Xperia Z5 Compact- Sony's third miniature model with truly flagship characteristics. The Japanese are true to themselves in this matter and follow the philosophy of compactness, packing all the best from the Z5 model in a small body. Only on RAM we had to save a little: the Z5 Compact has only 2 GB of RAM, while the standard Z5 is equipped with three gigabytes.
You don't have to worry about performance. The device is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 810 (2 GHz) processor, and the smartphone itself runs on the Android 5.1.1 operating system. We didn't notice any slowdowns in the test, but there were faster mini-smartphones in our laboratory. Perhaps a little more speed can be squeezed out of the device by flashing it.
Pros and cons
Super bright HD display
+ Excellent equipment
+ Digital camera with the ability to record 4K videos
— There is sometimes noise in the phone speakers during a call
— Lots of plastic partsAverage retail price: 39,990 rubles
The model we tested looks like it's made entirely of plastic, but that's misleading. The back surface of the case is made not of glossy glass, but of frosted glass. There is no arguing about tastes, as they say, but it seems to us that the Xperia Z5 Compact has lost some appeal compared to its predecessors.
But the build quality is impeccable, which is typical for the Xperia series. In addition, the device is protected from water and dust in accordance with the IP68 certificate. Sony's recommended price for the device is 39,990 rubles, but in some online stores it costs more. However, there are also online platforms where prices for devices, on the contrary, are less than recommended.
The Z5 Compact is a real Retina display killer. No other smartphone we tested could boast such a bright screen. Its maximum brightness is 655.9 cd/m2, which is more than 100 cd/m2 higher than the iPhone 6s with its Retina display. Even in direct sunlight, the Z5 Compact leaves an excellent impression.
The 4.6-inch screen has high contrast and good color gamut. The only negative is that the color is slightly shifted towards a bluish tint. However, this can be manually corrected using settings. A resolution of 1280x720 pixels is sufficient for this size, since the pixel density is quite high - 322 pixels per inch.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: fast charging technology
Battery capacity - 2700 mAh. This, despite the solid score, became the weak point of the Xperia Z5 Compact in our tests. Despite the presence of the function fast charging Quick Charge, charging time for the phone is 2 hours 24 minutes. And all because Sony did not equip the device with an appropriate power supply.
The talk time is an impressive, although not up to the level of its predecessors, 7 hours 57 minutes. The time for surfing the Internet, despite the screen brightness, which we set to the maximum level during the test, is also very long - more than 7 hours. Thanks to the LTE Cat6 module, you can surf the Internet at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, if you find the appropriate provider.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: photos and videos
The camera is one of Sony's strengths: the Exmor RS sensor is equipped with a 23 megapixel matrix. The maximum sensitivity is ISO 12,800, which makes photos in low-light conditions quite bright. No other device offers autofocus as fast as the Z5 Compact: it takes only 0.03 ms for the device to get a clear picture.
Based on the test results, we can confirm this: the operation is performed almost instantly. We also liked the presence of a separate “shutter” button. But there is something to complain about - the flash. There is only one LED on the back of the smartphone. A dual LED flash would have been more at home in this high-end device.
Test shot of the Xperia Z3 Compact in daylight conditions The Z5 Compact takes pictures in daylight very well. On the front side there is a front-facing 5-megapixel camera, but it is not backlit. And the main camera is capable of shooting video in 4K format (with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels) at a speed of 30 frames per second.
It's a little unusual that during long video sessions the phone's body becomes noticeably warm. An optical image stabilizer is something that the Sony mini version lacks, but would clearly add points to the smartphone when summing up the test results.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: new features
Sony follows modern trends and equips its Xperia Z5 fingerprint sensor, which is located on the side of the smartphone, namely in the power button. In this case, simply placing your finger is not enough - the button must be pressed once.
Feature available for gamers PS4 Remote Play, thanks to which you can broadcast images from game console on the smartphone screen. MHL 3.0 wireless technology will help transfer high-quality images from the device to the TV. To do this, the internal memory can be increased to 200 GB.
We also note new equalizer, which is called DSEE HX. Subjectively, it significantly improves the level of music reproduction. Explanation: Using upscaling technology, it equalizes the sound quality of “regular” music files with higher quality files.
Acoustics Xperia Z5 Compact could have gotten better. During a test call, we heard a distinct background noise on the side of the called mobile phone, and on the side of the landline device, speech periodically became unintelligible. At the same time, we can praise the speakerphone - during the test, not a single interlocutor was interrupted, and the quality of audibility remained stable.
After consulting with Sony, we found out that the phone supports the USB standard like previous models, but during the test the phone did not recognize the flash drive.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: operating system
Android OS version 5.1.1 is installed on board the Xperia Z5 Compact. Sony has updated its brand name well user interface UI Sony's UI offers customers useful tweaks such as a new application organizer or expanded options for organizing the home screen.
Judging by the policy Sony updates, the company accompanies each version of the operating system with at least one update, and therefore the transition to Android 6.0 Marshmallow will have to wait a long time.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact: alternatives
Perhaps the best alternative to the Xperia Z5 Compact is its predecessor. In our price comparison table you can find one available for 25,000 rubles. Its 21-megapixel camera takes excellent photos and also shoots 4K video. In addition, both devices are waterproof, but Sony Xperia Z3 Compact does not have a fingerprint sensor.
The dimensions and screen resolution of the Z3 Compact are the same, except that its brightness is not as prohibitively high as that of the new product. At the same time, we think that the Z3 Compact fits better in the hand, and its glass back looks more attractive. Despite the slightly smaller capacity, the battery lasted a little longer in tests.
Miniature waterproof flagship
The smartphone we are considering today does not need any special introduction. There is probably not a person now who has not heard anything about the unusual series of mobile devices Xperia Z Compact, produced by the Japanese company Sony Mobile. These devices are unusual primarily due to their combination of miniature dimensions and powerful, truly flagship hardware. It should be noted that today we have before us the third incarnation of this model, although its name contains the number 5 - Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. The number of such devices on the market can be counted on one hand, and of the current current models on Android OS, the hero of the review is perhaps the only one left: for people who are considering an exclusively small, but at the same time fully functional, device for themselves as a mobile assistant. powerful flagship, manufacturers have left almost no alternative. On iOS, things are better with this: the iPhone 5s was discontinued, but the little one was immediately returned to iPhone SE. But in the camp of Android smartphones, devices with a screen size of 5 inches or more are now considered small. Anything less than five is automatically classified as a budget model, and they certainly won’t have flagship hardware.
However, in fairness, it is also worth noting that in reality there are fewer and fewer users with such requirements every year: gradually everyone has experienced the advantages of large screens and is no longer going to go back. Apparently Sony itself felt this: in the updated line of smartphones recently presented at MWC 2016, there was no place for a compact modification. It’s hard to say whether the Japanese company will support buyers’ interest in its “compact” in the future, but for now it is the Z5 Compact that is the “last of the Mohicans.”
| Sony Xperia Z5 Compact | Sony Xperia Z5 | Sony Xperia Z5 Premium | |
| Screen | 4.6″, IPS | 5.2″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS |
| Permission | 1280×720, 319 ppi | 1920×1080, 424 ppi | 3840×2160, 806 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (4x Cortex-A57 @2.0 GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 @1.5 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (4x Cortex-A57 @2.0 GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 @1.5 GHz) | |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Flash memory | 32 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 5.1 | Google Android 5.1 | Google Android 5.1 |
| Battery | non-removable, 2700 mAh | non-removable, 2900 mAh | non-removable, 3430 mAh |
| Cameras | main (23 MP; 4K video), front (5 MP) | main (23 MP; 4K video), front (5 MP) | |
| Dimensions and weight | 127×65×9 mm, 138 g | 146×72×7.3 mm, 154 g | 154×76×7.8 mm, 181 g |
| Average price | T-12840987 | T-12741399 | T-12840934 |
| Sony Xperia Z5 Compact retail offers | L-12840987-10 | ||
Key specifications of Sony Xperia Z5 Compact (model E5823)
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 8 cores: 4x2.0 GHz (ARM Cortex-A57) + 4x1.5 GHz (ARM Cortex-A53)
- GPU Adreno 430
- Operating system Android 5.1
- Touch display IPS 4.6″, 1280×720, 319 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 32 GB
- SIM cards: Nano-SIM (1 pc.)
