Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact review – worthy successor to Z5 and big improvement on disappointing X
With its improved camera, battery life, water resistance and fun apps like 3D scanning, the new Compact is a return to form for Sony after the let-down of the X model. The only real problem: the flimsy memory card slot
The Compact line of the Sony Xperia series has long been a consumer favourite.
It’s not just its size – the 4.6-inch screen is a rarity on the smartphone market these days – but its specs (both the Z3 and Z5 came with a Snapdragon 800 series processor and latest Android OS) and its long battery life are major draws.
That is why last year’s X Compact was such a huge let-down. Not only did it not come with a top-of-the-range chipset (it ran on Snapdragon 650 instead), the model was not water resistant and its camera unimpressive. So will the latest XZ1 Compact, which looks like a worthy follow-up to the Z5 Compact (on paper at least), be able to get things back on track?
Design and hardware
The XZ1 Compact looks small but clunky at first sight – 9.3mm thick and with those unapologetically thick top and bottom bezels that are a common feature of all Sony smartphones. In the hand, thanks to its hybrid metal/plastic casing, the unit, weighing 143g, feels solid and premium.
