Develop Bugs

Sony acro s - worth buying?

I love my defy, especially now with jelly bean CM10.
However acro s has just been released and it looks to offer the toughness of defy with a high end phone and camera.
Do you think it's with spending the money on or should I hold onto my defy for another year??
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

Silverdace said:
I love my defy, especially now with jelly bean CM10.
However acro s has just been released and it looks to offer the toughness of defy with a high end phone and camera.
Do you think it's with spending the money on or should I hold onto my defy for another year??
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get the Xperia Acro S if :
1> the entirety of the design greatly appeals to you (it did on me)
2> you find the built - water-resistant and shock resistant - has some good use according to your lifestyle
3> the price range is acceptable
4>you're a big fan of Xperia (a "stick to it no matter what" kind of fan)
5>OS development and modding is not that important
but, consider looking somewhere else if :
1>OS upgrade, flashing, openness and OS development is important to you(you're better off getting Samsung or HTC)
2>you value the online community support structure (you're better off getting Samsung or HTC)
3>you want those OS development delivered on a timely manner (you're better off getting Samsung or HTC) either official or the XDA way.
there you go, i hope these somehow help you make the right choice.

Thanks for the good advice.
For me there is a conflict. I need water resistance for use outdoors but have also enjoyed the roms, mods and tweaking. The defy was the best of both worlds. I don't think it's stayed on the same rom for more than a few weeks!. I've had it for almost two years now.
I don't know why Motorola haven't bought out a defy 2. Bigger screen, better camera etc. instead there's defy +, defy mini, defy XT, all of which are pretty much the same and not worth upgrading from defy.
I'm contemplating buying a galaxy nexus as an indoor phone and keeping my defy as my outdoor media and GPS. However the acro s looked like it would let me have just the one phone.
I'll wait I think for a month or so until there's good reviews of acro s out. Acro s is priced just above galaxy s3 here in new Zealand but only just released so will prob drop in price quick.
Apologies for long post.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

Do you know what carrier it will be for? I live in America and i can only get Tmobile phones. I need a tough phone like the defy, everyday, but i want something more powerful like the acro s. The only other phone thats powerful from tmobile here is the galaxy s3 which my girlfriend has but she has to charge it 3 times a day and i think i would break it in a month on accident. Thanks.

tommyrumbler said:
get the Xperia Acro S if :
1> the entirety of the design greatly appeals to you (it did on me)
2> you find the built - water-resistant and shock resistant - has some good use according to your lifestyle
3> the price range is acceptable
4>you're a big fan of Xperia (a "stick to it no matter what" kind of fan)
5>OS development and modding is not that important
but, consider looking somewhere else if :
1>OS upgrade, flashing, openness and OS development is important to you(you're better off getting Samsung or HTC)
2>you value the online community support structure (you're better off getting Samsung or HTC)
3>you want those OS development delivered on a timely manner (you're better off getting Samsung or HTC) either official or the XDA way.
there you go, i hope these somehow help you make the right choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think devs on XPERIA device is not bad..
FXP team did a good job, and ORGANIZED, yes organized to did their job.
they port CM to all 2011 Xperia device (yes, CM10 included).
my friend using Xperia Live and Xperia Neo, got a nice real smoooooth CM.
and developing atmoshpere there on both device is hot, not dead..
as long as kernel is unlocked, there's always a possibilities for devs to develop it.
and xperia has many devs too.
and did you know, SONY is a nice vendor for the devs.
SONY put a official page on their website, a nice how to step-by-step UNLOCK BOOTLOADER OFFICIALY..

i kept my eye on xperia acro s for two months now, and my next phone will definitely be this one. and i think the development of xperia devices is not bad, especially when they get cyanogenmod. and im quite sure this device will be officially supported by the cm team.
and i agree with marhensa, if the bootloader is unlocked, development is much easier, and sony makes their bootloaders unlockable.

And about official updates, Sony comes right next to nexus phones in official updates .. they updated almost all of the 2011 Xperia lineup to ics . Better late then never
Sent from my MB525 using xda app-developers app

I would buy it but sony only release the xperia go in germany, but thats holy crab, nothing better then my defy.
So i keep my defy ad buy him in autumn a big brother, the nexus seven. So outdoor smartphone and daily using nexus 7

I'm waiting for this piece of hardware as well. Its for the exact reasons I bought my defy for and why I will hopefully never have to but a non ip67 phone again.
Sean

lets not forget that:
- the defy is not ip67 officially
- the acro s is ip57, not ip67
sent from my jellybean defy...

marhensa said:
i think devs on XPERIA device is not bad..
FXP team did a good job, and ORGANIZED, yes organized to did their job.
they port CM to all 2011 Xperia device (yes, CM10 included).
my friend using Xperia Live and Xperia Neo, got a nice real smoooooth CM.
and developing atmoshpere there on both device is hot, not dead..
as long as kernel is unlocked, there's always a possibilities for devs to develop it.
and xperia has many devs too.
and did you know, SONY is a nice vendor for the devs.
SONY put a official page on their website, a nice how to step-by-step UNLOCK BOOTLOADER OFFICIALY..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh don't get me wrong there, bud. nothing about devs in general and here at XDA in particular.
my point being was - Sony's tough stance on keeping their phones superlocked - with bootloaders locked(and encrypted) in a way that makes it difficult for devs high and low to come up with diverse ROMs and mods, keeps the flashaholic community to a minimum level.
and yeah CM did very excellent (sorry for the double supras) job of porting ICS and even JB(in the works to most 2011 line). unlimited props to the team. and that was CM - not SE.compare it to both Samsung and HTC communities where in just a matter of weeks they'd have the ports ready and working, it took about what, a year for SE to brush in to the ICS bandwagon?..
also, look at the price range for an SE dual core device, almost up there with the far-quads.
talk about design, props to SE - i mean they make the loveliest phones out there. (exactly why i bought my ACRO HD).
i'm no big fan of SE - or any OEM for that matter - what matters to me is the experience i get out of a phone - or a device - or a product. And this is where SE loses big time to most big players year after year.
if my Acro HD has got better innard - like a quad maybe, this is going to be my phone for the next two years or so. no i'm highly tempted to get an S3.
again, please..don't tramp me just yet...i'm no hater.
and thanks for the reply. i appreciate being corrected constructively.

