The BEST phone/camera phone is here...

[Bettyboo]

It has a super fast processor for everything internet/media. A great screen. A long battery life. One of the best cameras. Great for video. Waterproof. Cheap. High quality, none of this cheap plastic horribleness.

Same size as the iPhone 5s, but superior in every way, and much cheaper.

Smaller than the horribly big S4 and phablets, but more powerful in every way.



The smallest of the Xperia Z line feels good in the hand, is sturdily built and is waterproof. It has a great screen, an excellent camera and applications simply fly on its powerful processor.

It also lasts around two days on a single charge without having to resort to aggressive power management. It is slightly thicker than competing phones like the 4in iPhone 5S, and is slightly heavier too, but in general usage its not noticeable. Its smaller frame makes it easy to use one handed and slip into your pocket.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: small, premium - and a great phone | Technology | theguardian.com

Wins the cameraphone shootouts.

To say that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is a remarkable device would be a huge understatement. It is a phone that boldly breaks the status quo among Android high-ends – a phone the very existence of which proves that a top-notch Android device can come in a relatively small, pocket-friendly package. Design, however, isn't the only thing there is to like about the Z1 Compact. One should also be excited about the 20.7MP camera that the phone comes equipped with. The snapper isn't just good. It ranks among the best that we've come across recently, which makes the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact well worthy of being stacked against the big boys in the cameraphone department.

Camera comparison: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Xperia Z1, LG G2, iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One

Wins the powerprocessor shootouts.

One of the biggest things that stands out on the spec sheet is the Z1 Compact comes with flagship-sized insides. Sony has kept the same Snapdragon 800 SoC that packs a 2.2GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 330 GP, as well as the 2GB RAM that keeps it all running smoothly.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: Big Heart, Big Camera, Small frame | Phone Reviews | TechRadar

Wins the battery length shootouts.

Despite coming with more powerful innards than the Galaxy S4 Mini and the HTC One Mini, I found that the battery life of the Xperia Z1 Compact was equally good, if not better. Where a day's use of the S4 Mini left me with just over 30%, the same usage of the Z1 Compact yielded around 20% higher. The Xperia Z1 Compact also performed well against the HTC One (which also packs in a 2300mAh battery) in day to day use.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: Battery life | Phone Reviews | TechRadar

&, my new beauty, will be:



Sony has done with its mini phone what we hoped other manufacturers would do with theirs -- shrink the size of the flagship, but keep the elite lineup of specs. Mix in the waterproof construction, the beautiful design and the good camera and the Z1 Compact is a superb phone for those who don't want their pockets stretched out by 5-inch goliaths.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review - Watch CNET's Video Review - page 2

[alwarner]

price?

[Looper]

My GF got the Xperia Z1 last week. She reckons the camera is not very good. The results certainly do not look good to me.

I have been looking at getting a bigger phone since her screen is now 0.3 inches bigger than my Nexus.

I was looking at the Note 3 and the Z Ultra.

I think I will have to go for the Note 3

Note 3
1. Fits in your pocket (just) whereas Z Ultra does not
2. Camera is much better
3. Z Ultra has no LED flash which I use as a torch quite a lot
4. S Pen. I like a stylus for navigating fiddly small links on web pages
5. Z Ultra looks a bit silly when you are holding it to your face as a phone but Note 3 looks OK (just)

Z Ultra
1. Water proof
2. Stylish design (when you are not holding it to your face)
3. Screen is a bit bigger (but body is too tall)
4. Super slim 6.5 mm (2mm thinner than Z1) but that means it has to be tall to accommodate circuitry
5. Works with stylus (no stylus supplied but you can use anything)
6. Cheap - $520 versus $760 for the Note 3

[beazalbob69]

Actually this is the phone you want (unless you are a Sony fanboy...looking at you Betty lol) about $350 and does everything right as far as I can tell. Should be available in Thailand.

