Comfortable size: review of the mini-flagship Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: size is everything The size of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

The latest Sony Xperia smartphones of the Z3 family did not become devices that turned the mobile device market upside down. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone is not very different from its predecessors; the technical specifications are painfully predictable, but at the same time, it’s hard to blame it.

What stands out is this year's smallest variant, a flagship model called the Xperia Z3 Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. The phone has a large power reserve, compact size and phenomenal operating time away from a power outlet.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact - Reviews

I write about new smartphones, but Sony actually presented one phone at IFA 2014 in Berlin - but in two sizes. The Japanese rightly assumed that not all buyers would want to purchase a large phone, and as a result they developed two options.

Three Sony Xperia Z3 devices

Three new devices have appeared among Sony's offerings. One of them is the 8-inch Xperia Z3 Compact tablet, while the other two are the Xperia Z3 and Sony Xperia Z3 Compactt phones. Devices differ mainly in size, battery capacity, resolution and screen diagonal size. In all other respects, all models of the Xperia Z3 family are twins: the same processor, camera and communication modules; only the “Compact” model has 2 GB instead of 3 GB of RAM, but in practice the difference is insignificant.

There's nothing interesting about the tablet at first glance, and it doesn't stand out from the crowd of other similarly sized Android devices.

After several weeks of testing, I can confidently say that the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is my favorite Android device currently available to buy.

It's worth noting that until now this title belonged to the previous Sony Xperia smartphone called the Z1 Compact, which may be due to the fact that the Xperia Z2 never received a compact version. The device on paper leaves a colossal impression, but in reality this smartphone is almost one of a kind. At the same time, the large Xperia Z3 smartphone provides healthy competition in the 5-inch smartphone segment.

Smartphones like the HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 are large devices, each with their own unique characteristics and a ton of benefits. Compared to them, the full-size Z3 with a 5.2-inch screen looks very average. It doesn't have the most powerful processor or a high-pixel-density screen, and at first glance the phone looks very similar to the previously presented Xperia Z2.

Case and appearance of Xperia Z3 Compact

Even four years ago, the size of the display in the Samsung Galaxy S II left a lasting impression. And this is not surprising, because it was a 4.3-inch screen, while the role model was Steve Jlbs' proposal with a 3.5-inch screen. Today, a 5.5-inch phone screen will not surprise anyone, and the LG G3 offer with 4.7 inches already belongs to the “Mini” category. Apple has recently joined the race for screen sizes, so we shouldn’t expect a return to minimalism in phone design in the foreseeable future.

This pattern was broken by Sony, which demonstrated the Xperia Z1 Compact early last year. In terms of parameters, this is the same “large” Xperia Z1, which was designed in a compact body. The Xperia Z3 Compact not only continues the tradition, but also corrects the mistakes of its predecessor.

I know many readers are waiting to review the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, but describing this hardware is not an easy task.

It's difficult to describe a device that, on the one hand, is painfully similar to previous versions, and on the other hand, so well suits the needs of a large group of people. Suffice it to say that when you hold the Z1 Compact and Z3 Compact in your hands, it is difficult at first glance to distinguish them from each other. But the devil is in the details and... the colors. The new model is available in four color options: white, black, orange and green. I got the last one of them.

The case itself looks pretty good, although some may complain that the device is framed by a plastic frame. I don’t think this is a big problem, especially since the material from which the frame is made is translucent, which visually makes the already small device look thinner. The Xperia Z3 Compact measures 127mm x 64.9mm x 8.6mm and weighs just 129 grams. Moreover, it has a 4.6-inch screen. For comparison, the almost identical body of the Z1C has a 4.3-inch display built into it.

The button layout remains unchanged

Not everyone is a fan of Sony's button layout, but I find their system to be very user-friendly. Several buttons are located on the right side, and the most important of them is the round aluminum power button. Directly below it is a small volume switch. Even lower in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, a small two-stage shutter button has found its place. This is one of the solutions that has been pointlessly abandoned by other manufacturers.

There's nothing else on the right side, with a microphone on the bottom side and a headphone jack on the top side. Much more can be found on the left side of the device. There are two water and dust resistant (IP65 and IP68) charging connectors. At the top there is a MicroUSB port and a MicroSD slot for cards up to 128 GB, and at the bottom there is a slot for a SIM card (or two cards for the Dual SIM version, which is available for distribution outside the operator).

