Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review

Is the solution to the Z1 conundrum to make it smaller?

A mini handset has, inexplicably, come to mean a smaller, lower-spec version of a popular big screen device, which does nothing for those that want a slightly smaller display.
So kudos to Sony for taking a stand, crushing down the powerful Xperia Z1 but losing almost nothing on the spec list, giving the Compact a real chance to fight fight in a fierce market currently dominated by the HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, two devices that launched to critical acclaim but with a poorer spec list.
Eagle eyed readers will have noticed that the Sony Xperia Z1's baby brother hasn't adopted the traditional "Mini" moniker but rather comes with the title of "Compact".

Yes, Sony has given the Z1 Compact the smaller screen, but it has kicked diminutive RAM and lesser cores to the mobile kerb. Sony has even allowed the Xperia Z1 Compact to keep the waterproof nature of the Z1.
A SIM free launch price of £450 (around $740, AU$850), and seen free on contracts starting at £27pm leaves the Xperia Z1 Compact more expensive than the S4 and One Mini, but also allows the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz quad-core CPU backed up by 2GB RAM - for the price it's comparable to a Samsung Galaxy S4.
The "Compact" name also alludes to more than just the smaller size; it can be no coincidence that the Xperia Z1 Compact shares its name with the style of camera that it is looking to replace. A 20.7MP Exmor sensor housed behind an award-winning G Lens aims to be the final nail in the compact camera coffin.

Design

Unsurprisingly, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact follows in the same design language that was started with the Xperia Z1.
A full frontal glass assault is joined by an all glass rear that gives the Xperia Z1 Compact a really clean feel. The choice of four colours (black, white, pink and lime) means that the business feel can be a little offset if you wish.

While the glass helps add to the industrial feel, I found that it also meant I became a little obsessed with keeping it clean. Those that find they are forever trying to clean the screen to remove pesky fingerprints will find that that feeling transfers identically to the back.
It also hoovers up dust from the pocket, making it a real eyesore when you're just trying to look at a quick text.
The chassis, measuring at 127 x 64.9 x 9.55mm, curves slightly at the edges allowing the screen to be protected from side impacts, as well as allowing it to sit comfortably in the hand. I found that the metal and glass feel often left the Xperia Z1 Compact feeling cold when left out, but the material combination also leaves it feeling premium.

It's this combination of materials that leaves the Z1 Compact sitting on the scales at 137g, although I found that I still needed to check my pocket occasionally to see if it was still there. There is no doubt that the phone feels a little heavy at first, especially when compared to the almost impossibly light Galaxy S4 Mini, but this feeling disappears as quickly as it is noticed.
The smaller frame made using the Xperia Z1 Compact easy to use one handed, and didn't suffer the same problems of grip that beset the original Xperia Z1. The power key in particular was pretty easy to hit.

The curved edges also meant that I found it was more comfortable in one-handed use than the iPhone 5S, retaining the same business feel but without the sharp edges. However, the feel in the hand is one of a chunkier device - it doesn't have the same smooth stylings of the HTC One, for instance, and does feel quite hefty compared to other, better-balanced, phones.
Behind all that glass sits the first clue that the Xperia Z1 Compact isn't quite a fully-fledged flagship; a 720p 4.3-inch screen.
Many may scoff at the lower resolution, but Sony has given the screen a lot of attention, certainly more than was provided to the original Z1.
Pure stats show that the Xperia Z1 Compact has enough to compete, as its 340ppi outstrips that of the four-inch iPhone 5S, but the level of attention goes deeper than that as Sony looked to address issues that were found with the Z1.
Gone are poor viewing angles thanks to the inclusion of IPS technology to join the Bravia and Triluminos tech that were found in Sony's largest handset, the Xperia Z Ultra.

However, coming to this from looking at a 1080p screen and you will be able to see the drop in level of sharpness - it's not massive, but the Z1 Compact doesn't have the best screen on the market when it comes to resolution.
Making the Xperia Z1 Compact dust and waterproof (to IP55 and IP58 standards) can't have been easy with the number of ports that the modern smartphone requires. Thankfully, Sony has managed this well, leaving me impressed with the way they are securely covered.
All bar one of the ports comes with an attached bit of plastic that stands up to some rigorous pulling, with Sony having fully waterproofed the 3.5mm headphone jack. Even the external speaker that runs across the base of the Xperia Z1 Compact has been given the treatment.

The microUSB port and microSD slot (the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact supports up to a further 64GB of storage) are housed at the top of the left side, with the microSIM tray sat at the base. I found that this tray was rather flimsy, as well as being difficult enough to require tweezers to remove. Popping in a microSD card was a lot simpler.
With all the ports in the left side, Sony has left the right-hand edge to be populated with a couple of buttons. Amongst these is the standard volume rocker sat just below Sony's round and imposing power/lock button, as well as a TechRadar favourite: a dedicated camera shutter button.

