On the pages of our resource, you probably met this phrase, but in the case of the Xperia Z3, we consider it necessary to duplicate it: Sony has officially announced that they will release new flagship smartphones as technology improves. If other manufacturers have older models updated on average once a year, then the Japanese manage to bake as many as two flagships during this period. Inventing something new, respectively, is twice as fast.
It cannot be said that changes from device to device turn out to be insignificant - it simply does not have time to accumulate in half a year. a large number of new technologies. Rather, engineers from time to time refine and improve their older, which means the main device - they work on bugs and revise possible changes. So, I got a chic IPS display, which was noticeably lacking Z1. At the same time, it improved the camera and interface, added support for some ranges cellular communication. There were changes in the exterior: the bezels around the display became thinner, and the screen itself grew by two tenths of an inch. Good? Undoubtedly. Revolutionary? Not at all. Slow evolution. So what's new in the Z3?
⇡ What's new?
Perhaps new enough. At least from the appearance of the smartphone alone, it can be said with certainty that this is indeed a new model. I had to take a closer look at the previous “zetkas”: look at what the inserts were made of, try to determine the thickness by eye. Well, or apply smartphone A to smartphone B - such a comparison made it possible to identify a newer one, at least due to the difference in size. With Z3, everything is much easier.
Sony designers emphasized the change in the appearance of the gadget with a new color scheme. The black and white options have not gone away, but the rich purple has been replaced by two colors at once: light green and metallic copper. A “strict” white version of the Z3 came to us for testing, which we are probably more than happy about.
There are several changes in terms of characteristics. For example, Z3 uses the smallest SIM format - Nano-SIM. Probably, it will also be in all the next Xperia smartphones. Despite the increased value of IP (Ingress Protection) - IP65 / 68 versus IP55 / 58 for the Xperia Z2, - the moisture protection of the case (remember, the last digit is responsible for it in IPxx) remains the same for the device. The smartphone is protected from low pressure water jets from all directions. It can also stay in fresh water at a depth of up to one and a half meters for up to half an hour. The protection of the case from dust has increased exclusively, which, frankly, is not significant for most users: what difference does it make whether dust can get into the device (IP6x) or not (IP5x), if it does not harm it anyway.
Sony Xperia Z3 - official photo
From the point of view of the technical stuffing, there are practically no changes: Sony engineers still put a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, the 801st Snapdragon (except overclocked to 2.5 GHz) and three gigabytes of RAM in the flagship. Perhaps someone wants to talk about stagnation or savings, because there is already a Snapdragon 805, the 810 was recently announced, and competitors are using higher resolution displays with might and main. However, most sober-minded readers will certainly agree that Sony acted rationally. LG engineers, for example, equipped the G3 with the world's first Quad HD display (in terms of numbers - 2560x1440 pixels), which significantly reduced its time. battery life. Excess power will also eat the battery with a double appetite. So Sony's desire to concentrate on design, and not on "offal", which seems to be coping with the tasks assigned to them, we understand and approve.
⇡ Appearance and ergonomics
Nevertheless, the development of the OmniBalance concept, which is reflected in the new Zetka, may upset many fans of the modern Xperia line. Sony Z series smartphones have always been identified with strict, angular, but very stylish "bricks". The Xperia Z3 turned out to be much lighter than its predecessors - both visually and in fact. The gadget weighs 152 grams, while the Z2 with the same screen size is 163 grams. Moreover, the body of the novelty, in comparison with the previous version, “lost weight” by a millimeter – from 8.3 to 7.3 millimeters.
Sony Xperia Z3 front panel
Changes during appearance obvious. The corners of the case have become more rounded, the sides are not so flat, and the frames around the display are much thinner. Due to the latter, the gadget looks more elongated. It is still made of purebred materials - metal (edges, frame) and glass (back and front panels). However, now it is much more convenient to hold it in your hands - the corners and rough flat ends do not dig into your palm. In terms of ergonomics, it has become noticeably better. We do not undertake to judge the design - this is too much an individual question.
Perhaps the Z3 is the most comfortable of all four Zetok. Hands do not get tired of it even with prolonged contact, and thanks to the reduced dimensions, it is really quite convenient for her to use with one hand - the thumb of an ordinary, average palm reaches all four sides of the display without any problems. Tested on several boys and girls.
Sony Xperia Z3 with display on
The front panel is still free of hardware keys. In its lower part there is a speaker - the same as in the upper one. Next to the latter fit the lens of the front, two-megapixel camera and sensors. The indicator of new events has been moved to the upper left corner. He still knows how to glow in different colors.
Sony Xperia Z3 - side faces
The design feature of the new "Zetka" is that there are polycarbonate inserts in the corners of the case, which, in theory, should soften the blow when the device falls. Of course, we didn’t check this, but it’s good that Sony generally thinks about the “survivability” of their smartphones. Many modern gadgets break after the first fall.
Sony Xperia Z3 - right side
All connectors are still covered with plugs, thanks to which moisture protection of the case is implemented. The hardware wake-up button of the smartphone is placed on the right side. There are also volume keys and a separate physical button for activating the camera and shooting.
Sony Xperia Z3 - card slots
At the same end, there are slots for installing microSD and Nano-SIM cards. The device "swallowed" a 64 GB TF memory card without any problems. A universal 3.5 mm audio jack is placed on the top end. Next to it is a second microphone, with the help of which a noise reduction system is implemented.
Sony Xperia Z3 - left side
The Micro-USB interface on the left side is also removed under the plug. With it, you can connect external peripheral devices to the Z3 through a special OTG adapter. Next to it is a magnetic connector, with which the gadget is connected to the docking station.
Sony Xperia Z3 - rear panel
The “back” of the device, as we have already said, is covered with scratch-resistant glass. We carried the gadget in the same pocket with the keys, and it still has a completely factory look. There are no stickers on the front or back. Despite the fact that the panel is smooth, due to the rough convex ends of the Xperia Z3, it lies perfectly in the hands and does not strive to slip out of them. At the top of the rear panel is the main 20-megapixel camera lens along with an LED flash.
The body of the smartphone is monolithic, non-separable - users do not have access to the battery. Its capacity, by the way, due to the decrease in the thickness of the gadget, the engineers had to reduce - from 3200 to 3100 mAh. However, this is perhaps the only clear deterioration in the new flagship smartphone from Sony.
In general, the exterior of the Xperia Z3 left us ( True, not all of us. - approx. ed.) pleasant emotions. It is convenient to use it, it is pleasant to hold it in hands, but one cannot deny the fact that the gadget has slightly lost its “thoroughbred” face and began to look more ordinary. Hopefully, designers will continue to experiment and find the sweet spot between individuality and usability.
⇡ Specifications
| Sony Xperia Z2 | Sony Xperia Z3 | |
| Touch screen | 5.2 inches, 1080x1920 pixels, IPS; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches |
|
| Air gap | Not | |
| Oleophobic coating | There is | |
| Polarizing filter | There is | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AB v3: four Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7) cores, frequency 2.27 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC: four Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7) cores, frequency 2.5 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
| Graphics controller | Adreno 330, 450 MHz | Adreno 330, 578 MHz |
| RAM | 3 GB LPDDR3-1600 | |
| Flash memory | 16 GB (about 11.5 GB available to the user) + microSD | |
| Connectors | 1 x micro-USB 2.0 1 x micro SD 1 x micro SIM |
1 x micro-USB 2.0 1 x 3.5mm headset jack 1 x micro SD 1 x Nano-SIM |
| cellular | 2G/3G/4G One micro-SIM card |
2G/3G/4G One nano SIM card |
| Cellular 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz DC-HSPA+ (42.2/5.76 Mbps) |
|
| Cellular 4G | LTE FDD band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 (2100/1900/1800/1700/850/2600/900/700/800 MHz) LTE Cat. 3 (150/50 Mbps) | |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct | |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | |
| NFC | There is | |
| IR port | Not | |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer |
|
| Main camera | 20.7 MP (5248x3936) 1/2.3-inch Sony Exmor RS back-illuminated sensor Autofocus, LED flash |
|
| Front-camera | 2.1 MP (1920x1080) Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor | |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery 12.16 Wh (3200 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 11.78 Wh (3100 mAh, 3.8 V) |
| The size | 147.2x73.4mm Case Thickness: 8.3mm |
146x72mm Case Thickness 7.3mm |
| Weight | 163 g | 152 g |
| Hull protection | IP55, IP58 | IP65, IP68 |
| Operating system | Android 4.4 KitKat Sony Xperia's own shell |
|
| recommended price | 25 990 rubles | 29 990 rubles |
| Average retail price | 23 800 rubles | 29 990 rubles |
At the moment (mid-summer 2015), Sony's flagship arsenal actually consists of two models of smartphones - the Sony Xperia Z3 and its updated version of the Sony Xperia Z3 + (Z3 Plus), which in turn is international version Sony Xperia Z4 model, which was introduced exclusively for the Japanese market. Apparently, Sony has not completely switched from the semi-annual release cycle of flagships - now we will receive a flagship three times a year, and in the middle of the year its updated version. Looking at all this, especially for an inexperienced user, the question may involuntarily arise, so what is the difference between the Sony Xperia Z3 + and Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z4, how do they differ, and indeed what they are.
First, let's dot the i's and see what the difference is between the Xperia Z3 Plus and Xperia Z4. In reality, there are not so many differences: the Xperia Z4 has FeliCa, a Japanese analogue of NFC, as well as a built-in local TV tuner. digital television. Otherwise, smartphones are completely identical both externally and in terms of .
But the differences between Xperia Z3 + (Z4) and Xperia Z3 are already more obvious. The first difference in dimensions: Xperia Z3 - 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm and 152 grams, and Ykperia Z3 Plus - 146.3 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm and 144 grams. You can feel the difference as much as possible by comparing the two phones face to face. The novelty is lighter and really sits more comfortably in the hand.
The design itself has not changed as much as the masses might want. New smartphone received stereo speakers located along the upper and lower side faces like the Xperia Z2 - this option appealed to most users.
The side corners are still made of impact-resistant polymer, but the metal frame received a new type of treatment, which made it more shiny.
As for the main technological innovations of the Xperia Z3 +, it is worth noting the presence of a waterproof microUSB connector, which made it possible to get rid of one of the plugs. Both smartphones are IP68 protected. The novelty is also equipped with the new Snapdragon 810 chipset, which is more productive, but it's hard to say yet in real use conditions whether this will be very noticeable. We were also pleased with the expansion of the internal drive - now the smartphone has a 32 GB module installed by default. By the way, it is impossible not to mention the display, which in terms of size and resolution has remained the same, but already has increased brightness, more accurate and clear color reproduction. But with the battery it turned out a bit the opposite: if in the Xperia Z3 its capacity was 3100 mAh, then in the Xperia Z3 Plus it was 2930 mAh. It is quite possible that the new filling is more economical, which made it possible to slightly reduce the battery capacity, without compromising the overall autonomy.
I suggest you compare the parameters of smartphones in the table below:
Comparison of characteristics of Sony Xperia Z3+ and Xperia Z3
| Sony Xperia Z3+ | Sony Xperia Z3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 146.3 x 71.9 x 6.9mm | 146 x 72 x 7.3mm |
| Weight | 144 grams | 152 grams |
| Display | 5.2" IPS LCD Triluminos (424 ppi) | |
| Permission | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor and video | Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core (4 cores 2.0 GHz + 4 cores 1.5 GHz), Adreno 430 | Quad-core Snapdragon 801 2.5 GHz, Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB RAM | 3 GB RAM |
| Inner memory | 32 GB expandable | 16 GB expandable |
| Camera | 20.7MP rear, 1/2.3” Exmor RS, 4K video recording 2160p 30fps video recording, 5MP front | 20.7MP rear, 1/2.3” Exmor RS, 4K video recording 2160p 30fps video recording, 2.2MP front |
| Battery | 2930 mAh | 3100 mAh |
| Peculiarities | IP65/68 certified - dustproof and waterproof over 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, stereo sound | |
| Wireless connections | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/, Bluetooth v4.1 | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/, Bluetooth v4.0 |
| System (at time of writing) | Android 5.0.1 Lollipop | Android 5.0.1 Lollipop |
Specifications
- Android 4.4.4
- Screen 5.2 inches, 1920x1080 pixels, IPS, automatic brightness control
- 3 GB random access memory, 16 GB built-in, memory cards up to 128 GB
- Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, 4 cores, 2.5 GHz, GPU Adreno 330
- Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual band, MHL 3.0, USB on the Go, GPS/Glonass, ANT+;
- LTE Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20
- Camera 20.7 megapixel Sony Exmor RS, autofocus, LED flash
- Front camera 2.2 megapixels
- Protection IP68
- Battery 3100 mAh Li-Pol
- Dimensions - 146x72x7.3 mm, weight - 152 grams
Contents of delivery
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Instruction
- Desktop stand (not for all countries, not in Russia)
- Wired stereo headset (not for all countries, not in Russia)
Positioning
Sony has chosen a semi-annual pace of updating its flagships, unlike all major manufacturers that can only afford to release flagships once a year. With such a speed of release of new models, one cannot count on the fact that the number of changes will be large, each subsequent device will be perceived as a slightly improved version of the previous one. If you read reviews of the Sony Xperia Z2, then most of them call the device work on the Z1 bugs, which is quite logical. A dozen reviews of the Sony Xperia Z3 use the same phrase - bug fixes, a fixed version of the Z2. I am sure that in January 2014, if Sony does not change anything in its approach, we will see feedback that the Z4 is also a work on the bugs. For Sony, this becomes a serious problem, since such a perception makes sales of the flagships of the Z line difficult, and the release of new models leads to lower prices for old ones, making them more profitable. It is curious that Sony unwittingly created for themselves not just a headache - the company, with its flagship release schedule, has formed a whole galaxy of those who are waiting for price cuts for previous models and choose them.