- Map support microSD memory up to 200 GB
- GSM networks 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- WCDMA 850/900/2100 MHz networks
- LTE Cat.6 FDD 800/850/900/1800/2100/2600 networks
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
- Micro-USB 2.0, OTG
- DLNA, Media Go, MTP, Miracast, MHL 3.0
- GPS/A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
- Direction, proximity, lighting sensors, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, magnetic compass, fingerprint scanner
- Water and dust protection (IP65 and IP68)
- Camera 23 MP, Sony Exmor RS, autofocus, LED flash
- Camera 5 MP, Sony Exmor R (front)
- Battery 2700 mAh, non-removable
- Dimensions 127×65×9 mm
- Weight 138 g
Appearance and ease of use
In terms of overall design, the Z5 Compact version, of course, resembles its older comrades in the line - the Z5 and Z5 Premium, but there are also points due to which the compact model stands out noticeably among its peers. The main difference is the thickness: the considerable thickness of the body of the Z5 Compact is noted by everyone who comes across this model. The fact is that the edges of all representatives of the fifth Xperia Z series, including the Z5 Compact, have become almost completely flat. The thickness-concealing roundings on the sides are gone, and with flat edges, the overall thickness of the case naturally becomes much more noticeable.
Thus, unlike its ultra-thin counterparts, the Z5 Compact is like a kind of box: a small and plump parallelepiped with straight edges and corners without rounding (in plan), which visually makes it even thicker than it actually is.
But in terms of width and length, the little one differs from its full-fledged counterparts in the expected direction: the device is noticeably smaller in these parameters, which makes it not only comfortable to hold in the hand, but also, in principle, one of the smallest smartphones of our time.
Pictured: Sony Xperia Z5 Compact (right) compared to the regular Z5
As for the manufacturing materials, they also differ from older models. The Z5 Compact does not have a metal frame on the sides; it uses polycarbonate for the rim. Accordingly, there are no separate plastic inserts at the corners of the sides of the case to absorb impact energy during a fall, since the entire frame is entirely made of this material. The smartphone is very well built, looks and feels like a monolithic and reliable product, no cracks, bends or creaks are observed.
Separately, it is worth noting the back wall of the case: Sony decided to add variety to the line, so that some of its representatives (Z5 Premium) received the usual smooth glass as the back panel, while others (the regular Z5) received matte opaque glass with a coating. So, here we use exactly the option with a matte back wall, exactly repeating that of the regular Xperia Z5 model. This is a rather interesting design option in terms of visual appeal, but the matte wall actually turns out to be much more slippery than regular smooth glass. At least, this happens if your hands are dry - in wet fingers everything can be exactly the opposite.
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Otherwise, there are no noticeable differences among related Sony models No. The card slots are usually covered with a cover with a rubberized gasket, since the device is assigned a protection class of IP65/68. As before, this does not mean at all that you can swim with your smartphone and take pictures with it underwater - the official signature on the company website reads verbatim: “The device is prohibited from being completely immersed under water, or exposed to contact with sea, salt, chlorinated water and such liquids.” like alcoholic drinks."
SIM cards here, unlike the regular Z5 model, are installed not in one side slot one after another, like in a holder, but in two adjacent slots. The first accepts a plastic slide with a Nano-SIM SIM card, while the second, which is a slot slot with a spring-loaded gripping mechanism, can only accommodate a memory card. The microSD card should be pushed in until it clicks; there are no slides in this case. There is no hot-swapping of cards as such, since whenever the tray is removed, even empty, the device reboots itself.
The mechanical keys are usually located on the opposite side; there are three of them: Sony continues to support the idea of the need for a dedicated photo button. Two buttons are ordinary, and the third is flat, with a built-in fingerprint scanner. It is important to note that all three keys here are much softer and more pleasant to use than on other models in the Xperia Z5 line. The scanner does not process touches as clearly as conventional modules with wider areas, but over time you can get used to placing your finger at a certain angle, which will reduce the number of errors.
The front panel is covered with tempered glass, which has two narrow cutouts at the top and bottom for sound output from the speakers, which feature proprietary S-Force Front Surround technology. There are no hardware buttons at the bottom below the screen.
Also on the front panel at the top there are sensors, a front camera and an LED event indicator, which you can independently turn off in the sound settings section.
The camera module does not protrude beyond the rear surface of the case, the device lies stable on any surface. The flash located nearby consists of only one segment and does not shine very brightly.
The Micro-USB connector, which implements the USB 2.0 specification, is located at the bottom end of the case. It supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode, which must be initiated manually (Detect USB device in the smartphone settings).
At the top end there is nothing except an audio output for headphones and a hole for a second, additional microphone.
As for the body colors, here, unlike older models, bright colors have been added. In addition to the classic white and black, less traditional yellow and coral options are also available for sale.
Screen
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone is equipped with a touch screen with an IPS matrix. The physical dimensions of the display are 57x101 mm, diagonal - 4.6 inches. With a screen resolution of 1280x720, the pixel density is approximately 319 ppi. The black panel frame under the glass on either side of the screen looks very thin, only about 2mm, while the entire width of the sides from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is approximately 3.5mm. At the top, the distance to the screen is approximately 14 mm, and at the bottom - only 11 mm.
The display brightness is automatically adjusted based on the light sensor. There is a proximity sensor that locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches. Operating modes with gloves and wet fingers are supported.
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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 sample under study.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, as it is easy to determine, is on the right; then they can be distinguished by size):
Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still a little darker (its brightness in the photo is 111 versus 113 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (also known as the touch sensor) and the surface of the matrix (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better under strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, slightly better than the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.
When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, its maximum value was about 660 cd/m², and the minimum was 5.2 cd/m². The maximum value is very high, and, given the excellent anti-glare properties, in bright daylight and even in direct sunlight, the image on the screen should be clearly visible. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located in the upper right corner of the front panel to the left of the indicator). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the brightness adjustment position. If it is at maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 26 cd/m² (normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) it sets it to 360 cd/m² (a little high), in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 550 cd/m² (this is enough, if you want brighter - increase it manually, but also take responsibility for the rapid discharge of the battery). If the brightness slider is at half the scale (it is very non-linear - after 50% the brightness goes up sharply as the setting value increases), then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 15, 170 and 480 cd/m² (suitable values). If the brightness control is set to minimum - 4.8, 16, 370 cd/m² (only the average value is greatly underestimated). As a result, the auto-brightness function works absolutely adequately, and to some extent it is possible to adjust the nature of the brightness change to the user’s requirements. Only at very low brightness levels does significant backlight modulation appear, but its frequency is high, about 2.3 kHz, so there is no visible screen flicker (but could possibly be detected in a stroboscopic effect test).
