Today we have a new flagship from Sony, the Xperia Z3 smartphone. The previous model turned out to be quite successful, but very little time has passed since its release. Let's see what the improvements are compared to its predecessor and how high quality the fresh Z3 turned out to be.
With the Sony Xperia Z3, the company continues to refine the design ideas of the first . In fact, we still have the same "sandwich" of two glasses with an iron filling.
Compared to the previous flagship, the changes must be looked for in the details. The first thing you notice is the changed shape of the sidewalls. Now they are neatly rounded, there is no trace of brutality left. Plastic inserts appeared at the corners of the case.
They were added for practical reasons, with them the smartphone is more likely to survive the fall. Perhaps for the same reason, in our engineering sample of the Xperia Z3, there are minimal gaps between the glass and the frame, in which, unfortunately, debris collects.
In addition, compared to the Z2, the Sony Xperia Z3 has become a little thinner, narrower, shorter, lighter and has received a new protection class:
The new body colors are another new addition to the Xperia lineup:
The layout of controls and connectors is traditional for Sony flagships. The camera keys, volume control, power on and connectors for Nano-SIM and memory cards under a common cover are located on the right sidewall.
The charging dock's magnetic connector, Micro-USB port under a flap, and strap attachments are on the left. Above - only the headset jack and the hole of the second microphone.
In addition to the name of the company and the display on the front side, you can see small slots for stereo speakers, a camera lens, light and proximity sensors. The multi-colored indicator of missed events is now in the upper left corner, it is hidden under the glass.
The back of the Sony Xperia Z3 is almost indistinguishable from the Z2 - the same camera lens, flash, NFC area.
As for the usability of the smartphone, it is impossible not to note the thinness of the body of the Xperia Z3. It is on her that you pay attention in the first place when you take the device in your hands. In general, the device turned out to be quite compact. At first it may seem that you are holding a 5-inch smartphone in your hand, but the increased diagonal, and with it the dimensions, make themselves felt - to successfully handle the Z3 with one hand, you need to practice a little.
Smooth rounded sides, together with a thin body and a glass back, create an ambiguous effect - the smartphone seems to stick to all smooth surfaces, which makes it difficult to lift it off the table at first.
Metal and glass are very pleasant to the touch and perceived as expensive, but in dry hands the Sony Xperia Z3 is very slippery. The volume keys are convenient to use for their intended purpose, but many book and article readers offer to use them for turning pages, and in this use case they turn out to be inconvenient due to their low placement.
Sony is one of the first companies to launch waterproof smartphones. Already in the second generation of Xperia Z, engineers were able to get rid of the 3.5 mm jack plug, but MicroUSB still had it. There are no doubts about the reliability and durability of the connector covers, but aesthetics and ease of use suffer. Perhaps in future models, engineers will be able to reduce the number of detachable body elements or they will add wireless charging to the smartphone.
In addition to the small gaps mentioned above, there are no complaints about the build quality. The body of the Sony Xperia Z3 feels solid, although it has a minimal degree of flexibility.
Operating system and shell
As befits a flagship, the Xperia Z3 runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The entire line of Sony Xperia Z smartphones will receive an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Compared to the Xperia Z2, the new interface has not received any changes.
Hardware platform
The smartphone is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) system-on-a-chip, it has 4 Krait 400 cores operating at up to 2.5 GHz along with Adreno 330 graphics. 11.5 GB available. There is a slot for memory cards, media up to 128 GB are supported.
Wireless interfaces include Bluetooth 4.0 (ANT+), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (DLNA), NFC module.
The speed of the smartphone corresponds to the class of the device, there are no problems with games, watching FullHD and 4K videos or solving any other tasks. After prolonged use of the camera or heavy games, the back of the smartphone becomes slightly warm. In general, the performance of the Sony Xperia Z3 is similar to the previous model and other flagships.
The operation of the GPS and Wi-Fi modules does not raise any complaints.
Calls, multimedia
In the Sony Xperia Z3, the company has implemented a number of proprietary technologies aimed at improving the sound quality of the smartphone. In addition to the classic equalizer, there are "ClearAudio +" settings for optimizing the sound and "Dynamic Normalizer" for equalizing the volume level of different recordings. If you turn them off, the smartphone sounds similar to other flagship models, but turning them on makes the sound subjectively better and more voluminous.
In addition, Sony Xperia Z3 plays uncompressed audio formats (wav, aiff, flac, alac). The company calls them "high-definition audio", and to listen to such compositions it recommends using a range of branded full-size headphones or outputting an uncompressed source signal via USB to compatible branded equipment - a smartphone can act as a DAC. Unfortunately, we did not have the appropriate hardware to test this functionality.
The smartphone uses a special 5-pin 3.5 mm connector, it allows you to connect branded accessories. Among them: headphones with active noise reduction MDR-NC31EM and external microphone STM10. These headphones were supplied with the Xperia Z2, but they were removed from the Z3 package. Given that such functionality is unique, and the availability of Sony accessories in Ukraine leaves much to be desired, the simplification of the bundle is a key deterioration in the Xperia Z3 compared to the previous flagship. In addition to those listed, the company has other accessories in its arsenal - a charging dock and a special holder for the Play Station 4 joystick. The latter is needed for the convenient implementation of the Remote Play function, which allows you to display the image from the set-top box on the smartphone screen.
Support for various video formats is implemented at an average level, for some reason our sample did not play files with AC3 tracks, although the previous model had no problems with this.
The quality of the speakers to the smartphone is difficult to make any claims. They are loud, conveniently located, but compared to the HTC One M8 they sound less voluminous.
During a call, the speaker shows an excellent volume margin, which is enough for comfortable communication even in a very noisy environment. The vibrating alert on the Xperia Z3 feels good, and the user is likely not to miss an incoming call.
Together with the Xperia Z3, the company announced the Z3 Dual version of the smartphone, which supports the simultaneous operation of two Nano-SIM cards.
Working hours
The smartphone has a 3100 mAh non-removable battery. Compared to the previous model, its capacity has decreased by 100 mAh, but this did not prevent the smartphone from showing an increase in autonomy of 10-20%, depending on the operating mode.
| Mode | Sony Xperia Z3 | Sony Xperia Z2 | One Plus One | LG G3 (ART) |
| Music | 66:40 | 87:30 | — | 58:49 |
| Reading | 16:40 | 13:20 | 15:23 | 8:42 |
| Navigation | 10:32 | — | 8:20 | — |
| Watching HD video | 12:30 | 11:06 | 11:07 | 7:02 |
| Watch HD video from Youtube | 8:00 | 10:00 | 6:27 | 6:04 |
| Antutu tester (points) | 6773 | 590* | 4667 | 396* |
| GFXBench (minutes) | 193 | 245 | 181 | 140 |
| GFXBench (points) | 1625 (29.0 fps) | 1228 (21.9 fps) | 1607 (28.7 fps) | 634 (11.3 fps) |
* - data obtained under similar conditions, but with the brightness set to 50% and possible
The testing methodology can be found in material
The company promises up to two days of operation of the smartphone in a typical mode of operation. According to the information posted on the manufacturer's website, this mode includes about five hours of total activity (calls, text correspondence, web surfing, multimedia) at a screen brightness of 100 cd/m 2 .
