The semi-annual release cycle of flagship smartphones gave us in September 2014 another representative of this link and the fourth in a row in the top line of the company, and this Sony Xperia Z3 review- go! Despite not so much difference from its predecessor Xperia Z2, the novelty still has a number of improvements, both in terms of design and technical stuffing, with its own strengths, which allow us to call it without exaggeration the main representative of the line. Here you have a faster processor, and improved audio, new camera algorithms, software additions and other innovations, which we will discuss in more detail below.
Design and dimensions
When I first saw the new Xperia Z3, I really fell in love with this device - despite the general OmniBalance design concept, the smartphone received rounded side frames in the body color, which made it much more convenient and pleasant to hold it in your hand. Also, the Japanese managed to make the body, albeit a little, but still more compact, thinner and lighter than its predecessor - the physical dimensions of the model are 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm and the weight is only 152 grams, which is very good considering that the body is made of metal. As already mentioned, the side faces are rounded and they are completely made of metal, the only thing is that all four corners are made of a special polymer that can absorb and soften the impact from a possible fall so that the internal components do not suffer - this is the consumer's concern. Both the front and back panels are traditionally covered with tempered glass. The buttons are also made of metal, and the power key has become larger. The plugs have acquired a rounded shape. By the way, the phone uses nanoSIM, which is worth considering. On the front panel, you will see two stereo speakers that are located in the center of the top and bottom bezels. And yet, whatever one may say, the Z3 is perfect and beautiful!
Traditionally for expensive models of the line this smartphone received a waterproof and dustproof case in accordance with a higher degree of certification IP65 \ 68, so if it is suddenly covered with sand, then you can soak the phone for half an hour at a depth of one and a half meters.
Another new addition is the color options and the Sony Xperia Z3 comes in classic black and white, as well as new mint and bronze. This is how they look live:
If we compare the model with the main competitors of the market, then it is a little larger, but it also looks more beautiful to me.
Sony XperiaZ3 display options overview
The model received a display similar in size and characteristics to the Z2 - a 5.2-inch IPS LCD matrix with FullHD resolution with a pixel density of 424ppi. And yet, despite the lack of differences in terms of parameters, this new panel with corrected color gamut, more optimized in terms of battery consumption and very high brightness. All this thanks to Live Color LED technology and TRILUMINOS. In tests, the screen performed very well - the highest brightness, deep blacks and great contrast. If superb clarity and high image quality are what you're looking for, then the Xperia Z3 has it all. The only thing is that the color scheme goes a little blue, but again, this is done because the human eye perceives just such tones better. If something does not suit you, then you can always correct the white balance.
Hardware and performance
You can see more detailed technical specifications in, but we will talk a little about the main part of the hardware part. First of all, I would like to say that two versions of the model have been released: the Sony Xperia Z3 with one SIM card and the dual SIM version of the Sony Xperia Z3 Dual review which would be completely similar to this one, because in everything the phones are the same except for the amount of support for operator cards.
The Sony Xperia Z3 is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset model MSM8974AC - this is an overclocked version of the chip with 4 cores at 2.5 GHz and Adreno 330 video. This is a slightly improved processor than the Xperia Z2. There is also 3 GB on board. random access memory. Based on synthetic tests, the smartphone takes its rightful place among its competitors, even despite some slight differences in performance. Still, you can’t rely on “synthetics”, because true performance is felt in real use, and I will tell you, it is more than enough. Several test results:
To store data, the phone has a 16 GB drive, of which more than 11 are available to the user. You can always expand it with the help of maps. microSD memory up to 128 GB.
The sound of the speakers is quite good for a waterproof smartphone: its quality is high, the melody is clear. Support for noise-canceling headphones has not disappeared anywhere, but they are not included in the kit, which is a pity.
Despite the fact that the battery capacity was reduced to 3100 mAh, as it turned out, this did not negatively affect the time battery life, with all this, the smartphone showed one of the highest results on the market in terms of battery life! If you use your phone for an hour of calls, an hour of internet and an hour of video per day, then the battery should last for 85 hours, that is, three and a half days!