This screen uses an IPS type matrix. The microphotographs 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 inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field in full screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K. White field perpendicular to the plane of the screens:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:
The colors on the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact's screen are oversaturated, skin tones are heavily red-shifted, and the color balance is noticeably different from the standard. Of course, one must be very careful when assessing the color rendition of a screen from a photograph, but the trend is conveyed correctly. Now at an angle of approximately 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 Z5 Compact the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong bleaching of blacks. And a white field:
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 Z5 Compact the drop in brightness is less (brightness according to photographs is 246 versus 235 for the Nexus 7). When deviated diagonally, the black field becomes very bright and acquires a purple or reddish tint. The photographs 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:
When viewed from a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is average, since at the edge the black is noticeably brightened in places (here the screen brightness of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is increased to compensate for the dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness):
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is good - about 890:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 29 ms (16 ms on + 13 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 43 ms. Constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal a blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the index of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.41, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, however, this has no values, since the real gamma curve noticeably deviates from the power-law dependence:
This is due to the presence of aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image (in dark areas the brightness decreases). As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since reducing the brightness in dark images reduces the visibility of gradations in the shadows under ambient light conditions, and constant jumps in brightness are very annoying. That is, there is zero benefit from this function, only harm.
The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:
Let's look at the spectra:
They are very atypical for Sony's top mobile devices. Apparently, 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 for a wide color gamut. Yes, and the red phosphor apparently uses so-called quantum dots. Unfortunately, as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.
The balance of shades on the gray scale is average, since the color temperature is much higher than the standard 6500 K, but at least the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 2 units, which is very good. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and ΔE is small - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there the color balance does not have of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
This smartphone has the ability to adjust the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.
That's what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we adjusted the color temperature (missing a little), but on average ΔE became higher and the spread of this characteristic increased. At the same time, the brightness (as well as the contrast) decreased significantly - from 650 to 400 cd/m². This correction, of course, did not reduce the oversaturation of colors. If someone still finds the image on the screen of this smartphone not “bright” and “juicy” enough, then you can turn on the proprietary mode X-Reality for mobile. The result is shown below:
Saturation and contour sharpness are increased by software, and distinct gradations of shades in the area rich colors gets smaller. But the picture, yes, has become brighter. There is also extreme Extreme brightness mode, in which the trend of image “enhancement” reaches its peak. Here's what we got:
Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is very wide, the anti-glare properties are excellent, which allows you to comfortably use the smartphone both on a sunny day on the beach and in complete darkness. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works absolutely adequately. The advantages also include a very effective oleophobic coating, no air gap in the layers of the screen and no flicker. The disadvantages are strong black lightening when the gaze deviates from perpendicular to the screen surface, aggressive dynamic brightness adjustment, oversaturated colors (skin tones are especially affected) and average color balance. The presence of appropriate adjustments allows you to slightly correct the balance, but at the expense of a very strong reduction in brightness (and contrast). Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of 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 quality of the screen can be considered high.
Sound
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact sounds even more interesting than the Z5 Premium, which is unexpected, especially considering its small dimensions and the presence of special membranes to protect the speakers from water. Finally, smartphones with protection sound decent to the Japanese. A pair of stereo speakers, directed towards the user from the front panel, produces a powerful, bright, thick and rich sound, clear and quite bassy, low frequencies not deprived. The sound remains clear at any volume level, the volume headroom is not excessive, but in general it is enough for any environment.
To play music, the device uses its own proprietary player. There is, as usual, a huge variety of sound improvement technologies, including the aforementioned S-Force Front Surround, as well as additional settings functions, such as DSEE HX (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) sound quality enhancement technology. The user is traditionally given the choice between manual adjustment and automatic optimization of all sound parameters using the complex ClearAudio+ function (which includes a lot of different technologies, you can read more about this, dedicated to the sound technologies used in all modern top-end smartphones from the manufacturer.
The smartphone has an FM radio; recording telephone conversations from the line using standard means is not provided.
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Camera
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is equipped with the same digital camera modules with a resolution of 23 and 5 megapixels, which are installed in both the regular version of the Z5 and the Z5 Premium version. The front 5-megapixel Exmor R module is equipped with a 25mm wide-angle G Lens with f/2.4 aperture and fixed focus; it does not have its own flash. Selfie quality is excellent.
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The main camera is equipped with a 23-megapixel Sony Exmor RS module for mobile devices with a 1/2.3″ matrix and a wide-angle G Lens (24 mm) with f/2.0 aperture, hybrid autofocus and a single-section LED flash. Autofocus is very fast (0.03 s), using hybrid autofocus technology that combines the capabilities of contrast and phase focusing technologies.
All Xperia Z5 series smartphones have the same set of modules and technologies: here is the Bionz image processor, and advanced technology for shooting in low light conditions, and updated SteadyShot stabilization with Intelligent Active Mode, which provides smooth stabilization without distortion. And of course, we should not forget that Sony is practically the only manufacturer that still installs a separate hardware camera control button in its smartphones. Some shooting settings can be transferred for control to third-party applications via the Camera2 API (recording in RAW is not supported).
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The camera can shoot video in maximum resolution 4K, as well as Full HD at 60 frames per second. You can save individual frames from your own videos as 8-megapixel photos.
The camera copes well with shooting video in all of the above modes, while recording sound cleanly and efficiently, and the noise reduction system copes with its tasks adequately. SteadyShot technology with Intelligent Active Mode ensures smooth shooting on the move, truly one of the greatest strengths of Sony's mobile cameras.
- Video No. 1 (61 MB, 1920×1080 @60 fps)
- Video No. 2 (107 MB, 3840×2160 @30 fps)
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Good sharpness across the field and in the shots, but it falls off a little towards the edges of the frame. |
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There are noticeable areas of blur at the edges and slight noise in the shadows. |
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Problems with sharpness in shadows and at the edges of the frame arise when shooting at maximum resolution. |
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The license plates of cars that are not closest are distinguishable. |
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Good detail in medium shots. |
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The camera copes well with indoor shooting. |
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The text is well done. |
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Apart from the edges of the frame, the sharpness of the shots is quite good, although the tree branches begin to merge in the middle shots. |
As we have repeatedly noted, the cameras of Xperia Z smartphones are best shot in 8 megapixel mode - this gives the best ratio of image quality to its size. As the image size increases, the resolution begins to drop, and in 22 megapixel mode the camera shoots at the level of current flagships, but nothing more. In addition, when shooting at maximum resolution, areas of blur appear at the edges of the frame and other shortcomings become noticeable that are not present when shooting at a lower resolution. The camera can be described as good and quite flagship, but without any special frills. We have already seen all this. The camera can certainly handle a variety of different scenes.
Telephone and communications
Built on the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset Sony smartphone Xperia Z5 Compact can operate in most 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA and 4G networks. The device supports LTE Cat.6 FDD with maximum speed up to 300 Mbit/s for downloading. At the same time, the smartphone has support for all three of the most common LTE bands among domestic operators (B3, B7 and B20). In practice, with a SIM card from the MTS operator in the Moscow region, the smartphone was confidently registered and worked in 4G networks. The quality of signal reception is not satisfactory; the device confidently maintains communication indoors and does not lose the signal in areas of poor reception.
The smartphone also has support for Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, supports two Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) and 2x2 MIMO speed mode, Wi-Fi Direct, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. Micro-USB 2.0 connector supports OTG connection.
The navigation module works with GPS (A-GPS), Glonass and Beidou (BDS). There are no complaints about the operating speed of the navigation module; the first satellites are detected during a cold start within the first tens of seconds. The smartphone is equipped with a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the compass of navigation programs operates.
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The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, you can immediately search for contacts. Text input is supported by continuously sliding from letter to letter (Swype), and can also be reduced in size and brought closer to one of the edges of the display virtual keyboards for easy control with the fingers of one hand. Traditionally for Sony smartphones, the look and organization of the keyboard itself can be chosen from several possible options.
