Develop Bugs

[Video] Xperia Z1 vs. Xperia S - Should you upgrade?

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?
Click to expand...
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'.
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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.

Honest opinion about the T2?

I plan to get this for my dad, who is currently using a Windows Phone Lumia 720. He is pretty happy with it per say, but he misses his Xperia X10..
I will be brutally honest, that Android phones arent as smooth as WP. But again, WP have a serious dearth of Apps that Android doesn't. One of the main reasons I am rethinking of getting dad back on Android.
The only thing he can't bear is a slow phone...He is retired and spends 90% of his day on his cell phone. Messaging on WHatsApp, Hike, Facebook and Twitter.
And yes, he was also an avid photographer in the past. So a good camera will be an added advantage.
What do you honestly think about the T2 Ultra. Since it's a 6" display, he can easily read and surf the net on it.
I would love to hear honest opinions about it.
Though I am into rooting and modding devices, I will stick to stock on this one...
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate t2 Ultra's performance, speed, usability (6" screen) and built quality?
Thanks for reading and replying.

in my opinion this phone is good,with the 13mp primary camera it can shoot a good photo...
and the performance is good...but with root it will be more smoother than before...
furthermore,its good for gaming beacuse the 6'' display...but its a bit slippy that i have to be more careful with it...

X0LARIUM said:
I plan to get this for my dad, who is currently using a Windows Phone Lumia 720. He is pretty happy with it per say, but he misses his Xperia X10..
I will be brutally honest, that Android phones arent as smooth as WP. But again, WP have a serious dearth of Apps that Android doesn't. One of the main reasons I am rethinking of getting dad back on Android.
The only thing he can't bear is a slow phone...He is retired and spends 90% of his day on his cell phone. Messaging on WHatsApp, Hike, Facebook and Twitter.
And yes, he was also an avid photographer in the past. So a good camera will be an added advantage.
What do you honestly think about the T2 Ultra. Since it's a 6" display, he can easily read and surf the net on it.
I would love to hear honest opinions about it.
Though I am into rooting and modding devices, I will stick to stock on this one...
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate t2 Ultra's performance, speed, usability (6" screen) and built quality?
Thanks for reading and replying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro, the camera isnt good in this phone, i personally use this and found the camera experience unsatisfying. There are a lot pixels visible in the pics, color reproduction isnt accurate, and its takes plenty of time for taking one pic, considering its a quad core, it shud have been much faster.
The pros of this phone are the screen size and battery backup.
This is my honest opinion.

AndroMAN said:
Bro, the camera isnt good in this phone, i personally use this and found the camera experience unsatisfying. There are a lot pixels visible in the pics, color reproduction isnt accurate, and its takes plenty of time for taking one pic, considering its a quad core, it shud have been much faster.
The pros of this phone are the screen size and battery backup.
This is my honest opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chena_22 said:
in my opinion this phone is good,with the 13mp primary camera it can shoot a good photo...
and the performance is good...but with root it will be more smoother than before...
furthermore,its good for gaming beacuse the 6'' display...but its a bit slippy that i have to be more careful with it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot both you guys for the reply..

A nice phone but, camera is unsatisfying, i have 8MP phone beter than this.

opimion
Honestly saying you should have it it has big screen good processor and GPU
it's an all in one package and ya it has a good camera too..

coming from note 2,its has an awesome battery backup, screen and killer looks, but camera is one of the worst I ever used plus 1 gb ram is another issue, sometimes even my keyboard dsnt pop up in browser coz all the ram has been eaten.... go for lg pro 2 instead some sellers are selling it for 28k

Thanks people...I'm listening
Auto-coded on my DROID RaZR!

