Xperia Z3 vs Galaxy S6

[MRU]

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.

Yeah it seems USA always get raw deal on Sony handsets. Not sure if we are going to see a lot more handsets in the future either, certainly the 6 month cycle was a big misstep but they look to be addressing that.



Speed wise the Z3 despite being an 801 it feels just as snappy as 805/810 and even the exynos. That I guess is another benefit of having a less heavy skin.



I've ordered a Sony smart flip case (like the Samsung sview) which will address my only complaint - it is a fingerprint magnet.

 

[bubulol]

Official flip case sucks, dont buy it
It doesnt deserve it
Better to add tempered glasses (Nillkin H+) front and back
Ringke Fusion provide nice and great protection
There are many great covers as well

 

[Vegastouch]

Well for one they got the back button in the right place.

LOL, id argue that the other devices have THEIRS in the wrong place.

Much prefer the back button on the right.

Why not try a HTC One M9? You can arrange the buttons how you like them for one thing. They also moved last years camera on the M8 to the front and put on a much better back camera.

Oh and c-mon man, the S6 home button takes much more effort to press?

 

[epicrayban]

LOL, is argue that the other devices have THEIRS in the wrong place.

Much prefer the back button on the right.

Why not try a HTC One M9? You can arrange the buttons how you like them for one thing. They also moved last years camera on the M8 to the front and put on a much better back camera.

Oh and c-mon man, the S6 home button takes much more effort to press?

It does compared to a soft key. Really. Lol.

 

[MRU]

Official flip case sucks, dont buy it
It doesnt deserve it
Better to add tempered glasses (Nillkin H+) front and back
Ringke Fusion provide nice and great protection
There are many great covers as well

Damn already bought and on its way. I have a tempered glass front & back coming as well.

 

[AppleRobert]

Yeah it seems USA always get raw deal on Sony handsets. Not sure if we are going to see a lot more handsets in the future either, certainly the 6 month cycle was a big misstep but they look to be addressing that.



Speed wise the Z3 despite being an 801 it feels just as snappy as 805/810 and even the exynos. That I guess is another benefit of having a less heavy skin.



I've ordered a Sony smart flip case (like the Samsung sview) which will address my only complaint - it is a fingerprint magnet.

Throwing out cell reception issues which I would not have, what are your thoughts on the Sony versus the M9?

For that matter, versus the Alpha and Moto X 2014 as well.

 

[MRU]

Throwing out cell reception issues which I would not have, what are your thoughts on the Sony versus the M9?

For that matter, versus the Alpha and Moto X 2014 as well.

Moto x 2014 over Alpha. Moto X 2014 will be actively supported longer and overall I found it to be the better phone.

Z3 over M9 - I prefer the gui of the Z3 and how close to stock it is.

 

[MRU]

Sony's email app is very good. Seriously one of the best email apps I've used on Android.

 

[apolloa]

Sony's email app is very good. Seriously one of the best email apps I've used on Android.

I use the built in Android email app I thought? Not the google mail app, is this the Sony app you are talking about?
I do and I don't like the widget though, when you tap an email to expand it's content there doesn't seem to be a way to shrink it back down again.

 

[MRU]

I use the built in Android email app I thought? Not the google mail app, is this the Sony app you are talking about?
I do and I don't like the widget though, when you tap an email to expand it's content there doesn't seem to be a way to shrink it back down again.

The one on my Z3 is not the same as the stock android email - which is on the moto x and nexus (which has actually been retired for gmail now) but it does look very stock material like. I don't use widgets much at all, but I do find the layout and general user interface very good on it.

It handles conversation mode and general resizing of email excellently and the GUI is one of the best. It even supports PUSH for my .Mac email accounts something not many email apps do on android.

 

[apolloa]

The one on my Z3 is not the same as the stock android email - which is on the moto x and nexus (which has actually been retired for gmail now) but it does look very stock material like. I don't use widgets much at all, but I do find the layout and general user interface very good on it.

It handles conversation mode and general resizing of email excellently and the GUI is one of the best. It even supports PUSH for my .Mac email accounts something not many email apps do on android.

