topic Re: Buying a new X Compact now in X Series

Buying a new X Compact now

Andre9 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:34:02 GMT

This is not quite the same as the topic where a possibly refurbished phone is being bought off EBAY, hence a new topic.

My X compact is still serving me well after almost 3 years, but did die in my pocket on the weekend. At the time I was unaware of the restart with volume & power button trick, so I don't know if that would have worked. I was in a mall and happened to walk by a small repair shop when I discovered my phone was dead so aksed if they had any ideas. They tried a few things unseccessfully then opened up the phone, unsoldered and resoldered the battery and the phone was alive again, and still is. But this has rung an alarm bell as it is the first time this happened.

My service provider still has a few X compacts in stock and, since I like the compactness and most other features, and could possibly get a good deal, I will be happy with a new one. So this is a new phone imported through the right channels. I know there are no more new updates available, but will the phone update to the most recent level once it is on the network and I check for updates ? Or will it remain at the same as level as taken from the box ?

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Strampke — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 00:29:52 GMT

Hi,

It will update to the latest update available, somewhere september, October 2018.

Do not install apps to start with.

The OTA updates will go faster.

When you want to jump to the latest update at once then do a software repair with Xperia companion.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Andre9 — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 05:18:42 GMT

Thanks, let's see if I can negotiate a deal.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 06:50:03 GMT

Hi @Andre9,

As @Strampke mentioned, you can update a device as long as it is still in the support scope and has not reached end of support (this is when software is no longer available, spare parts are not available at the authorized service centres and there is no longer any support content on the Support Web).

Depending on when the device was manufactured, there may be a lot of updates to do and you can of course do them one at the time but before you start setting up the device, performing a software repair will be faster if you have access to a computer as it will reinstall the latest available software in the device. This takes around 20-25 minutes to do, instead of having to do around 15 updates one by one with reboots in between directly in the device.

I hope that explains it a bit more and hopefully you get a good deal!

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

pseudonym — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:40:42 GMT

Especially since there are no further security updates for this model, I would make sure that Chrome, as well as any other apps that you may have installed (look at File Managers, for instance) cannot install applications outside of the Google Play Store.

(Assuming Android 8.0):

Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special App Access > Install Unknown Apps

This may help in the event that something nasty comes along as an email attachment or as part of a malicious web page. Otherwise, you cannot obtain a relatively recent phone this size and weight (except for Xperia XZ1 Compact); I still use mine.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Strampke — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 21:26:50 GMT

In general: stay out of the obscure.

Install main line.

Don't download every hickup you notice.

Less is more.

BTW Check out Windy! And Windy.maps

I'm flabbergasted.

Windy shows wind and rain, storm and thunder, even air polution all around the word.

When you zoom in it shows the smallest walking and cycling tracks.

Sorry for the enthousiasm.

it's been long since an app surprised me in a positive way.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:22:17 GMT

Hi @pseudonym,

That is very important as well and something that I forgot to mention.

I can count the cases where a customer has installed something that they weren't supposed to do on one hand after working with this for 5 years, but you can never be to sure these days and since everyone has more information than phone numbers in today's devices, going the extra mile is never a bad idea!

Thanks a lot for helping out and have a great weekend!

@Strampke, it's like the old saying, if something If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true!

I feel pretty secure these days with Google Play Protect and I try and stay away from shady websites and I never use public Wi-Fi (thank god for cheap data plans).

Thanks for the app recommendation and have a great weekend!

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Andre9 — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:27:26 GMT

Thanks Strampke

I don't load apps just for giggles, only those that I think will be useful. Windy is an app I happen to have. They are reasonably accurate with their forecasts and I love the way they present the information.

Thanks for your valuable input.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Andre9 — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:31:01 GMT

Thanks for all the useful information.

It's been a bit of a stuggle though, although I have been assured there are still a few X compacts in stock, the dealer I went to could not find any on their computer, but turns out they are a franchise to the service provider (who hold the stock as I am on a contract with them) and they suggested I go to one of their service centers. Haven't found the time yet as it is a bit out of my way.

Pity good compacts are so rare.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 13:22:15 GMT

@Andre9, that is very unfortunate.

