Recommendations to replace a z3 compact

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E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#243373 8-Dec-2018 20:19

Hello,

So it looks as though my much loved Sony Z3 compact is finally giving up on me.

I hate buying phones, so don’t want to spend a fortune (around 300 ish or so) but do appreciate a good phone in terms of performance and features. Also I love the smaller sized phones hence it being a compact.
I did also enjoy the water proof aspects of the Z3 , but am wondering if I should not worry about this as it might be limiting my options.

Appreciate any of your smart peoples thoughts and opinions as it’s been a few years since going down this track and am a bit out of touch tbh.

Cheers

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#2141770 8-Dec-2018 21:18

I'm very interested in this topic.

Although mine is going strong and I love the size - it easily fits in any pocket - and other features like IP68 dust and water proofing, FM radio, etc. it has had a few pitfalls:

powerful processors generate too much heat to dissipate easily with the smaller form factor.
the small battery is too small for energy gobbling apps like games, e.g. Pokemon Go.
the reduced RAM - 3GB down to 2GB - has proved to be too crippling when trying to run multiple applications e.g. YouTube music often stops when it is running in the background.
the reduced screen resolution - the reduction from FullHD to HD reduces some power consumption but loses too much clarity.

fe31nz

1233 posts

Uber Geek

#2141818 8-Dec-2018 22:59

When I finally came to replacing my Samsung Galaxy S2 early this year, I could only find two mobiles that would fit in my pocket and were the sort of specs I wanted, and were also available in NZ. One was a Sony Compact (I forget the exact model), and the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017). The 2018 model was too big, but the 2017 one was still available, and is still available from Vodafone. But it might be a bit more than you want to spend - I think it was around $500. It is IP68 waterproof down to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. I have been very pleased with it so far. But the key thing is that it fits in my pocket when I am using my bicycle, without sticking into my leg or getting broken, just like the S2 did. It is a little bigger than the S2 (and your Z3), but not enough to cause me any problems.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_compact-6538.php

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a3_(2017)-8336.php

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2142331 10-Dec-2018 09:29

So it looks like I have narrowed it down to a Sony XA2 (forgoing the waterproof in place of current reasonable tech) or a Motorola G5S (which has some water resistance)...both are not as "compact" as the Z3C, but from my estimations, they should be okay.

NzBeagle

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#2142336 10-Dec-2018 09:36

E3xtc:

So it looks like I have narrowed it down to a Sony XA2 (forgoing the waterproof in place of current reasonable tech) or a Motorola G5S (which has some water resistance)...both are not as "compact" as the Z3C, but from my estimations, they should be okay.

Having owned the Z3c and the G5s, the G5s is a nice phone, but may be a little disappointing compared with the Z3c in regards to camera, and overall speed. Good features, battery and updates though.

I had the X Compact for quite some time, a nice compact after the Z3c, but a little older now, definitely think there's a gap in the market for the < 5" (decent) phone, perhaps a minority though.

Hammerer

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#2142410 10-Dec-2018 12:12

Yes, the Sony XA2 looks good at the price but I wouldn't consider it because water-proofing and dust-proofing always saves me money in the long run.

The problem with replacing the Z3 compact for around $300 is that the price curve is too steep for a high-end phone so you either have to step down to a mid-level phone or get an older phone like the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact which now three-years old with only 2GB RAM. Samsung has some options with IP68 but they are expensive and the others are basically low-end.

I've found that the key factor in these compact phones is the phone width - the Z3 Compact is less than 65mm wide. The problem is that the brands that do produce low-width Android phones don't distribute here: Micromax (India) and BLU (USA). Excluding those two brands I've listed phones that have widths up to 70mm.

≤66mm

2014 Sony Xperia Z3 Compact $230
2015 Sony Xperia Z5 Compact $300 -HD-only -only 2GB RAM
2017 Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact $530 -HD-only
2018 Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact $710
2019 Sharp Aquos R2 Compact $tba

≤68mm

2017 Samsung Galaxy A3 (A320F. A320Y) -not available here? -No IP6x
2018 Nokia 1 -low end

≤70mm

2017 Google Pixel 2 $780 +Android One
2017 Huawei P10 Lite $290 -Chinese-only -No IP6x
2017 Huawei P10 $410-$500 -No IP6x
2017 LG Q6 $280 -No IP6x
2017 Samsung Galaxy S8 $650
2017 Samsung Galaxy J2 -low-end
2017 Xiaomi Mi 5C -not available here?
2017 Xiaomi Redme 4 (4X) $300 -HD-only -No IP6x
2018 Samsung Galaxy S9 $800
2018 Samsung Galaxy S8 Lite -not available here?
2018 LG Q7 $560
2018 Nokia 3.1 $200 -mid-level -No IP6x +Android One -only 16/2GB available here
2018 Vodafone Smart N9 $180 -low-end -HD-only -only 2GB RAM
2018 Vodafone Smart N9 lite $160 -low-end -HD-only -only 1GB RAM
2018 Alcatel 3 -not available here? -HD-only -only 2GB RAM