Here's what I gotta say :
Pros
- Awesome screen size, display quality.
- The ram may be 1gb, but its more or less lag free.
- The camera is pretty awesome in natural lighting conditions.
- Battery life.
- It looks pretty good too.
Cons
- Loudspeaker volume is low.
- Camera doesn't perform that well in artificial lighting conditions. The zoom is a bit problematic too.
- It will feel a little uncomfortable to hold for a few days, because of its size, but after a few days, it'll feel normal.
If you think size and display matter, go for this phone, or you could consider the moto x.
Hope I helped.
Sent from my D5322 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I'm coming from Lumia 630, I do missed its ease of use and smoothness but I finally settled to this phone.
I'm looking for a dual Sim device first and foremost, so battery life is a priority even though I yearn for a big screen experience. I bought Asus Zenfone 5 about 2 weeks ago, and the whole android experience is being let down by awful hardware. Very weak GPS, weak WiFi, weak GSM signal, crazy battery life that doesn't even hold a charge for half a day because the device is scrambling for every wireless protocols. Switching to Xperia T2 Ultra isn't as easy for me too... In my country, Sony is notoriously known for very bad after sales service, plus this phone is double the price of the Zenfone 5. I bought it new because nobody is selling it used (the phone isn't exactly a seller).
I had doubts, I kept every bit of plastic covering intact, just in case the phone doesn't work as intended, I'm going to sell it again.
Lo and behold... Strong WiFi signal, quick connecting GPS, stable GSM signal on both SIMs, and the strong battery life makes me extremely happy with my purchase. The big screen might have lower pixel per inch compared to the Zenfone 5, but you won't notice it that much. The media is overblowing the PPI thing, they are accustomed to seeing high end devices screen, but for commoners like us, unless it's very extreme, we won't notice the difference. After the KitKat update, I torture test the device, playing whatever games, go back home, open the browser, Google docs, taking pictures, while Facebook (no messenger) and whatsapp pinging in the background. Some hiccups, but nothing crashing. The games occasionally restart though, due to limited memory, so you might want to limit it to casuals or save a lot when switching apps.
There is one peculiar app that crashed one time, and it's Sony socialife app. I never opened it, but I got a warning the app crashed, might be a background process.
The camera on this phone is disappointing, I could've swore my old Xperia Arc took better picture. Prepare for an overly aggressive image sharpening and slight discoloration. I really don't know why Sony's smartphones cameras are now subpar, up to Xperia S (my last Sony phone before T2), the image was clear and crisp. Might be T2 Ultra is a mainstream high end I mustn't expect much, but when a 3 year old camera phone can do it better, something amiss.
The phone size is just right, I tried Z Ultra before and to me it's a bit too big. I can still put it inside my pants side pocket with ease and can handle it with one hand just fine.
Since my T2 ultra is the dual Sim version, the KitKat update lower the processor speed to 1.2 GHz. Well, at least it's still a quad core and I didn't notice significant slow down on daily usage.
I'm not a power user by far, and so far I only change wallpaper and have Google now and calendar widget with organized icons on my home screen.
Just curious, why didn't you get the Z Ultra for your dad? If you don't need the dual Sim, the Z ultra can be had for a little more than the T2 ultra. In my country, I can get the Z ultra for US $70 more, with free powerbank and free case. Minus the LED flash and the size, everything is better. I need the dual Sim in my case.

Guys guys guys! Just want to thank everyone who bothered to come here and wrote what they felt like!
I am so glad you guys are helping me...
While I am 99% sure I want to get him a T2U, one thing stopping me is the size.
He wants to get it cause he once had a Xperia phone and I sold it cause I wanted to buy me a new phone (stupid and selfish me!). But Now, the best of the lot, in terms of size, spec, price IS the t2U...
I will be grateful for anyone else who thinks they can chime in...
Thanks again to all the wonderful people who replied!

How is your dad doing with the T2 Ultra? I've owned the phone for about 6 months and I'm hating it, it's so slow that I prefer going to my computer to do even basic stuff, such as browsing the web.

Honestly speaking if u buy this phone use it without root or custom things than this phone is great deal
+ battery backup is very good
+topnotch performance
+good display
- Shutter lag (take too much time in taking photos sometime)
-No vivid images like Samsung(there will we no vivid colour in your photos)
-Front camera is bad
-No 4k and real 120 fps video..
---------- Post added at 03:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:00 PM ----------
bchangip said:
How is your dad doing with the T2 Ultra? I've owned the phone for about 6 months and I'm hating it, it's so slow that I prefer going to my computer to do even basic stuff, such as browsing the web.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro I think u did something wrong with your phone my phone never hang.. Never means never. Do a factory reset and disable or unintall unused apps.. I am sure u will get good performance like me and last always get your app up to daye from play to get optimum performance.. From apps.. And use official softwares. And updated version of firmwares

My opinion
my experience
Good-
1)Display is great.loved watching Movies,playing games.etc
2)Performance is great even if it has only 1 Gb. It lags very less
3)camera is very very nice in naturally bright conditions.
4)I do lots of basic things on my phone never need of my pc to start.
5)Seriously Battery backup is awesome. I am using this phone by 1 year and some months now and i still get same battery backup.
6)Most important thing to me Android version.so as u know it has lollipop version.so i am loving it.
-Bad-
1)camera is bad in low bright condition.
2)front camera is worst
3)sometimes it doesnt even show keyboard . i experienced this problem in only 1 app.(clash of clans game)
4)After rooting my android it lags more than stock.
I hope that u will get my opinion helpfull.

Midi_Amp said:
I'm coming from Lumia 630, I do missed its ease of use and smoothness but I finally settled to this phone.
I'm looking for a dual Sim device first and foremost, so battery life is a priority even though I yearn for a big screen experience. I bought Asus Zenfone 5 about 2 weeks ago, and the whole android experience is being let down by awful hardware. Very weak GPS, weak WiFi, weak GSM signal, crazy battery life that doesn't even hold a charge for half a day because the device is scrambling for every wireless protocols. Switching to Xperia T2 Ultra isn't as easy for me too... In my country, Sony is notoriously known for very bad after sales service, plus this phone is double the price of the Zenfone 5. I bought it new because nobody is selling it used (the phone isn't exactly a seller).
I had doubts, I kept every bit of plastic covering intact, just in case the phone doesn't work as intended, I'm going to sell it again.
Lo and behold... Strong WiFi signal, quick connecting GPS, stable GSM signal on both SIMs, and the strong battery life makes me extremely happy with my purchase. The big screen might have lower pixel per inch compared to the Zenfone 5, but you won't notice it that much. The media is overblowing the PPI thing, they are accustomed to seeing high end devices screen, but for commoners like us, unless it's very extreme, we won't notice the difference. After the KitKat update, I torture test the device, playing whatever games, go back home, open the browser, Google docs, taking pictures, while Facebook (no messenger) and whatsapp pinging in the background. Some hiccups, but nothing crashing. The games occasionally restart though, due to limited memory, so you might want to limit it to casuals or save a lot when switching apps.
There is one peculiar app that crashed one time, and it's Sony socialife app. I never opened it, but I got a warning the app crashed, might be a background process.
The camera on this phone is disappointing, I could've swore my old Xperia Arc took better picture. Prepare for an overly aggressive image sharpening and slight discoloration. I really don't know why Sony's smartphones cameras are now subpar, up to Xperia S (my last Sony phone before T2), the image was clear and crisp. Might be T2 Ultra is a mainstream high end I mustn't expect much, but when a 3 year old camera phone can do it better, something amiss.
The phone size is just right, I tried Z Ultra before and to me it's a bit too big. I can still put it inside my pants side pocket with ease and can handle it with one hand just fine.
Since my T2 ultra is the dual Sim version, the KitKat update lower the processor speed to 1.2 GHz. Well, at least it's still a quad core and I didn't notice significant slow down on daily usage.
I'm not a power user by far, and so far I only change wallpaper and have Google now and calendar widget with organized icons on my home screen.
Just curious, why didn't you get the Z Ultra for your dad? If you don't need the dual Sim, the Z ultra can be had for a little more than the T2 ultra. In my country, I can get the Z ultra for US $70 more, with free powerbank and free case. Minus the LED flash and the size, everything is better. I need the dual Sim in my case.
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$70 for Z Ultra ? Where did you get that? Wish I could get one of those lol.. Well Z Ultra doesn't good in any aspect, the display rather disappointing and not as accurate as what Sony said about wider RGB colours and the display still using TFT and just a bit better than Xperia Z. At least it got Snapdragon 800 and 2 GB with 16 GB of internal storage.
BTW, well I just want to speak up my mind.
The phone is good but not great, you'll get okay performance but don't expect more since this is just a midrange device, one gig of RAM isn't that great tho but well it got the job done. What I hate is the software, Lollipop ruins the camera, it will be a bit greenish while you can get really scary effect from front camera after the update, still SONY doesn't update or fix it. I hope you guys could HELP to COMPLAIN so Sony could hear it and help us.
The camera is okay, beside the cold white balance, you could change it with manual mode.
[Just a TIP for people who found the camera is SLOW when it's getting dark. Go to manual and change the scene to Anti Motion Blur or Night Handheld]
Another problem is the internal, since it only has 8 GB of internal storage, installing too many apps could easily take up the space, well this can be fix with rooting and install Link2SD Pro (YOU NEED FAST MEMORY EXTERNAL). The speaker, it is not bad, it could get loud but distorted.
Well, not everything is bad about the phone, the display is good, it is bright enough but not so bright under the sunlight and the phone is rather light even it is a big phone, put a case on it wouldn't make the phone so heavy tho.
The battery is rather good for a phone with 6 inch screen, but the downside you have to wait 4 hours until it fully charged, at least you could leave it while you're sleeping.
Pros:
- Good camera
- Good display
- Okay performance
- Good battery life
- Light weight
Cons:
- Disappointing speaker
- Low internal memory
- Bad front camera

