Review and testing of the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone. Review of the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone: greeted by clothes Memory, memory cards

Don't be afraid of perfection. You won't achieve it. This is what the great Salvador Dali said. I wonder if the flagship from Sony, the Xperia Z3, recently presented at IFA 2014, could have puzzled a genius?

Design and ergonomics

At first glance, it seems that the Sony Xperia Z3 is not much different from its predecessor with the Z2 index. Perhaps the only thing that catches your eye is the small slits above and below the display—the speakers.

The manufacturer's intention is that the device should be symmetrical. This is the basis of the OmniBalance design concept, which was used to create the Sony Xperia Z3.

In fact, the Z3 is slightly narrower than its predecessor. The height of the device has also decreased. In addition, the Japanese managed to fit the hardware into a thinner case – 7.3 mm. Let us remember that its thickness in the Xperia Z2 is 8.2 mm.

The corners and edges are now slightly rounded. So those who like to place the phone vertically on a table to watch videos comfortably will be disappointed. A similar thing could be done with the Z2. By adding roundness to the angular body of the “two”, it was possible to achieve the ideal position of the Xperia Z3 in the user’s hand.

They say that good is not sought from good. But this worldly wisdom does not work in the personal electronics market. When creating smartphones, it is important not to stop, not to mark time. But even in attempts to make something that is already good even better, you can be trampled by your rivals in a matter of weeks - the competition is tough these days! So Sony, having shown its next flagship Z2 at the MWC exhibition, already warmed up the premiere of its successor, the Z3, by the fall.

The plugs are now also slightly rounded. There is no plug for the audio jack (3.5 mm). Like the Z2, the smartphone is protected according to IP65/IP68 criteria. He is not afraid of splashes of water, as well as immersion in it, rain and dust.

The gadget can stay under water for up to half an hour, of course, with the ports tightly closed.

The right side of the device contains slots for nanoSIM and microSD. Also on the right side are: the traditional Sony round metal power button, below it is the volume key, and at the bottom is the camera button. The left side contains a microUSB port and a groove for a strap.

At the back there is a 20.7-megapixel camera, a small LED flash, and the manufacturer’s logo.

There are no hardware keys on the smartphone. They are being replaced by virtual ones.

The designers tried to reduce the frames around the display. And they succeeded, which led to an overall reduction in the size of the device.
In terms of tactile sensations, the smartphone is slippery if you hold it by the glass panels. Fortunately, the side aluminum edges save the situation. The Z3 also has polycarbonate inserts in the corners, making the device more resistant to drops.

Sony has revised its color policy. The company added delicate silver-green and original copper devices to the black and white Sony Xperia Z3. The purple version is gone.

Display

The 5.2-inch IPS screen retains a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Their density is 423 ppi.

The screen in the new product received the brand name Triluminos. He is no stranger to this technology for improving color reproduction. It is designed to expand RGB coverage.

The picture clarity is at a very high level. No matter how hard you try, you can’t see the grain even on the smallest details. So the Sony Xperia Z3 screen should be praised for its excellent color reproduction, but also criticized for its viewing angles: even with slight tilts of the device, the colors fade a little. You can adjust the white balance.

Among other things, we note the image enhancement technology X-Reality for mobile.

The built-in Smart Screen Rotation gyroscope helps to assess the position of the device in space and avoid incorrect orientation (of the display, of course).
The sensor is very sensitive. Ten-finger multi-touch. And after delving into the settings, you can enable glove control mode.

The manufacturer claims an impressive screen brightness of 600 cd/cm2, which promises a good picture in bright light. The Z2 model, for example, has a hundred less. Subjectively, the screen of the new product glares less in the sun, although the colors still fade a little.

The display backlight can be adjusted manually, or you can trust the sensor, which handles it quite well.

The overall impression is that the flagship display is truly gorgeous. It is clear and has correct color reproduction. True, the viewing angles let us down, but you expect perfection from a top-end smartphone. Is not it?

Hardware base

The hardware characteristics of the new product differ slightly from the predecessor smartphone Xperia Z2

Sony Xperia Z3 is equipped with one of the latest processors - a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz, paired with an Adreno 330 video accelerator. The device has as much as 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory.

The hardware allowed the device to score 41,247 points in the AnTuTu test.

The device browser allows you to open many tabs at the same time. 1080p video in the Xperia Z3 plays very smoothly and without jerking, applications open quickly, photos are scaled without a hitch. There is a feeling of overall power and confidence in the work.

Almost all games are supported by the device. There were no glitches observed during the test. At the same time, the device heats up slightly, which is pleasantly surprising.

The smoothness of the menu is also at a high level, flipping through desktops is a pleasure.

Wireless interfaces, as you would expect from a flagship, are presented in full. The device operates in GSM and WCDMA networks and supports LTE. The signal stays strong. There is GPS with GLONASS support, and there are also traditional Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC modules.

Sony Xperia Z3 connects with a SmartWear device in one touch, which will help you not to miss an important moment

Camera Sony Xperia Z3

Main wide-angle 20.7-megapixel camera with flash and autofocus - we've already seen this somewhere. Isn't it the Xperia Z2? But the photosensitivity of 12800 ISO was definitely not yet available. This was a consequence of the increase in the matrix itself, which is directly related to the quality of the photographs. So you should expect cool shots from the new flagship!

The device’s camera deserves special praise, which, thanks to its enlarged matrix, allows you to take high-quality images in almost any shooting conditions

When working with the camera, the first thing that catches your eye is that the focus works with a 2-3 second delay after pressing the touch button, but it is always correct.

The pictures deserve praise, the color rendition is natural. For example, there are no “plastic” flowers. Good frame depth.

It’s not at all a shame to print such pictures, and you’re unlikely to need a digital point-and-shoot camera if you have an Xperia Z3. Although there is still a slight blur and spots in the sharpness in some photographs, we are already nitpicking.

I am very pleased with the presence of a shutter key in the device. In landscape orientation, shooting with the on-screen button is difficult.

There is a so-called quick shooting mode: a long press on the camera button takes a snapshot, a short press launches the camera itself.

In bright contrast, the camera makes a little mistake, darkens and overexposes, but everything can be easily corrected by turning on the HDR mode.

The camera performs commendably in different lighting conditions. Night photography is also quite good, with a few exceptions. The flash works as a decent backlight. She doesn't just light up the frame.

Examples of pictures from the main camera of Sony Xperia Z3

The model has many interesting modes. The most successful for lazy people is probably “super auto mode”. In it, you just need to press the shutter, and the automation itself will select the necessary settings.

The “AR” mode allows you to use augmented reality: graphics are superimposed on a real image. This way you can get interesting works, for example, pictures among gnomes in a fairyland or at the bottom of the ocean among fish. You can even have fun with dinosaurs. Cool entertainment feature!

For users who like to take selfies against the backdrop of landmarks, there is a mode in which you can simultaneously take pictures with both the main and front cameras, inserting your face into the frame. And they captured something interesting, and didn’t forget themselves. Great!

Sound Photo – a mode for taking photos accompanied by sound. It allows you to take pictures of living creatures as a souvenir: dogs and cats, birds and in general anything that makes sounds. Perhaps this could be recorded on video. But unlike this, such work will also save device memory.

Examples of macro shots from the main camera of Sony Xperia Z3

Macro photography in the Sony Xperia Z3 is also at a high level. By the way, it allows you to blur the background, even when shooting with artificial lighting.

You rarely see something like this, not only in smartphones, but even in inexpensive cameras. You can play around with the degree of blur to your heart's content, and also choose its shape.

Panoramic photography is a bit tricky; if you don't complete the rotation, you end up with a dark spot.

Please note that if a mechanical button is used to launch the camera, shooting is carried out at 8 megapixel resolution by default. Need higher quality photos? Change settings manually.

Video recording can be done in both MP4 and 3GP, the maximum resolution is 4K. During the process itself, you can pause the video. This eliminates the need to process the video after it has been recorded.

