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  • Characteristics of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact - Specifications

Characteristics of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact - Specifications

For those who don’t want to take a large phone with a large diagonal. However, it does not completely copy the body of the older version; instead of metal frames, it uses a less “serious”, but more youthful and stylish polymer. Sony has not followed the path of most companies that equip mini-flagships with processors from the mid-price range, in this case the Z3 Compact has the same set of functions and the same ultra-efficient processor as on the older Sony Xperia Z3. This will allow you to use your smartphone as a gaming platform. You don't have to worry that a smaller, more hand-friendly phone will turn out to be a pale copy of its big brother.

As befits smartphones in this line, the Xperia Z3 Compact is protected from water according to IP 68 standards and in our tests passed the test of river water and sandy silt. The battery life of the model turned out to be excellent, especially in audio player mode: the smartphone lasted about four and a half days before being completely discharged. If previously the displays of Xperia Z smartphones could be blamed for low brightness, now this defect has been corrected - there is enough brightness for any situation. The smartphone's camera has an impressive number of megapixels - 20.7, takes clear pictures and can easily replace your point-and-shoot camera when traveling.

It’s hard to name any serious shortcomings: the same design is not an easy task, except that you have to tinker with the plugs; inserting a SIM card into it is not so easy; and the smartphone can slip out of your hands or roll off an uneven surface; The non-removable battery can also be considered a disadvantage. In our opinion, it was possible to increase the display resolution, then the pixel density per inch would catch up, and even surpass, the older versions of the flagships. Overall, the Z3 Compact was the best in many ways among the smartphones we tested. It is certainly a worthy alternative to all smartphones up to 5 inches, including the iPhone 6 and the new product from Samsung - Galaxy Alpha.

Dimensions and weight - 5.0

Sony is accelerating and, apparently, decided to update its line of smartphones every six months, so it probably “missed” the mini version of the Xperia Z2. The last time the “younger” version was released only for the Sony Xperia Z1, and this was only 9 months before the release of the Xperia Z3 Compact. What changes have occurred in the Xperia Z? Compared to the Xperia Z1 Compact, the diagonal of the Z3 has increased from 4.3 inches to 4.6. At the same time, the length and width of the smartphone are the same - 127x65 mm, but the thickness has become less than 8.7 mm versus 9.5 mm. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone has lost a few grams of weight (128 g versus 137 g). The increase in diagonal was mainly due to the frames at the top and bottom, but the phone still visually appears tall and “elongated”. Overall these are good indicators. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone fits well in one hand, although operating with one hand is no longer so convenient.

The front and back of the Xperia Z3 Compact is covered with glass; it collects fingerprints more easily, but they are easy to clean. We also note that the older version of the Xperia Z uses metal side frames, but in this case, instead of a “noble” material, a translucent polymer is used.

Among the disadvantages, we note that due to the glass coating, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone easily “slides” off inclined surfaces. In addition, the glass, although protected, can become cracked if accidentally dropped on asphalt. If a smartphone should be afraid of asphalt, then there should be no problems with water, since it is protected from water and dust according to the highest standards - IP 68. By the way, the same Samsung Galaxy S5 mini is protected according to a less demanding standard - IP 67. Of course, It’s unlikely that anyone will seriously swim with their phones underwater; rather, this is simply protection from accidental falls into water or liquid spilled on the device’s body. However, it is worth noting that in the name of protection from water, you often have to open and close the protective plugs in order to use the connectors. We also found the location of the volume key inconvenient - in the middle of the case and you have to reach for it.

The model looks stylish and the build quality is good. We also note that the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact easily passed our moisture resistance tests; even after swimming in a river and testing with a fountain jet, the body almost does not crunch under pressure.

You can buy the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact in four colors: white, black, green and orange.

Screen - 4.5

The display diagonal of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is 4.6 inches. With HD resolution (1280x720 pixels), you get a good pixel density (319 per inch) and a clear image. The matrix type is IPS, and until recently Sony used TN matrices for this series of smartphones. If the previous Xperia Z2 could be blamed for its dim display, the current one no longer has problems with brightness - up to 491 cd/m2, this is a high figure. As you know, Sony uses X-Reality image enhancement technology, which should improve image clarity and brightness. However, our tests showed that the maximum brightness mode did not significantly increase the maximum image brightness - only up to 497 cd / m2. And in the image sharpening mode, we were not able to discern any serious changes. Viewing angles are good, the display does not go blind in the sun, images and texts remain readable. There is an auto-brightness function, but it does not work as quickly as we would like. Like most premium devices, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact can be used with gloves. The display glass is scratch-resistant and gets dirty when touched with your fingers, but marks are easily erased.

