[Q] Moto X or Sony Xperia Z3 Compact - X 2014 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I like stock android and moto features but it looks like the z3 is better when it comes to specs. which one do you prefer?

Better in terms of what specs? Both have the same Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz processor, same amount of RAM. The Moto X in its favor has a 1080p AMOLED display, a larger 5.2in screen, stock android, and customizability. The Z3 Compact in its favor has a slightly larger battery (2600 mah vs 2300 mah), a greater battery life, a microSD slot, and a waterproof (vs splash resistant) design. All I will say is that if you're looking for updates, there's no question that the Moto X wins out as it is already on 5.0. The Z3 Compact will likely receive it early next year. There's also the fact that the Moto additions such as Display, Assist, and Voice aren't available anywhere else. Your choice depends on whether you prefer battery life, a waterproof design, and a microSD slot above stock android, fast updates, hardware customizability, and a higher resolution screen.

samarth1 said:
Better in terms of what specs? Both have the same Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz processor, same amount of RAM. The Moto X in its favor has a 1080p AMOLED display, a larger 5.2in screen, stock android, and customizability. The Z3 Compact in its favor has a slightly larger battery (2600 mah vs 2300 mah), a greater battery life, a microSD slot, and a waterproof (vs splash resistant) design. All I will say is that if you're looking for updates, there's no question that the Moto X wins out as it is already on 5.0. The Z3 Compact will likely receive it early next year. There's also the fact that the Moto additions such as Display, Assist, and Voice aren't available anywhere else. Your choice depends on whether you prefer battery life, a waterproof design, and a microSD slot above stock android, fast updates, hardware customizability, and a higher resolution screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes but which phone do you think has a better investment, future proof and overall?

The Moto X is in another league compared to the Z3 Compact, build quality alone sees to that.
A better comparison would be with the Z3 proper.

If by future proofing you mean updates, then there's only 1 answer to that: Moto X. You've seen by now how quickly the Moto X got the updates to KitKat and to Lollipop. Sony can never be as fast as that simply because they choose to put their UI on the phone, which, unless it undergoes some plastic surgery when their 5.0 update rolls out, looks extremely boring and dated. I've had a Z2 before, and trust me, its UI got tiring after a while, especially when you see all the little places where the system lags in comparison to stock android (try pressing on the multitasking button with the X and the Z2/Z3 side by side, you'll see what I mean).

I used the Z3c for about 10-days before I sold it and got my leather backed Moto X. The Z3c is a decent phone, but it feels so delicate, and the super slippery glass front and back made me feel like I was going to drop it all the time. The speakers are horrible, supposedly from the waterproofing, but they sounded very muffled. My Moto X, even compared to 1st gen, has a wonderful sound quality, and is plenty loud enough. The flaps on the side (Z3c) are not very attractive, and it seemed like over time would get very tedious to use. One cool feature though is the addition of the magnetic charging port (like on a MacBook), but it was pretty fiddly to get it to seat right, and didn't play well with my car dock. The Z3c screen is really bright and clear and could easily be seen in direct sunlight, and the camera is leagues ahead of the MotoX despite having dozens of camera filter modes to wade through. On paper the Z3c comes out ahead of the Moto X, but as far as usability, ease of use, feel in the hand, build quality, and pure(ish) android the Moto X is a much better phone. And, one more thing, one you get used to the Moto's active display, driving mode, and always listening stuff it's really hard to live without.

Pretty different phones. I think the compact is more similar to the 2013 Moto X (screen size and resolution). I would take a compact over a 2013 X. The new 2014 X compares much more closely to the full Z3. I looked at a Z2 a while back, and it felt a lot bigger in the hand than the 2014 Moto X. I don't think it was really that much bigger, but the appearance in the hand was. If you are all in the Sony experience, have a PS4 and all that, then the Z3 could be cool - but for a straight-up clean Android experience phone, I would go Moto X. Now, the Z4 looks to be pretty cool with an 810 and Sony's new camera hardware. About 6 months out.

