly (large finger friendly) interface. It also charges quickly, though the Sony was also pretty quick on my higher current chargers.
I wouldn't need the Sony if the LG had OTG. Also, the notification LED is only red, not multi-color like the Z, but that is very minor.
theanelfro said:
I just ordered Nexus 5x, im moving from sony after 7 years using it[random sony phones]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too. I bought a Nexus 5x few months ago after using my Z.
codfx said:
Me too. I bought a Nexus 5x few months ago after using my Z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its a great phone, i rlly like it.
I just bought used Xperia Z3 Compact for 120€ and it works fine, i was thinking of xiaomi or other chinese phones but they are too sketchy to buy, so far this was a nice upgrade, especially screen wise
edit: also LG V20 would be a nice phone to have, if it ever comes in my country and price drops, a bit too expensive now
-CRO-Maher said:
I just bought used Xperia Z3 Compact for 120€ and it works fine, i was thinking of xiaomi or other chinese phones but they are too sketchy to buy, so far this was a nice upgrade, especially screen wise
edit: also LG V20 would be a nice phone to have, if it ever comes in my country and price drops, a bit too expensive now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i really wanted to get xiaomi redmi too, their rom and price are very good, too bad they have been caught too many times for sending data back to china. i have read that lots of these chinese devices are used as DDOS attack zombie bots, its a big no no for me
codfx said:
Me too. I bought a Nexus 5x few months ago after using my Z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow it seems like a great phone, great price and is nexus, too bad its only got 32g tho
DrT_Music said:
None - I currently own 2 6603, just transfering the primary one to Resurraction Remix after 1/2 year testing on the secondary one. And Nougat will come from the same source. There is no real reason anymore for a new gadget - as long as the current one is supported here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why would you get 2 Z brother, the screen is crap, the lag is horrible, the charging is slow etc.
got a LG G3 (with fulmics rom)
for the price it's awesome.
I cannot get ENOUGH of Xperia Z,
recently bought Z5P so I am using Z for people / contacts from WORK and using Z5p as my movies/social netowork phone.
Trivia both are rooted
Xperia z c660x is UB running on @shoey63 kernel having doubletap to wake feature! the fone is just amazing!!! it can be showcased as CLASSIC smartphones like we count nokia3310 as basic mobile phone , even after 3+years the mobile runs smoothly! , <3
ymc1988 said:
why would you get 2 Z brother, the screen is crap, the lag is horrible, the charging is slow etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy answer: I am using the phone for navigation on my motorcycle. The second one is just a backup if something goes wrong during long trips. This happend once on my 3500 km trip to Russia this June and I was happy to have the second phone at hand - And I do like the screen, the phone works perfect with CM13 resurraction remix - no lags, just cheaper to keep this good running phone (got the second one used for 70€ ~ 80$US)
Come on - I am a physicist - and I have learned from experience: Never touch a running system - and my XZ is running smoothly
PS: with the current ROM my XZs support fast charging as well...probably I will not try this - I prefer non exploding Sony to Samsung
Z5c design with SD820 and XZ-like camera
ohh.. it's just in my dream
I think I'll go for XZ
DrT_Music said:
Easy answer: I am using the phone for navigation on my motorcycle. The second one is just a backup if something goes wrong during long trips. This happend once on my 3500 km trip to Russia this June and I was happy to have the second phone at hand - And I do like the screen, the phone works perfect with CM13 resurraction remix - no lags, just cheaper to keep this good running phone (got the second one used for 70€ ~ 80$US)
Come on - I am a physicist - and I have learned from experience: Never touch a running system - and my XZ is running smoothly
PS: with the current ROM my XZs support fast charging as well...probably I will not try this - I prefer non exploding Sony to Samsung
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha i remember one day the speaker stopped working for some reason, i cant take phone calls all day, made me so mad and almost smashed the phone.
iirc the screen of Z is worse than any phone at the market at the time, i remember it was even worst than the then year old xperia v and mid range xperia phones, washed up colors, terrible viewing angle, terrible battery drain to name a few. idk maybe the screen resolution/cpu speed/battery wasnt ready at that point, i'd rather have 720 resolution and a smooth phone. i remember i was devastated finding out i cant play old games like GTA VC on this expensive premium phone
ymc1988 said:
haha i remember one day the speaker stopped working for some reason, i cant take phone calls all day, made me so mad and almost smashed the phone.
iirc the screen of Z is worse than any phone at the market at the time, i remember it was even worst than the then year old xperia v and mid range xperia phones, washed up colors, terrible viewing angle, terrible battery drain to name a few. idk maybe the screen resolution/cpu speed/battery wasnt ready at that point, i'd rather have 720 resolution and a smooth phone. i remember i was devastated finding out i cant play old games like GTA VC on this expensive premium phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine can play GTA SA smoothly
I got an iphone 6S and i am still using my Xperia Z as my work phone.
