New Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review and Specs Update

Last season, Sony models lastly achieved the end of the abc with its Xperia Z. It was not just that the organization ran out of characters, though: With the Xperia Z, we saw Sony models enhance its spread cellphone technique, pipes all its interest into only one high-end system. Then, it followed up with the Z1, which introduced a large 20.7-megapixel digicam.

New Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review and Specs Update

Today, we once again have a new cellphone to discuss, except it's perhaps not the product you might have been anticipating. Not at all, this isn't a Z2, and no it does not carry an even higher-resolution digicam. Instead, Sony's becoming a member of the small-flagship team, with the Xperia Z1 Lightweight. Remarkably, compared with some of its competitors, Sony models is appealing that you won't have to bargain on functions for the benefit of a more pocket-friendly device. At £440 SIM-free in the UK, that obviously has a no-compromise cost, too. By the looks of it, though, Sony models has proved helpful difficult to keep with the same specifications as the unique -- bar, of course, the monitor dimension. So, is this lastly evidence that "mini" does not have to mean mediocre? We put it to the analyze to discover out.

At first look the unique Z1 and the Lightweight are nearly similar -- apart from the actual measurements, of course. Look a little nearer, however, and you'll identify a few little variations. For example, the Z1 Lightweight now has all the relationships and slots on the remaining aspect, finish with the regular safety flap. The microSD slot and micro-USB slot sit up top, with the (micro) SIM slot clinging out on the base. (To jog your storage, the Xperia Z1's SIM slot is over on the top-right advantage.) Other differences: The earphone port is ever so a little bit further inset on the top advantage, and the digicam display now rests beside, not below, the lens. As you can see, we're already cotton wool swab around for important variations. It's also important to observe that the develop components once again consist of cup and steel, so you won't have to experience any nasty restrict here (we're looking at you, HTC).

New Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review and Specs Update

With the Lightweight, Sony models trapped with its so-called OmniBalance style, which way for now, at least, it's moving on the opportunity to reimagine its cellular phones. Instead, the organization has been creating simple modifications with each new system. And that's OK, too. After all, we've discovered little mistake with the develop top great quality on the Z and Z1, so why modify it? As you can think about, then, the Lightweight seems just as top great quality as the other Z-series cellular phones, and probably more so, given how heavy it is. It's so heavy, actually, that at 137 grms, it's even bulkier than some larger flagships, like the Nexus 5.

Another regrettable carryover is the presenter positioning, along the base of the cellphone. When we were examining the unique Z1, we discovered that having the cellphone in scenery to look at a film intended one of your arms certainly hidden the presenter, muffling the sound. Nothing has modified now around, which indicates if you're viewing something in scenery, you'll want to create sure you have some headsets on side. Provided, this is a typical place for the presenter, but for some purpose -- perhaps the minor crack -- it's particularly recognizable on the Lightweight. New Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review and Specs Update

Of course, this well-trodden style direction delivers many of the same trade-offs. In our Z1 evaluation, we mentioned that it was something of a fluff-magnet; whenever you recovered it from your wallet, it would carry with it a restored selection of lint. Unfortunately, that's just as real of the Lightweight. It's amazing to see how effectively it ingredients the best components from your wallet whenever you eliminate it. If you ever need to take images of this cellphone -- say, for a evaluation -- you'll definitely need processed air, a lint-free fabric and an variety of tolerance.

On a more beneficial observe, Sony models made the decision to crack away from its regular dark, white-colored and violet shades. The Lightweight does come in grayscale, but also a zesty calcium hue and a pretty crazy mild red choice. Our evaluation device was the calcium one (though it's a very yellow-colored lime), and we quite like how strong it is -- a therapy we wish Sony models chooses to keep providing its cellular phones. Another awesome contact is that the steel sides coordinate, or supplement, one's whole body shade. On the calcium one, for example, the steel segments are a mild silver, or "champagne" overall tone, and it definitely gives the overall style a consistent experience. Be cautioned, though, that after hardly three times with the Lightweight, we observed a little sector of the sparkling wine finish had damaged off, exposing the real steel shade below.

Display

We've already protected most of what you need to know about the display: It's 4.3 inches wide with 720p great quality. But, given that factors of the shows in both the Xperia Z and Xperia Z1 have formerly remaining us deflated, it's clearly an place value returning to. Our main objective until now has been the viewing perspectives. The Xperia Z, in particular, experienced from a really filter viewing variety, with the picture soon diminishing away to unwatchable stages if you were not status straight at the front aspect of it. The scenario did not enhance with the Z1.

New Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review and Specs Update

At last, the Lightweight places this problem to relax. The show is not only quickly understandable from a broader variety of roles, but shades are brilliant without being oversaturated (take Galaxy, Samsung). This is no question thanks to Sony's X-Reality motor, which, according to the promotion, precisely procedures everything you observe to create it as natural as possible. That might be so, but it also seems to add some minor pixelation to distinct sides (think white-colored written text on a dark background). There's also still space for enhancement with the shades of black, which keep appear a little bit washed out. Overall, though, the show here is a obvious enhancement over its forerunners.

Camera

A excellent show is not much fun if you don't have anything interesting to perspective on it. That's partially where the digicam comes in, and at 20.7 mega pixels, this one's quite a great one -- at least on document. It's also the identical Sony models G Lens, 1/2.3-inch indicator with Exmor RS and BIONZ cellular picture handling that we saw in the full-size Z1. Once again, there's a devoted digicam key, which also works as a quick way to the digicam (via a long-press).

We wish there were something new to add here that we did not go over before. But unfortunately, Sony's dedication to create sure that you get the same encounter surprisingly indicates you're getting, well, the finish encounter, and nothing more. At the very least, if you were a fan of Sony's native digicam app package (that can offer image-based details, public discussing of your images, etc.), you'll be grateful to know it's still here in the Lightweight.

Specification

	SONY XPERIA Z1 COMPACT
Dimensions	127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm
Weight	137g
Screen size	4.3 inches
Screen resolution	1,280 x 720
Screen type	Triluminos LCD with 16 million colors
Battery	2,300mAh Li-ion (non-removable)
Internal storage	16GB (12GB free)
External storage	microSDXC, up to 64GB
Rear camera	20.7MP (1/2.3-inch sensor, f/2.0 lens with 27mm equiv. focal length)
Front-facing cam	2MP stills, 1080p video
Video capture	1080p
NFC	Yes
Radios	HSPA+ (850/900/1700/1900/2100); GSM GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20)
Bluetooth	v4.0
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974)
CPU	2.2GHz quad-core Krait 400
GPU	Adreno 330
RAM	2GB
Entertainment	MHL, Miracast, WiFi Direct, DLNA
WiFi	Dual-band, 802.11a/ac/b/g/n
Wireless Charging	No
Operating system	Android 4.3 (Sony-specific UI)