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2142434 10-Dec-2018 12:36

Nice comprehensive list. The main reason why I considered the XA2 (and forgoing the IP rating) was that, if I can using it while riding, I can easily put it in a waterproof ziplock type bag (if worried about weather), when doing ocean swims, I can put it in the safety buoy I pull, and while running, it should remain reasonably dry(ish) in the hip pocket on my shorts (even if in a downpour)....so was struggling to justify (like you mention) getting an older phone just to get the IP rating or spending considerably more on a newer IP rated phone.

Also in terms of the size, I was concerned, but after trying my wifes iPhone 7 (which was in a case - so more bulky again), it still was fine to fit in my running shorts/hip pocket - which was my main concern.

So am thinking the XA2, is a reasonable size but workable, but is a newish phone so the tech is current and the price point is achievable. The concerns about the Motorola as highlighted above re performance did worry me too, so have all but removed that from the options :\

dafman

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#2142470 10-Dec-2018 12:54

One of the reasons I haven't replaced my S7 is that I don't like the trend to bigger phones. If the rumour mill is correct, Samsung are keeping the 5.8" screen for the upcoming S10, but reducing top and bottom bezels, which hopefully means a S10 around the same physical dimensions as the S7, perhaps even smaller.

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Hammerer

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#2142558 10-Dec-2018 14:24

My comprehensive list is missing "-No IP6x" for the Vodafone Smart N9 and N9 Lite.

E3xtc:

... riding, I can easily put it in a waterproof ziplock type bag
... ocean swims, I can put it in the safety buoy I pull
... running, it should remain reasonably dry(ish) in the hip pocket on my shorts (even if in a downpour)

....so was struggling to justify (like you mention) getting an older phone just to get the IP rating or spending considerably more on a newer IP rated phone.

Your decision is entirely reasonable when facing a +100% price differential for IP68.

For me, your requirement list is a slam dunk for an IP68+ rated phone. It only takes one failure to regret your decision. The closer to your purchase date then the bigger the disappointment. As a long-time (30+ years) user of ziplock bags in the great outdoors, I've had lots of failures because it only takes one hole to wet a map or phone.

But of course, with the money you save on your new phone, you can afford one failure compared with buying a waterproof phone that costs twice as much.

fe31nz

1233 posts

Uber Geek

#2142862 11-Dec-2018 01:44

Hammerer:

≤68mm

2017 Samsung Galaxy A3 (A320F. A320Y) -not available here? -No IP6x

See my post above - the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) [SM-A320Y] is available in NZ from Vodafone, and it is IP68 rated to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

Hammerer

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#2142863 11-Dec-2018 02:18

fe31nz:

Hammerer:

≤68mm

2017 Samsung Galaxy A3 (A320F. A320Y) -not available here? -No IP6x

See my post above - the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) [SM-A320Y] is available in NZ from Vodafone, and it is IP68 rated to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

I couldn't find a link to that model of phone at vodafone.co.nz and you didn't provide one either.

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#2142867 11-Dec-2018 05:42

Have you considered the XZ2 compact?

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2142889 11-Dec-2018 07:41

Yeah would love too consider a XZ2 Compact - but there is no way I will be spending anywhere near that....$400-$500 is the absolute top dollar (and already pushing it from what I had originally wanted to spend - ~$300ish)

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2142899 11-Dec-2018 07:57

@sbiddle: Have you considered the XZ2 compact?

I have a Sony XZ2 Compact here and use it for testing - just last week it got an update to Android Pie.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2142901 11-Dec-2018 07:59

An alternative would be the Huawei Nova 3i.

fe31nz

1233 posts

Uber Geek

#2143700 11-Dec-2018 22:57

Hammerer:

fe31nz:

Hammerer:

≤68mm

2017 Samsung Galaxy A3 (A320F. A320Y) -not available here? -No IP6x

See my post above - the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) [SM-A320Y] is available in NZ from Vodafone, and it is IP68 rated to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

I couldn't find a link to that model of phone at vodafone.co.nz and you didn't provide one either.

When I bought mine, I did not find it on Vodofone's web site either. I did find it on another mobile provider's site, and went into their local shop to get it. But they told me that it was out of stock and they would not be getting any more. But they thought Vodafone stocked it. So I walked across the mall corridor to the Vodafone shop and they had 5 in stock at that shop. That was at the start of this year, so it is possible it has sold out now. But since they seem to have not had it on their web site for some reason, maybe there will still be stock. A phone call to the local Vodafone shop should be able to find out.

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