Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Sony was the first to redefine the compact flagships concept with its Xperia Z1 Compact, setting a pretty high bar for both the competition and the potential successor. The company's short release cycle, on the other hand, is doing the Z3 Compact no favors.

Although there obviously aren't many significant improvements in the Xperia Z3 Compact, it nevertheless brings a refreshed design and updates in key areas like display and battery life. read more →

Having spent a decent amount of time with the new Xperia Z3 Compact, I can easily recommend it as the best small Android smartphone. Low-light camera performance aside, it's got everything you want in a flagship handset, except maybe a fingerprint sensor or coffee maker, packed into a neat and portable package. Its rectangular design might not appeal to everyone, but it's an extremely well-built device with a certain understated elegance. read more →

It's still among the best pocket-sized phones around and, minor issues aside, it's a superb choice if you don't fancy stretching your thumbs across the 5.2-inch screen of the full-size Z3. It does have a worthy rival this time round in the form of the Galaxy Alpha, which is similarly powerful, has a great camera and a compact, slim frame that's wrapped in metal. It's not waterproof though, so the Z3 Compact should be your first choice if pool-side photography is on your agenda.

I'm disappointed, however, that Sony hasn't increased the display resolution along with the size to secure the Compact's position as the ultimate smaller phone. read more →

With the Xperia Z3 Compact Sony has done an excellent job of showing its competition that you can release a compact version of a flagship smartphone without butchering the specifications. The Z3 Compact more than holds its own against the more expensive Z3, as well as other rival flagship devices.

In fact we'd go so far as to say that the Z3 Compact is one of the best sub 5-inch smartphones you can currently get. read more →

There's so much to like about the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. It's one of few devices as powerful at this size, offers great battery life, is well designed and fully packed with features. As much as we love the Z3 Compact and almost everything it does, there are still some small niggles. It arrives just over six months after its predecessor, there's some software overkill, the camera app doesn't load as fast as we would like, and the screen still isn't best in class despite doing a decent job.We also can't help but look at the larger Sony Xperia Z3 and its more resolute display - bigger movie playback, more gaming space, a better browsing experience also sounds enticing - but then there's the inflated cost to consider.But it's that last thought; that lure to the larger screen that also highlights just how good the Z3 Compact is. read more →