Sharp edges and well-defined shapes

Sony has been creating most smartphones the same way for more than a year. The changes are over, but the body remains the same. The phone is shaped like a flat parallelepiped with sharply defined edges. The rear panel is almost the same as its predecessor. In the upper left corner there is a 20.7-megapixel camera lens with an LED. In the central part there is the Sony logo and the designation of the NFC module, and at the very bottom there is the inscription Xperia without the name of a specific model.

Speakers and sound Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Significantly more changes can be seen on the front of the case. The first thing that catches your eye is the presence of stereo speakers instead of the one found on the Xperia Z1C, located on the bottom edge. The sound coming out of them isn't as loud or clear as HTC's Boomsound system, but you can still watch YouTube videos without blocking the sound source with your hands. Stereo sound is not too distracting, since in horizontal mode the noise comes through only on one side.

Screen Z3 Compact

From the front, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact can be confused with its predecessor, but only until the screen turns on. The difference in diagonal length with the Xperia Z1 Compact is only 0.3 inches, but in practice it is not very noticeable. The frames on the sides of the screen still bother you with their thickness, but there is more space here - below the display, which is no longer so intimidating. The 4.6-inch panel has a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. In the era of 5.5-inch displays, 2K may not be impressive, but in practice the pixel density is sufficient.

Meanwhile, I am not a fan of Full HD in smartphones, since the difference in quality with 720p is almost unnoticeable. Fewer pixels to render places less load on the processor and reduces battery consumption. This makes the Xperia Z3 Compact as fast, if not faster, than its big brother, the Xperia Z3. In terms of performance, this is a top shelf device and it doesn't even bother me that it only has 2GB of RAM.

Materials and quality

All phones from the Sony Xperia Z1 onwards feel very durable thanks to the aluminum frame. The body parts of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact fit together perfectly, nothing moves or creaks. Due to the unusual finishing of the frame, it is difficult to deny the individual character of the smartphone, especially if you forget about the existence of the Xperia Z1 Compact of the same shape.

You might complain about the back being a bit slippery, but the sharp edges help keep the phone stable in your hand. This time I can't even blame Sony for the quality of the screen, which has very good colors and decent viewing angles. I also have no issues with the material used to make the opaque screen. The front panel is made of very good quality glass, which I have not yet been able to scratch, and the back panel is made of either glass or some special type of plastic.

Xperia Z3 Compact specifications

The 4.6-inch IPS screen used in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is in a completely different class compared to the Xperia Z1 released just a year ago. Contrary to appearances, the pixel density of the Xperii Z3 Compact is not very low, as at 319 ppi, it is almost the same as the case of the iPhone 5 s and 6 (326 ppi) and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (331 ppi). ). There are, of course, better smartphones in this regard, such as the large Xperia Z3 (424 dpi), but I consider this density to be the best ratio of form to content.

If we talk about the insides of the new “Compact”, the manufacturer installed in it a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz, in which 2 GB of RAM are available. Suffice it to say that the system works very quickly and without any delays, regardless of what tasks I set for it. The technical specifications are completed by 16 GB of internal memory with the ability to add a 128 GB MicroSD card.

Applications

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact supports all the necessary wireless technologies. This smartphone has an LTE modem and supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. In addition, of course, a GPS navigation application and an NFC module are used, which allows you to transfer data to other Android devices. It's a pity that Sony did not offer users a version with a larger memory capacity due to problems associated with transferring data to MicroSD cards in Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Photo and camera Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

For video calls, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has a regular 2.2-megapixel front-facing webcam, and for photos, a 20.7-megapixel rear camera, which is almost the same as in previous Sony smartphones. The Japanese company has slightly improved the image processing algorithm, but has not made any revolution.

The application's interface is already quite archaic, but it serves its purpose. All additional Sony mini-applications are also available, allowing, in particular, to record video in slow motion, in 4K, or to apply augmented reality effects to the image in the lens. The ISO 12,800 processing is noteworthy, but I still don't understand why images have a maximum size of 8 megapixels in auto mode.

Battery Sony Xperia Z3

The phenomenal battery is one of the main, if not the most important advantage of the phone.

I don’t know how Sony does it, but other manufacturers should follow the example of the Japanese. Already the Xperia Z1 was one of the longest-running smartphones at launch, but the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has surpassed it and set the phone's battery life to a new level, almost unattainable by its competitors. Sony boasts that on average its previous smartphones could last 1.4 working days on a single charge, but the new Xperia can last a full two days without needing a power outlet.

It is worth noting that these two days the phone is used in maximum endurance mode, and this is... not far-fetched. I don't know of any Android smartphone that manages energy as well as the Sony Z3 Compact. After all, this smartphone can work for 8 hours as an LTE mobile hotspot and lose only half of its charge! Of course, much of the credit here goes not only to the 2600 mAh battery, but also to the manufacturer, who has done a good job optimizing the firmware.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone went on sale running Android version 4.4.4 KitKat. The software is almost identical to that found in previously released Xperia Z family with the update. It is correct and functional, and over the past few years, Sony has gotten rid of almost all the bugs. The problem is that some of the interface elements already look archaic and do not fit the original Material Design style at all. On the plus side, only a moderate number of applications are pre-installed. Luckily, most of these apps can be uninstalled.

It’s hard to name anything special among the new ones, except for the additional video viewing function; the ability to record actions performed on the screen by selecting the appropriate option in the system menu and support for the Remote Play PS4 function. Multimedia enthusiasts will benefit from Active Noise Canceling when using the Sony NC31E headset and MP3 file stretching service for improved sound quality. But these are all just details, and real changes can happen in Sony smartphones only after the launch of Android L.

Bottom line

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a unique device. In the segment of mobile phones with a screen diagonal of up to 5 inches, there is simply no other flagship on Android, this is the only device that can compete with the Samsung Galaxy Alpha with a 4.7-inch screen. The only drawback in the Z3C image is 2 GB instead of 3 GB of RAM, but in practice this difference with the larger Xperia Z3 is simply not felt.

The real surprise with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact isn't its performance, its perfect size, its picture quality, or even its phenomenal battery life. I think the biggest advantage of this phone is its price, namely the price-quality ratio. There are no compromises in the form of lower image parameters and reduced battery life, as was the case, for example, with the iPhone 6 compared to the iPhone 6 Plus.

Xperia Z3 Compact is a top-end smartphone that debuted with a price of about 700 USD. I can't name a single phone in this price range that I've previously tested that performs so well in everyday use.

Accelerometer(or G-sensor) - sensor of the device’s position in space. As a main function, the accelerometer is used to automatically change the orientation of the image on the display (vertical or horizontal). Also, the G-sensor is used as a pedometer; it can control various functions of the device by turning or shaking.
Gyroscope- a sensor that measures rotation angles relative to a fixed coordinate system. Capable of measuring rotation angles in several planes simultaneously. A gyroscope together with an accelerometer allows you to accurately determine the position of the device in space. Devices that use only accelerometers have lower measurement accuracy, especially when moving quickly. Also, the capabilities of the gyroscope can be used in modern games for mobile devices.
Light sensor- a sensor that sets the optimal brightness and contrast values ​​for a given light level. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Proximity sensor- a sensor that detects when the device is close to your face during a call, turns off the backlight and locks the screen, preventing accidental clicks. The presence of a sensor allows you to increase the battery life of the device.
Geomagnetic sensor- a sensor for determining the direction of the world in which the device is directed. Tracks the orientation of the device in space relative to the magnetic poles of the Earth. The information received from the sensor is used in mapping programs for terrain orientation.
Atmospheric pressure sensor- sensor for precise measurement of atmospheric pressure. It is part of the GPS system, allows you to determine altitude above sea level and speed up location determination.
Touch ID- fingerprint identification sensor.

Accelerometer / Geomagnetic / Gyroscope / Light / Proximity

Satellite navigation:

GPS(Global Positioning System) is a satellite navigation system that provides measurements of distance, time, speed and determines the location of objects anywhere on Earth. The system is developed, implemented and operated by the US Department of Defense. The basic principle of using the system is to determine location by measuring distances to an object from points with known coordinates - satellites. The distance is calculated by the delay time of signal propagation from sending it by the satellite to receiving it by the antenna of the GPS receiver.
GLONASS(Global Navigation Satellite System) - Soviet and Russian satellite navigation system, developed by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The measurement principle is similar to the American GPS navigation system. GLONASS is designed for operational navigation and timing support for land, sea, air and space-based users. The main difference from the GPS system is that GLONASS satellites in their orbital motion do not have resonance (synchrony) with the rotation of the Earth, which provides them with greater stability.

The amount of RAM on board is 2 GB, which is more than enough for work without delays. Even devices with Full HD resolution feel great with 2 GB of RAM. 16 GB is provided for storing content, some of which is reserved for the OS and factory applications. The situation can be changed thanks to the microSD slot, which can charge cards up to 128 GB.

The communication capabilities of the Xperia Z3 Compact are completely identical to those of the current flagship of the line. On board there is support for all current Wi-Fi standards, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA, LTE, NFC, GPS and GLONASS, but there is no infrared port.

