Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Discussion & Owners Thread

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219 posts

Master Geek

#1204646 27-Dec-2014 21:02

maxeon: Good point about CGA. JB is selling for 471 if anyone is looking or I can sell mine soon after getting it fixed. :)

How are they doing it so cheap!? More than that in USD on amazon.

IronH

379 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1206845 1-Jan-2015 13:26

Loving this phone, haven't noticed the lower res even when looking at smaller text. In fact I find the screen to be excellent, at 319ppi it is crisp enough from normal viewing distances that I really struggle to see much difference with my 5" 1080p smartphone, and the screen gets bright for outdoor use, and very dim for night time reading, colours look punchy, viewing angles and black levels also seem great to me. The colour calibration tool is also very useful. I set mine to R250 G190 B0 to get a more natural looking white as opposed to the cold blueish whites you get out of the box.

Battery life is excellent, haven't charged it for 2days, no power saving mode enabled, 1 hour of screen on time and it still has 85% battery life left. When you go to bed with battery say at 90%, you will wake up with it still at 90% (or maybe 89% depending how long you sleep)

Camera is decent, the software image stabilisation works very well. Low light shots are a bit blurry but at least you can make things out where my Samsung Galaxy can't see anything.

There is only one disappointment for me - the dual front facing speakers: they produce very quiet and muffled sounds. You have to turn the volume past 80% before things get audible. And the speakers make the whole phone vibrate massively which is unpleasant. The rear firing speaker on for e.g. a Galaxy S4 is both clearer and louder.

Overall though this is my new favourite phone, even more so when you consider the price I got it for.

maxeon

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#1209165 6-Jan-2015 12:58

Further update on the below -

Went to fonebiz in New market yesterday when they are open (5th) and logged the fault. They advised 24 hours to fix it. Went back today (6th) to pickup and confirmed the phone failed pressure tests, has a problem with touch and back panel needs replacing as well to waterproof it back.

However, no parts for black phone so I was offered to replace the panels with Red or Orange.
My reply: No thanks, I bought a Black phone for a reason.

Parts should arrive in a week, and it might take some time to clear customs etc.

I asked them to supply me in writing that there is an issue with the phone, and it is covered under warranty to fix it.

I called Sony Style to refund me the purchase price because it was within the 21 day period where I had a Major problem and it is nearly 3 weeks to fix it for me. The manager at Sony Style simply took my details and said - I need to wait for authorization for refund which takes about a week.

I am already using a HTC One M8 right now because no loan phone can be provided by Sony. For those that cannot afford to stay without phone for few weeks, STAY AWAY from SONY.

In General - Sony Style service is probably on the worst end. They are well aware of the problem and want the customer to face the waiting while they get authorizations for weeks. Now my money is with them, along with the phone.

I am considering selling my Sony gear put simply due to their poor response and service.

maxeon: If you are thinking Z3 Compact is Water proof, think again.

I only bought this phone on 3rd December from Sony Style in Sylvia Park. Started using it as of 9th December.

On Xmas day, ensuring my hands are dry and all knobs are closed securely, I took the phone and used it in the SPA for 2 to 3 minutes. The phone worked for a minute and started to freeze on the camera. Specifically when trying to take video.

I took it out and left it to dry. In about 3 hours from then the camera started to show Moist and the flash light hole as well.
The phone worked but the camera app crashed. I rebooted and waited for it to be dry overnight.

Next day morning, the screen stopped responding. Touch does not work. If you keep the phone upside down for long period the touch starts working for few minutes.

Reading about it online - there are several reports of the same exact symptoms. So if you are considering taking it to the water inspired by their advertisements - please ensure you have a back up phone which takes a Nano sim and can be use for upto 3 weeks (as per Sony Style).

Ref - http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2014/10/15/4107561.htm
there are several others reporting worldwide here, here, and here
Some YouTube videos too.

Now - the service of Sony Style

I went to Sony Style today to get it repaired / replaced. I was told it takes 3 weeks to get it sent and repaired. They do not offer any loan phone while this process happens.

However they suggested, I should take it to the service center myself in New Market and they will be able to provide me a loan phone and get it pressure tested within 1 week. He was not sure if it is covered under warranty. Only the pressure test can confirm that aspect.

Service center opens on 5th of January. - So I am out of phone for the next week.

Went straight to Noel Leeming and bought Samsung Note 4 - for $910.
Never buying Sony Phone again.

I am hoping they replace or repair this Sony compact under warranty so I can sell it. I have taken utmost care in the water, nothing like what they showed in the advertisements. I hate the fact that their own shop does not provide a loan phone and customer service. Why would it take 3 weeks to send the phone from Sylvia to Newmarket? I did not bother to argue, but I am On-call and I need to have a working phone, so had to just go and get a new one.

If I do not get warranty for this issue based on their own reasons, do you guys think I should go to Disputes Tribunal?

Starlith

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Master Geek

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#1209215 6-Jan-2015 13:53

I bought one and the same thing happened when it went in water. Sony NZ is a bloody circus its taking ages to sort out so definitely the worst customer care. I hope they don't run rings like that around me though with the replacement parts. They should just give a new phone because they sold a faulty one. Quite sad really as I have owned both a ZR and Z1 Compact used under water without any issues.

maxeon

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#1209272 6-Jan-2015 14:46

Starlith: I bought one and the same thing happened when it went in water. Sony NZ is a bloody circus its taking ages to sort out so definitely the worst customer care. I hope they don't run rings like that around me though with the replacement parts. They should just give a new phone because they sold a faulty one. Quite sad really as I have owned both a ZR and Z1 Compact used under water without any issues.

