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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review: small size, big deal
Smartphones are getting bigger with every generation, every new model. Even Apple, champion of the small screen, has finally caved to the trend. Over the past few years, however, some of the major smartphone players have taken to creating "mini" versions of their top handsets to satisfy those who still crave a smaller device. While these petite imitations benefit from shared design and branding, their hardware specifications are usually no match for the flagships they mimic. Sony does things a little differently, though, shunning the "mini" moniker and preserving as many high-end features as possible in its smaller devices. Case in point: the new Xperia Z3 Compact, which crams the best of the 5.2-inch Z3 into a 4.6-inch body, and is basically everything you could want in a smaller smartphone.
Sony's pint-sized yet powerful Xperia Z3 Compact reaches the US
Sony may not have launched its small-yet-potent Xperia Z3 Compact smartphone through a US carrier, but it just delivered the next best thing. The tech firm has started selling an unlocked version of the Z3 Compact on its American online store for $530. It's virtually identical to what Sony launched in Europe, complete with a 4.6-inch display, speedy Snapdragon 801 chip and 20.7-megapixel camera, but it packs native LTE data support for AT&T, T-Mobile and other US carriers that share their frequencies. You can even get it in bright orange or seafoam green if black or white seems too drab. You'll still have to spring for the full-size Z3 or Z3v if you want Sony's latest tech without paying the full cost up front, but this could easily fit the bill (and your pocket) if you have the cash to spend.
Where to buy Sony's Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact
It's a pretty interesting time to be in the market for a new mobile. Over the past month, we've seen Samsung's Galaxy Alpha and Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, not to mention Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 will join that list in a few weeks. And as if you didn't have a hard enough choice already, Sony's latest handsets are now available in the UK, too. With a design that's almost identical to the company's previous flagship, the Xperia Z3 crams future-proof specs into a thinner and lighter package. The Xperia Z3 Compact is for those who prefer a smaller device, and while some specs like screen resolution have taken a hit in the shrinking process, the Z3's powerful chipset and camera have made a full transition to the miniature model. But how much are they, and where can I get 'em?! Woah, calm down with the questions there buddy -- we got you covered.
The Xperia Z3 Compact is a cut-down version of Sony's latest flagship
Sony may've decided against making a pint-sized variant of its previous leading device, but not this generation. The company's announced at its IFA press conference the Xperia Z3 Compact, a smaller version of the new flagship also revealed today. Here's the thing to remember about the smaller variant -- it packs the same quad-core 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset under the hood, 20.7-megapixel rear camera (complete with Sony's Exmor RS sensor) and the same sort of rounded waterproof chassis as its big brother. It's the screen that differs most dramatically -- we're looking at a 4.6-inch Triluminos display running at 720p, a pretty significant step down from the 5.2-inch 1080p panel that graces the full-size Z3. Yeah, we know, a 720p screen seems downright passé these days, but it might be a small price to pay for someone tired of all these pocket-busting phablets floating around out there. Of course, you can also expect that slightly less impressive screen to drive the Z3 Compact's price tag down, though at this point we're not entirely sure how much cheaper it'll be than the Z3 when it launches this fall. Update: Check out our hands-on for a deeper look.