I happen to own both a Moto X and a z3 compact. I love love love my z3 compact. Best battery life I've seen on any phone that I have owned and I own at least 6 or 7 different phones per year. Both the Moto X and the z3 compact feel really good in the hand. I was using my z3 compact as my daily driver until 5.0 dropped in the Moto X. I will be switching back to it when lollipop drops on it. I really did not expect to like the device as much as I have. I raved about the device so much to my co-workers at swappa that two of them went out and bought the phone. The skin on the sony is not bad at all either. I think both are great phones but I will admit my z3 compact is my favorite. I buy and sell phones all the time and my z3 compact is one I don't even consider selling.. And I love the device so much that I got square trade on it just in case something happens to it.. My 2 other current phones and any of my tablets do not have square trade.. Only my z3 compact. If running stock Android and the latest version of Android is important to you then I would say stay with the Moto X. If you want a perfect size device, with a great camera and don't mind waiting for Sony for lollipop and want a phone with amazing battery life (with heavy use I get over a day and a half with very minimal usage I've gotten 4 days!) I really am impressed with that device.. Much more than I thought I'd be. You can't really lose either way honestly.

Related

[Q] Sony Z1 vs Nexus 5, Help

Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
ironfoxmind said:
Hi all just wanted to have your opinion since most of you are Z1 owners and I'm thinking of buying either the Sony Z1 Compact which just got announced and has the same specs as the Z1 but in a smaller formfactor or the Nexus 5.
I used to have the htc One mini coz it's more suited for one hand use than the htc One but the battery life is simply horrible and not a lot of ROM support.
So I'm asking Z1 users if you recommend the Z1 over the Nexus or vice versa ???
And is Sony updating their devices to the latest Android version or Like Samsung they just slow in pushing updates??????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally bro I'd recommend the z1, it really is a monster Android device which is SUPER smooth and handles anything you can throw at it (software wise), personally I also think it is the better looking of the two. Honestly people have ripped this phone to shreds with saying this and that but at the end of the day (I must be very lucky) mine is perfect and it works like a charm
I think Sony is definitely one of the better manufactures to release timely updates, Samsung are just horrible!!! The z1 is getting KitKat very soon, in a few weeks time so that's awesome! But NO phone on earth can compete with a Nexus device when it comes to the latest and greatest Android release from Google. I really like Nexus for that reason, and also custom firmware support far out shines most (if not) all devices.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that spec wise, the Nexus 5 doesn't even come close to the z1.
Good luck in your decision :good:
EDIT: Oh I just saw on phonearena that they are pretty similar spec wise.
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
Like @NanoSurfer already says: all boils down to personal preference
I was also comparing this 2 devices. I like to have the newest OS, but I also like to have a device that is not only a plastic-bomb. So my preference went to Sony and Z1 because of the design and the specs that alltogether make my decision easy. Sure, 4.4 is out, Nexus devices had it and the number of CustomROMs is not so small. But, when the time comes, we also get 4.4 and with this there would be some other ROMs available.
I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in this thread so I'm bringing it up. The Xperia Z1 Compact is IP58 waterproof (continuous submersion at 1.5m), so on that account you can't really compare the two... and by that I mean that between the top of the line specs in a small form factor, the support for external storage, the premium feel from the Xperia Z1, the far above average developer support from the manufacturer and the waterproofing, I'd certainly have the Xperia Z1 Compact above literally any other smartphone available on the market today.