Google Nexus 5 - Smartphone Review - Tom's Hardware

[Bettyboo]

^it is a very good phone. Weaker than the new Sony is every department though. cheaper than the Sony though by maybe 200 squids? Excellent for the price.

price?

About 450 British pounds, I think - has SD card expansion, so that's comparable to a 700 pounds + iPhone 5s, but better.

My GF got the Xperia Z1 last week. She reckons the camera is not very good. The results certainly do not look good to me.

That will probably be your gf... The Sonys come out top or near top in the cameraphone shootouts - their week point being night and low light shots.

I have been looking at getting a bigger phone since her screen is now 0.3 inches bigger than my Nexus.

My 5" is too big. I prefer the iPhone 5s size, as per this new Sony. Big handed buffoons such as Baldrick like the big phablets, but the Xperia Z Ultra just seems massive to me. I'd rather have the smaller sized phone and carry an 8" tablet if I need a bigger screen. I won't be watching a film on a 5"or a 6" phone...

[nigelandjan]

Looks a beut , would love to see some images from it.

[alwarner]

Looks like a good phone. Cheap it aint.

[baldrick]

I think I will have to go for the Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos - Full phone specifications

the only thing the sony has going for it is the "waterproof" bit

[Bettyboo]

^as you know, I just wouldn't buy a Samsung, the build quality/feel is horrible. My missus' Galaxy 2 has been problem after problem and looks like crap even though she keeps it in a case. My xperia Z has no case, I stick it in my pocket with my keys, still looks like new, and I've had zero problems. The xperia Z range is far superior to anything Samsung produces with regard to build quality. The HTC One is great, as is the iPhone 5s, but they both need to be kept in cases or they look tatty very quickly.

I suspect that Looper has a bit more style than you, Badders...

Looks like a good phone. Cheap it aint.

Relatively...

It's the Android version of an iPhone 5s. So it's several hundred pounds cheaper than that. But, you're right, it's still a top end phone, and a price to support that - big processor, big camera lens, high quality screen, costs...

[withnallstoke]

"Bettyboo reads about fagphones".

[alwarner]

I like the phone, just can't see myself parting with that kind of cash. 10,000 tops. Decent spec laptop for 20K!!

[beazalbob69]

My GF got the Xperia Z1 last week. She reckons the camera is not very good. The results certainly do not look good to me.

Stupid question Looper buy did she take off the plastic covering that comes on the lens when you buy a new phone? I didn't notice it on the I-Mobile I bought for a couple of weeks lol. Was taking horrible pics until I removed it.

[Bettyboo]

[Bettyboo]

[Davis Knowlton]

I just looked it up on four different sites. It gets generally poor reviews across the board.

[aging one]

Davis we are talking love here, nothing to do with a phone.

[Bettyboo]

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Apple iPhone 5s

Design
As we said, in addition to the bonus features of the Compact, such as microSD card slot, Sony's handset is also water- and dust-proof (IP58), which is something that the iPhone 5s can't offer.

Display
We're happy to see Sony using IPS LCD tech in the Xperia Z1 Compact. Unlike the screens used in its previous devices, this one actually has livelier colors, while viewing angles are finally reasonably good. The 720p resolution results in a slightly higher pixel density (clarity) of 342 ppi, compared to the iPhone 5's 326 ppi. That's despite the fact that the Z1 Compact also has a slightly larger screen (4.3 inches), which makes it a bit more desirable than the iPhone's 4” panel.

Interface and functionality
Besides, the harder-to-get-used-to Android platform has some definite advantages for the tech-savvy people out there, like easier access to information (using widgets), microSD card support, USB mass storage mode, as well as higher customizability of the whole platform.

Processor and Memory
Both strong processors, check the link for the tests.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Apple iPhone 5s - Interface and Functionality

Apple’s prodigy, as we know, is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities. In comparison, there’s only a single model of the Xperia Z1 Compact, which is stuffed with 16GB of storage. As we mentioned earlier, Sony’s flagship has more flexibility due to its microSD card slot.

