All Sections

Hands on: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, best mini phone of 2014?

Sony’s latest ‘mini’ phone, the 4.6-inch Xperia Z3 Compact, packs in some seriously premium specs and almost all of the features of the full-sized Xperia Z3.

Update: We’ve had a full, extensive play with the phone now, so check out our in-depth Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review.

When it comes to Sony’s mini phones, the Japanese giant aims for no compromise on features and specs; just a different form factor to the full-sized models. And the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact already looks like the best mini smartphone of the year, thanks to the impressive specs and features packed inside.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact launches at IFA 2014, the best mini phone of 2014 so far

The Xperia Z3 Compact keeps almost the same dimensions as the Xperia Z1 Compact, with an 8.7mm-thick frame that weighs around 10g less. But Sony has boosted the screen, from a 4.5-incher to a 4.6-display.

It’s still a 720p screen, but at this size that’s a strong enough resolution to keep your movies and photos looking gorgeously crisp. Just check out this cute little fella if you don’t believe us.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact launches at IFA 2014, the best mini phone of 2014 so far

The Xperia Z3 Compact’s frame has changed too, with a funky inverted effect along the plastic edging. Once again it’s a fantastically comfortable phone to clutch and play with one-handed, and we’d be highly tempted to choose the Compact over the full-sized Xperia Z3 as our personal handset.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact launches at IFA 2014, the best mini phone of 2014 so far 

You get the same awesome Hi-Res audio features (check out our Z3 hands-on review for more info), the same PS4 streaming abilities, the same two-day battery life (allegedly), the same camera with its full range of interesting and bizarre features and the same slick performance.

Compare that with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini, which slashes both features and specs to fit a smaller frame, and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a ridiculously enticing prospect for anyone after a more manageable handset.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact launches at IFA 2014, the best mini phone of 2014 so far

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is hitting the UK in the coming month, although pricing is yet to be revealed.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *