Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Review

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Introduction

Compact in size, but not in performance: welcome to the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.

Nearly a year after Sony released its first Xperia Z1 Compact following a simple recipe for a non-compromise flagship-grade device in a compact size, it’s time for its successor: the Z3 Compact. While last year’s Z1 Compact was in a class of its own, as practically all other Android manufacturers were making only cut-down versions of flagships that were just not as powerful or alluring, this year, competition has just started to appear. The Z3 Compact, however, has time on its side: Sony has tried to keep what people liked about the original Z1 Compact, and improved on the things that needed some polish. Despite getting a larger, 4.6” screen, the Z3 Compact remains just as petite and single-hand-use-friendly as the original, and it’s got an even faster processor and longer-lasting battery.

Sony, however, admits that hardware innovation has plateaued recently, and in the Z3 Compact the bigger focus was on software. And software is where Sony starts to really bring all of its know-how together: the Z3 Compact can connect to a PlayStation 4 and basically mirror games: hook it up to a DualShock controller and you have the PS4 experience on your smartphone. It also leverages hi-res audio and image processing technologies from grand-parent Sony.

Interestingly, Sony also simply skipped a generation and went from the Z1 Compact straight to the Z3. Let’s see if the change is as big as this leap suggests.

In the box:

• 1.5A wall charger
• Sony MDR-NC31E Digital Noise Cancelling headset (only included in some markets)
• User manual
• microUSB Cable

Design

With a mass exodus to larger screens and subsequently bigger devices all across the Android top-end, the spec-stuffed Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a welcome change with its petite dimensions. In fact, it retains the same width and height as its 4.3” predecessor, while at the same time packing a more spacious, 4.6” display. This remarkable feat is achieved by reducing the screen bezel all-around, so that the screen can occupy 70% of the front side. Needless to say, such a compact 4.6” phone fits easily in pockets and is a pleasure to use with a single hand. Speaking of size, the Z3 Compact is also thinner than its predecessor - it clocks in at 8.6mm (0.34”) thickness, and it’s lighter as well.

While at first sight the handset looks similar to its predecessor, the devil is in the detail and little changes make a big difference: first, the bolder, more vivid and lively colors (the Z3 Compact comes in a choice of white, black, orange, or green) add character, but also gone are the metal sides of the original, and instead we have a special plastic material with a very captivating translucent finish (something that Sony calls a “rounded liquid reflection frame”). It’s unlike any other phone we’ve recently seen on the market, and - in combination with the bold color options - it definitely makes the Z3 Compact design stand out.

In terms of materials, the Z3 Compact features tempered glass panels on the back and the front, which don’t get scratched as easily as the plastic panels on the Z1 Compact. The front now also matches the color of the backside - another minute detail that Sony has worked out in the Z3 Compact. Interestingly, Sony has embedded separate pieces of polycarbonate on the four edges of the phone, which should theoretically take the hit if you drop your phone and help it resist impact better.

Up front, there are stereo speakers (more on sound quality later) and no buttons as it usesvirtual, on-screen Android navigation keys. Тhe rest of the keys are on the right hand side of the device. The signature round Sony power/lock key is in the middle, with slightly evolved looks, a bit larger size and a nice click. Тhere is the tiny volume rocker below it and also a dedicated camera shutter key. The left of the phone is where all the ports and slots are located, but all of them fit seamlessly in the design and you’d have to pry open the protective lids to actually see them. This is the place to note that apart from the standard microSD card slot, you have a slot for a nanoSIM card, and not microSIM here. And if you don’t want to open the lid every time to access the ports to charge up the device, there’s also a magnetic connector on the left of the phone that you can use with a Sony dock as an alternative charging method.

On top, there is a microphone and a new, 5-pin 3.5mm headset jack (don’t worry, it’s perfectly compatible with all headsets) that enables the neat noise-cancellation effect on the bundled-in earbuds. On the bottom, Sony includes a second microphone and something typical for smartphones out of Japan - a lanyard eyelet.