That said there are obviously pros to the Nexus 5 as well, such as the extreme level of community development going on, the wireless charging and the speedy official updates.
Compared to the Nexus 5 I think the Z1 Compact will have better battery life as well, on account of it having the same amperage battery, slightly slower clock frequency and lower (but still definitely high enough) resolution.
In the end the Z1 Compact is a clear winner in my book.
I share the exact same thoughts. Can't believe I glossed over the water-proofing in my initial comparison
-Collin-
CollinFX45 said:
It's really hard to compare the two because software-wise they may be on the same level, but just about everything else is different. I've owned both the Z1 and the N5 and I plan to get the Z1S the day it comes out.
They're so different because of the size. I truly felt like the Z1 was the size of a "phablet," and yes I hate that term but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. I had trouble fitting the Z1 in my pocket whereas the N5 was a perfect form factor for me. If you're dead set on getting KitKat and the latest updates, Nexus 5 or Moto X are your best choices (Moto X got KitKat before the Nexus 4, which was impressive). I've used the Moto X as my daily driver for a few weeks and have zero complaints. Switching carriers, however, is bringing me back into the market of new phones on T-Mobile.
Anyway, I really suggest trying to go to a Sony store to see the Z1. You're in for a very rude awakening if one-handed use is of utmost priority. I think I have normal-sized hands and the phone felt very large. I owned the G2 as well (which I would HIGHLY recommend you consider) and it was every bit as good as the Sony in every way sans build quality. It's fine, but, it's no Sony! Sony has a truly unique, high-end design. The penalty, however, is the bulk and weight. Also, even though the G2 and Z1 had the same battery size, the G2 lasted WAY longer on a charge for me.
To be honest there is no bad choice and I don't know if I made your decision any easier, but there's my objective thoughts on each of the phones. We're fortunate to have to make these hard decisions because really, you cannot go wrong.
On a final note, I found the battery life to be unacceptable on the N5 which was my reason for return. I also found it had extreme difficulty picking up and keeping a signal in comparison to the Moto X. Sometimes we forget that phones need to, well, work as phones and signal strength is a top priority for me.
Cheers!
-Collin-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
ironfoxmind said:
I've thought about the G2 its an awesome device with a huge battery and fits the hand perfectly but i got turned off by the horrible Android layout of LG and the plastic build quality. plus its more expensive than the Z1 Compact & Nexus 5 at least in my country.
I used to love Sony-Ericsson mobile before the Android era and especially now that they finally announce the Z1 compact which is the Z1S high end specs and not so large for one hand use made it so appealing to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
shem2409 said:
Here is my hands on comparison between the two. Maybe that will help you to make up your mind. I would choose the Z1 without a doubt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome review
Rekoil said:
Why do people keep talking about the Z1S? You know it's just the Z1 with T-Mobile support, plastic frame and a larger body right?
EDIT: The Z1S is literally a cheaper-to-manufacture, higher-margain-for-carrier, version of the Z1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that's correct, but the addition of wifi calling is why I have to go with that version. When I step inside my building at work, T-mo drops and I rely on the wifi. The normal Z1 doesn't have it obviously.
I cannot believe they made this BIGGER! I mean, the Z1 is big, but why would this one be bigger? Argh.
-Collin-