The battery capacity has increased compared to its predecessor and is 2600 mAh. Thanks to energy-saving technologies, Sony managed to increase the stated battery life to two days, but in reality this value is lower. The charge is enough for a day of active use (with music, maps, social networks and SMS), or for a day and a half of work at a more relaxed pace.

Software

The smartphone runs Android OS version 4.4.4 KitKat. By default, it has the Google Chrome browser installed instead of the standard Android one. The list of proprietary pre-installed software includes Sony Smart Connect applications. The standard application for working with NFC allows you to connect only with branded Sony SmartTags.

We all remember the success of the Z1 Compact. Many switched to this smartphone from flagships and enjoyed life even more. This smartphone was truly a powerful and miniature copy of the flagship, and not a simple middling device, dressed in an appearance similar to the top device. The new compact with the Z3 index turned out to be a worthy successor. Good characteristics, excellent appearance and a miniature body, but there are also pitfalls, which are discussed in this article.

Equipment

I don't understand the manufacturer's logic. In some devices (M2), the packaging is made of rigid, angular cardboard with compartments separated from each other. It looks stylish and original.

In others (I'm talking about today's review hero) it is a simple box with one common removable lid. It doesn’t look so impressive, of course, but that’s okay.

The device comes with a charger, a microUSB cable and all sorts of paper manuals. There is no headset, so you need to buy it separately. Taking into account the increased price for the device relative to its predecessor (23,990 versus 21,990 rubles), the rejection of the headset is a little frustrating. However, there is nowhere to go. It is what it is.

Appearance

The appearance of the smartphone has undergone noticeable changes and all of them are for the better. The side frames became plastic and rounded. The material is very grippy to the touch and thanks to this the smartphone lies securely in the hand. In general, the edging of the smartphone plays interestingly in the light, and also additionally protects the device from falling due to its structure. Look at the corners of your smartphone? This division of the frame into separate segments helps distribute the impact energy along the entire perimeter and, in theory, should protect the glass on the front and rear surfaces.

The Z1 Compact had a plastic back cover, and the successor acquired a panel made of tempered glass.

The surface on the back is resistant to scratches and fingerprints. On the white version of the smartphone, traces of use are almost invisible - it is clearly much more practical.

By the way, there are four color variations on sale: black, white, orange and green.

Bright solutions look very interesting and original.

Let's explore the body further. The microphone holes are located both at the top and bottom. The headphone jack (3.5 mm) has a beautiful metal frame. It's a small thing, but it looks very decent. On the bottom edge there is a groove for attaching a strap. Sony is unchanged in this regard.

The right side is filled with power and volume keys and a separate camera button. The latter adds significant convenience when photographing. And underwater, the only way to take a photo is to use this key, since the smartphone display becomes inactive to touch. The movement of all buttons is clear and confident.

On the left side are all the connectors of the device and, of course, under special plugs. In the center there is a port for connecting a smartphone to the docking station, and on the sides there are slots for a memory card and SIM card, as well as a microUSB (2.0) interface.

As before, the SIM card (now nano) is placed on a special, extremely fragile substrate. This option for removing a card is not particularly convenient, but the Japanese stubbornly continue to equip their products with just such a solution.

There is no hot swapping of the card. Each time the smartphone must be rebooted. This is fine.

By good tradition, the Z3 Compact is not afraid of water, as follows from the IP65/68 specifications. With a smartphone you can dive for up to 30 minutes to a depth of up to one and a half meters. Everything is standard here.

The dimensions of the device are very miniature and can be estimated from the comparative table below.

Please note that the successor's length and width are no different from the Z1 Compact. Sony managed to maintain the usual dimensions, which is worthy of praise, and in addition to this, they also reduced the thickness and weight of the device.

The device fits perfectly in any hand.

Many who are purposefully looking for a compact digital assistant will definitely like this.

Now about the bad. In my test sample, the front panel was glued crookedly. This is especially noticeable in the non-white version of the device.

Pay attention to the gaps between the case frame and the display glass.

Be sure to pay attention to this point before purchasing. I was the only one who encountered this situation, because there are mostly normal copies on sale. Look at the photo for an example I discovered from one of the major networkers.

Display

The Z3 Compact has a diagonal of 4.6 inches. This size is considered by many to be sufficient for a mobile phone. Here we can only say that there are no comrades according to taste and color.

The screen resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels. There is no need to be upset about the lack of Full HD, since it is difficult to see individual pixels with the naked eye. The picture is smooth and clear.