We’ve left one of the best design features last: the Z3 Compact is waterproof and carries an IP68 certification. What this means is that Sony’s compact gadget is protected against dust and can withstand immersion in fresh water up to 5 feet deep for as long as 30 minutes. Nice!

Display

A 4.6” display in the same body as the 4.3” Xperia Z1 Compact is an impressive feat, but screen quality on the Z3 Compact is underwhelming.

The Z3 Compact comes with a 4.6-inch 720x1280 pixels IPS display featuring Sony’s TRILUMINOS technology. Some people would be disappointed with the fact that Sony has not gone for a 1080x1920 Full HD display (and yet others will point out that we already have Quad HD screens out there), and might be wondering whether a 720p resolution is not a critical flaw. The short answer is no - pixel density comes in at 319ppi, which translates into a fairly sharp picture. A little jagginess of pixels can be noticed when you read tiny fonts, but for common use and pretty much everything else, you won’t be bothered by pixelization. On the flip side, a 720p display consumes less energy, which in turn allows for a longer battery longevity.

Color accuracy is way off on the Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony has gone purposefully with a colder, noticeably bluish display with color temperature reaching the whopping 10000K (while 6500K is the reference value, and everything above it is cold). Color balance in greyscale is noticeably skewed towards the blue across all brightness levels. Color purists have the option to adjust color balance with separate controls for red, green, and blue. With some fiddling (you’d need to add in a lot more red, and a bit more green to get to more balanced colors, we tweaked it to the following values: red ~ 250, green ~ 190, blue ~ 0), you can get to the point where colors are not outrageously blue, but getting this right is no trivial task and requires either a trained eye, or a colorimeter.

Sony advertizes the TRILUMINOS technology in the Z3 Compact as delivering 30% wider coverage than the industry-standard sRGB color gamut. This, however, is a double-edged sword – as with older generation AMOLED screens, colors do look more eye-popping, but with this decision gone is any notion of color accuracy. More is not necessarily better when we speak about the color gamut. Not surprisingly, color targets are also way off. Disappointing.

Sony’s X-Reality is also on board and the feature boosts contrasts in the default picture and video apps, making for even more eye-popping colors. Naturally, this worsens rather than fixing color accuracy issues - colors are even less accurate in this mode.

Our measurements show that the Z3 Compact screen brightness reaches around 450 nits. There’s also ‘Adapt’ mode that would automatically adjust screen brightness. All in all, real-life experience shows that the screen is very readable even under direct sunlight, and that’s great. Viewing angles are also excellent with little distortion to colors and brightness when you tilt it.

It’s also worth mentioning that the screen features a ‘Glove-on’ mode that recognizes touch even when you operate it with your gloves on, but you first need to enable the feature in settings.

Interface and Functionality

The latest Android 4.4 KitKat is adorned with Sony's Xperia UI: a fast skin with nice first-party apps like Walkman, and even integration with PlayStation 4.

The Z3 Compact ships with the latest of Android, 4.4 KitKat, with Sony’s Xperia user interface on top. Sony’s skin is a fairly clean and clutter-free affair that stands out with its snappy speed of operation. It boasts zippy to-the-point animations and a selection of well-made Sony applications. The company has not gone for the current trend of flat looks, but nonetheless its user interface does not look outdated in any way.

The lockscreen features a neat camera shortcut, so that you can start shooting quickly by swiping up. When the screen is locked, you can also knock on it two times to see the time without waking it up fully.

By default, you have 5 panels on the homescreen and one of Sony’s signature live wallpapers. The Xperia skin features rich customization options and you can add or delete panels easily, as well as re-arrange applications in alphabetical order or by most used ones.

The dropdown menu consists of the default notifications tab and a second ‘quick settings’ tab with various toggles. We would have preferred to have all of these in a single tab, as that would make access a bit quicker, but that might be just us.

Basic functionality is well covered: the phone app opens up quickly, has a simple utilitarian look, and now shows you your most often contacted people at the top. You can also swipe between the log files and the full contact list (this is nice in comparison with apps by some other manufacturers where you have to tap on a tab name and can’t swipe between them).

