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Sony Xperia Z3: Yay or nay?

Yash GargSeptember 3, 2014

Samsung is one manufacturer that everyone loves to hate. However, the Korean major did pull off some interesting tricks (read: phone launches) at the ongoing IFA in Germany today, one of which was the bent-display Galaxy Note Edge.

Sony, on the other hand, didn’t do their homework too well, or so it appears. The Xperia Z3 that launched today comes with specifications that are hardly inspiring, and more or less a shadow of the existing Xperia Z2 that we saw in February this year.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9aDM9XIcu4]

Specifications

5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p display
2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC
3GB RAM
16GB expandable storage
20.7 mega-pixel rear camera
2.2 mega-pixel front camera
3100mAh battery
Android v4.4 KitKat
IP65/68 certification

SEE: Meizu MX4 hands-on

The 20.7 mega-pixel camera comes from Sony’s Exmor RS series and is capable of 4K video capture. It could very well be the same 20.7 mega-pixel sensor that appears on the freshly released Meizu MX4.

Coming back to the Xperia Z3, the phone is hardly any different from the Z2, and it appears as though Sony just needed something to mark their attendance at the IFA. Does it get a yay or a nay from you?

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

About the author
Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91

You can learn more about Yash, add him to your Google+ circles or follow him on Twitter to stay connected!

Airyl
September 3, 2014
I can’t see the difference. It’s like they slapped a new name on the Z2 and called it a day. Nay.
- Hoàng Vững
  September 3, 2014
  No Airyl,
  They change the design, with true rounded alloy frame. Many Xperia Z series user found that Z, Z1, Z2 is brilian in pictures, but when they hands on they felt some disappointed cause it is hard to hold :D. Now, with rounded frame, i think they will feel more comfortable.
  Anyway, just 6 months for a flagship somewhat too short :D.

mf1gt3r
September 3, 2014
Nay. The difference is zero. If they are out of ideas, they should probably wait till next year.
Allanitomwesh
September 3, 2014
I’m gonna say Yay. It has a polish to it that has been missing in the Z1 and Z2. It looks like a real Sony. Dunno how to explain it,like how the 320GB PS3 had more presence than the superslim PS3 and then the PS4 went back to “looking like a Sony” That. [z is the ps3 320 and z3 is the ps4 in that example]

iowrug
September 3, 2014
At least it’s not alone, Note 4 did the same thing.
Airyl
September 3, 2014
I can’t see the difference. It’s like they slapped a new name on the Z2 and called it a day. Nay.
- Guest
  September 4, 2014
  No Airyl,
  They change the design, with true rounded alloy frame. Many Xperia Z series user found that Z, Z1, Z2 is brilian in pictures, but when they hands on they felt some disappointed cause it is hard to hold :D. Now, with rounded frame, i think they will feel more comfortable.
  Anyway, just 6 months for a flagship somewhat too short :D.

rememberus
September 3, 2014
if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it.
thats what apple has been doing with their iphones just slight improvements
- balcobomber25
  September 4, 2014
  There is a difference though, Apple has a legion of fans that will blindly follow them no matter what they do. They could release and Iphone 5d with nothing new except a different logo and millions of people will buy it. Sony doesn’t have that following, they need to constantly be innovative to stay ahead or compete with the likes of HTC, LG and Samsung.

mf1gt3r
September 3, 2014
Nay. The difference is zero. If they are out of ideas, they should probably wait till next year.
Allanitomwesh
September 3, 2014
I’m gonna say Yay. It has a polish to it that has been missing in the Z1 and Z2. It looks like a real Sony. Dunno how to explain it,like how the 320GB PS3 had more presence than the superslim PS3 and then the PS4 went back to “looking like a Sony” That. [z is the ps3 320 and z3 is the ps4 in that example]

Guest
September 3, 2014
At least it’s not alone, Note 4 did the same thing.
gothikserpent
September 3, 2014
if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it.
thats what apple has been doing with their iphones just slight improvements
- balcobomber25
  September 4, 2014
  There is a difference though, Apple has a legion of fans that will blindly follow them no matter what they do. They could release and Iphone 5d with nothing new except a different logo and millions of people will buy it. Sony doesn’t have that following, they need to constantly be innovative to stay ahead or compete with the likes of HTC, LG and Samsung.

Ruub
September 3, 2014
– What differs the Z3 from the Z2:
– Pros:
*Battery -> Screen saves more battery with new technology -> Explanation: It uses the current frames pixels that will reappear in the next frame and keep those pixels unchanged. Previous screen tech: Every pixel in every frame gets reapplied for every frame. The new tech spare battery this way and the results are doubled battery life.
*Display -> Brighter
*Camera -> Wider lens = wider pictures.
*Camera2 -> Ridicolously higher ISO(12800) than every other phone currently released(for comparison my Z1 Compact only has a maximum of ISO 800)
*Slight CPU and GPU upgrade
Physical aspects:
*Better IP-rating = now stands 2 meters deep for 30 minutes
*More compact, much thinner(12%). Even thou the screensize remains the same, the Z3 has managed to decrease size in all dimensions meaning the bezels went thinner.
*Lighter by 7%
*Removed plastic frame around the glass
– Cons:
Physical aspects:
*The Notification-LED change
*Placement of the frontspeakers <- My opinion!
Worth an upgrade?
Not worth upgrading if you already have the Z2. But worth buying over the Z2 if you have an older Xperia since the price here in Sweden only differs by 500 sek = $77 (total SWEDISH PRICE 5'995 sek / $921)

Ruub
September 4, 2014
– What differs the Z3 from the Z2:
– Pros:
*Battery -> Screen saves more battery with new technology -> Explanation: It uses the current frames pixels that will reappear in the next frame and keep those pixels unchanged. Previous screen tech: Every pixel in every frame gets reapplied for every frame. The new tech spare battery this way and the results are doubled battery life.
*Display -> Brighter
*Camera -> Wider lens = wider pictures.
*Camera2 -> Ridicolously higher ISO(12800) than every other phone currently released(for comparison my Z1 Compact only has a maximum of ISO 800)
*Slight CPU and GPU upgrade
Physical aspects:
*Better IP-rating = now stands 2 meters deep for 30 minutes
*More compact, much thinner(12%). Even thou the screensize remains the same, the Z3 has managed to decrease size in all dimensions meaning the bezels went thinner.
*Lighter by 7%
*Removed plastic frame around the glass
– Cons:
Physical aspects:
*The Notification-LED change
*Placement of the frontspeakers <- My opinion!
Worth an upgrade?
Not worth upgrading if you already have the Z2. But worth buying over the Z2 if you have an older Xperia since the price here in Sweden only differs by 500 sek = $77 (total SWEDISH PRICE 5'995 sek / $921)

yudhir
September 4, 2014
YaY! IMO
Lots of new changes that are worth it.
yudhir
September 4, 2014
YaY! IMO
Lots of new changes that are worth it.
Chico Migraña
September 7, 2014
Lost faith in Sony since crappy Z1/ZR, bad experience, lack of customer service, til now my brother have his ZR with WiFi drops ,.no Bluetooth and NFC, NO MORE SONY.
Ricardo A.
September 7, 2014
Lost faith in Sony since crappy Z1/ZR, bad experience, lack of customer service, til now my brother have his ZR with WiFi drops ,.no Bluetooth and NFC, NO MORE SONY.