Sony XZ1 Compact Review: Small but Powerful

[@quitw8934]

Sony really deserves more praise for their Xperia series of phones. They are probably the only phone manufacturers that cater to the "compact" phone market, and really value Function over Form. They know that this phone will not become a major hit or bestseller, but they still tend to the obscure, yet significant market of compact flagships. The design is really utilitarian and beautiful, and managing to maintain that compact form whilst containing flagship specs is impressive. The thickness gives you something to hold and have a good grip on, coupled with that awesome material. Phones simply do not have to follow the trend nowadays, with "premium materials", paper-thin body or tiny-bezel bullshit to give the user a good experience. Also, the 720p screen is really more than enough for this screen size. This phone's display has the same pixel density as the iPhone SE and iPhone 8, and people have no problems at all with the said pair. Besides, with the top-of-the-line specs and that resolution, this thing is just so smooth and snappy in my experiences. Great job, Sony. You really outdid yourselves on this one.

[@dantevergil3886]

quitw absolutely true. This phone more reliable than those gimmicks phones out there

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Or you know they're just lazy.

[@codeHusky]

Nope, they aren't lazy. There's such a thing as brand identity.

[@azim2714]

Most of the people who hates Sony phones are the ones that had never owned one😂

[@device444]

Amirul Azim multitask is great

[@aminebelhoucine]

4.9" FHD borderless with a great and optimized camera in the same size and I'll buy it at any price

[@taylorstarcevic1015]

Hmm watching on my Silver White xz1 compact. Came from a Note 4. Wanted something smaller that could last me up to 2 days if need be. I don't care too much about bezelless. Looks nice, breaks nice too. Same with glass. Tired of going with the trend of Samsung. Smaller screen, one handed use. I have a computer if need be. Let me spend my life with my friends and family in person and off the phone, focusing on what matters.

[@chrtofiros]

Bought this a second phone. Had it before on Android 8., Now this came with Android 9 and I think that battery on 9 is worse.. your thoughts please? Thanx

[@Godecki]

It is the most anticipated phone of 2017 for me. I love Sony, they are doing great job. Not all of the people like bezelless design, not everyone cares for dual-camera setup or wireless charging. I am one of those people. I love the fact that Sony sticks to their own ideas and is not participating in this race for the best innovation. Everyone is talking about the S8, iPhones, Note 8 and so on. And Sony just calmly sits next to them. They are doing their thing. The thing is, Sony never releases anything before they are perfectly sure that everything works fine. If they are ready, they will eventually release a phone with features mentioned above. Then I will be sure, that they've been working on it for some time and there will be no compromises or malfunctions with their devices. I thing most people are thinking in a too futuristic way. I have to admit that for example bezelless design is great for media consumption, but in day-to-day usage it seems quite impractical. However you grab your bezelless phone or anywhere you touch it you touch the screen. I just wouldn't be able to deal with so many unintended inputs. Sony's big on audio, barely anyone mentiones this when talking about Sony smartphones and I am pretty sure we have a plenty of audiophiles here. And the performance - I see people commenting that Snapdragon 835 combined with 720p 4,6 inch display is a waste - just the opposite! Imagine how fast can this device get! And finally, the size. My life would be impossible without Compact series. The ease of handling a phone with one hand and reaching everything without an issue - now that's a real multitasking, I can always have one of my hands free. Such a phone fits in way more pockets/pouches than bigger ones and there is less strain on the phone while carrying it in a tight pocket. Well, everyone has his/her priorities. More poeple seem to go for the extra features and a futuristic look. But please remember, that there are still some people who prefer something completely different. That's where companies like Sony kicks in. I know they are like a little bit stuck on a timeline, but it makes them unique and appealing for me.

[@dantevergil3886]

MrOstrzak i agreed with you. Most people just want something gimmicks than what they need. Do we need thise wireless charging, bezel-less display and high resolution screen? Hey, sony known as good in audio and screen quality. Even the screen is just HD but it's more better than any other Chinese phones that have 2k display with low quality. I already tested sony phones and i feel so different from the other phone. It feels so smooth and more premium for me and the ecosystem in sony are exceptional when it comes to updates and optimisations. Most people miss these things. I love something more practical than something useless gimmicks. Only 2 companies that make a good phones is Sony and HTC. For me, sony all the way.