tommyrumbler said:
oh don't get me wrong there, bud. nothing about devs in general and here at XDA in particular.
my point being was - Sony's tough stance on keeping their phones superlocked - with bootloaders locked(and encrypted) in a way that makes it difficult for devs high and low to come up with diverse ROMs and mods, keeps the flashaholic community to a minimum level.
and yeah CM did very excellent (sorry for the double supras) job of porting ICS and even JB(in the works to most 2011 line). unlimited props to the team. and that was CM - not SE.compare it to both Samsung and HTC communities where in just a matter of weeks they'd have the ports ready and working, it took about what, a year for SE to brush in to the ICS bandwagon?..
also, look at the price range for an SE dual core device, almost up there with the far-quads.
talk about design, props to SE - i mean they make the loveliest phones out there. (exactly why i bought my ACRO HD).
i'm no big fan of SE - or any OEM for that matter - what matters to me is the experience i get out of a phone - or a device - or a product. And this is where SE loses big time to most big players year after year.
if my Acro HD has got better innard - like a quad maybe, this is going to be my phone for the next two years or so. no i'm highly tempted to get an S3.
again, please..don't tramp me just yet...i'm no hater.
and thanks for the reply. i appreciate being corrected constructively.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
umm, i never had an android powered sony, but ive tried many, and from my experience, their software is greatly optimised, their single core devices are almost as smooth as a dual core device. thats why i think its worth buying a dual core sony instead of any quad core for the same price. and the sony stock software is very good, good features, quick, smooth. and they unlock most of their devices afaik. so my next phone will definitely be a sony. i dont like samsung, not just the software, the hardware either. htc is too pricy, especially that i dont wanna use sense ui, and thats extra money. i will never again buy a motorola for what they did to us defy users, and lg i simply dont trust. that leaves sony, which i always liked.

zakoo2 said:
umm, i never had an android powered sony, but ive tried many, and from my experience, their software is greatly optimised, their single core devices are almost as smooth as a dual core device. thats why i think its worth buying a dual core sony instead of any quad core for the same price. and the sony stock software is very good, good features, quick, smooth. and they unlock most of their devices afaik. so my next phone will definitely be a sony. i dont like samsung, not just the software, the hardware either. htc is too pricy, especially that i dont wanna use sense ui, and thats extra money. i will never again buy a motorola for what they did to us defy users, and lg i simply dont trust. that leaves sony, which i always liked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my little brother has got a defy too.. he loved it to the point of learning android programming so he could max his device the way he want's it. i've had 6 other phones while he held on to it. and i know first hand how moto left everyone in the dark with their i-dont-care attitude.
if you're saying though that SE makes very good OS/software for their phones, then i'm not really sure why we're here on XDA.
back to SE - goodluck with your next device. i hope they make better phones in their next release.
i'm about to sell my AcroHD and get me one of those jelly-able device.

tommyrumbler said:
my little brother has got a defy too.. he loved it to the point of learning android programming so he could max his device the way he want's it. i've had 6 other phones while he held on to it. and i know first hand how moto left everyone in the dark with their i-dont-care attitude.
if you're saying though that SE makes very good OS/software for their phones, then i'm not really sure why we're here on XDA.
back to SE - goodluck with your next device. i hope they make better phones in their next release.
i'm about to sell my AcroHD and get me one of those jelly-able device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you misunderstood me, im not saying i want to stick to the stock sony sw, i just said that if i had to choose id choose sonys, but of course if theres a possibility to change to cm, i will be the first to go. and the acro s has nfc, hdmi, good hw, hd 4.3" display (anything above 4.3" is too big for me), and comes with ics, so it will definitely be updated to jb. so this is the perfect phone for me. the s3 with its 4.7" is waaay to big, and i dont like the look of it.

but guys..
sony is kindly gave OFFICIAL step bu step to unlock bootloader.
and after that, you know what..
the 2011 devices line up got CM by FXP..
it took so long to get CM is because bootloader isn't unlock at that time.
but after that, sony gives a new policy which is so good for any devs.
the warranty will get void of course, but that's a win win solution for devs + it's follower and company (sony)..
---
Iki le ngirim seko aplikasi TapaTalk | MotoDEFY - Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1

I'm sure that Acro S is the best replacement for all Defy Owners , I think Quad-Core phones will eat up batteries.
For Samsung : I don't like their Plasticy devices that feels like a toy and Cheap construction and very easy to break ,but they have a big Dev community
For HTC and SONY they have a great build quality and nice dev followers but its a little bit over-priced
Acro S is the Up-coming phone unless HTC has released any IP57 or IP67 certified phones and i think all phones in the world should be IP57 cert

zakoo2 said:
lets not forget that:
- the defy is not ip67 officially
- the acro s is ip57, not ip67
sent from my jellybean defy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That one also baffles me ... What could possibly be the cause of the dust ingression protection level to decrease for acro S ...
Sony manages to maintain IP67 for Go ...
Sent from my MB525-CMX-4.1.1

