Alongside the new Xperia Z3, Sony recently presented its next miniature variation on its current flagship: the Xperia Z3 Compact.
The Z3 Compact is unique amongst smaller Android smartphones because it
holds basically the same internal specifications as the full-sized
flagship. How the Z3 Compact can be considered a flagship in its own
right and where it struggles will be shown in our Xperia Z3 Compact
review.
Rating
Good👍
- ✓Display
- ✓Hardware
- ✓Design
Bad👎
- ✕No IR blaster
- ✕Some camera issues
Design & Build Quality
The Xperia Z3 Compact follows Sony's unmistakable "OmniBalance"design language although this time with a little twist: the metallic-look edges have been replaced with a frosted glass look which gives more grip than the slippery smooth plastic of the Z1 Compact.
Display
The display of the Z3 Compact measures 4.6 inches which, considering the fact it has the best specs in its class in Android, sets it up as the prime Android competitor for the similarly sized Apple iPhone. The Z3 Compact has clearly been designed as the perfect balance between the ''too-large'' 5.5-inch flagships and other mid-sized devices with seriously watered-down specs.The maximum brightness of the HD display is slightly lower compared to the Z3, as is the pixel density – its 1280 x 720 pixel resolution produces 319 pixels per inch compared to the Z3's 424 ppi and the Z1 Compact's 342 ppi. The display is still sharp though, and Sony's "X-Reality for mobile" image enhancement improves the display of images and videos in terms of sharpness and color representation significantly. The color tone can also be adjusted manually in the settings.
Special Features
The Z3 Compact, like other Xperia Z series devices, is protected against water and dust to IP68 certification. This means it can withstand up to 30 minutes in fresh water without damage, as long as it does not dive deeper than 1.5 meters. In combination with the separate camera button, the Z3 Compact works quite nicely as an underwater camera and is a great phone for the outdoors as there is no need to concern yourself with rain or dust. The plastic border on the Z3 Compact also provides a shock absorbing "bumper".
Software
The Xperia Z3 Compact comes with the latest version of Android, which is currently 4.4.4 KitKat, and an update to the new Android L release is certain. Sony's Xperia UI is identical on both the Z3 and the Z3 Compact, meaning that as far as software goes, you'll be getting the exact same experience as those using the full-sized Z3.
Sony also included the Life Log app, which, when the smartphone is connected to one of Sony's smartwatches like the new Smartwatch 3 or Lifeband Talk, tracks and monitors steps, stairs, distances travelled, sleep patterns, heart rate and more.
Performance
The Z3 Compact packs the same processor as the Z3: a Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.5 GHz, supported by 2 GB of RAM, a combination that is more than adequate for most tasks. During the test period, the Z3 Compact was almost always at its best and there were very few dropouts or delays.When snapping photos, things could have been a little faster though. This is about the only place where you will notice a clear gap between super-fast devices like the Galaxy S5 or the LG G3 and the Z3 Compact. In the AnTuTu benchmark test, the Z3 Compact always obtained scores between 42,000 and 44,000 points, which is equal to any competing major flagship right now. The Z3 Compact even outpaced the HTC One (M8) on several occasions.
Camera
The Z3 Compact has the same high resolution camera as the Z3: 20.7 MP in 4: 3 format and 15.5 MP in 16: 9 format. In this respect the Z3 Compact approaches the Galaxy S5's 16 MP shooter, but it soon becomes clear that the high resolution in the Z3 Compact comes with some limitations.The HDR function, for example, can not be activated in the higher resolution shooting modes – the feature is only supported at 8 MP or less. Also, Sweep Panorama pictures can not be completed at any point – if you stop the recording earlier than the Z3 Compact wants you to, you'll get an ugly black bar on the right edge of your panorama. Other than these peculiarities, the camera app offers good functionality and some innovative features such as post-processing of focal point and background blur are on-board just as we saw with the Xperia Z2.
Battery
The Z3 Compact has a 2,600 mAh battery, which is quite good for a smaller screened smartphone, especially when you consider that the Galaxy S4 has the same sized battery but with a larger display and higher resolution. In our test, the Z3 Compact's battery proved to be above average, lasting more than a day with connections to both Wi-Fi and mobile networks, with background syncing for multiple Google accounts, some test photos, a few app downloads, multiple AnTuTu benchmark tests and the display at maximum brightness.
Technical Specifications
Final Verdict
Once again, Sony has shown the
competition that it is indeed possible to create a mini flagship that is
(almost) every bit as good as the full-sized version. As we've
mentioned previously, this is why Sony avoids the term ''mini'' and
instead opts for ''compact,'' which implies the same thing just in a
smaller housing. Technically the Z3 Compact is fantastic and despite the
occasional issue like with the camera – which we have also experienced
on the Z2 and Z3 – you'd be hard pressed to find a better Android in
4.6-inch range.
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