User interface
Out of the box, the smartphone comes with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, and the user interface has been changed and, in my opinion, for the better. The signature XperiaHome is very smooth, comfortable and practical. Fortunately, the smartphone is not overloaded with an excessive amount unnecessary programs and has a list of really important applications, among which, of course, it is worth noting multimedia: "Album", "Movies" and WALKMAN. Below you can see the interface video and screenshots.
Camera with the highest light sensitivity on the market
The camera in the Sony Xperia Z3 is a 20.7 megapixel Exmor RS module and a BIONZ processor, already well known to us since the Xperia Z1. The front camera has not changed - 2.2 megapixels. As for the main camera, it received an enlarged matrix and new optics, as well as the highest light sensitivity ISO12800. The mechanical button to start the camera, which is very convenient when shooting underwater, has not gone away either. However, when you start the camera in this way, “Super Auto Mode” will start with a maximum frame resolution of 8 Megapixels, to go to the full 20 Megapixels, you need to use “Manual Mode”. The settings have all the necessary options, modes and settings, and you can also use special applications for the camera, such as augmented reality effect, slow motion and more. This is what the camera interface looks like:
The Japanese did a great job with the algorithms of the camera, and the camera began to work really better. Images come out clear in both automatic and manual modes. Photos have excellent dynamic range, color reproduction is good, but there is still a noticeable increase in white balance. 20 megapixel shots have more detail. Pictures from automatic mode have slightly less noise and increased sharpness. In low light conditions, the automatic mode also has less noise. Here are examples of photos taken with the Xperia Z3:
Photos in ISO12800 mode in very low light without a flash - of course, noise is noticeable and clarity is not the best, but in reality, no smartphone will take better quality photos in such conditions:
In terms of video, the camera is also good, with the ability to shoot 2160p video at 30fps, 1080p video at 60fps, and even a 720p slow motion mode, as well as HDR video. Digital stabilization SteadyShot does its job well - the picture does not twitch. Below you can see the quality of the recorded video:
Outcome Sony Xperia Z3 review
In general, it’s impossible to call the transition from Xperia Z2 to Xperia Z3 too global, if you are the owner of the second “zetka”, then there are not many reasons to switch to Z3, but if you are buying the flagship of a Japanese brand for the first time, then the Sony Xperia Z3 will probably be the best choice. . By his side Beautiful design, first-class build quality, waterproof case, bright display with great contrast, high performance, excellent autonomy, stereo speakers, good camera.
In contact with
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 peephole. front camera. 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 consider the design of the Z3 one of the best at the moment in the entire market. mobile devices.
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 the outside world, with the exception of 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. It has excellent performance, a good camera and 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.
It's time to compare 4.7 inch iPhone 6 with Sony's latest flagship 5.2" Xperia Z3. Sony's phone has a whole bunch of tricks up its sleeve to help it counter the popularity of the iPhone lineup: waterproof, stereo speakers, 20MP camera, so let's see which one gets the top spot...
Design
The Xperia Z3 is by no means a small phone for a 5.2-inch screen, especially when compared to some other flagships with a similar display size. This is due to the fairly wide top and bottom bezels (the frame around the screen), which is also true for the iPhone 6, but given the smaller screen size, using the iPhone 6 with one hand is much more convenient. The comparatively wide bezels framing the screens of both smartphones make sense - the Xperia Z3 has waterproof stereo speakers and the iPhone 6 has a fingerprint sensor built into the Home button. Both phones are incredibly thin and light, and look very elegant despite their unimpressive screen-to-body ratio.
Incredibly thin cases and premium design make the iPhone 6 and Xperia Z3 some of the most beautiful devices on the market, and Sony's flagship is also waterproof.
The iPhone has a premium looking and feel metal body, but the Sony creation, with its rounded edges and glass back, looks great too, plus it's high (IP68) dust and water resistant.