While I was waiting for an hour at the repair agent in Newmarket for a report of my phone, there were at least 3 people with same complaint and exact symptoms that came and handed over their phones. I suspect this issue is widespread and will blow out on a large scale once someone decides to take action on them.

The sad part of the whole issue is Sony Style (who sells as official Sony Store) is apparently just a retailer and not associated with Sony in any way. I rang the Sony official 0800 100 150 number and I was told the manufacturer's recommended time frame to fix is 2 week from the day you hand your phone to the repairer. The retailer (in this case Sony Style) has the rest of the obligations of CGA and returns and they are in no way related to Sony although using the same brand.

Sony Style manager has told me it will take 1 week before he gets an authorization from his supply dealer to agree a refund.

If I do not get a refund - I will be taking it to tribunal for sure. The service and the whole obligations as a retailer were out of the window in my case.

maxeon

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#1209943 7-Jan-2015 14:53

Got a call from Sony Style and was offered full refund to be collected from store.
Glad it ended this way - never Sony again.

Smithy100

180 posts

Master Geek

#1247555 27-Feb-2015 08:52

So, here's my Z3c story:

After a few months of lusting, I finally dived in... went to JB here in Wgtn (as they had the special on) to get a shiny new Z3c and they had no stock... (I wanted an orange one) so went upstairs and 33 metres along Willis St to the Sony Store (with much trepidation after reading this thread).

They were busy, I waited a few minutes then buggered of (was on a break from work) and on the drive home, my other half seeing my disappointment called the store and asked if they had any Z3c's and preferably, an orange one. The had one left - which they happily put aside for me to collect the following morning.

In I went - and of course, I mentioned the JB special... they happily price matched (even though the special was on black only) and provided a cover at half price, after I mentioned the cracking issues.

So, to be fair to Sony, whilst I appreciate they can (and clearly do) drop the ball on occassion, I was pretty happy with the service I recieved from them... now I just have to hope I never need to return it :)

Oh, and a couple of weeks in - the phone is absolutely brilliant, for the price.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

tripp

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#1247567 27-Feb-2015 09:08

Smithy100: So, here's my Z3c story:

After a few months of lusting, I finally dived in... went to JB here in Wgtn (as they had the special on) to get a shiny new Z3c and they had no stock... (I wanted an orange one) so went upstairs and 33 metres along Willis St to the Sony Store (with much trepidation after reading this thread).

They were busy, I waited a few minutes then buggered of (was on a break from work) and on the drive home, my other half seeing my disappointment called the store and asked if they had any Z3c's and preferably, an orange one. The had one left - which they happily put aside for me to collect the following morning.

In I went - and of course, I mentioned the JB special... they happily price matched (even though the special was on black only) and provided a cover at half price, after I mentioned the cracking issues.

So, to be fair to Sony, whilst I appreciate they can (and clearly do) drop the ball on occassion, I was pretty happy with the service I recieved from them... now I just have to hope I never need to return it :)

Oh, and a couple of weeks in - the phone is absolutely brilliant, for the price.

So how much did you pay?
If the z4 comes out next month I might look at getting it, if it does come out i would expect the price of the z3 to drop abit.

Smithy100

180 posts

Master Geek

#1247570 27-Feb-2015 09:11

mrtoken:

So how much did you pay?
If the z4 comes out next month I might look at getting it, if it does come out i would expect the price of the z3 to drop abit.

Can't recall, it was whatever the JB special was - definitely 6 something... has there been anything "official" around the Z4 yet?

tripp

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#1248900 1-Mar-2015 17:11

So i picked one of these up on friday from spark

How are people finding the battery life, mine only seems to be lasting a day and it seems to have high drain on standby

Smithy100

180 posts

Master Geek

#1249127 2-Mar-2015 08:14

I'm getting a comfortable two days - easily the best I've ever had with a smartphone. I've not used stamina mode or adjusted any other settings - just used it as normal, it's been fantastic.

tripp

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#1249144 2-Mar-2015 08:49

Smithy100: I'm getting a comfortable two days - easily the best I've ever had with a smartphone. I've not used stamina mode or adjusted any other settings - just used it as normal, it's been fantastic.

dam, took it off the charge this morning at 5.30am and already down 12%
You on spark?

Smithy100

180 posts

Master Geek

#1249150 2-Mar-2015 08:56

mrtoken:
dam, took it off the charge this morning at 5.30am and already down 12%
You on spark?

Yup, h/set purchased from Sony store.

tripp

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#1249152 2-Mar-2015 08:58

Smithy100:
mrtoken:
dam, took it off the charge this morning at 5.30am and already down 12%
You on spark?

Yup, h/set purchased from Sony store.

Mmm I got mine from the spark store but I think they are both the same firmware etc.
Might just be everything i have installed on it.

Smithy100

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Master Geek

#1249154 2-Mar-2015 09:01

mrtoken:
Might just be everything i have installed on it.

It shouldn't be - I'd go back to Spark and say you got a munter, maybe back it up and try a reset first if you can be bothered but unless you've put something seriously dodge on there it shouldn't be anywhere near that bad.

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