This serves a few purposes as it allows the Z1 Compact's 20.7MP camera to be loaded (and even have the photo shot right away) in one touch, as well as allowing photos to be taken underwater as the screen doesn't have to be pressed.
It also allows the camera app to function more like a fully fledged camera, with focussing and snapping being really easy.
The top and bottom edges contain only the waterproofed 3.5mm headphone jack and external speaker, respectively.
As with every smartphone, the back of the phone contains the camera sensor and LED flash. Elsewhere, only the Sony and NFC branding break up the solid glass rear.

The Xperia Z1 Compact may come a higher price tag than its 'Mini' counterparts but also packs a smarter more professional feel backed up with whizzier insides that warrant a second and third look.

One of the first thing most will do when checking out a phone it have a look at the spec list - we all know that specification lists only tell half the story of a handset, but this is a half that Sony has given a lot of thought to.
One of the biggest things that stands out on the spec sheet is the Z1 Compact comes with flagship-sized insides. Sony has kept the same Snapdragon 800 SoC that packs a 2.2GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 330 GP, as well as the 2GB RAM that keeps it all running smoothly.

This puts it on par with the likes of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, not just the Mini versions of these devices - and at a price that's not too dissimilar either. Both these market-leading flagshpi alternatives come with 2GB RAM and quad-core CPUs clocked at 1.7GHz and 1.9GHz respectively.
It also means that the Xperia Z1 Compact comes more impressively specced than the Mini rivals it sits alongside. Both the Galaxy S4 Mini and the HTC One Mini come with only two cores, and are equipped with 1.5GB and 1GB of RAM.
Sony has given the Xperia Z1 Compact the same camera technology from the original Xperia Z1; namely the goliath 20.7MP sensor and the G Lens. While it may not match up to the same 41MP that is found within the Windows Phone-toting Nokia Lumia 1020, it is one of the most advanced sensors found in Android handsets.

This dwarfs the sensors that are found in the HTC One and One Mini which both come with four 'UltraPixels', as well as the 13MP and 8MP sensors that are found in the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Mini.
The most impressive thing here is how all these specs have been left largely untouched and yet still squashed into a smaller frame than the full flagships of the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, meaning that the Xperia Z1 Compact sits incredibly nicely in the pocket and even more comfortably in the hand.
That same frame is also built out of metal and glass, that while adding a noticeable heft also allows the Xperia Z1 Compact to feel high end, even allowing it to retain the same waterproof nature of its bigger brother.
Using the phone in the bath has never been so simple.

Being a Sony handset also means the Z1 Compact comes loaded with Sony's Android UI, giving it some tweaks from the standard Android UI that graces the Google Nexus 5, as well as giving it a completely different feel from Samsung's TouchWiz and HTC's Sense.
Sony's Android UI is something that's worth looking at - it's a stripped down version of the heavier skins of the rivals and will please those looking for a more sleek version of Android while still enjoying some tweakery.
That said, there's still a lot of emphasis on Sony products when you turn on the phone, with the likes of Video and Music Unlimited being rammed down your throat as 'Recommended' content and the main media apps front and centre.
Sony's media offerings are decent enough, but they're not real USPs at this time, with things like Music Unlimited a poor alternative to Spotify, meaning you'll have to head out into the Play Store to update these after purchase in some instances.
Sony's Video Unlimited section, for instance, allows the purchase and streaming of movies without needing to sign up to a monthly subscription in much the same way as Tesco's BlinkBox service.
Peer beyond the extra apps though and you're greeted with a phone that's really got a lot of power in a small package without being too obtrusive - and that's going to appeal to a lot of people.

Sony has equipped the Xperia Z1 Compact with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, a little disappointing given that KitKat has been out for a little while on the Google Nexus 5 and is swiftly landing on other handsets.

Given the importance of the handset, I'd be surprised if Android 4.4 KitKat didn't make its way over to the Z1 Compact in the near future, especially as Sony's usually pretty good at bringing the next generation of OS to its phones these days.
Of course, it should be noted that these updates are far less important than just making a phone that works - and that's what Sony has done here.
Over the top of the Jelly Bean, Sony has equipped the Xperia Z1 Compact with a very well rounded and intuitive design.
Every OEM installs a level of customisation to differentiate themselves; Samsung has its TouchWiz design and HTC has Sense (currently version 5.5).
From the attractive Venetian blind-style unlock to the clean icons and the customised app drawer, it is clear that Sony has given its UI some real thought. I am particularly fond of the app drawer, as it allows easy navigation though a toolbar located at the far left. It's these little touches that make smartphones feel smart.
The inclusion of themes is also pleasant, giving the Xperia Z1 Compact a slightly different feel and allowing you to change the whole look depending on your mood.