With relatively similar characteristics of models, promiscuity of buyers and selection of goods from the shelf, the same design is already becoming a problem. But for the Sony Z2 and Z3, we can also talk about comparable characteristics, the buyer in the store does not realize the difference between these devices, they simply will not see them. But he will feel the difference in price of 5,000 rubles and the fact that the Z3 delivery set is noticeably poorer.
Sony has fallen into the grip of its own choice - they need to release a flagship every six months. Sales of the Z line have long been minimal, the device competes with the same Samsung Galaxy S5, but while the first Z was sold in small but noticeable quantities, the same Z2 fell to minimal volumes (the reasons are described above). In Russia, the ratio of sales of Z2 to Galaxy S5 is 1 to 12. And here we come to the conclusion that by releasing new flagship, Sony cannot position it higher than the market and other models that are present on it, for example, the same Galaxy S5, which is the leader in the segment.
Compared to Samsung Galaxy S5
It becomes vitally important for the company to achieve the minimum cost for its product - therefore, a proven solution, a reduction in the delivery set, is used. In Sony Z2, along with the phone, branded headphones with a noise reduction system were supplied, which were of high quality and cost about 1,700-2,000 rubles separately. And it was a serious plus, an argument in favor of the Z2.
In the Z3, they were removed from the delivery set for Russia, the savings for the manufacturer are noticeable and quite justified in the fight for the price on the shelf. Interestingly, a similar approach was used in late deliveries of the Z2 - in Svyaznoy, at a price of 24,990 rubles, you can find Z2 kits with or without headphones. The black device is sold without headphones, which is perceived by many as an amateur retail chain, there are often comments from those who purchased such a phone that, apparently, the sellers stole the headset. But this is just such a kit that was created in the struggle for efficiency.
Sony discussed the possibility of putting the Z3 on the shelf at 32,990 rubles, but retail chains dissuaded the company from this step and did it quite sensibly. Few people will be interested in the package bundle, the initial price will scare away, as it was with HTC with the flagship HTC One The M8, which is excellent in terms of performance but not popular, has similar sales to the Z2.
In 2014, Sony consistently misses the mark in terms of time-to-market. For example, Sony Z2 was supposed to be released earlier than the flagships of other companies, but it turned out the other way around. With Z3 everything goes according to plan, but the model is not perceived as something new, and hence a lot of different problems, the volume of its purchases by distributors is minimal. But the most important thing is that such products are perceived only by those who remain true to the Sony brand, this is a small audience that continues to buy Sony devices in different segments, adherents of Sony Style. It is impossible to say that Sony is playing in the mass market, comparable to other manufacturers. Among the successful products of 2014, I will single out the Compact series, which had an impact on the market, but everything else passed by and did not attract the attention of the general public. In this aspect, the Z3 becomes exactly the same device, and a number of brand fans who have previously purchased Z / Z1 / Z2 say that they see no reason to change their devices to a new product. This trend is observed not only for Sony, the new products of all companies are perceived critically by customers, they do not see much difference with their current devices, but for Sony it is much more pronounced.
Bottom line, we have the Z3 model, which is positioned as a flagship and is one for a small audience of Sony fans. It is impossible to say that this is a device for the mass market. Moreover, with the release of this model, the attractiveness of previous devices is growing, and Sony is partially to blame for this, which worsened a number of characteristics in its flagship. Let's take a look at what has changed.
Design, dimensions, controls
Externally, the device has not changed much, you look at it and see the same Sony Xperia Z2.
Sony Xperia Z2 and Z3
The dimensions of the phone are 146x72x7.3 mm, weight - 152 grams (Z2 - 146.8x73.3x8.2 mm, 158 grams). The side edges have been made rounded, the metal frame is no longer rectangular, and the device lies very well in the hand. But this also brings another problem, it is noticeably more difficult to lift it from a flat surface, the fingers slide along the side edge, you have to spread them in the shape of a crab and grab the phone.
Compared to Samsung Galaxy Note 3
In addition to changing the outer frame, Sony has almost completely redesigned the body design, which can be imperceptible and which an inattentive person will definitely not pay attention to. To begin with, in the Z2 review, I said that the device has a rather fragile filling due to the design - when it falls, the impact is transferred to the internal board, and the electronics quickly die. It happens that the glass does not crack, but the electronics fail. In Z3, plastic inserts are made at the corners, it is painted to match the body color. This does not mean at all that the phone has become shockproof, rather it has received additional protection from falls. This approach can only be welcomed, similar inserts will be used on many models with a frame design from Sony.
The model is available in four colors - white, copper, black and emerald.
Let's return to the changes in the design - one of weaknesses sea water became in Sony Z1 / Z2 - salt corroded the plugs, and despite the support of the IP58 protection standard, it was definitely not worth swimming with these phones in the sea. Protection was from fresh water. The Z3 tried to correct this shortcoming, for this they changed the characteristics of the rubber inserts that are on all connectors. This even made it possible for the Z3 to receive the IP65 / IP68 protection standard - that is, dust protection has increased, all connectors are covered more tightly, and at the same time the location of the microphones has changed. There are no holes on the bottom end, the microphone is hidden behind the grille of the lower speaker, both the speaker and the microphone are covered by one membrane. The second microphone is located on the upper end, it is located next to the 3.5 connector.