You can slow down a selected portion of the video, focusing attention on it

Timeshift Video mode allows you to highlight individual moments in videos by slowing them down. Shooting is carried out at a high frame rate, and the user himself determines which fragments should be slowed down. Thanks to the successful interface, everything turns out quickly and easily.

The front camera of the Sony Xperia Z3, which has 2.2 megapixels, of course, will not allow the device to compete with modern selfies, but it is suitable for showing off your loved one.

Sound

The sound of the device is provided by a pair of stereo speakers located on its front side. In this regard, the gadget is good. Low frequencies are present. It does not wheeze even at maximum volume and creates surround sound.

A proprietary Walkman player is provided for playing music.

The smartphone and FM radio are included as standard. It traditionally only works when connecting headphones, which act as an antenna. Like the Xperia Z3 Compact, the new product does not have a voice recorder.

Software platform and interface

Sony Xperia Z3 comes with Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. The manufacturer has installed its own shell into the smartphone, which adds color to the “bare” Android. For example, when unlocking, holding your finger on the screen allows you to smoothly change the theme color. The range of live wallpapers is impressive, and the animation when turned on deserves special attention.

Another feature worth noting is the ability to receive calls by simply holding the device to your ear. Another possibility is to switch it to silent mode by simply placing the smartphone face down. The screen will also not turn off while the device is in the user's hand.
Quick settings can be made by pulling the curtain down. It is convenient to turn on/off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, adjust brightness, rotate the screen, etc. In the next section there are curtains - traditional notifications.

Among the applications there are: the already familiar Walkman player, gallery and video player. It is possible to create handwritten notes.

A special feature of the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone is the ability to play “adult” games from Sony PS4. This is all part of the PS4 Remote Play feature.

You just need to connect the device to the console via your home network, attach a joystick with a special mount - and you can enjoy full-fledged colorful games in any corner of your home.

Sony Xperia Z3 is the only smartphone with PS4 games

Battery life Sony Xperia Z3

On the official website, the manufacturer claims that the smartphone works without recharging for two days. When used sparingly, this is indeed true.

A powerful rechargeable battery provides the smartphone with up to two days of operation without recharging

The battery in the smartphone has a capacity of 3100 mAh. This is one hundred units less compared to the Z2.
To severely save energy, the user is encouraged to use a mode called Ultra STAMINA mode. In it, the device will be able to receive calls and send SMS messages for as long as a week.

The autonomy of the device under heavy load is quite typical for modern smartphones. She doesn't cause any complaints. Z3 allows you to enjoy multimedia content all day long, use social networking functions, take photos and play games for about an hour or two, and, of course, call, call and call again.

The main energy consumer is the screen. When the backlight is off, the smartphone discharges very slowly. In video mode it works up to 10 hours, music can play for about 130 hours.

Results

The new Sony Xperia Z3 model is in many ways similar to the previous Z2. Although it cannot be denied that the manufacturer has done serious work on the mistakes, moving one step closer to the ideal. The smartphone looks really decent compared to its competitors.
Sony managed to make the gadget smaller and thinner, install a brighter screen, a new processor and an improved camera. However, all this creates the impression of a kind of déjà vu.

Sony Xperia Z3 will definitely find its buyer. It contains many innovations and unique features. The device has a proprietary design that many users like, and, of course, protection from dust and moisture, which has become the calling card of the Japanese.

Additional images of the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone:

It took the manufacturer only six months to update its flagship smartphone and move from number 2 to the third by name and fourth oldest model. The changes affected not only the hardware, but also the appearance of the device. The smartphone has become more ergonomic, sophisticated and secure with an improved IP68 protection class. The Xperia Z3 seems to outperform its predecessor in every way. But you will find out how well Sony has worked on bugs in this review.

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Design and ergonomics

Metal body and glass panels are the distinctive design features of a number of the latest top-end Sony smartphones. A feature of the Z3 is its ergonomic rounded edges, thanks to which the device fits perfectly in the hand. Among other things, the smartphone has a smooth, elegant and slightly austere appearance.

The case is only 7.3mm thick, but it's durable and well-built. The Z3 can withstand a fall from a small height. By the way, the glass panels make the smartphone quite slippery; unfortunately, all this beauty will have to be hidden in a rough case. In addition, as you may have noticed in the photo, the back of the device is susceptible to scratches and fingerprints.

Traditionally for Sony smartphones, the Z3 is protected from dust and moisture getting inside the device - it can easily withstand immersion to a depth of 1.5 meters for half an hour. The main thing is not to forget to tightly close all the plugs.

On the right side of the smartphone there are hardware buttons for volume control, quick launch of the camera, as well as a round metal power/lock button.

The keys protrude above the surface of the case, so they are easy to find blindly. In addition, I liked the implementation of the power button, which now has a smooth, elastic movement.

Among other things, the manufacturer has redesigned the front stereo speakers, which are more suitable for the smooth body - two small oval grilles aesthetically improve the smartphone.

Let me add that the Xperia Z3 is available in black, white, bronze and light olive colors.

Display

As with the Xperia Z2, it uses a 5.2-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS screen made using IPS technology. In addition, the display is identical - high density 424 ppi, the highest possible viewing angles, accurate, rich colors and an excellent brightness margin, which ensures good readability in the sun.

In the screen settings, you can enable the X-Reality enhancer or enable the maximum brightness mode. There is also a backlight control feature that keeps the screen on when the user is holding the smartphone. Additionally, you can adjust the white balance to match the color rendition to your preferences.

The touch layer recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches. He performs all actions accurately and efficiently. In addition, in the cold season, you can use the “glove” mode, which increases the sensitivity of the touch layer.

Keyboard, sound

To enter text, a touch keyboard is used, which is used in all smartphones of the manufacturer. The layout is quite large, accurate and very comfortable. For everyday use, you don't even need to use a third-party keyboard. After all, the Sony layout can correct typos, has a custom dictionary and emoticons, and supports sliding text input.

The speakers on the front panel are responsible for loud, high-quality sound. The sound is quite clear, rich, balanced with tangible, ringing bass and a good stereo effect. However, the sound of the built-in acoustics cannot be compared with the sound when connecting high-quality headphones. Crystal clarity, sonorous, deep bass and incredible volume appear.

There are many sound settings. You can optimize parameters using ClearAudio+ technology, which, traditionally, copes well with the tasks. But the user can adjust the equalizer and volume to individual preferences.

By the way, the smartphone is compatible with Sony headsets, as well as headphones with active noise reduction, also from the manufacturer.

Interface and software

Xperia Z3 runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat with a proprietary graphical shell. The manufacturer promises to update the Z3, as well as other top devices, to Android Lollipop in the near future.

The interface, as well as the list of pre-installed programs, completely repeats not only, but also those that visited our editorial office, so I will not repeat myself.

Performance

Having improved the appearance of the smartphone quite well, although the Z2 is generally also handsome, the manufacturer almost did not touch the internal structure of the Z3. It is powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC processor with Adreno 330 graphics, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

In terms of performance, the Z3 is not far removed from the Z2. But in fact, the smartphone shows incredible performance - it is faster and more powerful than its predecessor. This is confirmed not only by synthetic tests, but also by everyday use, as well as by running demanding games and applications, and many tabs in the browser. In addition, even under prolonged load, the device hardly heats up. At the same time, no glitches or slowdowns were noticed.

Camera

The main photo module has a 20.7 MP Sony Exmor RS sensor measuring 1/2.3"", and the front one is equipped with a 2.2 MP matrix.

The Z3 can shoot photos with a resolution of 5248 x 3936 pixels using flash and autofocus, Full HD video at 60 fps and 4K video using a special mode.

To launch the camera, you can use a shortcut on the lock screen, or a dedicated hardware button, which turns on the camera and takes a photo in a split second. The application is simple and intuitive, even beginners who know nothing about cameras and smartphones will have no problems setting up and shooting.