In the author's work mode, which includes constant synchronization of two Google accounts, various tests, watching videos at maximum brightness, active use of the camera, the smartphone worked for about a day, and the screen time was five hours.
Taking into account the fact that the smartphone practically does not discharge in standby mode, the data given by the manufacturer can be considered correct - an abstract user will receive two days of work from a single charge. The smartphone has power-saving modes Stamina and Ultra Stamina, allowing you to increase the operating time.
Display
The Sony Xperia Z3 has a 5.2-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Its brightness varies from 3 to 519 cd/m 2 , the contrast ratio is 1:572. The smartphone uses a new matrix with an increased level of brightness. In the screen settings, you can enable X-Reality image enhancement technologies, high brightness mode, activate the ability to operate with gloves and adjust the white balance.
Based on the measurement results, a medium quality matrix is used. Its main disadvantages are inaccurate color reproduction and a very high color temperature, due to which the image gets a characteristic bluish tint.
Default display settings:
Manually adjusting the white balance allows you to slightly reduce the color temperature, but the color reproduction is still quite cold.
Manual white balance setting (blue: 0, green: 200, red: 250):
Based on personal impressions, the display of the smartphone can be called controversial. It has excellent viewing angles, one of the widest ranges of brightness adjustment, good readability in the sun and a high-quality oleophobic coating.
On the other hand, not everyone will like such a specific cold color rendition, the displays of most competitors have much more natural color rendition. Minor shortcomings of the screen also include the grid of the touch layer, barely noticeable in direct sunlight (manifested in the form of small reflective dots) and the average sensitivity of the sensor in the "Gloves" mode - it reacts to cloth gloves, but ignores leather ones.
cameras
The Sony Xperia Z3 has two cameras. The main module received a new Exmor RS sensor with a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, a maximum light sensitivity of 12800 ISO, a wide-angle (25mm) G Lens lens with an aperture of 1 / 2.3. It is capable of shooting 4K video, Full HD video in HDR mode or at a frame rate of 60 fps. The front camera has a resolution of 2.2 megapixels, it is capable of recording Full HD video.
The camera app gives you access to a variety of shooting modes, including quite a few entertaining ones. For example, you can take a photo and record the surrounding sounds, or shoot the same subject from multiple angles with a pair of Sony smartphones and merge all the images into one video sequence.
You can add virtual dinosaurs, gnomes to the photo, follow them in the viewfinder. You can download additional camera modules from the Play Market, for example, an application for shooting Time Lapse video.
Examples of pictures in maximum resolution (20 MP):
When you start the camera with the volume key from the locked screen, a special automatic mode is activated. All shooting parameters, the scene and the desired mode are automatically adjusted, and the resulting photos are saved in 8 megapixel resolution.
Examples of photos taken in automatic mode (8 MP):
To get photos in full resolution, you need to switch to manual mode, in which you can configure the shooting parameters yourself.
Examples of photos taken at night (8 MP):
Traditionally for smartphones, the final quality of photos and videos depends on the shooting conditions. In studio conditions, the Sony Xperia Z3 shows image quality comparable to the Xperia Z2 and other flagships. Looking at photographs taken in real conditions, one can notice the aggressiveness of image processing algorithms and periodic errors in determining white balance. As is often the case with Sony flagships, with the release of new firmware, the quality of the resulting photos will also improve.
Video examples
FullHD video:
Shooting slow-motion video:
4K video:
The front camera demonstrates photo quality that is normal for modern devices:
In terms of the speed of launching the camera, focusing and saving photos, the smartphone is comparable to other flagships.
Results
Sony Xperia Z3 can be perceived as a slightly improved version of Xperia Z2. Compared to it, it has become smaller, lighter, has a brighter display, new body colors, a slightly overclocked processor, better battery life and a comparable camera. Unfortunately, excellent headphones have disappeared from the package, which help to evaluate a number of proprietary technologies and distinguish the smartphone from among similar ones, and the display received a rather specific color rendition. At the same time, the famous “Sony-style” has been preserved, including high-quality case materials, the maximum degree of moisture protection, a huge selection of branded accessories, so the Z3 will surely find its customers.
Liked:
Housing materials
Maximum waterproof rating
Hardware platform and performance
Stereo speakers, support for uncompressed audio formats
autonomy
Display: brightness, olephobic coating, readability in the sun, work with gloves
Large selection of accessories
Did not like:
- slippery hull
— Average number of supported video codecs
- No headset included
- Display: cool color rendering
 | |
| RAM, GB | 3 |
| Built-in memory, GB | 16 |
| Expansion slot | microSD (up to 128 GB) |
| Dimensions, mm | 146x72x7.3 |
| Weight, g | 152 |
| Protection against dust and moisture | IP65/IP68 |
| Accumulator battery | 3100 mAh |
| Operating time (manufacturer's data) | talk time: up to 16 hours, standby time: up to 890 hours, music playback: up to 130 hours |
| Diagonal, inches | 5,2 |
| Permission | 1920×1080 |
| Matrix type | IPS TRILUMINOS |
| PPI | 424 |
| Brightness sensor | + |
| Touch screen (type) | touch (capacitive) |
| Other | 16 million colors, X-Reality matrix for mobile devices |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 + GPU Adreno 330 |
| Kernel type | Krait 400 |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Frequency, GHz | 2,5 |
| Main camera, MP | 20,7 |
| autofocus | + |
| Video filming | 2160p, 30fps |
| Flash | LED |
| Front camera, MP | 2,2 |
| Other | 8x digital zoom, image stabilization, face detection, geo-tagging, burst mode |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 (A2DP) |
| GPS | + (GLONASS) |
| IrDA | — |
| NFC | + |
| interface connector | USB 2.0 (micro USB) |
| Audio jack | 3.5mm |
| MP3 player | + |
| FM radio | + (RDS) |
| Type of shell | monoblock |
| Keyboard type | screen input |
| More | proximity and light sensors, accelerometer, digital compass, gyroscope, barometer, A-GPS receiver, vibrating alert, DLNA support, Sony 3D Surround Sound (VPT), Clear Audio + technology |
Detailed testing of the new flagship Sony Mobile
Perhaps it’s worth starting with the fact that Sony, having once again updated its main and most popular line of mobile devices called Xperia Z, this time brought everything “to a common denominator”, giving all devices included in the updated series, without exception, an ordinal number 3. Thus, even a miniature version of the flagship smartphone Sony Z3 Compact immediately "jumped" one digit in its index, so as not to differ from its comrades in the line. There is no and never will be a model called Xperia Z2 Compact, users immediately received the third “mini” version, and now all three main products in the top family have the same Z3 index in their names.