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

TL;DR lol

[@Stupendous_man]

People are complaining about 720p.. when sony launched xz premium with 4k .. no one appreciated it

[@ofmetalphilosophy4837]

no one complains about iPhone 8 having 720 screen on an 800 usd phone. but when Sony do it, everybody moans

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

You're basically comparing David and Goliath here and David isn't winning this one loool

[@ofmetalphilosophy4837]

TheMusketITuckedIt no I'm comparing an overpriced piece of crap to a wonderful and affordable phone which is better in every aspect. (and has a headphone jack, moron).

[@definitelynotclickbait8283]

@@TheMusketITuckedIt204 but david wins because he killed goliath

[@MichaelGerrard]

I had the Z1 compact a couple of years ago, great phone. But this isn't much different. I wish the phone was the same size but the screen was bigger. Imagine a full screen display in a small package like this! Come on Sony, make it happen.

[@ashliehiggins]

it's a glass fiber reinforced polymer, the same shit which is used for power tools, so it's not a weak material.

[@dantevergil3886]

ashlie higgins actually glass fiber more expensive than metal

[@breaux2806]

I hope they continue making powerful phones with this size and screen resolution. I hate sacrificing performance and battery power for a pointlessly high screen resolution

[@SonyEnthusiast]

The XZ1 Compact is still the best Flagship compact ever made til to this day! Loving mine so much that I filmed a cinematic unboxing of it kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5_Ho4CFibWAnrc

[@breaux2806]

@@SonyEnthusiast just bought mine last week and its on its way =)

[@SonyEnthusiast]

@@breaux2806 wow, great! Is yours still new like mine or refurbished? What color?

[@ddamx]

This is the closest to my ideal phone. With a SD 845 and Sony getting it's shit together to make the camera experience worthy of the brand, this phone would hit the sweet spot of a lot of people.

[@drinlovewithmusic]

I've never been a fan of Sony phones but man this is one great phone especially for people like me who want the smallest phone in the market.

[@sylvershadow1247]

I love Sony's Compact phones. I even switched to my Z5 Compact from my Moto Z.

[@or2kr]

There are no phones like this series. The XZ1 line / XZ Premium are the only phones that feature front facing speakers, water proofing, micro SD-Card slots, headphone jacks and that with a Snapdragon 835 and a screen resolution of your choice

[@sashavonkirsch4948]

That phone looks like perfect for me ))) with my small hands it is very hard to find a good phone that will be also comfortable. most new phones are so big its like mini tablet for me! thank you for review )) as usual very helpful)))

[@johnsonx2426]

The best in its category way better and cheaper than iPhone 8, bravo Sony.

[@MuthukumarArchitect]

i think this is the perfect phone size. even my XZ Premium screen is small compared to my TV. i dont watch videos in mobile. i may replace this with XZ Premium.

[@IftekharHossainApu]

Commenting from my Xperia xz1 compact 😍 previously used OnePlus 3 and now shifted to this. Really worthy of money.

[@zulzmei]

something about sony phones i cant understand about the camera you say "5-axis image stabilization" then you say "no optic image stabilization". What is that "5-axis" thing then?

[@nikhilc3933]

congratulations on 2M subscribers

[@rickg8015]

How’s the text reading in the Chrome browser? Easy to read?

[@MrMozkoZrout]

Maybe could have said that it is not just plastic body, but it is glass-fibre, so actually as far as durability goes, better than normal plastic and definetly better than glass or steel or alluminium. Also that slowmo is really tasty

[@lambha48]

Does it support display port or mhl, please reply.

[@Nirvash2010]

A lot of reviews say the camera's low light performance isn't quite as good as current flagships. How does the camera stand up against something like an iPhone SE? (My current phone.)

[@usmanalimuddin8139]

There is no better cell phone than Xperia. SONY users will not use any other brand

[@SonyEnthusiast]

True. The XZ1 Compact is still the best Flagship compact ever made til to this day! Loving mine so much that I filmed a cinematic unboxing of it kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5_Ho4CFibWAnrc

[@louislondono2488]

Doesn’t the small pixel 2 look like a Sony?