[Q] Z3C or Moto X 2014?

Hi, i'm planning to buy a new phone. Currently i've a Samsung Galaxy S2 (i9100) and want something faster and updated.
After consider various options (phones features, prices, availability in my country) i reduced the list to the Motorola Moto X 2014 and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.
The things that interest me are:
Good audio quality and volume with headphones. I own a Sennheiser HD 429s headphones, wich have 32 ohm of impedance, so with the S2 i must use headphone amplifier (FiiO E6) for get more volume and "definition". My idea with a new phone is use the headphones without the amplifier (because the HD 429s have mic, and with the amplifier i cannot use)
Good Android support and fast updates. I think the Moto X is best on this point compared to the Z3C (pure Android & updates), but also know the Sony AOSP project and the efforts of Sony to bring Lollipop quickly.
Good community support and ROMs. I love to install ROMS and get the better of my device. Currently have CM10.2 on my S2. I think the Moto X will be better on this point
Powerful performance. Both devices have Snapdragon 801 @2.5 Ghz, so i think the performance is guaranteed. But ¿the customized UI on the Z3C affects the performance of the phone? ¿is best to performance getting pure Android, as on Moto X?
Good battery life and construction quality. I want to escape from all-plastic Samsung devices. Also, i don't want a big phone. The 5.2" screen and phone size of the Moto X is the maximum size that i can bear
So, what phone you recommend to buy guys? Someone have tested the phones with 32 ohm headphones?
Thanks.:good:
If you read through some of the other threads, you'll find answers to most of these questions pretty easily, as this has all been discussed. But... I'll summarize.
Audio is "fine". Some details on the actual output levels here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55794990&postcount=13. You'll also easily find references to other users with similar headphone setup and without complaints, but everyone is different.
Unknown about updates yet, as there's only been one revision to Android of concern, and it's still rolling out. Supposed to be available on Z3C but who knows until it actually releases. If you unlock bootloader you lose DRM permanently, so this is a big barrier to entry for other ROMS.
Performance is on par with other platforms with same hardware.
Construction quality is GREAT, IMO, and this really feels like a premium device. Big size difference between this and 2014 X though... I prefer smaller.
Curious why you're considering two phones so different in size. Why not the regular Z3 if you're also considering the Moto X? Many people seem to buy the Z3c for its size and battery life (me included) but the regular Z3 would be a no brainer if I was willing to tote around a 5" phone because it has arguably better build quality than the Z3c, a better screen, and just as good battery life.
Additionally the Z3 has a higher voltage output so it will drive your headphones better. The Z3 compact has a slightly lower voltage output than the Z3. I saw it somewhere but i cannot remember the exact values.
The Phone with the highest voltage output is according to this (http://forums.androidcentral.com/sony-xperia-z3/451120-z3-headphones-earphones-audio-output.html) the HTC M8. If you dont mind the size, and you want the best soundexperience i guess it is a phone that you cannot go wrong with. Also it does not have a plastic body.
As regards updates i think the new lollipop android for HTC was supposed to come earlier than for Sony phones. This is as far as i remember.
Performancewise the Z3 compact is top notch, you cant go wrong.
Batter life is excellent.
720p is totally fine for the screen size.
Sony UI is okay, but i would not worry too much it may look a bit outdated but runs fine and lagfree. And a new system is coming up anyway.
As for the Moto X i cant tell you much , in the end just read a couple of reviews and find out what you need/want in a phone. Then consider the prices, if you care about them. Then your decision will be made.
Pardon me the OT: Santiago, as in Santiago, Chile?
EDIT: Realized you are from Chile haha. Im too. Im betting you want to move to Movistar to get one of the two.
I have the same doubt, whether to get a Moto X 2014 or a Z3 Compact hahaha
pipspeak said:
Curious why you're considering two phones so different in size. Why not the regular Z3 if you're also considering the Moto X? Many people seem to buy the Z3c for its size and battery life (me included) but the regular Z3 would be a no brainer if I was willing to tote around a 5" phone because it has arguably better build quality than the Z3c, a better screen, and just as good battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because in our country, one carrier company is selling the Moto X and the Z3 Compact + Smartband, at a very reduced price on 18-month contract (that's common in Chile). The regular Z3 is expensive.
Matter of fact, the difference between Moto X and Z3 Compact is that the Z3 Compact is (proportionally) 10 bucks (Z3 compact being the ""more"" expensive device)

[Q] Do i buy a z3 compact? Or better a LG G2?

