Good day fellow XDAers!
I recently received my Xperia Z1 as an upgrade to my Xperia S as my Xperia S was hitting the age two mark, and what better upgrade than the Xperia Z1 I thought? Sure, the Z2 or Sirius is also about to be announced but that'll only mean the Z1 will be priced even better! I've had the Z1 for about a week now and I figured I wouldn't be the only one thinking of upgrading their Xperia S.
So in this thread I will let you know whether it's a good choice for you personally to upgrade (since there is no such thing as a 'smartphone to rule them all').
I will create another post below with a couple of camera comparisons because, if you were like me, you probably also chose the Xperia S for its camera, and are likely to consider the Xperia Z1 for the same reason. I will say beforehand that, yes, the camera is indeed an upgrade. The Z1's camera is not as bad as some review(er)s may have made you believe - at least not with the latest firmware of Android 4.3 installed.
Anyway, let's get to the hardware. The Xperia Z1 feels much, much more premium. It's a really slim device that's cold to the touch and has a bit of heft to it as well, making it feel as premium as it gets. Much more so than the Xperia S, that feels, after having held the Xperia Z1 for a couple of days, very plastic-y. One week prior to writing this I would've said that the Xperia S feels good in the hand, but once you've held the best, there's just no going back.
The processor is just extremely snappy, not much more to say of it. The Xperia S annoyed me with lag occurring more often than not, and if I were to upgrade, it would definitely be a major step upward, hence not going for the Xperia Z (which is probably still snappier than the Xperia S but I don't have experience with it). I wanted to test the Z1's processor but I couldn't find anything graphically intense and fun enough to do. So the Z1 is essentially more than powerful enough
Where the Xperia S had a pretty loose back, the Z1 is as sturdy as it gets with the aluminum frame sandwiched between the glass. If you're coming from the Xperia S, you probably won't mind the flaps. They're a tiny bit harder to open but that's obviously due to the waterproof rubbers (which seem a little too thin for my comfort but hey, Sony tested the device to be waterproof so I'll take that for granted).
I'll have to test the headphone jack some more but so far the quality seems on par with the Xperia S, if not better. I'm not the craziest audiophile out there, but I do believe there's a bit more bass outputting from the Z1's jack. Another thing worth mentioning about the build: the camera button is more comfortable to press and is a little better positioned, and the power button is perfectly in line with my thumb on the side (I hated the top mounted power button on the Xperia S - trying to press it while having it on a table has sent the device flying multiple times). The speaker on the bottom (which isn't the entire grill, just the most right part about one-fifth of the actual grille in size) is less loud as the Xperia S' internal speaker, but the quality to me sounds similar. Again, it's not as horrible as reviewers may have you think, but then again, they always get to review the best devices out there and this is just a mediocre speaker that gets the job done. Finally, the screen is really a joy to look at once you've set the white balance correctly, and the Full HD resolution does make it look better than 720p on the Xperia S. Colours pop more but the screen of the Xperia S seems to have a little more contrast. So yes, the display is indeed another upgrade to the Xperia S from what I can tell.
All in all, what are things you need to consider when you're in the market for a new Sony phone?
- Will the Xperia Z2 / Sirius have anything that *I* really wish I had, that makes me want to wait and get it instead of the Z1?
- Is the Xperia Z1 worth the money, since it's still priced very high?
- Do I want a 5" display on my phone, or is the display size of the Xperia S just fine (refer to the Z1 Compact then)?
- Are the downsides mentioned above not too important?
- How do *I* value waterproofing of a smartphone (I personally value it high, because I lost one phone to a river and it makes life so much easier carelessly taking pictures in the rain or playing music in the shower)
I hope this is of any use to you, looking to upgrade your phone. If this helped you make up your mind, don't hesitate to click a specific button under my XDA name
If you have any questions considering the two devices, please let me know - I'll answer them ASAP! :fingers-crossed:
EDIT:
I've created a video comparison between the Xperia S and Xperia Z1, because I often look things up on YouTube myself
Check it out below:
Sony Xperia S vs. Xperia Z1 - Should you upgrade? <- link to the video
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Now, for the camera comparison of the Xperia S and the Xperia Z1...
Disclaimer: the images were shot with Auto Mode on the Xperia S and Superior Auto Mode on the Z1. I basically compared them as point-and-shoot cameras.
Who would've thought the difference between the Xperia S and Z1 was this big? (zoomed in, that is)
Xperia S:
Screenshot_2014-02-21-16-16-19 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
Xperia Z1:
Screenshot_2014-02-21-16-16-22 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
Or let's try one without zooming:
Xperia S:
DSC_0019 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
Xperia Z1:
DSC_0143 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
I'm trying not to be biased, but the Xperia S suffers from much more lens flare than the Xperia Z1 for example I initially held the Z1 on the right next to the S, but after viewing the lens flare on the S I decided to swap the two, the Z1 now being right. Did it make a difference? Nope. Still the same lens flare on the S, still none on the Z1. When you're shooting in daylight, the Z1's camera really is amazing!
Once you take away the sun however, the Xperia Z1 is no longer amazing but just 'good' at best (I don't have examples just yet).
P.S. the full images of the first crop:
Xperia S:
DSC_0022 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
Xperia Z1:
DSC_0146 by HurrHurrHerman, on Flickr
The Xperia Z1 also has the advantage of having a wide-angle lens, as you can see in the pictures above.
If you want to see more, let me know. I'm here to help and answer any questions!
Good point,talking about the camera,does Z1 have 16:9 resolution higher than 8MP?