Cameras - 4.1

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact phone has a 20.7 MP camera. You have access to an LED flash, autofocus, face detection, image stabilization, HDR mode, panorama shooting and a large selection of settings and modes for a pleasant pastime. The maximum photo resolution is 5248x3936 pixels if you configure all the parameters yourself. True, it’s easier and “no worse” to shoot in “Super Auto Mode,” which takes good 8-megapixel photos, the quality of which drops noticeably only in poor lighting conditions. In addition to the main camera, there is also a 2.2 megapixel front camera with the ability to shoot full Full HD video at a speed of 30 fps.

As for video shooting, the main camera of the smartphone can shoot 4K video - 3840x2160 pixels at 30 fps. Want slow motion and more frames per second? Please - shoot Full HD video at 60 fps and HD video at 120 fps. By the way, the Apple iPhone 6 can do the same thing, plus 240 fps with HD resolution. In addition, there are a large number of effects, background defocusing, a multi-camera with shooting the scene from different angles, the ability to add virtual scenes to the video and much more.

Photo from camera Sony Xperia Z3 Compact - 4.1

Working with text - 5.0

The standard keyboard in the Sony Xperia Z3 is convenient because it has the function of entering text using strokes (Swype), ample opportunities for customizing dictionaries, and you can also add markup of additional characters to the keys in the same settings. Switching between languages ​​is easy - there is a separate key for this. In addition, there is a one-handed keyboard mode: you can move it to the right or left, whichever is more convenient for you. The Sony Xperia Z3's keyboard can be called comfortable, but in landscape mode it takes up almost the entire screen space.

Internet - 3.0

The situation with browsers on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is standard: Google Chrome is preinstalled, with support for synchronizing tabs with the desktop version. Multiple page scaling and separate reading mode are not supported. You can only manually set the text font size for one-time scaling and then, by double-clicking on the page, adjust all the text to the selected size.

Communications - 5.0

The company, as usual, has equipped the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact with almost all possible interfaces. The device has: dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi modem mode and support for the high-speed 802.11ac standard, Bluetooth 4.0 with low energy consumption and A2DP support, A-GPS with GLONASS support and an NFC chip. There is also support for Russian LTE frequencies. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone now works with Nano-SIM cards and micro-SD cards up to 128 GB. It also features a micro-USB 2.0 port with support for USB OTG and MHL, which means you can stream high-definition video through it and connect various peripherals to your phone. In short, the only thing missing for a complete set is an infrared port.

Multimedia - 4.6

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact audio player supports many formats and plays MP3, FLAC, WAV files and a number of less popular formats. It’s a bit of a shame, but the Xperia Z2 came with good headphones with noise-canceling technology, but in this case they are not. The built-in video player supports most popular video formats. The video player also supports subtitles.

Battery - 4.0

The model has a non-removable lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh (remember, the Xperia Z1 Compact had 2300 mAh). In our two standard tests, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone demonstrated excellent battery life. The device played HD video at maximum brightness for 8.5 hours. In the mode of listening to music with the screen turned off, the device was discharged in 110 hours (more than 4.5 days), it already seemed to us that it would simply never discharge. Only the Philips W6610 lasted longer in our tests—as much as 134 hours.

Performance - 4.0

Many will be pleased that the manufacturer did not skimp on the compact version of the flagship and did not install in it, as is usually the case, some mediocre processor. The consumer will not have to choose between the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, as between devices with different performance; the choice will only be in the display diagonal. Thus, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, like the Sony Xperia Z3, uses the Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 platform with a quad-core processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz, an Adreno 330 graphics subsystem and 2 GB of RAM (the older model with 3 GB is all-in-one in this regard). a little stronger). For normal operation during everyday use, in our opinion, two cores in a processor with 1 GB of RAM would be enough. It is worth noting that the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact does not experience any serious performance problems: the smartphone works quickly, does not slow down and allows you to play demanding games. But, of course, if you compare the speed of work, including desktops, with the speed of the iPhone 6, then the Z3 Compact will be inferior to the Apple phone.