The user has many modes at his disposal, including automatic Super Auto mode, manual, Timeshift, artistic effects and background defocus, panorama and even virtual scenes.

There are many options available, including adjusting white balance and exposure.

Photo quality:

Full HD video quality:

4K video quality:

Communications

Of course, the smartphone supports all modern standards, including GSM, UMTS and LTE. By the way, a Dual SIM version of the device is also available, which is in no way inferior to the original Z3.

The smartphone received Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac modules, Bluetooth 4.0 (apt-X), GPS with support for A-GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou, and NFC. They work efficiently and connect quickly, in general, without any complaints.

I was also pleased with the work of the GPS - the interface, less than 30 seconds after the “warm” start, caught about 20 satellites and determined the location.

On the left side of the device there is a port for charging using a docking station, and behind the flap there is a microUSB with support for MHL 3.0 and OTG.

On the opposite side behind the door there are slots for a memory card and a nano SIM card. The 3.5 mm audio jack on the top panel is not covered with a plug, but it is also protected from moisture and dust, which simply will not penetrate deeper than the port itself.

Working hours

Hidden inside this sophisticated glass and metal body is a 3,100 mAh battery. The predecessor had a slightly larger battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh. However, the Z3 also shows excellent battery life. It will easily last 3 days on a single charge with infrequent calls, short web surfing and 20 minutes of video viewing. And with active use, you can count on one day of light without recharging. In my case, the smartphone lasted more than 12 hours of watching videos and surfing the web. All this with wireless modules enabled.

Stamina and Ultra Stamina energy saving modes will help you save charge. The first limits background data and the performance of applications when the screen is off, and the second switches the interface to a simpler shell with minimal functionality, allowing you to save even more charge.

Impression

It may seem that Sony has followed the well-worn path, minimally updating the flagship to obtain maximum profits. This is only half true. After all, the Xperia Z3 is a completely independent device, one of the most beautiful smartphones ever released into production. Of course, there is no point for users to exchange their Z2 for this flagship. But owners of older Sony models or smartphones from other manufacturers will receive a thin metal case with glass panels that is protected from water and dust, a bright, high-quality display, loud speakers, enviable battery life, the highest level of performance, proprietary applications and a sophisticated interface, as well as support for remote control. games on PS4. As you can see, the Xperia Z3 has many key factors that can leave all its competitors far behind.

PECULIARITIES

Sleek design.

Slim metal body.

Glass panels.

Moisture and dust protection according to IP65/IP68 standard.

Long battery life.

Bright Full HD screen.

20.7 MP camera.

Shooting video in 4K.

A large number of interfaces.

Well-developed graphical shell.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model Sony Xperia Z3 D6603
• Standard GSM GPRS/EDGE, UMTS HSPA, LTE (4G), nano SIM
• Dimensions 14.6 x 7.2 x 0.73 cm
• Weight 152 g
• CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, 2.5 GHz, quad-core
• GPU Adreno 330
• Display 5.2", IPS, TRILUMINOS
• Permission 1920 x 1080 pixels, 424 ppi
• RAM 3 GB
• Memory 16 GB + microSD up to 128 GB
• Nutrition Li-Ion, 3100 mAh
• Camera 20.7 MP Sony Exmor RS sensor 1/2.3"" + 2.2 MP front
• Communications GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with apt-X, GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou), DLNA, ANT+
• Connectors microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3.0, OTG), 3.5 mm output, dock connector
• Additionally protection class IP65/IP68, FM radio
• OS Google Android 4.4.4 KitKat + proprietary interface. Update to Android 5.0

Today we have a new flagship from Sony, the Xperia Z3 smartphone. The previous model turned out to be quite successful, but very little time has passed since its release. Let's figure out what the improvements are compared to its predecessor and how high-quality the new Z3 is.

With the Sony Xperia Z3, the company continues to hone the design ideas inherent in the first. In fact, before us is the same “sandwich” of two glasses with an iron filling.

Compared to the previous flagship, changes need to be looked for in the details. The first thing you notice is the changed shape of the sidewalls. Now they are neatly rounded, not a trace of brutality remains. Plastic inserts appeared on the corners of the case.

They were added for practical reasons; with them, the smartphone has a better chance of surviving a fall. Perhaps for the same reason, in our engineering sample of the Xperia Z3 there are minimal gaps between the glass and the frame, in which, unfortunately, debris collects.

In addition, compared to the Z2, the Sony Xperia Z3 has become a little thinner, narrower, shorter, lighter and received a new protection class:

New body colors are another innovation in the Xperia line:

The layout of controls and connectors is traditional for Sony flagships. The camera keys, volume controls, power buttons and connectors for Nano-SIM and memory cards under a common cover are located on the right side.

The magnetic charging dock connector, Micro-USB port under the flap, and strap mounts are on the left. At the top there is only the headset jack and the second microphone hole.

In addition to the company name and display, on the front side you can see small slots for stereo speakers, a camera lens, light and proximity sensors. The multi-colored indicator of missed events is now in the upper left corner, hidden under glass.

At the back, the Sony Xperia Z3 is practically indistinguishable from the Z2 - the same camera lens, flash, NFC area.

As for the ease of use of the smartphone, one cannot fail to note the thinness of the Xperia Z3. This is what you pay attention to first when you pick up the device. In general, the device turned out to be quite compact. At first it may seem that you are holding a 5-inch smartphone in your hand, but the increased diagonal, and with it the dimensions, make themselves felt - to successfully handle the Z3 with one hand you need a little practice.

Smooth rounded sides, together with a thin body and glass back, create an ambiguous effect - the smartphone seems to stick to all smooth surfaces, which makes it difficult to lift it from the table at first.

Metal and glass are very pleasant to the touch and feel expensive, but in dry hands the Sony Xperia Z3 turns out to be very slippery. The volume keys are convenient to use for their intended purpose, but many programs for reading books and articles suggest using them for turning pages, and in this use case they turn out to be inconvenient due to their low placement.

Sony is one of the first companies to produce waterproof smartphones. Already in the second generation of Xperia Z, engineers were able to get rid of the 3.5 mm jack plug, but it still remained with MicroUSB. There is no doubt about the reliability and durability of the connector covers, but aesthetics and ease of use suffer. Perhaps in future models engineers will be able to reduce the number of detachable elements of the case or they will add wireless charging to the smartphone.

Apart from the small cracks mentioned above, there are no complaints about the build quality. The body of the Sony Xperia Z3 feels monolithic, although it has a minimal degree of flexibility.

Operating system and shell

As befits a flagship, the Xperia Z3 runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. The entire line of Sony Xperia Z smartphones will receive an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Compared to the Xperia Z2, the interface of the new product has not received any changes.

Hardware platform

The smartphone is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 system-on-chip (MSM8974AC), it has 4 Krait 400 cores operating at a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz along with Adreno 330 graphics. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, permanent memory is 16 GB, of which 11.5 GB available. There is a slot for memory cards, media up to 128 GB are supported.

Wireless interfaces include Bluetooth 4.0 (ANT+), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (DLNA), NFC module.

The speed of the smartphone corresponds to the class of the device; there are no problems with playing games, watching FullHD and 4K videos or solving any other problems. After prolonged use of the camera or heavy gaming, the back of the smartphone gets a little warm. Overall, the performance of the Sony Xperia Z3 is similar to the previous model and other flagships.

The operation of the GPS and Wi-Fi modules is satisfactory.

Calls, multimedia

In the Sony Xperia Z3, the company has implemented a number of proprietary technologies aimed at improving the sound quality of the smartphone. In addition to the classic equalizer, there are “ClearAudio+” settings for optimizing sound and “Dynamic Normalizer” for equalizing the volume levels of different recordings. If you turn them off, the smartphone sounds similar to other flagship models, but turning them on makes the sound subjectively higher quality and more spacious.

