Sony Xperia Z1 Compact quick-read review: Best camera among Androids

The Sony Xperia Z1 compact costs Rs 34,990

Android smartphone screens are getting bigger and bigger, and it has reached a point where you can’t get a top-of-the-line Android with a screen smaller than 5 inches. What do you do if that’s too big for your hands? If you don’t want an iPhone, then the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact wants to offer good things in a tiny package. It’s got all the goodness of Sony’s flagship Xperia Z1 compressed into a smaller form factor.
Quick Tech Specs: 4.3-inch Triluminos display (1280×720 pixels, 342 ppi) | 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Krait processor | 2GB RAM |16GB storage + microSD up to 64GB | 20MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 1080p HD video | 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | GPS with A-GPS | 2300mAh battery | IP58 water-resistant and dustproof | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, Upgradable to 4.4 KitKat
Price: Rs 34,990
Design: The Z1 Compact looks exactly like the Z1 and the Z1 Ultra, only miniaturized: it’s sleek, it feels premium and while it’s not heavy, it’s got a reassuring heft. And without a doubt, anyone will be able to operate this with a single hand. You’ll be proud to show this off. The unibody design and flaps for ports seal off the important bits and make it waterproof; but the flaps are quite annoying when you are fumbling in the dark to charge your phone. While this isn’t something we could test, it’s worth noting that we know Z1 and Z1 Ultra users who got scratches on the glass back of the phone with regular usage. Also, this phone has enormous bezels—space which could have been used better, either with capacitive touch buttons or by making the screen larger.
MUST READ: Em-Bezel-ed: Phones with same screen size can have different dimensions. Here is why
Screen: The 4.3-inch screen of the Z1 Compact is a treat for the eyes. The colours are true, the viewing angles are wide and the details are sharp. You couldn’t ask for anything else.
Performance: The Xperia Z1 Compact has the same processor and RAM powering current flagships, so there’s no question of lacking the horsepower you need for any task.
Memory: A lot of phones these days tend to put in high internal memory with no option for a microSD slot (I’m looking at you, Lenovo Vibe Z). Thankfully, the Z1 Compact has no such qualms and along with its 16GB of built-in memory, you can throw in a microSD card of up to 64GB.
Connectivity: The call quality and network reception is good as any phone out there, so no complaints there.
Software: Currently, the Xperia Z1 Compact ships with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean out of the box, with a few customisations by Sony. Sony’s changes don’t add anything that you won’t get by installing the right apps, but it’s not cumbersome or ugly either.

Camera: The highlight of the Z1 Compact is the 20-megapixel camera on the back, which is among the best Android shooters out there. If you use the built-in camera app on Superior Auto Mode, you’ll face issues: in particular, it aggressively smoothens images (causing you to lose details) and artificially punches up colours in low-light environments. The photos end up looking fake or Photoshopped. But switch to manual mode or use a third-party app like Camera Zoom FX and you’ll get fantastic shots. Photography is helped by the fact that the Z1 Compact has a dedicated camera button on the side, complete with the half-press-to-focus feature. On an Android, I have yet to see a better camera.
Battery: On average usage, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact goes for about 13 hours before needing to be recharged, which isn’t bad. However, the battery drains very quickly when playing high-end games like Asphalt 8 or FIFA 14—it lasts for less than 2 hours.

Special Mention: The coolest part about the smartphone is that it is waterproof and dust-resistant, while still looking sleek and compact. I used the phone in the shower, I kept it under running water in the sink and I spilt a cup of tea on it—one wipe and the Z1 Compact was ready to go. I can’t quite explain how much this adds to the experience of using a smartphone, especially an expensive one, as you are no longer worried about the silly small damages of everyday life. Imagine walking into the rain without any concern about the phone in your pocket—it’s a smartphone that offers a little peace of mind.
Verdict: If you want an Android smartphone without a gargantuan screen, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the best choice. The question then comes around to whether you should buy this or the iPhone 5c, which is available for around Rs. 40,000. In terms of pure hardware, the Z1 Compact edges ahead with its camera, expandable memory and waterproofing—considering it’s a good Rs 6,000 lesser, I’d put my money on the Z1 Compact. But you need to be okay with Android over iOS for that.

Six things that make Nokia X stand out among Androids

The Nokia X series phones will rely upon an open version of the Android mobile software system created by Google that has become the world's most popular software used in smartphones.

Just weeks after the launch of Nokia’s first ‘Android phone’ – Nokia X – at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company has brought the phone to India. Priced at Rs 8,599 (best buy), the phone is available for purchase starting today (March 10).
Although Nokia X is based on Android, it is very different from other phones in the market that work on the Google’s OS. Here are six ways in which the Nokia X is different from the crowd.
ANDROID SANS GOOGLE
Nokia X’s operating system has been built on Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This is just a fraction of Google’s OS seen in many of today’s phones. AOSP doesn’t come with proprietary Google code and hence, Google apps such as Play Store, Google Maps, etc, will not be available on Nokia X. Over the years, Google has been linking several key features to Google Play Services, which isn’t available under AOSP. If an app makes use of any of these features, Nokia X won’t be able to run it.
For further information on the limitations of AOSP, you can read two articles on the subject at Ars Technica. One is about Google’s iron grip on Android and the other explains why forking Android is not the best idea.
DISTINCT MICROSOFT FLAVOUR
Nokia X comes with a customised tile-based interface that reminds of Windows Phone. Couple that with Microsoft services such as OneDrive, Outlook and Nokia’s own Here Maps, and it’s easy to mistake this phone for a Windows Phone device.
Nokia said it is working on an easy way to migrate your data from the Nokia X to Lumia phones. More details on that should be available in the coming weeks.

along with a Nokia app store, where you can download many other apps and games. You can also sideload apps (download the .apk file and install), but that may not be a great idea because the app may not be optimised for the device. Nokia allows you to access third-party Android app stores to download apps that aren’t available on the Nokia store.

BUILD QUALITY
At the launch event in New Delhi, a Nokia representative threw the phone down from a height of five feet and even banged it against wooden surface. The Nokia X didn’t break and continued to work smoothly after that. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to claim warranty if you manage to break your Nokia X. Still, the demo was interesting and we will definitely test the build quality as soon as Nokia sends us a review unit.
Overall, Nokia’s phone is in the news because it stands out. There is no dearth of Android phones in the market, but the Nokia X is definitely going to grab eyeballs.

FAST LANE
Nokia X just has one button below its touchscreen display. This is a back button that looks identical to the one on new Asha series phones. It’s not surprising that Nokia also brought the Fast Lane interface from Asha to the X. Fast Lane gives you quick access to your favourite actions, whether it is playing music or calling. It also keeps you updated on upcoming events from your calendar.
FIXED FOCUS
The Nokia X’s camera does not have auto-focus, which is a bit baffling considering the phone’s price. The Lumia 520 costs less than the X and comes with auto-focus. If you love photography, then the Nokia X’s camera is going to prove a little restrictive.
THE APP MARKET
The biggest concern, however, is availability of apps. Nokia ships the phone with apps such as Facebook and Opera,