AlexGraves said:
That one also baffles me ... What could possibly be the cause of the dust ingression protection level to decrease for acro S ...
Sony manages to maintain IP67 for Go ...
Sent from my MB525-CMX-4.1.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the acro s is bigger, and just how it is with the defy, the acro s plugs are protected by tiny plastic doors. although i dont relly get how its protected from water and not from dust
sent from my jellybean defy...

zakoo2 said:
the acro s is bigger, and just how it is with the defy, the acro s plugs are protected by tiny plastic doors. although i dont relly get how its protected from water and not from dust
sent from my jellybean defy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to point out that DEFY+ is IP67 certified. So, yeah, the DEFY maybe doesn't have the official badge, but it was just another marketing trick to make people believe they actually improved the phone in multiple ways (CPU, chipset, graphics, IP67 certificate...things are different on DEFY and DEFY+ according to Motorola), while they are actually the same.
To make sure I was on topic - I find the Xperia line-up very ugly. If a real DEFY 2 doesn't show, my next phone will be an ATRIX 2

niksy+ said:
Just wanted to point out that DEFY+ is IP67 certified. So, yeah, the DEFY maybe doesn't have the official badge, but it was just another marketing trick to make people believe they actually improved the phone in multiple ways (CPU, chipset, graphics, IP67 certificate...things are different on DEFY and DEFY+ according to Motorola), while they are actually the same.
To make sure I was on topic - I find the Xperia line-up very ugly. If a real DEFY 2 doesn't show, my next phone will be an ATRIX 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i actually find the xperia line-up nice and elegant, and i swore never to buy motorola again...
sent from my jellybean defy...

Finding myself on a crossroad - maybe it is time to move on

Hello there,
I am a Sony Xperia S user for 11 months now and so far I have been largely satisfied with my device. I have always run on the Stock ROM, I have not unlocked my bootloader yet and I do not intend to do so.
However, in the light of recent events I find myself thinking of a switch to another phone with better characteristics and more recent hardware. The best deal seems to be Sony Xperia T - newer chip, better support from Sony; perhaps it would receive further JB updates (4.2, 4.3) as well. Still, its recent price is just above 300 euros - unlocked and without contract - in my country. In comparison, I still have to pay about 200 euros for my Xperia S to the end of my 2-year lease contract with my local mobile service provider. That's why I am considering paying off the remaining sum of the lease in advance and then selling my Xperia S for about the same amount of money.
There are several reasons why I am considering such a switch. For one, Sony does not seem too eager to support Xperia S any longer. Yes, the 4.1.2 JB update is on the way but it has been for several months now. The numerous delays, and I am not too interested in the respective reasons, have finally put me off this otherwise pretty good all-rounder phone. Second, we have to take into account that the Snapdragon S3 chip is already heavily outdated and it would most likely not receive any further software development. When considering the alternatives, Xperia T seems to be the best one, because of its price, hardware and software. I am very fond of Sony's interface, indeed.
So I wonder what is your opinion on the matter? Is Xperia T worth it to replace my Xperia S for the next couple of years?
This thread could provide a general discussion of Xperia S's future, too.

I think its time to move on. Im never going back to Sony unless they improve. Im keeping my phone for few months more. I just bought my Sony phone and Im pretty disappointed. HTC and Samsung have better phones than Sony why settle for Xperia T or V, if you can have better.

My friend got Xperia T, and i don't like that phone.
Move on something newer, keep in mind (snapdragon 600) will receive every update before S4 and S4pro
Sent from my LT26i using xda app-developers app

Agree with electrash anyways sony is getting poorer and poorer when it comes to system updates
Sent from my LT26i using xda app-developers app

It is made very clear by the moderators that threads condemning Sony is not allowed. This thread is going to get locked soon. However, I noticed it is always those few monkeys tryin to be funny, not able to listen to simple English. Sony might not be good in updating Xperia S, but they didn't break any promises and my current ICS build is flawless.
Sony might not reach Samsung's level yet but it has suppressed HTC greatly already. Those who don't know, HTC abandons HTC Sensation, the phone with the exact same CPU as Xperia S.

So has sony, it had forgotten about xperia u when jellybean was announced
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

Rangeeshnathan said:
So has sony, it had forgotten about xperia u when jellybean was announced
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own an Xperia U and it lags badly on ICS. They didnt abandon Xperia U. It is just not fit for JB. Anyways, Sony sales numbers have been steadily increasing YOY and already destroyed Motorola's and HTC's. Sony will continue to rise as 99% of customers dont give a damn about updates, fortunately.

Xperia go seems to have less hardware capabilities than xperia u, no??
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

Rangeeshnathan said:
Xperia go seems to have less hardware capabilities than xperia u, no??
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. Please don't play with me. Xperia Go have the exact same specification as Xperia U. Xperia Go have a lower screen resolution resulting better performance. Then you will ask Xperia J. Sigh, kids these days.

Excuse me then I'm sorry Mr lee
And lol I was not coming to xperia j
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

R: Finding myself on a crossroad - maybe it is time to move on
Pretty much of your same opinion... I'm totally satisfied until now for what I've done with my Xperia S, but I really cannot stand anymore the politics of software update that Sony is pursuing.
And ok, my phone is fully unlocked and I tried a lot of custom roms to get closer to what is a pure android system, but to me those all are still full of bugs.
And to be honest, stock remains the best deal.
I'd like to switch to a pure Google Phone like the Nexus 4 but his great fragility, the weakness of the camera and the max 16gb of storage are three points that still makes me doubtful.
I'm considering the upcoming Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition...