The device is perfect for any games and applications. According to the results of our synthetic tests, the smartphone occupies one of the leading positions. For example, in the AnTuTu benchmark, the smartphone received 44834 points, and in 3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited - 20421 points, an incredibly huge result. The chipset used in the Sony Xperia Z3 is one of the most powerful on the market today.

Memory - 4.0

The total amount of internal memory in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is limited to 16 GB, about 11.5 GB is available to the user. There is a slot for a micro-SD memory card; cards up to 128 GB are supported. By the way, it is also possible to “hot-swap” the memory card; you only have to open and close the waterproof plugs each time, turn off or restart the phone.

Peculiarities

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone is IP68 certified, which means it is protected from water and dust. You can drop it into water, and if all its caps are securely covered, then this will do nothing to the phone. We tested the water protection on a river and even buried it in river mud - everything works. In addition, we note the glass body, advanced smartphone interfaces and a 20 MP camera.

The smartphone runs on Android 4.4.4 with a proprietary shell from Sony: all standard applications have been redesigned and have an original look. The dialer contains Russian letters, the music player can search for album covers, and there is support for third-party themes. Among the pre-installed applications, we can note Lifelog for recording the events of your life, radio (you will need a headset), the OfficeSuite office suite with the ability to view documents, Smart Connect for connecting devices, a file manager, AntiVirus Pro, and for some reason the Predators game was pre-installed on our sample. For fans of games on Play Station, there is an application for launching Play Station games on the smartphone screen; it will start working in November 2014. There is also a simple Sketch application in which you can play around with photos of friends, for example, draw mustaches, hats or noses on them.

The price of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact in the spring of 2015 is on average 27,590 rubles.

The display resolution of the Apple iPhone 6 is slightly higher, and so is the image. Smartphone cameras, in our opinion, are quite comparable to each other in terms of image quality. The iPhone 6 case is metal, more compact, while the Sony Z3 Compact is made of glass, with polymer frames and protection from water and dust. In terms of battery life, the iPhone 6 is noticeably inferior to the Sony smartphone, but the iPhone 6 boasts high operating speed. With everything else, the memory capacity on the Xperia Z3 Compact can be increased using a memory card, which the iPhone does not have, and the price of the Apple smartphone is much higher.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha is almost a record holder for compactness of the case. It has a metal frame on the sides, but no water protection. The Sony smartphone camera, in our opinion, is better; the USB connector supports MHL and the battery life is noticeably longer; there is support for memory cards, which the Galaxy Alpha was deprived of. In terms of performance, both devices are about the same, but in daily use the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is slightly faster. Prices for smartphones are almost at the same level; Compact Z3 is a thousand rubles cheaper in the fall of 2014. In our opinion, the choice is not for everyone: smartphones have their own character, their own strengths and weaknesses.

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini SM-G800H/DS is a simpler competitor, but also a mini-flagship. Its price is significantly lower, it does not work with LTE and is not equipped with an NFC chip, but it is also protected from water and dust. The displays can be called similar, but the S5 mini has a fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy S5 mini's processor is weaker, but in everyday use you're unlikely to notice the difference. The Xperia Z3 Compact battery turned out to be more durable. But the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini SM-G800H/DS is perfect for those who need support for two SIM cards, but having a budget phone is not enough.

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.

Today, people are divided into two categories: some crave devices with large screens, while others, remembering Steve Jobs’ commandments about the ideal diagonal of a smartphone, demand compact but powerful phones from manufacturers. At IFA 2014, Sony catered to everyone's needs. The Japanese showed not only the new flagship Z3, but also its smaller version Z3 Compact, which differs from its “big brother” only in dimensions (well, and some other small points). If you could already review the first one on our website, then we will get acquainted with the second one now. Make yourself comfortable!

Video review of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

To begin with, I propose to understand the main differences between the Z3 and Z3 Compact. There are not so many of them anymore. It is clear that our today’s hero has lost a little in dimensions (64.9 x 127 x 8.6 mm versus 72 x 146 x 7.3 mm) and weight (129 grams versus 152 grams). The Z3 Compact is a little thicker, but that's logical. The battery in the Z3 is set at 3100 mAh, and in the Z3 Compact it is 2600 mAh. In the first case, 3 GB of RAM is available, in the second there is 1 GB less - 2 GB. Due to the smaller diagonal of the Z3 Compact (4.6 inches versus 5.2 inches), the resolution has also decreased: from Full HD to regular HD. That's all. Otherwise, these devices are identical, which is good news.