Internet and Connectivity
Both handsets feature LTE connectivity, and in theory, they can achieve faster speeds with their LTE Cat4 downlink of up to 150 Mbit/s. Of course, HSPA+ is there for those users who don't have access to LTE yet, which, we guess, is most users out there in other parts of the world.

GPS and Glonass are supported by both devices, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and all the latest Wi-Fi protocols, except for '802.11 ac', which is only supported by the Z1 Compact. NFC and DLNA are only available on the Z1 Compact

Camera
Even though the pictures from the iPhone 5s look very pleasing, it must be noted that Apple's handset tends to boost the contrast and color saturation a bit in order to produce those fancy results. On the other hand, the color reproduction in the Z1 Compact’s photographs is slightly more natural and true-to-life in its better photos.

Battery
the Z1 Compact easily outlasts the iPhone 5s. 3G talk-time with the Z1 Compact, for example, is rated at the cool 18 hours (versus 10 hours for the iPhone 5s), while 3G stand-by time for the Compact stands at 25 days (versus 10 days for the iPhone 5s).

http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/So..._id3550/page/4

[Bettyboo]

I just looked it up on four different sites. It gets generally poor reviews across the board.

Really? Are you sure you looked up the right phone? Maybe you're looking at the Z1, which is a different phone, gets decent reviews but not as strong as this phone.

It gets 4.5 or 5 stars out of 5 on the dozen or so websites I've looked at.

What reasons are given for it being 'poor'?

[Looper]

I'd rather have the smaller sized phone and carry an 8" tablet if I need a bigger screen.

Lateral thinking. Yes. 2 devices could be the solution. I only want the bigger screen for when I am at the beach and want a quick surf on the net. But I want a phone small enough for my pocket. Only thing is my phone has the 3G connection. I could share using hotspot but that is burning down 2 batteries which seems not so good.

Stupid question Looper buy did she take off the plastic covering that comes on the lens when you buy a new phone

Good idea Bob. I will check. The photos she has taken are in bright light but the zoom shots are horrible and even the non-zoom show obvious noise and artifacts.

[Bettyboo]

I only want the bigger screen for when I am at the beach and want a quick surf. But I want a phone small enough for my pocket.

My 5" screen isn't particularly good for surfing, I don't use it for that - you need a minimum of an 8" tablet imho. The small Apple tablet is great for just surfing.

Re the pics on your gfs Z1, Looper. I've read a lot of reviews and the z1 comes out equal or better than the i5s (except for low light photos), and the i5s is good, so it must be an issue with the gf/settings/etc? My xperia Z is decent for pictures (miles better than the s2, and a bit better than the s3, about the same as the s4), and the Z1 is a lot better, so she shouldn't be getting pic problems.

[Looper]

^could well be. But a camera comparison of the Z Ultra versus Note 3 had a hands down win for the Note 3. Maybe Z Ultra has different camera unit from Z1.

[Bettyboo]

^could well be. But a camera comparison of the Z Ultra versus Note 3 had a hands down win for the Note 3. Maybe Z Ultra has different camera unit from Z1.

Yes, it has. Only a shitty 8mp camera on the Ultra - not good.

The Z1 has the 21 mp camera with a proper lens.

This link shows the spec comparison. I don't like the Z1 ultra.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs Sony Xperia Z1 - Phone specs comparison

One reason I really like this Z1 compact is that it's a small (iPhone sized) phone with the highest quality camera available on an Android phone. It has a dedicated camera button too with autostart, so it makes for a really handy camera. Won't be as good as a 10,000 baht canon camera, but it's decent...

[harrybarracuda]

You still plugging this nip shit Boo? Really?

[Bettyboo]

You still plugging this nip shit Boo? Really?

'Arry - it's pink!

[withnallstoke]

"Bettyboo reads about fagphones".

I just looked it up on four different sites.