The new line of Sony mobile devices was presented at the very beginning of autumn during the world exhibition IFA 2014 and includes three top devices: the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia Z3, its miniature version Xperia Z3 Compact, and a new eight-inch tablet called Sony Z3 Tablet. This is with regard to the main devices of the line. In addition to them, the new series of Sony mobile products includes the budget smartphone Xperia E3, a watch, and a new bracelet with an electronic ink screen… But everything has its time. Today we present to your attention a detailed test review of the most important device in the top family - the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone, which very quickly replaced the Xperia Z2 presented literally in the spring. The Japanese firmly adhere to the once chosen course to update the flagship line every six months, rightly believing that during this time enough reasons have accumulated to update the lineup.
In contrast to the Xperia Z2, which has progressed relative to its predecessors in terms of technical improvements, the Xperia Z3 has practically no changes in this regard. But on the other hand, a very tangible work was carried out on the appearance of the product itself and the user graphical interface, that is, most of the changes this time lie precisely in the plane of design and embellishments. However, this does not mean at all that the next update should be treated with disdain. On the contrary, the Sony Xperia Z3 eliminated all those shortcomings and roughness that annoyed the powerful, but in many ways turned out to be rude Xperia Z2. However, in terms of technical characteristics, there have been some changes. Let's talk about everything in order.
Video review
To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone:
Key Features of Sony Xperia Z3 (Model D6603)
| Sony Xperia Z3 | Vivo Xshot | HTC One M8 | Samsung Galaxy S5 | |
| Screen | 5.2" IPS | 5.2" IPS | 5″ Super LCD 3 | 5.1″ Super AMOLED |
| Permission | 1920×1080, 423 ppi | 1920×1080, 424ppi | 1920×1080, 440ppi | 1920×1080, 432 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (4x Krait 400) @2.3GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (4x Krait 400) @2.5GHz | ||
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 2/3 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 GB | 16/32 GB | 16/32 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| Operating system | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.4 |
| Battery | non-removable, 3100 mAh | non-removable, 2600 mAh | non-removable, 2600 mAh | removable, 2800 mAh |
| cameras | rear (20.7 MP; 4K video), front (2.2 MP) | rear (13 MP; video 4K), front (8 MP) | rear (4 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP) | rear (16 MP; video 4K), front (2 MP) |
| Dimensions and weight | 146×72×7.3mm, 152g | 146×73×8 mm, 148 g | 146×71×9.4mm, 160g | 142×73×8.1mm, 145g |
| average price | T-11028534 | T-10970877 | T-10761030 | T-10725078 |
| Sony Xperia Z3 offers | L-11028534-10 | |||
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 2.5 GHz, 4 cores
- GPU Adreno 330
- Operating system Android 4.4 KitKat
- Touch IPS display, 5.2″, 1920×1080
- Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB, internal memory 16 GB
- microSD card slot up to 128 GB (SDXC)
- Protection against dust and moisture according to IP 65/68
- Communication GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
- Communication 3G UMTS HSPA+ 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz
- LTE Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 (2600/800 FDD are used in Russia)
- Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
- Support DLNA, MHL 3.0, OTG, Media Go, MTP, Miracast
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), Wi-Fi hotspot
- GPS/Glonass
- 20.7MP Exmor RS camera, autofocus, LED flash, 4K video
- Front camera 2.2 MP
- Non-removable battery 3100 mAh
- Dimensions 146×72×7.3 mm
- Weight 152 g
Contents of delivery
The Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone is packed in a fairly simple outwardly, which has already become classic for the latest products of the Sony mobile line, a flat and square box made of thin unvarnished cardboard with a cardboard tray and three different-sized compartments inside, separated by thin partitions.
The Sony Xperia Z3 package bundle is very laconic: a compact charger and a Micro-USB connecting cable. Headphones Sony has decided not to invest in a set of their flagship products anymore, they will be offered separately at a fairly reasonable price, as an additional accessory.
Appearance and usability
If most of the main changes in the Sony Xperia Z2 touched on the technical side, then in the third incarnation, the previous content was dressed in a much fresher shell. Since the very first Xperia Z, the appearance of the case of all the flagship smartphones of the line has not changed much over the generations, remaining the same type. The basis of the design, which the developers even gave their own name OmniBalance, was a frame with flat edges. And recently it has taken the form of such a rough heavy all-metal construction with cut off sharp edges that the Xperia Z2, for example, was already really uncomfortable to hold in your hand. The main claims that immediately fell from users regarding the Xperia Z2 presented in the spring concerned precisely the rudeness and heaviness of the novelty case. This time, the developers took into account all the negative nuances and changed the feeling of using a smartphone beyond recognition.
Moreover, they didn’t have to do almost anything: they just removed the flat chamfers from the surface of the side frames, which is why the rough edges that stuck into the palm also disappeared. The metal frame has become completely streamlined, flat and sharp edges have been replaced by rounded sidewalls, which makes the device really nice to take in hand.
The polymer spacer between metal and glass, which disappeared in the latest models, has not returned here, but the metal edges of the edge no longer dig into the skin as before. Now in the hands of the user is a pleasant to the touch, smooth and streamlined "bar", which, moreover, also threw off the weight. The mass of the Sony Xperia Z3 was brought to a comfortable level, which had the most favorable effect on the overall perception of the device - now there is simply nothing to complain about.
As for the general structure of the case, the smartphone is still a monolithic non-separable monoblock, consisting of two glass plates and a metal frame that runs along the entire side perimeter of the case. The metal surface is matte and slightly rough, which makes the smartphone perfectly held in the fingers and does not slip out of the palm.
At the same time, even greater changes have been made to the design of the frame than are immediately noticeable to the eye. The fact is that the corners of the frame this time were made of polycarbonate material, which dampens the impact when the device falls. Now they play the role of a kind of shock absorbers, which, in theory, should favorably affect the “survival” of the product after falls from a height. This plastic is indistinguishable in appearance from the metal of the frame itself, so that in general the case retains a uniform look.
Another change has affected the thickness of the case: the smartphone has become a little thinner, and it looks very cool. True, the decrease in thickness led to a decrease in the volume of the built-in battery, but the changes in this regard are not too significant.
Otherwise, everything remains in place: the front and rear glasses no longer have a factory protective film, the characteristics of the glass are similar to the popular Corning Gorilla Glass, but the proud Sony does not like to talk about its suppliers. The screen is now made using IPS technology, next to it on the front side there are two stereo speakers facing the user. Not forgotten and a special connector with an open pair of contacts for installing a smartphone in a docking station. The connector is universal: most modern Sony devices, including tablets, can be installed in the same docking station, purchased separately.
The covers on the side frame are still made of metal and equipped with rubberized gaskets. As a result, the smartphone, like its predecessors, is provided with maximum protection against ingress of water and dust according to the IP 65/68 standard. There are two covers, they hide slots for a memory card and a SIM card, as well as a Micro-USB connector. By the way, changes have taken place here too: now top-end Sony mobile devices use Nano-SIM cards, obviously with an eye to a painless possible transition of some users from the Apple iPhone. The rest will have to go to the communication salon again and change their SIM card to a new standard card.
