Xperia Z3 vs Galaxy S6

[Zaft]

Opening up this discussion to you all. I respect your opinions and value your personal feedback.

I'm going to pick up a Z3 this week to give it a shot while I still have my Galaxy S6 return window open. Want to try them both side by side and see which one I like more. I own a OnePlus One, which I really like, but I also wish to go back to a smaller device. I also own an iPhone 6 that I rarely use anymore. I'll likely sell both if I can settle on either the S6 or the Z3.

Here's the breakdown of what I think will be the advantages/disadvantages of the Z3 versus the S6.


GALAXY S6

Advantages:

Screen - utterly sublime, even in daylight.

Camera - great reliable camera. Fast.

Call/GPS quality - Had a chance to use both a lot over the weekend. Issue-free.

Design - the gold is really special and beautiful. Only one knock here is the device is slippery as heck.

Band 12 LTE - not sure how big of a deal this is. I'm on Tmobile, and apparently they'll be rolling out Band 12 more and more as the year progresses. So this might be a bigger factor down the line. Better building penetration, apparently.

Speaker loudness - This thing screams. Love it during GPS usage.

Wireless charging & Quick charge - Haven't really taken advantage of wireless charging yet, not until I commit to the device,


Disadvantages:

Unreliable fingerprint scanner - It's good, but I still get too many failed attempts, and as such, overall, it feels like it slows me down accessing my phone. This isn't a huge disadvantage per se, cause I can always turn it off and use pin/pattern.

Average battery life - This is a bigger concern. Seems like I'll be able to manage a day, but it's something I'll have to either keep an eye out for, or use Quick Charge/Wireless charging to really be safe.

Physical button - This ties with the fingerprint scanner. If I'm sacrificing software keys for a physical home button, it's got to be worth it. At this point, it's sort of not. I've grown to really like software keys. It requires less to depress the physical button. I can tap the software key versus having to press down, which requires resistive force, little though it may be.

Some TW lag - This is another decently big issue. Lag creeps up on this phone from time to time. Things hang a bit, be it with the keyboard & backspacing, launching apps, launching the app switcher, or general stutter. It still happens. Even when playing Tetris, the blocks don't rotate as quickly, it feels. It's not a major big deal, but it's there.

More bloat - Both MS, Samsung, and Tmobile bloat is present. Not a major deal.

Back Button on wrong side! - Self explanatory. Requires the thumb to bend a lot to reach. With a device this slippery, this doesn't help.




XPERIA Z3

Advantages:

Battery life - Apparently exceptional. A lot of reviews/users speak of two days of use on a single charge. This would be sweet.

More optimized software - I'm not crazy about the Xperia skin, but apparently the software is light and close to stock, which results in reviews/users speaking about amazing smoothness. I could throw Google Now Launcher over it and probably be happy.

Less bloatware - Because I'd be getting the unlocked version, there'd be little to no bloat, other than Sony stuff.

Potentially faster software updates - Again, because it's unlocked.
On screen buttons - In my opinion, easier to use, plus the back button is on the correct side. Plus, sliding up to access Google Now is easier than long pressing the physical home button. Also, back button on the correct side!

Waterproofing - This is neat, but I'll never submerge it in water anyway.

More storage (microSD) - Unlocked version is only 16GB, but I'll likely add a 64GB microSD, or if I'm crazy, I can jump it up to 128.

About $200 cheaper - Factoring everything in, including screen protectors, the 64GB microSD, magnetic dock connector, etc., the Z3 is still about $200 cheaper than the S6. Both are being bought off contract. Saving $200 bucks would be pretty sweet.

Dual front speakers - This is nice, but I hear the quality/loudness can sound muffled. These will likely be lower than the S6 cause that thing can be loud. Anybody with first hand experience of how well the speakers are?


Disadvantages:

Hard to access USB port - Due to the waterproofing, the USB port is behind a closed cover. Can get annoying and will likely have to buy a magnetic dock connector.

Call/GPS quality untested - Won't know until later today. Again, anyone with first hand experience?

Lacks Band 12 - It should have all the other LTE bands for Tmobile, but it's lacking this future-proofing Band. Though rollout apparently won't happen until later this year or even into 2016. By then, I'd probably be getting a different phone? Or can live with Band 12-less until I do in 2016...?

Camera - Probably won't be as good or as fast or as reliable as the S6's camera, but reviews still say it's good. The one area that it may be a bigger differentiator is probably low-light shots. S6 seems to do well in those situations, and not so much the Z3.

Screen - Screen is going to be less sharp, which isn't a big deal, but may also be less brighter and usable in daylight. Less vibrant, too. Not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as the S6, I would imagine.

Starts with 16GB storage - will this be a problem? I know you can load apps now onto the microSD since Lollipop, but does that mean I have to manually move them each time I download an app? How does this all work?




