Z5 Compact Experiences

[Skev]

Hi,

I currently own the Z1 Compact (and love it) and am very keen on the Z5 equivalent with the improved camera, storage and Marshmallow support the main reasons for wanting to upgrade. However, I would love to know what peoples real world experiences with the device are before splashing the cash, as I have some concerns surrounding the SD810.

I've read reviews and opinions from many different sources, but there really are mixed messages surrounding the two main aspects (at least for me).

1) Does it run at warm/hot during normal use? I've seen the video showing the 4K video recoding, but I'm more interested in everyday usage temperatures.

2) How's the battery under these same conditions? I've read 3 days here, 1 there, so again, would be good to gauge experiences here.

I'm sure had Sony popped an SD808 in it, I would have already ordered one......

Many thanks.

[Mahalakshmi]

1) Yes. 15-20minutes of YouTube video is warming up the battery.Though it's common, the screen on the other hand acts weird. It makes the home. Back keys unresponsive and the screen loses the fluidity in scrolling. Screen stammers.

2) After two days battery seems to stabilise.Anyway I had to enable the stamina mode

[Skev]

Sounds crazy, but would your phone be the white version?

[Proday83]

My impressions after 4th charging...im comparing z5c with my old z3c (on 4.4.4 android; I dont like LP, so bad multicolor expirience) which I use last 7 months. 

To be honest, z3c look like premium model more than z5c. Feal in hands is much better on z3c, and it is easier to use phone (z5c have screen placed lower and it is more difficult to reach bottom buttons). Volume button is tottaly bad positioned, it is practiccaly impossible to bend the thumb so much that you can comfortably boost or lower volume. It should be positioned higher than power button not below. TouchID is in bad position too. Sometimes is needed just to unlock a phone when same is on the desk on example and it is much harder with button on side. In 3 days I have 2 times issues with touchID, it didnt recognize my thumb well (my hands was clean and dry), and after 5th miss I had to write my passwoard. Hope that some of next models will have better sensor and position.

As for the systems z5c is slower and much laggy than my z3c (z5c have only better fluidity when scrolling in chrome and tapatalk). Scrolling between homescreens, and in app drawer is much faster on z3c im shure (but again to say, I use 4.4.4 on old device). Few times happens that i had to w8 4-5 sec just to start camera app, or 1-2 sec to show all in dialer or sms app. For a device which cost more than 500e, that is intolerably.

On another side, volume on z5c is much better, louder and more clear than on z3c. On my old phone I couldnt use speakerphone option at all although i have rooted device and flesh mod that bouth speaker woarks. It wasnt usable when phone is more than half meter away from my head while driving a car. Now is much better situation, I can use speaker (it is not loud on example like iphone 6 or some samsung devices) but it is usable, although again only lower speaker woarks (really I dont underestand way sony dont allow bouth to woark; you mention some echo, butt as I sad, I use custom mod from XDA on my Z3C, and echo didnt exist).

Camera is better too. Im not impressed as some others people, but it is ok. You can see my compare VS canon s110 on xda forum http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63159709&postcount=34

And for the end a battery. Im getting about same resoults with my z5c as i had with older model (between 6:30h Sot and 8+h). Setup and screenshots you have again on xda in battery thread (it is so bad that this forum dont have possibility to upload photos).

Dont ask me about heating, Im not playing games on my phones, only watching a movies, chrome, tapatalk, listening a music and sometimes viber and skype, and in that conditions, phone is warm same as z3c was.

That was my 5 min; sry for my bad Eanglish but i think that you got the point. All the best!

[Skev]

Nice reply.
Thanks for taking the time and your English is great.

[Proday83]

@Skev tnx a lot. And I have to ask support, way would any1 remove notification panel from app viewer (I know that i can get it if I swap from top to lower), but i really like possibility to see clock, battery lvl, and signal all the time. I really like sony ui customization, but becouse things like this I have to instal some custom Launcher Any chances to put option (slider) in some of next firmwares for regular showing of notification or this defoult witouth the same like now?!

[Mahalakshmi]

Yes..it's a white version

[Skev]

Well I took the plunge and received my black compact on Friday.

My experiences so far, comparing to my Z1..

The Good:

- Design: I like it a lot, it looks far more premium than my Z1. It also looks and feels thinner than the images had me think. 

- Notification LED: It's in a much better place than my Z1 ie, I can actually see it without looking for it.

- Fingerprint scanner: Superb. Location is great, as is it's functioanlity. Rarely fails to recognise me.

- Speakers. Much better than the Z1 and twice as many (for media at least)

- Exposed USB port: Ah, no more flaps.

- Storage: 32GB onboard - hoorah.

- Screen protector that came with it adds a matt look to the screen, kind of matching the rear of the phone. Nice touch.

The not so good:

- Design: Whilst it does look great, it feels a little slippery at the moment. If I don't get used to it, I'll lilkely purchase a tactile back cover (invisible sheild or something similar, as I had on my Z1)

- Volume button. The placing is definately too low. I guess Sony wanted to keep it away from the fingerprint scanner, but it's not a nice stretch to reach. I do have quite small hands, so it's not such a big deal to me as it may be for others.

- CPU: It can get warm after continued use. I've heard that the Z3 Compact also warmed up and perhaps this is somewhat more normal than I think. I just know that my Z1 rarely got as warm. No adverse effects from the warming though.

- Battery: I've got stamina mode on and I get the same usage as my Z1 whilst in idle (expected I guess), but it does seem to drain a little faster whilst in use (no doubt down to the SD810). Once normal usage is occurring, I expect I will get into day 2 with plenty to spare, but perhaps not 50%

Not really played with the camera as yet, but that's my two penneth so far.