The front and back glass panels are now free of those factory protective films that have been so controversial. Maybe this is for the best, since the films, of course, wore out faster and were covered with a mass of scratches than glass, and it was quite problematic to remove them, and besides, the glass then lost its grease-repellent coating.
Grilles for sound output are located at the top and bottom of the screen, the role of the gratings is played by two symmetrical slots in the glass. A completely logical solution is to turn the speakers towards the user, and not away from him, and there are two speakers themselves. By the way, the sound of the new flagship has become much louder than that of its predecessors, even despite the gaskets that protect against water. Another change: it used to be through the top slot of the speaker that the light of the status indicator made its way, now its role is played by a more traditional separate LED dot. There is an item in the settings menu where you can turn off some of the indicator functions, leaving it to notify only about the charging status.
Below the screen, as usual with Sony, there are no hardware touch buttons; control is carried out using virtual buttons on the screen. So here below you can only find the grille of the lower speaker, and even then there is not much space left for it. In general, the frames around the screen are very thin on all sides, so the smartphone case with such a large display area remained in quite digestible dimensions - both for the average human hand and for a pocket of any size.
The back wall of the case is exactly the same as the front: it is made of glass, there is no protective film on it, there are no gaskets between the glass and metal of the side faces, and of the functional elements there are only a camera window and a flash eye. The flash here consists of a single LED, while most competing flagships have had twin flashes for a long time, and now they also come in multi-colored ones. It’s good that they didn’t forget to provide the smartphone with pre-installed software that allows you to use this module in flashlight mode.
The power and lock button is located on the right side, next to the volume rocker. It traditionally looks like a metal round for the latest Sony smartphones, but in models of the third series it is somewhat different in appearance. All keys are large, easy to grope blindly, have a distinct spring-loaded stroke, so there are no complaints about the Sony Xperia Z3 controls.
At the bottom of the right side there is a dedicated hardware camera control key, due to which the smartphone can be used to shoot even underwater, although the screen at this time becomes insensitive to touch. The ability to shoot on Sony mobile devices under water is such a branded “trick”, constantly played by the company in advertising and on posters.
The headphone jack (3.5 mm) is located on the top here, and it is not covered by any plugs. However, it is also protected from water getting inside the case. There is nothing on the bottom end - the universal Micro-USB connector, which, by the way, supports connecting external devices in OTG mode, is hidden under a cover on the left side face. For daily charging, you will have to flip this cover every time - or use a separately purchased docking station. Sony is in no hurry to integrate wireless charging support into its mobile devices.
Another hole has been made in the lower left corner of the case - this is the traditional strap attachment that is present in all Sony smartphones, and it is a pity that other manufacturers neglect this useful element.
The color scheme of the cases of the new flagship has undergone significant changes. Quite unexpectedly, the smartphone was presented not only in traditional black and white, and, quite expectedly, golden colors, but also in a completely new mint green, which the developers simply call green. In fact, this color has a soft pastel, as if a slightly faded greenish tone; the color is discreet and very pleasing to the eye. But the golden color is more reminiscent of polished copper to a shine, for which it got its name Copper (copper-red).
Screen
Smartphone Sony Xperia Z3 is equipped with an IPS touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 64 × 114 mm, the diagonal is 5.2 inches, the resolution is 1920 × 1080 pixels. A parameter such as pixel density is 423 ppi here. From the developers themselves, this type of display received the brand name Triluminos.
Outside, the screen is covered with protective glass without a factory protective film - this branded distinctive feature has completely disappeared from the screens of Sony mobile devices. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the case is about 3 mm - the frames are very narrow.
The brightness of the display can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to handle up to 10 simultaneous touches. The display supports operation with gloves, as well as with wet fingers. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is locked using the proximity sensor.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia Z3, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the right, then they can be distinguished by size):
Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still darker (its brightness in the photo is 98 versus 103 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects on the Sony Xperia Z3 screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (it is also a touch sensor) and the matrix surface (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of borders (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better with strong external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, perhaps better than the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 680 cd / m², and the minimum - 4.7 cd / m². The maximum value is simply huge and is a record for this type of technology, and, given the good anti-glare properties, in bright daylight and even in direct sunlight, the image on the screen should be clearly distinguishable. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works by light sensor (it is located to the left of the logo on the front panel). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness control. If it is at maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 130 cd / m² (a bit too much), in an artificially lit office (about 400 lux) it sets it to 350 cd / m² (very much), in a very bright environment (corresponds to bright daylight outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 580 cd/m² (sufficient). If the brightness slider is at half the scale (it is very non-linear - after 50% the brightness goes up sharply as the setting is increased), then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 68, 240 and 580 cd / m² (suitable values). If the brightness control is set to a minimum - 7.4, 120, 580 cd / m². As a result, the auto-brightness function works absolutely adequately. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.
This screen uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without hue inversion and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here is a photo in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia Z3, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to about 200 cd / m² (on a white field in full screen), and the color balance on the camera was forcibly switched to 6500 K Perpendicular to the plane of the screens is a white field:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:
The colors on the Sony Xperia Z3 screen are oversaturated, the skin tones are heavily shifted to the red, and the color balance is very different from the standard. Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Sony Xperia Z3, the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong blackout and a greater decrease in brightness. And the white box:
The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Sony Xperia Z3, the drop in brightness is greater (brightness in photos is 216 versus 230 for Nexus 7). At the same time, the color tone has changed slightly. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly and acquires a purple or red-violet hue. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):
And from another angle:
With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is average, since there are areas with a slightly increased brightness along the edge:
Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 690:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 23ms (14ms on + 9ms off). The transition between grayscale 25% and 75% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back in total takes 33 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the gray tint did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the exponent of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.31, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power dependence:
The smartphone has a dynamic adjustment of the brightness of the backlight, depending on the nature of the displayed image. The general trend is that the brightness decreases on dark images, but the algorithm is somehow complicated, and as a result, the brightness periodically jumps noticeably, which is annoying, and reducing the brightness on dark images reduces the visibility of gradations in the shadows under ambient light conditions. That is, the benefits of this function are zero, only harm. As a result, a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing black flare at angles - we carried out when displaying special patterns with invariably average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in full screen. Of course, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output almost on the entire screen.
The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:
Let's look at the spectra:
They are very atypical. As they write on the Sony website, this screen uses LEDs with a blue emitter and green and red phosphor (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix filters, allows you to get a wide color gamut. Unfortunately, as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above. Note that when compared with the Sony Xperia Z2, it can be seen that the manufacturer tried to improve the situation with oversaturated colors, and increased the cross-mixing of the component to bring the coverage back to normal, but something stopped it at the phase of de-saturating the green color. Thanks for trying, but we need to go further, reduce to sRGB.