---------- Post added at 11:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 AM ----------
i am actually now happy with iphone 6S but was wondering if anyone could team up with me to try and install iOS on xperia Z i have a feeling that it would be able to handle iOS without any problems as such. What are your opinions?
Mi5 S or Xperia XZ
Gesendet von meinem Xperia Z mit Tapatalk

Z3C - simply the best

I bought a Google pixel 3 weeks ago, and now I find myself using my old broken and taped z3c. This is the perfect size and I hope Sony never discontinues the compact series.
I bought pixel because Sony went mid range on their new compact. And that really sucks. I'd spend the same amount on a top range compact that looks exactly like the z3c. Water proof and awesome battery life and just the perfect to hold.
Sucks that its looking less and less likely.
flintfirewalker said:
I bought a Google pixel 3 weeks ago, and now I find myself using my old broken and taped z3c. This is the perfect size and I hope Sony never discontinues the compact series.
I bought pixel because Sony went mid range on their new compact. And that really sucks. I'd spend the same amount on a top range compact that looks exactly like the z3c. Water proof and awesome battery life and just the perfect to hold.
Sucks that its looking less and less likely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm agree with you, Compact series from sony is awesome. Nice hardware and perfect size including water proof and dust resistance. And I think it's still one of the best in terms of battery life. At the moment, absolutely satisfied with this phone.
flintfirewalker said:
I bought a Google pixel 3 weeks ago, and now I find myself using my old broken and taped z3c. This is the perfect size and I hope Sony never discontinues the compact series.
I bought pixel because Sony went mid range on their new compact. And that really sucks. I'd spend the same amount on a top range compact that looks exactly like the z3c. Water proof and awesome battery life and just the perfect to hold.
Sucks that its looking less and less likely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree, every cent was well expended on this phone. I regret nothing. Also I thought I'd never use the waterproof feature, but this week accidently I poured water on my phone. I didn't even bothered about it
flintfirewalker said:
I bought a Google pixel 3 weeks ago, and now I find myself using my old broken and taped z3c. This is the perfect size and I hope Sony never discontinues the compact series.
I bought pixel because Sony went mid range on their new compact. And that really sucks. I'd spend the same amount on a top range compact that looks exactly like the z3c. Water proof and awesome battery life and just the perfect to hold.
Sucks that its looking less and less likely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are rumors that in February there will be a XZ Compact release.
Is the Pixel that bad? I was interested in buying it, but it's way too expensive.
No, absolutely not. Pixel is awesome. Unparalleled software and camera experience. Love the screen quality and oh so smooth.
Give me pixel software and camera on a z3c shape and size (maybe upgraded to include xperia x fingerprint scanner, USB c, and the new chips -821 and 4 GB RAM) and that works be my ideal phone.
I guess this is a good place to give my two cents, for all z3c users considering pixel - don't be fooled by those reviews calling the regular pixel a compact form, it's so not. Maybe it feels like compact to those who like and use phablets - to us z3c users, it's a big ol phone. And the way I hold the phone one handed (so I can type) actually hurts my finger. The bottom of pixel is sharp where the speaker cut out is. I rest my phone on my little finger - could do that with z3c - can't do that with pixel. The phone is top heavy, it always feel like it'll topple over during typing.
Compared to z3c, the pixel is a bar of soap, super slippery. Add to that the width and weight, and of course the price (meaning you don't want to drop this) this phone is a pain to use - super scared of dropping it all the time.
flintfirewalker said:
No, absolutely not. Pixel is awesome. Unparalleled software and camera experience. Love the screen quality and oh so smooth.
Give me pixel software and camera on a z3c shape and size (maybe upgraded to include xperia x fingerprint scanner, USB c, and the new chips -821 and 4 GB RAM) and that works be my ideal phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish I had the money to buy it then. Sounds like a cool phone.
But if you mod the Z3C right (my setup is SLIMM 3.8 + EliteKernel (personalized kernel profile) + ARISE Sound Mod + Cyberian (I tweaked some files as well and use personalized KCal settings) + N-ify along with Greenify and AppOps for saving battery and Media Scanner Optimizer + SDMaid for snappiness) I can say that this phone can perform par on par with the latest flagships. My girlfriend has a S7 and the way the camera is edited due to CyberianMod and my edits, the Z3C is coming really close to it.
