Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review

Overview

It is small (only in size), it is powerful and fast, it is capable and truly fascinating – meet the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. Officially, this is the small-sized version of the 2013-year’s flagship of the Japanese manufacturer, the Xperia Z1. The new device has a lot of its older and bigger sibling but have no doubt - the Xperia Z1 Compact stands out with its own amazing package of capabilities and charm. The smartphone sports a sleek premium design and works with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS (soon to be upgraded to Android 4.4). The handset is powered b a quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU clocked at 2.2GHz and paired with 2GB RAM. The most impressive feature of the Xperia Z1 Compact is its 20.7MP rare camera with abundance of capabilities and features. 

Appearance and display

The Xperia Z1 Compact “screams” “premium” from the tip to the toe. It is made of glass and metal and sports the same design and shape of the body as the original flagship. Among the most important characteristic of the model is its water and dust-resistant panel with IP58 certificate. It can survive “diving” at 1.5m liquid for up to 30 min. The smartphone measures: 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm. It is a bit heavier than expected – 137 grams. The phone feels solid in the hand. The color options offered for the model include Lime, Pink, Black and White. 

The screen of Xperia Z1 Compact is 4.3-inch with a resolution of 720p. The IPS display works with integrated Triluminos technology, courtesy by Sony. The screen provides astonishing picture quality that will satisfy the preferences of users.  

Hardware

The tradition amongst manufacturers in the mobile world is to release mini variants of their flagships with more modest specs and features. Xperia Z1 Compact is an exception of this trend. It is packed with the powerful quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU that provides as good performance as its older sibling. The provided RAM is 2GB. It arrives with 16GB expandable storage.

Platform

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact works on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. It is fast, capable and provided with abundance of apps and features that assure the most fulfilling user experience. Some of the apps that are pre-installed on the phone are Facebook, YouTube, Google Maps, Twitter, Google Play etc. There is support for 3D and motion gaming. From gaming to multitasking, you will not have enough of Xperia Z1 Compact. 

Camera

Many users refer to Xperia Z1 as a “camera-phone” because of its 20.7MP main camera on the back. The mini variant of the phone, the Xperia Z1 Compact has the same sensor on its rare panel that will fascinate the users that enjoy taking photos everywhere they go. It is equipped with Sony Exmor RS sensor. There is also CMOS image sensor with High Dynamic Range and W (white) pixels. It has 1/2.3-inche sensor, LED flash, autofocus etc. It can record 1080p video. The front facing camera of the model is with 2MP.

Connectivity

Xperia Z1 Compact is fully provided with richness of connectivity capabilities. It supports 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc. The phone supports LTE 4G.

Battery

The battery of Xperia Z1 Compact is wit a capacity of 2300mAh. If the phone has any weakness, this is the battery. It could be a bit more capable to provide longer battery life. Users can rely on up to 10 hours in talk time and up to 670 hours in stand-by.

Conclusion

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is one of the most capable and attractive “mini”-s that are available on the market today. It coems in compact body with premium feel. The panel caters the powerful hardware of the device with Snapdragon 800 chip. The 20.7MP camera is a huge advantage of the handset before its competition. Xperia Z1 Compact is available for purchase worldwide. 

Specs summary

• Display: 4.3 inches, 1280 x 720p
• Dimensions: 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm
• Weight: 137 grams
• Processor:  quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Adreno 330 GPU
• Operating System: Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), getting upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat
• Camera: 20.7MP, LED flash, autofocus, 1/2.3'' sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, HDR, panorama. HD 1080p video. Secondary 2MP camera
• Memory: 2GB RAM, 16GB native memory, microSD slot
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100, LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600
• Messaging: SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, IM, Push Email
• Battery: 2300 mAh (10 hours in talk time)
• Other: xLoud Experience, Clear audio+, Clear bass, Clear Phase and Clear stereo, 3D surround sound, FM Radio with RDS