When the official Sony JB update comes, everything changes. We can run custom ROMs without a flaw with the help of 3rd party developers. There has been rumors that Android 4.3 is still going to be JB. Even if we cant upgrade our phones to Android 5. The problem is our ROMs are'nt stable enough.

lewis021 said:
When the official Sony JB update comes, everything changes. We can run custom ROMs without a flaw with the help of 3rd party developers. There has been rumors that Android 4.3 is still going to be JB. Even if we cant upgrade our phones to Android 5. The problem is our ROMs are'nt stable enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, the current ICS build is stable. Other than some Wifi drops, I dont see any major flaws in it.

lee480 said:
Personally, the current ICS build is stable. Other than some Wifi drops, I dont see any major flaws in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The big problem about ICS is its very laggy, drains alot of battery and not smooth.

cabi.costa said:
Pretty much of your same opinion... I'm totally satisfied until now for what I've done with my Xperia S, but I really cannot stand anymore the politics of software update that Sony is pursuing.
And ok, my phone is fully unlocked and I tried a lot of custom roms to get closer to what is a pure android system, but to me those all are still full of bugs.
And to be honest, stock remains the best deal.
I'd like to switch to a pure Google Phone like the Nexus 4 but his great fragility, the weakness of the camera and the max 16gb of storage are three points that still makes me doubtful.
I'm considering the upcoming Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, the Galaxy S phones are always a viable alternative, but I am not a big fan of Samsung. Too much plastic, and the user interface is somewhat dull and boring. Yes, the horsepower behind the back panel is immense but I am not a power user, not really. In fact, it turns out that Sony are the brand with the highest number of upper-mid-level devices at the moment (Xperia S, T; SP and ZR upcoming; not to mention all the derivatives like SL, TX, Ion, V, Acro S, etc., etc.) and I am rather leaning towards buying one such device. I am not too interested in the current flagship devices (Xperia Z, HTC One, Galaxy S4) since cheaper phones provide similar daily performance for some 2/3 of the price. Snapdragon S4 is one really capable platform and its wide availability makes it accessible to anyone.
To sum up, I am rather looking for a phone with a good manufacturer's support and expected updates till Android version 4.3, at least. The 16GB non-expandable storage of Nexus 4 is a deal-breaker for me as well. Maybe I will wait another couple of months, until SP and ZR get released and their prices decline to their true market values.
And guys, please stay on topic here. We are discussing Xperia S and its alternatives here, not Sony's customer policy in general. I know, there are many of you who are angry at the Japanese, I am somewhat dissatisfied myself. Anyway, please stop the rant because I believe this is a sensible topic and I do not want to see this thread closed. Thanks!

edit: nvm

I had similar thoughts too, until i realized that the hardware in my Xperia S is just fine for my needs for now. What is it you want to do with a newer chipset? And on the software side, I have my hopes on that things will improve somewhat once/if Sony releases the new kernel-sources.

This question has been as so many times, only you can decide what is best for you.
Thread Closed

Loving my ZL!!

Been a long time apple user ..since the original iphone in 2007. had every version of it. Got bored of ios and switched to Galaxy s3 last year and been quite happy so far. Last week i traded the S3 for Sony Xperia ZL..and man..i love this hardware and the version of android..
The sony launcher is by far the best one i've seen compared to the touchwiz and others..I used to have so many launchers and widgets on my S3 whereas i have no launchers and widgets on ZL.. The built in has all the features i need,,
Got the iphone 5S for the wife..but the display on ZL is quite something..camera is great. Battery life is reasonable (compared to my old S3) and the standard android customization is very handy..
Don't think i'll ever go back to ios or other android devices for a while.

I like the Xperia ZL. But this phone has many problems. First it lost the signal. It has some lag. And now overheat. Tomorrow who know? I can affirm that I would like other phone.
Enviado desde mi C6502

melquisedec said:
I like the Xperia ZL. But this phone has many problems. First it lost the signal. It has some lag. And now overheat. Tomorrow who know? I can affirm that I would like other phone.
Enviado desde mi C6502
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well not all ZL have problems. mine works perfect, for me its the best phone made by SONY, small big screen, nice hardware, cool camera etc.
just w8ting for the 4.3.
i had HTC One, iphone 5, S3, and the ZL its like perfect.
BTW I dont like custom roms so im full stuck on 4.2.2 ,67 , as far as i know most of the people that face does issues are using roms...and i keep sayin Custom roms SUCK, just stick with official and dont screw your phone.:good:

danieldp1990 said:
well not all ZL have problems. mine works perfect, for me its the best phone made by SONY, small big screen, nice hardware, cool camera etc.
just w8ting for the 4.3.
i had HTC One, iphone 5, S3, and the ZL its like perfect.
BTW I dont like custom roms so im full stuck on 4.2.2 ,67 , as far as i know most of the people that face does issues are using roms...and i keep sayin Custom roms SUCK, just stick with official and dont screw your phone.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on a custom ROM and I'm having exactly 0 issues from the phone itself. Some people just have bad luck.