Swimming with this device in fresh water is safe, especially if you cover the plugs before diving. In real life, the device is quite slippery, at the level of the iPhone 6, but better due to the larger size. In the water, it stops being slippery, I noticed this even during the tests of the Z2, when I swam with it in the pool.
The front panel, as well as the back, is made of DragonTrail glass, it is no different from the second generation of Corning Gorilla Glass, but less hyped, in fact, it is an analogue. Oleophobic coating for C grade, which is typical - handprints remain with ease. In the sun or in the light, this is not always visible, especially if your device is not black.
On the left side there is a microUSB connector, it is covered with a flap. On the right side, behind a wide flap, there is a nanoSIM slot, it is in a plastic tray, there is also a slot for a microSD memory card.
Above the screen, where the speaker grid is, there is a light indicator - it is wide and can blink red, blue and green. You can turn it off in the settings, but I really like it, as it gives the device a certain charm. This is a typical Sony Style element. On the front surface you can see the front camera, the proximity sensor is hidden behind the glass, you can't see it.
In terms of build quality, this model has no complaints - there are no noticeable gaps, the glass does not always fit snugly against the metal frame, this is not a defect, but the features of the device so that it does not break when it falls. But the gaps are minimal, it is almost impossible to see them without peering. In the same Z2, they were noticeably larger.
Display
Specifications screens in Z3 are the same as in Z2: 5.2 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels (423 dpi versus 440 in Z1). The screen uses technology with the big name Triluminos, which suggests that the picture has better RGB coverage than conventional LCD screens. In theory, this is true, in practice there are certain flaws. An explanation of the technology can be seen in a promotional video from Sony.
Also, in connection with this device, the Live Color Led technology is often mentioned, which, in fact, is responsible for the color gamut, which somewhat misleads the user - these names make the head spin. From a marketing point of view, it is noted that the red and green subpixels are made using phosphor, which improves the quality of the color gamut, the colors look saturated.
One of the main problems with the Z2 for the screen was that it distorted the colors - made them bright, but they were not reliable. The built-in tool for setting up color profiles made the picture completely indigestible, it was not worth using it. It turned out that a good screen, due to the shortcomings of the technology, does not give the maximum of what it is capable of. The Z3 tried to overcome this problem, but it did not work out very well - the colors are still distorted, fine tuning the menu does not work. Separately, I want to emphasize that for most people this does not play any role - the screen will seem good to them.
Check out the screen comparison with the Galaxy S5 (top) and Note 4 (bottom).
Samsung comparison Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Compare Sony Xperia Z3 and Samsung Galaxy S5
You can find a comparison of the Z2 screen with other devices at the link.
The Z3 has changed how the image is analyzed, each dot can change the brightness of the backlight, which forms a more reliable picture in different lighting conditions. It was not possible to notice an improvement in the picture, in the sun the previous device behaved quite well, although there was clearly not enough brightness here, it had to be twisted to the maximum, there was no reserve.
The Z3 decided to solve this problem and increased the brightness of the screen by 20 percent (650 cd / m2 maximum value with manual adjustment). Now the device is quite comparable with other flagships of 2014, there are no complaints about this characteristic. This improves the perception of the screen both indoors and outdoors, the information is easy to read.
In the settings there is a mode for working with gloves, you can set the mode for working with wet hands.
In the Z2 review, I called the screen of the device not ideal, but for Sony it was an obvious breakthrough - the rejection of unnecessary film, the improvement in quality, but the presence of such a drawback as insufficient brightness and poor color reproduction. The Z3 got rid of one of the shortcomings, now the screen is bright, they tried to play with color reproduction, but the result was not too different from the previous model. We are waiting for Z4, in which the company will try to fix this defect again. As mentioned, this is a continuous work on the bugs.
Battery
The phone has a 3100 mAh lithium-polymer battery (Z2 has 3200 mAh). For a flagship, this battery capacity is excellent, it is quite comparable with Note 3/4, however, these devices are similar in terms of operating time.
In the description of this device, Sony says that it is able to provide two days of full-fledged work, while up to 5 hours a day of active work. The technique, unfortunately, is not given, but here is a screenshot from the company's website.
My first impression of the battery was fantastic - it lasted a very long time in standby mode, I inserted the card and almost did not drive the phone, and it almost did not run out of power.
When I began to actively use the device, it showed a slightly better result than the Z2, but nothing fantastic happened. The reason is that Qualcomm has worked on the power saving of the processor, and the device consumes almost nothing in standby mode. That is, in fact, one processor core works at a very low frequency. They conjured to glory, in the standby mode the device works just fine.
But in normal modes, the miracle did not happen, it is not so much the processor that affects, but the brightness of the screen backlight and your settings. Taking into account that the brightness of the screen has increased, the consumption has become a little higher, which cancels out all the chipset settings.
So, the video viewing time is the standard 10 hours (without sound or with headphones). Claimed talk time - up to 16 hours, standby time - up to 920 hours (for the previous model - 740 hours). Music playback time - up to 130 hours.
In practice, the phone showed excellent results, it works at the level of Galaxy Note 3/4, depending on the load. You can safely count on one day of work with active use, or two days of work with moderate use. If the phone is not used, then it will live much longer.
Full charge time (2A charger) - about 3 hours to one hundred percent. Up to 90 percent is enough for 2 hours with a little. From my observations, the device is very sensitive to the quality of the network and its coverage, if you have data transfer and the network is not of very high quality, then the discharge will go faster than on other phones. But if the network is good, then the operating time, on the contrary, will increase. In any case, this device is different in terms of operating time compared to its classmates (Galaxy S5, HTC One M8), outperforms them and can only be compared with Note 3.
In my opinion, this phone can be recommended to anyone who wants to live quietly until the evening without charging during the day, this is a huge plus of the model. Of the proprietary chips, I want to note the ability to see how long the device will work in the selected mode, there is also the Stamina function, which increases the operating time by turning off data transfer in the background, unloading applications from memory, and so on. This is a lifesaver if you need to hold out until the outlet appears. In principle, the function works, although there are some rough edges in the implementation. Most people do not use it, especially since this device will rarely need it.
There is an intelligent mode when charging, then you can change profile settings and the like.
Memory, memory cards
The phone has 3 GB of RAM (933 MHz, dual channel), which is unusual for models of this level, until recently only Note 3 could boast of this, and only 2 GB was installed in the same Galaxy S5. Just an increase in the amount of RAM does not solve anything at all, it all depends on how it works with the processor, what overall performance systems. Below in the tests it will be clear that here the increase in memory did not give a breakthrough in performance. After launch, about 1 GB of RAM is free.
