Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

[spriter]

I was really hoping the camera was a step up but a number of reviews suggest it's got issues. Specifically the post processing isn't great and that Sony are working on an update.

The actual size is appealing but not convinced about the 810 in such a small body.

 

[kasakka]

Took a bunch of photos today and gotta say I'm not impressed by the camera. Felt that at least when using the camera button it had a delay before actually taking the photo and often seemed to focus on something close to the camera (like a chainlink fence). Using the digital zoom really gave rather artifact filled and too soft pictures. It sometimes takes a long time to start the camera program (like over 5 seconds during which it looks like the OS is doing nothing) I really hope that Sony fixes these problems when they update their camera software. As it is, not that impressed.

My phone's screen white balance was also a bit off but thankfully Sony provides a settings options where you can adjust that though it works a bit backward (instead of substracting the offending color you add a bit of the ones that are not the problem, e.g if it's too red you add green and blue). Not by much but just a little. I wish this setting was stock in every Android phone so people would not have to deal with tint issues.

It might be that the warmth of the phone is entirely normal operation based on what other owners have mentioned. It's just that I'm used to the Galaxy S4 (i9505, running Google Play Edition ROM) and it only gets warm or hot when you download lots of apps or play a game etc. The Z5C gets a bit warm (back around the Sony logo and on the front touchscreen) when it's used for 20 minutes or more doing anything really. I checked temps with CPU Temp and the Z5C was running up to 10°C hotter than the S4 on the CPU at times and battery seems to go to 40°C quickly whereas S4's battery stayed at 30°C.

I don't find this at all impressive because I don't experience any real increase in speed, in fact in a few apps (Tapatalk and Bacon Reader, neither of which is great software to be honest) the S4 is smoother. In benchmarks Z5C gives much better results (for example Antutu score is ~55000 on Z5C and ~30000 on S4) but this just doesn't translate into real world performance at least for what I use my phone for (web browsing, Facebook, messaging, photos, navigation).

I really do want to like the phone but just don't feel like I'm getting the upgrade from the S4 I was hoping for. It's not really much more comfortable to use one handed (due to the more angular shape at the same thickness), it doesn't seem to perform any better and has a smaller, lower res screen. The main improvements are better battery life and the fingerprint reader (which is fantastic and in perfect position). I also really like the smaller LED notification light, it looks more elegant.

If the phone didn't get noticeably warm in basic use and had a bit more screen (and thus less bezel), a contoured back, 1080p resolution and better camera software it would be my ideal smartphone. Sony's Android implementation is near-bloatless and very close to stock.

TL;DR my old S4 is surprisingly good.

 

[JaySoul]

So I had a good play with it this weekend.

It's not the most impressive phone, have to say. There are some good points for sure...

But the 810 gets hot. Just try downloading anything, it gets HOT.

The camera hangs and crashes, the photos can be excellent but can focus on completely the wrong thing too.

The screen isn't actually that good, I'd argue. It's fine but not great. The UI is actually really bland, but close to stock.

It also feels incredibly cheap in your hands.

I think Sony have some work to do

 

[GadgetSN]

Looks like another phone not worth the rrp price.

Despite the favourable review from dxo mark, every camera comparison vid/pic I see with the Z5 shows a rubbish camera on the Z5. Completely disappointing.

Overall this phone does not look like a worthy upgrade from the Z3+ which itself it not a worthy ugrade from the Z3. The Z3 is also better looking that the Z5.

People who likes Sony phones should just stick with the Z3 and save some money.

 

[kasakka]

So I had a good play with it this weekend.

It's not the most impressive phone, have to say. There are some good points for sure...

But the 810 gets hot. Just try downloading anything, it gets HOT.

The camera hangs and crashes, the photos can be excellent but can focus on completely the wrong thing too.

The screen isn't actually that good, I'd argue. It's fine but not great. The UI is actually really bland, but close to stock.

It also feels incredibly cheap in your hands.

I think Sony have some work to do

To me anything that is close to stock Android is a plus. The phone feels nice and solid to me, IMO all Samsung phones and LG G4 for example feel much cheaper. I agree about the camera app, it is not working as it should and can crash sometimes.

 

[JaySoul]

Forgot to say the one outstanding feature was the fingerprint scanner.

So so quick. And the placement is interesting too.

 

[apolloa]

Yeah, I have seen reviews and they say the Z5 get's from warm to hot, depends on the reviewer. No one has said it crashes or closes down, but it does seem the heat problems are still there.
Apparently Sony are working on a brand new camera app that will be out by the end of the year. So I guess that will fix any of the current app problems?

I love the Sony interface on my Xperia tablet, it is very fast and smooth, I haven't changed anything about it. I think though they have changed it a bit for the Z5 series.

The camera app is also said to have issues with low light performance, people say it's the algorithms that aren't fully optimised yet.

 

[spriter]

So I had a good play with it this weekend.

It's not the most impressive phone, have to say. There are some good points for sure...

But the 810 gets hot. Just try downloading anything, it gets HOT.

The camera hangs and crashes, the photos can be excellent but can focus on completely the wrong thing too.

The screen isn't actually that good, I'd argue. It's fine but not great. The UI is actually really bland, but close to stock.

It also feels incredibly cheap in your hands.

I think Sony have some work to do

Had a play yesterday and today and I pretty much found the same as you. My top 3 factors are the camera, the fingerprint scanner, and the build. I can deal with an iffy battery or janky OS if the rest is good.

Sad to say they only got the fingerprint scanner right. The build is too slabby and cheap feeling. And yeah, it felt hot on YT so the 810 in a small frame is concerning.

The camera is the biggest let down after reading dxo. It was sluggish at times when opening. Not all the time but I could tell the 2gb would cost me missed shots if I have more than a few apps open in the background. It felt like it has greenify built-in saving battery but delaying things when app switching.

Photos were hard to judge in store but I went and read/looked at the xda samples thread and was not enamoured by all the blur around the edges.

At this rate I may just go back to the s6... So many phones missed an opportunity the second half of this year.

 

[Savor]

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact still looks the best to me in the series. Same applies to the bigger, Z3. The Z4 and Z5 series haven't impressed me in design this year at all.

 

[kasakka]

Sent mine back and now I'm back on a Galaxy S4. Just didn't want to take any risks with the Z5C since on other forums people were mentioning problems that plagued the Z3 Compact as well (screen or back glass cracking on its own etc).

To me Sony needs to fix three things on it: the heat, speed and camera software. Then they have a pretty good phone on their hands.

 

[JaySoul]

Sent mine back and now I'm back on a Galaxy S4. Just didn't want to take any risks with the Z5C since on other forums people were mentioning problems that plagued the Z3 Compact as well (screen or back glass cracking on its own etc).

To me Sony needs to fix three things on it: the heat, speed and camera software. Then they have a pretty good phone on their hands.

Agreed, just sent mine back today too.

It may just be as simple as the next generation having an 820 processor - that should fix most internal issues.

But I'm not risking it on the Z5C right now.

 

[tbayrgs]

Agreed, just sent mine back today too.

It may just be as simple as the next generation having an 820 processor - that should fix most internal issues.

But I'm not risking it on the Z5C right now.

Had the 810 actually been successfully implemented anywhere? The HTC One M9 had issues with it, the Samsung flagships use Exnyos, the LG G4 and Moto X Style/Pure skipped it for the 808--writing certainly seems to be pretty clear on the wall regarding the 810, doesn't it?

The most worrisome part of this is that the Nexus 6P uses the 810 and I fear it's going to suffer from the same problems.

 

[apolloa]

The best Sony 810 device to get is probably the Z4 tablet then as it has the room for heat expansion, never heard any complaints about it. My Z3 Tablet Compact runs great on its 801, fast and smooth, it does have 3GB ram mind, I think.
You do get a lot with the Z5 compact though like the camera module, finger print reader and improved screen. The camera will just be software that needs optimising I would think.

 

[GadgetSN]

Handled both the Z5 and Z5 compact this morning. Sony have gone backwards design wise. Their thick metal frame on the Z5 overhangs at the edges and has rendered the device sharp to hold like the first Xperia Z. Also the matt finish on the back of the Z5 feels plastic. This is in addition to the plastic feeling metal frame. It must be the paint because the Z3+ also felt plastic on the sides. Overall the phone feels like a cheap Samsung.

The compact is made of plastic I believe so was always going to feel cheap anyway.

If they released the Z5 when the Z3 was released and then released the Z3 today I would say Sony were improving. Instead they have gone backwards with the Z3+ and Z5.

The Z3 is still Sonys best built phone.

Completely disappointed.

I cant see how the Z5 Premium will be much better.

 

[epicrayban]

http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9549247/sony-xperia-z5-review-compact-android

Doesn't sound very great.

And given Sony's rocky mobile division (they may exit the game entirely if next year doesn't bode better for them) I personally wouldn't risk a Sony device at this point in time.

 

[GadgetSN]

They probably have one more chance in the Z6 but have so much to do that I fear the end of Sony mobile will be inevitable.

I loved the omnibalance design since the first Z and whilst I still think it is one of the best looking Android designs, its been with us for many years now. They need something fresh.

They also need to fix their camera software/processing and their customer service. This is on top of other core specs that android users like for their benchmark bragging rights.

Also why do they not sell their phones in the US which is a massive market.

Hope they will be around in a few years but its probably too late for them.

 

[MRU]

I picked up an Xperia Z5 for €350 sealed today. Just setting it up. Initial impressions are positive, the frosted glass is a big improvement over the Z3

Battery life is awesome on the device. I charged to 92% and I'm now at 71% and have 1hr 52mins screen on time. Unreal.

 

[MRU]

I really dig this phone. Battery life is good, not getting as great SOT now my 3Ireland sim is in it, but still very good. What I really like though is the Audio upscaling component. Add a decent pair of earphones and my audio is sounding great, so much so that I will likely hold onto this device long term just for the quality of audio playback (and pocketability).

Will post a in depth impressions and thoughts as well as photo samples.