If you look at the sides of the devices, on the right side of the Xperia Z3 you can find the traditional Sony (in accordance with the OmniBalance design concept) round power button, which looks a little wobbly and requires you to bend your thumb to press. The lock key on the iPhone 6 is conveniently located right under your fingertip. In the Xperia Z3, most of the elements are located on the right side: you will also find there a rather thin volume control, slots for nanoSIM and microSD cards, as well as a separate camera shutter button. Both slots, as well as the microUSB port located on the left, are covered with protective caps that ensure the tightness of the case, and if you do not want to constantly open the cap while charging the phone, there is a magnetic connector on the left side for more convenient charging and synchronization, but you will need to purchase a special cable or docking station.
What we didn't like about both smartphones is the location of the camera in the upper left corner: it is too close to the edge, and you can easily block it with your finger while shooting. In addition, the iPhone 6's camera protrudes slightly from the case.
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| Apple iPhone 6 (left, bottom) and Sony Xperia Z3 (right, top) | ||
Screen
The Apple iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 750x1334 pixels, which results in a lower pixel density (326 ppi) compared to the Xperia Z3's 5.2-inch Full HD (1080x1920) display with a density of 424 ppi. However, the pixel density of both displays is more than adequate for any need, and small text, as well as other small details, looks sharp and crisp on both displays.
Losing in terms of color reproduction, the screen of the Xperia Z3 outperforms the iPhone 6 in size and resolution
The superiority of the iPhone in terms of color reproduction is obvious - the colors are very accurate, while the Xperia Z3 sins not only with strongly wrong colors, but also with an excessively cold blue tint of the image. Sony explained that this was done on purpose, as this is the current trend for TV screens - cooler colors are perceived by the brain brighter than natural ones. Be that as it may, we would prefer to choose clothes in an online store on iPhone screen, not the Xperia Z3. You can adjust the white balance on the Xperia Z3 using the display settings, by boosting the intensity of the three primary colors, which looks a bit artificial.
On the other hand, the Sony Xperia Z3's screen technology, according to our tests, achieves a maximum brightness of over 700 nits, which is a record-breaking result and results in better outdoor readability than the iPhone 6. In addition, the new LED backlight is even more energy efficient, than before. Combined with "display memory" technology, which prevents the GPU from constantly refreshing the image when a static image is displayed, the Xperia Z3 screen allows the smartphone to achieve record-breaking battery life, but we'll talk about that in a bit.
In terms of viewing angles, since we are dealing with high-quality IPS displays, both phones perform well, with a slight advantage on the iPhone 6. The screen of the Xperia Z3 can be used with gloves, if you activate the appropriate mode in the settings that increases the sensitivity of the sensor, this will be useful in winter time.
Interface
The Sony Xperia interface is one of the most functional and at the same time simple shells. Compared to bare Android, it adds some multitasking tools (Small Apps) that allow you to run up to five windowed applications at the same time, which can be moved and scaled. The iPhone 6 doesn’t have these features, but it has a much more convenient Control Center and Notification Center, unlike the Sony interface, where you need to make a few extra swipes across the screen each time to get to the archaic view of the connection switches.
Apple opened access to the Notification Center, now there can be widgets for third-party applications that send messages and interactive notifications. They're certainly not as functional as the full Android widgets that can be placed on multiple desktop screens, but it's a less intrusive Apple-style approach.
| Apple iPhone 6 user interface | |||
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| Lock screen | Desktop | Command centre | |
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| Notification Center | One-hand control mode | ||
The only thing that Xperia Z3 provides for convenient one-handed operation is the ability to shrink the keyboard to the left or right of the display, in which case it becomes much easier to reach the on-screen buttons with your finger. The iPhone 6 introduced a so-called Reachability mode, which, if you double-click the Home button, moves the entire interface to the bottom of the screen so you can easily enter a web address or a recipient's name. email. You can also swipe to the right from the left edge of the screen, this gesture emulates the back button in related applications, such as a browser. On the Xperia Z3, you'll have to drag your finger to the top of the screen.