Built-in memory is 16 GB, of which 11.57 GB is free for you, this can be considered sufficient and typical for Android smartphones. You can connect memory cards of any capacity (up to 128 GB), which is also good.
Hardware platform, performance
The model is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) chipset, it is a quad-core processor with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz per core. It's a different version of the processor, a slightly upgraded version than the Sony Z2, but not much of a difference. In synthetic tests, the performance of this solution is higher than that of its predecessor, as well as competitors, but the difference is very small.
In real life, when working in the interface, the difference is almost imperceptible, if it exists, then it is minimal. Some say it's faster than Sony, some say it's faster than the Galaxy S5, and some praise the HTC ONE M8. As for me, they are all approximately comparable and you can feel the difference only in individual applications, and then it will be measured in fractions of a second.
In resource-intensive applications (games, 4K video recording), the device heats up, due to the case glass, this is more noticeable than in the same HTC M8 or Galaxy S5, where the heat is not so strongly felt on the surface of the case. Sony has already responded to this claim and suggested not shooting 4K video for more than a few minutes, since then overheating can cause applications to close spontaneously, plus the camera will turn off automatically.
Unlike the Z2, the reduced processor frequency in most cases makes it almost impossible to overheat, the device heats up, but not as much as its predecessor. This can only be noticed when the camera is working, in other modes and even in games it is not so noticeable.
Communication options
The device has NFC, which has already become a good tradition, Bluetooth version 4.0 with ANT + support. The microUSB connector supports the MHL v3.0 standard, which allows you to output video to external sources. USB 2.0 version, USB Host supported. Support for LTE Cat 4, download speed up to 150 Mbps. The Wi-Fi version is a/b/n/ac.
Camera
Despite the fact that it is written on the case that this is a 20.7-megapixel module, and a 1/2.3-inch matrix, the EXMOR RS module itself has been redesigned, plus the optical group has changed, it has been simplified and made wide-angle. It is clear that Sony tried to maintain the quality of images, as in previous devices, while reducing the cost of the matrix and simplifying its production. I didn’t make a direct comparison with Z2 / Z1, but according to subjective impressions, from the pros - only rather noisy shooting in night mode (ISO 12800 vs. ISO 6400 in Z2 - achievable only in automatic shooting mode, manual selection is not available).
There is a camera button on the body of the device, when you press it, the automatic shooting mode is always selected, in which the resolution is set to 8 megapixels. If you want to take a picture in manual mode and maximum resolution, then you need to select the appropriate item in the menu. This is terribly inconvenient, but exactly the same approach was in previous models. Look at the difference in pictures when shooting in automatic and manual modes.
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The camera interface has not undergone major changes, everything is quite simple and clear.
Check out the camera shots as well as the Galaxy S5 comparison.
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Of the new modes, it is worth noting the simultaneous shooting from the cameras of two devices (“Multi-camera” mode), in which you can connect another device to the phone and receive pictures simultaneously from two cameras.
Just like in previous models, there is an AR Effects option, these are drawings that are superimposed on a photo in real time, you can create a background of flowers or something like that - a great option for entertainment, however, the same can be done in any graphics editor .
TimeShift video - high frame rate and slow motion effects, some may be interested, especially when shooting sports.
The defocusing of the background is implemented quite controversially - adjust the focus with the slider, then there is a blur, you can choose the geometry of this blur.
Artistic effects - a whole range of different effects, each of which can be applied to a photo. Also replaces graphics editor, but usually do not use effects, as they spoil the original picture, it's easier to edit it than to get a modified photo.
Info-eye - the ability to point the camera at a famous building or similar and get a quick hint about what it is. Explicitly borrowed from the Googles program.
For those who want to upload photos and videos to the network, there is a proprietary PlayMemories service, also familiar from cameras. You can only download via Wi-Fi, but I prefer to use DropBox for this purpose, it is more convenient.
Videos can be recorded in FullHD, the quality of shooting videos is not bad, there are no complaints.
I can’t say that the camera in the Z3 has become noticeably worse than in the Z2 - they are a little different, but this is, in principle, normal for cameras and the perception of pictures from them. In auto mode, the Z3 produces very good 8-megapixel shots, which, like its predecessor, many people like - this is above average quality among many devices, close to the best cameras on the market. No comparison with the Chinese, just a cut above, regardless of the fact that they use Sony Exmor with similar or similar characteristics. For normal everyday use, this is a great camera, few people need to pull pictures from mobile cameras to some quality standard. It may seem like heresy, but the current generation of flagships is very close in terms of its characteristics, the convenience of shooting and the quality of images in different conditions come to the fore. The Z3 is great on a sunny day, noisy in the dark, but that's to be expected. The bottom line is a good camera, which is quite at the level of its price segment.
Multimedia features - sound, PS4 games
If the Z2 came with noise-canceling headphones with a 5-pin connector, then in the Z3 they need to be purchased separately. To fully experience the quality of the music on this model, I tried the MDR-NC31EM noise-canceling headphones, as well as the regular Monster DNA.
Technically, previous models of the line could support Hi-Res Audio and Sony DSEE HX technology, which is used in Walkman players and can “finish” mp3 compositions to high-quality sound, that is, it tries to restore lost frequencies. It does not always work flawlessly, but for those who listen to mp3s of incomprehensible quality and have not switched to lossless formats yet, this is a real opportunity to get high-quality sound in their phone.
Unfortunately, the sound is not fully revealed on third-party headphones, even if you take rather expensive models from Sony - it feels like they optimized the sound specifically for the 31st model, the phone sounds great in them. Having tried different headphones, I can say that they sound good to very good on this model, but the 31s always benefit from noise reduction, the sound is cleaner.
Sony was at the forefront of the musical revolution in the phone market, that's when the Walkman brand was brought back to the market and made sound quality important to millions of people. But if you pay attention, no one has been talking about this for the past few years. Cause? The sound of phones has reached its theoretical limit in large companies, and now you either have to change DSP processors and move to another level, or be content with expanding the number of supported codecs. Sony took the second route, adding the perfect headphone pairing as well, and it's a winning strategy. The only pity is that now the headphones have to be bought separately, they are not included.
For example, comparing the sound of Z2 with Note 4, Galaxy S5 with third-party headphones, one cannot say about the advantage of Z2 - the sound is quite comparable. But with Sony branded headphones, everything changes dramatically. Therefore, it is worth remembering this when choosing the Z3 as a player - it is worth buying native headphones, which, however, will not suit everyone. And one more important point - when purchasing headphones of a higher class ($200 or more), you will not get a qualitative leap in the sound of the Z3, it will play about the same.