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OS and software
In terms of software platform There are no differences from older versions of Xperia Z. True, the regular Z5 has already received an over-the-air (OTA) update to Android 6.0, but such an update has not yet been offered for the compact version. Here the same fifth version is still used as the operating system. Google version Android (Lollipop 5.1.1) with its own shell. The shell is well known from previous generations of Sony smartphones; there are no noticeable differences from model to model.
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Performance
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact hardware platform is based on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC as its older brothers in the line. This 64-bit SoC is made on a 20 nm process technology, it includes four powerful 64-bit ARM Cortex-A57 cores with a frequency of up to 2 GHz, which are complemented by four simpler 64-bit Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 1.5 GHz , providing high energy efficiency or performance depending on specific tasks.
The Adreno 430 video accelerator is responsible for processing graphics in the SoC. The smartphone's RAM capacity is 2 GB. The user is allocated just over 21 GB of flash memory out of a total of 32 GB. The memory can be expanded by installing microSD cards with a capacity of up to 200 GB; in practice, our test card Transcend Premium microSDXC UHS-1 with a capacity of 128 GB was confidently recognized by the device. It also supports connecting external devices to the USB port in OTG mode, but for this you need to manually start searching for devices through the settings (Search for external USB devices).
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According to AnTuTu results, the Sony Xperia Z5 is clearly not a record holder among modern flagships. Our test sample scores less than 70K points, where the leaders show 85K or more. It is noteworthy that the device was inferior to its older brother in this test - however, the test results can vary significantly from time to time.
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 can now still be considered a flagship platform, and for such a little thing as the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, its capabilities are even excessive. A powerful processor has never bothered anyone, but widespread complaints about overheating for this model are, unfortunately, not uncommon. And with a screen resolution of only 720p, the performance of the Adreno 430 GPU is perhaps excessive. A smartphone with such a small screen, and even with a resolution less than Full HD, is certainly not bought for 3D games or for comfortable playback of high-resolution videos.
In any case, if you close your eyes to the occasional overheating, then the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone definitely does not suffer from a lack of performance, and its hardware capabilities will definitely be enough to perform any tasks, including demanding games, within a couple of generations.
Testing in the latest versions of comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:
For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, 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.
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Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:
When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).
| Sony Xperia Z5 Compact (Qualcomm Snapdragon 810) |
Meizu Pro 5 (Exynos 7420) |
Huawei Mate S (HiSilicon Kirin 935) |
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa) |
LeTV 1s (Mediatek MT6795T) |
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| 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme (more is better) |
Maxed out! | Maxed out! | 6292 | 6292 | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited (more is better) |
26175 | 25770 | 12553 | 22540 | 16574 |
| 1162 | 1340 | — | 2130 | 542 | |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 58 fps | 52 fps | 16 fps | 52 fps | 26 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 55 fps | 57 fps | 12 fps | 84 fps | 27 fps |
| Bonsai Benchmark | 4277 (61 fps) | 4130 (59 fps) | 3396 (48 fps) | (59 fps) | 3785 (54 fps) |
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
Thermal photographs
Below is a thermal image of the rear surface, obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program (the lighter, the higher the temperature):
Heating is localized approximately in the center of the device. At the same time, a large area with approximately the same temperature suggests that heat distributing elements are used. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 46 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), which is significantly higher than the average value in this test for modern smartphones.
Playing video
To test omnivorousness when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, for example 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 often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.
According to the test results, the test subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are required for full playback of most of the most common multimedia files on the network. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 sound format.
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Standard 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 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after installing an alternative custom audio codec; The standard player does not have this setting
Tested video output features Alexey Kudryavtsev.
Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. Apparently, only Sony still supports image transmission via a wired connection, since the number of devices that support image output via MHL or Mobility DisplayPort is rapidly decreasing. To test MHL we used a monitor ViewSonic VX2363Smhl, supporting direct MHL connection (in version 2.0) using a passive adapter cable from Micro-USB to HDMI. In this case, output via MHL was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at a frequency of 60 frames/s. Regardless of the actual orientation of the smartphone, the image is displayed on the smartphone and monitor screens in landscape orientation with the connector on the smartphone to the right. In this case, the image on the monitor has an actual resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (which more resolution smartphone screen), fits exactly within the boundaries of the display area and replicates the image on the smartphone screen one to one. The exception is the start screen and, apparently, windows of programs that, in principle, do not support landscape orientation. They still appear in portrait orientation, with wide black margins on the sides of the monitor:
Sound is output via MHL (in this case we used headphones connected to the monitor) and is of good quality. In this case, multimedia sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is not adjusted using the buttons on the smartphone body, but is turned off. In our case, the smartphone with the MHL adapter connected was charging, judging by the charge indicator.
Next, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method 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 of 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 frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The results of this (block entitled “Smartphone Screen”) and the next test are summarized in the table:
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems related to the playback of the corresponding files.
According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since the frames (or groups of frames) can output with a more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows, only a couple of shades closest to black do not differ from it in brightness, in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 (720p), the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the edge of the screen in the original resolution.
With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing video, the monitor displays an exact copy of the smartphone screen, and output is in true Full HD resolution in the case of 1080p files.
The brightness range displayed on the monitor is the same as that displayed on the screen of the smartphone itself. The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the “MHL (monitor output)” block. The output quality is good.
The conclusion is typical: an MHL connection can be used for gaming, watching movies, surfing the web and other activities that benefit from a larger screen size.
Battery life
The capacity of the built-in battery installed in the Sony Xperia X5 Compact is noticeably smaller than its older brothers in the line and is only 2700 mAh. Nevertheless, the device demonstrates very decent battery life in all scenarios. Testing was carried out without using Sony's proprietary energy-saving modes.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Video mode | 3D Game Mode | |
| Sony Z5 Compact | 2700 mAh | 15:40 | 8:00 am | 3 hours 50 minutes |
| Sony Z5 Premium | 3430 mAh | 16:20 | 7 hours 50 minutes | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Sony Xperia Z5 | 2900 mAh | 17:00 | 7:30 a.m. | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Huawei Nexus 6P | 3450 mAh | 15:00 | 8:30 a.m. | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| LG Nexus 5X | 2700 mAh | 14:30 | 6:00 am | 4:00 am |
| LG G4 | 3000 mAh | 17:00 | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 am |
| OnePlus 2 | 3300 mAh | 14:00 | 11:20 am | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Huawei Mate S | 2700 mAh | 12:30 pm | 9:00 a.m. | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Samsung Note 5 | 3000 mAh | 17:10 | 10:40 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. |
| Google Nexus 6 | 3220 mAh | 18:00 | 10:30 a.m. | 3 hours 40 minutes |
| Meizu Pro 5 | 3050 mAh | 17:30 | 12:30 pm | 3 hours 15 minutes |
Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme, with auto-scrolling) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted 15 hours 40 minutes until the battery was completely discharged. When continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level through the home Wi-Fi network The device lasted almost 8 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the device did not last up to 4 hours.
The device supports the Qualcomm Quick Charge 2 fast charging function. The smartphone was sent to us for testing without a supplied charger, and with the help of a third-party charger with an output current of 2 A, the initial charge is carried out with a current of 5.1 V 1.5 A, but as charging progresses, these values decrease, and as a result, the smartphone battery is fully charged in approximately 2 hours 40 minutes.