[Q] Z1 compact or s5 mini? Please read!

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
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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:
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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.

A good deal? Will it be developer friendly?

I am not sure if it will be a good buy and for how much? Still confused at the right price to pay for it. Any help, I just love the dark blue color...

@LineArc I checked from sources, Price may vary in between 160-200 USD, For Now the device is OUT OF STOCK

an Elephone P9000 user here. in term of hardware vs selling price, no doubt it is value for $$. but this Elephone company couldnt get the hardware works. great hardware with S*h*i*t software/rom. i will say this is my 1st and last Elephone product. Better look at other cheap china brands like MI or Oppo.

From a person that has a dark blue on his hands, I've got to say it is a very unique piece of hardware. I really like the way it feels on the hand, and even with a bigger screen than my old IUNI U2 4.7'' I have a much more confortable touch with it.
Also, the amazing tickness of it make him a wonderfully attractive phone.
Now, regarding hardware,
Camera 13MP could be better, but that would involve a bigger one. This one takes good quality pictures with a very good flash. Single one, but very powerfull.
The CPU is very good. You can see in most of site reviews everyone complaining about the bad deca-core because the 2 high speed cpu shutdown when it get's to acertain CPU threshold.
In my oppinion, that if great.
I use it heavily with all sort of app's, and I just feel it a little warm, nothing more. More, I don't even feel a difference on the speed, because it performs amazingly smooth.
Comparing to other mobiles, that are indeed very fast (2.4GHz+) where you can't even touch the mobile because it's very hot.
Please note that I have this mobile for only a couple of weeks, but as a heavy user, I test it the most of my capabilities, and till now I rather preffer it over many available phones.
One last note, regarding the software problems that @ckleon said, can you please be more specific, so that I can also check them in mine?

lotryf said:
From a person that has a dark blue on his hands, I've got to say it is a very unique piece of hardware. I really like the way it feels on the hand, and even with a bigger screen than my old IUNI U2 4.7'' I have a much more confortable touch with it.
Also, the amazing tickness of it make him a wonderfully attractive phone.
Now, regarding hardware,
Camera 13MP could be better, but that would involve a bigger one. This one takes good quality pictures with a very good flash. Single one, but very powerfull.
The CPU is very good. You can see in most of site reviews everyone complaining about the bad deca-core because the 2 high speed cpu shutdown when it get's to acertain CPU threshold.
In my oppinion, that if great.
I use it heavily with all sort of app's, and I just feel it a little warm, nothing more. More, I don't even feel a difference on the speed, because it performs amazingly smooth.
Comparing to other mobiles, that are indeed very fast (2.4GHz+) where you can't even touch the mobile because it's very hot.
Please note that I have this mobile for only a couple of weeks, but as a heavy user, I test it the most of my capabilities, and till now I rather preffer it over many available phones.
One last note, regarding the software problems that @ckleon said, can you please be more specific, so that I can also check them in mine?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this. Got mine yesterday.
The ONLY negative points are: touchscreen-sensor is a little too weak and the brightness could be brighter Maybe in future we get new roms which could soulve this problem! LineageOS would be perfect imo.

A worthy replacement?

The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!

gman88667733 said:
The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!
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Click to collapse
If I we're going to stick with the Z line, I'd go with the Z3 play rather than the 2.
But none of the newer Z phones feel like enough of an upgrade to me to make it worth the jump.
Based on what I've seen, the OnePlus 6T looks like the best next option to me. I've seen a bunch of screen shots showing 6-8h SoT with long day use, so while it's not up there with the Z play, it seems better than just about anything out there. Better camera is a bonus. I can live with no headphone jack. My biggest 'missing' feature is wireless charging. Price is definitely higher than the z line, but not by the huge margin it would take to get to an S9+ or pixel 3.