Hello,
I am Daniel, from Argentina, and I am doubting on buying a LG G2 or a Z3 Compact.
I know they are quite diferent (z3 is from 2014 and G2 is from 2013), but Snapdragon 800 or 801 does not make difference to me.
My first choice is Z3 compact for its battery, but is that good? Because someone talks about 5 hours screen, other of 8 hours, so, is good or G2's battery is better?
Is there any con of Z3C? I have read about glass cracking by itself, i should worry about that? Is there other con?
Prices here are, LG G2 is 500uss and z3 700uss. Which one i pick??
Thanks and sorry for my english
Daniel
I'd wait for the z4, it will be announced in January..
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium HD app
pricey2009 said:
I'd wait for the z4, it will be announced in January..
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pricey first of all first of answering
The problem of waiting is that i am from Argentina, and here we are like Cuba or Venezuela and our president block imports. So smartphones come late, and as you see expensive.
If i wait for z4 compact, here is reaching on march luckily and very expensive. Also i heard that z4 compact will have 1080p so i think that is going to reduce battery endurance that is what matters me.
Just suck it up and go for z3c u wont regret it
Do you have any knowledge, experience or opinion of LG and Sony's respective versions of Android, as that might be a factor for you too.
I have both phones and although the G2 is still a fine phone with regard to hardware, I personally disliked LG's software. The good news is if you are not afraid to root there is a strong community here on XDA and Lollipop is already available through CM 12 and other custom roms. LG's own official version of 5.0 should reach the G2 early next year, so you will get the sanctioned update soon.
The Z3c wins out over the G2 for me through it's better form factor and also support for external storage. I love both the back buttons and the resultant ultra thin bezels on the G2 but the Z3c is pretty much the perfect size for my tastes. I do have Google Music locker but prefer to have most of my music and other media stored locally, which I can do on my 128GB sd card. I am not sure if storage capacity is important to you - if it is you should definitely look at the Z3c, or maybe a cheaper phone with a SD card slot.
I believe the battery life is slightly better on the Z3c vs the G2, but that's just with my usage patterns, YMMV. Both have strong battery life in general and most reviews I've read have seen them both compare well to rivals like the M8 or SGS5.
I don't doubt those people who have suffered spontaneous glass cracking but I do believe it to be a tiny minority versus those who like me have had no issues to date.
The key imo for your decision is the price differential. I think that assuming the $200 difference between the phones is without any special discount to either, the G2 is better value for money. In isolation I definitely would take the Z3c over the G2, but if you can get the G2 for that much cheaper I would go with that.
These are my two favorite android phones. The LG G2 has a triple threat for themes: If you like LG's heavy theme, that's the stock theme. If you want something more minimalistic but not stock, there are roms based on the LG G3 revisions. If you like AOSP, it's similarity with the Nexus 5 means it will usually have things ported quickly. If a US version only had microSD, it would be the perfect phone. LG, having the Nexus phone assignment for two years, grew big in their android phone sales and support.
In the $175-250 USD Range (ebay selling prices of US LG G2s), there is no better value for the money as the snapdragon 800 is very similiar to the 801 and the screen/body ratio is great (and it's not 5.5").
The Z3 is the android phone we've been waiting for, putting best in class performance in a small-phone package. My biggest issues with the phone are the glass back (solved with a 1.29 case) and the screen/weight ratio. Sony's anti-root policy is such that unlocking the boot-loader disables camera algos, ps4 and screen mirroring capability.
Battery life on both phones is very good, as both phones have large batteries. The camera's on both phones are very good. The screens are very good on both phones. The sound is better on the sony.
On an economic level, it's hard to recommend paying anywhere near retail for an android phone so close to the CES/MWC 2015 as Snapdragon 810s may do to our phones what the Snapdragon 800/801 did to the Snapdragon 600 (remember the last time a phone even used a SD 600).
rp3 said:
On an economic level, it's hard to recommend paying anywhere near retail for an android phone so close to the CES/MWC 2015 as Snapdragon 810s may do to our phones what the Snapdragon 800/801 did to the Snapdragon 600 (remember the last time a phone even used a SD 600).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks rp3, do you think Sony is launching a z4 compact on CES/MWC 2015? Or will be only z4 with no compact version as z2?
You may be surprised, but G2 wins
Hi DanielGatti, since your criteria is the battery life, Z3 Compact has slightly better battery life than G2. But that's it actually. I'm using Nexus 5 (over a year now), G2 (July 2014) and Xperia Z3C (end of Oct 2014) at the moment and all I can say the only thing I like with Xperia Z3C is that it's fit in the hand. So it's very comfortable to hold. Actually no, because the glass back is very slippery in the hand. But G2's bigger screen is much more compelling.
The thing is, G2's still stuck with KitKat 4.2, so some apps may crash regularly (one of them is mobileVoIP I often use). But if you ask me what is my favourite: Nexus 5 is still the king (shame that LG doesn't put the same battery capacity in it that it built in G2!).