The balance of shades on the gray scale is far from ideal, since the color temperature is above the standard 6500 K. True, the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) in most of the gray scale is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. But at the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is large, which negatively affects the visual perception of color balance. (The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance is not of great importance there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
This smartphone has the ability to correct the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors. What we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. on the charts above. As a result, we slightly reduced ΔE on white and brought the white point a little closer to 6500 K (but also greatly reduced the brightness).
We were prevented from bringing at least the white point back to normal by the limited range of adjustments and high resolution, which is actually higher than the adjustment step. However, such a correction did not reduce the oversaturation of colors.
If someone still finds the image on the screen of this smartphone not bright enough, then you can turn on the corporate mode X-Reality for mobile. The result is shown below:
Saturation and contour sharpness are programmatically increased, and there are fewer distinguishable gradations of shades in the area of saturated colors. But the picture, yes, has become brighter. For color extremists, there is a “ultimate brightness” mode, in which a mockery of the image (and common sense) exceeds all reasonable limits. Here's what we got:
Of course, such a picture will find fans. We are all very different.
Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is simply nowhere wider, and everything is in order with anti-glare properties, which allows you to comfortably use your smartphone both on a sunny day on the beach and in complete darkness. It is permissible to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works absolutely adequately. The advantages also include a very effective oleophobic coating, no flicker and no air gap in the layers of the screen. The disadvantages are a strong lightening of black when the gaze deviates from the perpendicular to the screen surface and aggressive dynamic brightness adjustment. With color reproduction, things are not the best way, the colors are oversaturated (especially skin tones suffer), the color balance is different from the standard. The presence of appropriate adjustments allows you to slightly correct the balance, but not completely and by reducing the brightness. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices (and the most important thing is the visibility of information in a wide range of external conditions), the screen quality can be considered high.
Sound
For the first time, the sound of Sony's flagship smartphone truly pleased. During the behind-the-scenes first acquaintance with the Sony Xperia Z3 prototypes at the IFA exhibition in Berlin, the device did not impress with its sound. However, the serial sample sent to us later to the editorial office pleasantly surprised us with the power of its sound and the depth of sound, especially considering that the speakers here are also covered with membranes that protect against water ingress. The new Xperia Z3 has become much louder and better than its predecessors, the sound remains clear at the maximum volume level, the bass is not in excess, but it is enough, the maximum volume is high. Looking ahead, it is worth noting that the mini version of the Xperia Z3 Compact is not so rosy with this, the devices are clearly equipped with speakers of different quality.
The device traditionally uses the branded Walkman player to play musical compositions. The standard audio player is rich in settings and additional software sound enhancements, such as a built-in equalizer with a lot of preset values (you can set your own), Clear Phase technologies, xLoud or virtual surround sound. Most of the settings can be controlled if the ClearAudio + complex function is turned off, otherwise all settings are left to the machine.
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FM radio is standard on the smartphone. Traditionally, it works only with connected headphones as an antenna; it does not have the ability to record programs. There was no voice recorder in the standard configuration of the flagship, as, by the way, in the Xperia Z3 Compact.
Camera
Sony Xperia Z3 is equipped with two modules of digital cameras with a resolution of 20.7 and 2.2 megapixels. The hardware base here is exactly the same as in the Sony Xperia Z2, only software effects have been added. The main 20.7-megapixel camera is equipped with a G Lens with a focal length of 27mm and an aperture of F2.0. The camera uses a 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor and a Bionz for mobile processor.
By default, the cameras of all Sony devices work as standard in the so-called super auto mode (iauto) with a wide aspect ratio of the frame, but you can switch shooting to manual settings. It is noteworthy that when you use the hardware button on the side of the device to quickly turn on the camera, it is always activated only in automatic shooting mode, even if manual mode was previously enabled. If you start the camera application by touching the icon on the display, then in this case everything goes as usual, and the camera leaves the previous settings intact, that is, it starts in manual mode, if it was set earlier. Note that there is a big difference between automatic and manual modes, because the maximum resolution of images can only be set in manual adjustment mode. When shooting in automatic mode, which is set by default, photos are obtained with a size of 3840 × 2160 (8 MP), and in manual mode, the maximum possible resolution is just the same 20.7 MP (5248 × 3936).
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In addition to automatic and manual, the Sony Xperia Z3 camera software has a few more curious additional shooting modes. The Info-eye mode, for example, substitutes contextual information for an object in the frame using augmented reality technology. In Timeshift burst mode, the camera takes up to 61 shots two seconds before pressing the shutter button, from which you can then choose the best one. The Social live function allows you to upload footage directly to Facebook and view comments on them on the smartphone screen. AR effect makes it possible to combine images with animation using proprietary SmartAR augmented reality technology. In addition, the set of additional applications that increase the choice of various shooting modes can be expanded by downloading applications, the number of which is constantly growing. To do this, simply turn on the camera, press the shooting mode icon and select "+Apps" to view more options.
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The camera can shoot video in 1080p and UHD (4K), but the main thing is that there is also the ability to shoot in the most interesting of the modes - 1080p at 60 frames / second. An example of such a video is shown below.
- Clip #1 (84 MB, 1920×1080, 60 fps)
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Good (but not great) sharpness on the left side of the frame, which cannot be said about the right side and edges. |
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To medium plans, the sharpness drops noticeably. The camera adjusts the exposure too sensitively. |
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There are problems with exposure, as well as noise in the shadows and the borders of objects. |
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The color of the sky is quite “even”, although the wires simply “drowned” in it for this reason. |
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In this case, the exposure is well chosen, and the shadows are worked out. But there are still problems with the noise reduction and the right side of the frame. |
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Again, an unpleasant choice of exposure and a large area of blur on the right. |
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The foliage in the background is worked out perfectly in places, and in places it is terrible. The number of the nearest car is distinguishable. |
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Some sharpening is noticeable on the wires, which still does not save them from drowning in blue. |
Trying to keep up with the inexorable progress, manufacturers do not always present ready-made devices. It has happened more than once that the very first models turned out to have something “damp”. Unfortunately, sometimes eminent manufacturers also sin with this.
The smartphone came to us even before the official presentation in Russia, and therefore we recall the case of the Sony Z1 Compact, whose camera we not quite deservedly “hacked to death”. The problem was that due to the “dampness” of the sample, good pictures were obtained every other time, or even after three. Most likely, the matter was in the camera firmware, which did not adequately process the signal from the image sensor, which is why there was a characteristic blur in the pictures. A similar effect occurs when the camera rotates around the optical axis at relatively slow shutter speeds, while the sharpness deteriorates noticeably from the center to the edges of the frame. As a result, it was probably possible to shoot with a camera only from a tripod. But in later copies of the smartphone, the camera has become noticeably better.
A similar effect is present here: part of the image is blurred, as with a slow shutter speed. Perhaps the reason is that the camera takes several shots at too long an interval. In any case, we hope that everything will be fixed soon enough, and Sony, as we have already noticed, brings its products to a decent state.
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Lighting ≈3200 lux. The camera works well. |
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Lighting ≈1400 lux. The situation practically does not change. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux. The grain from the noise reduction becomes a little larger. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux, flash. Flash does little to improve the situation. |
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Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. Камера справляется немного хуже, чем в прошлый раз. Вспышка очень слабая. |
As for this camera "here and now", it does not correspond to the flagship of this level. The software processing is not the worst, but it is clear that it was done in haste: there are barely noticeable traces of sharpening and "ladder" on straight lines, the exposure metering is overly sensitive, and the noise reduction works randomly and (not always in places) rudely. Noise canceling does not handle shadows very well for a flagship, but acceptable. Worse, it spoils medium and long-range plans, although the sharpness of the optics and the resolution of the sensor are quite able to work out such details, which is confirmed by the graph, which in this case somewhat rehabilitates the camera and gives it the right to life. Ultimately, all the problems (I want to believe) rest on the program, which the manufacturer did not have time to bring to the ideal. The reason to believe so is also given by the feeling that a module is installed in the camera, very similar to the Z2 camera. At the same time, Superior Auto mode gives pictures of a different size than in the case of Z2. Therefore, if the assumption is correct, then the module is definitely good, and the program is completely redesigned and, apparently, (yet) underdeveloped. But Sony is unlikely to leave their flagship to its fate, and this problem should be fixed in serial samples. Well, in any case, the physical parameters of the camera are very worthy, and after completion it promises to be interesting. And even now, with a certain skill, it is suitable for various subjects.
Telephone part and communications
The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and there is also support for the fourth generation networks (LTE) used in Russia. In practice, with a SIM card from the domestic operator MTS, the smartphone confidently recognizes and works with 4G networks. The network capabilities of the smartphone are extensive, they correspond to a truly top level: there is support for the 5 GHz Wi-Fi range, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, as standard, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. The external device connection mode (USB Host, USB OTG) is supported, so you can connect flash drives and mice with keyboards to the Micro-USB port. The navigation module works both with GPS and with the domestic Glonass system.
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Spontaneous reboots / shutdowns during testing were not observed, as well as slowdowns or system freezes. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is blocked by the proximity sensor. The LED indicator at the top of the front panel serves to notify you of charging status and incoming events.
There is no dedicated top row with numbers on the standard keyboard by default, you need to switch the layout every time, or manually connect the number row through the settings menu. The layout itself and the layout of the keys are standard: to switch the language layout, just click on the button with the corresponding icon. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is also carried out immediately by the first letters in contacts. There is a convenient opportunity to shift the keyboard closer to one of the sides of the screen, so that it is easier to reach the fingers of the hand holding the smartphone. Naturally, Swype continuous writing (sliding your finger from letter to letter) is also supported.
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OS and software
The operating system uses the latest version of the Google Android 4.4.4 KitKat software platform, on top of which its own proprietary graphical user interface is traditionally installed. The internal arrangement of the shell, all menus, settings items and pop-up contextual submenus - everything remained exactly the same. However, outwardly the shell has undergone significant changes. Previously, Sony's GUI elements were drawn quite small. Now, unexpectedly, all the elements on the screen, and most importantly, the application icons themselves, began to look much larger and clearer. Fonts have increased, such sudden transformations have only benefited the smartphone. There are also less conspicuous, but in some ways more useful improvements. Finally, for example, the function of rebooting the device appeared in the menu, because before that only Sony smartphones suffered from the lack of such an opportunity. If it was necessary to restart the device, it was necessary to first turn off and then turn on the smartphone, which was annoying.
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The most important innovation that has occurred in software terms with the new Sony mobile devices is the appearance of tight integration with the Sony PlayStation 4 game console. If the house already has one, then the Xperia Z3 smartphone, or the Xperia Z3 Tablet, will be able to act as a "portable screen" , that is, everything that happens begins to be displayed not on the TV screen, but on the screen of the mobile device. This is, for example, convenient when you need to free the TV if one of the family members suddenly wants to watch some other program on TV. For this use, Sony will produce a special mount that is able to connect a smartphone or tablet to the game console's joystick. This service is called Remote Play.
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Performance
Like the previous flagship, the Sony Xperia Z3 hardware platform is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 single-chip quad-core system (SoC) with four Krait 400 cores. Z3 it is increased to 2.5 GHz. This is explained by the fact that a slightly more advanced version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) is used here.
The processor is supported in graphics processing by the same Adreno 330 video accelerator. About 11 GB out of 16 GB are initially available for the user's needs in the device. The amount of RAM of the smartphone is 3 GB, and this Sony Xperia Z3 stands out among its direct competitors - everyone else received only 2 GB of RAM. MicroSD memory cards in this model are supported up to 128 GB, you can also connect external flash drives, keyboards and mice to the Micro-USB port using a special adapter in OTG mode.
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To get an idea of the platform performance of the tested smartphone, let's run a standard set of tests.
For convenience, we have summarized all the results obtained by us when testing a smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks in tables. Several other devices from different segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison, it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.
Testing in MobileXPRT, as well as in the latest versions of AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:
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According to the results of testing in benchmarks, the device proved to be one of the most powerful and productive modern mobile devices on the market. It is worth noting that all the figures almost coincided with the results of the previous model Sony Xperia Z2, which passed exactly the same tests not so long ago. As for the relates in the AnTuTu test, they have increased significantly, but it is not yet clear how the results of the two versions of the popular benchmark correlate with each other, because now the fifth version has replaced the fourth version, and all new devices are now tested in it. It is not known whether the developers have brought everything to a common denominator, so for now it will be necessary to mark in the tablets with which versions of the benchmark this or that model was tested. However, for sure, the difference is not so great, all top-end smartphones based on the Snapdragon 801 are, in any case, the most powerful mobile devices on the market today, the hardware capacities of which will be enough for a long time to perform any tasks.
When testing in 3DMark for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (due to which the speed can rise above 60 fps).
The results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for evaluating the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowances for the fact that the results in them depend significantly on the browser in which they are launched, so that the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this possibility is available when testing not always. In the case of Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
Video playback
To test the "omnivorous" when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also, you should not expect everything from a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it.
According to the test results, the Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone was not equipped with all the decoders necessary for the full playback of most of the most common files on the network. But the first smartphone of the series, the Xperia Z model, played all the same files without any problems without the need to resort to third-party solutions. Here, for their successful playback, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it will also have to first change the settings, switching from hardware decoding to software or to a new mode called Hardware+(not supported by all smartphones), only then will the sound appear. All results are summarized in a table.
| Format | container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Regular video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280x720 3000Kbps, AC3 | Hardware+ | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280x720 4000Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | Video plays fine, no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920x1080 8000Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | Video plays fine, no sound¹ |
¹ Audio in MX Video Player only played after switching to software decoding or new mode Hardware+; The regular player does not have such a setting.
Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used the LG IPS237L monitor, which supports direct MHL connection using a passive micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable. At the same time, MHL output was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at a frequency of 30 fps. Regardless of the actual orientation of the smartphone, the display of images on the screens of the smartphone and the monitor is carried out only in landscape orientation with the connector on the smartphone facing down. At the same time, the image on the monitor fits exactly into the boundaries of the display area (if you do not forget to increase the setting Image size up to 100%) and one to one repeats the image on the smartphone screen.
The sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through the headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and has a good quality. At the same time, sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is not adjusted by the buttons on the smartphone case, but is turned off. In our case, a smartphone with an MHL adapter connected, judging by the charge indicator, was charging.
Further, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Methods for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"), we checked how the video is displayed on the screen of the smartphone itself. Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied 1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels and a frame rate of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In tests, we used the MX Player video player in Hardware+ mode. The results of this (block titled "Smartphone screen") and the following test are summarized in the table:
OkayNote: If both columns Uniformity and Passes green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and dropping frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.
According to the frame output criterion, the playback quality of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) may output with a more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. The displayed range of brightness is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, in the shadows and in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing 1080p (1920 by 1080 pixels) video files, the video file itself is displayed exactly to the width of the screen, in its original Full HD resolution.
With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing video, the monitor displays an exact copy of the smartphone screen, that is, the output is in true Full HD resolution in the case of 1080p files.
The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235 - all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and in the highlights. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the "MHL (monitor output)" section. The output quality is good. For files with 50 and 60 fps, we do not provide results, as this does not make sense due to the output mode at 30 fps. For games where higher frame rates are desirable, you can use available external adapters that provide 60fps output at 720p, or you can try to find monitors/adapters that support 1080p MHL output at 60fps.
The conclusion is typical: the MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, web browsing and other activities that benefit from the increase in screen size.
Battery Life
The lithium-ion battery installed in the Sony Xperia Z3 turned out to be quite a bit smaller in volume than that of the Xperia Z2, but still has a capacity of 3100 mAh that is quite decent for a modern flagship. Sony's new flagship did not become a record holder in terms of battery life, but on the whole it showed itself no worse, and maybe a little better than its predecessor. Perhaps the new type of battery is affecting, or the power consumption optimization has become better, but in any case, a slight decrease in the volume of the new battery did not adversely affect the battery life of the device in test modes.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Video mode | 3D game mode | |
| Sony Xperia Z3 | 3100 mAh | 20:00 | 10:00 a.m. | 4h 50m |
| Sony Xperia Z2 | 3200 mAh | 15h 20m | 11:00 a.m. | 3h 30m |
| Oppo Find 7a | 2800 mAh | 16h 40m | 8h 20m | 3 a.m. |
| HTC One M8 | 2600 mAh | 22h 10m | 13h 20m | 3h 20m |
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | 2800 mAh | 5:20 p.m. | 12:30 pm | 4h 30m |
| TCL Idol X+ | 2500 mAh | 12:30 pm | 7h 20m | 3 a.m. |
| Lenovo Vibe Z | 3050 mAh | 11:45 a.m. | 8 a.m. | 3h 30m |
| Acer Liquid S2 | 3300 mAh | 16h 40m | 7h 40m | 6 a.m. |
| LG G Flex | 3500 mAh | 23h 15m | 13h 30m | 6h 40m |
| LG G2 | 3000 mAh | 20:00 | 12:30 pm | 4h 45m |
| Sony Xperia Z1 | 3000 mAh | 11:45 a.m. | 8 a.m. | 4h 30m |
Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at the minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd / m²) lasted more than 20 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and with continuous viewing of YouTube videos in high quality (HQ) with the same level of brightness through a home Wi-Fi network, the device lasted 10 hours. In the 3D gaming mode, the smartphone worked for almost 5 hours. The device charges quickly enough, the time for a full charge is less than 3 hours.
Outcome
Once again, Sony Mobile has released an excellent top-end device of the highest quality and performance class. The flagship of the Japanese boasts an expensive, catchy and stylish design and, of course, premium materials. Among its strengths are also the presence of a high degree of protection against water and dust, the highest hardware performance and technical equipment to date, as well as a powerful battery and good sound quality. The screen and camera are not exactly great, but they generally correspond to the high level of a smartphone. However, at this point I would like to state with a little sadness that we did not see any breakthroughs in the next update. Smartphone stuffing remained almost the same, the changes are noticeable, but still, for the most part, cosmetic. However, we did not see any breakthroughs in the new season from other manufacturers either, the market froze in anticipation of new technical discoveries, and we are also looking forward to them.
In terms of ergonomics, the smartphone is worthy of all praise. Smoothed corners allow you to comfortably hold the device in your hand, and excellent weight balance - deftly manipulate it. It is not always possible to use one hand, but this is the norm for solutions with a screen larger than 4.5 inches, not to mention 5.2. Responsive screen sensor, good key layout and oleophobic coating of glass parts - so many pluses and no obvious minuses.
Screen, camera
At first glance, the screen of the smartphone is exactly the same as that of the Xperia Z2 - made using IPS technology, with a diagonal of 5.2 inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which means a pixel density of 424 ppi. However, this is a modified version of the display with increased brightness. The screen is made on one layer of glass and is not "spoiled" by the factory film, so the picture looks juicy and bright even outdoors on a sunny day. The color gamut of the display corresponds to the sRGB palette, and comfortable viewing angles are close to the maximum possible. In general, the Xperia Z3 allowed Sony to finally catch up with competitors in terms of flagship screen quality.
22.10.2014
Short, formal...
Lyrical introduction
Synthetic tests:
Sensors. In addition to the traditional set of accelerometer, gyroscope and compass, there is also a barometer. But unfortunately there is no thermometer. As well as there is no infrared port.
The light sensor and the proximity sensor, of course, are also in place.
Communication with the outside world
Mobile internet works well. What is LTE (4G), what is its little brother 3G.
Regarding LTE, it makes sense to pay attention to the following. In our country, the main LTE band is now the seventh (2600 MHz), plus the twentieth (800 MHz) has been actively developing lately. Those varieties that are officially sold with us (single-term model D6603 and dual-terminal D6633) can work in both of these ranges. Similarly, in both ranges, a certain model under the number D6643 works (but something is not visible at all in our country).
But the D6653 device I am studying, apparently, only knows about the seventh LTE band. At least, judging by the data from the official site. I did not find any information about this on the device itself and on the packaging.
Wi-Fi dual band, a/b/g/n/ac 2.4 + 5 GHz. Sensitivity is perhaps a little below average (judging by the number of grids that the smartphone saw). With speed, there are no problems, of course.
The smartphone can connect via USB to a computer only in MTP mode, there is no support for Mass Storage.
It is possible to connect external USB devices such as mice and flash drives (USB-OTG).
There is MHL, i.e. it is possible through a special cord, which is plugged into the Micro-USB connector, to duplicate the picture from the smartphone screen to the TV screen. It works well, you can watch videos and play toys. The only thing is that almost always the picture on the screen of a smartphone (and TV) is forcibly turned horizontally, even if you don’t really want to. The exception is toys like Temple Run, where the horizontal position is not provided for by the project at all.
There is Bluetooth version 4.0, there is NFC.