I am waiting the update 4.3. Preying God mine fixed.
Enviado desde mi C6502

TheTofu said:
I'm on a custom ROM and I'm having exactly 0 issues from the phone itself. Some people just have bad luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well good to hear that, but almost all problems that people have they all uses custom roms.

danieldp1990 said:
well not all ZL have problems. mine works perfect, for me its the best phone made by SONY, small big screen, nice hardware, cool camera etc.
just w8ting for the 4.3.
i had HTC One, iphone 5, S3, and the ZL its like perfect.
BTW I dont like custom roms so im full stuck on 4.2.2 ,67 , as far as i know most of the people that face does issues are using roms...and i keep sayin Custom roms SUCK, just stick with official and dont screw your phone.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm using a custom ROM and I do not face any issues as well so you are wrong when you say that!
Sent from my C6503 using xda app-developers app

einfachgaer said:
Well I'm using a custom ROM and I do not face any issues as well so you are wrong when you say that!
Sent from my C6503 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well what I say is what I read on the web.

danieldp1990 said:
well not all ZL have problems. mine works perfect, for me its the best phone made by SONY, small big screen, nice hardware, cool camera etc.
just w8ting for the 4.3.
i had HTC One, iphone 5, S3, and the ZL its like perfect.
BTW I dont like custom roms so im full stuck on 4.2.2 ,67 , as far as i know most of the people that face does issues are using roms...and i keep sayin Custom roms SUCK, just stick with official and dont screw your phone.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree - i love the stock rom as well. I'm with bell in canada. My android version says 4.2.2 build number is 10.3.A.0.423
No updates according to update centre..is the latest .67 udpate not available to bell customers?

Generalities tend to be tough to back up.
As to your question about an upgrade - you should be able to install the "stock" generic 67 rom for your phone via flashtool, and have it work properly on Bell as what's important are the radio frequencies the phone supports. (and you "should" be able to flash it without wiping your data...

On latest Stock rom and 0 problems with this wonderful device. It's high end and a pleasure to use it.
Sent from my Xperia ZL

scifan said:
Generalities tend to be tough to back up.
As to your question about an upgrade - you should be able to install the "stock" generic 67 rom for your phone via flashtool, and have it work properly on Bell as what's important are the radio frequencies the phone supports. (and you "should" be able to flash it without wiping your data...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do i flash? I haven't done this before..Why isn't the latest build not available via OTA?

vhl71 said:
How do i flash? I haven't done this before..Why isn't the latest build not available via OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea why it wouldn't be available via OTA.
As far as how to flash... search under the development forum for the ZL for Flashtool. There's also a thread that shows all of the different "rom" versions... I'd look there as well...

I am also super lucky with my ZL. Latest stock firmware and it is my first Android phone, where I don't feel the need for having root access...

I am debating whether i should return my SP and get a ZL. Normally I don't like five inch phones but the ZL is so compact that it wouldn't bother me. I am having a hell of a time deciding. Good thing I have till the end of January. What do you guys think?

mrsatan said:
I am debating whether i should return my SP and get a ZL. Normally I don't like five inch phones but the ZL is so compact that it wouldn't bother me. I am having a hell of a time deciding. Good thing I have till the end of January. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it. The SP is a nice phone, but the ZL is leagues better in every way. You wont believe how small it really is until you hold it.

Even though my beloved C6503 is away receiving RMA Support.
Leading me to purchase a C5303 as back-up in the meantime.
I can still thoroughly recommend the ZL over the SP.
If you watch a lot of videos, browse the internet heavily, likewise use messaging heavily, then you'll love the extra real estate, and increased sharpness, that comes with the 5", Full HD, ultra compact ZL.
Not to mention the ZL's noticeable increase in both performance, and internal storage.
The advantage of 5" 1080p over 4.6" 720p may read like hype.
But as you'll find out for yourself, once you've tried it you won't go back.
Especially in such compact form, with higher grade, build quality you'd expect in Sony's early 2013 top tier, that is found in the ZL.
Plus you still get a large, but more stylised notification light.
The only cons I find with the ZL is it does generate a lot of heat when worked hard.
More than the SP.
But then that's understandable considering what's under their respective hoods (Z runs hotter still being front/rear glass?!)
So I wouldn't recommend using a case with it.
The other con is the ZL is not as efficient as SP.
This is reflected in their respective Endurance Test ratings at GSM Arena, and sums up nicely my experience with them both.
Finally, I would only recommend buying a used ZL with at least a six month warranty, or preferably brand new with a twelve month warranty.
As I am not alone in my ZL suffering from SOD/Sleep Of Death late last year.
Other than that I eagerly await the return of my C6503 from RMA Support later this month.
To which I'll be gifting my C5303 to my Mum (Love you Mum!)
Look forward to your impression of ZL over the SP should you make the leap.
Sent from my C5303 using xda app-developers app

themanspirit said:
Even though my beloved C6503 is away receiving RMA Support.
Leading me to purchase a C5303 as back-up in the meantime.
I can still thoroughly recommend the ZL over the SP.
If you watch a lot of videos, browse the internet heavily, likewise use messaging heavily, then you'll love the extra real estate, and increased sharpness, that comes with the 5", Full HD, ultra compact ZL.
Not to mention the ZL's noticeable increase in both performance, and internal storage.
The advantage of 5" 1080p over 4.6" 720p may read like hype.
But as you'll find out for yourself, once you've tried it you won't go back.
Especially in such compact form, with higher grade, build quality you'd expect in Sony's early 2013 top tier, that is found in the ZL.
Plus you still get a large, but more stylised notification light.
The only cons I find with the ZL is it does generate a lot of heat when worked hard.
More than the SP.
But then that's understandable considering what's under their respective hoods (Z runs hotter still being front/rear glass?!)
So I wouldn't recommend using a case with it.
The other con is the ZL is not as efficient as SP.
This is reflected in their respective Endurance Test ratings at GSM Arena, and sums up nicely my experience with them both.
Finally, I would only recommend buying a used ZL with at least a six month warranty, or preferably brand new with a twelve month warranty.
As I am not alone in my ZL suffering from SOD/Sleep Of Death late last year.
Other than that I eagerly await the return of my C6503 from RMA Support later this month.
To which I'll be gifting my C5303 to my Mum (Love you Mum!)
Look forward to your impression of ZL over the SP should you make the leap.
Sent from my C5303 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the ZL for about a week now and I am pretty impressed with it. The size of the phone considering the screen size is amazing. It is a solid feeling phone and the red one I bought looks great. The battery life isn't too great compared to SP but that is to be expected. I downclocked it a bit so it does better and doesnt get as hot. The screen is miles better than the SP and the extra internal memory is nice. I did like the fact that the SP didn't have the stupid shatterproof sheet on it and it was advertised as gorilla glass. I also wish the IR blaster was on the top so I could hold it like a remote. I would have taken having the charging pins instead of the IR blaster. Still it is a good phone and probably the best designed five inch phone ever. I would have waited and gotten the Z1 compact but it's just too small for me now. 4.6 is perfect but 5 inch is great if the size is that of the ZL.
The vibration on the ZL is really weird compared to the SP. Its very strong, not sure if that is bad or good. The camera is soooo much better though.