RodrigoOgasawara said:
Good point,talking about the camera,does Z1 have 16:9 resolution higher than 8MP?
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Click to collapse
As of yet, nope. But I expect the update to 4.4 to add a 15 megapixel option. Still, megapixels really don't matter as the 8 megapixel shots seem more detailed in daylight than the Xperia S'.
dam U, my XS just reached the end of contract. I trying persuade myself not to give in to temptation and buy such an expensive phone right away.
I am considering between Z1 or Z1 compact. Waiting for WMC to see if there is any phone to push the price of Z1 down.
Hermantje said:
As of yet, nope. But I expect the update to 4.4 to add a 15 megapixel option. Still, megapixels really don't matter as the 8 megapixel shots seem more detailed in daylight than the Xperia S'.
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Click to collapse
I agree with that,but its a bit frustating thing to have a 20mp camera that don't shoot at full resolution,but the quality of the photos looks really good.
Another question,about image compression,pictures take with Z1 are less compressed than XS?I mean,with the Superior Auto mode.
sinple said:
dam U, my XS just reached the end of contract. I trying persuade myself not to give in to temptation and buy such an expensive phone right away.
I am considering between Z1 or Z1 compact. Waiting for WMC to see if there is any phone to push the price of Z1 down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't have the cash, don't bother. The Xperia S is still a good phone. Not everyone needs the best high-end device out there, it's just that I love smartphones so much that I oblige myself to get at least a high-end phone (since I consider the Xperia S to be a darn good midrange device, just not high-end anymore).
RodrigoOgasawara said:
I agree with that,but its a bit frustating thing to have a 20mp camera that don't shoot at full resolution,but the quality of the photos looks really good.
Another question,about image compression,pictures take with Z1 are less compressed than XS?I mean,with the Superior Auto mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Superior Auto mode makes great images in daylight, but once the sunlight is partially gone or you're trying to take pictures with artificial light, the sharpness drops and you get to see this odd Z1 specific 'oversharpening lining' when fully zoomed in. Once you're out of the light, I really recommend using the Manual Mode, because setting the ISO manually makes a huge difference. So if you can live with that, the Z1's camera is as good as it gets (ISO-50 images in darker environments look detailed - Night Mode is even better!).
One other thing I have noticed, is that the Z1 has barely any chromatic (colour) noise - if you can see noise in pictures, it's going to be these 'sharpened lines' that I don't know how else to explain. I really hated how often the coloured noise occurred in pictures taken with the Xperia S, it really ruined the images for me.
Hi there, I liked reading your review as I have had the Xperia S for around a year now on 3 PAYG but Ive been ever so tempted to get either the Z1 or Z1C on contract, but now that ive seen rumours/videos of the suspected 'Z2' which looks pretty darn awesome, do you think its best I get a Z1 or wait for the new release? I mean the Xperia S is a great phone I could cope with it a little more, although stock jellybean 4.1.2 which is what im running has quite a few bugs, also lately my device has been 'overheating' after updating a fair amount of apps which is a sad thing so i guess its nearlly the end for my XS, sad times haha
Sent from my Sony Xperia S LT26i using XDA app-developers app
LevsOG said:
Hi there, I liked reading your review as I have had the Xperia S for around a year now on 3 PAYG but Ive been ever so tempted to get either the Z1 or Z1C on contract, but now that ive seen rumours/videos of the suspected 'Z2' which looks pretty darn awesome, do you think its best I get a Z1 or wait for the new release? I mean the Xperia S is a great phone I could cope with it a little more, although stock jellybean 4.1.2 which is what im running has quite a few bugs, also lately my device has been 'overheating' after updating a fair amount of apps which is a sad thing so i guess its nearlly the end for my XS, sad times haha
Sent from my Sony Xperia S LT26i using XDA app-developers app
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I was just too eager to get the Z1 that I couldn't wait one other week for the Z2. But as for the leaks, the Z2 does look like a more perfect device, but it's probably going to be about €150 (or a similar amount of dollars) more expensive, and I didn't think the Z1 would get much cheaper instantly.
So if you can wait, do so. It's always better - prices can only drop. I just really wanted the Z1 and I wasn't planning on paying that much more for a Z2 that's a little closer to perfection.
To summarize, here's what the Z2 is probably going to improve:
- IPS display, so no more viewing angle complaints
- Android 4.4 (but I presume all software tweaks will be made available for the Z1 as well, either through Sony or else through the amazing XDA developers we got)
- Stereo speakers
Other than that, the Z2 seems to be similar to the Z1. So for the price, I'd go (and I actually went) for the Z1. But it's all up to you, and wait if you can because phones are only getting cheaper!
thinking to upgrade too
but i didnt chose yet ,, Z1 or Z1s or Z1 compact !!! i think the almost the same no ?
sparxx4 said:
thinking to upgrade too
but i didnt chose yet ,, Z1 or Z1s or Z1 compact !!! i think the almost the same no ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what the Z1s is supposed to be, but it's either a specific variant of the Z1 or Z1 Compact.
Either way, if you're in doubt between these two and you have an Xperia S, just think about the size. Are you longing for something bigger?
One thing I have to mention: although I love the size of the Z1, it's just not as practical to use in one hand as my old Xperia S. Keep that in mind.
And have fun choosing your next phone
sparxx4 said:
thinking to upgrade too
but i didnt chose yet ,, Z1 or Z1s or Z1 compact !!! i think the almost the same no ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Z1s is only for T mobile in USA and it has a slightly better camera and 32GB storage
please read this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2600577
as for me I'll until Z2 is released in my region :good:
Update: I added a YouTube video of the comparison to the original post!