In addition, Sony Xperia Z3 plays uncompressed audio formats (wav, aiff, flac, alac). The company calls them “high-definition audio,” and to listen to such compositions it recommends using a number of branded full-size headphones or outputting the uncompressed source signal via USB to compatible branded equipment - a smartphone can act as a DAC. Unfortunately, we did not have suitable equipment to test this functionality.

The smartphone uses a special 5-pin 3.5 mm connector, which allows you to connect branded accessories. Among them: active noise canceling headphones MDR-NC31EM and external microphone STM10. These headphones were supplied with the Xperia Z2, but were removed from the Z3 package. Considering that such functionality is unique, and the availability of Sony accessories in Ukraine leaves much to be desired, simplification of the configuration is a key deterioration in the Xperia Z3 compared to the previous flagship. In addition to those listed, the company has other accessories in its arsenal - a charging dock and a special holder for the Play Station 4 joystick. The latter is needed for the convenient implementation of the Remote Play function, which allows you to display images from the console on the smartphone screen.

Support for various video formats is implemented at an average level; for some reason, our sample did not play files with AC3 tracks, although the previous model did not have any problems with this.

It’s difficult to make any complaints about the quality of the speakers in this smartphone. They are loud, conveniently located, but compared to the HTC One M8 they sound less spacious.

During a call, the speaker shows an excellent volume reserve, which is enough for comfortable communication even in a very noisy environment. The vibration alert of the Xperia Z3 feels good; the user will most likely not miss an incoming call.

Together with the Xperia Z3, the company announced a version of the Z3 Dual smartphone, which supports the simultaneous operation of two Nano-SIM cards.

Working hours

The smartphone has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 3100 mAh. Compared to the previous model, its capacity has decreased by 100 mAh, but this did not stop the smartphone from showing an increase in autonomy of 10-20% depending on the operating mode.

The company promises up to two days of smartphone operation in typical use. According to information posted on the manufacturer's website, this mode includes approximately five hours of total activity (calls, text messaging, web surfing, multimedia) at a screen brightness of 100 cd/m2.

In the author’s operating mode, which included constant synchronization of two Google accounts, conducting various tests, watching videos at maximum brightness, and actively using the camera, the smartphone worked for about a day, and the screen operating time was five hours.

Taking into account the fact that the smartphone practically does not discharge in standby mode, the data provided by the manufacturer can be considered correct - an abstract user will get two days of work from one charge. The smartphone has energy saving modes Stamina and Ultra Stamina, which allow you to increase operating time.

Display

The Sony Xperia Z3 has a 5.2-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. Its brightness varies from 3 to 519 cd/m2, contrast is 1:572. The smartphone uses a new matrix with an increased brightness level. In the screen settings, you can enable X-Reality image enhancement technologies, high brightness mode, activate the ability to operate with gloves, and adjust the white balance.

Based on the measurement results, a matrix of average quality is used. Its main disadvantages are inaccurate color rendition and very high color temperature, which is why the image gets a characteristic bluish tint.

Default display settings:

Manually adjusting the white balance allows you to slightly reduce the color temperature, but the color rendition still remains quite cold.

Manual White Balance (Blue: 0, Green: 200, Red: 250):

Based on personal impressions, the smartphone’s display can be called controversial. It has excellent viewing angles, one of the widest brightness adjustment ranges, good readability in the sun and a high-quality oleophobic coating.

On the other hand, not everyone will like the specific cold color rendition; the displays of most competitors have much more natural color rendition. Minor shortcomings of the screen also include the mesh of the touch layer, which is barely noticeable in direct sunlight (manifests itself in the form of small dots reflecting light) and the average sensitivity of the sensor in the “With Gloves” mode - it reacts to fabric gloves, but ignores leather ones.

Cameras

The Sony Xperia Z3 has two cameras. The main module received a new Exmor RS sensor with a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, a maximum sensitivity of 12800 ISO, and a wide-angle (25mm) G Lens lens with an aperture of 1/2.3. It is capable of shooting 4K video, FullHD video in HDR mode or at a frame rate of 60 fps. The front camera has a resolution of 2.2 megapixels and is capable of recording FullHD video.

The camera app gives you access to a variety of shooting modes, including quite a few for fun. For example, you can take a photo and record the surrounding sounds, or shoot the same subject from multiple angles using a pair of Sony smartphones, and combine all the images into one video sequence.

You can add virtual dinosaurs and gnomes to your photo and watch them in the viewfinder. You can download additional camera modules from the Play Market, for example, an application for shooting Time Lapse video.

Examples of pictures in maximum resolution (20 MP):

When you launch the camera using the volume key from the locked screen, a special automatic mode is activated. All shooting parameters, scene and required mode are adjusted automatically, and the final photos are saved in 8 megapixel resolution.

Examples of photos taken in automatic mode (8 MP):

To obtain photographs in full resolution, you need to switch to manual mode, in which you can adjust the shooting parameters yourself.

Examples of photos taken at night (8 MP):

Traditionally for smartphones, the final quality of photos and videos depends on the shooting conditions. In studio conditions, the Sony Xperia Z3 shows image quality comparable to the Xperia Z2 and other flagships. Looking at photographs taken in real conditions, one can notice the aggressiveness of image processing algorithms and periodic errors in determining white balance. As is often the case with Sony flagships, with the release of new firmware the quality of the resulting photos will also improve.

Video examples

FullHD video:

Shooting slow-motion video:

4K video:

The front camera demonstrates photo quality that is normal for modern devices:

In terms of the speed of launching the camera, focusing and saving photos, the smartphone is comparable to other flagships.

Results

Sony Xperia Z3 can be perceived as a slightly improved version of the Xperia Z2. In comparison, it has become smaller, lighter, has a brighter display, new body colors, a slightly overclocked processor, better battery life and a comparable camera. Unfortunately, excellent headphones were missing from the package, which help to evaluate a number of proprietary technologies and distinguish the smartphone from among similar ones, and the display received a rather specific color rendition. At the same time, the famous “Sony-style” has been preserved, including high-quality case materials, the maximum degree of moisture protection, and a huge selection of branded accessories, so the Z3 will certainly find its buyers.

Liked:

Housing materials

Maximum degree of water protection

Hardware platform and performance

Stereo speakers, support for uncompressed audio formats

Autonomy

Display: brightness, olephobic coating, readability in sunlight, work with gloves

Large selection of accessories

Did not like:

— Slippery body

— Average number of supported video codecs

— No headset included in delivery

— Display: cool color rendering

RAM, GB	3
Built-in memory, GB	16
Expansion slot	microSD (up to 128 GB)
Dimensions, mm	146x72x7.3
Weight, g	152
Protection from dust and moisture	IP65/IP68
Accumulator battery	3100 mAh
Operating time (manufacturer's data)	Talk time: up to 16 hours, Standby time: up to 890 hours, Music playback time: up to 130 hours
Diagonal, inches	5,2
Permission	1920×1080
Matrix type	IPS TRILUMINOS
PPI	424
Dimming sensor	+
Touch screen (type)	touch (capacitive)
Other	16 million colors, X-Reality matrix for mobile devices
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 + Adreno 330 GPU
Kernel type	Krait 400
Number of Cores	4
Frequency, GHz	2,5
Main camera, MP	20,7
Autofocus	+
Video shooting	2160p, 30 fps
Flash	LED
Front camera, MP	2,2
Other	8x digital zoom, image stabilization, face detection, geo-tagging, burst mode
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	4.0 (A2DP)
GPS	+ (GLONASS)
IrDA	—
NFC	+
Interface connector	USB 2.0 (micro-USB)
Audio jack	3.5 mm
MP3 player	+
FM radio	+ (RDS)
Type of shell	monoblock
Keyboard type	screen input
More	proximity and light sensors, accelerometer, digital compass, gyroscope, barometer, A-GPS receiver, vibration alert, DLNA support, Sony 3D Surround Sound (VPT) technology, Clear Audio+

Every company sleeps and dreams of how to catch up and overtake Apple. While everyone around us seems to think that Samsung is the most unwell, I ask you to pay attention to Sony. After all, they are the ones who release flagships twice a year. They produce good, interesting, stuffed with all the innovations in the world. But does that make them mainstream?