Bottom line
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is now offered in official Russian retail at a price of approximately 35 thousand rubles. Regardless of its set of advantages and disadvantages, this mobile device deserves the closest attention. It will definitely interest a certain circle of users - those who, for some reason, do not want to deal with either “shovels” or iOS, but want to have a decent and at the same time miniature smartphone, not inferior in characteristics to the most modern flagships. And the hero of the review is, in principle, capable of giving all this to its owner: the screen, sound system, both cameras, communication capabilities, autonomy and, of course, the hardware performance of the Xperia Z5 Compact is at a decent level. And quibbles like incorrect color rendering of the screen and possible overheating of the SoC will probably seem not so significant trifles against the backdrop of the lack of alternatives to the product itself. The only real downside to the Xperia Z5 Compact is its hefty price tag. But, firstly, in the absence of a choice, you can take more from the buyer, and secondly, the hero of the review is practically in no way inferior to the Xperia Z5, and at the same time costs noticeably less. In short, the smartphone called Sony Xperia Z5 Compact turned out to be quite good and, perhaps, one of the last of its kind.
In the long-term merciless arms race called “whose diagonal will be larger in the end,” there has finally come a temporary lull. With the official announcement of the 4-inch device, the market took a forced pause to assess what had happened and, if possible, determine the scale of the consequences. However, from some representatives of the mobile industry, such a “feint with the ears” caused absolutely no reaction. While the vast majority of mainstream manufacturers almost instantly forgot about the existence of the once popular category of compact smartphones, Sony casually ignored the general trend and remained true to itself and its fans.
With the release of the fourth mobile device with the prefix “Compact” in the name, Japanese engineers once again confirmed that they remember and respect their fans. They are ready to continue to delight users with powerful and convenient mobile devices, regardless of current fashion trends. Like its no less popular predecessors, the smartphone SonyXperiaZ5 Compact attracts attention with its stylish, secure design, support for all proprietary technologies without exception, and a truly powerful flagship platform that does not tolerate compromise. All of the above practically forces you to pay attention to this device and conduct a comprehensive test of its obvious and hidden capabilities. If you are as interested as we are, then we suggest starting your acquaintance with a detailed review of the technical characteristics.
Specification
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Manufacturer and model |
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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 / 1900 / 2100 MHz |
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700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2300 / 2600 MHz |
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Data transfer |
GPRS (32-48 Kbps), EDGE (236 Kbps), HSDPA (up to 42.2 Mbit/s), LTE Cat.6 (up to 300 Mbit/s) |
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SIM card type |
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CPU |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994): (4 x ARM Cortex-A57 @ 2.0 GHz + 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz) |
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Graphics adapter |
Qualcomm Adreno 430 (650 MHz) |
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4.6", IPS (Triluminos), 1280 x 720 (319 ppi), touch (10 touches), protective glass |
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RAM |
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Persistent memory |
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Card reader |
microSD (up to 200 GB) |
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Interfaces |
1 x micro-USB 2.0 1 x 3.5mm mini-jack audio jack |
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Multimedia |
Acoustics |
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Microphone |
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Main |
23 MP (f/2.0, BSI, autofocus, wide-angle optics, single-section LED flash, 4K Ultra HD video recording) |
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Frontal |
5 MP (f/2.4, fixed focus, wide-angle optics, 1080p video recording) |
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Networking capabilities |
802.11n/ac Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, DLNA, GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS, Beidou |
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Accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, digital compass, fingerprint scanner |
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Battery |
Li-ion, non-removable: 2700 mAh |
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Charger |
Input: 100~240 VAC eg at 50/60 Hz Output: 5 VDC e.g. 1.5 A |
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Dust and moisture protection according to IP65 and IP68 standards |
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127.3 x 64.7 x 8.99 mm |
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Black, white, yellow, coral |
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operating system |
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop + Xperia Home 9.0 |
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Official guarantee |
12 months |
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Manufacturer's website |
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Delivery and configuration
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone is packaged in a medium-sized thick cardboard box. It has a nice minimalist design and offers good information content. It is curious that regardless of the color of the purchased device (and it can be black, white, yellow or coral), its front side is always decorated with a snow-white model.
The delivery package is quite modest, since it includes only the most necessary elements: charger, USB cable and standard user documentation.
Appearance, arrangement of elements
Like all presented models in the current line, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone received a new conceptual design Sense Of Unity. It differs from its predecessor OmniBalance primarily by the use of calm, rounded lines and the almost complete absence of glossy surfaces. This made it possible to make the previously rather catchy and provocative device more natural and attractive to a larger audience, which primarily values practicality and comfort.
The frame of the smartphone is still made in the form of a solid rectangular frame, but this time from high-quality plastic instead of metal. It is covered on both sides by two thin and durable pieces of protective glass, one of which (the back) has a matte coating that is pleasant to the touch and very practical.
Along with its attractive appearance, the main advantage of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is its compact dimensions (127.3 x 64.7 x 8.99 mm) and low weight (138 g). Due to this, the smartphone fits very comfortably in the palm of your hand and can be controlled with one hand without any problems.
True, at first you will have to get used to the relatively high sides along the contour of the glass panels (with a tight grip, they may well dig into the palm) and not the most convenient volume rocker, which for some reason has lost its size. Fortunately, this will not take much time and after a day spent in the company of a smartphone, it is unlikely to make itself felt.
As previously written, the entire front side of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is occupied by a protective glass surrounded by a plastic edging. The frames around the display are pleasantly pleasing - they further emphasize the compact dimensions of the device and take up virtually no usable space: 15 mm on top, 11.25 mm on the bottom and 4 mm on the sides.
The screen itself is surrounded by the following set of elements: an LED event indicator, a proximity sensor and a light sensor, a manufacturer's logo, a front camera lens and two stereo speakers. There are no usual physical or touch control buttons for “Back”, “Home” and “Menu” - their software analogues are displayed on the screen.
Despite the presence of exposed openings (a 3.5 mm audio jack on the top edge, a micro-USB port on the bottom and two stereo microphones), the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact body maintains a high level of protection from moisture and dust according to IP65 and IP68 standards. Under the only plastic plug on the left side there are only slots for Nano-SIM cards and microSD, as well as a retractable insert with technical information. Near it there is a strap holder and another logo. At the same time, the right side is occupied by the camera shutter button, volume rocker and power key, combined with a fingerprint scanner.
The latter is slightly recessed into the base of the case and has a good highlight due to the chrome-plated metal edging.
The scanner itself has quite good quality and speed. Everything works quickly and accurately, with the exception of rare problems with fingerprint recognition when the finger is placed incorrectly relative to the saved version.
The back side of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is made in the form of a non-removable panel, which eliminates the possibility self-replacement battery It contains the main camera lens, a pulse LED flash eye and a corporate logo, as well as a contact pad for the NFC wireless module.
The build quality and rigidity of the body of the smartphone under review are pleasantly pleasing and do not give rise to even the slightest complaints. All elements and parts of the device fit very tightly, and the design of the device itself is a real monolith.
Display
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact has a proprietary 4.6-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 and a pixel density of 319 ppi. It is covered with protective glass with a good oleophobic layer, under which there is no air gap.
Supporting a number of proprietary technologies (X-Reality and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer), the display demonstrates an excellent level of detail, high contrast and rich color reproduction (by default there is a slight imbalance towards cool shades, which can be easily corrected in the system settings). The viewing angles are maximum, and only at extreme diagonal deviations are there subtle highlights against a dark background.
The presence of a light sensor allows you to automatically adjust the screen brightness depending on external conditions. At the same time, the maximum value is almost always enough to use the smartphone on a bright sunny day without noticeable problems, while the minimum brightness level is very gentle on the user’s eyes, allowing you to comfortably read text or watch videos in complete darkness.
