Sony Xperia Z1 Compact - true Android flagship in a non-humongous body

Forums › Android › Sony Xperia Z1 Compact - true Android flagship in a non-humongous body

NZtechfreak

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#139203 31-Jan-2014 11:09

With its release imminent I thought I would start a thread for this handset, which shapes to be a very important piece of the Android hardware ecosystem as it's first true compact flagship. To my way of thinking this shores up one of the most glaring weaknesses of the Android handset world, the other being the lack of a great low-end performer (which is also now taken care of with the Moto G).

For those unfamiliar, specs are here and just one of the many glowing reviews now coming in for the handset is here.

I have a lime coloured one coming, hopefully arriving next week.

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#977964 31-Jan-2014 11:44

I'm looking at getting one, finally a small flagship. Sick of the way they normally stunt the "mini", see HTC One Mini and S4 Mini, and this seems to be done well. I'm quite into wireless charging now, so that's a bit of a shame, but thought the DK32 charging dock might be nice enough instead. Would be a gift anyhow so not a major.

Will be great to see how it goes on the market, I hope its successful for future small android 'flagships'.

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#977999 31-Jan-2014 12:21

Very very nice, glad someone has finally filled that hole in the android line up. Android finally has an iPhone type device, bang up to date but with a size that is compact. Way to go Sony.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

jeffnz

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#978019 31-Jan-2014 12:41

Nice looking phone and good to see another manufacturer that has teh Ext storage card as that is the biggest thing keeping me with Samsung.

I looked at the Z1 but to be honest it felt really bad in teh hand with sharpish edges, apart from that it was a great looking phone.

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NZtechfreak

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#978058 31-Jan-2014 13:15

jeffnz: Nice looking phone and good to see another manufacturer that has teh Ext storage card as that is the biggest thing keeping me with Samsung.

I looked at the Z1 but to be honest it felt really bad in teh hand with sharpish edges, apart from that it was a great looking phone.

The Z1 edges were rounded, it felt great in the hand for me - did you mean the original Z perhaps? Ergonomically that wasn't much chop. Were it not for the screen, and the overly large size of the device for the screen size I may well have grabbed a Z1. This phone, for its generation and niche, is nigh on perfect.

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timmmay

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#978100 31-Jan-2014 14:15

Looks good, but I don't think I could bring myself to buy a phone without a hardware button bottom front like the S4.

NZtechfreak

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#978104 31-Jan-2014 14:19

Really hope this kicks some of the other Android OEMs to bring their game to the smaller Android handset market.

One real advantage of having the same hardware in your 'mini' version is that firmware updates become a case of one firmware essentially for both variants.

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#978138 31-Jan-2014 15:01

timmmay: Looks good, but I don't think I could bring myself to buy a phone without a hardware button bottom front like the S4.

Once you go without a hardware home button for a week, you find it hard using a phone with one!

kiwiandy

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#978167 31-Jan-2014 15:11

NZtechfreak:

For those unfamiliar, specs are here and just one of the many glowing reviews now coming in for the handset is here.

I have a lime coloured one coming, hopefully arriving next week.

Where is yours coming from, and what is the price?

Its a pity its still running Jelly Bean.

My past experience with SOny devices was that they are very slow to update.
Will be interested to read your thoughts.

Phone history
Now:
iPhone4 (XT)
HTC Desire HD (Softbank)
Google (HTC) Nexus One (XT)
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Chinese Kamakuza iPhone4 with Dual Sims & android ( for travelling)

before:
Google (Samsung) Nexus S
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blakamin

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#978172 31-Jan-2014 15:22

kiwiandy:
NZtechfreak:

For those unfamiliar, specs are here and just one of the many glowing reviews now coming in for the handset is here.

I have a lime coloured one coming, hopefully arriving next week.

Where is yours coming from, and what is the price?

Its a pity its still running Jelly Bean.

My past experience with SOny devices was that they are very slow to update.
Will be interested to read your thoughts.

KitKat is due on the flagship Xperias very shortly. Feb according to many sites.

jeffnz

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#978173 31-Jan-2014 15:24

NZtechfreak:
jeffnz: Nice looking phone and good to see another manufacturer that has teh Ext storage card as that is the biggest thing keeping me with Samsung.

I looked at the Z1 but to be honest it felt really bad in teh hand with sharpish edges, apart from that it was a great looking phone.

The Z1 edges were rounded, it felt great in the hand for me - did you mean the original Z perhaps? Ergonomically that wasn't much chop. Were it not for the screen, and the overly large size of the device for the screen size I may well have grabbed a Z1. This phone, for its generation and niche, is nigh on perfect.

Murray it may well have been but was only this week in Harvey Normans so I assumed it was the latest Z1 , I'll have to pay another visit :)

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NZtechfreak

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#978198 31-Jan-2014 16:03

kiwiandy:
NZtechfreak:

For those unfamiliar, specs are here and just one of the many glowing reviews now coming in for the handset is here.

I have a lime coloured one coming, hopefully arriving next week.

Where is yours coming from, and what is the price?

Its a pity its still running Jelly Bean.

My past experience with SOny devices was that they are very slow to update.
Will be interested to read your thoughts.

Yes, shame it is shipping with 4.3, that doesn't bother me too much though as 4.4 is mostly under the hood changes without too many user-facing changes. Sony has tidied their act up a bit with software updates, over the last year or so they have been on a very good trajectory of improvement on all fronts really. I hope this handset is wildly successful, really think Sony deserves it.

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clod

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#978789 2-Feb-2014 10:14

Thanks for this headsup. Was looking at the HTC 1 mini but liked the Sony Z1 but it seems a bit big (mind you I'm updating from a HTC wildfire so everythings big) for its camera so hope they bring the Z1 Compact here. Be interesting to see if its going to be the same price as the bigger model tho.

greenbone

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#978998 2-Feb-2014 18:37

ive owned every gen of iphone within a week of release; this is the phone that breaks the combo

any more info about when these will be available here?

NZtechfreak

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#979000 2-Feb-2014 18:44

clod: Thanks for this headsup. Was looking at the HTC 1 mini but liked the Sony Z1 but it seems a bit big (mind you I'm updating from a HTC wildfire so everythings big) for its camera so hope they bring the Z1 Compact here. Be interesting to see if its going to be the same price as the bigger model tho.

International pricing has it cheaper than the Z1, which is a bit of a bargain for this hardware spec.

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NZtechfreak

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#979001 2-Feb-2014 18:46

greenbone: ive owned every gen of iphone within a week of release; this is the phone that breaks the combo

any more info about when these will be available here?

Wow, interesting! Sony is definitely chasing the market you've resided in, you're the first 'convert' I've seen so far though.

No information to share about local release here I'm afraid.

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