The messaging follows the same route of simplistic, not overcrowded looks. We loved the fact that you can customize the stock keyboard and add quick access to symbols and numbers via a long hold, for instance.

There are quite a few novelties and Sony exclusives in the interface as well. First, a nice new option is to record your screen on video - just hold the power/lock key and select it. You can also have video from the front camera on top of that screen recording, a nice touch for those who make online tutorials for instance.

Remote Play is clearly one of the biggest new features in the Xperia Z3 Compact, though. An exclusive to the Xperia Z3 range, it allows you to hook up a PlayStation 4 via Wi-Fi and stream games to your phone. Imagine a situation when you have a PS4 at home, but someone is watching TV, so you cannot actually play. Remote Play on the Xperia Z3 Compact is a way to fix that problem - you can connect a DualShock 4 controller, attach the Z3 Compact, and get a full-on PlayStation 4 experience on your smartphone.

Processor and Memory

Compact, yet packing no compromises in terms of performance: flagship-grade 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 with 2 gigs of RAM flies on the Z3 Compact.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a device of no compromises when it comes to hardware. It features the powerful Snapdragon 801 system chip, the same one as in the majority of other flagship devices. We’re happy to say that the Z3 Compact is impressively quick and boasts a buttery-smooth performance.

The particular processor is the MSM8974-AC version, manufactured on the 28nm HPm process. Here we have a quad-core Krait 400 processor running at up to 2.5GHz, and an Adreno 330 clocked at up to 578MHz. There is also 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM (truth be told, though, the larger Xperia Z3 comes with 3 gigs).

Boasting top specs makes the Z3 Compact a great device for stressful applications like games. And the fact that the 720p display puts less strain on the processor makes for even smoother framerates. Check out the benchmarks right below to see how much silicon this petite device packs actually.

The Z3 Compact comes with 16GB of internal storage, of which around 12GB are actually available to the end user, but luckily you can expand the memory via microSD cards of up to 128GB. Note, however, that with recent changes in Android you no longer can simply copy say a game or an app you have to your microSD card when you run out of storage.

Internet and Connectivity

Chrome is the default browser, and with 4G LTE and a capable chip, surfing is a smooth ride.

The Z3 Compact ships with Chrome as the only built-in browser. Chrome stands out with its zippy loading speeds, nicely optimized for touch, card-based interface, and great cross-device syncing capabilities. In our experience, surfing the web was a smooth ride - pages load quickly, and zooming in and out happens without a stutter.

In terms of connectivity, you have 4G LTE with speeds of up to 150Mbps (there are two models of the Z3 Compact with slightly different bands, depending on where you live you should be covered). Other connectivity options include dual-channel Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and NFC. It’s also worth mentioning that the Z3 Compact supports USB Host and FM radio.

Camera

The 20-megapixel camera on the Z3 Compact delivers very good image quality with mostly nice colors and good detail. 4K video recording is also on board.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact comes with a 20.7-megapixel main camera with a single LED flash and a 2.2-megapixel front shooter. The main camera features a 1/2.3” sensor, the largest of all Android sensors out there. How big is it? Compared to, say, an average for a flagship, 1/3” sensor, it’s nearly 64% bigger. At the same time, because of the high megapixel count, pixel size comes in at the pretty small 1.1 micron pixels. In terms of optics, Sony's G lens is one of the widest lenses we’ve seen on Android - a 25mm one. While great for shooting landscapes or in a small room (more content gets into the frame), this is a bit of an extreme lens that takes some getting used to the width of the shots at first. Aperture is set at f/2.0, making this also one of the fastest smartphone lenses out there.