I have read rumors of a Z4C. They are just that. I'd say 50/50 that sony launches one and 75/25 that someone else launches a high-end sub 5" phone. My reason is this: the iphone 6 and 6+ launch means every android maker needs to compete on the high end with 4, 4.7 and 5.5 standard bearer (and beat them on either performance, weight or screen/body). The HTC rumors of a 5' flagship (and the samsung Galaxy Alpha starting a new design language) make it more likely that sub 5" phones will have better than a snapdragon 410 next year.
pricey2009 said:
I'd wait for the z4, it will be announced in January..
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it sure there'll be a compact version?
slaia said:
But G2's bigger screen is much more compelling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is G2 display better than Z3C display???? {obviusly not having on count the size, i am talking about nits and other technical stuff}
According to their GSM Arena reviews, the Z3 Compact is 10% brighter at full brightnes but 30% less contrast. The Z3C also has 30% better sunlight visability contrast. Having those two phones in hand now (just bought a LG G2 and listing Z3c on swappa), I wouldn't disagree with the indoors ratings (I am rarely outside during sunlight looking at my phone screen).
DanielGatti said:
Is G2 display better than Z3C display???? {obviusly not having on count the size, i am talking about nits and other technical stuff}
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not competent enough to talk about nits and other technical stuff. But for me as user it's enough to put the device side by side and see which one looks better. G2's screen is better because it looks gorgeous with its bigger size, while everything looks tiny on Z3C's screen. Z3C display also looks too dark and cold. You have to play with the settings in order to find the best for you.
I had an LG G2 on Verizon in the US and switched to a Z3 Compact on T-Mobile. Comparing the two for you, I'd go with the LG G2 because it's less expensive and performs basically identically. If you want a smaller phone, go for the Z3 Compact.
size matters... a lot!
I think first and foremost you need to decide what size you prefer.
The G2 is fantastic. I liked it better than the Galaxy S4/S5 and Nexus 5. But it was too big for me, along with the others I mentioned. My Z3c is perfect!
Once you decide on size, then you pick one or the other, whichever is closer, OR, compare similar size phones and make your decision even harder!
I also wanted to decide so I bought both.
Well, since difference in money was more or less U$S275 i went with LG G2, because as they said, differences were not very important.
Also SnapDragon 810 is about to come and may be it will a huge change, so i'll want a z4 compact, and has no sense buy a z3 compact now, it was a waste of money.
Thanks to everyone
slaia said:
I'm not competent enough to talk about nits and other technical stuff. But for me as user it's enough to put the device side by side and see which one looks better. G2's screen is better because it looks gorgeous with its bigger size, while everything looks tiny on Z3C's screen. Z3C display also looks too dark and cold. You have to play with the settings in order to find the best for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're basing your "what's better" on looks. So, in that sense, Beats by Dre are better than a pair of ATH-ADG1s?
Sure, it might look bigger and it's easier to see, but that's nowhere near being better. There's still how the colors look, how much power it drains, contrast, sunlight visibility etc. If the OP was making his comparison purely based on screen size, he would either be considering getting the Z3 would had been on his way to the store to get a G2 instead of opening the thread.
@DanielGatti: The 810 doesn't bring anything big in terms of performance, except maybe the new GPU (now with a flashy new number). But the difference won't be visible going from a Z3C to a Z4C if rumors are to be believed though because of the increased resolution (1080 vs 720).
The G2 should be getting OEM updates for at least one more year as it basically uses the same chipset as some other 2014 devices. After that, it'll have a long life here on the Forums. At this point, quite the opposite could be said about the Z3C (though that may change anytime).
I came from g2 to z3c and i love the compact. G2 is not a bad phone but at least it was to big for me
DanielGatti said:
Hello,
I am Daniel, from Argentina, and I am doubting on buying a LG G2 or a Z3 Compact.
I know they are quite diferent (z3 is from 2014 and G2 is from 2013), but Snapdragon 800 or 801 does not make difference to me.
My first choice is Z3 compact for its battery, but is that good? Because someone talks about 5 hours screen, other of 8 hours, so, is good or G2's battery is better?
Is there any con of Z3C? I have read about glass cracking by itself, i should worry about that? Is there other con?
Prices here are, LG G2 is 500uss and z3 700uss. Which one i pick??
Thanks and sorry for my english
Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As someone who came from the G2 and now has the Z3c I feel like I can be some help.
First of all i will start by saying I love the Z3c, its a great phone, really attractive, and the battery is great.
But the G2 was and is still the best phone I've ever had.
It was perfect in my opinion in ever front, its powerful, has a huge battery, is extremely comfortable in hand, has a great screen, and the ROM community is huge and there are a lot of amazing roms available. (It is basically an better Nexus 5) Something the Z3 is unfortunately completely missing. Plus I LOVED the back button placement, felt very natural, and with the tap to wake you don't have to use them if you don't like. After having the z3c for a few months I think that the G2's size / screen ratio is perfect for me. (The only reason I did't get the G3 was because it's so big).
If you can get the G2 for a good price I can't see any reason why you shouldn't go with it. I
It's a great phone. I wish I didn't lose it abroad or I would definitely would still be using it.