Sony has its own special audience. It seems to me that these are people who want to get a good smartphone (because you can’t drink Japanese quality) with protection from water and dust and full stuffing inside. Even more than complete, with all possible features in general. If you are the owner of a Sony smartphone, write in the comments why this particular brand. The Z2 had a certain number of problems, but Sasha Lyapota still decided that he finally considered it a flagship with a capital F, and allowed us all to want it. And yet, the company decided that they had something to fix, and they were fixing it within six months. And what do we see as a result? - a very, very good smartphone!

Design and ergonomics

I can’t say that since the Z2 everything has changed dramatically and the device has been redesigned, no. Almost everything remained in its place. The main control buttons are on the right side. Under the flap are slots for microSD up to 128 GB and nano-SIM. The power button is located just above the middle, it is ribbed and comfortable. The volume swing is not suitable for it - short and below the usual comfortable place. The same camera button is located more logically - near the very bottom of the bottom of the case. Two-position: half press - take aim, all press - shoot from the photo gun. Convenient.

Strategically important connectors are located on the left side. Under the plug is for microUSB, without plugs is for the docking station, at the very bottom there are holes for the lanyard. Not like the previous ones (one on the side, the other on the bottom), but everything is here, on the side. Because the bottom edge is empty. And on the top there is a microphone and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

I need to say a few words about the ends themselves - they are not solid. The edge is made of metal, and the corner is made of plastic. This is for less damage to the smart phone in case of damage (fall, for example).

Both the front and back of the device are covered with DragonTrail glass, which is not very different from Gorilla Glass 2, but clearly not gorilla level 4. Pleasant to the touch, but easily soiled. The 20.7 MP camera is hidden in a corner, under it there is a flash, an NFC icon, which is so useful that you can only apply it to wounds, a logo on the entire back and an Xperia logo on the entire lower back.

Everything in front is under glass, the control buttons are virtual, they eat up part of the display, the speakers are located on the chin and forehead.

I think this smartphone is one of the most beautiful. With its parameters 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm and a weight of 152 grams, firstly, it seems very light, and secondly, very compact. Rounded corners, good build quality, strength incomparable with previous copies - progress is immediately noticeable, the devices have never had any problems with the premium quality of the body, and in this color it looks absolutely gorgeous. And there is also mint! It's not interesting to talk about black and white. It feels very nice in the hand. But I warn you - it's slippery. Just like the latest iPhone. But unlike the iPhone, if you drop this device in the toilet, it will be saved. If you remember to close all the plugs.

Protection

In previous releases, the device was protected according to the IP58 standard. This is protection from fresh water. Now the Z3 has more pathos, because the protection here is IP65/68, that is, from water and dust. All thanks to changes in the rubber layers on the plugs. Manufacturers also removed the speaking microphone from the bottom end and hid it in the bottom speaker grille. So now they have one protective membrane. Unfortunately, it was not possible to dip it in Morko, but after a basin of water the speakers do not stall.

You can also note the plastic corners as one of the ways to protect the device. This does not mean that now it can be thrown around in every possible way. But if it falls, repairs will cost much less.

Display

It's dizzying! As soon as you unlock your smartphone, you look at it and can’t look away. Because there is so much color! Blame it on Triluminos technology, which has better RGB coverage than LCD screens. Whether it’s true or not, the smartphone misinterprets the colors and can make you depressed. On the screen everything looks much richer than in life. So this menu will most likely be useful to you if you have a trained eye.

The 5.2-inch display has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, which is 423 ppi. The image looks good, in no case falls apart into pixels and looks organic. At angles, the image has virtually no inversion, except perhaps black, but this is a sore subject for IPS displays. The angles are as large as possible, and this is pleasing. I also liked the brightness margin; it’s definitely not bad for a cloudy winter; I can’t vouch for the brightness on a sunny summer day.

The front part is DragonTrail and did not get scratched during testing. Unfortunately, it picks up fingerprints quite well, despite the presence of an oleophobic coating. But overall, you get only pleasant impressions from the display. Especially if you are a fan of contrasts or want all the captured moments of your life to look as bright and juicy as possible.

Cameras

Every time I'm glad when the phone has a separate camera launch button. This is especially true for the Sony Xperia Z3, because you can swim with it and take wonderful underwater pictures. The screen reacts chaotically to wave movements, so it can act up. But the button itself works flawlessly: half-press - focus, press - shoot. Only the camera launches with a resolution of 8 MP. And even if you set the shooting mode for two cameras, the automatic mode still turns on. Softinushka oh-ho-ho...

As for the quality of the cameras themselves, the main one seems to have 20.7 MP with automatic focusing, a 1/2.3 matrix and an EXMOR RS module. The photos come out widescreen, but you can choose the aspect ratio as you wish. The resulting images look better than reality. They turn out to be very rich. But the front camera received 2.2 MP. The results are relatively good. I liked taking selfies and being able to take photos of blogs if something happened. If you are one of these bloggers.

Readers of my Twitter have heard a lot about the problem with my copy. There's nothing to hide here. I had a sample copy of the smartphone, so when I connected it to a computer (any kind), all the photos self-destructed. I have not heard of such problems from regular Z3 users.

Sony, as always, does a great job with its camera software - it has many shooting modes. From the cartoonish examples you've already seen in the gallery to background blur. Multi-camera, face recording, 4K video and timeshift, where you can adjust the time and slowdown length. In short, a lot of cool stuff - tune in as much as you like. But in some modes the device may overheat.

Specifications

It cannot be said that here the Sony Z3 tears apart its predecessor like a hot water bottle. It is built on the Snapdragon 801, but a slightly different modification than the Z2. That is, there was MSM8974AB, and now MSM8974AC, this is an increase in the processor frequency from 2.3 GHz to 2.5 GHz. In real everyday use this is never noticeable at all. But, nevertheless, 3 GB of RAM and good hardware, coupled with Adreno 330 graphics, provide a smooth picture, allow you to play all modern games in good quality, and the interface does not freeze. Synthetic tests also give good results.

The device has 16 GB of memory, but it is possible to install microSD up to 128 GB. To never put anything into storage in life. But right away, a little less than 12 GB of internal memory will be available.

• Dimensions: 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm.
• Weight: 152 g.
• Operating system: Android 4.4.4 KitKat.
• Processor: quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, 2.5 GHz.
• Graphics: Adreno 330.
• Display: IPS, 5.2 inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 423 ppi.
• Memory: 16 GB, supports microSD memory cards up to 128 GB.
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Camera: front – 2.2 MP, main – 20.7 MP, 4K video recording.
• Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, USB on the Go, GPS/Glonass.
• Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, microUSB.
• Battery: 3100 mAh.
• Protection: IP65/IP68.

Autonomy

It seems that the device can live forever in standby mode. The battery capacity was 3100 mAh, and overall, I charged it once every two days, and once lasted for three days. Taking into account instant messengers, mail, social networks and video, there were no calls or SMS. I think the result is excellent. But if you were expecting the fantasy that the producers promised, sorry, the miracle did not happen.

Detailed testing of the new mini version of the flagship in the Sony Mobile line of smartphones

The new line of Sony Xperia Z3 mobile devices was presented at the very beginning of autumn during the IFA 2014 world exhibition. Among other things, it includes three main top devices: the flagship Sony Xperia Z3, its compact version Xperia Z3 Compact, as well as a new eight-inch tablet called Sony Z3 Tablet. As for the most important device of the new line, the flagship Z3, we have already published a review of it. Now it’s time to look at its miniature version in detail, which was presented simultaneously with the flagship during an exhibition in Berlin.