The built-in touch pad recognizes up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The level of sensitivity is excellent - even the slightest touch is detected quickly and clearly, without any delays, false alarms or other inconveniences. There is also support for working with thin gloves, the ability to lock the sensor when you turn on the camera, and the function of unlocking the screen with a double tap.
Audio subsystem
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone is equipped with two very good speakers, which are located on the front side of the case. The arrangement as a whole is quite practical, since with a standard grip it eliminates the possibility of accidentally blocking these holes, and also allows you to achieve surround and fairly loud sound throughout the entire available range (high and mid frequencies are present, as well as a hint of bass). At the same time, do not forget about the presence of waterproof membranes that cover the speakers, which slightly reduces the maximum volume level.
The sound testing in the headphones was carried out using Vivanco HS 200 WT gaming and in-ear headphones, due to the lack of a proprietary headset in the package. The sound turned out to be pleasant and well-balanced, with a fairly wide frequency range and the necessary volume reserve, for which we should first of all thank the built-in equalizer and High-Resolution Audio technology.
Camera
The main camera of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is represented by a proprietary 23-megapixel Sony Exmor RS module (1/2.3”) with an f/2.0 aperture and a high-aperture Sony G Lens series lens, which provides a focal length of 24 mm and a fairly wide viewing angle. The presence of a hybrid autofocus system, digital image stabilization and a pulsed LED flash allows you to achieve natural color reproduction, high contrast and more than decent image detail even in very unfavorable shooting conditions (low light levels). In addition, the main camera can record video in 4K Ultra HD format, which in modern realities is one of the most important criteria when choosing a top-end gadget.
As for the front camera, everything is quite standard here - the already classic 5-megapixel Sony Exmor R module with an f/2.4 aperture and fixed focus, which allows you to shoot video with a maximum resolution of up to 1080p. Its capabilities will be quite enough to periodically take selfies or spend free time video chatting.
Branded software, which is responsible for the operation of the cameras, has a simple and fairly functional interface. It contains several preset shooting modes, including manual (there is the ability to adjust the ISO level, white balance and focus), and can also offer a rather interesting set of additional options, for example, recording Time-lapse video or adding AR effects and color filters.
Examplesphotography
Video examples
An example of daytime shooting from a smartphoneSony Xperia Z5 Compactin resolution 4K Ultra HDat 30 fps
Custominterface
Straight out of the box, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact comes with the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system, well known to many users, on top of which latest version proprietary Xperia UI shell with Xperia Home 9.0 interface. Traditionally for Sony devices, this software tandem offers a stylish and laconic design with a fairly wide range of capabilities, the full list of which can be found in detail in the review.
In addition, at the time of writing, most owners of the smartphone under review had already begun to receive an update to a more current one. Android versions 6.0 Marshmallow via email newsletter, which allows us to talk about the emergence of newer and more interesting functions, as well as the improvement of existing software properties.
As for the speed of the operating system and the proprietary shell as a whole, it is pleasantly pleasing and deserves only positive reviews. Flipping through desktops and menu bookmarks, bringing up the notification shade and launching applications occurs quickly and smoothly, without jerks or hitches, which indicates good optimization and, not least, is the merit of a powerful hardware platform.
Productivity and communication capabilities
As befits a flagship device, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone is equipped with a top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994) microprocessor. It consists of 4 high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores @ 2.0 GHz and 4 power-efficient ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.5 GHz, which are built on the 64-bit ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture in accordance with the 20 nm process technology. The built-in Qualcomm Adreno 430 video adapter with an operating frequency of 650 MHz and support for OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenCL 1.2 and DirectX 11 is responsible for high-quality graphics processing. The amount of RAM is 2 GB, and the permanent memory is 32 GB, of which about 21.47 GB is available to the user. You can expand the usable space using microSD memory cards (up to 200 GB).
It is logical that with a powerful hardware platform and a relatively small screen diagonal, the smartphone under review demonstrates an excellent level of performance, which is well illustrated by the results of synthetic tests, as well as a pleasant experience of real use. Without any visible effort, the gadget can handle any task with equal ease, be it working with office and multimedia applications, surfing the net or launching modern game projects at maximum graphics settings. Unfortunately, the downside of such outstanding functionality is a rather noticeable heating of the device, which, under intense loads, begins to noticeably affect the level of comfort.
By default, the device recognizes most popular video and audio formats, including MKV and MP4 containers, as evidenced by the results of the AnTuTu Video Tester benchmark.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone is equipped with a single-SIM radio module with support for Nano-SIM cards. It allows you to make phone calls using the 2G GSM standard, as well as transfer data on 3G UMTS and 4G LTE Cat.6 networks at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s. The connection quality is good - no noise, interference or independent drops were noticed. There are no complaints about the operation of the speakers, microphones or vibration alert - everything functions clearly and smoothly. The only unusual point was a barely noticeable vibration of the case, due to which the interlocutor’s voice could enter into a slight resonance.
As for other, more traditional methods of data transfer, in the smartphone they are represented by wireless modules Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz). In addition, the device has a built-in NFC module, and also has the ability to broadcast multimedia content via DLNA technology.
Search wireless Wi-Fi points occurs very quickly, and the created connection has good stability and sufficient high quality communications.
The built-in geopositioning module supports the operation of three navigation systems at once - GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS and Beidou. It is distinguished by good location accuracy (on average no more than 10 m) and a fairly high search speed - the “cold” start time takes 10-12 seconds.
Autonomous operation
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact has a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2700 mAh, which is quite a good indicator for such a compact and at the same time productive device. With moderate everyday use, this volume is enough for a full day of uninterrupted operation of the device on one charge, and if the proprietary energy-saving mode “Stamina” is activated - up to three days.
So, while watching HD video (MPEG-4/AVC, M4V container, 4 Mbit/s stream), the device worked for almost 10 hours, and in game simulation mode (Asphalt 8: Airborne) - almost 3 hours.
The estimated battery life according to the PCMark benchmark was almost 8 hours, and according to the Geekbench 3 battery test - almost 5 hours, while the GFXBench benchmark gave a result of 237 minutes. It is worth noting that in all modes, except gaming, the display brightness was fixed at 50%, and wireless Wi-Fi modules and GPS.
To completely restore the built-in battery to its original condition using a standard charger (5V, 1A), you need to spend about 3 hours.
Results
It’s not for nothing that at the beginning of the article we mentioned the new (old) Apple iPhone SE smartphone - perhaps the most important competitor of our reviewed guest. Sony has tried to play on the opponent’s field before, but right now the Cupertino team can for the first time try on the role of catching up.
Smartphone SonyXperiaZ5 Compact combines all the characteristic features inherent in a large flagship device, such as stylish design, high performance, wide functionality and sufficient autonomy. But unlike older models in the line and other devices on the market, they are housed in a compact, practical and waterproof case, which is so appreciated and loved by many modern users. It is this that gives the device a certain zest and sets it apart from its main competitors.
As for the shortcomings, this smartphone has only one - noticeable heating of the hardware platform when performing labor-intensive tasks, which is a natural price to pay for its small size and impressive power.
But otherwise, the device under review deserves only positive words addressed to it. Therefore, if you set out to purchase a stylish, compact and secure smartphone based on the Android operating system with wide functionality and high performance- Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is your choice. We, in turn, can only be sincerely happy for the potential and actual owners of this device and award it the prestigious “High Functionality” award.
