I'm switching from a Google Nexus 5 and have longed again for a slightly smaller smartphone. Actually, I once said that I would no longer have a smartphone with top manufacturers, since I was so spoiled by the Nexus from stock Android. Now it's happening again. The consistently very positive reactions to the Z3 Compact me have ultimately led to hesitate to switch. Whether and how my Z3 Compact like experiencing it in the course of this review.
The first impression
The madness! The part do at first sight really an extremely good impression. But I honestly expected. Sony has always been very talented people in your ranks who again prove time and again that they really understand what of style. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact just looks wonderful. Of course this is very matter of taste and very subjective. Anyway, I'm absolutely thrilled.
The housing
The forward / and back are made of glass and should be treated accordingly with care. Fingerprints are naturally absorbed by the glass, but which smartphone is already entirely immune to grease pencils. Pronounced well I also like the held in frosted glass optics plastic frame. This looks very nice simple / elegant. It is also just great, the nearly complete, there is a front of the display. Left and right margins are very narrow and also at both Upper and at the bottom is very little open space. Due to the IP certification to all the connections are behind protective caps. An exception is the jack (above), which is freely accessible. Interestingly, the phone still is waterproof. The striking lock button is mounted centrally on the right edge of the case. Directly below is initially the volume up / down rocker and the dedicated camera button. Even if my Nexus 5 was only slightly larger (about 1cm higher), the Z3 Compact is felt much more manageable. Also the Z3 Compact fits comfortably in the hand, although not quite as good as the Nexus 5 due to the glass surface on the back.
Finally, can the workmanship described as very good. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. In my opinion, a iPhone 6 also not (longer) is for example better. Here also a notice to all interested parties: you need a Nano-SIM card for the Z3 Compact. But do not worry, this you must not necessarily purchase. Its normal SIM or even the micro-SIM One can rightly cut to the size of a nano-SIM. I have my own Micro SIM also tailored. That's really good, if you go to the cause with a little finesse.
Display
Something had concerns due to the fact that the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact with a 4.6 inches large display only on a HD (1280 x 720), rather than on a Full HD (1920 x 1080) sets. As has found out, however, this fear was completely unfounded. Everything looks sharp crack and very clear. It is satisfied even a lot brighter than my old Nexus 5. I am definitely. And the fact that the processor does not have to drive as many pixels should be even be an advantage, details see the section on battery life.
Performance & Co
This point serves as a smorgasbord of other capabilities that will I do not want to leave unmentioned the Z3 Compact. Let's start with the internal memory. The Z3 Compact is offered exclusively in a 16 GB version, but can be expanded via micro SD card if required up to 128 GB. Thus, for each enough space. I'll be on my part even too loose with the internal 16 GB out of which about 12 GB are usable way (pre-installed apps, Android). The internal memory are a 2 GB of RAM available (the big brother, the normal Z3 are 3 GB installed). A difference between 3 or 2 GB of RAM you will realistically not notice.
Battery life
You can use really intense the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and comes out without any problem over two days on a single charge. Now that's great! And then I also like to do without full HD. By the way: When the battery is even really close to the end, then the Ultra Stamina mode can pick up the one or two hour running time from the battery pack again. In this mode, all functions are switched off except for the telephone, SMS function and camera. In addition, the frequency of the processor is throttled by the current hunger to limit to a minimum.
Camera
So I am still of the opinion that a smartphone is not suitable for serious photography. For the occasional snapshot, however, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact makes very passable shots. Videos can even record in 4K! Madness. One should not exaggerate, because the memory is otherwise full faster than you can watch :) By default, takes the X3 compact way, photos with 8 megapixels. If you want the full resolution of 20 MP to use this is to switch manually. However, here applies the same statement as in the films in 4K. Beautiful are the numerous setting options, which are one supplied by Sony and facilitate a photographing and film something. Incidentally, the standalone camera button on the right edge of the case, which gives one the feeling of a compact camera, conveys when you hold the phone in landscape (horizontal), a very pleasant pressure point. As you would expect from normal cameras, a first stroke is the focus. Only fully depressed triggers the camera. I think that on a smartphone really great.
User Interface
I have already mentioned in the preface and would like to address this reason at this point some of the adjustments that Sony has made to the Android. When I think of TouchWiz from Samsung is bad. I really want to step on anybody's toes. I like the UI of Samsung but simply not at all. Sony changed the basic design of Android is not quite as dramatic and does it when actually with brains. To display the battery status in percent is just good and should be standard in the stock Android. Really good, I like the Gallery app from Sony. Called it is simply an "album" and offers a beautiful overview very pleasant looking animations that at no time in the slightest imperfections. Here the Sony software is clearly better than the Google Gallery. The Walkman app has convinced me and like far better than play music to me. In short: I like the UI of Sony well. And the recent past has shown that Sony makes every effort to relatively speedy updates. And again: These are very subjective impressions. Another sees the maybe totally different and may be convinced of TouchWiz)
Summary and Conclusion
I want to take this opportunity to take this opportunity to once again the merits and flaws that I noticed in the course of time, when using the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, summarized to draw my conclusion after.
Positive noticed is me ..
Extremely high quality workmanship
Very elegant design
Much display with small margins
Very compact housing
IP certification
Expansion via microSD card possible
Sufficiently good camera
Convincing display with high brightness
NFC available
Battery life of at least two days
Digital Noice-Canceling support
Notification LED
Reasonable price (bought in B ** e)
Some very sinvolle Apps (better than Google originals)
Dedicated camera button
The one negative I ...
Something much software preinstalled *
No DNC headset included (despite DNC support) **
* Many apps are very good, but can not be deinstallable (but only disable)
** Instead a normal headset (without DNC)
Thus I come to the following conclusion: Who is in the world of ever becoming huge Smartphones looking for a compact alternative under 5 inch screen sizes, which can end his search. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact not only provides an extremely high-profile compact housing, but also convinces with pleasant long battery life of at least two days (even with intensive use). Sony brings a very convincing overall package. So Android is extended sense in a few places. Unfortunately, can not uninstall any preinstalled apps (disable but goes). If you count yourself to the mentioned target group, then I can not really express an absolute buy recommendation. The Z3 Compact is a blast.