[Q] Xperia Z3 Compact or Moto/Droid Turbo

I am looking to buy a new phone. Have been using an Xperia SP since the day it was launched. Though completely over my budget, I have taken a shine to the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Moto Turbo. I have always valued a small form factor for one handed usage, water proofing, which the Z3 compact provides, and a stellar battery life, which both phones provide. But since learning about the Moto Turbo, I have fallen for it too. It's big, but I think I'll manage. Need help deciding between these two. I haven't been able to find any direct comparisons, obviously since the Moto Turbo is still pretty new. Which has a better camera? Which has better Sound Quality (for earphones)? Which has better durability (Z3 Compact has IP68, but the Moto Turbo is also supposed to have a water repelling coating on it's innards)? Any other factors I should be considering?
sHanKzZz said:
I am looking to buy a new phone. Have been using an Xperia SP since the day it was launched. Though completely over my budget, I have taken a shine to the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Moto Turbo. I have always valued a small form factor for one handed usage, water proofing, which the Z3 compact provides, and a stellar battery life, which both phones provide. But since learning about the Moto Turbo, I have fallen for it too. It's big, but I think I'll manage. Need help deciding between these two. I haven't been able to find any direct comparisons, obviously since the Moto Turbo is still pretty new. Which has a better camera? Which has better Sound Quality (for earphones)? Which has better durability (Z3 Compact has IP68, but the Moto Turbo is also supposed to have a water repelling coating on it's innards)? Any other factors I should be considering?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=6538&idPhone2=6727
Thanks war1. Gsmarena was my first stop. I know the spec to spec comparison, but I was looking for more qualitative/subjective reviews and suggestions
sHanKzZz said:
I am looking to buy a new phone. Have been using an Xperia SP since the day it was launched. Though completely over my budget, I have taken a shine to the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Moto Turbo. I have always valued a small form factor for one handed usage, water proofing, which the Z3 compact provides, and a stellar battery life, which both phones provide. But since learning about the Moto Turbo, I have fallen for it too. It's big, but I think I'll manage. Need help deciding between these two. I haven't been able to find any direct comparisons, obviously since the Moto Turbo is still pretty new. Which has a better camera? Which has better Sound Quality (for earphones)? Which has better durability (Z3 Compact has IP68, but the Moto Turbo is also supposed to have a water repelling coating on it's innards)? Any other factors I should be considering?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
z3c is definitly the more durable phone here, yet the turbo has way more juice.
These are actually two very different phones. While each has its downsides and upsides. If you don't mind the size I do think the Moto turbo is better.
You should look for youtube reviews on that matter. Thats at least how I chose my phone.
Motorola Droid Turbo Review by Marques Brownlee
Motorola Droid Turbo review by TechnoBufflo
z3c review by clove
z3c review by phonedog
What is more important for you?
I was between Z3C and Moto Maxx too but, since I was coming from a Note 2 and was looking for a smaller phone, it wouldnt make sense to get a Moto Maxx.
But, camera is a really importante thing to me and Im not very happy with Z3C´s cameras performance, actually, I´m pretty disappointed.
But what I prefer on Moto Maxx over the Z3C are: camera (until Sony improves its camera image processing software), almost stock OS, screen (the screen is beautiful).
Why I bought the Z3C: size and price.

Is the Z3C still worth to buy?