[@walterclements7968]

Louis Londono yup

[@troy5568]

Yep, with additional screen issues

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Nope you're thinking of the XL version, even then it's a very fine phone unlike this ugly POS lol

[@ImranHelmi501]

Just want to know thus the camera sample taken before or after the major camera update that rolled out a while ago?

[@56777vimmm]

The storage is the only unsatisfaction

[@dangerousfox123]

You earned yourself a like just because of Chris Stuckman.

[@BayuMukti937]

What wallpaper did you used?

[@robertllobrerajr.]

2:34 "...and you have other support for other high-res audio codecs like FLAC and LDAC" um, LDAC is an audio technology from Sony??? Nice review, though.

[@TheBlooRayChannel]

Bezel talk. On such a compact phone. Which has dual front firing stereo speakers. We might as well go speakerless at this rate for the sake of design :/ I'm getting it. Best small phone, period.

[@jasoniviejr.7925]

SD 835 with a 720P screen? Performance must be terrific in games and day to day usage

[@KannanC1989]

@Android Authority Can you please share list of apps and configuration that you used to get the 2 days battery life? I got XZ1 compact but could only manage 1 day battery life.

[@lionelb8227]

This fingerprint scanner is great, so sad it's not available in the US. At least it is possible to activate the feature by flashing a new software and it's not that complicated

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

For the average consumer it is, Sony is hella dumb for this move they should've paid up.

[@もりさまー-g8i]

just bought it yesterday

[@zermomia]

h summerr feel screwed?

[@もりさまー-g8i]

zermomia it's pretty decent imo

[@CANOOB18]

h summerr You should get a pilot license and try to see if you can land a plane on those bezels.

[@もりさまー-g8i]

:P

[@zermomia]

Like the bell bottom jeans maybe one day ,phones with big bezels will become a trend again.....as long as the drugs will become more powerful.

[@shaneskaria6504]

No super slow motion??

[@Isaax]

Anyone that uses the phone: How is he input/display lag? Like, the lag you have when scrolling or swiping. Is it low like apple's?

[@TAEbot]

Why don’t the fingerprint scanner work in the US!?

[@taylorstarcevic1015]

JUMP23MΔN I think some kind of agreement between Verizon and Sony years ago.

[@AhTalk0]

They need to drop the bezel while keeping ffs(and make those louder), update camera, 960fps at 1080p slomotion, oled, and a good facial recognition.

[@Maxrc77]

I'm pretty sure Sony is giving North America the middle finger.

[@codeHusky]

Or it's just because it requires extra legal stuff to have fingerprint reading on a device in the US and they don't wanna deal with it

[@sorinbunea471]

Yeahh 😂😂

[@Solidcancer07]

For those not aware, HP owns patents to a side button fingerprint, and won't license this out to Sony in the US. So actually HP is sticking a finger up to US customers

[@tamimsuhail2380]

Almost Perfect phone, missing fingerprint sensor, but it has premium quality and specs. It's so quick and comfortable. Dual speakers are great. Battery life is amazing, and designed to last a year longer that other phones. Small 720 screen is good enough and helps battery last longer. The only phone that I've liked better is the one plus one and 5t.

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

In this case plastic quality, yuck!

[@dazattack669]

anyone else notice the sudden change in microphone quality? weird.

[@TheOther9519]

Love, love, love the minimalist design. And the plastic body: metal:overrated! Simply beautiful. Dislike the Sony flavoured Oreo: doesn't look good enough. Also: why doesn't Sony price/market their phones better? Take a leaf out of Xiaomi /Oppo. Few phones look awesome, but their marketing is Awesome!

[@peace4myheart]

No fingerprint reader? What is this, 2010?

[@taylorstarcevic1015]

Lol well it's there. Cheaper international version and it works great opposed to Samsung placement.

[@notstarboard]

It has a fingerprint reader but the US version's scanner is software disabled out of the box. They have some sort of legal issues with making it work in the US... I hear that switching to the UK firmware will make the scanner work.

[@chosenArchitec]

Funny back when the iPhone 5s was released a lot of people where scared and skeptical these days it's a must have feature.. Amazon phone have 4 front cameras etc etc 😄

[@eshrakkader5996]

those complaining about bezels what abt pixel 2, razer phone and blackberry motion...

[@thinalweerasinghe1783]

IKR

[@troy5568]

They are fine because they are not Sony.

[@seepeoplenotme]

As always, love the brand not the phone.

[@Suki4r]

Eshrak Kader at least Pixel 2, Razer phone has quality stereo speakers loud enough unlike sonys quite shit

[@seepeoplenotme]

RMNSTD So you are just using Speakers as a reason? Just get a cheap mp3 player and a speaker.

[@FilipMatacin]

Com om, I am truly amazed, you had put under control your crazy talking, I mean the word endings, that crazy accent.. Bravo..

[@SoumyadeepBanerjee007]

Sony has come a long way in phone. There Xperia line up phones are famous for Camera 📷 and sound.

[@Alex632]

It doesn't even have OIS

[@dongkyulee4969]

yo Alex helps with video shooting

[@mameng666]

Yep they still live in the past though

[@patrickndojimembughuni3166]

One plus 5 camera is probably better than sony's best

[@carpymoreno]

I'm sorry? I never seen a Sony camera on the top 5 smartphones. Is werid since most of the cameras in all phones are made by Sony. It seems that other phones know what to do via software and not just hardware. Take this for example... 19 MPX sounds good. But with sony's software and lack of OIS... it looks like a cheap phone's camera.

[@yggdrssil00]

I think the design is okay, bc you can tell its a sony from meters away. Most phones have that similar rounded corner And razer phone looks very identical to uhe sony btw but no one complaining about the bezels.

[@LaCireseDeIonCreanga]

Based on the gpu-cpu-display specs, this phone should have a 120fps output for this price.

[@shiv5801]

2:53 What is the name of this game?

[@mohdmarzad1109]

ApUrB oo7 I think it's the gameplay video of fortnite battle royal

[@the_bottomfragger]

I had an Xperia Z3 compact a few years ago and it was actually a really pleasant phone. This phone seems hardly different and costs 600$?? You can buy a Galaxy S8 or OnePlus 5T for that price! There is absolutely no reason to buy this phone imo. It's a shame, they are the only ones still making small phones, which some people prefer but this is just overpriced crap.

[@WillyJunior]

BottomFragger yup, if this phone even just had decent speakers and a 1080p screen it might be worth it

[@upload9595]

I upgraded from the z3c to the xz1c. So i can tell you its much faster, has much better cameras, better sound, double the ram, double the internal storage, latest android, much better display... it is just much better phone... ofc it costs more.. S8 or one plus? they are MUCH bigger phones and dont fall in the same space at all when you are looking to buy a normal size phone( people call it small.. but when you look at their hands, you just laugh.. i am above 1.8 m tall and my hands are pretty big, 4.6-4.7 inches(with bezels..in future when sony and apple go bezelless on the sub 5 inch size it might be 4.8-4.9 to maybe 5.0) is the maximum i can handle with 1 hand without risking to drop my phone due to hand gymnastics... and it fits in the pocket much nicer than bigger phones.) So if you are looking at this size but dont want to make a compromise on performance, you only have 2 choices: XZ1 compact or iphone 8. And it comes down to which OS you like(which leaves people like me with only 1 choice). To Bollog Nyessy: It does have decent speakers... and 720p is enough for 4.6 inches..

[@WillyJunior]

upload9595 i disagree. 319ppi isn't great for a screen any size in 2017

[@WillyJunior]

upload9595 and multiple reviews have said the speakers aren't loud enough

[@upload9595]

But on the other hand it helps with battery.. this guy in the review says 5-6 hours but he uses nfc and idk what else.. i get average of 8 hours Sot some times 7-7,5 some times even 9 hours...with a mix of LTE and WI-fi, watching youtube and using facebook and playing with the camera quite often..

[@ferni0]

1:28 that failed try to swipe up for app drawer tho

[@handsomehardiksinh]

AusDaes actually Xperia home supports swipe up and down gestures

[@aminebelhoucine]

One day this phone will be FHD borderless and it'll be mine

[@22b_gc8]

Sony still has quite few homeworks left to do but with the recent launches i think that sony is back on track. The only annoying thing is the marketing strategy.. And the price is lil over the roof..

[@jamesw2831]

I still remember the first Sony Xperia from when they were Sony Ericsson with that keyboard. God. That was a great phone. It bought panels to the world and had a great Windows Mobile skin. And dat keyboard. Great for the time period. The Xperia X2 was a great followup but it was marginal, which was its only weakness. The Xperia series has been confusing since. The XZ1 Compact should have been 5" with a 1080p screen. I don't mind the plastic. Plastic can be more durable than glass, but scratches too easily. A good case paired with the plastic would have solved the issue. Expandable storage was good. Having the headphone jack was a huge plus. But I'm confused. Wireless charging can be done with plastic, so Sony not having it was a big mistake. The storage amount, big mistake. No OIS. Mistake. I want to see an XZ2 Compact that addresses these issues and brings the price down to $500. If it stays at $600, add 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Add wireless charging using that same plastic. Have Android P running out of the box. Increase size to 5" w/1080p. OIS for the camera. Smooth out the boxy design like the Pixel 2. Slim down the bezels just a tad (I like 16:9 aspect ratio). Keep headphone jack. This Compact series has more potential than other flagships I've saw this year.

[@dantevergil3886]

James W in malaysia, it just RM2099

[@user-ft2zv4md9e]

Well at least they kept the headphone jack

[@_IsrealPerez]

Stop playing and make a PlayStation phone with small bezels (keep front facing speakers) that has remote play, new ui, crazy good screen like xz premium, make sure it has fingerprint sensor in US, 20mp camera with portrait mode, and you guys will be back on top...if only they would read this lol

[@Tintin-hh1gf]

What clan you are in clash royal

[@taevy12]

Sony Please come do business in the US.

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Nah stay away, let them focus on their dwindling fan base in Indochina instead haha

[@CANOOB18]

Why did you guys reupload a phone review from 2011??

[@quitw8934]

The design is actually really nice tbh. It looks clean and simple, and the thiccness gives you something to hold onto.

[@Alex632]

thiccness. lol

[@vibewithari9930]

Fiasco stfu

[@troy5568]

No. They reviewed a phone from 2165.

[@seepeoplenotme]

So any iPhone 8 reviews are also from 2007?

[@Y_5250]

Should have gotten the RED model. That's a beauty!

[@reviardi5142]

i don't care about design, this is a little monster :D - - - - - - - and have port jack 3.5 #lol

[@sheedyaja6465]

Battery pack, slapped with camera, screen and buttons Voila, you get a XZ1 Compact!

[@famdamnly]

@5:37 “turned into JIFs” whats a JIF!???? Lol

[@easternmsar4050]

One of the best from Sony. AGREE ?

[@Alex632]

How can a smaller version of a phone be one of the best?

[@easternmsar4050]

yo Alex afford it then you will accord it.

[@NCozy]

+yo Alex Because it can fit in your hand better

[@simenamundsen3166]

yo Alex - Because bigger doesn't mean better. If you have no personal need for a gigantic phone, and some don't, then a bigger phone isn't even considered "better" by said person. It isn't an objective measurement, its a subjective one.

[@jamesw2831]

It has potential to be better. This is a 8/10 phone. It could have easily been a 10.

[@MiguelRPD]

I don't know why they don't price it properly. It's always overpriced.

[@yasinnewaj1468]

he is like a tape recorder. my ear is aching. sick man

[@DeepteshLovesTECH]

The Galaxy S8 seems to be smaller than this. Better in every way. Roughly 700 bucks,the Oneplus 5T for 500 bucks is also a better choice. Sony is dead.

[@matt.paikoff]

This or iPhone 7

[@Ara198826]

if you are putting snapdragon 835 and all bells and whistles why not at least 1080p display

[@lukakapanadze6179]

Those bezeles are outdated and the price is WAYY too much for what you get. If you are going to put bezels then justify it with amazing speakers like razer phone does and maybe put some effort in making it look good? Almost nothing changed in design from the z3 and then sony is wondering why their mobile segment is so underperforming.

[@razvanfodor5653]

Sony must not see what other manufacturers are doing. If you put a 16:9 screen on this body you have a decent enough phone, but with massive bezels, no hardware buttons (this is baffling honestly, there is space and the software buttons steal from the already small screen real estate) this phone doesn't have an audience in my opinion.

