The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has been officially unveiled, with the sub-sized smartphone packing a premium array of innards.
Landing alongside the flagship Xperia Z3, the 4.6-inch Z3 Compact is a high-end handset for those after a slightly smaller smartphone.
“We launched the Compact concept for the very first time earlier this year with the Z1 Compact, and this was about bringing a premium, no compromise, high-end Android experience into a smaller form factor with the smaller screen,” Calum MacDougall, Sony’s Director of Xperia Marketing said in unveiling the new device.
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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Features
Larger than its predecessor, the Z3 Compact has jumped from a 4.3-inch to a 4.6-inch screen. By reducing the phone’s bezels, however, Sony has managed to squeeze this larger panel into a device with the same overall footprint.
Sadly, like the Z1 Compact, the new device’s main specs discrepancy with its larger sibling is its display. While the Z3 boasts a 1080p Full HD screen, the Z3 Compact’s display is a 720p affair.
Elsewhere, however, parity is the key to this smaller phone’s appeal. Running the same 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor as the full Z3, the Compact’s specs sheet is further enhanced by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. microSD expansion is available.
Hosting a 20.7-megapixel primary camera, the device is kept running by a 2600mAh Lithium-Ion battery. Sony has claimed this battery will keep the phone for two full days on a single charge.
Lining up at just 8.7mm thick, the Z3 Compact weighs a mere 127g.
Hardware aside, the premium handset runs Google’s latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS, skinned with Sony’s custom UI.
Like the Z3, the Compact is one of a new breed of Sony smartphones which will be capable of playing PS4 games.
Echoing the Remote Play capabilities of the PS Vita, it will allow gamers to wirelessly connect their DualShock 4 controllers, using the smartphone screen as a means of accessing games being run through users’ PS4 consoles. Both the phone and games machine need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for this feature to work.
Offering wannabe owners a bit of choice, Sony has confirmed the Z3 Compact will be available in four separate hues at launch. The traditional black and white colour schemes are to be joined by more adventurous orange and green options.
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Release Date and Price
A finalised Sony Xperia Z3 Compact release date is yet to be confirmed, although Sony has told us the phone will ‘likely’ hit retailers’ shelves in ‘early October’.
Similarly, pricing for the phone is still up in the air, although given phone’s high-end specs sheet, expect your wallet to take a sizeable knock if you’re thinking of splashing out.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