If you'd like to see more of a comparison, ask & subscribe I'd say :angel:
still better S
Still better s because it cheaper Maybe i'll buy z1 when sony will release z2 and z1 went cheaper.
misqowiec said:
Still better s because it cheaper Maybe i'll buy z1 when sony will release z2 and z1 went cheaper.
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Click to collapse
Very true that the Xperia S is cheaper now. I can't even sell mine because I'm asking too much apparently :silly:
But make no mistake: the Z1 feels much more of an upgrade than reviews may make it seem.
I purchased the Z1 because the price had already dropped to just above €400, as opposed to the Z2 which is around €550 or even €600 now.
In case of the Z1 vs Z2, I'd go (and I have gone) for the Z1, just for its pricetag.
Genneraly i'm thinking about z1 compact becasue classic z1 is too big for me
misqowiec said:
Genneraly i'm thinking about z1 compact becasue classic z1 is too big for me
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Click to collapse
Except for the size there's barely any difference between the two, so I'm hoping my guide will still be useful :3
Hermantje said:
- IPS display, so no more viewing angle complaints
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Click to collapse
Isn't it good to have bad viewing angles because of privacy issues? Also it is not a tv so i don't get why people care about viewing angles.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
FaiselW said:
Isn't it good to have bad viewing angles because of privacy issues? Also it is not a tv so i don't get why people care about viewing angles.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all personal preference, but people usually prefer being able to view the display perfectly when it's on the table. It's actually more common than you might think, that you're not looking directly at the display. I'd say, if you're really into privacy, you won't dislike the absent viewing angles. Otherwise the display just looks better overall, when you can even look at it from an angle without contrast loss. The issue I often have is that I can't read text due to lowered contrast when my phone's on the table, for example hooked up to my radio, like it is at this moment. It's more difficult to change songs because the text on the display is not always readable.
FaiselW said:
Isn't it good to have bad viewing angles because of privacy issues? Also it is not a tv so i don't get why people care about viewing angles.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What privacy issues? Are you concerned someone can read your texts over your shoulder? You'll probably notice when someone's breathing down your neck then, because even with a 5 inch screen, the screen is still small enough to require the phone to still be in an arm's distance from your face to read properly. For everything else like photos and videos, you are aware that you've already shared all of your life with Google, Facebook, etc anyway?
For me, one of the downsides of the Xperia S is how grey all the colours are when you look at it if it's lying down on a table. You can't properly show photos to other people or you need to hand them your phone.
Saying that bad viewing angles are good for privacy is just one of those excuses to avoid criticizing Sony. Sony never made those viewing angles so bad by design, it's not a feature, so the viewing angles should just be as good as possible. If it were a feature, it should be optional because not all of us wear tinfoil hats. If you want bad viewing angles because you're actually concerned about your privacy (and you don't want to tell that creep breathing in your neck to shove off) there are filters you can apply as a screen protector or a case to get even worse viewing angles. I know that Siemens employees need to put a similar filter on their laptops if they're using it in public to avoid leaking company secrets.
About the Xperia Z1/Z2, they're too big for me. I'm considering the Z1 compact but after 2 years of Sony, about half of which with AOSP based ROMs, I've decided I don't like OEM skins and the limitations they pose. So next phone will probably be a Nexus (it's a bit smaller but only just though..) or a Motorola if they release the successor of the Moto X in Belgium at all. I would be tempted to get an Xperia Z1 compact if there were a Google Play Edition.
Related
Hello everybody,
actually Im a big fan of HTC-Devices and Sense. Everything startet with a HTC Blackstone and Windows-Mobile. Currently Im using a HTC Legend and Desire (private & work).
Meanwhile Im bored of the Design of HTC. To thick to "normal".
So now the Xperia Arc comes in. Wundervoll design, thin and compare to the measures small. Disadvantage for me is the USB-Port on the side for the dockingstation (New trend?) and the missing front camera.
But mybe there are other advantages than the design that I missed.
Actually what I want to ask is, why did you buy the ARC?
grossermanitu said:
Actually what I want to ask is, why did you buy the ARC?
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I have also used many models of HTCphone, I have changed to SE Arc for 3 months.
With Arc I'm happy because it has a lot of things better than HTC phones such as Arc has good radio, clear sound, its screen looks like Bravia TV. With Arc's camera I can have a lot of very beautiful pictures on days or night especially with added software Arc can take nice panorama picture and more...
I'm a SE-fanboy, liking the Arc and my X10 started to reboot often so I got it.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App
I like Sony Mobile Bravia Engine, the Reality Display and the arc shape.
reasons why i bought the Arc:
- I'm a big SE fan, had a X10 but was missing 'some things'(vague, i know)
- Big 4.2" screen (with the bravia engine it looks great)
- Really good camera quality in day & night(and it takes a picture fast)
- The design: just look at the thing man! (let's be honnest all phone in the xperia range look very good)
Most SE designs look like they are made to my taste. Or you can also say others make phones that look ugly to my taste .
But I wish SE can improve the build quality of their phones to feel more solid and use more metal. I find HTC phones to have much better build quality than SE phones but somehow their phone designs don't interest me.
Samsung is a joke. They just copy everyone. To me, their best looking phone is Captivate and it looks somewhat like X10.
I have a desire. It's nice but not as nice as the arc. The pictures, audio quality and radio on the desire is appalling.
After playing with an arc in a store the camera is excellent, the audio quality is superb the radio works and the screen is beautifull.....but why SE why have such crap build quality?