Must be the one I use then, because on my Sony tablet I use the email app simply called email and just assumed it was the built in Android alternative to the gmail app, but I was confused why it was still there and present after I updated to Sony's lollipop update, so it makes sense it is Sony's own email app but looks like the Android one.

 

[AppleRobert]

Moto x 2014 over Alpha. Moto X 2014 will be actively supported longer and overall I found it to be the better phone.

Z3 over M9 - I prefer the gui of the Z3 and how close to stock it is.

I am as hopeless as the rest here as I got a Z3 via Craigslist last night.

My concern for the screen was not for the quality but my peepers struggle with smallish displays and I generally go to readers to avoid headaches/eye strain.

So far so good last night though setting it up and using it without readers.

I too found myself liking the UI trying it at retailers. And loading it up with apps and switching back and forth knowing this device manages memory well influenced the purchase.

Pleased so far, the price being right always helps.

 

[MRU]

I am as hopeless as the rest here as I got a Z3 via Craigslist last night.

My concern for the screen was not for the quality but my peepers struggle with smallish displays and I generally go to readers to avoid headaches/eye strain.

So far so good last night though setting it up and using it without readers.

I too found myself liking the UI trying it at retailers. And loading it up with apps and switching back and forth knowing this device manages memory well influenced the purchase.

Pleased so far, the price being right always helps.

LOL... were all terrible. I have no problem with the screen myself size wise, and actually outdoor visibility is very good on it surprisingly.

 

[AppleRobert]

LOL... were all terrible. I have no problem with the screen myself size wise, and actually outdoor visibility is very good on it surprisingly.

Of note is the device's thickness and weight considering the 3100mAh battery size, it helps out alot with ergonomics.

I dumped the menu buttons by using the immersive mode app I found in the Play Store a short time ago. That helps with viewing pleasure and the display versus body size is about 70% which is slightly under the Moto X 2014 which I can live with.

I will take some snaps just out of curiosity, nothing that really influences me either way towards a purchase regardless.

 

[MRU]

Of note is the device's thickness and weight considering the 3100mAh battery size, it helps out alot with ergonomics.

I dumped the menu buttons by using the immersive mode app I found in the Play Store a short time ago. That helps with viewing pleasure and the display versus body size is about 70% which is slightly under the Moto X 2014 which I can live with.

I will take some snaps just out of curiosity, nothing that really influences me either way towards a purchase regardless.

Which app is that ? Can you post google play link please

 

[AppleRobert]

Which app is that ? Can you post google play link please

Image

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive&hl=en

you can get the pro edition and select the apps you want to use for this feature eliminating the nagivation buttons otherwise every app/game is included with the free version.

No root required.

 

[MRU]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive&hl=en

you can get the pro edition and select the apps you want to use for this feature eliminating the nagivation buttons otherwise every app/game is included with the free version.

No root required.

Cool thanks

 

[bubulol]

I ve rooted my Z3C, it works even better, no bloatwares, Xposed
Nova + Greenify + Xposed + Better Battery Stats + Amplify + Titanium

 

[gotluck]

Sony is looking really good in my eyes, this thread has been very helpful. Pretty likely that I will pick up a next gen Sony phone.

The only thing I dont like is the TA partition \ boot loader unlocking stuff. Looks like if one doesn't want to bone the camera and some other things, we must wait for a vulnerability based root method in order to back up the partition with the DRM keys (which currently exists on z3 and lower). Thats exactly the kind of crap I would like to avoid, but I may put up with it because I like their phones more than moto, nexus, or htc.

----------

I ve rooted my Z3C, it works even better, no bloatwares, Xposed
Nova + Greenify + Xposed + Better Battery Stats + Amplify + Titanium

Did you back up the ta partition, how was that experience? Or did you root without unlocking your boot loader?

