Why the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is every inch as good as the Z3

**Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact really revolutionised the miniature smartphone market with its impressive specs **and now Sony has done it again with the Xperia Z3 Compact.

So, how will the new Compact compare to its bigger brother, the Sony Xperia Z3? We’re here to explain why the smaller handset won’t necassarily mean a smaller experience.

Smaller Size Doesn’t Mean Smaller Specs

It’s often the case that when a ‘mini’ version of a flagship phone hits the market, there are some noticeable differences between the two. In fact, this is so common that it had many of us questioning the Z1 Compact’s original spec list at first glance. After all, a miniature smartphone never features the same specs as a flagship smartphone- until now.

As you might have guessed, the Z3 Compact is a slightly smaller version of its bigger brother, the new Z3. And with this, the Z3 Compact sports a smaller 4.6-inch display which, compared to the Z3’s 5.2-inch screen, isn’t too much of a dive down.

Fantastically, the Compact also packs a 2.5GHz quad-core processor and a Snapdragon 801 chipset, sizing up almost identically with its bigger brother. One minuscule difference between the two Xperia handsets internally is the amount of RAM; with the larger Z3 offering 3GB compared to the 2GB that features in the Z3 Compact, the larger flagship might just edge ahead in terms of power. But then again, with a larger screen to power, it’s hardly surprising that the Z3 has ever so slightly heftier specs under the hood!

**You may like: **Fancy taking a look at the Xperia Z1 Compact? Check out our Z1 Compact vs HTC One Mini 2 battle here!

Premium Design

The first thing anyone will notice when the Z3 and its little brother are placed side by side is just how different they look. Although both handsets feature the same tempered glass design and aluminium trim all along their edges, the colour chart used to design the flagships couldn’t have been more different!

The premium Z3 smartphone is available in a range of muted, soft colours including black, white, a metallic green and a bronze. On the other hand, the Z3 Compact can be picked up in the much more fun shades of green and red, showcasing a more youthful fun personality!

The Same Xperia Z3 Camera

One thing that Sony has always impressed us with is its amazing camera technology, and this is the case yet again with Sony’s latest handsets. But once more, you’ll struggle to find much of a difference between the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Z3. The same 20.7 megapixel lens that made an appearance back on the Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z2 is returning yet again, with Sony seemingly happy to stick with the ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra.

However, it’s in the camera features that the Z3 comes into its own, but, luckily, Sony has ensured that the Z3 Compact isn’t far behind.

Cool Z3 Compact Camera Features

With a handful of new camera features being offered on both Z3 smartphones, there’s nothing that the Z3 and Z3 Compact camera can’t do. If you’re an avid videographer then you will love the new Movie Creator app which lets you add credits, titles and cool effects to your home made movies.

Alternatively, if you’re a creative gem then the AR Fun mode might suit you more, with options to paint, draw, scribble and stamp fun animations and annotations to your  shots.

You may like: Check out the Sony Xperia Z3 take on the Sony Xperia Z2

Xperia Z3 Compact Price

If you hadn’t realised already, both the Z3 and Z3 Compact are set to be almost identical, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise for them to appear in a side-by-side release. Sony has released not, one, or two, but a whopping three new handsets at an event in Berlin giving Sony fans a lot to get excited about!

But one thing that definitely will make the two new smartphones stand apart is their price tags. The Z3,  being larger and that little bit more powerful adds on a massive £120 to the price tag, making a SIM free Z3 £549. At the other- smaller- end of the scale, the Z3 Compact comes with a rather compact price too, coming in at £429 SIM free.

However, if SIM free isn’t your thing, get hold of the Sony Xperia Z3 on a great value pay monthly contract.

Sony Xperia Z3 vs Z3 Compact: Verdict

Are you after a smaller smartphone that still packs a hefty spec list worthy of flagship recognition? The Z3 Compact could well prove to be an ideal fit for you, especially considering that it’s essentially only the screen size that you’re missing out on. So if you don’t fancy a huge phone filling your pocket, or if you don’t have the cash to pay for the bigger handset, grabbing the Z3 Compact won’t leave you wanting.