I used the Xperia XZ1 Compact since it was released and recently replaced it with an Xperia 5. That one was the best device that I have ever used (can't really comment on the Xperia 5 as I haven't used it enough).

I'm not sure if you have an easier time finding this device, but it's better than the Xperia X Compact if you just compare the hardware. It also has Android Pie.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

pseudonym — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 20:07:44 GMT

One thing to keep in mind - from personal experience - Many of the supposedly new X Compacts are currently being sold from Hong Kong. It's been my experience (and others I've read about on XDA) that these phones do not seem to be amenable to upgrading to Android 8.0, that they stay at version 7.1.1, or, if you are offered 8.0 and do install it, it triggers a persistent "WarrantyTimeService" notice, or worse.

Maybe the majority don't have this problem, but you might want to be aware. The X Compact I bought from HK was shrink wrapped in a new box, looked cosmetically fine, but was already charged to 100% (think about it!). Communication with Sony established that the phone had already been used in 2017, and that the warranty period had expired. Also, the persistent "WarrantyTimeService" notice appeared. Again, this may not be typical. Caveat emptor!

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 10:12:12 GMT

Hi @pseudonym, thanks a lot for this information.

Yeah, it's always tricky when you buy devices online and that some sellers are more interested in just getting some quick cash and don't care about their reputation.

Most of the time I'm able to see at least what kind of software customization there is in the device with the IMEI number, sometimes it also shows the activation date, but that doesn't really do much since you probably can't get a hold of the IMEI number before you have received the device.

Just gotta hope that the service you use to purchase the device has a very good system set in place for either returning the device and getting your money back, or if can create a dispute since the product you received is not what the seller wrote. If you are really unlucky the device can be stolen and be IMEI blocked and you can't even connect it to a mobile network.

Thanks again for your input and sorry to hear that you had to experience this.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

pseudonym — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 02:46:23 GMT

I hear that there may be a new Sony Compact phone on the horizon, possibly as early as February of 2020. I understand that the dimensions might be about 135mm x 65mm. This will be of particular interest to us compact phone enthusiasts.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Andre9 — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 06:00:31 GMT

Wow, I will keep an eye out for that.

I have not done much regarding the new X compact, it's this crazy time of year when everyone wants stuff done they didn't do earlier. Also, from the investigations I did it seems uncertain whether the phone is still available, different people, different stories.

For those concerned about where the phone will be coming from, it's from my service provider. The X Compact was on offer when I renewed my contract so that's how I landed the current phone. I heard there was still a small quantity in their warehouse somewhere, but no clarification on that. So it's not some online, buy from an unknown source type deal, not interested in that.

But if there is a new compact on the horizon it's worth waiting for. I just hope the service provider will have them on offer. Currently I don't think there is a single Sony in the catalog, mainly Samsung and Huawei, plus a few other ods and sods and i-phone of course.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 08:19:13 GMT

@pseudonym, interesting and that would be very nice for those that really wants a compact model and not just a "smaller" device like the Xperia 5.

Rumours will always be rumours though and as always, time will tell!

@Andre9, It feels like everyone is just stacking up stuff that they want help with until the last possible time of the year and then they go "I have a couple of things that I need help with".

I can imagine working in retail at this time of year with Black Friday, holidays and so on, must be very hectic and I don't even them at all.

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

pseudonym — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:36:39 GMT

Considering that I tend to hold on to Sony's compact phones for years (while larger models from other manufacturers come and go in my "stable"), I'd be willing to pay a higher price than I generally do for another truly compact phone. 🙂

Re: Buying a new X Compact now

Jonas — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:20:22 GMT

@pseudonym, yeah.

I'm not quite sure why the trend is going towards bigger and bigger devices. It probably has to do with people spending more and more time watching movies and so on.

For us that does not do that, a Compact device is much more handy and doesn't take up unnecessary space in for example, a pocket.

I'm not sure if it could also have something to with OLED screens and that it's more expensive to make them smaller (does not really make sense, but perhaps they are made in a certain way that makes it cheaper to create a 6.5" than a 5.2").

Hopefully the rumours are true, but it's very hard these days to get a Compact device, with flagship specs.