Anyway, that's it for now. Am I missing anything? Anything else I should consider between the two? Anybody with experience with both devices that can attest to what I've got here?

Thanks. I'd likely get the copper color Z3, too, if that makes any difference.

Have you tried the LG G3? That phone just always pulls me to it. I love that its 5.5 inches yet not that big.

 

[MRU]

So I just got my Z3 running 5.02 lollipop and must admit it's fantastic how close to stock android the device is whilst simultaneously adding a heap of extras.

So far very impressed with it from a software perspective. Even the stock keyboard is mostly great.

Running with 8 apps open and nothing disabled and

Nearly 2gb free memory..... Come on Samsung both HTC & Sony prove you don't need to be using so much ram standing still or with a selection of standard apps open.

 

[nviz22]

Z3 is fine and all if you want a better "experience" from a phone. Meaning that battery life, lag free, waterproofing, and playstation remote play are perks you desire.

For me, I didn't buy one because of the UI (not a fan of Bravia), lack of updates, and lack of features or appeal.

With the S6, you get style, substance, but lack updates, proper quality control, and battery life. I chose to keep my S6 Edge ultimately, but it's up to you with what you want seeing as each person has priorities in different regards.

 

[epicrayban]

I think the camera is a big differentiator, too, between the two. The S6 camera seems a heck of a lot more reliable, faster, and better at post-image processing.

I had some time with the Z3 camera, and it did not produce satisfying results. The auto mode over processed images like CRAZY. It gave everything this processed and fake effect, like everyone's faces were glazed over or polished with a weird filter/makeup. It was really bad how far it went.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think the camera is a big differentiator, too, between the two. The S6 camera seems a heck of a lot more reliable, faster, and better at post-image processing.

I had some time with the Z3 camera, and it did not produce satisfying results. The auto mode over processed images like CRAZY. It gave everything this processed and fake effect, like everyone's faces were glazed over or polished with a weird filter/makeup. It was really bad how far it went.

If anyone can get result from a camera, it'll be MRU.

From what I've read as well, auto mode was less than stellar but what you can do manually is a different story. I'm sure we'll see some more exception shots of the Irish landscape fairly soon.

 

[MRU]

Full res

 

[gotluck]

Yea, I've read the same thing about manual mode.

I really like sony's software, it seems like they are getting more and more out of the way, akin to motorola, but not to that extent. Yet you get the bonus items like sd card, waterproof, good battery life. It's probably the closest thing to GPE. I wont include moto there because they are basically nexus phones, without those bonus hardware features.

 

[MRU]

Yep, I skipped superior auto and took photo straight into manual mode. Results seem good to me inspite of very inclement weather this evening on the beach.

So far my only negative is the fingerprints... Such a magnet

 

[epicrayban]

If anyone can get result from a camera, it'll be MRU.

From what I've read as well, auto mode was less than stellar but what you can do manually is a different story. I'm sure we'll see some more exception shots of the Irish landscape fairly soon.

Unfortunately, that's also why I don't trust MRU's camera reviews. lol.


Joking aside, I want a smartphone that doesn't require tinkering in manual mode to get good results. It seems like a quality and reliable auto mode is only offered by a small elite group of smartphones: iPhone and the S6 (maybe a few others?).

Even the OnePlus, with its great camera, didn't have the best auto mode. Things would still come out a bit blurry.

 

[MRU]

Unfortunately, that's also why I don't trust MRU's camera reviews. lol.


Joking aside, I want a smartphone that doesn't require tinkering in manual mode to get good results. It seems like a quality and reliable auto mode is only offered by a small elite group of smartphones: iPhone and the S6 (maybe a few others?).

Even the OnePlus, with its great camera, didn't have the best auto mode. Things would still come out a bit blurry.

Yep for auto shooting the S6 & IPhone still rule the roost IMHO too.

 

[AppleRobert]

Yep for auto shooting the S6 & IPhone still rule the roost IMHO too.

If I snapped that scene with the Note 4, I think I would be happy.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Unreliable fingerprint scanner - It's good, but I still get too many failed attempts, and as such, overall, it feels like it slows me down accessing my phone. This isn't a huge disadvantage per se, cause I can always turn it off and use pin/pattern.

So far I've had nothing but a reliable experience with the Fingerprint scanner. When I rarely get a fail attempt, it's because I didn't cover the home key properly. And sometimes I still try to swipe, a Note 4 habit.

I will say that, registering fingers is more tedious vs doing so on the iPhone. But once that's out the way, it's been all good. Maybe it's the tedious registering that's make some users not register fingers properly?

 

[epicrayban]

So far I've had nothing but a reliable experience with the Fingerprint scanner. When I rarely get a fail attempt, it's because I didn't cover the home key properly. And sometimes I still try to swipe, a Note 4 habit.