I am looking forward to the RAY and that may be my next phone.
Xperia ray is beautiful but smaller. For me... Arc is suitable. Smaller than Dell streak and bigger than ray.
Gunawan - GN Multimedia - Xperia Arc
Killingly cool design
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App
1. design 2. camera 3. interface design. After using an atrix i decided a dualcore wasn't worth it for what i needed to do and would rather trade it for the "curvaceous" arc. Brother has a SGS2 and it is awesome, but the stock samsung ROM really leaves a lot to be desired design wise. Have a look at their stock dialer. blegh.
edit: oh yea, cant forget about the screen. Perfect size and looks great.
gk_terato said:
1. design 2. camera 3. interface design. After using an atrix i decided a dualcore wasn't worth it for what i needed to do and would rather trade it for the "curvaceous" arc. Brother has a SGS2 and it is awesome, but the stock samsung ROM really leaves a lot to be desired design wise. Have a look at their stock dialer. blegh.
edit: oh yea, cant forget about the screen. Perfect size and looks great.
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Click to collapse
Exactly my first thoughts. Dont know what happened to HTC. But hey a good chance to see sth. different.
Ps:I just bought my Arc on Amazon Warehousedeals 304,-€
i saw it and wanted it
looks good
good camera
and i dont need a front camera
gunawan-1 said:
Xperia ray is beautiful but smaller. For me... Arc is suitable. Smaller than Dell streak and bigger than ray.
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Click to collapse
I actually enjoyed the fact that Ray is small, but still packs almost the same features of Arc, sometimes i fell the x10 is already too big and Arc is even bigger. But i'll wait a little longer until buying a new device, my old x10 still serves me well and there's a lot of cool stuff being released, i'm not even sure if my next phone will be a SE but i do like their designs a lot.
a friend took me to sony store
hold the arc, dummy set even (high quality ofcos) and fall in love, feels great in my hand, desire hd looks outdated
ditch my HTC desire HD for arc design, camera, better speaker, love the home button for turning on the screen rather then power button way up the top, and it feels great in my pocket, but usually protected in my waist pouch 95% of the time
if you wan speed and nothing else, sgs2 with dual core and 1gb of ram will be your choice
My main reason for buying it was for 100% live view compatibility...
how disappointed was I!!
For me, it's the design. Big screen with BE and of course, the caméra.
I always liked the design of SE phones and will like for their future designes.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App
the price mainly
The brand
The camera
The screen size
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App
- Nice design, really sexy
- good camera for both picture and video
- stable performance.
- good brand
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App
Brand
Camera
UI
Screen
Design
Weight
* Looks
* Camera
* Screen
* Thinness (makes the phone pocketable despite the large screen)
* Rootable, Unlockable bootloader
The brand was actually a huge negative for me - i loathe and distrust sony. I only bought after i managed to convince myself that SE are an entirely separate company.
Ok had a play with ZL and XZ in a local store..I am surprised by these things:
As we know most things about the XZ i wont go onto those points..rather ZL.
1. ZL is more brighter and better contrast than XZ..And no the values of calibration were set to 0 on ZL..i put up sony live wallpaper [purple] on both and ZL was visibly more brighter and vibrant!I Wonder what was sony thinking not giving its flagship that same screen? :/
2. Sound through headphones and speakers both were better on ZL..Dont know why? i can understand speakers bcoz of water proofing.
3. Easier to use due to small size and withe same size screen is a plus.
And alas i am confused :/ Dont wanna loose the build quality of XZ but want a brighter screen too!
Have any pictures that you can post for us?
randy_c said:
Have any pictures that you can post for us?
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Click to collapse
I will be posing pictures and videos of mine in a few hours! Damn fedex didnt say it would had came yesterday doesnt even show on the tracking but they left a stupid note.
Does the little door on the back for the sim/micro sd make the phone look cheap cause you can see it and it doesn't 100% look flush? I'm on the fence because I haven't seen the phone and it might make it look/feel cheap because of this.
tenshi888 said:
Does the little door on the back for the sim/micro sd make the phone look cheap cause you can see it and it doesn't 100% look flush? I'm on the fence because I haven't seen the phone and it might make it look/feel cheap because of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, its perfect fit on mine (one needs to press the flap firmly to make it fit flush). And it only looks elegant to me (i like it better than glass back on XZ), not to mention the better (more comfortable) grip it provides esp. for single hand use wrt XZ. I would suggest you to go n have a look at it in person. Also, i find the overall build quality of XZL better than my Xperia S and far better than my Note 2 :good:!
P.S: I compared the ZL screen with two XZs and found that it (ZL) screen had better contrast/vibrance than one XZ but no discernible difference with another one. The internal speakers on ZL are louder than Z. Then there are other apparent differences (size, placement of front & back camera etc.). One thing that i'm really enjoying on ZL is the notification LED at the bottom, pretty awesome n unique imo :victory:!
Dpk1 said:
Nah, its perfect fit on mine (one needs to press the flap firmly to make it fit flush). And it only looks elegant to me (i like it better than glass back on XZ), not to mention the better (more comfortable) grip it provides esp. for single hand use wrt XZ. I would suggest you to go n have a look at it in person. Also, i find the overall build quality of XZL better than my Xperia S and far better than my Note 2 :good:!