 

[bubulol]

Yes i made a backup of TA partition in case of
No, unlocking BL is only needed for custom roms based on another kernel than Sony official one itself
Whole root process requires some knowlege of certains softwares and tad complicated due to the downgrade to 93 on Kitkat which is the key to get the root working (this version of fw actually allows you to root + install recovery)
- Flashtool, a software to update official fw with the benefit to downgrade or upgrade whenever you want
- ADB drivers

Nothing insurmontable but like i said a bit long and a tad complicated for users who dont get used to have Sony Xperia phones

I have the latest fw + root + recovery + xposed, after whole process, you dont need to start over anymore, that's pretty cool with recovery working on Lollipop

 

[gotluck]

Yes i made a backup of TA partition in case of
No, unlocking BL is only needed for custom roms based on another kernel than Sony official one itself
Whole root process requires some knowlege of certains softwares and tad complicated due to the downgrade to 93 on Kitkat which is the key to get the root working (this version of fw actually allows you to root + install recovery)
- Flashtool, a software to update official fw with the benefit to downgrade or upgrade whenever you want
- ADB drivers

Nothing insurmontable but like i said a bit long and a tad complicated for users who dont get used to have Sony Xperia phones

I have the latest fw + root + recovery + xposed, after whole process, you dont need to start over anymore, that's pretty cool with recovery working on Lollipop

thanks for posting, especially the details

I really have been spoiled by just rooting through the unlocked bootloader. My current phone is GS4 GPE, which behaves very similar to a nexus. After every OTA, I just fastboot CWM recovery and flash supersu. There is no 'hacking' because it is not using a vulnerability. My phone remains stock rom with stock recovery, easy peasy and able to take future OTAs. (I am able to do this even though I have never actually unlocked my bootloader, which still doesnt make sense to me, must be GS4 GPE specific bootloader thing but that's beside the point)

I was hoping on xperia

-wait for vulnerability based root so I can back up TA (probably wont buy phone until this is available)
-back up TA
-unlock bootloader
-restore TA
-root via recovery for any future update - seems like sony's recovery will be able to directly flash supersu? or at least via this new sony AOSP recovery I have been reading about? do you know if sony phones can do fastboot via ADB?

I was hoping to do the same process I do on GS4GPE, except backing up the TA first. Does the TA need to be backed up after every OTA, or is it one and done?

Its sounding like you are saying you dont lose root over OTA updates, which I am used to happening on my device. I have rerooted each time.

sorry for all the questions I think I need to read XDA

I really have no interest in Romming, I just want root without having to be reliant on exploits. Otherwise might as well go back to iOS ^^

I imagine this is the method you used?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343

It's no nexus but that may be good enough, now for the wait for the next Z, along with exploits for that phone, shame we have to wait. Needing only one exploitable firmware version is better than needed exploits for each and every OTA upgrade though.

 

[bubulol]

No, updatesfrom OTA will erase root
The best way to get root: pre-rooted fw that includes recovery
You need to backup TA partition once only
Yes i followed more or less this tuto
The thing with rooting process on Xperia, do not update from OTA and expect someone else on XDA found the exploit and get the pre-rooted version in order to flash trough recovery

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

No, updatesfrom OTA will erase root
The best way to get root: pre-rooted fw that includes recovery
You need to backup TA partition once only
Yes i followed more or less this tuto
The thing with rooting process on Xperia, do not update from OTA and expect someone else on XDA found the exploit and get the pre-rooted version in order to flash trough recovery

The thing with most Android updates is, incremental updates will kill root but you can use the same method to root again. It's usually upgrades from differ versions, like going from KitKat to Lollipop that you'll have to wait for a new exploit.

 

[bubulol]

Z3C was awful to get rooted, they eventually found exploit on Kitkat after months
They found exploit on Lollipop after few weeks only
The very good news about Xperia phone with Flashtool you can either downgrade or upgrade
e.g
Root on every Lollipop updates
Updating to Android M and wait root exploit or downgrade to Lollipop if not
I believe its a tad complicated in comparison of Nexus root process but if you want get root, you will achieve it!
Note its my first root and i was fully novice to any root knowledge, rooting doesnt require any computing skill but you must follow carefully step by step entire tuto
That the way to get root on your phone

 

[gotluck]

No, updatesfrom OTA will erase root
The best way to get root: pre-rooted fw that includes recovery
You need to backup TA partition once only
Yes i followed more or less this tuto
The thing with rooting process on Xperia, do not update from OTA and expect someone else on XDA found the exploit and get the pre-rooted version in order to flash trough recovery

Thanks for the comments

It seems like flashtool will work with new phones going forward because this is a Sony sanctioned tool right?