In this regard, it is worth immediately noting two points. Firstly, the Z3 Compact can be called a “miniature” only according to its status in the line and the positioning established by the creators for this model in relation to the flagship. The device received the prefix “Compact” in its name, but this does not mean that the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone is small. In terms of size and screen area (4.6″), this is a completely ordinary smartphone, although it cannot be classified as a “shovel phone”.

The second interesting point is that the Japanese, having again updated the entire main line of Xperia Z mobile devices, gave all devices included in the updated series, without exception, the serial number 3. Thus, the miniature version of the Xperia Compact “jumped” one digit in its index , so as not to differ from its comrades in the line, and there will never be a model called Xperia Z2 Compact.

Video review

First, we suggest watching our video review of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone:

Main characteristics of Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (Model D5803)

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 2.5 GHz, 4 cores
• GPU Adreno 330
• Operating system Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• Touchscreen IPS display, 4.6″, 1280×720, Triluminos
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• MicroSD card slot up to 128 GB (SDXC)
• Protection against dust and moisture according to IP 65/68 standard
• Communication GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• Communications 3G UMTS HSPA+ 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz
• LTE Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 (2600/800 FDD are used in the Russian Federation)
• Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
• Support DLNA, MHL 3.0, OTG, Media Go, MTP, Miracast
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), Wi-Fi hotspot
• GPS/Glonass
• Exmor RS 20.7 MP camera, autofocus, LED flash, 4K video
• Front camera 2.2 MP
• Non-removable battery 2600 mAh
• Dimensions 127×65×8.6 mm
• Weight 129 g

Contents of delivery

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone is packaged in a fairly simple-looking, flat and square box made of thin unvarnished cardboard, which has already become classic for the latest products in the Sony mobile line, with a cardboard tray and three different-sized compartments inside, separated by thin partitions.

The contents of the smartphone are extremely modest: in the box you can only find a compact charger and a Micro-USB connecting cable, nothing more. Sony has decided not to include headphones in the package with its flagship products; they will be offered separately at a fairly reasonable price, as an additional accessory.

Appearance and ease of use

Unlike the flagship Xperia Z3, the changes in relation to its predecessor are almost exclusively cosmetic, the difference between the compact modifications is more significant. The new Xperia Z3 Compact has changed not only the hardware platform, but also the most noticeable element - the display, which has increased the diagonal size. At the same time, the dimensions of the device remained unchanged, but the frames around the screen became narrower, which made it possible to integrate a larger screen into the same body dimensions - everything is logical.

As for the appearance of the device, changes are noticeable here too. If the flagship only had its flat side edges redone, which were now rounded and pleasant to the touch, but remained the same metal, then the Xperia Z3 Compact also changed the materials of the side frame. Now it is made not of metal, but of polycarbonate, and besides, it has become transparent, which has radically changed the status perception of the device.

If the previous smartphone Xperia Z1 Compact really looked and was perceived as a serious, expensive product, like a real miniature version of the flagship, with the same materials, with the same heavy metal frame that gave the device brutality, then transparent plastic ran along the entire side perimeter of the case The new Xperia Z3 Compact is simply not able to give such a serious look. On the contrary, it seems to simplify and reduce the cost of the device in appearance, transferring it into the category of youth solutions. Of course, colorful and transparent plastics may well captivate the younger generation, but for a high-status, serious item such changes in appearance are disastrous. As a result, if you put the Z1 Compact and Z3 Compact side by side, they will look like two products of completely different levels, especially considering the variety of colors that have appeared in the latter, including green and carrot-orange options.

But there is also a positive aspect to all this: the corners of the side frame are now made of polycarbonate material, so that they play the role of a kind of shock absorbers, supposedly helping the smartphone “survive” after falls from a height.

The side plastic frame feels hard and slightly rough to the touch, so the smartphone is held quite securely in the hand, this cannot be taken away. In general, the dimensions and thickness of the new Sony Xperia Z3 Compact are such that the smartphone can be comfortably held in your hand and carried in a pocket of any size. Compared to most modern mobile devices, the smartphone is indeed quite compact, although not the thinnest solution on the mobile market.

As for the general structure of the body, the smartphone is still a non-separable candy bar, consisting of two glass plates and a wide frame running along the entire side perimeter. The non-separable nature of the case also implies the method of installing cards: the SIM card and memory card are inserted into the side slots; no paper clips are required to remove them; you just need to open the covers covering the slots from the outside.

The covers on the side frame are made of the same transparent polycarbonate and equipped with rubberized gaskets, since the smartphone, like its predecessors, is provided with maximum protection against water and dust according to the IP 65/68 standard. There are two covers; they hide slots for a memory card and SIM card, as well as a Micro-USB connector. By the way, changes have occurred here too: now top-end Sony mobile devices use Nano-SIM cards, obviously with an eye to a painless possible transition for some users from the Apple iPhone. The rest will have to go to the communication store again and change their SIM card to a new one.

There is another very noticeable improvement that should please fans of mobile devices of the Japanese brand. Now the back surface, like the front, is made not of plastic, but of real glass. Both glasses do not have a factory protective film; the characteristics of the glass are similar to the famous Corning Gorilla Glass.

There have also been changes in terms of sound. Now the smartphone has two grilles for sound output, they are located above and below the screen; the role of the grilles is played by two symmetrical slits cut directly into the glass. A completely logical solution is to turn the speakers “facing” the user, and there are now two speakers themselves.

Another change: previously, it was through the top slot of the speaker that the light of the alert indicator came through, but now it is brought out into the traditional separately located round peephole. There is an item in the settings menu where you can disable some of the indicator’s functions, leaving it to notify only about the charging status.

There are traditionally no hardware buttons below the screen; control is carried out using virtual buttons on the screen.

The only functional elements on the back side are the camera window and the flash eye. The flash here consists of one section and is located a little further from the camera than before. It can be used as a flashlight; for this purpose, the smartphone has a corresponding pre-installed program.

There are no changes in terms of mechanical hardware controls. The power and lock button is still located on the right side; traditionally for the latest Sony smartphones, it looks like a metal round, but in the third series models it is slightly different in appearance. Next to it you can find a double volume rocker. All the keys are large, easy to feel blindly, have a distinct springy action, there are no complaints in this regard.

At the bottom of the right side there is a dedicated hardware camera control key; with its help, the smartphone can be used to shoot even underwater, although the screen at this time becomes insensitive to touches. The ability to shoot underwater is a signature feature of Sony mobile devices, constantly played out in advertising and on posters.

A special connector with an open pair of contacts for installing a smartphone in a docking station has not been forgotten. The connector is universal: most modern Sony devices, including tablets, can be installed in the same docking station, purchased separately.

The headphone audio jack (3.5 mm) is located on top here, and it is not covered by any plugs. However, it is also protected from water entering the housing. At the bottom end you can only see the microphone hole - a universal Micro-USB connector that supports connecting external devices in OTG mode is hidden under a cover on the left side. For daily charging, you will have to open this cover every time - or use a separately purchased docking station.

There is also another hole at the bottom - this is a traditional strap mount, which is present in all Sony smartphones, and it is a pity that other manufacturers neglect this useful element.

The color scheme of the new mini-flagship has undergone significant changes. The smartphone is presented not only in traditional black and white, but also in completely unexpected bright cucumber-green and carrot-orange colors, which, coupled with transparent plastic, is clearly designed to attract the interest of a young audience.

Screen

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone is equipped with an IPS touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 57x101 mm, diagonal - 4.6 inches, resolution - 1280x720 pixels. The pixel density here is 319 ppi, which by modern standards is not so much. The developers themselves call this type of display Triluminos. Naturally, there is also proprietary X-Reality image enhancement software technology for mobile devices.

The outside of the screen is covered with protective glass without a factory protective film - Sony finally decided to abandon it. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is approximately 3 mm - the frames are very narrow.