You can change the color scheme yourself in the display settings. In addition, you can use proprietary picture enhancers: X-Reality for mobile and maximum brightness mode. The same thing is present in the current one. These filters work interestingly and really make viewing photos and videos noticeably more interesting: they increase the contrast and, let’s say, the vividness of the picture. Pass!

The display does not change colors at different angles and the image does not fade. This is typical for all IPS matrices.

Specifications The newcomer is best compared with its predecessor (changes highlighted in red):

There are no and cannot be any complaints about the performance of the new compact.

Whether the proprietary interface or applications, the device works quickly and without any lags. To complete the picture, here are the results from various benchmarks:

Photo capabilities

First about the front camera. The 2.2 megapixel matrix is ​​capable of taking photographs in a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and the same videos. There is support for HDR video and image stabilization during shooting.

The main camera with the usual 20.7 megapixels can create photos with a resolution of 5248 x 3936 (4:3 aspect ratio). The base uses a proprietary Exmore RS 1/2.3" matrix. The lens is again a native G Lens with a fairly wide angle of 25 mm.

Examples of photos in 8 MP resolution are shown below as is:

In some photographs, especially in low light conditions, you can’t tell where the greenish fog is coming from. This most often occurs when HDR mode is turned on. Obviously the matter lies in an imperfect frame processing algorithm. On the left is a frame without HDR, on the right with the dynamic range function enabled:

For clarity, there are also several examples of 20-megapixel images:

If you compare manual and automatic shooting scenarios, I would advise you to go with the automatic one. Usually the system itself copes with determining the exposure level, the sensitivity of the matrix and selects the best scenario for a specific frame. Moreover, in a resolution of 8 megapixels this happens more correctly than with the resolution set to maximum. Of course, if you don’t trust the robot, then you can set the exposure level yourself or choose something from ready-made shooting scenarios, since there are a lot of them here.

100% crop (8 MP):

100% crop (20 MP):

The minimum focusing distance is 120 mm. The ISO parameters are as follows: in manual mode, the maximum value is 3200; the ISO value stated in the specifications is 12,800, which is only available from automatic mode. When shooting video, the top photosensitivity threshold does not exceed 2000. For clarity, let’s look at an example of composite images taken in the dark:

Shooting modes

It has already become the norm for Sony products that a whole bunch of different photo applications are installed right out of the box on your smartphone. I will now tell you about the most interesting ones.

Ever since the days of the Xperia Z1, in the camera settings you could select the AR effect mode, the essence of which was to superimpose any virtual effects on a real picture: dinosaurs, gnomes, butterflies and others. Starting with the Z3 series there is an addition called AR entertainment. The phone's viewfinder must be pointed at some flat surface on which you can virtually throw bombs, fruits, set fire to it, draw 3D graffiti, etc. An interesting thing, especially in company.

A feature designated by the company as helping to recognize an object by photographing it and searching the Internet. It could be anything: a monument, a document, a painting, or anything like that. Domestic users will not be happy that the system searches for information on an object in English-language sources. However, the law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” was successfully recognized by the smartphone as a kind of printed source of Russian law.

If the field of your main creativity is Youtube, then you will probably appreciate a utility that allows you to broadcast live video to your own video resource channel. There is no need to go anywhere and look for special applications. A smartphone from Sony is perfectly suited for mobile reporters, especially if you remember about the special microphone for podcasters sold separately - STM10 (official price 1,490 rubles).

Of course, it is possible to shoot panoramic views, select the best frame from several dozen created in Timeshift burst mode, take direct notes using the camera in Evernote, and so on. The functionality is rich and can always be expanded by downloading additional filters.

Video recording

The compact can shoot videos in both standard resolution 1920 x 1080 and 4K resolution (3840 x 2160, 30 fps). With other settings, the frame rate increases to 120 fps. In the menu, you can activate SteadyShot image stabilization and the HDR video function at the same time.

Videos shot on a smartphone are, as always, in their place - below:

I really like the mode Timeshit video o, thanks to which you can shoot slo-mo videos. And I like it primarily for the clarity and ease of creating them.

Everything is as usual: press the REC button, start recording, stop shooting. And this is where the fun begins. Right in the program interface, you can select the area that will slow down, or rather, set its boundaries, view what the video will look like and, if everything is satisfactory, press the save button. Looks very interesting. See for yourself:

Sound

Sound volume through external speakers is slightly above average. This is far from the flagship Z3, where the sound is loud and bassy, ​​and the body even begins to vibrate. However, if you set the call to one of the standard melodies, the call will be heard even on a noisy street and from a bag over your shoulder.