Appearance

Externally, the Sony Xperia Z3 is similar to the company's previous models, so it will be difficult to confuse the device with solutions from other companies. But it's for the better. Personally, I like the design solutions of the Japanese over the past few years. For example, in our case, the smartphone has very thin side frames (they are also quite small at the top and bottom), so the 4.6-inch screen was placed in a body that is much smaller in size than competitors with a similar display diagonal.

Above the screen there was a place for the Sony logo, two sensors (lighting and proximity), a front camera and a speaker. Moreover, the latter has a twin brother, who is already located under the display. You understand that stereo sound in any device is always pleasant. By the way, about the sound. It is of very high quality and clean, but at maximum volume (this is especially noticeable in games), the smartphone begins to vibrate in your hands.

Exactly in the center of the right side, the engineers placed the power control key, which is made in the best traditions of Sony - round and silver. On the black version (there are also red, light green and white) it looks very impressive. Just below you can find a volume rocker. It has two features: it is small (on my Lumia 1520 the lock button is the same size) and it is located too close to the aforementioned power control key, so accidental presses cannot be avoided for the first few days. But then you get used to it. A two-position camera button is also present.

On the left everything is hidden behind plugs. Only a two-pin connector for connecting to the docking station in a visible place. Under the top “flap” you can find a microUSB connector and a slot for memory cards, and under the bottom there is a tray for SIM cards in Nano format. To be honest, opening the cap every time to charge a smartphone or transfer some data to a computer is not always convenient. Although security (according to the IP 65/68 standard) is never superfluous. But HTC, as we all know, does not believe that plugs are a mandatory parameter. , which is not afraid of water (IPX7), is a good example of this.

On the bottom edge, in addition to the microphone, you can also find a place for attaching a strap, and on the top there is an audio output and another microphone. The back panel, like the front, is covered with protected glass. There you can find the Sony logo, the inscription “Xperia”, the “N” icon, which indicates the location of the NFC chip and, of course, the main camera peephole and flash. The Japanese are very proud of their camera, so they unobtrusively placed the “20.7 MP” mark next to it.

In general, the device can be safely given a solid “A” for its appearance, build quality and body materials. Nothing creaks or plays. The only problem is fingerprints. They are visible very well. Although this problem is solved in just a few seconds by a regular napkin. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact feels great in your hands. However, I have to admit that it was difficult to get used to after my 6-inch Lumia 1520.

Display

We figured out the display diagonal and its resolution at the very beginning of the review - 4.6 inches and 1280 x 720 pixels. There was no point in Full HD here, and the company did the right thing by not chasing dry numbers. HD is quite enough for such sizes that you cannot see individual pixels on the screen - 319 PPI. Glove control is provided, and up to 10 touches are supported simultaneously.

Everything is fine with viewing angles, maximum and minimum brightness, and font readability. The only thing worth understanding is that a small screen (although a few years ago a 4.6-inch smartphone seemed gigantic) means a small keyboard. When typing, you often press the wrong key. It would seem that this is also a matter of habit, but during the test I never managed to get the hang of it.

Camera

The main camera received 20.7 MP, and the front camera received 2.2 MP. In terms of software, everything is pretty good (although, as we remember, this was not always the case; the company made a noticeable step only in its latest devices). There are a lot of modes here. The only funny thing is that the maximum quality (that is, 20 MP) can only be selected in manual mode; in the rest, 8 MP is used. Although let's face it, for most daily tasks this is sufficient. You can also shoot videos in 4K and broadcast live on YouTube. Bloggers, rejoice! Yulia spoke in more detail about the camera’s capabilities in her .

But, as they say, it’s better to watch once than to read seven times (or something like that). Here are some sample pictures:

I was very pleased with the quality of the pictures. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is the case when 20-megapixel (and even 8-megapixel) quality is not a shame. It often happens that there seem to be a lot of megapixels, but the pictures are such that even on Instagram with one subscriber you can’t even raise your hand to upload them. But in our case everything is different. The camera is good. I would even say that it is very good.