The only problem with Z3 is the overheating issue and the fact that we don't have official support anymore. But, hey! A lot of bugs were fixed with the latest blobs.
I was searching for a new phone to buy as well, but I couldn't find anything (nor had the money). I took into account Nexus 5X but that phone has at most 1 more year of support. Same with the Z5C. XZ is too big, X Compact is mid-range. Pixel is way too expensive and OnePlus 3 is far too big.
I guess that I'll be stuck with the Z3C for a while. At least I can try and make the most of it. Great phone. Wish support wasn't dropped for it.
And it's a great phone to be stuck with - I almost wish I stayed put (hence the post) but I cracked my z3c and currently using it with tape. Also, got tired of the camera and low light picture quality - that and diminishing developer support ????
flintfirewalker said:
And it's a great phone to be stuck with - I almost wish I stayed put (hence the post) but I cracked my z3c and currently using it with tape. Also, got tired of the camera and low light picture quality - that and diminishing developer support ????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should give a try to a brand new Z5 compact( or back again to a brand new Z3 compact) , in my opinion. Sure,many people would say it's a failure to buy a brand new 1-2 year old phone, when there's the new X Compact, BUT i just can't move to any other phone bigger than 4.7....And guys, let's be honest, only Sony provides power in these inches...(maybe Apple with the iPhone SE too, but it's not waterproff, no sd card + it's 4.0 not 4.6)
Don't think I didn't consider that. I really did... It boiled down to z5c not being much of an upgrade from z3c, looks more plasticky, and the horror stories I heard about overheating.
Combine that with my desire for the latest stock software and timely update and also a top notch camera - I had to make the call on pixel. Also, I'm on T-Mobile, been on it for quite a while, don't anticipate switching, so when T-Mobile half off over two years promo came out, the phone became affordable (not that it would have stopped me,, considering I bought the phone before the promo was announced).
As I said, if Sony releases an upgraded z3c again, same form factor and look, and battery life, just improved internals and maybe added finger print sensor, I'll sell my pixel and buy that instead. (I hope Sony is reading these forums )
flintfirewalker said:
Don't think I didn't consider that. I really did... It boiled down to z5c not being much of an upgrade from z3c, looks more plasticky, and the horror stories I heard about overheating.
Combine that with my desire for the latest stock software and timely update and also a top notch camera - I had to make the call on pixel. Also, I'm on T-Mobile, been on it for quite a while, don't anticipate switching, so when T-Mobile half off over two years promo came out, the phone became affordable (not that it would have stopped me,, considering I bought the phone before the promo was announced).
As I said, if Sony releases an upgraded z3c again, same form factor and look, and battery life, just improved internals and maybe added finger print sensor, I'll sell my pixel and buy that instead. (I hope Sony is reading these forums )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said lad. Have fun with your new phone, it's a nice feeling! I'll keep going with my Z3c until it dies! Haha,cheers!
flintfirewalker said:
Combine that with my desire for the latest stock software and timely update and also a top notch camera - I had to make the call on pixel.
As I said, if Sony releases an upgraded z3c again, same form factor and look, and battery life, just improved internals and maybe added finger print sensor, I'll sell my pixel and buy that instead. (I hope Sony is reading these forums )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd love to own a Pixel, stock android, tons of custom roms and outstanding camera, those two have my attention, but damn WTF with the price? Apart from the looks (the back is OK, but why did they copy iPhone's front is beyond every logic) the battery is a joke, come on from the Z2/Z3 days it should have become a standard to use a 3000mah battery with ~5" screen. This is not an affordable Nexus device so that they can cut costs on a battery and get away with it.
Anyway, even if Sony releases "upgraded z3c" or something similar, I'd think twice about it, mainly because I love using AOSP (fully working and stable), and that's impossible if you don't own Nexus/Pixel.
doriandiaconu said:
Wish I had the money to buy it then. Sounds like a cool phone.
But if you mod the Z3C right (my setup is SLIMM 3.8 + EliteKernel (personalized kernel profile) + ARISE Sound Mod + Cyberian (I tweaked some files as well and use personalized KCal settings) + N-ify along with Greenify and AppOps for saving battery and Media Scanner Optimizer + SDMaid for snappiness) I can say that this phone can perform par on par with the latest flagships. My girlfriend has a S7 and the way the camera is edited due to CyberianMod and my edits, the Z3C is coming really close to it.
The only problem with Z3 is the overheating issue and the fact that we don't have official support anymore. But, hey! A lot of bugs were fixed with the latest blobs.