P.S: I compared the ZL screen with two XZs and found that it (ZL) screen had better contrast/vibrance than one XZ but no discernible difference with another one. The internal speakers on ZL are louder than Z. Then there are other apparent differences (size, placement of front & back camera etc.). One thing that i'm really enjoying on ZL is the notification LED at the bottom, pretty awesome n unique imo :victory:!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information, i do love the ZL at least on paper. How's the shutter key, is there a long delay in opening the camera app after pressing it? Finally, does the phone feel thick at 9.8? Thanks again!
tenshi888 said:
Thanks for the information, i do love the ZL at least on paper. How's the shutter key, is there a long delay in opening the camera app after pressing it? Finally, does the phone feel thick at 9.8? Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shutter key is good (actually better than my Xperia S). It launches the camera app in 1-1.5 sceonds from sleep (i.e no delay imo). Once camera app is ready, pressing the shutter key zaps the image with no delay/lag. And no, the phone actually doesn't feel thick to me, maybe because of the curved back. My note2 felt thicker (at 9.4mm). XZ is slimmer but not as much as one would think compared to ZL (given 7.9mm vs 9.8mm).
tenshi888 said:
Does the little door on the back for the sim/micro sd make the phone look cheap cause you can see it and it doesn't 100% look flush? I'm on the fence because I haven't seen the phone and it might make it look/feel cheap because of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it does look cheap as u can clearly see the gap as much as u push it in..it looks like an after jod..they shud have put it on the sides like the XZ.
And as far as looks and feel go u cant compare it to XZ..XZ just looks way more premium than ZL..ZL's front is great but the back looks cheap,,just holding the XZ makes u wanna take it home
ethan3686 said:
yes it does look cheap as u can clearly see the gap as much as u push it in..it looks like an after jod..they shud have put it on the sides like the XZ.
And as far as looks and feel go u cant compare it to XZ..XZ just looks way more premium than ZL..ZL's front is great but the back looks cheap,,just holding the XZ makes u wanna take it home
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol.. certainly not! The sim/sd card slot door/flap fits snugly and doesn't look odd as you state. To prefer matte or glossy back is personal choice but i don't think anything with nice matte finish could be considered cheap! XZ is a beautiful phone, but i'm not a big fan of glossy back as it gets dirty easily (and then really looks cheap ), not to mention the odd / uncomfortable grip while holding an edged flat slab. And i think the front of ZL has killer looks, much better than XZ especially with the screen on & superb LED at bottom (due to same 5" screen fit onto much smaller bezel.. go figure)!
About the premium look or feel, I feel both XZ & ZL possess the premium looks but ZL has better feel in hand, its again personal preference! Currently don't have my camera, so can't post some nice pics of my ZL now. But i managed these from web (see attachments).
ethan3686 said:
yes it does look cheap as u can clearly see the gap as much as u push it in..it looks like an after jod..they shud have put it on the sides like the XZ.
And as far as looks and feel go u cant compare it to XZ..XZ just looks way more premium than ZL..ZL's front is great but the back looks cheap,,just holding the XZ makes u wanna take it home
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Click to collapse
I agree that Sony should have put the SD and SIM slots on the sides. The assflap design choice makes no sense to me. However, that said, the ZL feels as 'premium' as the Z does. Now I am not saying this just because I have the ZL. I could have as well bought the Z, but it gets really uncomfortable to hold with to flat surfaces. Play with both for some time and you'll see
If there's a brightness difference between them, there's probably a water/dust related coating on the Z screen that isn't on the ZL.
ok just a correction..What i had seen was a demo unit which [i dont know why] has less brightness and contrast..Saw a retail Xperia Z and its very bright and there is no difference in Z AND ZL...Sorry for my not having researched!
Hmmm great comparison you have! Anyway I really like the waterproofing feature from the Xperia ZL!
AndroidDude11 said:
Hmmm great comparison you have! Anyway I really like the waterproofing feature from the Xperia ZL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After handling both the Z and the ZL for a few hours, the ZL is what I chose. I dont understand why it is a priority for everyone all of a sudden to have a water resistant phone. That, the much more durable and grippy curved plastic back, and the insane screen to body ratio were what made me buy the ZL.
If you guys would like to know anything in particular, please feel free to ask.
Pro Tip: For the folks in India, try asking the shopkeeper to exclude the headphones. They end up giving you a nice little discount. That is assuming you already have a good set of IEMs or cans.
anirudh412 said:
After handling both the Z and the ZL for a few hours, the ZL is what I chose. I dont understand why it is a priority for everyone all of a sudden to have a water resistant phone. That, the much more durable and grippy curved plastic back, and the insane screen to body ratio were what made me buy the ZL.
If you guys would like to know anything in particular, please feel free to ask.
Pro Tip: For the folks in India, try asking the shopkeeper to exclude the headphones. They end up giving you a nice little discount. That is assuming you already have a good set of IEMs or cans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had no choise to go with the ZL the Z I would get edge/2G here in the USA haha. But The ZL seems to sound better than the ZL, I came from the Note 2 and Loving it!
Are those headphones worth that much for them to give such a discount? WoW I looked them up they sell for a good 30-50 USD. Thats interesting for headphones that come with a phone.
anirudh412 said:
After handling both the Z and the ZL for a few hours, the ZL is what I chose. I dont understand why it is a priority for everyone all of a sudden to have a water resistant phone. That, the much more durable and grippy curved plastic back, and the insane screen to body ratio were what made me buy the ZL.
If you guys would like to know anything in particular, please feel free to ask.