I am tempted by the 6T, no headphone jack does annoy me a bit though ...

I think to moto one power or moto z3 play next year when prices have gone down
Or a xiaomi , may be next redmi note pro, the note 6 pro was not really a big update vs Z play

The Z3 play seems to have rubbish battery life though. I do have the turbo power pack to use with it, but even so...
What's it like in terms of camera and speed? I'd rather stick to a Z line phone than go to the OnePlus 6T really, I just prefer these. My 2nd hand Z Play is faultless apart from a very slow camera app!
A brand new Z3 play just sold on eBay for £275, which is only a bit more than I paid for my used Z Play when I got it.

gman88667733 said:
The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!
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Click to collapse
Yup, same boat. At this point the only true upgrade without braking the bank would be a pixel 2 xl for the on-time updates, complete API support and truly superior camera and even then I would still get a bit less battery life out of it, Moto Z play truly is battery king.

I ordered the 6T yesterday, but got buyer's remorse and cancelled it. After only spending £231 on my Z Play, I don't really want to spend £529! Looking at used 6's on eBay, but the battery life seems a bit bad. I keep coming back to the Z2 Play... £199 brand new and I can keep using my turbo power pack. Is the performance much better? My Z play is getting a tad sluggish sometimes...

I ordered the 6T yesterday, but got buyer's remorse and cancelled it. After only spending £231 on my Z Play, I don't really want to spend £529! Looking at used 6's on eBay, but the battery life seems a bit bad. I keep coming back to the Z2 Play... £199 brand new and I can keep using my turbo power pack. Is the performance much better? My Z play is getting a tad sluggish sometimes...
If not, then a Z3 play comes up every now and then for about £275, but the design/functionality seems a bit weird to me
Then again, a 5T would probably be sufficient for my tasks nowadays. My Z Play only drops 20% on my usual work day during the week, so I can't image a 6 or a 5T will drop too much more. The big question is, is the 6 worth £100 more than the 5T currently is?
*** Double post - sorry!! ***

Waiting on the international release of the Nokia 8.1 plus (same hardware as the X7 in China)
Then I'll probably retire my Z Play.

gman88667733 said:
The Z3 play seems to have rubbish battery life though. I do have the turbo power pack to use with it, but even so...
What's it like in terms of camera and speed? I'd rather stick to a Z line phone than go to the OnePlus 6T really, I just prefer these. My 2nd hand Z Play is faultless apart from a very slow camera app!
A brand new Z3 play just sold on eBay for £275, which is only a bit more than I paid for my used Z Play when I got it.
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Click to collapse
even if you did not have one already, keep in mind that it's packaged with a 2220mAh powerpack , in the box, so 5220 mAh

True.
I have done a bit more research and I think I'm going to go for a OnePlus 6 or 5T (whichever one comes up as a better deal) I think the lesser battery life is worth it for the bigger screen, better camera and better performance.
Plus, buying used means that if in 3-6 months time I decide I need better battery again, I'll just sell it and get a Z3 Play because OnePlus phones hold their value very well.

Update on this. I have now purchased a pristine OnePlus 6 128gb for £379 (bargain!) I'll let you know how I get on compared to the Z Play