The Walkman player has a large number of settings, which is well known from all models from Sony.
Another feature that until recently was not found in phones from Sony is support for PS4 Remote Play. You can install the program on your phone, connect it via Bluetooth to the DualShock4 joystick and, inserting the device into it, play the game on PS4 - a kind of additional screen. That is, the picture instead of your TV will be broadcast to the phone - what is the point of this approach, I absolutely do not understand, this is a very far-fetched function. Why? Yes, because at home it is more pleasant to play PS4 on a large screen, and why a small smartphone screen is needed is not clear to me. Of course, there are very limited use cases where it might be convenient. But these are such rare cases that it is not even worth remembering about them. Sony tried to create a chip, but it is not very successful.
Software
The handset comes with Android 4.4.4, you can find a full description of the standard functions and the Xperia UI shell in a separate article.
Of the new and unusual features, I want to note the ability to make screencasts, that is, record a video about all the actions on the screen - this function was found on a number of phones from other manufacturers, but for Sony it appears here for the first time. Press the power key and select "screen recording" from the menu. You can also record a picture from front camera, plus the voice is recorded.
Impression
The stereo speakers sound noticeably louder and better in this device than in the Z2. In terms of sound quality, the device is not bad, it is vociferous, during a conversation it transmits speech well, cuts off unnecessary noise. The vibrating alert is average, you can skip it.
The Z3 turned out to be interesting - the case was heavily redesigned, the water protection standard was increased, and the protection against falls was strengthened (the device is still fragile, so this is relative). The camera was changed, but there was no strong or catastrophic deterioration in the quality of the shooting. The screen has been noticeably improved in terms of backlight brightness, the colors are still the same problem, they are not very natural. And on the screen, the sensor grid was removed, it is now not visible - this could annoy someone in the Z2. We did a good job on the power saving mode and standby time.
In my opinion, Z3 outperforms Z2 in almost everything, but both devices are not popular on the market, in the “Positioning” section I gave the sales ratio with the same Galaxy S5. This is a systemic problem for Sony, not only about the quality of products in previous periods, the blurring of the customer base, but also the inability to highlight its strengths. These devices have Sony Style, they have their own characteristic and different face. But the irony is that for traditional buyers of Sony smartphones, they are already fed up, the question is in appearance. And so many fall in love with the Z3 Compact, and the "simple" Z3 is ignored.
With a price of 29,990 rubles and a very limited package, this device is more expensive than the Z2, by five thousand rubles. Despite the obvious advantages, it is still worth buying the Z2, especially since you can find it cheaper, and if you take the Asian version, you will also get a desktop charging stand. The real difference is 6,700 rubles, since it is worth considering the cost of the headset, which is included in the Z2 kit.
It is necessary and possible to compare this device with other flagships of the season, taking the same iPhone out of the brackets, it exists in a different universe. I can hardly imagine a person who can choose between Sony or iPhone (in fact, I know only one - Sergey Kuzmin, by the way, many Sony Mobile employees use iPhones, and not only in Russia). You can see the comparison with the Galaxy S5 below.
Here everyone chooses his own, I would consider Sony Z3 as an alternative not only to S5, but also to HTC One M8, these are products of the same level. Another thing is that a late release with a semi-annual cycle makes the Z3 more expensive than its competitors - the same S5 costs 28,000 rubles. In my opinion, in this price segment, this difference is not so critical.
The review turned out to be detailed, with all the "little things" that are important for this device. The choice, as always, is yours, our task was to tell you about all the pitfalls, to show the pros and cons of this solution.
This model has a version for two SIM-cards (one radio module), while maintaining support for memory cards, perhaps someone will be interested in such a device.
Not even six months have passed, and we have in our hands the next flagship of Sony - the Xperia Z3. The previous model Z2 was and remains the actual device of 2014, but Sony decided to improve the already very balanced smartphone. I must say right away that the new flagship has many small changes and they are all positive. In this article, we will look at what has been added, what has changed, and what is left in the past. And, of course, we will answer the most important question - should I change my already old Z2 to a new smartphone?
In the review, I will focus on the key, important details of the new smartphone, which in one way or another differ from those in its predecessor. Therefore, if I never touch the Sony Xperia Z2 in the topic, then nothing significant has changed. The protagonist of today's article is, of course, the Sony Xperia Z3. And Z2, in the language of cinema, has a supporting role. We return to the novelty.
Equipment
The smartphone comes with a charger (EP880) and a microUSB cable for connecting to a computer or charging. I didn't forget anything.
The complete set has really lost at least some branded headset.
If you could find a pleasant surprise in the box from under the previous model - a very decent MDR NC31EM headset with noise reduction function, then now, as they say, do not blame me. Japanese generosity obviously has its limits.
Design and appearance
The first change that immediately catches your eye is the metal rounded frames. Now there are no square and flat inserts on the sides. The aluminum frame around the entire perimeter is interrupted only by plastic plugs at the corners, which, in theory, should take the impact when dropped and, thereby, protect the case from serious damage. I did not dare to crash test with the smartphone provided for review, so you have to take the manufacturer's word for it.
Front and back are tempered glass panels. There is no factory film, of course. The front glass has an oleophobic coating and does a good job of protecting against fingerprints on the screen. Of course, they still remain on the surface, but in a noticeably smaller amount, and besides, they are easily removed with a soft cloth.
Above the screen is a proximity sensor, a light sensor and a front camera eye. Everything is unchanged here. But the windows of the speakers narrowed and crawled from the corners of the case onto a glass plane. We will return to the sound, because there is something to talk about.
Smartphones are available in several colors: copper, black, white and silver green.
The company did not come up with any high-profile names for its color designs, ala sky-angelic, etc., but limited itself to simple and understandable names. And it is right. The main thing is how it all looks in real life. Here I should note that the photos do not convey even half of how the smartphone actually looks. I strongly recommend to go to the store and see with your own eyes all the new devices, including the Z3 Compact and Z3 Tablet Compact, hold in your hands and, as they say, cuddle devices. Most likely, the practical experience of communicating with devices will make a positive impression.
If everything is approximately clear with black and white variations, then the copper and silver-green models look very stylish and noble. In my opinion, copper plays best in the sun and, in principle, goes with any style of clothing.