The player menu contains the S-Force Front Surround setting, which Paradise in theory provides “realistic surround sound reproduction.” In practice, the sound flow turns out to be somehow turned inside out. In general, I didn’t like it, but you might like it.

As for the quality of playback through headphones, everything is, as always, at the highest level. As before, the ClearAudio+ add-on makes the sound better and more interesting. I recommend. The remaining improvements are already in taste and color.

In the parameters you can select surround sound, play with the equalizer or with the proprietary ClearBass feature. In general, the usual functionality from Sony.

In the jungle of settings there are, so to speak, presets of various branded headphones with their characteristic sound. Even if you use a headset from Bang & Olufsen, there is always the opportunity to make it sound like Sony's branded “ears”.

The smartphone supports the following audio formats: 3GPP, MP4, ADTS, AMR, FLAC, Matroska, SMF, XMF, Mobile XMF, OTA, RTTTL, RTX, iMelody, MP3, WAV, OGG, ASF.

The device supports videos right out of the box in the following formats: 3GPP, MP4, Matroska, AVI, Xvid, WebM.

PS4 Remote Play

As with the entire new line of devices from the Japanese corporation, the Z3 Compact can play adult games streamed from the PlayStation 4. It’s a small matter: buy an additional accessory Game Control Mount GCM10 (not yet on sale), the console itself, if, of course, didn’t get one, and off we went.

Of course, you can do without all this and just play the toys available from Google Play using a connected DUALSHOCK 3 or 4 controller. Just don’t forget to buy a cable. It's nothing you can do.

Battery

The smartphone has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh. The manufacturer guarantees two days of battery life, but this is not the case. With very active use, the device can last up to the evening on a single charge. If other devices, including those in the native Xperia line, with very moderate handling (background notifications from social networks and various accounts, half an hour of Internet a day via Wi-Fi) could survive three or more days, then for the new compact this figure does not exceed two days. This, of course, is not a critical parameter, but you need to be prepared for such behavior of the device.

Of course, in the settings you can activate the STAMINA mode, in which all background tasks do not work when the smartphone screen is turned off. In addition to this setting, you can use “Low Battery Mode”, when the indicated functions are turned off at a preset charge level. Set it up once and don't worry. All this, of course, allows you to save a little on energy consumption.

The latest solutions from Sony use a new energy saving scenario - Ultra STAMINA. Everything is tough here, since the list of running applications is limited in advance and cannot be changed. You can use the phone functions of the device, take full advantage of the camera, album, radio and several other standard functions.

In this mode, the system changes its appearance and many settings become unavailable. For example, you cannot customize the desktop, access installed applications, and so on. Look at the screenshot to see what it looks like.

When the setting is activated, there is no Internet connection at all; you can leave Bluetooth turned on and that’s it. Of course, the device turns into an ordinary dialer with a good camera, but all this significantly saves energy consumption when the screen is turned off. If you start using your smartphone, even scrolling through contacts and messages, energy consumption continues to melt before your eyes, as if no special energy saving settings were activated.

In general, the power consumption of the Z3 Compact is poorly adjusted. Perhaps this will be corrected in future firmware versions.

Bottom line

The new smartphone turned out to be a worthy continuation of the traditions laid down by the corporation in the Z1 Compact. The design has become even more interesting and modern, while the style and miniature size of the device have been preserved. The only pity is that the price has increased to 23,990 rubles. However, given the economic situation in the country, this could be expected. I don't know if we should expect the price tag to drop in a few months. Few people even know what will happen in six months, so don’t put off the purchase until tomorrow if you have free money today.

When you buy a Z3 Compact, you get a compact and stylish case with powerful hardware. Yes, the power consumption is a little low, but perhaps this will be fixed in the future. There are complaints about the body, but again not in all copies. You have to look and choose for yourself.

Should I buy Sony Xperia Z3 Compact or not?

If you own the first version of the compact, then I think not. Your smartphone is good and will remain so for at least another year.

If you need a miniature, powerful and modern device in your pocket, then you can pay attention to the device. Look first at the competitors, and this is the Apple iPhone 5S and. All worthy players with their own personality, but only a product from Sony can sink in the water.

Can anyone live at least one day without a mobile phone? Of course not! Currently, young people do not even consider this possibility. From year to year, the devices are constantly being improved. Manufacturers equip them with innovative technologies. Now a mobile phone is a mini-computer. With its help, you can access the Internet from anywhere, type documents and much more. The graphics and sound of modern devices are at a high level, so quite often you can see people playing games or listening to music.