| Sony Xperia Z3 user interface | |||
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| Lock screen | Desktop | Application section | Task bar |
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| Small Apps | Quick Settings | ||
Processor and Memory
You won't be disappointed with the performance of these smartphones as both have decent specifications. The Apple iPhone 6 is powered by a 64-bit A8 processor running at half the frequency of the Snapdragon 801-AC in the Xperia Z3, but delivering comparable performance in synthetic benchmarks. Built-in apps in IOS 8 are optimized for 64-bit computing and the interface is extremely fluid no matter what you're doing, while the Xperia Z3's interface has occasional minor stutters that will likely be fixed with software updates. as the hardware component is very powerful. Apple doesn't list the amount of RAM in their phone specs, but we know it's still 1GB, while the Xperia Z3 has 3GB of RAM - that doesn't mean the iPhone has any performance issues. heavy applications and games, but iOS has to actively unload minimized programs from memory. The Small Apps mode on the Xperia Z3 no doubt consumes more RAM, especially if you decide to run more than two or three apps at the same time.
Despite the higher clock speed of the Xperia Z3 processor and more RAM, the interface of the iPhone 6 is smoother. But you will have to fork out for additional amount of internal memory
In terms of onboard storage, the Xperia Z3 comes with 16GB, of which 12GB is available to the user, while the iPhone 6 comes in 16GB, 64GB, or 128GB variants, with higher configurations costing significantly more. The Sony smartphone has a slot for microSD cards, which will help increase the usable space.
Performance test results (benchmarks):
Camera
Sony's flagship has a 20.7-megapixel 1/2.3" Exmor RS sensor with a 1.12 micron pixel size, just like the Xperia Z2, but Sony advertises that the field of view has increased to 25mm (wide-angle lens), and many more other improvements such as light sensitivity up to ISO 12800. Apple has also improved its 8-megapixel 1/3" iSight camera with 1.5-micron pixels and f/2.2 aperture by adding new system focus, as well as new shooting modes. When it comes to shooting speed, the iPhone 6 camera, once it has taken a picture, is almost instantly ready to take another one - in this regard, it is the most fast phone in our tests. The Xperia Z3 is also pretty fast at taking pictures, with a separate two-stage camera shutter button on the right side that can launch the camera app and take a picture right from the lock screen, it only takes about a second, two at the most.
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| Apple iPhone 6 camera interface | |||
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| Sony Xperia Z3 camera interface | |||
With the exception of the Time-lapse mode, the Xperia Z3 offers all the settings and shooting modes available on the iPhone: panorama, HDR for photos and live video, and so on. In addition, there is a rather interesting background defocus mode (Background Defocus), which allows you to achieve the popular effect of shallow depth of field.
The new iSight camera is the fastest we've ever tested and excels in all lighting conditions, while the Xperia Z3's main selling point is 4K video capture
When it comes to image quality, the iPhone 6 does great photos with slightly warm but generally accurate colors, and great detail in all conditions. The Xperia Z3 in its default Superior Auto mode takes 8-megapixel shots with a comparable level of detail. Colors are softer than iPhone 6. Xperia Z3 has trouble taking photos against a strong light source such as a window or the sun.
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| Apple iPhone 6 sample shots | |||
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| Sample shots Sony Xperia Z3 | |||
When it comes to shooting indoors, the Xperia Z3's color reproduction remains generally natural, while the iPhone 6 leans heavily towards warmer tones. However, the Xperia Z3's shots look fairly heavily post-processed and slightly washed out, while the iPhone manages to retain high detail and acceptable noise levels. Both LED flashes are capable of adequately illuminating a small scene, although the iPhone 6's dual-tone flash seemed a bit more powerful to us.