Advantages:
- stylish and very practical design;
- compact dimensions and weight;
- excellent build quality;
- protection against moisture and dust according to IP65 and IP68 standards;
- presence of a fingerprint scanner;
- excellent screen;
- pleasant sound from multimedia speakers;
- excellent camera modules;
- high level of productivity;
- wide communication capabilities due to the presence of all modern wireless modules;
- good level of autonomy.
Flaws:
- noticeable heating of the hardware platform when solving labor-intensive tasks.
We express our gratitude Ukrainian representative office of the company Sony Mobile Communications AB for the smartphone provided for testing.
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Most people who actively use smartphones are so accustomed to large diagonals that they perceive devices smaller than 5″ as dwarfs for retrogrades.
This review will take a closer look at Xperia's most successful compact flagship, the Xperia Z5 Compact.
I will also try to explain why you should take the Xperia Z5 Compact if you are looking for a compact, but maximally “packed” smartphone.
Appearance and Design
There are already enough reviews of the Xperia Z5 Compact on the Internet, in which you will find every conceivable and inconceivable chewing on the technical characteristics, so in the review I will try to distance myself from simply listing the parameters and retelling obvious things, like the location of the control keys. For those who are completely unaware of what the Xperia Z5 Compact is, we advise you to take a look, the device specifications are described in detail there.
Acquaintance with the theater begins with a hanger, and acquaintance with a smartphone begins with the box and delivery set.
Here Sony is not going to surprise anyone, and unlike the arrogantly expensive boxes Chinese brands, the Japanese company persistently preach asceticism and economy where appropriate. After all, they won’t use the packaging, right?
After the box, it may seem that Sony is concerned with saving issues and in part appearance compact flagship. Unlike the “big brothers” from the premium line, the Xperia Z5 Compact is devoid of metal in the body, but this was done not only because of banal savings.
Sony wanted to make the Xperia Z5 Compact simultaneously similar to a smartphone from the Z5 series, but at the same time make it clear to the buyer that this “baby” is somewhat different.
The Xperia Z5 Compact does look extraordinary and is very different from the Xperia Z5, and even more so from the larger Xperia Z5 Premium with its shiny rear glass and flashy appeal. However, the basic design principles of the Z5 family are strictly followed here; the smartphone cannot be confused with anything.
The compact uses Frosted Glass for the back panel, which is pleasant to the touch, which is also not scratched at all and does not collect fingerprints.
When I say “not scratchable”, I mean that it really doesn't scratch. During use, the rear glass did not become covered with a network of micro scratches, as happens with Gorilla Glass of all generations. I can only note small abrasions, or rather polishing, on the corners of the polycarbonate frame, which were caused by carrying the smart phone in my pocket.
Due to the use of polycarbonate instead of aluminum, a smartphone from the older line does not look too premium and expensive. This helps position the Xperia Z5 Compact as a more youthful device, although the black version looks quite severe.
I had the black Xperia Z5 Compact for 7 months. The black color was not chosen by chance, but because in this version the Xperia Z5 Compact looks the most calm (do not take the playful yellow) and is not flashy.
I wanted a beautiful, neat and powerful phone, which would not attract undue attention, like the same Rose Gold iPhone. The Z5 Compact copes well with these tasks.
A few words about ergonomics
We will not evaluate ease of use based on the location of the buttons alone. It’s better to go over the main interaction scenarios and tell us the strengths and weaknesses in the ergonomics of the Xperia Z5:
Pros
+ Can be used with one hand. In the era of 5.5″ smartphones, this is a benefit that cannot be overestimated. By taking your phone out of your jeans pocket with one hand, you can immediately unlock it and write the desired message with the same hand. Previously, this would have sounded crazy, but now, when people are accustomed to using phones with two hands, this is a clear advantage.
+ Photography. The Xperia Z5 Compact makes this process much easier than larger devices. The phone is held firmly in the hand, there is no feeling of concern for its safety.
+ Dimensions. Fits in any pocket of even the tightest pants. In a jacket it will be completely invisible.
+ Fingerprint sensor. The ideal location of the power button, also known as the fingerprint sensor. The thumb (if you are right-handed) rests on the button with the sensor.
Cons
— Volume adjustment. The location of the volume rocker is not entirely familiar, although forced due to lack of space. No, I can’t say that changing the volume is terribly inconvenient, that would not be true, the thumb can easily bend to the required degree, it’s just a little unusual.
— Weight. The Xperia Z5 Compact is a hefty, albeit compact phone. At first it even seems too weighty.
I consider it unnecessary to write about the thickness of the case and write it down as an absolute disadvantage. Everything is within normal limits, and the grip is more confident.
Technical nuances
Today, in terms of hardware, the Xperia Z5 Compact is almost the perfect smartphone. From compact options, of course.
Compared to older flagships, the “compact” has a couple of compromises, such as a lower screen resolution (HD instead of FHD) and “only” two gigabytes of RAM instead of three or even four, as is already the case.
We can still talk about the first compromise, after all, a pixel density of 320 ppi is not the ultimate dream (don’t be like Apple fanatics with their moldy Retina) and many would like to see the Xperia Z5 Compact with an FHD 4.6″ screen.
Let's stop at the second point special meaning Not at all, 2 GB of RAM is enough for all the needs of the system with a margin. Therefore, there is even nothing to discuss here, two and two.
By the way, it is impossible to find fault with the quality of the Xperia Z5 Compact screen, except for the low resolution. Sony used a matrix with excellent technical characteristics— record brightness and contrast will not let you lie.
Some techno journalists, by inertia, continue to criticize Xperia display Z5 Compact for “not correct color rendering”, but in reality this is not the case. Nowadays, almost all premium smartphones on the market have screens that are remarkable in terms of color reproduction, and then there are tastes like “oh, this screen is too cold/warm” and so on in the same spirit.
The operating time of the Xperia Z5 Compact is 1.5 days even with my very intensive work mode. The Xperia Z5 Compact can easily be called the longest-lived smartphone in its class. This is also confirmed by numerous reviews of Western publications.
A few words about the software and proprietary shell
Already at the start of sales, the Xperia Z5 Compact ran on Android 5.1 Lollipop with branded shell Xperia UI, which even then looked like a close relative of the stock Android launcher from Google, and with the arrival of the long-awaited Android updates 6.0 Marshmallow branded shell has become even closer to the standard.
We brought in a lot of smooth and extremely pleasant animations typical of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Overall, it feels like the system has become more responsive.
The overall operating speed hangs around the “maximum” mark, for modern devices on Android. All applications open almost instantly. The move to Marshmallow further speeds up the Xperia Z5 Compact and makes it the fastest Snapdragon 810-powered smartphone yet.
The main stumbling block that really bothers most Xperia users is the lack of the proprietary Stamina power saving mode. The Sony Mobile developers really cut out their power saving mode, replacing it with Doze, a Google development.
Despite the cries that Lollipop phone worked longer, specifically for the Xperia Z5 Compact the situation with operating time on Android 6.0 Marshmallow turned out to be clear - the phone lasts longer on a single charge on the new firmware, that’s a fact. The difference is not too significant, about 10-15%, but it is definitely there. Moreover, the charge began to go away somehow more smoothly, I would say evenly.
By the way, the Sony developers have already promised to return Stamina in the next updates, so alarmists stop, don’t worry.
You can learn more about the proprietary shell of the Xperia Z5 Compact in Android review 6.0 Marshmallow, which was made using this device as an example:
What problems does the Xperia Z5 Compact have?
It is worth touching on a couple of really weak points of the Xperia Z5 Compact, which cannot be ignored.