The display brightness can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process up to 10 simultaneous touches. The display can be operated with gloves or wet fingers. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is locked using a proximity sensor.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the right; then they can be distinguished by size):

Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still darker (its brightness in the photo is 119 versus 122 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (also known as the touch sensor) and the surface of the matrix (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better under strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, much like the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 530 cd/m², and the minimum was 3.5 cd/m². The maximum value is high, and, given the good anti-glare properties, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located in the upper left corner on the front panel). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the brightness adjustment position. If it is at maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 100 cd/m² (a bit too much, but it will do), in an artificially lit office (about 400 lux) it sets it to 200 cd/m² (normal), in a very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 450 cd/m² (sufficient). If the brightness slider is at half the scale (it is very non-linear - after 50% the brightness goes up sharply as the setting value increases), then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 50, 125 and 450 cd/m² (suitable values). If the brightness control is set to minimum - 4.5, 40, 450 cd/m². As a result, the auto-brightness function works absolutely adequately. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

This screen uses an IPS type matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field in full screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K. White field perpendicular to the plane of the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

The colors on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact's screen are oversaturated, skin tones are heavily red-shifted, and the color balance is different from the standard. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong highlighting of blacks. And a white field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (by at least 4 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact the drop in brightness is less (brightness according to photographs is 232 versus 214 for the Nexus 7). However, the color tone did not change much. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a violet or red-violet hue. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is average, since there are areas with slightly increased brightness along the edge:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 900:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 32 ms (18 ms on + 14 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 46 ms. Constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the index of the approximating power function was 2.48, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power law:

The smartphone has a dynamic (and cannot be turned off!) adjustment of the backlight brightness depending on the nature of the displayed image. The general tendency is that in dark images the brightness is reduced, but the algorithm is somewhat complex, and as a result, periodically the brightness jumps noticeably, which is annoying, and decreasing the brightness in dark images reduces the visibility of gradations in the shadows under external illumination. That is, there is zero benefit from this function, only harm. As a result, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with a consistently average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. Of course, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen.

The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:

Let's look at the spectra:

They are very atypical. As they write on the Sony website, this screen uses LEDs with a blue emitter and green and red phosphors (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix filters, allows for a wide color gamut. Unfortunately, as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is not ideal, since the color temperature is significantly higher than the standard 6500 K. True, the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is small, which has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This smartphone has the ability to adjust the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.

That's what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we reduced ΔE a little and set the white point to 6500 K (but also greatly reduced the brightness):

However, this correction did not reduce the oversaturation of colors. If someone still finds the image on the screen of this smartphone not bright enough, you can turn on the proprietary mode X-Reality for mobile. The result is shown below:

Saturation and contour sharpness are software enhanced, and there are fewer discernible gradations in the area of ​​saturated colors. But the picture, yes, has become brighter. There is also a “maximum brightness” mode, in which color contrast increases even more:

And alternately (if you have scripts enabled) all three modes on the gradient:

Turned off:

Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is wide, and the anti-glare properties are all right, which allows you to comfortably use the smartphone both on a sunny day outside and in complete darkness. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works absolutely adequately. The advantages also include an effective oleophobic coating, no flicker and no air gap in the layers of the screen. The disadvantages are a strong highlighting of black color when the gaze deviates from perpendicular to the surface of the screen and aggressive dynamic brightness adjustment. Color rendering is not all right, as the colors are oversaturated (skin tones are especially affected) and the color temperature is too high. The presence of appropriate adjustments allows you to adjust the balance to almost ideal, but at the expense of reducing brightness. Taking into account the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices (and the most important thing is the visibility of information in a wide range of external conditions), the quality of the screen can be considered high.

Sound

While I was pleased with the significant improvement in the sound of the flagship Sony Xperia Z3, the sound of the compact version remained so inexpressive, even with two stereo speakers. Low frequencies are present, but the speakers sound somewhat muffled, they do not impress with either the clarity of sound or power, and at the maximum volume level they even wheeze slightly. In conversational dynamics, the interlocutor’s speech, intonation and timbre remain distinguishable and recognizable, however, it also sounds rather muffled.

The internal arrangement and sound settings remain the same. To play music, the device traditionally uses its own proprietary Walkman player. The standard audio player is rich in settings and additional software sound improvements, such as a built-in equalizer with a lot of preset values ​​(you can set your own), Clear Phase, xLoud technologies and virtual surround sound. Control of most settings is available if the complex ClearAudio+ function is turned off, otherwise all settings are left to the machine. It is worth noting that the new “compact”, like the new flagship, implements Sony’s proprietary digital noise reduction technology. The developers promise that when using a special headset MDR-NC31EM, the level of external noise can be reduced by 98%.

FM radio is included as standard with the smartphone. Traditionally, it only works with connected headphones as an antenna; it does not have the ability to record programs. There was no voice recorder included as standard with the smartphone, just like the main version of the Xperia Z3, by the way.

Camera

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is equipped with the same two digital camera modules with a resolution of 20.7 and 2.2 megapixels, which were equipped with previous flagships and which are now installed in the Xperia Z3. The hardware here is exactly the same, only software effects are added. The main 20.7-megapixel camera is equipped with a G Lens series lens with a focal length of 27 mm and an aperture of F2.0. The camera uses a 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor and a Bionz for mobile processor.

By default, the cameras of all Sony devices operate in the so-called super auto mode (iauto) with a wide aspect ratio, but you can switch the shooting to manual settings. It is noteworthy that when the hardware button on the side of the device is activated, the camera quickly turns on, but is always activated in automatic shooting mode, even if the manual setting mode was previously enabled. If you launch the camera application from the desktop or from the program menu, then in this case everything goes as usual, and the camera leaves the previous settings intact, that is, it starts in manual mode, if one was set earlier. Note that there is a big difference between automatic and manual modes, because the maximum resolution can only be set in manual adjustment mode. When shooting in automatic mode, which is set by default, photos are obtained with a size of 3840 × 2160 (8 megapixels), and in manual mode the maximum possible resolution is exactly the same 20.7 megapixels (5248 × 3936).

The camera can shoot video in 1080p and UHD (4K) resolution, but the main thing is that it also has the ability to shoot in the most interesting mode - 1080p at 60 frames/s. An example of such a video is presented below.

• Video No. 1 (85 MB, 1920×1080, 60 frames/sec)

	Good and uniform sharpness across the entire field of the frame, it only falls off a little in the corners.
	The handling of foliage in the distance hurts the eye a little.
	The camera works well near foliage, but you can find areas of blur.
	Good work with shadows and noise in them.
	Sharpness is good in almost all plans.
	Good dynamic range - the camera handles shadows.
	You can find slight sharpening on the wires.
	The text is worked well, but the sharpness drops a little towards the bottom of the frame.
	The outbreak does little to improve the situation.
	The camera copes well with macro photography without a flash.
	Still, the flash helps a little with macro photography.

	Lighting ≈3200 lux. The camera does a good job.
	Lighting ≈1400 lux. The situation is not changing.
	Lighting ≈130 lux. The noises are still not noticeable.
	Lighting ≈130 lux, flash. The flash hardly helps.
	Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. В темноте хорошо видно, что вспышка очень слабая. Единственное заметное падение разрешения.

The compact model managed to rehabilitate its older brother in terms of camera. The Z3 Compact's camera isn't perfect. Or rather, it’s not perfect yet. But it is clear that it is well designed. In some places you can find echoes of the unpleasant moments that were pronounced in the Z3, but overall the camera is ready for use.

However, oddly enough, the Z3 Compact has a different module installed than the Z3. At the same time, it is very similar to the Z1 Compact and Z2 modules. This assumption can be made from the size of the resulting image. On the other hand, it is possible that all the latest flagships have the same modules, since the size of a full image of 20 megapixels is no different. And since in Superior Auto mode only the Z3 stood out in image size, we can assume that all flagships, starting with the Z1 Compact, work according to the same program with minor differences, and only the Z3 should be fundamentally different from them (and its program is fully we haven't seen it yet). However, all these guesses are partly confirmed by the graph.