Glad to read you are enjoying ZL.
Having sent mine in for RMA Support last month.
And since, been using first C6603, followed by now C5303.
Its highlighted to me just how superior the ZL is to these two more popular and widely available models.
IMHO Sony made a major mistake not to release the ZL in the same markets globally as Z.
As for the ZL's very strong vibration.
Yes, it is far stronger than both Z and SP.
That's been my experience too.
I don't doubt you are also enjoying the ZL's far superior outdoor visibility too.
As the Z, and the SP, displays are really mediocre by comparison when used outdoors in daylight.
I sure do miss ZL's superior loudspeaker performance too.
Particularly when using Navigation incar, or hearing it ring when you are in noisy environments.
So looking forward to the return of my ZL.
And seeing if Sony will release a true successor to the compact, limited market release, ZL.
Sent from my C5303 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Z1C vs. alternatives

Okay so I'm in a situation where I soon need to get rid of my old sh**ty Xperia Active.
My first smart phone was a Xperia X10i (Which I contributed almost all stock firmwares for, here on XDA), followed by a Nokia 800 (WP7), then a Huawei Ascend P1 which I unfortunately lost and had to go back to a backup phone which is the Xperia Active.
Now I've been looking around for a replacement and the Z1C is really attractive with the awesome design language Sony has set for their Xperia line. But I wanted to get the opinions from flashers and devs here on XDA, mainly because I usually don't stick with stock firmware for long.
So I've done some searching and found some "contenders" for my next phone.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Oppo Find 7a
Sony Xperia M2
OnePlus One (When available)
Google Nexus 5
I know there is loads of custom firmwares for the Nexus line of devices, and the Oppo and OnePlus devices has CyanogenMod support.
So my only "Uncertainty" is the Xperia devices.
Now I know FXP is covering a lot of Xperias but I want to know if there is other major ROM supports for the Z1C and M2 and if the release cycle is on time with CM or not too far after that.
And how stable the builds are in general with the latest official builds of Android (4.4.3 and 4.4.4).
In general how have you had it with your Z1C?
Is it easy to root?
What recoveries is available?
Is there many reports on defects/faults on the device?
How well is the developer community for this particular device?
Is Sony releasing kernel source for the device?
I appreciate all the input you can give me and hopefully I'll get a little bit back into the Xperia hacking.

arkedk said:
So I've done some searching and found some "contenders" for my next phone.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Oppo Find 7a
Sony Xperia M2
OnePlus One (When available)
Google Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious, why is Z1C on the list but not the Z2? I ask because I noticed that besides the Z1C (and the M2 which is just a cheaper (and larger) Z1C pretty much) all the other phones are 5" or larger. The main reason I personally picked the 4.3" Z1C is that it has flagship specs in a small package, that and that Sony are traditionally quite developer friendly. Is it an economical choice or are you just not sure on the size?

Rekoil said:
I'm curious, why is Z1C on the list but not the Z2? I ask because I noticed that besides the Z1C (and the M2 which is just a cheaper (and larger) Z1C pretty much) all the other phones are 5" or larger. The main reason I personally picked the 4.3" Z1C is that it has flagship specs in a small package, that and that Sony are traditionally quite developer friendly. Is it an economical choice or are you just not sure on the size?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly because of pricing. These devices cost from 270 to 400 euro here, and the Z2 is significantly more expensive because it's the newest flagship coming in at around 670 euro, and I wont spent that on a phone since I'm buying without contract as I'm perfectly happy with my carrier and don't want to be locked down for 6 months at a new carrier.

arkedk said:
Mostly because of pricing. These devices cost roughly the same here, and the Z2 is significantly more expensive because it's the newest flagship.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it has nothing to do with size? Because compared to other Snapdragon 800 phones, that (and waterproofing) is what the Z1C has going for it. It has a lower resolution display which means less work for the GPU, and thus better battery life and a more fluid UI.
If it's solely the price and you don't mind a larger phone then I'd probably go with a One PlusOne, but I would suggest you go and have a play with a Z1C before making a decision. See if you like the size.

Rekoil said:
So it has nothing to do with size? Because compared to other Snapdragon 800 phones, that (and waterproofing) is what the Z1C has going for it. It has a lower resolution display which means less work for the GPU, and thus better battery life and a more fluid UI.
If it's solely the price and you don't mind a larger phone then I'd probably go with a One PlusOne, but I would suggest you go and have a play with a Z1C before making a decision. See if you like the size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's not all down to price. I want a phone that has a good dev community around it, so it's possible to try new kernels, tweaked stock firmwares and custom firmwares like CM, Paranoid and other major custom ROM's. I know that Nexus has this, but the design of that phone is boring and the camera is "bleeh". So the Z1C looked like a good device with great specs, small form factor and a great camera.

arkedk said:
Well it's not all down to price. I want a phone that has a good dev community around it, so it's possible to try new kernels, tweaked stock firmwares and custom firmwares like CM, Paranoid and other major custom ROM's. I know that Nexus has this, but the design of that phone is boring and the camera is "bleeh". So the Z1C looked like a good device with great specs, small form factor and a great camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well camera is a bit iffy, but other than that CM runs smooth as hell on the Z1C, that's really all I care about hehe.