If we had to summarize the camera app, it is more of the same, where by more we mean a lot of additional modes, and by same we mean that it keeps the visual style of earlier Xperia Z’s. More options is not necessarily a good thing: it tends to get overcomplicated and cramped with tabs, lists, options, modes... For instance, a simple thing like enabling HDR requires you to switch to manual mode and shoot in 8-megapixel resolution, otherwise the setting is simply not available. It takes a separate manual to just learn the intricacies of the Z3 Compact camera, but for those who want to keep it simple, we recommend just sticking with the ‘Superior Auto’ mode. In the default Superior Auto shooting mode, the handset shoots 8-megapixel photos made by pixel processing of the 20-megapixel feed from the sensor for better overall quality. We prefer having these high-quality 8MP photos instead of not-so-good 20MP ones, and they are smaller as well, so you can share them quicker. You can still shoot full 20-megapixel images (without this processing benefit) in Manual mode, but those images tend to have lackluster sharpness, more artifacts, and are also noisier than the 8-megapixel shots.

For camera enthusiasts, the manual mode allows an all-manual ride: you can select resolution, from the full 20-megapixels to 8-megapixels and less; you can tweak exposure, white balance, ISO, metering and focus modes, as well as switch the digital stabilization on and off. All of that sounds great on paper, but those options are so deeply buried in menus that finding them is a challenge (you have to remember in what shooting mode which option is available and where it’s located).

That’s hardly all the modes, though: you have camera tricks with augmented reality that detects the geometry of the scene and can make animated dinosaurs appear on top of your image or what not (fun features with little practicality). Tou have live YouTube streaming via the Social life mode, a straightforward option that would be very useful to some. You have a creative effect for various fun filters and overlays; there is the Sound Photo that records sound along with the picture. And then Multi Camera records simultaneously from both the front and rear cameras. Then, you have modes that duplicate other modes to complicate things even further: for instance, you can enable burst shots in the settings, but you also have a Timeshift mode that captures 30 shots in 2 seconds (tip: Timeshift will start shooting even before you press the shutter key).

What about the image quality? As we said, we recommend using the simple 8-megapixel images captured in Superior Auto in most cases. Images in it look very good, with lively color and plentiful detail. Pictures are not perfect though, and the camera occasionally - rarely - misjudges colors (you can see the cold-looking pictures of the cars below, for instance), but they are definitely on par with what most other flagships offer. Indoors, the camera does a very good job as well, keeping noise at a reasonable level and colors are pleasingly balanced. With the flash on we do get a very slight blue cast (no dual-tone flash here), but on the whole picture quality is good.

The sweep panorama option is still a big disappointment - images come out with a low resolution, lacking sorely in detail. Sony also brags about adding an ISO settings as high 12800 for Low Light mode for still images, which should help if you shoot in pitch dark. In other modes, ISO peaks at around ISO 3200, and ISO 2000 is the maximum in night scene mode for video.

Up front, there is a 2.2-megapixel shooter that does a decent (but not stellar job) with selfies.



What about video quality? The Z3 Compact adds 4K video recording capabilities, but it does warn you that the app might shut down if (or rather, when) the handset overheats, and we’ve seen this happen around the 5-minute mark. 4K video recording features nice colors, it is rich in detail and comes with a 50+Mbps bit-rate, but it does show strange distortions (with a rolling-shutter-like artifacts), and it does not support Sony’s excellent digital stabilization, so every tremble of the hand is seen in video.

Multimedia

The bluish display takes out a bit of the video experience, but for all else, media looks good on the Z3 Compact.

Apart from the standard Google suite of apps (that we won’t talk about here), there are a few notable Sony first-party additions that often replace the stock Android ones. Sony’s Album app is a neat gallery that you can pinch to zoom in and out in, and you have some basic photo editing options bundled in as well.

Sony brings its Walkman app for music. Apart from doing all that a typical music app should do - namely, categorize your music by albums, artists, songs, and so on; allow you to view your songs per folder; give you an equalizer to tweak the sound - the Walkman app also has some brand new signature Sony features. The most notable one is support for the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) HX codec. This codec allows you to play compatible files at close to high-resolution audio quality. In combination with the new, 5-pin headset jack, you can pick up a pair of Sony MDR-NC31EM earbuds (bundled in the box with the Z3 Compact in select regions), and enjoy this hi-res audio with noise cancellation.