I was searching for a new phone to buy as well, but I couldn't find anything (nor had the money). I took into account Nexus 5X but that phone has at most 1 more year of support. Same with the Z5C. XZ is too big, X Compact is mid-range. Pixel is way too expensive and OnePlus 3 is far too big.
I guess that I'll be stuck with the Z3C for a while. At least I can try and make the most of it. Great phone. Wish support wasn't dropped for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
I'm very new here and also not that experienced with modding android. I have 2 Zc3 witch I've Rooted and put some Slimm rom in. (I've no Idea What th SLimm stands for)
Going to try to copy your setup now, so thanks for posting that!
I Upgraded one of them today with the "D5803_3657_Android 6.0 Sony Marshmallow Concept"
And to my Suprise they added support for Exchange server??
I've tried so hard to get any exchange calender to work with the slimm but to no sucess, Do any of you use marsmallow? or do you use older ones? (My work uses office365 )
I been looking for any phone that can match the batterylife and size with the xperia but with no sucess. So I guess I'm stuck with simply the best ^^
Best phone I was used before but due digitizer problem I sent to service they replace the phone with X
I really enjoyed with z3c it is great phone

Future phone options

This phone is starting to show its age. Eventually it will get too slow and/or the battery will degrade too much.
Has started looking at getting a new phone? The only other similar phone I can find at this size is the XZ1.
However I've been getting tired of Sony's poor camera drivers. It would also be nice to be able to record a 4K video longer than 2min in a warm environment. Plus I'd like an OLED screen in my next phone. Unfortunately the smallest phone I can find that meets all my requirements is almost an inch bigger.
I'm only thinking than my next will be a 5 inch screen but without frames because the market tendence.
But nothing more than 5.5" x 3" phone measures.
I agree. I think I'll keep using this phone at least through the end of this year. At that time, I will likely be forced to a larger phone just because there is nothing out there in a small size. Definitely something with a good camera HW AND SW. And something that is actually capable of record 4K video for more than a minute in warm weather without cropping down the video.
Who knows, maybe someone will go out on a limb and put out a phone that will fit in your hand. I think the fact that phone manufacturers have had to add features for "one-handed mode" that resize your phone so the rest of the screen is unusable so that you can reach the buttons or the various products that stick something to the back of your phone so you can securely hold the phone with one hand shows that there exists a market for a phone that you can use with one hand.
Xperia XZ2 compact.
But sadly i need fm radio and dual sim for my next phone. Both are absent in xz2 compact
If anyone finds a good alternative be sure to let us know
Would actually consider the XZ2 Compact if the camera on Z5 Compact wasnt such a big dissapointment, afraid it will be the same on the XZ2. I remember reading the specs and reviews about the Z5 camera being great, 23MP and all, reality was a whole different story...
Hi,
I agree! I want a phone that fits in one hand and in my girl-size pockets! The Sony XZ2 is even bigger. And again (!) no radio! The Z5c seems to be the last decently spec'd small smartphone ... I'm about to buy it for this reason. I mention I tried looking on aliexpress and not sure how great it would work but there's a VKWorld T2 Plus phone that looks like it may be worth checking out. It's thicker but length is decent and think may still fit the pocket! It's dual sim with independent micro SD, and dual screen! It's a flip-phone!! Remember how we used to be able to text without looking at your phone because you could just tap the buttons?!?! So the outside screen is touch, the inside one isn't and is controlled via the buttons... have a look.
What about Nokia 8 Sirocco ?
I also like the Z5c for the same reason, because it fits perfectly in one hand and is very powerful for it`s size. But i also think about upgrading and the best i found so far is this Nokia. The Nokia 8 (the previous version) was compared to Pixel 2 on most forums as for hardware with only drawbacks in the software category. So i think the sirocco version would be much better and although 0,9 Inch bigger it has almost no bezels and screen curved....
What do you think? Also i got my wife a Huawey P10, and it is actually quite good and not that big (5.1 inch) but i do not want same phone as my wife )))
EDIT :
I found out that it has lunched the XZ2 compact.
It is not as good looking as the Nokia 8 Sirocco but ...... i like it
Tarts5 said:
.... I remember reading the specs and reviews about the Z5 camera being great, 23MP and all, reality was a whole different story...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I remember reading reviews with statements like "since we assume this will be fixed with future software updates". I've learned the hard way to never believe those words.
It's sad that my 10yr old phone I had before the Z5 gets better reception (including GPS) and can sometimes take better photos.
Cameras on xz1 compact and xz2 compact are really one level better than z5 compact.
Shooting 4K video problem - it was because of 810 chip problems, not because of the camera.
So I think I've finally had enough with this phone. On my vacations/trips, when I really need the phone to last, I have to carry a secondary battery with me, keep the phone in airplane mode most of the time, and be very careful to get it to last through the day (and not strand me somewhere with no google maps).