Trying to be helpful here (my comments in italics):
In general how have you had it with your Z1C?
I used to be LG O2X owner, and compared to my old phone Z1C even running with stock rom is fast, stable and smooth.
Is it easy to root?
Very easy. All you need to do is download a file and follow the OP here. And I can confirm that it works with the latest kitkat/4.4.4.
What recoveries is available?
TWRP, PhilZ and CWM are available. You can get them here..
Is there many reports on defects/faults on the device?
Some users report flashbleed problem with the camera (fortunately I don't have that problem).
How well is the developer community for this particular device?
I'd say quite good, judging from the number of custom ROM and kernel available for Z1C in the XDA.
Is Sony releasing kernel source for the device?
I think so, check here..

komedol said:
Is Sony releasing kernel source for the device?
I think so, check here..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
arkedk said:
Is Sony releasing kernel source for the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony recently uploaded all their copyleft kernels to GitHub, below link is for current Z1C tree.
https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/kernel-copyleft/tree/14.3.A.0.xxx

Rekoil said:
Well camera is a bit iffy, but other than that CM runs smooth as hell on the Z1C, that's really all I care about hehe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm that's quite a big point in why I want the Z1C. The great pictures that can be taken on stock doesn't work properly on cm. Are they porting stock camera drivers and app into future FXP releases or count on getting the issues fixed?

Rekoil said:
Well camera is a bit iffy, but other than that CM runs smooth as hell on the Z1C, that's really all I care about hehe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do photos have a lower quality or do some things simply don't work?

mugoftee said:
Do photos have a lower quality or do some things simply don't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Photos seem to have more noise as far as I could tell when I tested a FXP build. And currently it's not possible to have 4k and 120FPS recording on a CM based rom or at least nobody successfully tested it.

mugoftee said:
Do photos have a lower quality or do some things simply don't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the same quality wise in my opinion, but camera starts really slow, and you lose a lot of features and post-processing that Sonys camera app does.

People mentioned that the BIONZ image processor only works with stock roms, don't know if that's true.

Is Z5 Premium the right choice for me?

Hi everyone, so last month I decided to switch from iPhone 6 Plus(16GB) to an Android phone. I'm just tired of Apple and iOS, no further comments. To begin I watch lots of movies and some TV shows, I'm thinking about a phone with a big more-than-FHD-resolution screen. As far as I see Z5 Premium is a great choice despite the hardware, and it has a MicroSD slot, which is pretty important for me. On the other hand 6P's screen is better than the iPhone 6 Plus, but not as good as Z5 Premium and has no MicroSD slot; I don't understand why Google hates removable storage... Although the software support for 6P is great, and we all are aware of Sony's software update policy. I am also hyped for the new HTC Nexus, but like I said big screen, high resolution(preferably more than FHD) and microSD(unless 64GB+) are the features I consider until the release of the next gen Nexus phone. So I don't want to wait for nothing. I'm not a phone gamer and hardware doesn't have to be superb. Last thing to add is that I've been doing ISS spotting, and in terms of camera performance, I would like to have a phone with high ISO values, and high MP. I know I want a lot from a smartphone, and Z5 Premium seems to be more suitable for my needs. But the question here is should I wait for the next Nexus Phone, or should I go with Z5 Premium. I would be much appreciated if you post ANY opinions. Lastly I would like to say that the reason why I open this thread to the Z5 forums is that I feel closer to the Z5P. Thank you all and excuse my errors if there's any.

Looks like you've done quite a bit of research on what you want. My question is where those the only fones you considered? See www.gsmarena.com for a whole lot more that might also suit you. Now I have a Z5P and it might be the last Sony fone I get. It is good, but the rate of updates is slow, the route to root is painful but I am enjoying it.
My 2 pence worth...
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Free mobile app

guhvanoh said:
Looks like you've done quite a bit of research on what you want. My question is where those the only fones you considered? See [gsmarena link] for a whole lot more that might also suit you. Now I have a Z5P and it might be the last Sony fone I get. It is good, but the rate of updates is slow, the route to root is painful but I am enjoying it.
My 2 pence worth...
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My only concern is the update speed of all Xperia phones. I know there are tons of other solutions, but I think I will stick to either Sony, or Nexus. I LOVE Nexus and I think I will wait and see the 2016 Nexus, if it has a decent camera I will go with it otherwise Z5P...

TYRTlive said:
My only concern is the update speed of all Xperia phones. I know there are tons of other solutions, but I think I will stick to either Sony, or Nexus. I LOVE Nexus and I think I will wait and see the 2016 Nexus, if it has a decent camera I will go with it otherwise Z5P...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony has proved to be somewhat slow in updating. I've only just got the April security patch level but it is for LL 6.0.1. The Z5P is a very good fone, you'll enjoy it if you get one.
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Labs