Lately and OS, and various pieces of iron are developing towards visual simplification. The Sony Z3 is no exception. Numerous edges and corners are a thing of the past, the caps have become rounded, and even the screen activation button has got a more stylish design. Such an approach is welcome.
I think the design of the Z3 is one of the best at the moment in the entire mobile device market.
It's great that Sony has left the physical button responsible for activating the camera and releasing the shutter in the same place. Taking photos with tactile feedback is very convenient.
Under the covers are all connectors and card slots. Getting the latter, as before, is inconvenient. You need to have uncut nails (girls do not count), a mediator, a pin or something similar so that you can pick up the plastic substrate on which the SIM card fits. You can, of course, try to pry off this tray with the card itself. The latter, by the way, is now Nano SIM.
The card backing is very fragile and can easily be lost. Don't underestimate this detail.
The slot for installing the SIM card has moved to the right side of the smartphone, and on the left, that is, the microUSB port has remained in the same place. A little lower in its native place are the contacts for connecting the Z3 to a special docking station. Please note that this is not included and is sold separately.
At the top is a 3.5 mm audio jack, next to which there is a microphone hole.
There is nothing on the bottom edge.
And the loop for the lace has shifted slightly from the corner of the smartphone to the left side.
The Z3 has shrunk in size compared to its predecessor, but you can only feel it by putting the two devices together. Of course, you can still estimate the dimensions according to the comparative table:
| Length | Width | Thickness | The weight | |
| Sony Xperia Z3 | 146,5 | |||
| Sony Xperia Z2 | 147,8 | 73,3 | ||
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | 72,5 | |||
| Apple iPhone 6 | 138,1 | |||
| LG G3 | 146,3 | 74,6 | ||
| HTC One (M8) | 146,4 | 70,6 |
The smartphone fits perfectly in the hand. It is moderately large and moderately heavy, but the risk of dropping the device from the hands has increased. Z2, due to its chopped edges, held very well in the palm, and its successor is already a little worse. This is not a critical moment, but only an observation. The same iPhone 6 is many times more slippery due to the all-metal coating. By the way, the texture of the metal on the frame in the Z3, in my opinion, is almost identical to the apple six.
The body is beautifully assembled. Nowhere does not backlash and does not creak. The buttons do not hang out, and the plugs do not fall out. As before, every time you connect charger or some accessory, the smartphone reminds you to check the tightness of the plugs.
All this is not easy, because the device is able to dive into water to a depth of one and a half meters for no more than 30 minutes (water and dust protection standard IP65 / 68). Swimming in salt water is not recommended, but just between us, you can do it. The main thing is to wet the device for a short time in the sea and then do not forget to rinse the device under running water to wash off the salt that corrodes the delicate seals of the plugs.
In general, the device looks interesting and modern, even though only a few months have passed between generations. The colors of the case bring a special zest. Some may not like them, but the solution, from any point of view, is interesting.
Display
The Z3 has a completely different screen. Yes, he retained a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi) and a diagonal of 5.2 inches, but the brightness and colors are completely different here. If Z2 turned a little yellow and was slightly dull, then Z3 already casts a cold blue color. This is clearly visible on a white background and in a direct comparison of devices (Z3 on top).
The maximum brightness threshold burns out the eyes, especially indoors. It is better to leave the brightness control at the mercy of the ambient light sensor, since it works well.
But in the sun, a bright display is a very useful feature of any smartphone. Z3 does not lose the picture in direct sunlight and the display remains readable.
Viewing angles are excellent as a smartphone do not twist (the novelty is again on top).
In the menu, there are sliders for self-adjusting the display of colors in their place. I don't know if anyone uses these options. Still, adjusting the color of the picture is a very thankless task and you need to have the appropriate experience in this area.
In addition to the already familiar X-Reality for mobile technology, the Z3's parameters now have a maximum brightness item. If the first feature makes the picture in the video player more saturated and clear, then the maximum brightness mode improves the image even more. It looks interesting and lively, I advise you to try it. If you don't like it, you can always disable the feature.
Specifications and performance
It is best to follow the dynamics of changes in the comparative table between the old and new smartphones (changes are reflected in red).
| Sony Xperia Z2 (D6503) | Sony Xperia Z3 (D6603) | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz (4 cores) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz (4 cores) |
| video accelerator | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Built-in memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD (up to 128 GB) | microSD (up to 128 GB) |
| Display | 5.2'' IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi) | |
| Main camera | 20.7 MP | 20.7 MP |
| Front-camera | 2.2 MP | 2.2 MP |
| Battery | 3200 mAh | 3100 mAh |
| OS | Android 4.4.2 | Android 4.4. 4 |
| cellular | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Interfaces | Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, aGPS / GLONASS, DLNA, OTG, USB 2.0 | |
| Protection against moisture and dust | IP55 and IP58 | IP65 and IP68 |
In terms of raw numbers, the Z3 doesn't have much to brag about. The clock frequency of the processor has slightly increased, for the sake of the thickness of the case, the battery capacity has decreased and nothing more interesting.
The flagship still works great in any applications, flies through the menu, instantly opens even heavy applications, and so on. Compared to the Z2, the difference in launching heavy toys is about 5-10% in favor of the Z3, of course. There is not much to talk about here. We still have one of the most powerful smartphones on the market.
In synthetic tests, the gap between generations is even smaller. We look at the screenshots (on the left are the results of the novelty, and on the right are the Z2 indicators:
Photo opportunities
The camera in the Z3 deserves a separate analysis.
In comparison with its predecessor, the quality of images has improved, if not by an order of magnitude, then by half an order for sure. In addition, the number of pre-installed shooting scenarios and various presets has increased.
First, a little about the numbers. The same proprietary Exmor RS photomodule with a resolution of 20.7 MP is installed here. The physical size of the matrix is 1/2.3. Sony notes that the maximum sensitivity of the matrix reaches ISO 12,800. Of course, this threshold is only available when shooting in super auto mode. At manual setting camera, you can select a maximum of ISO 3200. I couldn’t take a photo in the dark with a sensitivity higher than ISO 3200 even in super-automatic mode, but the manufacturer still claims such a possibility.
I propose to compare pictures taken on both devices in the same conditions and with the same settings. The resolution of all frames is 3264 x 2448 (8 MP), HDR mode is enabled by default. On the left side are shots taken with the Xperia Z3, and on the right is its predecessor Xperia Z2.
Without HDR (left) and with dynamic range turned on (below are shots taken only on the Z3):
And now let's look at the pictures taken on both devices (Z3 as before on the left) at a resolution of 5248 x 3936 (20.7 MP) and the image stabilization function turned on.