Honestly same, I love my Moto Z Play. If it weren't for the bad experiences I've had a couple times with security patches and the lack of software support I'd stick with it for much longer. But there are other options now that make what this accomplishes seem sub par. Don't get me wrong though. This phone is stable to a fault and I've got a lot of battery life to boot with the power pack attached as well. But The weight, the storage limitations, sub 4GB RAM (which I wouldn't mind if 2 or 3 of my apps weren't so hungry for the stuff) and the aforementioned lack of software support is starting to become more apparent. I'm probably going to keep the phone as a trusty backup though but I think I'm going to save up for the top-end model of the OnePlus 6T because it seems to have everything I love about this phone give or take a few brand specific quirks swapped out (Moto Gestures for Oxygen gestures) plus a better camera and just more overall fluidity. It kinda annoys me too about the headphone jack but I've been mostly using my Sony WH-1000XM3s which support AptX HD and LDAC so I won't be missing it too much plus I'm probably gonna spend a bit extra for all the sense of security stuff plus a case and bullets wired for the sake of convenience. However I'm terms of how much I love the Moto Z Play I'd say it's earned a place in my heart right next to my Nexus 5.
It has also earned a place on my shelf next to the N5 as well lol (sadly the Nexus 5's screen recently shattered finally so thusly the MZP takes it's place as my trusty backup should anything go awry.)
---------- Post added at 04:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 AM ----------
Nyoir said:
Honestly same, I love my Moto Z Play. If it weren't for the bad experiences I've had a couple times with security patches and the lack of software support I'd stick with it for much longer. But there are other options now that make what this accomplishes seem sub par. Don't get me wrong though. This phone is stable to a fault and I've got a lot of battery life to boot with the power pack attached as well. But The weight, the storage limitations, sub 4GB RAM (which I wouldn't mind if 2 or 3 of my apps weren't so hungry for the stuff) and the aforementioned lack of software support is starting to become more apparent. I'm probably going to keep the phone as a trusty backup though but I think I'm going to save up for the top-end model of the OnePlus 6T because it seems to have everything I love about this phone give or take a few brand specific quirks swapped out (Moto Gestures for Oxygen gestures) plus a better camera and just more overall fluidity. It kinda annoys me too about the headphone jack but I've been mostly using my Sony WH-1000XM3s which support AptX HD and LDAC so I won't be missing it too much plus I'm probably gonna spend a bit extra for all the sense of security stuff plus a case and bullets wired for the sake of convenience. However I'm terms of how much I love the Moto Z Play I'd say it's earned a place in my heart right next to my Nexus 5.
It has also earned a place on my shelf next to the N5 as well lol (sadly the Nexus 5's screen recently shattered finally so thusly the MZP takes it's place as my trusty backup should anything go awry.)
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I realized I digressed haha, just really love the time I've had with this.
Actual advice I'd say is a real toss up for good choices. I really don't like Apple as a company but as of recently I'd say the iPhone X is a pretty good value in terms of optimization but the OS and insistent use of the lightning connector as opposed to USB-C is a deal breaker for me. If those don't mean much to you however I'd say it's a pretty good option.
Huawei has seen similar optimizations in terms of hardware what with the new 7nm SoC soaking up much less battery and pumping out much more performance but I don't know much of their software support in terms of updates or individual app developers considering their devices. I've heard the firmware and camera are amazing though this time around. Again, from my POV the heavy skin is a bit much for me with too many things I wouldn't use personally.
I can't honestly recommend the Pixel 3 devices due to their questionable specs for the price unless all you're looking for is a DSLR camera with optional onboard editing software. But of course software support is amazing.
ANY of the gaming branded phones (Xiaomi Black Shark 2, Razer Phone 2, and the ROG Phone) aren't half bad values disregarding the lack of history for their lines so you won't know if they have good software support at all. The skins are all pretty heavy UI wise minus the Razer Phone 2. Of all of them though I've only seen the Razer Phone 2 in person and it's pretty sleek tbh.
Sony is a mixed bag, I can't think of a specific model off the top of my head but they're generally amazing in one aspect and maybe pretty good in a couple of others but then tank every other category so that's your gamble to take if you wish.
Samsung kinda takes the same page as Google in you're paying a bunch but you're getting that heavy skin on the UI (with some admittedly neat features like Ultra Battery Saver) meh update support, and a nice camera. The difference being that you're also getting a huge battery and more RAM options so it's not as bad a value as the Pixel devices.
Then last but far from least would be the current king of value (due to the Poco F1 DRM failure) which would be the OnePlus 6T. Buying new from OnePlus it's the same price set as the OP6 but the 6T has a larger battery and smaller notch not to mention the first considerably fast in display fingerprint scanner. Dash charging is already a good bonus considering it's one of the fastest charging technologies I'm the phone market. As far as I've seen the phone scores 10s all around (I don't know about speaker performance however) Topping it off with the fact the UI has everything I love about Motorola's tweaking plus a couple more things. Setting the settings and other context menus to black to save a bunch of battery, more options for screen calibration, optimized to be light on the processor and battery to keep it from running down in your pocket. Big downer however is the loss of our dearly departed headphone jack, it's unfortunate but OnePlus said it was time. On the upside however it includes the dongle, the dongle includes a DAC, and the BT codecs included aren't bad either. OnePlus also made a statement not long ago that they're essentially going to be giving their devices Pixel/Nexus-like software support roadmaps further supported by Google's new software support policy.
Ah and frosting on top; It's not $1,000 for 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, and a huge AMOLED panel but about $650
Even with a case/bullets bundle with all the added warranty/damage protection stuff it's still under $1,000 at about $816 so that's why I'm picking the 6T myself.
All those considered however it's largely you're decision what you're most comfortable with getting based off your own experiences and judgement. I just hope it's a purchase you'll wholeheartedly love