Two years ago, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact was introduced. It is a smaller version of the Xperia Z3. The device is designed for people who, for various reasons, do not want to purchase a “shovel”. Large smartphones received this nickname. What’s surprising is that this category of buyers sacrificed software and technical characteristics due to their size, as they had to buy the simplest models. Although consumer demand for them is small, it still exists. For this reason, some manufacturers have released phones in compact sizes. The Sony brand was no exception.

Xperia Z3 Compact (specifications, reviews and description will be presented in the article) is a full-fledged smartphone. The hardware platform and software fully meet modern requirements. At least that's what the manufacturer claims. But is this really so, let's find out.

Equipment

Sony has recently abandoned bright packaging materials. The Xperia Z3 Compact model was no exception. The box is very simple, made of unvarnished cardboard, without any frills. On it, the buyer will see an image of the phone, the model name, and a brief description. Inside it is divided into three compartments. The partitions between them are quite thin. The manufacturer included a charger, the device itself, simple headphones and a USB cable. If the package box contains the index D5803, then the headset is not included in the package. It must be purchased additionally. The only way to reassure the buyer is that the price of the headphones is quite reasonable. Documentation must be included with any device:

• The instruction manual contains technical specifications of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact phone and other useful information.
• The warranty card is filled out by the seller on the day of purchase.
• List of service centers.

The equipment, to say right away, is quite modest. However, it is fully justified by the cost, which starts at 20,000 rubles. Phones intended for sale in Ukraine are not equipped with a headset.

Appearance

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has a large screen, which is a definite advantage. They were able to increase it by reducing the frame. Now it is very narrow (3 mm), almost invisible. Manufacturers preferred to abandon clear straight shapes with rough angles. Now the side edges have a rounded shape, but the rectangle is still visible. The arc bend is small, but this is what softens the familiar traditional design. There are two speakers. They are located symmetrically (top and bottom). The holes have the same shape. The company name is emblazoned under the top speaker. There is also a camera in this part on the right side. There is no standard arrangement of control buttons; they are located on the screen. You can see them only by unlocking your phone. The side frame is made of polycarbonate. Thanks to a change in the material (previously metal was used), it became possible to give the device originality due to transparency. This design solution significantly increased the status perception of the model and transferred it to the category of youth equipment.

The side edges are somewhat rough to the touch. This makes it possible to prevent slipping, so you can confidently hold the phone and operate it with one hand at the same time. The manufacturer claims that polycarbonate material has excellent shock-absorbing properties, which provide serious protection when a smartphone falls from a height.

The design type of this model is monoblock. The body of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (the characteristics of the phone are in the article) consists of two plates and a frame. Slots for memory cards and SIM are located on the sides. The slots are closed with special caps. In order to get the cards, you just need to open them. Next to these slots there is a connector for a USB cable. The back panel is made of glass. It only has a flash and a camera lens. Currently, you can purchase the device in four colors: black, white, green, red-orange.

The power and lock button of the phone is located on the side, on the right side. It is round in shape and has a chrome-plated surface. Next to it is a volume rocker. At the bottom of the side edge there is a hardware camera key. Shooting can even be done underwater. The manufacturer also equipped the device with a special connector for the docking station. At the bottom there is a microphone and a hole for a lanyard. Headphones are connected from above, the jack is standard - 3.5 mm.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact: technical specifications

Before describing in detail the main components of the smartphone, it is necessary to dwell on the technical characteristics. Let's look at what the manufacturer offers in this model:

Screen

Will the display on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone surprise buyers? The screen characteristics are quite acceptable, although by modern standards the indicators are not very high. In the manual you can read the following information provided by the manufacturer:

• Screen type - Triluminos.
• Resolution - 1280×720.
• Matrix - IPS, touch.
• Diagonal - 4.6".
• Pixel density - 319 ppi.

To improve the image, special X-Reality technology is used. This model does not have the usual film protecting the screen. The manufacturer decided to use glass. Brightness settings are adjusted in two ways: automatically and manually. Multi-touch is designed for 10 simultaneous touches. You can work with the display either with wet hands or with gloves. There is a proximity sensor on the front surface. If you close it while on a call, it automatically locks the screen.

The colors are quite saturated. The display can reproduce up to 16 million colors. Viewing angles are good. When the device is tilted 45°, the contrast decreases. Changes occur due to highlighted black areas.

Sound

What sound should you expect from the Sony D5803 Xperia Z3 Compact (black)? The characteristics of the speakers are not very high. Unfortunately, there is no expressiveness. The sound is muffled and there is some noise. When the volume is turned up to maximum, wheezing appears. Considering that there are two speakers in this model, buyers were hoping for a better result.