| Good lighting | Medium lighting | low light | In the dark with a flash |
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| Apple iPhone 6 | |||
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| Sony Xperia Z3 | |||
Camera speed:
* Camspeed score - evaluation of the speed of the camera in a special application Camspeed
The Xperia Z3 has an edge when it comes to video recording, as it is capable of recording 4K (Ultra HD) video with a higher level of detail. This process heats up the smartphone more and consumes its memory, compared to Full HD (1080p) video recording, which is sufficient for most cases. The Apple iPhone 6 is capable of shooting 1080p video at 60 frames per second, and also offers time-lapse and slow-mo, 240fps video recording modes that look just fine. Videos shot with both phones are smooth, without annoying artifacts, and with good color reproduction. The sound range is also excellent and corresponds to the quality of the video - clear, loud enough and without background noise, if you comment on what is happening during video shooting.
Examples of videos taken with smartphone cameras are presented below (to view in original quality, follow the link to YouTube and select 1080p in the settings):
Connection quality
The Xperia Z3's earpiece is of average sound quality, loud enough to be heard in noisy environments, but voices seem muffled and slightly distorted at high volumes. On iPhone 6, even in noisy environments, the interlocutor's speech remains clearly distinguishable. Both the Xperia Z3 and iPhone 6 have additional noise-canceling microphones that are great at filtering out ambient noise, sending loud and clear speech to the other end of the line. However, this will not help if you are in an area with poor reception - you will start to sound like a mouthful of toffee, which is common with all phones.
Battery Life
The Sony smartphone is equipped with a capacious 3100 mAh battery, while the slim iPhone 6 is equipped with a 1810 mAh battery. Both companies list 14 hours of talk time, but Sony's claimed standby time is an impressive 37 days, while the iPhone is content with just ten. Of course, these data are nothing more than a hint of real abilities. The Xperia Z3 managed to last over 9 hours in our tests, while the iPhone 6 didn't make it past 6 hours. That's a pretty big difference, which means the iPhone 6 will need to be charged at the end of each day, and with the Xperia Z3, you can expect, as Sony advertises, a "two-day battery" phone.
We measure battery life using a dedicated web script that emulates typical smartphone usage. The screen brightness of all tested devices is set to 200 nits.
Prices
You can compare prices for smartphones in various online stores using the links below.
Conclusion
Both smartphones, the iPhone 6 and Xperia Z3, are the best that design giants like Apple and Sony have to offer today. Slim and stylish, both phones look and feel the same premium, but are vastly different in how they operate.
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The Apple iPhone 6 is more comfortable to use with one hand than the rather large Xperia Z3, and is almost invisible in your pocket. He also possesses the best camera, which is especially noticeable in low light conditions, and a beautiful screen with accurate color reproduction. To these advantages, we must add a better optimized iOS system and the fact that the iPhone 6 will depreciate much more slowly than the Xperia Z3 (which is relevant for people who sell old smartphones). The new Sony flagship, in turn, has a lot to offer that is not available on the iPhone. Of course, not everyone and not always needs a waterproof phone, just as many do not care about stereo speakers, but it's always nice to know that such opportunities are available if necessary.
The most important selling point for Sony's smartphone, which we've saved for last, is its remarkable battery life. Its "two-day battery" is currently the best in the flagship device category, and our own tests confirm this. So, if you're tired of charging your smartphone every night, which will certainly happen with the iPhone 6, the Xperia Z3 should be at the top of your shopping list.
Sony is currently in the process of modernizing its mobile device business and is shifting its focus to high-end and mid-range solutions. Sony Mobile Communications plans to sell 38 million smartphones this fiscal year. Despite rumors of abandoning the strategy of releasing new flagship models every six months, Sony Vice President of Global Communications and Public Relations Tim Harrison (Tim Harrison) said in one of his latest interviews that the company decided to release flagship models more than once every 12 months. On the one hand, such a solution allows you to quickly take into account past mistakes and impose worthy competition on other manufacturers. But is it possible in this case to count on cardinal improvements compared to the previous model? It can also lead to competition between devices within the line itself. We will try to find out how justified this is in modern market conditions using an example that we tested.