Features and software

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a true flagship! Here you have a Snapdragon 801 (4 Krait 400 cores, 2.5 GHz), and 2 GB of RAM (we have already found out that the Z3 has 3 GB of RAM), and an Adreno 330 graphics accelerator. The smartphone copes with games and other demanding tasks excellently. This is quite expected, because such hardware, paired with a not very high resolution, is capable of a lot. Asphalt 8 starts with maximum graphics, and Dead Trigger 2, despite average parameters, does not slow down even in dynamic scenes (where everything explodes and crowds of zombies are running towards you). In various tests, the smartphone also showed its best side: 45 thousand in AnTuTu, 20 thousand in Quadrant and 19 thousand in 3DMark. During the entire time I tested the device, I did not notice any shortcomings even when flipping through desktops normally (although this is more likely a matter of proper optimization of the proprietary shell). The operating system used here is Android (wow, what a surprise!) version 4.4.4.

As for the built-in memory, there is 16 GB of it. MicroSD cards up to 128 GB are also supported. But autonomy is a completely different matter. The Sony smartphone is clearly one of the best in this regard. The thing is that the manufacturer managed to install a battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh in such a compact case. For example, the same battery is installed in, but there is already a Full HD screen. If we talk about the “lifetime” of the Xperia Z3 Compact, then the device will last one and a half or even two days. This is during normal use (social networks, email, a little YouTube, calls, e-reader). If you squeeze all the juice out of the phone (play games all the time, watch movies and all that), then the charge will last for 10 hours. In the settings there is also a STAMINA mode, which will make the Z3 Compact immortal. For example, at 32 percent, the program promises 7 hours of battery life, and when energy saving is activated, this figure increases to some sky-high indicators - 1 day and 16 hours!

All technical specifications look like this:

  • Dimensions: 64.9 x 127 x 8.6 mm.
  • Weight: 129 grams.
  • Operating system: Android 4.4.4.
  • Processor: quad-core Snapdragon 801 with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz.
  • Graphics: Adreno 330.
  • Display: IPS, 4.6 inches, 1280 x 720 pixels.
  • Memory: 16 GB + microSD slot.
  • RAM: 2 GB.
  • Camera: main - 20.7 MP, front - 2.2 MP.
  • Battery: 2600 mAh.

Eventually

The positioning of the phone fully explains its name. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is not a mini version of the Xperia Z3 with simplified characteristics, but simply a compact version of it. Before us is a real flagship in a small package. He has very few controversial points. The only things I can complain about are the keys on the right side (they are located too close) and the price. If the amount of 490 dollars still sounds acceptable, then 13 thousand hryvnia or 32 thousand rubles is somehow too much (but the company itself is unlikely to be able to help customers in any way here). Otherwise, I really liked the smartphone: high-quality camera, good screen, beautiful appearance, powerful hardware and long life on a single charge. If you've been dreaming of a flagship device with a small screen for the past few years, then the Xperia Z3 Compact may be just about the only viable option.

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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 was able 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.

A stylish mini-version of a flagship smartphone with almost identical hardware is Sony. Characteristics of hardware and software capabilities, as well as the pros and cons of this device based on real reviews from owners - this is the material that will be discussed in detail in our review material.

Gadget equipment

Although this is a mini-version of the flagship solution, you can’t tell from the configuration. It has everything you need to start using your smartphone right out of the box. In addition to the device itself (the battery in this case is non-removable, and the case is non-separable), the delivery set includes the following accessories and components:

    High quality sound system.

    Charger 1.5A.

    The usual interface cord with USB connectors and, of course, microUSB.

The list of documentation for this smartphone consists of a user manual and a warranty card.

Smart phone design and ease of use

It’s worth noting right away that, like the flagship device, the body of this smartphone has an increased degree of protection - IP65 and IP68. This provides protection from dust and moisture. That is, this gadget can be immersed under water and take video or photographs at this time. To do this, there is a special button on the left side of the smart phone. The only condition that needs to be met is to install the special supplied plugs in the corresponding slots. In addition to the previously mentioned camera control button, on the left side of the smartphone there is a power button and the usual volume up and down buttons. There are two slots on the right edge: for a SIM card and for an external flash drive. At the bottom there is only a hole for the speaking microphone, and all the wire connectors are on the top side: 3.5 mm and a universal microUSB.

Like this manufacturer’s tablet with a similar name, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is equipped with “Gorilla Eye” protective glass. It protects its front panel, most of which is occupied by a screen with a very modest diagonal, as today - 4.6 inches. Above it there are several sensors and below, below the screen, there is a typical of three backlit touch buttons. There are 2 speakers located symmetrically relative to the screen: one on top and the other on the bottom. The main camera and LED backlight are located on the back side.