OnePlus 6 arrived today.
So far is seems pretty good, it is so quick.
Screen isn't as bright, it is quite dim up until 100%, but not terrible.
Can't comment on the battery yet, but it won't be like the Z Play.
Lovely big screen though! I'll update this in a few days

Update on this, a few weeks on.
Battery life is decent enough, I still get 1-2 days from it with my light usage, heavy usage gets about 7 hours SOT. I'd imagine the 6T is far better though.
It is very fast, I'm yet to notice any slow downs or lag at all, it does everything quickly.
The camera is a mixed bag.. the stock camera app I've found to be slow to capture, but GCAM fixed this. Quality of photos is decent, I still prefer my old Nexus 6P I think though, but this is definitely good enough for most people and if a big upgrade from the Z play.
The screen is fantastic, not as bright as the Z play, but it is lovely to look at.
I think I've covered everything that most people care about.
Overall, I am happy with the upgrade, I wouldn't want to go back to a small screen again I think. It isn't exactly incredible, but it seems to be a good all around phone. It isn't the best in any one category, but it is good in all of them!
The only thing I'd really like to be improved is the battery life, I miss not being about to guarantee 2 days between charges with heavy use!

gman88667733 said:
Update on this, a few weeks on.
Battery life is decent enough, I still get 1-2 days from it with my light usage, heavy usage gets about 7 hours SOT. I'd imagine the 6T is far better though.
It is very fast, I'm yet to notice any slow downs or lag at all, it does everything quickly.
The camera is a mixed bag.. the stock camera app I've found to be slow to capture, but GCAM fixed this. Quality of photos is decent, I still prefer my old Nexus 6P I think though, but this is definitely good enough for most people and if a big upgrade from the Z play.
The screen is fantastic, not as bright as the Z play, but it is lovely to look at.
I think I've covered everything that most people care about.
Overall, I am happy with the upgrade, I wouldn't want to go back to a small screen again I think. It isn't exactly incredible, but it seems to be a good all around phone. It isn't the best in any one category, but it is good in all of them!
The only thing I'd really like to be improved is the battery life, I miss not being about to guarantee 2 days between charges with heavy use!
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Thanks for the follow up on this thread. I'm still on the fence. Had I caught the essential ph-1 deal for $170 on Black Friday that would have been it for me. Then I missed the Z2 Force for $99 yesterday - would have done that too.
Still bouncing around all the $400 - $500 phones. Currently leaning towards the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s, but nearly impossible to find new with 128gb storage.
MZP is still just too good to let go - let's me be too indecisive about upgrades!

I nearly got an essential, but the average battery life put me off. I would say that for most people, it is worth stepping up the price and getting a 6T over a 6, just for the battery life (IMO). However, I am definitely not unhappy with battery life. It is probably on par if not a tad better than my old OnePlus 5

gman88667733 said:
I nearly got an essential, but the average battery life put me off. I would say that for most people, it is worth stepping up the price and getting a 6T over a 6, just for the battery life (IMO). However, I am definitely not unhappy with battery life. It is probably on par if not a tad better than my old OnePlus 5
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Yeah battery life was a concern for me - though I saw some fairly decent numbers on some of the threads here.
For me it's very much about "bang for the buck" when I get phones. MZP has been the best I've ever had in that regard. LG Optimus G and Moto E 2015 are right up there too.

My Z Play was £231 second hand, so not exactly a bargain, but stepping up to £370 for my OP6 was still a big step in the price. My Z Play will still get used very often as I switch between them frequently

https://www.xda-developers.com/moto-z4-play-leak-48mp-camera-display-fingerprint-sensor/
Finally a worthy replacement