The camera itself does a very good job, which is quite expected. Its graphical resolution curve is almost perfect. And although the gap with the leader is slightly more than 0.1 lines per pixel, the dependence is almost constant, which indicates equally good performance in different conditions. Field photographs confirm this, although in their case there is still something to complain about. As already mentioned, echoes of the Z3's shortcomings are also present here, but are much less pronounced. You can find barely noticeable sharpening, sometimes there are small areas of blur, and the program does not work very smoothly over foliage in the distance. But there is practically no noticeable noise, and by and large the camera does not have any significant problems. So it's still great for shooting a variety of subjects.

Telephone and communications

The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also has support for fourth generation networks (LTE) used in Russia. In practice, with a SIM card from the domestic operator MTS, the smartphone confidently recognizes and works with 4G networks. The network capabilities of the smartphone are extensive and correspond to a truly top level: there is support for the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, and as a standard you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. The mode for connecting external devices (USB Host, USB OTG) is supported, so you can connect flash drives and mice with keyboards to the Micro-USB port. The navigation module works with both GPS and the domestic Glonass system.

There were no spontaneous reboots/shutdowns observed during testing, as well as system slowdowns or freezes. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is blocked by the proximity sensor. The LED indicator at the top of the front panel provides notification of charging status and incoming events.

There is no dedicated top row with numbers on the standard keyboard - you need to switch the layout every time. The layout itself and the location of the keys are standard: to switch the language layout, just click on the button with the corresponding icon. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. There is a convenient option to move the keyboard closer to one of the sides to make it easier to reach with the fingers of one hand. Naturally, the ability to continuously enter by sliding your finger from letter to letter is also supported - Swype.

OS and software

The operating system is the latest version of the Google Android 4.4.4 KitKat software platform, on top of which is traditionally installed its own proprietary graphical user interface. The internal structure of the shell, all menus, settings items and pop-up contextual submenus - everything remains exactly the same. However, the external shell has undergone significant measurements. Previously, Sony's graphical interface elements were drawn quite finely. Now, unexpectedly, all the elements on the screen, and most importantly the application icons themselves, began to look much larger and clearer. The fonts have increased; such sudden transformations have only benefited the smartphone. There are also less obvious, but in some ways more useful, improvements. For example, the menu finally has a function to reboot the device, because before this only Sony smartphones lacked such an option.

New Sony mobile devices now have close integration with the Sony PlayStation 4 game console. If you already have one in your home, then the new Xperia Z3 line of smartphones or the Xperia Z3 Tablet will be able to act as a “portable screen”, that is, everything that happens begins to be displayed on the mobile screen devices. This is convenient when, for example, you need to free up the TV if one of the family members suddenly wants to watch some program. For this use, Sony will produce a special fastener that will allow you to connect a smartphone or tablet to the joystick of a game console. This mode is called PS4 Remote Play.

Performance

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact hardware platform is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 single-chip system (SoC) with four Krait 400 cores, like the flagship Xperia Z3 (the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact was based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800). Here, the maximum frequency of the processor cores is a maximum of 2.5 GHz, since the most advanced version of Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) is used.

Graphics processing is handled here by the same Adreno 330 video accelerator. About 11 out of 16 GB of own memory for the user’s needs are initially available in the device. The smartphone's RAM capacity is 2 GB, and this makes the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact unfavorably different from the company's flagship, which has as much as three gigabytes of RAM. MicroSD memory cards in this model are supported up to 128 GB; you can also connect external flash drives, keyboards and mice to the Micro-USB port using a special adapter in OTG mode.

To get an idea of ​​the performance of the platform of the smartphone under test, we will conduct a standard set of tests.

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.

Testing in MobileXPRT, as well as in the latest versions of AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:

In the AnTuTu test, the smartphone demonstrates very high numbers, but it is worth considering that the new, fifth version of the popular benchmark is now used, and all previous models were tested in the fourth version. The resulting numbers have increased greatly, so it is not worth directly comparing such results. (We will mark in the tables which versions of the benchmark this or that model was tested with, until there are again enough models tested in the fifth version of the test for comparison.) In any case, all top smartphones based on the Snapdragon 801 are the most powerful and Today's productive mobile devices, the power of which will be enough for a long time to complete any assigned tasks.

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

Results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it.

According to the test results, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone was not equipped with all the decoders necessary for full playback of most of the most common files on the Internet. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, even in it you will first have to change the settings, switching from hardware decoding to software or to a new mode called Hardware+(not supported by all smartphones), only then will sound appear. All results are summarized in a table.

¹ MX Video Player only played sound after switching to software decoding or a new mode Hardware+; The standard player does not have this setting

Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it we used a monitor ViewSonic VX2363Smhl, supporting direct MHL connection (in version 2.0) using a passive adapter cable from Micro-USB to HDMI. In this case, output via MHL was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at a frequency of 60 frames/s. Regardless of the actual orientation of the smartphone, the image is displayed on the smartphone and monitor screens only in landscape orientation with the connector on the smartphone facing down.

In this case, the image on the monitor fits exactly within the boundaries of the display area (if you don’t forget to set the Image Size 100%) and one to one repeats the image on the smartphone screen in an interpolation variation from 1280 by 720 to 1920 by 1080 pixels.

When connecting via MHL, an icon for accessing MHL settings and an icon for launching several selected programs appear in the list of events:

Traditionally, in the case of Sony, a smartphone connected via MHL can act as a remote control for a TV, if the latter supports such a function.

Sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and is of good quality. In this case, sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is not adjusted using the buttons on the smartphone body, but is turned off. In our case, the smartphone with the MHL adapter connected was charging, judging by the charge indicator.

Next, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”), we checked how the video is displayed on the screen of the smartphone itself. Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied: 1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels and frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The results of this (block entitled “Smartphone Screen”) and the next test are tabulated: excellent

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The displayed brightness range is equal to the standard range of 16-235; in the shadows, only a couple of the darkest shades are indistinguishable in brightness from black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing video files with a resolution of 720p (1280 by 720 pixels), the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly on the edge of the screen, in the original resolution.

With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing video, the monitor displays an exact copy of the smartphone screen, but the output is already in true Full HD resolution in the case of 1080p files.

The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235; in the shadows, again, only a couple of the darkest shades are indistinguishable in brightness from black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the “MHL (monitor output)” block. The output quality is good.

The conclusion is typical - an MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from an increase in screen size.

Battery life

The lithium-ion battery installed in the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has a capacity of 2600 mAh, not the maximum, but quite decent for a modern smartphone - this is even more than that of the previous model (2300 mAh for the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact). As a result, the smartphone demonstrated excellent results in terms of battery life, which is due to the screen being not the largest in area and the resolution being far from Full HD.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted 22 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and when continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (HQ) The device lasted 10 hours at the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone worked for about 5 hours. The smartphone charges quite quickly; a full charge takes less than 3 hours.

Bottom line

Sony Mobile has released another compact smartphone that is quite good in terms of all its characteristics. Unquestionable workmanship, body materials, highest performance and maximum autonomy, comfortable dimensions and excellent ergonomics - these are the strengths of the new product, which it adopted from its predecessor, and improved some things (the rear window, for example). As usual, the camera and screen quality can be criticized when compared with products from other market leaders, but overall they are quite consistent with the high level of the smartphone. We were very surprised by the sudden transition from a metal frame, as a visual basis, giving the smartphone the status of an expensive thing, to transparent, cheerful teenage plastic, but perhaps many will like it, because the ergonomics, in general, did not suffer. The price of the device, at which the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact will be officially presented in our stores, was announced just the other day: the smartphone on the Russian market will be sold at a price of 24 thousand rubles. The start of sales was scheduled for September 19, so by the time of publication of this article, retail did not experience a shortage of offers. At the same time, the flagship Xperia Z3 appeared on store shelves, the recommended price of which was set at 30 thousand rubles. It is worth noting that the flagship will also be offered in a version with two SIM cards at a price of 31 thousand rubles, but the Z3 Compact is not expected to support two SIM cards.