CPU

The flagship solution Snapdragon 801 from the leading developer of AWS chips - Qualcomm - provides one of the best levels of computing performance compared to analogues in Sony Compact. The characteristics of its hardware parameters indicate the presence of 4 high-performance modules. Each of them is built on an architecture codenamed “Krait 400”. This is Qualcomm’s own development, which is based on the currently more common “A15” architecture. The clock frequency of each computing cell at maximum computing load can reach 2.5 GHz. As a result, it can be noted that the performance of this chip is at a very high level and allows you to solve any problems. At the same time, energy efficiency leaves much to be desired.

Graphics accelerator and display

The screen diagonal of this smart phone model is a very modest, as it is today, 4.6 inches. It is made using the proprietary technology of this manufacturer - IPS TRILUMINOS. In this case, there is no air gap between the display and glass, which ensures high picture quality that does not depend on the viewing angle. The only thing that causes certain comments is the color gamut, which is slightly distorted in this device, but proper configuration of the Sony Compact will help solve the problem. The display resolution is 1280 by 720 px, that is, the picture is displayed in HD format. Of course, these are more modest figures than those of the flagship smartphone (1920x1080 and FullHD, respectively), but it is almost impossible to distinguish individual pixels on the display. This device uses the Adreno 330 graphics adapter as a video accelerator, which was developed by the same company as the processor - Qualcomm. Without delving into the architectural parameters, it can be noted that its hardware capabilities are more than enough to run any applications, including the most demanding ones.

Cameras

Like Compact, this smart phone is equipped with front and rear cameras. The technical parameters of the last of them are really impressive: a 20.7 megapixel sensor element, autofocus, a software optical image stabilization system, eight times digital zoom and Another feature of this camera is video recording in the new “4K” format with a refresh rate of 30 frames per second . Well, don’t forget that the case of this device is dust-proof and moisture-resistant (the smartphone can be submerged to a depth of 1 meter). That is, this device allows you to take high-quality photos or record videos under almost any conditions. The front camera has more modest technical specifications. A 2.2 megapixel sensor is used here. But this is quite enough for both selfies and video calls.

RAM, built-in storage and memory expansion slot

An impressive amount of RAM, 2 GB, is integrated into the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. The characteristics of the built-in storage are also impressive - 16 GB. This is quite enough to start using the gadget out of the box. If the specified values ​​are not enough for someone, then you can increase the memory subsystem by 128GB by inserting a flash card into the appropriate slot. OTJ technology is also supported. That is, using a special cable, you can connect a regular flash drive to your phone. Personal data is best stored on some cloud service. This will allow you to restore all photos and videos if your smartphone is lost or damaged.

Device autonomy

On the one hand, the Compact comes with a built-in battery, the capacity of which is a “solid” 2600 mAh. On the other hand, the screen diagonal, as noted earlier in the text, is 4.6 inches, the processor is high-performance, but not energy efficient, which consists of 4 computing cores - these are quite serious consumers of battery power. At first glance, the declared battery capacity with a mediocre load on the device should be enough for 2, maximum 3 days of battery life. But Japanese programmers carried out some software optimization, and in reality the phone can function for even 5 days instead of the stated 3 days. There are also more energy-efficient modes in this smartphone, which allow you to last a week on one battery charge. But in this case, the functionality of the device is significantly reduced, and some important options are disabled (transferring data to the Internet, receiving multimedia messages).

Software and its features

Something unusual in terms of system software does not allow the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact to stand out from its competitors. Android is the operating system of this device. Currently version 4.4 is installed on the device. Regarding updates to more recent versions, it is quite difficult to say anything definite. The situation is similar with another device in this line of mobile gadgets: the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact tablet boasts similar software.

Interfaces

This smart phone model has an impressive list of supported interfaces, as does the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Reviews indicate that this list contains all the most necessary interfaces. Among them are the following:


Price

The price difference is quite serious between the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact. A comparison of their hardware and software characteristics suggests that the devices are almost identical to each other. Against this background, the price of the flagship at $502 versus $456 for the compact version looks overpriced. Still, shelling out an additional $50 for 1 GB of RAM and a slightly larger screen with a higher resolution is not entirely correct. Moreover, it is easier to work on a smaller copy of the flagship.