Pro Tip: For the folks in India, try asking the shopkeeper to exclude the headphones. They end up giving you a nice little discount. That is assuming you already have a good set of IEMs or cans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, for me, obviously i would like to have the Z, but since there's no any information abou the releasing date, i placed the order of ZL..i am going to wait for the Z to come out and get the both/_\
greatremix said:
well, for me, obviously i would like to have the Z, but since there's no any information abou the releasing date, i placed the order of ZL..i am going to wait for the Z to come out and get the both/_\
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Click to collapse
The Z has been out longer than the ZL, The Z is on Handtec, Negri, eBay, Amazon.
The Z has been out for a few weeks...
I initially thought I would like the clean lines of the Z, but at that size, such hard lines make it uncomfortable to hold. Now, if only they would make it in a 4.5-4.7 inch form factor, with the screen ratio of the ZL, it would be a perfect phone. Not to mention all the issues plaguing the Z, made the ZL a perfect choice for me :good:
anirudh412 said:
After handling both the Z and the ZL for a few hours, the ZL is what I chose. I dont understand why it is a priority for everyone all of a sudden to have a water resistant phone. That, the much more durable and grippy curved plastic back, and the insane screen to body ratio were what made me buy the ZL.
If you guys would like to know anything in particular, please feel free to ask.
Pro Tip: For the folks in India, try asking the shopkeeper to exclude the headphones. They end up giving you a nice little discount. That is assuming you already have a good set of IEMs or cans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did u see Zl demo unit? its not there in Rajouri Garden
nikhiltanwar said:
Where did u see Zl demo unit? its not there in Rajouri Garden
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony Center in South Extension Part 1. They have both the Z and the ZL on display. I am betting it should be there in Select Citiwalk too.
On a side note, can someone point me to a guide as to how to remove the nav bar?
anirudh412 said:
Sony Center in South Extension Part 1. They have both the Z and the ZL on display. I am betting it should be there in Select Citiwalk too.
On a side note, can someone point me to a guide as to how to remove the nav bar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you want to remove it? It would make the phone useless,
Loving my new Xperia ZL
anirudh412 said:
After handling both the Z and the ZL for a few hours, the ZL is what I chose. I dont understand why it is a priority for everyone all of a sudden to have a water resistant phone. That, the much more durable and grippy curved plastic back, and the insane screen to body ratio were what made me buy the ZL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too chose the Xperia ZL over XZ. I agree with what u have said, and would also add that the sound on ZL is louder than Z. And i tested the screens and found that ZL has better screen (calibration perhaps?) viewing angles and colour vibrance than XZ (today i went back and confirmed it by checking 3 different XZ screens from 2 different sony stores). Also, physical camera key is a plus & the notification LED at bottom of ZL is an eye candy .
Lol, i was so moved by the ZL (the moment i saw it live in my hands) that i sold my note2 at once & bought the Zl (for a price difference of 6000INR). I also managed to get the Sony headphones (MDR-ZX100A worth 1490 INR) & the ZL tpu case (worth 1490 INR) free :good:.
@hyelton.. i too am coming from note2 & loving the ZL. The screen is gorgeous! Text appears crisp, no matter how small it is while browsing!
hyelton said:
Why would you want to remove it? It would make the phone useless,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out LMT Launcher! Thats the first thing I install on any rooted android phone
anirudh412 said:
Check out LMT Launcher! Thats the first thing I install on any rooted android phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh okay I seen that on the Note 2, I couldnt get used to it. I still miss android 2.2 so I`m old fashioned I guess haha
Hi, can you please test USB host?
Sent from my Desire HD using xda app-developers app
Alright got it working!
Add "qemu.hw.mainkeys = 1" (without the quotes) at the end of the build.prop in /system and reboot. The nav bar disappears. Now the ENTIRE screen is usable! Awesome!!
EDIT: Make sure to install and setup LMT launcher before you do this. Also, make sure startup is set to AUTO in LMT
Dpk1 said:
I too chose the Xperia ZL over XZ. I agree with what u have said, and would also add that the sound on ZL is louder than Z. And i tested the screens and found that ZL has better screen (calibration perhaps?) viewing angles and colour vibrance than XZ (today i went back and confirmed it by checking 3 different XZ screens from 2 different sony stores). Also, physical camera key is a plus & the notification LED at bottom of ZL is an eye candy .
Lol, i was so moved by the ZL (the moment i saw it live in my hands) that i sold my note2 at once & bought the Zl (for a price difference of 6000INR). I also managed to get the Sony headphones (MDR-ZX100A worth 1490 INR) & the ZL tpu case (worth 1490 INR) free :good:.
@hyelton.. i too am coming from note2 & loving the ZL. The screen is gorgeous! Text appears crisp, no matter how small it is while browsing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey guys I have a Note 2 and I have been debating on selling it and getting the ZL ever since i saw it thats the phone i was waiting for to make the bezel as small as possible in a good screen size and zl did it. Im kind of getting tired of carrying a big Note 2 arround "dont get me wrong N2 is a beast". Couple of questing i love the speaker on N2 how does that compare on ZL and also how small is the ZL really is it smaller than the S3?
Ill prob check out the ZL when it hits AT&T, im between that and the s4. im kind of bored of samsung phones. I like a removable battery but its not a deal killer so we will see...
cheapshot789 said:
Hey guys I have a Note 2 and I have been debating on selling it and getting the ZL ever since i saw it thats the phone i was waiting for to make the bezel as small as possible in a good screen size and zl did it. Im kind of getting tired of carrying a big Note 2 arround "dont get me wrong N2 is a beast". Couple of questing i love the speaker on N2 how does that compare on ZL and also how small is the ZL really is it smaller than the S3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there! I was in the similar situation as yours. I loved my note2 and it probably has the best battery backup among current android lineup. But i couldn't resist the ZL. Note2's internal speaker are definitely louder than ZL (by about 30% i would guess) and so is the default volume via earphones. But i find the sound quality much better on ZL (esp with clear audio mode) and default loudspeaker volume is higher on ZL.
