Find out which of Sony’s newest smartphone is better suited for your needs
By
Clara Facchetti
| 38 mins ago
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Sony is about to release its newest smartphones from the Xperia series: the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. If you’ ve been wanting to get a new smartphone and are not sure which of this two models will be the better fit for you, here are the main differences between the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact.
Sony’s newest phones have lots of similarities, especially in design (they resemble most Xperia phones) . The XZ1 Compact is, of course, a smaller version of Sony’s newest flagship. The XZ1 measures at 148 x 73.4 x 7.4 mm while the XZ1 compact is at 129 x 64 x 9.3 mm, considerably smaller. The Compact is also a little thicker, but, because of its size, remains lighter in weight (155g to 140g) .
The materials used differ from one model to another. While metal was used for the XZ1, the XZ1 Compact has a plastic body with metal finish, making it chunkier. However, Sony’s ‘loop surface’ is present on both, giving the phones a unibody design, but also making the top and bottom sides curvier than on previous Xperia models.
The XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are both protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and are also water and dust resistant (IP68 certified) .
Both models are available in similar colour ranges: Pink, Black, Silver and Blue, but the shades differ (the XZ1 offers Warm Silver while the XZ1 Compact comes in Snow Silver) . The camera and button layout is the same on both phones, and the fingerprint sensor is also present on both.
In terms of price, the XZ1 Compact will of course be cheaper than its larger counterpart. The XZ1 will cost £599. It is available to preorder from Sony and Carphone Warehouse. The XZ1 Compact is a whole £100 less expensive, starting at £499. It is also available for preorder from Sony and Carphone Warehouse.
As mentioned, the Xperia XZ1 Compact is considerably smaller than the Xperia XZ1, which also affects the screen size. The XZ1 Compact offers a 4.6in screen with a 720p HD display. This may seem like a major downgrade compared to the XZ1’s 5.2in screen and 1080p panel, but truthfully, 720p performs great on a smaller screen.
In terms of video quality, though the resolution is indeed inferior on the Compact, both phones benefit from Sony’s Triluminos display, which reinforces the colours and provides greater quality. However, unlike the Xperia XZ1, the XZ1 Compact is not HDR compliant, which is a disappointment.
Both phones are equipped with a primary camera very similar to the one we find on Xperia XZ Premium: a 19Mp camera which comprises plenty of new and interesting features such as the Super Slow Motion tool ( [email protected] ) and the ‘Smile Capture’ mode. It also offers an ‘Autoburst option’ as well as predictive capture, which makes it easier to obtain great results.
The XZ1 Compact’s front camera is only 8Mp, which makes it inferior to the 13Mp camera you can find on the XZ1, something you might want to remember if you take a lot of selfies. To make up for the pixel difference, the XZ1 Compact gives you the opportunity to take super wide selfies with a 120 degrees field of view in one picture. You can easily switch back from super wide to wide.
Both models also offer an interesting new feature: a 3D scanning option. The primary camera lets you scan real-life objects to be used as stickers in conversations with your friends, or as background photos. If you have access to a 3D printer, you will even be able to print them.
As far as performance is concerned, Sony managed to equip both phones with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835, the best processor currently available, backed by 4GB of RAM. The XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are powered by the same 2,700mAh battery, which means the XZ1 Compact will probably have a stronger battery endurance, thanks to the inferior 720p display.
The XZ1 Compact will be available with 32GB of storage while the XZ1 offers 32 or 64GB, but both enable storage to be expanded up to 256Gb thanks to the MicroSD slot.
With a similar performance level available on both phones, Sony makes it clear that XZ1’s strong advantage is the screen size and 1080p, HDR compliant display. Is it worth £100 difference in price?
If you regularly use your phone to watch movies or play high-definition games, you will likely need a larger screen and benefit from high resolution and HDR. It would then make sense to invest in an Xperia XZ1. But if that’s not the case, the Xperia XZ1 Compact’s features and specs make it a very interesting alternative, for a cheaper price. It all depends on how you plan to use your new smartphone.
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