Heat. Unfortunately, it was not possible to get away from this; nevertheless, the hot temper of the Snapdragon 810 is extremely difficult to contain. Certainly, new system Dual copper heat pipe cooling is able to keep this processor in check, but the heat is noticeable. Especially if you plan to play a lot on the Xperia Z5 Compact. In terms of heating level, the Xperia Z5 Compact can be compared to the Xperia Z3 with Snapdragon 801, plus or minus the same temperature under load.
Fingerprint sensor. No, I have no complaints about the response speed; the sensor responds to Marshmallow very quickly, if not at the level of the Apple iPhone 6s, then at least no worse than top Android smartphones. There are questions regarding the frequency of operation.
The fact is that if your fingers are wet or slightly sticky (this often happens in the heat or when working with the keyboard for a long time), then fingerprint registration errors often occur. This quickly starts to get boring. It is worth noting that on the street the number of errors drops to almost zero). After the Marshmallow update, the situation with erroneous recognition improved, but Sony developers were unable to completely get rid of it.
Alas, I couldn’t find any more problem areas in the Xperia Z5 Compact. Write in the comments what others significant You found problems with this device.
Xperia Z5 Compact camera
While using the Xperia Z5 Compact, I took many voluminous photo sets, which should fully reflect the quality of the main camera of the Xperia Z5 Compact.
Below you can look at the most, in my opinion, interesting pictures taken with the Xperia Z5 Compact camera.
Competitors Xperia Z5 Compact
The Xperia Z5 Compact has no serious rivals among Android smartphones. I'm talking about really serious competitors that have flagship hardware in a compact body, similar in size to the solution from Sony. Such products simply do not exist on the market now.
Another thing is Apple, which stubbornly continues to play in the field of compact and powerful smartphones. The recent release of the iPhone SE only underscored this desire.
Therefore, the Xperia Z5 Compact has only two dangerous rivals - iPhone 6s And iPhone SE.
The more expensive iPhone 6s, although a fairly compact device, is still much inferior to the Xperia Z5 Compact in terms of ergonomics.
The new iPhone SE does look like a compromise compared to the Xperia Z5 Compact. A very small 4″ screen with worse performance, and a battery like a dialer. And all this in a body only slightly more compact than the Xperia Z5 Compact.
Both iPhones can't compete with the compact Sony's flagship Xperia by operating time
In general, Apple smartphones have noticeably more disadvantages than advantages compared to the Xperia Z5 Compact.
The only clear advantage can be iOS and the opportunities that the Apple ecosystem provides. But if you don't see any obvious advantages from iOS or Android, then the choice in favor of the Xperia Z5 Compact becomes obvious.
Especially if you compare the prices of the iPhone 6s, iPhone SE and Xperia Z5 Compact. Here Apple loses very much:
iPhone 6s
- 16 GB – 50,000 rubles
- 64 GB — 54,500 rubles
iPhone SE
- 16 GB - 38,000 rubles
- 64 GB – 48,000 rubles
Xperia Z5 Compact
- 32 GB + microSD — 33,000 rubles
The numbers are taken from Yandex.Market (average price), as of April 20, 2016.
At the end
In short, the Xperia Z5 Compact is the best deal if you really want flagship performance in the smallest possible package.
Ideal, by today's standards, ergonomics, powerful processor, great camera, record operating time, laconic design - all this is the Xperia Z5 Compact.
One day, the developers of Sony Corporation came up with a good idea, and they pleased customers with the small-sized Xperia Z1 Compact smartphone with flagship characteristics. The new product was in quite high demand, which prompted Sony to create mini versions of the following flagships - Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. By performance compact smartphones almost as good as older models, but they are much more convenient to use due to their smaller dimensions.
Design and functionality Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Like the previous Z3 Compact model, the non-separable body of the Xperia Z5 Compact is made of high-quality polycarbonate and is covered on both sides with tempered glass, resistant to scratches and grease stains. The smartphone is available in 4 colors: black, white, coral and lemon yellow. The frame around the perimeter of the case protrudes slightly above the front and rear panels. Thanks to this, the glass does not touch the surface when lying down, and the smartphone does not slip during a vibration alert.
Both the Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z3 Compact are IP68 rated, meaning they are completely dustproof and can be safely submerged in fresh water to a depth of more than 1m for more than 30 minutes. However, if the device fails as a result of moisture penetration into the case, this will not be considered a warranty case.
Above the Xperia Z5 Compact screen there is an LED event indicator, a 5-megapixel front camera lens and a speaker slot, and below the screen is the main speaker. On the back side there is a main 23-megapixel camera and a LED flash, which can be used as a flashlight using a pre-installed program.
On the right side there is an oval power button and volume control and camera activation keys. The power button is combined with a fingerprint scanner, and this is how the Xperia Z5 Compact differs from the previous Xperia Z3 Compact model. The scanner works quite quickly and accurately. The device memory can store up to 5 prints.
On the left side, under a plastic plug, there are slots for a memory card and a nanoSIM SIM card. Next to the plug there is a strap holder so that the smartphone can be hung around the neck. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack for an audio headset, at the bottom there is a microUSB slot. The smartphone operates in LTE networks on all frequencies used in the Russian Federation. There is a standard set of wireless networks: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC. The navigation module works with GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou satellites.
The assembly of the case is reliable, without backlash or creaks. This also marks a difference from the Xperia Z3 Compact, which has amassed quite a collection of complaints about build quality.
Performance of the Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone
The Xperia Z3 Compact is powered by the high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, which includes a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor and graphics adapter Adreno 330.
For the new flagship Xperia Z5 and its compact version, Sony chose the fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip. It includes 4 Cortex-A57 cores with a frequency of up to 2 GHz, working with complex applications, and 4 Cortex-A53 cores, used in all other cases, which allows Optimize power consumption without sacrificing performance. The Adreno 430 video accelerator is responsible for the graphics.
The Xperia Z5 Compact delivers excellent performance even in today's heaviest games. The video plays smoothly, and there are no problems when surfing the web. The previous model has the same high performance, however new smartphone compares favorably with the Xperia Z3 Compact with twice the amount of permanent memory - 32 GB versus 16 GB, as well as the size of the supported memory card - 200 GB versus 128 GB. The RAM of both models is 2 GB.
Xperia Z5 Compact display and cameras
The smartphone is equipped with a 4.6" display with a resolution of 1280x720 - the same as the Xperia Z3 Compact. The dot density is 319 ppi. The resolution is not the highest that the video adapter supports, but it is quite enough for a high-quality picture. Individual pixels are invisible, the picture is sharp and clear. On the other hand, a screen with such characteristics does not require high power consumption, which increases battery life.
The display is based on an IPS matrix using OGS technology, which eliminates the air gap between the screen and the touch layer. The screen has wide viewing angles, and the image has high-quality color reproduction. Thanks to the polarizing filter, the display has virtually no glare and is easy to read even under bright sun. A good oleophobic coating makes it easy and simple to get rid of greasy stains that do not appear longer than on an unprotected screen. Multi-touch is fast and responsive, supports up to 10 touches.
The main 23-megapixel camera is equipped with a LED flash and a hybrid fast autofocus system. Manual shooting mode offers a wide range of settings. It is possible to record video in 4K resolution, which distinguishes the smartphone from its predecessor, the Xperia Z3 Compact. The pictures are of good quality, especially in sufficient lighting - with good detail and sharp edges.
Battery life of the Xperia Z5 Compact smartphone
The 2700 mAh non-removable battery lasts for approximately 4.5 hours of gaming or 10.5 hours of video. With an average load, the charge lasts up to 2 days, and with an active load - up to one and a half days.
There is no noticeable progress compared to the Xperia Z5 Compact - the previous model demonstrated the same characteristics. At the same time, even when playing heavy games, the new smartphone practically does not heat up.