Thankfully, Sony has also increased the volume output of the speakers, something that was an issue with the quiet Z1 Compact speakers. In the Z3 Compact we have dual, front-firing, stereo speakers with what goes by the bombastic “S-Force Front Surround” name. This is the same tech that Sony debuted in the Z2 half a year ago.

In terms of sound quality, though, sound comes out a bit muffled - be it because of the water-sealing of the device or another reason - and in an ideal world, we’d like a bit more clarity and depth.

Sony’s video player gets the job done with a bit of extra flare - you get to see a short sequence of every video as a live thumbnail, so you get an idea about its contents. That’s a nice touch. For all else, you have fairly rich codec support, and we could play all files we threw at the player with ease.

Call Quality

Call quality is very good on the Xperia Z3 Compact. Voices in the earpiece are sufficiently loud, and clarity is good, but not perfect - you can recognize the natural tonality of your caller’s voices, but they sound a bit muffled.

On the other end of the line, call quality is excellent. The microphone conveys voices clearly and loudly. There are in fact two microphones on the

Battery life

The Xperia Z3 Compact ships with an extremely large for its size, 2,600mAh battery and an even bigger promise for two-day battery life. Quoted talk time is 14 hours on 3G, with 10 hours of video playback, and 110 hours of continuous music playback.

We have concluded our own testing of the Xperia Z3 Compact, where we run a custom script that replicates a real-life load on the device. Unlike in real life, though, our test has the phone running without interruption. The results are in and they are impressive: the Xperia Z3 Compact scored highest amongst all non-phablet smartphones with a battery result of 10 hours and 2 minutes. This testifies to Sony's promises for two-day battery life, and we're happy to finally be in that territory with our smartphones.

We’re also very happy to see that Sony has added a new Ultra STAMINA mode that blacks out wallpapers and leaves only barebones functionality. This is made to squeeze the most out of your battery, in a manner similar to what Samsung first did with its Ultra Power Saving Mode. Thus with a 40% left of charge, the Z3 Compact in Ultra STAMINA mode claims it can last for more than 4 days.

Here are all the apps that are available when you are in Ultra STAMINA mode: Phone, Contacts, Messaging, Camera, Album, Calendar, Alarm & Clock, Calculator, FM Radio. The browser is sorely missing, but camera is there. It’s all about compromise. Keep in mind that Sony’s implementation is also a bit clunkier than others’ as deactivating ultra stamina mode will actually force-restart your device.

We have also run a test to see how fast the phone recharges. Unfortunately, it seems that the Z3 Compact does not feature any kind of the new QuickCharge technologies that allow a very fast charge-up of the phone. You'd need to wait nearly 3 hours and a half for a full re-charge of the handset's 2,600mAh battery.

Conclusion

The Xperia Z3 Compact takes the successful formula of the Z1 Compact and makes it better in practically every way: the glass panel contributes to a more premium feel, colors are livelier, and the handset is thinner, lighter and water-proof; it keeps the same petite dimensions, but gets a larger, 4.6” screen; the processor is the newer and faster Snapdragon 801; the camera is a good performer; and the battery is a class above most.

The topping on the cake is price: the Z3 Compact launches with a full retail price of Euro 499, nearly 25% cheaper than a flagship. It’s also much cheaper than its main Android rival - the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which starts at €599. The Galaxy Alpha is similar in terms of features and premium design, but its price swings the scales in Z3 Compact’s favor.

In the land of ‘minis’, the HTC One mini 2 looks like the most viable alternative: it’s got great design as an advantage, and a decent camera, but it’s underpowered in comparison with the Z3 Compact. The Galaxy S5 mini lacks the premium design, but is also a well-rounded ‘mini’. Both alternatives have a much lower price that plays to their advantage, though.

Another phone of a similar size and premium looks is the Apple iPhone 6, but the new iPhone is even more expensive. We, however, consider the iPhone 5s a worthy alternative, too - it’s still more expensive than the Z3 Compact, but it has Apple’s rich ecosystem of apps and games on its side.

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