Right now, the smallest phone that I can find (with 3.5mm jack, microsd), is the Samsung Galaexy s10e or A40.
Have any of you found any other phones possibilities?
eng3 said:
So I think I've finally had enough with this phone. On my vacations/trips, when I really need the phone to last, I have to carry a secondary battery with me, keep the phone in airplane mode most of the time, and be very careful to get it to last through the day (and not strand me somewhere with no google maps).
Right now, the smallest phone that I can find (with 3.5mm jack, microsd), is the Samsung Galaexy s10e or A40.
Have any of you found any other phones possibilities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I looked at both A40 and S10e in the store. Bought S10e after testing the camera on both. Been using it for 1 month, no problems so far. Not any custom roms available yet, but I imagine S10e will have a larger chance of getting custom roms than A40 because of popularity.
Why is no one mentioning xz1 compact?
I bought an XZ1 Compact as a replacement and I'm very happy with it. It's a lot faster than Z5C (and Z5C was already fast enough for me), and it has a lot of custom ROMs. Finally I can use LineageOS 16 on my phone, I was hoping it would be on Z5C too eventually but everybody seems to have abandoned this phone, and so did I. Z5C a great phone, but it's useless if it has no ROMs in development. So no regrets here.
TheVan28 said:
Why is no one mentioning xz1 compact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, maybe because as of July 2019 it's nowhere near being readily available? Even the second-hand market for XZ1c is super-dry.
If you know this to be the case otherwise, then please: point us to your source for excellent-condition XZ1c. No, seriously: I am honestly looking for one (in black) and they are pretty much impossible to find, so any leads would genuinely be appreciated. I keep hoping I'll stumble upon an online retailer that still has a stash of these in new-old-stock condition for a reasonable price...
-- Nathan
nlra said:
Uh, maybe because as of July 2019 it's nowhere near being readily available? Even the second-hand market for XZ1c is super-dry.
If you know this to be the case otherwise, then please: point us to your source for excellent-condition XZ1c. No, seriously: I am honestly looking for one (in black) and they are pretty much impossible to find, so any leads would genuinely be appreciated. I keep hoping I'll stumble upon an online retailer that still has a stash of these in new-old-stock condition for a reasonable price...
-- Nathan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do you live?
I'm in Italy where it's available on amazon and you can easly find it at stores.
TheVan28 said:
Where do you live?
I'm in Italy where it's available on amazon and you can easly find it at stores.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lucky you. I'm in the U.S. I imagine this probably has something to do with it. I'm not sure if this is an *accurate* perception, but my perception nonetheless is that as soon as XZ2c was introduced to the market, XZ1c completely disappeared from all shelves -- both physical and virtual -- over here.
-- Nathan
Still very happy with my Z5C, but looking for replacements is a total guessing game, and there's nothing new that even compares with the small form-factor.
I still use the Z5 for everything (on standard OS) and although it's a little bloated with the larger apps (I had to clear off some unused apps recently), it still works very well.
I can't even find a 'new' XZ1C which appears to be the most comparable 'newer' unit.
Have to say I'm tempted by a CAT of some sort, simply for the ruggedness, but they're all over 5" screens. I'm actually surprised that CAT don't do a smaller form factor.
How about the new unihertz jelly 2
Luumumba said:
How about the new unihertz jelly 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaaah, it's so cute! But Jeez! Only 2.45" display? Rather not.
I can strongly support the XZ1c as a replacement for the Z5c. Did this myself in summer 2019 and am very happy with it. Don't know about the XZ2c, though: It's got almost the same measurements but has this bulky back which I don't really like.
Best regards,
the.k
I've had the XZ2 compact. I've lost it into the water so I'm back at my Z5c. Yes I know it's waterproof but it's a bit of a struggle to get it back out of a channel 5 meters deep.
The camera is indeed better, especially at low light situations, and yes, while it still has an IPS panel, colors are quite vibrant.
I noticed I was really happy with the smaller size of the Z5c, and I also like the fingerprint sensor being at the side, combined with the power button. I do miss the 960fps video shooting ability despite the fragments are really short.
I'm surprised I don't really miss the higher resolution of the display, which was the reason not to go for the XZ1c, so now that's out of the way I guess I'll be looking for a used XZ1c. I can't find any other reasonable phone with the same size. Also I'm quite happy with Sony's decision to keep the dedicated shutter button, which no other brand has nowadays.
I would almost go for a Palm Palm, but at about € 200 that's a bit too much to spend for a toy.

Categories

Resources