HI everyone, Mike here and in this post we’re having side by side the new Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and a mockup of the iPhone 6, just to see how the two fare against each other in terms of size and how they feel in hand.
Why a mockup? Well, because the actual iPhone 6 has not yet been launched right now when I’m writing this, but a detailed comparison between these two will follow here on the site in the next few weeks, so stay tuned. Now let’s get back to these handsets.
The iPhone actually has a bigger footprint than the Z3 Compact and is mostly taller than this Xperia, which was expected, given how it houses a slightly larger 4.7 inch screen and needs room for the TouchID button underneath. The Z3 packs only a 4.6 inch display and the main navigation controls are integrated within the UI, thus needs no extra space on the front face.
Apple’s handset is however much thinner. But both devices actually sit well in hand and feel sturdy, solid made. The iPhone is entirely cast out of metal, except for a few plastic strips on the back, hiding the wireless and cellular antennas, with rounded metallic sides and it does feel somewhat slippery. The Xperia Z3 compact is grippier and its screen easier to cover with my thumb, thanks to its smaller size. So if you’re wondering which is more comfortable to use single handedly, then the answer is the Sony.
Its edges are made from some sort of matte soft plastic and the back out of glass, which is prone to smudges. Thus overall, the iPhone might look somewhat more premium than the Z3 Compact, but the latter is definitely a good looking slab of technology as well.
The Xperia is also waterproof, that’s why its ports and connectors are covered by plastic caps, grouped on the left side, while all the buttons are on the right: the Power knob, the volume rocker and a shutter button as well. On the iPhone there’s the standard lightning port at the bottom, the volume rocker and lock switch on the left, and a repositioned Power button on the right, in perfect reach of my thumb.
There’s also a speaker grill placed on the lower edge of Apple’s handset, while the Xperia boosts stereo front-facing speakers hidden behind those narrow cuts on top and below the screen. You’ll find more about how good they are from the review, also available here on the channel.
Anyway, we’re not getting in depth on the screens, performance, battery life and even camera abilities in this clip, since we only have a dummy iPhone 6 facing the real version of the Xperia Z3 Compact here. But a proper comparison will follow as soon as the actual new iPhone will be launched, so stay tuned for that.
To wrap this up, the Xperia Z3 Compact is the most interesting top-tier Android smartphone of the moment that can actually be used single handedly by an average sized person like myself. It’s significantly more compact than all the other Android heavyweights, without making compromises when it comes to specs and features.
The iPhone 6 however is way bigger than the 5S and all the other iPhones above and promises to deliver the same high-quality build and daily use experience. Which one is going to be the better device in the end though, that’s something we can’t conclude for the time being, but stay tuned for my actual detailed comparison of the iPhone 6 and the Xperia Z3 Compact that will be published in the near future.