In terms of dry specifications, this model little different from its predecessor - . Here is the same 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and a 20.7 MP main camera. Then the logical question arises: “What is the difference?” It lies in a number of design improvements, proprietary shell Xperia Home and several technical nuances. We will talk about all this in more detail below. For starters, we invite you to familiarize yourself with technical specifications Sony Xperia Z3:
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Manufacturer |
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Xperia Z3 (D6603) |
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Type, form factor |
Smartphone, monoblock |
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Communication standards |
850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz |
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850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 MHz |
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700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2300 / 2600 MHz |
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High speed data transfer |
GPRS (32-48 Kbps), EDGE (236 Kbps), HSDPA (up to 42.2 Mbps), HSUPA (up to 5.76 Mbps), LTE Cat.4 (up to 50 Mbps) UL, up to 150 Mbps DL) |
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SIM card type |
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CPU |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC): 4x Krait 400 cores, up to 2.5GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 28nm HPm |
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Graphics adapter |
Qualcomm Adreno 330: up to 578 MHz, support for OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenVG 1.1, OpenCL 1.1 and DirectX 9.0c |
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IPS, 5.2" TRILUMINOS, 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi), touch, capacitive, multi-touch up to 10 touches, protective glass Asahi DragonTrail X, X-Reality and Live Color technologies |
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RAM |
3 GB Dual Channel LPDDR3 |
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Persistent memory |
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card reader |
microSD (up to 128 GB) |
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Interfaces |
1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack |
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Multimedia |
Sound processing |
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Acoustics |
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Microphone |
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Main |
Exmor RS (1/2.3"): 20.7 MP, BSI, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, SteadyShot digital image stabilization, HDR shooting, 4K Ultra HD video recording (30 FPS) |
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Frontal |
2.2 MP, f/2.8 aperture, fixed focus, 1080p video recording |
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Communication options |
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) (Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot) |
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Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, LED indicator, geomagnetic sensor (compass), barometer |
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Battery |
Li-ion, non-replaceable: 3100 mAh |
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Charger |
Input: 100~240V AC e.g. at 50/60 Hz Output: 5V DC e.g. 1.5 A |
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Dust and moisture resistant to IP65 and IP68 standards |
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146×72×7.3mm |
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Black / White / Olive / Copper / Purple |
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Operating system |
Android 4.4.4 KitKat + Xperia Home v7 |
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Official guarantee |
12 months |
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Products webpage |
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Delivery and equipment
The tested smartphone comes in a traditional small square box. The packaging is made of fairly thick matte cardboard and is characterized by a discreet and concise design. On its front side there is a partial image of the smartphone, as well as the model name and manufacturer's logo. The side faces are reserved for stickers with service information (IMEI, S / N, Model, Color and country of origin). On the reverse side (in the form of icons) you can find the main features of the Sony Xperia Z3 and legal information about the manufacturer. Here is the image of new items in several color variations. This style of packaging hints that we have a premium device.
Along with the smartphone, the potential buyer will find the following accessories in the box:
- user's manual;
- warranty card;
- charger (5 V; 1.5 A);
- micro-USB↔USB cable.
We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the company Sony Mobile Communications AB for the smartphone provided for testing.
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Sony Xperia Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z5 - how not to get confused when listing smartphone modifications released over the past 3 years? And that's not counting versions like Compact, Ultra or Premium, which also exist in the line of the Japanese brand.
To make life more interesting and more fun, Sony came up with the X series, which is also not simple and consists of several smartphones: XA is a simpler option, X is the middle class, X Performance is the top, and XA Ultra is king-size for connoisseurs of everything big .
Xperia X or Xperia Z3?
Recently a friend wrote to me and asked why buy an Xperia X when you can buy an Xperia Z3 or Z3+? The idea to take last year's flagships instead of new "middle class" is not new. Therefore, I decided to compare both smartphones in order to understand what will please new Xperia X on the background of the old model. The difference in price between them is about 10-12 thousand rubles, a weighty argument.
