Review: Sony Z1 Compact

The trend for bigger mobile phones doesn’t suit everyone. Rather than lugging around a six-inch-screened slab, some people prefer things to be a little more compact and pocket-friendly. A little more like mobile phones used to be before we all decided to start watching TV, catching up with news online and working through small screened devices.

That’s why we’ve seen a number of the “mini” phones come on to the market - handsets similar names but lacking a bit of the oomph that their larger siblings have. And by oomph, we mean power.

The HTC One Mini, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - good phones in their own right, but you sacrifice a little to get that compact size. The first thing to get downsized is the processor power. The HTC One Mini cut the processor from quad core to dual core, and from a Snapdragon 600 1.7GHz to a Snapdragon 400 at 1.4GHz. The S4 Mini, meanwhile, makes a similar move to a dual core 1.7Ghz processor.

You can also be sure that RAM and storage space will also take a hit to achieve that smaller size.

Sony, however, is tacking a slightly different tack. At CES, the company unveiled the Xperia Z1 Compact, what looked at first like merely another slightly refined version of their current Xperia line.

A closer look though reveals a phone that is very much a contender in its own right.

The Good

Sony has kept the processing power of the Z1 Compact’s bigger sibling, but shrunk the screen to a more compact 4.3 inches. That means you get a quad core processor running at a clock speed of 2.2 GHz, which makes for speedy operation. There’s 16GB of storage space, and 2GB RAM, just like the Z1, and it can be expanded with the addition of a micro SD card.

The screen isn’t high definition, but at that size, it’s no real loss. The screen itself is bright and responsive, although at times some apps picked up on touches incorrectly.

While there have been a few changes to how the case looks, there’s no mistaking that it’s part of the same Xperia line. Everything about the phone feels solid, which fits in with Sony’s goal of making it a premium phone, rather than a cut-price alternative.

The on-screen keyboard is easy to handle too, with the swipe method of input available from the moment you turn the phone on.

Camera-wise, the Z1 Compact is no also-ran. It’s got a 20.7 megapixel sensor, the same as the Z1, and you get some decent shots from it thanks to the G lens that Sony has included in the phone.

Battery life is decent too, although not as robust as the Z1. You’ll easily get more than a day out of a single charge, even of you are a perpetual phone-tapper.

The most important thing is the call quality, which is clear and reliable, even in conditions that would have challenged some other Android handsets.

The Not So Good:

There are one or two niggles with the Z1 Compact. Although the phone has a screen size that is bigger than the iPhone, the way certain apps display on its makes it seem smaller. If you’ve got larger hands you may struggle with certain parts of this phone.

The phone currently ships with Android 4.3, also known as Jellybean. We need KitKat, if only to make full use of that screen space, so an update, while expected shortly, can’t come soon enough.

And speaking of the screen, there’s a lot of wasted space around that screen. The bezel at either end seems a bit pointless, especially when you consider the position of the phone’s speaker and the home/back/menu button combo on Android phones.

While the Z1 Compact is waterproof, the phone needs to have all its port covers closed to be sure that a quick dip won’t damage it. That’s a step back to the Xperia Z; the Z1 eliminated that need, which was a welcome change. After all, remembers to check all the ports - charging, micro SD, sim car - are all closed before, say, dropping the phone in a puddle, a pint, or - most likely - the toilet?

Sony’s Android interface could also do with an update although this is less to do with the Z1 Compact and more to do with the wider Sony range at large. Still, it does the job, even if you feel like you’ve seen it all before.

The Verdict:

The Z1 Compact is a surprisingly good alternative for those who want a more compact Android phone, but don’t want to sacrifice on power or functions. And why should we have to?

Sony.ie

O2 will be stocking the Xperia Z1 from April .