The owners will not be happy during the conversation either. Although the interlocutor’s voice is recognizable, it is not clear. However, timbre and intonation are recognized well.

To play music files on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (the phone's characteristics are presented above), a Walkman player is used. It is equipped with standard settings and, according to audiophiles, has nothing remarkable. The only thing that deserves attention is the surround sound and innovative xLoud and Clear Phase technologies. To improve performance, you can use the ClearAudio+ option. For connoisseurs of music tracks, the manufacturer recommends using the MDR-NC31EM headset, guaranteeing a noise reduction of 98%.

Camera

This model is equipped with two cameras. This no longer surprises anyone. All modern smartphones are equipped in a similar way. The only difference is the resolution. Will photography enthusiasts like the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (D5803)? The characteristics of the main camera are impressive - 20.7 megapixels. It is equipped with a G Lens, autofocus with a distance of 27 mm. If necessary, the settings can be changed manually, choosing the best result. It is worth noting that in automatic mode, pictures are taken with a size of 3840 × 2160 pixels, which corresponds to a resolution of 8 megapixels. In the settings, you can select the highest value, which will allow you to take photos at 5248x3936.

The owners, having tested the main camera, came to the following conclusions. The pictures come out of fairly good quality. At close range, sharpness decreases only in the corners, and then only slightly. In photographs, shadows are reproduced well, and noise is practically absent. The main advantage of this model is the ability to take pictures underwater.

There is no point in stopping for a long time with the front camera (2.2 megapixels). Its resolution means that selfie lovers will not be able to get high-quality images.

Video shooting

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (camera specifications above) opens up great opportunities for shooting videos. For example, you can record the same scene from different viewing angles or use background sound (the sound of rain, birdsong, etc.). Video resolution: 4K (UHD) and 1080 r. There is a high frame rate mode. You can also use slowdown effects if desired.

A wide range of video recording functions appealed to many owners. The shooting mode with a speed of 60 fps (resolution - 1080 p) received the greatest number of positive reviews.

Software

The characteristics of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact phone directly depend on the power of the processor and operating system. They influence the performance of the device. This model is equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a Krait 400 core type. Frequency is 2.5 GHz. As for the platform, the phone runs on the updated version of Google Android 4.4.4. The interface is proprietary and is Sony's own development. Icons and settings items are large and clear. The surprising thing is that only this model has a reboot option. Previously, this required simply turning off the phone and turning it on again. The new devices have the ability to integrate with a game console, and not only a smartphone, but also a Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact tablet can act as a screen. The characteristics of these devices are compatible with the Sony PlayStation 4 model. Mobile devices are capable of displaying everything that happens on the TV screen. The manufacturer has provided a special mounting stand as an additional accessory. With its help, a phone or tablet is connected to the joystick.

Battery

In modern smartphones, battery life is a very important parameter. The battery is responsible for this, of course. But not everything depends on its capacity. Also quite important are parameters such as screen resolution, brightness level, etc. How did the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (black) perform?

Battery specifications:

• Type - lithium-ion.
• Volume - 2600 mAh.
• Charging time - 3 hours.
• Standby mode - about 900 hours.
• Playing music through the headset - 110 hours.
• When talking - 14 hours.

While testing the device, the following results were obtained. It is worth considering that Wi-Fi was turned on on the phone.

• Reading mode with low brightness level - 22 hours.
• Watching video in high format - 10 hours.
• 3D game option - 5 hours.

So, these results indicate quite decent characteristics. Not every smartphone has such indicators. How was the manufacturer able to achieve them? For battery life, the screen is a major advantage. It is not very large and does not have FullHD resolution. It is thanks to him that the operating time without recharging is so high.

Connection

This model supports network formats: 2G, 3G, 4G. You can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to receive and transmit data. When the Internet was turned on, the owners did not notice any system freezes or slowdowns in the operation of the device. Data transfer can be performed at speeds of up to 150 Mb/s. As for the signal from the mobile operator, the owners had no comments; the phone picks up the network perfectly.

Conclusion

Describing the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact model (the full characteristics are now known to you), we can highlight a large list of advantages. Reviews from owners confirm them 100% of the time.

Of course, there were some comments. Some owners are unhappy with the screen. We will have to agree with them, since there are some shortcomings. Replacing the material on the side edges can also hardly be called an advantage, since the phone has lost its status as an expensive piece of equipment. Now he is positioned more as a teenager. By the way, it’s not for nothing that the manufacturer added green and orange options. They are great for young energetic people. And buyers with conservative views can opt for the classic design - white and black.