[@yusufabdillahxyz]

2017 4.6 inch?

[@aboar]

Called "compact" for a reason

[@comedyman112]

if it wasnt priced like a brand new Samsung S8 from Amazon (500 GBP).... I really wanted xz1 compact, but I couldnt justify paying the same price as for the S8. So I bought the S8 This should have been 350-400 GBP max... I would have bought it instead of the S8 if it was that price

[@MrMozkoZrout]

hm interesting, in my country xz1c is 3/4 of s8 price

[@arai6147]

MozkoŽrout which country?

[@MrMozkoZrout]

Hanya Czech Republic

[@comedyman112]

At the moment, the xz1 compact is 400 gbp vs samsung s8 500 gbp. But when I bought the s8, it was the same

[@alitechchannel]

I was a sony user until I realized that design is same over and over again..and this year Samsung introduce s8,s8+ and note 8 and that design i look for.. Sony > Samsung ✌

[@Sacchidanand]

When it's Google Pixel 2 or iPhone 8 user doesn't have that much of problem with bezel and/ 720p.

[@ilyachap]

But... Pixel 2 - FHD, Better Speakers iPhone 8 - 750p (not 720), Better Speakers

[@mysteryinfinitytitles--for3935]

come on guys you don't need to fight over this phone if it is good or bad it just a phone people who ever like it likes it or who ever don't than don't like it and most people like it for the compact size and it specs but next year is going to be a game change for sony mobile devision we will all see it

[@ashram7936]

THIS > Iphone SE

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Not in a million years lol

[@brunomendes8031]

TheMusketITuckedIt are you blind?

[@Enhanz]

Duh. SE is old as shit

[@TheInsaneBolt]

A perfect phone 👌 just less side bezels and keep the top ones those are cool 😎

[@reinubeton]

What was the release date? 2010?

[@YomiTosh]

I like the compacts. Starting to look outdated though

[@okshare1]

XZ or XZ1 compact better ?

[@Auraz11]

Xz1 c better

[@SerenityReceiver]

Dear Sony: Change your display-bezel-ratio and I will buy your phones again. Thanks.

[@sanjeevaher2458]

Looks like something from 2007

[@victuringan1429]

Sanjeev Aher like iphones? Lol

[@ArSj68]

Now it's Samsung and Apple's turn to make their uncompromised mini flagship.

[@karthik4711]

Sony always stayed diffrent!

[@changken7254]

And then early next year: XZ2 series

[@valts.orniks]

24+ inch 1080p monitor is ok, but for a 4.6 inch screen 720p resolution is not ok? :D Do the math

[@fabmartel]

please do not drop the format of the compact xz1 (size, design) plz...the XZ2 is very ugly, large.... keep XZ1 compact and widen % the screen if you want. When i see the XZ2.... i know now i buy the XZ1 compact

[@pres1897]

Damn look at those bezels

[@Xenovita88]

Alu mung dwe xperia z2 tok

[@jeweljamesjapay]

I am so in love with it!

[@Spartan720-l3f]

for a company that makes mobile hardware I expected it to do better... one plus 5t chilling with 8GB ram

[@taylorstarcevic1015]

999CATZ do you need all that ram?

[@FreedomExalia]

Taylor Starcevic quoting the man Flossy Carter, "i'd rather have it and not need it than need it but not have it" 💪 #salute

[@taylorstarcevic1015]

Exalia Justice fair

[@IanPayne]

I had this phone for 2 weeks and took it back and swapped for a pixel 2. This thing is terrible, the camera is a joke, it restarts 3 times a day and is buggy as hell.

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Sony's fake stock UI is always buggy and ugly.

[@HaydenRussell]

3.5mm headphone jack > bezel-less display

[@zermomia]

Unacceptable anymore,a hidden camera joke , Sony should apologize for this ,what next? It's movie division will produce black'n'white movies, i am pretty sure if it was car industry,it will make a steam engine running cars.

[@funnyhigh7640]

Everything is great Sony.

[@lukasarcevic9207]

Chris Stuckmann thooo!!!

[@keepingitkresky4412]

Round that phone out a bit and add a fingerprint scraper. Then I’ll buy this thing in a second.

[@hugoedwards1380]

Rocket palm tie decline however role completely clothing would tall.