Xperia X on the left and Xperia Z3 on the right. find 10 differences
attack of the clones
I like the design of Sony smartphones, but the Japanese haven't changed it for many years, so it's easy to get confused about phones. Look at the photos, the Xperia X is very similar to the Xperia Z3+. They have almost identical dimensions, but the Xperia X is slightly smaller and noticeably lighter. I explain this by the fact that the screen size is more modest here: 5 inches versus 5.2.
The design of the Xperia X will please fans of Sony, but if you're not a fan of the Japanese brand, you'll get confused among a bunch of similar phones.
The sides in both cases are made of aluminum, but the Xperia X does not have plastic inserts at the corners, which in theory take the hit when dropped. But I doubt that it saves in those cases when the glass case flies on the asphalt.
Aluminum vs glass, a win-win choice in any case After all, the back surface of the Xperia X is made of aluminum, while the Z3 + has glass. What's better? I like the matte finish more, it does not get dirty at all compared to the stained glass plane. But the glass reflects beautifully, which Xperia X cannot boast of. Practicality vs beauty, these are the eternal torments of choice.
The volume button on the Xperia X has gone down, you confuse it with the power button and often push it in the wrong place out of habit. I think that the Z3+ had a more comfortable key layout, but apparently due to the addition of a scanner, the whole design was redesigned.
The Xperia Z3+ does not have a fingerprint scanner, it appeared in the Z5, the Xperia X also inherited this useful feature. True, I had to sacrifice the branded round - the power key became flat. Sony is the only company that embeds the scanner on the side. Basically, it is added to the central button under the screen (Apple, Samsung, HTC, Moto) or on the back surface (Huawei and thousands of Chinese brands). It is more intuitive for me to press the button below the screen, but in a week I got used to the location of the button on the Xperia X.
The scanner works well, but there were cases when it did not work the first time. I had to enter a password to get to my data. But there were very few such cases, so I will not suffer on this score.
For the scanner to work, you must press the physical button, otherwise it will not work. But if the screen backlight is on, then a light touch is enough, you do not need to press the button until it clicks. It is a pity that this function does not work even when the screen is locked.
Juicy, bright, Full HD
The new Xperia X has curved screen glass around the edges, and 2.5D looks and feels nicer than plain flat glass. It is enough to move your finger over it to feel all this difference for yourself. The screen has a good oleophobic coating in all cases, the finger glides as it should.
According to my feelings, the picture quality is comparable to previous Xperia models, if you don’t like the default settings, you can set the colors manually.
Too bad Sony didn't give the Xperia X a "bezel-less design, the bezels are the same as the Z3. But there is protection against moisture, and the Xperia X does not have it, bathing in the sink is a deadly number for her. Due to the fact that the screen size is not very large, it is convenient to operate the phone with one hand. The Xperia X is comparable to the Galaxy S6, but due to its angular shape, the Japanese phone looks more massive than the Korean one.
Xperia X - left, Xperia Z3 - right, don't mix it up Two days without an outlet
From Xperia X with a 2620 mAh battery, I did not expect anything special. It turned out that I was wrong and the phone was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it works longer than I expected. On average, I got 2 days of work with 4.5-5 hours of active screen. In idle time, the phone practically does not explode.
But I noticed that it's worth turning on LTE, as the device sits down faster. Perhaps this is due to the non-final Sony firmware, because. I did not notice a similar situation with other devices. Z3 works less, I got about one day. Celebration of technology.
I also note that Sony has a handy Stamina function that is responsible for energy saving and turns off “extra” processes to save battery.
Do not pull when not asked
The compartment for nano-SIM and Xperia X memory card is located on the side under the flap. Moreover, even if you lift it a little, the phone goes into reboot, believing that they invariably want to pull out one of the cards from it. Xperia X will appear in a single SIM version, but there will also be a dual SIM version, where you can put a microSD card instead of a second card.
I have no complaints about the dynamics, people can be heard well, but I would like the ringer to be more powerful. Here it is quiet and calls are easy to miss.