Of course, both devices can take panoramic views (panorama with Z3 on the left):
100% crop (Xperia Z3):
100% crop (Xperia Z2):
So, additional modes.
Face in (with a face) allows you to take pictures from two cameras at once: front and rear. The frame with your own face can be resized and moved around the screen from place to place, but its design cannot be changed.
Remember the AR effect with virtual dinosaurs and all sorts of fabulous gnomes? All this was in Z2 and other models of the Xperia series.
Now, in addition to this mode, the developers have also preinstalled AR entertainment. You can “throw” bombs right into the frame, draw a 3D drawing, burn the frame with fire, and so on. It looks very funny and can, though not for long, but entertain a group of friends.
Back in the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, I really liked the shooting mode, which is well suited for shooting children, pets and other actively moving objects. The camera independently takes 60 different shots, from which, let's say, without departing from the cash register, you can choose the best one and save it.
The principle of operation is the same. Everything is done very clearly. You can select your favorite segment of the video and immediately save it.
A pre-selected segment of the video is obtained in the style of slo-mo (slowed down), and everything else is in normal duration. The scenario is not new, and it is also present in Z2, however, the chip is interesting and deserves attention.
I want to note that you should not get too carried away with these two modes. Literally all the captured frames that have not been saved, the smartphone carefully stores in separate folder, which is not visible from the Gallery. Taking advantage file manager they can be detected and removed as needed to clear the space.
Opportunity to shoot photos with sound. The duration of the audio stream can be changed directly during shooting. Viewing, of course, is possible only on the device.
Also added from the novelties multicamera mode. The point is the following. The viewfinder is divided into two parts. The first is responsible for shooting from the Z3, and the second receives a signal from the connected device. The mode is only friendly with Xperia devices. I, unfortunately, could not connect the Z2, despite the fact that this is the most Xperia device. On the latter, at the time of the connection, a window that was clearly not needed at the moment popped up. Maybe it's in software Z3. Now the OS version is being actively developed, so it is very likely that this defect will be fixed in the future.
Screenshots of the camera interface are shown below. Fundamentally, the appearance of the photo application has not changed.
The description of other modes can be found independently in our review.
Front-camera
Uses a 2.2MP sensor with a wide-angle (25mm) G Lens. The maximum resolution of pictures and videos, including FullHD (1920 x 1080, 16:9). In the settings, you can activate the HDR setting and stabilizer. Together, of course, they do not work. In addition to the updated lens, there are no innovations here.
Video filming
The camcorder is capable of recording videos at a maximum resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second.
There is a function of image stabilization SteadyShot. The peculiarity of her work is as follows. Intelligent Active Mode technology and built-in sensors responsible for recognizing the position of the smartphone in space, help the system evaluate the image frame-by-frame and compensate for hand shakes. With active stabilization, the resolution drops to 1080p and the frame rate to 30.
Full HD video example:
Sound
On the front side, at the top and bottom, there are external speakers that have been redesigned and began to reproduce sound much louder and cleaner than it was in the Z2. The difference is especially noticeable in dynamic and loud toys. At maximum volume, the entire body of the smartphone begins to resonate, but in this case it's not bad. I did not notice any extraneous squeaks and rattles.
The S-Force Front Surround setting, which is activated from the player's menu, in my opinion, only spoils the picture. The speakers sound very good and clean without it.
In the settings for playback through headphones, in its rightful place is a five-band equalizer, a ClearBass setting, as well as interesting presets for the sound of various branded headphones.
As for the sound through third-party headphones, then everything is at the highest level. As in other smartphones from the company, in my opinion, the ClearAudio + setting makes the sound a little richer and more interesting. Otherwise, there are additional settings for audio effects.
The video player has also not changed and supports the following files for playback: 3GPP, MP4, Matroska, AVI, Xvid, WebM.
PS4 Remote Play
Only in the new series of devices (I'm talking about Z3, Z3 Compact and Z3 Tablet compact) support for PS4 has been added, the essence of which is as follows. Directly from the console, you can stream the game to your smartphone and continue playing literally from a pause using DUALSHOCK4.
I think it's clear that we need a fourth version prefix and the same joystick. Smartphone and console must be connected to the same wireless network. In addition, do not forget about a special mount for the device on the controller.
Battery
Interestingly, the manufacturer installed a smaller battery in the new smartphone: 3100 mAh in the Z3 versus 3200 in the Z2. This is obviously due to a decrease in the thickness of the hull and overall dimensions. The battery is of course non-removable.
Reducing the capacity of the battery did not affect the battery life in any way. One day at a very high load you will be provided. With moderate handling of the device (two hours of Internet via 3G, two hours via Wi-Fi, several dozen shots from the main camera, an hour of listening to music through headphones), we can hope for a day and a half of work. Not more.
If it suddenly became clear that the battery charge might not be enough, then from the parameters you should activate the STAMINA mode, which disables all synchronization and access of the smartphone to the outside world while the smartphone screen is off.
In Z3, the developers also added the Ultra STAMINA mode, in which the system cuts off almost all applications and communication with outside world, except for the phone function, messages, FM radio, camera, alarm clock and a few other utilities. In this scenario, the device is able to live even with a 30 percent charge for an additional 3-4 days.
Outcome
Over the past years, I have been watching the development of the flagship line from Sony with great interest. From generation to generation, Sony is finishing its products and with each new release, I want to stop and say: “Here it is!”. The same can be said about the Z3. However, there is still room for growth. More can be installed quality camera, upgrade the processor to Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, remove blue screen and more. Do users need it? And where to go, because in January, most likely, we will see a new flagship.
Should I spend my money on the Sony Xperia Z3?
There are two possible scenarios here:
1. You are the owner of Sony Z2. In this case, I think that it makes no sense to change your smartphone. The second “zedka” remains and will remain an actual smartphone for at least another year. Excellent speed here good camera and there is an interesting design. All the improvements of the new smartphone are not worth it to switch to it from Z2.
2. You own a Sony Z, Z1 or have not yet joined the 2014 flagship users. In this situation, I would advise you to opt for the Z3. At least try to hold the smartphone in your hands before the final purchase. This is not the highest on the market, but a very good camera with a great variety of additional effects. The new Japanese flagship is very powerful and, I think, the most important thing is that it has the best design on the market. I'll say terrible, but the Xperia Z3 looks, in my opinion, better than the iPhone 6. And the design for a device costing 29,990 rubles (as of early February 2015) is important.