About the size, it is significantly smaller than note2 & like the OP says, ZL has got stunning screen to bezel ratio (i think the best amongst all smartphones i've yet seen). GS3 is 5mm taller, 1.3mm wider and 1.2mm thinner as compared to the Xperia ZL. Smaller ZL yet packs 5" screen!
Has anyone tried the black and white one to see which one felt better?, I'm not so sure if I should get the black one, might not be used to the texture.
DJsCrIBbLe said:
Ill prob check out the ZL when it hits AT&T, im between that and the s4. im kind of bored of samsung phones. I like a removable battery but its not a deal killer so we will see...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T Most likely wont get the phone......
I also sold my note 2 for the Z but it just didn't feel comfortable to hold so i decided to give ZL a try and i am glad that i did. Love the ZL, the plastic back doesn't feel cheap at all.:thumbup:
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
hyelton said:
AT&T Most likely wont get the phone......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It just passed FCC for att pretty sure ...
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Hi peeps,
I am not sure about you guys, but I am very happy abt Z3 camera and its features, I came from Z1 and the camera is good too!
I notice some did mention or some of my friends saying Sony camera suck and that the Z3 camera is not as good as samsung s3 or other brands bah bah bah....
But I asked, what Sony phones are you conparing with and what are the camera or display settings of the Z3 phones. Then I reliased the following issues
1) Some are using Xperia Z ultra to compare with Samsung S3. Z ultra only have 8 MP and no ISO settings so if u want to use a mid range camera to fight with a higher range phone who will lose out? Just like I used a 20MP Z3 with the same setting I will surely win...
He also mention the Z ultra camera pic cannot tell the color difference between white and yellowish white but when I took the same pic, with my Z3, he was shocked....
2) Z3 camera by default has set to 8/15 MP for 16:9. So the pic is not the best yet. You need to change the settings....
3) Off the HDR & Display Enhencment settings, u will see a better quality photo on screen and on PC...
4) If you are using matt, anti finger print or privacy screen protectors, please dont even bother to complain abt the screen quality.... You are using a few dollar to cover up 100 dollar stuff...
5) Only a few case is factory defects which need u to send out for repairs... Nothing is perfect just that u are the few unlucky ones to get a defected product...
Oh man, please check where are posting, this forum about Sony smartWATCH 3, not about xperia z3.
and as a z3 owner (and z ultra by chance) I dont even know where to start with the actual content..
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
Flashben said:
Hi peeps,
I am not sure about you guys, but I am very happy abt Z3 camera and its features, I came from Z1 and the camera is good too!
I notice some did mention or some of my friends saying Sony camera suck and that the Z3 camera is not as good as samsung s3 or other brands bah bah bah....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are off topic here, should move to z3 board. This is a general problem we've heard many times on net. From my personal experiences, the answer is mixed. Overall, I would say Sony camera sometimes can be very good but in some situation it can be very bad. On the other hand, Samsung, HTC the camera performance is more consistent and most people prefer a stable camera(so most guys said iphone camera the best).
Sony camera generally poor on focus in my degrees of view while the quality can be very good when it can manage to get the focus right which is very annoy for most guys. Plus the Sony camera always compressed the image too much, in some photo when the object/environment is hard to compress, it will just lost the fight for Samsung which is a very clear answer.
Hi
I'm aware there is already a similar thread but I wanted some answers more specific to my needs and to current prices. I recently had my uninsured S5 stolen and I'm stuck in a contract so I need to buy a mid-range phone which is going to last me another 16 months or so without feeling too outdated. I want a smaller handset as I was getting sick of the larger phones. My budget stretches to about £270 for which both the S5 mini and the Z1 compact are currently priced. Unfortunately I can't stretch to the z3 compact price. I want to know which phone has the better camera, as this is one of the main selling points for me. I know that neither will match up to the s5 camera. On paper the z1 compact has the best camera, but I've seen a few posts saying it is actually disappointing and often freezes. The S5 minis camera seems to get fairly positive reviews despite being only 8MP. I'm no pro photographer so will I even be able to tell the difference?!
I don't care about the samsungs gimmicks (heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner etc.) and also don't mind touchwhiz too much. I do like the fact it has a removable battery as I often carry a spare, but maybe the sony battery is miles better anyway?
I'm also wary about changing to Sony. I've had Samsungs for years and they've never broken, apart from when I dropped them. Samsung quickly replaced them for me free of charge after some persuasion it wasn't my fault! I've seen a lot of posts questioning the z1 compacts reliability, and a few more claiming sony aren't too good at dealing with replacements etc. Also slightly wary about the glass back cracking? Though I admit the Sony looks better.
I've never rooted or flashed custom ROMs or anything so I'm probably in the wrong forum (sorry!) but this seems to be the most active phone forum I could find. I'm not completely opposed to rooting etc if it would be really beneficial, though again, I'm wary!
Should point out that I don't game much on mobile, I just like a smooth, reliable experience for browsing internet, watching youtube, using facebook, whatsapp, reddit etc, and a good reliable camera.
So basically, do I play it safe and stick with Samsung, better screen, decent camera, pics may even look better on the better screen, though the phone may be slightly slower? Or do I go for the z1 despite my reliability concerns?! Is rooting going to change the decision between the two??