Naturally, LTE is present, complete order. NFC helps pay for purchases from the phone, I tried the service with a Tinkoff card, everything works. At the same time, I was surprised that the seemingly progressive Alfa-Bank is not able to perform such an operation.
Fast smartphone
Here is a sign with the test results for everyone. For comparison with the Xperia X, I took the Xperia Z3, last year's Samsung Galaxy S6, which fits into this budget. And new Alcatel Idol 4s stuffed like the Xperia X.
The Xperia X has a mid-range processor, the Qualcomm 650 is comparable in power to last year's top-end chips, but inferior to them in terms of graphics. Feelings are exactly the same as after getting to know Alcatel: the performance in the tests is adequate. But the software is still damp: either the gallery slows down, or the browser suddenly becomes dull.
Xperia X received 32 GB of internal memory, 20 GB of them remain for personal needs, if this is not enough, then the microSD slot will help increase the space. The smartphone received an updated shell, it is seriously different from the one in the Xperia Z3, although they have the same android version. Both are on version 6. I think it would be fair to devote a separate article to the shell, there is something to talk about.
I liked the phone in terms of sound quality, but the headphone headroom is not very large, for the metro you need to choose headphones with good noise isolation.
Reactive camera, but raw software
In theory, Xperia X is the new star of the world mobile photo. The phone received a new autofocus system, when we point the camera at an object, and it “leads” it until the shutter button is pressed. In the language of photographers, this is “shooting with wiring”. I tried it on cars on a cloudy day, the camera blurs the background well, leaving the object sharp. But how often do we rent vehicles? I - no, much more often than children. But the problem with them is that it can be difficult to remove a nimble child indoors. Also, the camera does not always focus on close objects.
I was impressed by the quick shooting function, which we turn on in the settings. Then from the moment you press the shutter button until the picture is taken, it takes half a second. A dedicated key for shooting is a separate plus from Sony, few people add this button to smartphones. But the Japanese have thought through everything to the end, and this key is not just there, but helps to take pictures very quickly, without wasting time on unlocking.
The examples show how the camera “soaps” along the left edge, I’ll write it off as pre-production software or a defective module, this, unfortunately, happens. In general, I liked the camera, during the day the phone shoots very well, in the evening the quality drops, here the gap from flagships like LG G4 or Samsung Galaxy S6 is noticeable. But they can be bought for the same money that they ask for Xperia X.
Compared to the Xperia Z3, the new Xperia X has more accurate colors and better white balance. But there is much more noise in the pictures. I think it's a software bug. I was also surprised that HDR is practically not noticeable in the work, that you turn on this option, that it is not - there is almost no difference.
Here we have a comparison with the Xperia Z3, you can clearly see the difference with the wide-angle optics of the Xperia X. The example below shows problems with the left side of the picture. I also think that Sony went the way of Samsung and hit the shots of increased sharpness. And at the same time added a portion of noise to the pictures.
A pack of pictures in different conditions for review.
Z3 Vs Xperia X
Pros of Z3:
- water protection
- more comfortable ergonomics
- update to android 6.0
- lower price
- 4K video recording
- strap mount
Pros Xperia X
- fingerprint scanner
- new shell and Android 6.0
- camera focuses faster
- works longer
- higher speed of LTE
- aluminum trim is more practical than glass
Opinion
Other Sony smartphones could be taken for comparison with Xperia X: not only Z3, but also Z3 +, Z5 can become an alternative to this model. At least they cost less, shoot at a comparable level, and the performance difference isn't that big.
I think that 39990 rubles for the Sony Xperia X is a lot. Sony wants to compete with Samsung, but last year's Galaxy S6 can be bought for the same money as the Xperia X, it will be better in all respects. Or consider as a variant of the Galaxy A5, which costs about 25 thousand rubles.
Sony Xperia X is more expensive than its classmates with other comparable qualities, so the name of the brand is no longer impressive. So my friend looked at the Xperia X, touched the Xperia Z3 and ordered an iPhone 6.
Characteristics