I will say that, registering fingers is more tedious vs doing so on the iPhone. But once that's out the way, it's been all good. Maybe it's the tedious registering that's make some users not register fingers properly?

I've since replaced my first S6 with a second one, and it's much better. As reliable as the iPhone's, which is to say, it still fails once in a while.

 

[nviz22]

Z4 and G4 are worth looking if the Z3 doesn't meet your requirements.

 

[MRU]

I'm really liking the Z3 so far. Just played with remote play PS4 and it works better than my old Vita....

Think this could be my keeper android handset for a while - i'm getting a good vibe.

Ordered a Sony flip case and magnetic charging dock.

 

[jamezr]

I'm really liking the Z3 so far. Just played with remote play PS4 and it works better than my old Vita....

Think this could be my keeper android handset for a while - i'm getting a good vibe.

Ordered a Sony flip case and magnetic charging dock.

Glad you found one you like! That magnetic charging dock sounds like a winner! Doesn't the Z3 have magnetic charging cables too?

 

[epicrayban]

I'm really liking the Z3 so far. Just played with remote play PS4 and it works better than my old Vita....

Think this could be my keeper android handset for a while - i'm getting a good vibe.

Ordered a Sony flip case and magnetic charging dock.

So goodbye S6 Edge?

 

[bubulol]

Glad you found one you like! That magnetic charging dock sounds like a winner! Doesn't the Z3 have magnetic charging cables too?

No, it doesnt have official magnetic charging cables
All those magnetic charging cables are from third party brands
It seems weird but Sony cant make lawfully, official magnetic charging cable
Europe did impose to brands to use usb cable accessories as standard
Maybe i am wrong but it seems you will never find any package with phone + magnetic charging cable

 

[tbayrgs]

No, it doesnt have official magnetic charging cables
All those magnetic charging cables are from third party brands
It seems weird but Sony cant make lawfully, official magnetic charging cable
Europe did impose to brands to use usb cable accessories as standard
Maybe i am wrong but it seems you will never find any package with phone + magnetic charging cable

Is that something new or specific to Europe? The Z1 compact I bought last summer had a magnetic charging dock included in the box---though it was sourced from Taiwan or Singapore originally, not certain.

 

[bubulol]

Yes, you can sell a dock but not a cable until mini usb/usb remains as standard
Note: Apple never followed these recommendations, using many proprietary ports such as lightning
But it will change with usb-c

 

[MRU]

Glad you found one you like! That magnetic charging dock sounds like a winner! Doesn't the Z3 have magnetic charging cables too?

I've ordered a third party one. I've also ordered tempered front and back protector with decent oleophobic coating because at the moment the finger prints are shocking.

 

[apolloa]

Image

Full res

It's annoying because this is exactly what holds me off from the Xperia range of phones for the moment, the camera.
I am in no way shape or form what so ever a camera expert, I like to point and shoot, and so because Sony's silly software isn't very good I won't be able to take great shots like this...

But as this shot shows, when you DO know what you're doing, the Sony experience with it's camera sensor tech shines through.

I guess that's also why it LG make a new Nexus, then I would rather buy that as it's implementation of Sony's camera sensor is great. Probably why people in the know are saying the Z5 will have a complete camera overhaul software and all.

And as for Sony's updates, well having the lovely Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact I can say they came through and gave me Lollipop within a few weeks of the first country in the world to get the roll out, I'm in England, so not bad.
The performance is great, my tablet has the exact same specs as the full size Z3 phone, bar the camera. Also it's battery life is just ridiculous.. I haven't charged it for 3 day's and it's at 53%, that's with browsing and emails and watching You Tube videos at full screen.

Is the S6 better? Sure with some things, but s is the Z3 with others. Try both as you're doing and pick a winner.

 

[AppleRobert]

The display is holding me back honestly. I tried the Z3 a few times at a Verizon store and it would be a concession. Everything else seemed quite acceptable. I loaded it with apps and it did not hiccup at all and no refreshes.

Interesting the price I am finding on CL, I can get it as soon as tomorrow new and unopened if I decided I want it.

 

[MRU]

I've genuinely found an android handset I like.... Shocked.

All the benefits of stock android with all the benefits of extra features not at the expense of performance.

Feels great in the hand and I like the screen colour. It's really natural and white balance is awesome.

Got over 5.5 hours screen on time too.

 

[Fernandez21]

I've genuinely found an android handset I like.... Shocked.

All the benefits of stock android with all the benefits of extra features not at the expense of performance.

Feels great in the hand and I like the screen colour. It's really natural and white balance is awesome.

Got over 5.5 hours screen on time too.

I've always wanted to try an Xperia, unfortunately its never been released on at&t, and I'm not spending $600+ on a handset I've never had a chance to handle. Sony really needs to step up their distribution.