Hello everyone!
Right now I own a Moto X (2013) and I love it mainly because of the size of the screen, it actually fits in my pockets! But as of late, the battery is already draining a bit fast, and the camera has never been very good either. So I'm looking for a phone to replace it that has a better camera, battery and keeps about the same performance. The problem lies in the big sized phones available today! They're huge. I don't want it to exceed the 5.2 inch display size, nor it be larger than 140mm approximately.
So I thought about the Z3C. I also considered the new Xperia M5 (not yet on sale) (145mm long) or even wait for the Z5 Compact. What do you guys recommend? Is the Z3C still worth it?
I think the camera is is pretty good on the Z3C but I am no photographer. It suits my needs well. I think you will have a hard time finding a small phone (or any phone) that matches the battery life of the Z3C. For that reason alone, I think it is work it. I also think the Z3C is a nice looking phone. I also have a 2013 Moto X and loved it until I got spoiled by the Z3C's battery. You should find the Z3C to be faster and have better performance overall.
Z3 battery life is great and it fits in pocket much better than some of the slabs available now.
If you dont want to pay a premium for the absolute latest and greatest but want a phone that just works really well, i think the z3C is pretty good value.
Glass screen protector and decent case are a must though as although IP68 rated, dont think its very "drop proof".
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the best performance.
- The camera's auto-mode is decent in well lit conditions (tends to over-expose), but is sub-par indoors. It lacks sharpness once you zoom in on the picture. It actually excels in some low-light conditions due to the higher ISO, but most people don't need to take photos in a dark room.
- Over all, you won't find a better phone with more features at this price point that actually fits in one hand comfortably. Plus, it's waterproof.
That being said though, the new Z5C is supposed to be announced this week. Wait a few days and see if it's worth the upgrade or not.
Still the best compact phone (< 5") out at the moment. I just find Sony's politics towards homebrew and open source dev going slowly from mediocre to worse.
Z5c may be announced tomorrow so you may as well wait a day and see, but if it's, as rumoured, released with a Snapdragon 810 chip, Z3c may remain on top of the category until the next iteration...
Until the Z4C releases yes.
There is no Z4C - Sony skips a generation for the compacts. It will be a Z5C instead.
PuffDaddy_d said:
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the best performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MobileRadioActiveFix
rafabr4 said:
Hello everyone!
Right now I own a Moto X (2013) and I love it mainly because of the size of the screen, it actually fits in my pockets! But as of late, the battery is already draining a bit fast, and the camera has never been very good either. So I'm looking for a phone to replace it that has a better camera, battery and keeps about the same performance. The problem lies in the big sized phones available today! They're huge. I don't want it to exceed the 5.2 inch display size, nor it be larger than 140mm approximately.
So I thought about the Z3C. I also considered the new Xperia M5 (not yet on sale) (145mm long) or even wait for the Z5 Compact. What do you guys recommend? Is the Z3C still worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am/was basically in the same situation as you! I also own a moto x 2013 an love it because of the screen size. It has a great feel in the hand, actually usable with one hand and it fits in the pocket nicely. But my battery life has gotten horrible since Lollipop, even with cm 12.1. I don't really care about the camera that much, and the performance was always great although lately its been starting to feel a little sluggish.
I researched for over a month but couldn't find any other good alternatives at this size. The only other option is the galaxy alpha ( but there are various complications with rooting, versions, LTE etc).
I finally gave up and went with the Z3C. Just got mine like yesterday though so I'm still in the process of setting everything up and transferring my stuff over. So far I really like it. It looks and feels nice and premium. It doesn't have as nice of a feel in the hand as the x because the back is flat and not curved. Software wise I will probably miss active display, but it seems like sony also included some neat features. Stereo speakers are just a different (better) experience than the moto speaker on the back. The contrast of the screen isn't as nice as the AMOLED on the x. But I definitely notice it being faster, which is nice. and so far the battery life seems to be amazing. I'll see how it is in a few days once everything is set up and I'm using it more, and then I can let you know. But so far it seems like I made a good decision.
Hope this helps.
I would go for the new z5 compact , if you dont care about custom roms, then go for the z3c , that is if you care about camera.
overall, get z3c for performance, looks, and cheaper than new z5c.
or z5c if you have money, probably better performance, bit expensive, no root yet.
PuffDaddy_d said:
- The Z3C battery life takes a hit with Lollipop though (damn mobile radio active bug), so if you're not satisfied, you can always roll back to KitKat for the be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a working Xposed module that fixes that.
ifonuser78 said:
There is a working Xposed module that fixes that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, but does it actually with for you? How much improvement have you seen? The thread for that fix is full of mixed results.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Before buying/ordering the Z5c I would strongly advise anyone to wait until someone reliable thoroughly tests the Z5c to make sure the Snapdragon 810 version it sports has no heating induced performance issues.
It's not because "they" say the issues have been fixed that you should trust them. Anyway it's your call...
The reviews I've seen show that the camera is still painfully slow between shots. That .003 sec autofocus doesn't do us any good if you have to wait 2 seconds to take the next picture.

Categories

Resources