Screen
IPS-screen with a diagonal of 5.2 "and a resolution of 1080x1920 (i.e. FullHD). The screen is good, but, how can I say it, strange, unusual.
Excellent brightness (540 cd/m2) with good contrast ratio (850:1). The minimum brightness is extremely low - less than 4 cd / m2, which is also a great result. There is no air gap, a high-quality matrix - as a result, the screen is visible always and everywhere. Look at the next frame. It's cloudy outside, but it's the middle of the day! And I didn’t use any HDR, it’s actually the screen that can be so bright against the background of the surrounding dull autumn reality:
There are no questions about the sensor, good, clear. Multitouch for 10 simultaneous touches.
What is extremely nice is the ability to work with the screen while wearing gloves. It is implemented correctly, the sensitivity is good.
And then the strangeness begins. Color temperature - as much as 12500K. In Russian, colors - pluck out your eyes. Moreover, Sony uses such acidic colors in the main design - which is just oh. There are adjustments, you can tweak the colors a little and lower the color temperature. But you still can’t get to the ideal 6500K, and besides, the brightness will suffer. Yes, and the adjustment is surprisingly inconvenient. Instead of a single slider that would move exactly the color temperature, it is proposed to separately adjust blue, green and red.
However, if you replace the design from Sony with some nice neutral cats, you can put up with the colors of the screen. Although, of course, sediment remains.
The second oddity is the oleophobic coating. When I first picked up a smartphone, I was naturally shocked - so quickly it was covered with fingerprints, which were also hard to erase. And this is on a smartphone for 30 thousand rubles ?? But over time, oddly enough, things got much better. No, I'm not used to it. It seems that the oleophobic coating needed time to "work in".
Well, as usual, Sony screens love to attract dust. But in her pockets, probably, it becomes less.
Operating system and other software
Operating system Android 4.4.4 KitKat plus a proprietary shell and some software from Sony.
What is valuable, among this software there is also a file manager. Why is it valuable? Because in Android 4.4, third-party software (including my favorite file manager ES Explorer) is deprived of the ability to write anything to a memory card. In particular, you can't just take and copy a file from the internal flash memory to your Micro-SD. And the "proprietary" file manager does not have this stupid restriction.
Applications cannot be installed on the Micro-SD card.
Battery
The battery capacity at the present time seems to be even not very impressive - 3100 mAh - they have seen even more. But they are impressive and the test results warm the heart with a warm mitten. Already 179% "from the standard" (Galaxy S4) and more than 11 hours of video - the result is extremely pleasant.
Based on the results of long walks around Paris, I can say that the battery capacity from morning to late evening was always enough for me. And this despite the fact that, in addition to the constant work of the camera and the more or less regular glow of the screen at high brightness when working as a navigator, the device also wrote a GPS track from morning to night without interruption. However, the battery was enough - yes, but without a large margin. There were a couple of days when, in the late afternoon, I began to nervously glance at the amount of remaining charge. Although - it would seem - why be nervous if there are two more spare smartphones in the backpack?
Video. Video can shoot as much in FullHD resolution (1920x1080) at 60 frames per second. An example of such a video. I can’t say that I am delighted with the quality of the videos, but to replenish the home video collection it will do.
Sony is currently in the process of modernizing its mobile device business and is shifting its focus to high-end and mid-range solutions. Sony Mobile Communications plans to sell 38 million smartphones this fiscal year. Despite rumors of abandoning the strategy of releasing new flagship models every six months, Sony vice president of global communications and public relations Tim Harrison (Tim Harrison) said in one of his latest interviews that the company decided to release flagship models more often than once a year. 12 months. On the one hand, such a solution allows you to quickly take into account past mistakes and impose worthy competition on other manufacturers. But is it possible in this case to count on cardinal improvements compared to the previous model? It can also lead to competition between devices within the line itself. We will try to find out how justified this is in modern market conditions using an example that we tested.
In terms of dry technical characteristics, this model is not much different from its predecessor -. Here is the same 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and a 20.7 MP main camera. Then the logical question arises: “What is the difference?” It lies in a number of design improvements, proprietary shell Xperia Home and several technical nuances. We will talk about all this in more detail below. To get started, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the Sony Xperia Z3:
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Manufacturer |
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Xperia Z3 (D6603) |
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Type, form factor |
Smartphone, monoblock |
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Communication standards |
850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz |
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850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 MHz |
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700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2300 / 2600 MHz |
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High speed data transfer |
GPRS (32-48 Kbps), EDGE (236 Kbps), HSDPA (up to 42.2 Mbps), HSUPA (up to 5.76 Mbps), LTE Cat.4 (up to 50 Mbps) UL, up to 150 Mbps DL) |
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SIM card type |
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CPU |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC): 4x Krait 400 cores, up to 2.5GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 28nm HPm |
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Graphics adapter |
Qualcomm Adreno 330: up to 578 MHz, support for OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenVG 1.1, OpenCL 1.1 and DirectX 9.0c |
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IPS, 5.2" TRILUMINOS, 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi), touch, capacitive, multi-touch up to 10 touches, protective glass Asahi DragonTrail X, X-Reality and Live Color technologies |
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RAM |
3 GB Dual Channel LPDDR3 |
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Persistent memory |
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card reader |
microSD (up to 128 GB) |
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Interfaces |
1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack |
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Multimedia |
Sound processing |
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Acoustics |
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Microphone |
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Main |
Exmor RS (1/2.3"): 20.7 MP, BSI, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, SteadyShot digital image stabilization, HDR shooting, 4K Ultra HD video recording (30 FPS) |
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Frontal |
2.2 MP, f/2.8 aperture, fixed focus, 1080p video recording |
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Communication options |
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) (Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot) |
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Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, LED indicator, geomagnetic sensor (compass), barometer |
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Battery |
Li-ion, non-replaceable: 3100 mAh |
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Charger |
Input: 100~240V AC e.g. at 50/60 Hz Output: 5V DC e.g. 1.5 A |
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Dust and moisture resistant to IP65 and IP68 standards |
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146×72×7.3mm |
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Black / White / Olive / Copper / Purple |
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Operating system |
Android 4.4.4 KitKat + Xperia Home v7 |
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Official guarantee |
12 months |
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Products webpage |
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Delivery and equipment
The tested smartphone comes in a traditional small square box. The packaging is made of fairly thick matte cardboard and is characterized by a discreet and concise design. On its front side there is a partial image of the smartphone, as well as the model name and manufacturer's logo. The side faces are reserved for stickers with service information (IMEI, S / N, Model, Color and country of origin). On the reverse side (in the form of icons) you can find the main features of the Sony Xperia Z3 and legal information about the manufacturer. Here is the image of new items in several color variations. This style of packaging hints that we have a premium device.
Along with the smartphone, the potential buyer will find the following accessories in the box:
- user guide;
- warranty card;
- charger (5 V; 1.5 A);
- micro-USB↔USB cable.
We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the company Sony Mobile Communications AB for the smartphone provided for testing.
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