The multitasking pane hides a feature that I think Sony should have made more of a song and dance about, as it rivals the multi-window feature on the Galaxy S4.
The ability to have floating apps such as a browser or screen shot made multitasking a lot easier and have long been a good feature of Sony devices - being able to simply open up a timer or calculator can be a godsend, although not having a torch option there seems weird.
A notification light (with multiple colours) also comes equipped on the Xperia Z1 Compact, giving it a leg up over the HTC One Mini and Galaxy S4 Mini.
For those that like to know whether they have a missed message, this is an almost vital inclusion.
My love for widgets was also well catered for with Sony allowing you to add up to seven home screens, long-pressing open areas to add them. I was disappointed to find that there is no infinite scrolling though, something that makes the Xperia Z1 Compact feel a little less fluid when swiping around.
Fluidity is something that exudes from the phone, aided by the 2.2GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM. Moving between screens is a dream, and I found no hint of slowdown even when downloading large files, playing music and web browsing simultaneously.

Looking at the GeekBench 3 results it is easy to see why; the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact averaged 927 on single-core performance and 2884 on multi-core.
Comparing those with the scores listed on the GeekBench site, the Xperia Z1 compact scored higher than nearly all the listed devices on single core, and performed better than all in multi-core.
This can be attributed to the smaller screen size, with the Adreno 330 GPU not being put under extra strain having to redraw the extra pixels that full HD displays require.
Whilst many may have scoffed at the idea of a handset that 'isn't even full HD', this has been beneficial to the Z1 Compact whilst still providing a crystal clear viewing experience.
Sure, it's not got the razor sharp clarity, but that boost in performance (and, as you'll see later, battery life) is certainly worth having. If you like a smaller screen anyway, this is quickly turning into one of the main phones to be packing.
The hardware within the screen also hides a really nifty feature; the ability to use it with gloves on. With winter proving that capacitive screens aren't best suited to texting in the cold, the ability to wear normal gloves whilst sending texts is a godsend.
It also means that if you're deft enough, you can pretend to be a Jedi and move the screen without touching it.
This mode does show a larger circle on the screen when activated, which will pop up on occasion even when you're not using gloves. We'd say it's worth having it turned off most of the time as it also sucks power - unless you're in a particularly icy country.
Or just fricking love gloves.

With the amazing specs that sit inside the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, it would be a more than reasonable assumption to believe the battery pack would have to be enormous. Instead, it sits at a rather meagre-sounding 2300mAh.

Battery life is all relative though. For instance, the S4 has a 2600mAh option, but has as much larger screen, less efficient CPU and more pixels to deal with, so I think this size to weight combo from Sony is spot on.
During general day to day use, I found that the battery behind the Xperia Z1 Compact was a lot more than sufficient.
To help properly quantify this, from 7am one day I sent and received four emails, 140 SMS messages, had a race on Asphalt 8 and took 70 pictures as well as uploading them via Wi-Fi to Dropbox in an area with patchy signal. I still had a whopping 53% battery left at midnight.
Lighter users should achieve two days' usage easily.
Despite coming with more powerful innards than the Galaxy S4 Mini and the HTC One Mini, I found that the battery life of the Xperia Z1 Compact was equally good, if not better. Where a day's use of the S4 Mini left me with just over 30%, the same usage of the Z1 Compact yielded around 20% higher.

The Xperia Z1 Compact also performed well against the HTC One (which also packs in a 2300mAh battery) in day to day use.
The impressive battery life can be attributed to the smaller screen and lower resolution placing a lot less strain on the GPU (but then again, the same could be said of the Mini rivals), coupled with Sony's battery-saving techniques. Stamina mode is particularly impressive, as it cuts down the amount of work the phone has to do.
Turning this on gave an estimated boost from 11 hours of use to a whole day which was perfect, giving the Xperia Z1 Compact the extra juice to cope with being away from the charger, and really will stave off battery depletion in general day to day life.
Having the quick toggles in the notification bar also means that switching Wi-Fi on and off, as well as disabling GPS or mobile data (things that can heavily drain the battery) is really easy.
A special shout out should be saved for the Qualcomm 800 chip at the heart of the Z1 Compact too - it's a real power saver and, while it does seem to diminish over time (according to our longer reviews of other phones) the general efficiency is something that I've given a big thumbs up to.
The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact also comes with all the necessary connectivity options too; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G LTE and GPS are all catered for. This ensures it is able to compete against all the 4G-toting flagships.