Thanks, and sorry for the long post! Appreciate your answers, if I get any! :good:
Anyone?!
Get the sony they beat samsung hands down
If u ar a samsung fan then go for s5 mini
But from the spec s5 mini is no where compared to z1c
Thanks for the replies. Think I'm leaning towards the Sony, think I'm just wary that its more likely to break.... quite fancy a change from the samsung though
creme_egg said:
Thanks for the replies. Think I'm leaning towards the Sony, think I'm just wary that its more likely to break.... quite fancy a change from the samsung though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't really need a very fast CPU/GPU and the 512MB more memory. Actually, I would recommend you to stick with Samsung.
S5 Mini got 0.2" larger screen with physical key so actually it's about 0.35" larger, the battery is 200mah smaller capacity on S5 mini but battery switchable. The image quality is better on Z1c but focus is bad, so it is a 50/50. The S800 CPU on Z1c is like 2x ~ 3x raw performance plus there are 512MB ram more, it really depends if you are going to run some big 3D games or heavily multi-tasking then you need it. The phone design is also more pretty on Z1c and there are more mods(like 4K video) and custom roms for Z1c but you'll need to root.
If you just run some basic apps and normal gaming, then I think S5 mini with larger screen and spare battery is more better for you.
creme_egg said:
Hi
I'm aware there is already a similar thread but I wanted some answers more specific to my needs and to current prices. I recently had my uninsured S5 stolen and I'm stuck in a contract so I need to buy a mid-range phone which is going to last me another 16 months or so without feeling too outdated. I want a smaller handset as I was getting sick of the larger phones. My budget stretches to about £270 for which both the S5 mini and the Z1 compact are currently priced. Unfortunately I can't stretch to the z3 compact price. I want to know which phone has the better camera, as this is one of the main selling points for me. I know that neither will match up to the s5 camera. On paper the z1 compact has the best camera, but I've seen a few posts saying it is actually disappointing and often freezes. The S5 minis camera seems to get fairly positive reviews despite being only 8MP. I'm no pro photographer so will I even be able to tell the difference?!
I don't care about the samsungs gimmicks (heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner etc.) and also don't mind touchwhiz too much. I do like the fact it has a removable battery as I often carry a spare, but maybe the sony battery is miles better anyway?
I'm also wary about changing to Sony. I've had Samsungs for years and they've never broken, apart from when I dropped them. Samsung quickly replaced them for me free of charge after some persuasion it wasn't my fault! I've seen a lot of posts questioning the z1 compacts reliability, and a few more claiming sony aren't too good at dealing with replacements etc. Also slightly wary about the glass back cracking? Though I admit the Sony looks better.
I've never rooted or flashed custom ROMs or anything so I'm probably in the wrong forum (sorry!) but this seems to be the most active phone forum I could find. I'm not completely opposed to rooting etc if it would be really beneficial, though again, I'm wary!
Should point out that I don't game much on mobile, I just like a smooth, reliable experience for browsing internet, watching youtube, using facebook, whatsapp, reddit etc, and a good reliable camera.
So basically, do I play it safe and stick with Samsung, better screen, decent camera, pics may even look better on the better screen, though the phone may be slightly slower? Or do I go for the z1 despite my reliability concerns?! Is rooting going to change the decision between the two??
Thanks, and sorry for the long post! Appreciate your answers, if I get any! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disclaimer: You are asking this on the Z1 Compact sub-forum, of course you will get biased answers here but I will try to stay objective.
First up the S5 Mini comes with either an Exynos 3 processor or a Snapdragon 400, if you get the Exynos variant there will be very little to no community support for it, meaning once Samsung drops support for it you won't be able to get community updates through CyanogenMod or such for it, you'll be stuck with whatever version of Android Samsung leaves you with, as opposed to the Z1 Compact which I'm expecting to live for a long time provided it physically holds together.
Z1 Compact back is plastic, not glass. I can't really say about drops and screen cracks, but I have been told this is one of the areas the Z3 Compact improves on, I've dropped mine a few times and it's fine so far.
The camera is fine, it isn't the best, but it's certainly not bad. On Sony ROMs it produces very good pictures. On non-Sony ROMs the pictures are not as good, but still ok.
As far as performance goes there's no comparison, the Z1 Compact thrashes both variants of the S5 Mini. I haven't used the S5 Mini myself, so I can't comment on its battery, but I can tell you for sure that the Z1 Compact will without a doubt last you at the very least one full day of quite heavy usage. If you're not a heavy user as you claim, then it will most likely last you 2 full days, perhaps requiring you to activate stamina mode on day 2. This will improve even more with Lollipop.
If you've been using Samsungs for a while then yes, colours will look dull at first on the Sony since Samsung over-saturates their screens providing very vivid (but unnatural) colours, but I can guarantee you that the Sony screen is not bad, in fact, it is really very good, which you'll see once you've gotten used to non-Samsung screens.
I have owned iPhones (original, 3GS, 4S), HTCs (3 or 4 over the years, last one was the One X, loved it, but when the screen broke I got the S3 LTE...), Samsung (S3 LTE, hated its guts, I don't know how you can stand TouchWiz), Motorola and a few Sonys. Performance and features aside, the Z1 Compact is the best phone I have owned hands down. It's the right size for me, it's not too heavy and not too light either, battery life is excellent even for a heavy user like myself, usually at about 40-50% at the end of the day.
Oh and don't forget the Z1 Compact is waterproof as well, very useful feature!
...Sorry for the long reply hehe.