Answering you I like Trying summing up a good nice novel! .. where to start? well let me answer in Bullets, keeping your impressive research in perspective. ( keep in mind i am diehard xperia fan, and current on my 6th Xperia device z5p E6833)
1. Z5P comes with 128GB support for SD card, i have 32gb installed. classtype10 toshiba
2. Sony updates are usually later (than sooner). but i like their ROMS interface. keep it simple and to the point policy
3. Z5p has GREAT sharp HD screen and viewing angles are amazing. you can actually read text even from 30degree angle.
4. but in general ~ The maximum display brightness in Z5 Premium is a little lower when comparing to Z3+, Z5 and Z5 Compact. The maximum display brightness of Z5 Premium is 600cd while it's 700cd in Z3+, Z5 and Z5 Compact. Also the Z5p reduces brightness further when the device temperature rises specially OUTDOORS. (especially summer).
5. z5p has GOOD battery life! compare to other big screen fones, lasts 2 days (1day if 4g browsing with hd movies)
6. z5p are difficult to root (since you are coming from iphone. i would suggest you to please do a bit research about ROOTING android devices (models to models) and android versions to version. ROOTING z5p is one tricky. the question you should ask WHY ROOTING? and based on that criteria consider it one of the third option in your criteria list of 1. screen size 2. hd 3. rooting before buying any device.
7. GOOGLE Android MM has dm-verity (security feature ) which make sure your device is not tampered in terms of software and it does not boot if any one had tried fooling iwth your device (changing boot etc). on TOP of that , sony has SONY-RIC since years which make sure NO one tries to tamper RUNNING ANDROID (rooting/etc) and SONY-RIC shutsoff the device (or reboots) whenever any software tried exploiting system vulnerabilities to gain ROOT ACCESS.
THE BOTH FEATURE COMPBINED in z5p, make device heavy on RAM.
if you like SONY z5p. you should give it a try. also based on your criteria the following two devices you should CONSIDER (at least looking at, or going to mall holding in hands for hands-on experience)
1. Xperia XA performance ( 6.0" screen HD, but batterlife is below average)
2. LG V10

YasuHamed said:
Answering you I like Trying summing up a good nice novel! .. where to start? well let me answer in Bullets, keeping your impressive research in perspective. ( keep in mind i am diehard xperia fan, and current on my 6th Xperia device z5p E6833)
1. Z5P comes with 128GB support for SD card, i have 32gb installed. classtype10 toshiba
2. Sony updates are usually later (than sooner). but i like their ROMS interface. keep it simple and to the point policy
3. Z5p has GREAT sharp HD screen and viewing angles are amazing. you can actually read text even from 30degree angle.
4. but in general ~ The maximum display brightness in Z5 Premium is a little lower when comparing to Z3+, Z5 and Z5 Compact. The maximum display brightness of Z5 Premium is 600cd while it's 700cd in Z3+, Z5 and Z5 Compact. Also the Z5p reduces brightness further when the device temperature rises specially OUTDOORS. (especially summer).
5. z5p has GOOD battery life! compare to other big screen fones, lasts 2 days (1day if 4g browsing with hd movies)
6. z5p are difficult to root (since you are coming from iphone. i would suggest you to please do a bit research about ROOTING android devices (models to models) and android versions to version. ROOTING z5p is one tricky. the question you should ask WHY ROOTING? and based on that criteria consider it one of the third option in your criteria list of 1. screen size 2. hd 3. rooting before buying any device.
7. GOOGLE Android MM has dm-verity (security feature ) which make sure your device is not tampered in terms of software and it does not boot if any one had tried fooling iwth your device (changing boot etc). on TOP of that , sony has SONY-RIC since years which make sure NO one tries to tamper RUNNING ANDROID (rooting/etc) and SONY-RIC shutsoff the device (or reboots) whenever any software tried exploiting system vulnerabilities to gain ROOT ACCESS.
THE BOTH FEATURE COMPBINED in z5p, make device heavy on RAM.
if you like SONY z5p. you should give it a try. also based on your criteria the following two devices you should CONSIDER (at least looking at, or going to mall holding in hands for hands-on experience)
1. Xperia XA performance ( 6.0" screen HD, but batterlife is below average)
2. LG V10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply! Actually I have an old s5830i, and I have a general knowledge of Android ecosystem. But my intention is not to make the warranty void in the first day. I know Z5p has a very good screen, and the market is full of similar devices right now. But I think I will be waiting for this years Nexus release, and decide considering those phones.

TYRTlive said:
Thanks for your reply! Actually I have an old s5830i, and I have a general knowledge of Android ecosystem. But my intention is not to make the warranty void in the first day. I know Z5p has a very good screen, and the market is full of similar devices right now. But I think I will be waiting for this years Nexus release, and decide considering those phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 7 wont have sdslot
http://bgr.com/2016/08/10/googles-new-nexus-phones-will-be-just-as-fast-as-the-galaxy-note-7/

YasuHamed said:
Nexus 7 wont have sdslot
http://bgr.com/2016/08/10/googles-new-nexus-phones-will-be-just-as-fast-as-the-galaxy-note-7/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw that coming... But I don't think I would need an SD card if 128GB version is cheap. I will wait and see just to make sure about my choice. I hope they are going to release it sooner this year(compared to Nexus 5X and 6P release)

TYRTlive said:
I saw that coming... But I don't think I would need an SD card if 128GB version is cheap. I will wait and see just to make sure about my choice. I hope they are going to release it sooner this year(compared to Nexus 5X and 6P release)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not trying to throw a spanner in your works but Nexus has been getting more expensive with the new iterations. I see you're going to wait. That's good. Enjoy whichever device you do end up with.
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Free mobile app

guhvanoh said:
I'm not trying to throw a spanner in your works but Nexus has been getting more expensive with the new iterations. I see you're going to wait. That's good. Enjoy whichever device you do end up with.
Sent from my SGP311 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perhaps he should consider buying oneplus3 ...

Z5P is great, the community is great, the sony default rom is great, camera is great, everything is gr8.

Thread closed @ OPs request