The Honor 6 Plus and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact were both compelling mid-range devices in their time. But which one holds up better today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which phone is the right choice for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Z3 Compact edges out the Honor 6 Plus thanks to its superior chipset, better camera, and exceptional battery life. While the Honor 6 Plus offered a unique dual-lens camera, the Z3 Compact's overall package is more polished and durable.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - PE-UL00 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - D5803 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 41 - PE-UL00 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 - D5803 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41 - PE-TL10 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - D5833 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, December. Released 2014, December | 2014, September. Released 2014, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 150.5 x 75.7 x 7.5 mm (5.93 x 2.98 x 0.30 in) | 127.3 x 64.9 x 8.6 mm (5.01 x 2.56 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Micro-SIM (PE-TL10)· Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 165 g (5.82 oz) | 129 g (4.55 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Shatter proof glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~73.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A15 & 4x1.3 GHz Cortex-A7) | Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 |
| Chipset | Kirin 925 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T628 MP4 | Adreno 330 |
| OS | Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to 6 (Marshmallow), EMUI 3 | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB (3G model); 16/32GB (LTE model), 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, AF
Auxiliary lens | 20.7 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps,1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4 | 2.2 MP, f/2.8 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (LTE model) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC2 |
| Music play | - | Up to 110 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 880 h (2G) / Up to 920 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 3600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White / Gold (LTE model) | Black, White, Green, Orange |
| Models | PE-TL10, PE-UL00, PE-TL20 | D5803, D5833, SO-02G |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -85.2dB / Crosstalk -85.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 942:1 (nominal), 2.616 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 73dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark X: 12080 |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -85.2dB / Crosstalk -85.3dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 101h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 942:1 (nominal), 2.616 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | - | Basemark X: 12080 |
Honor 6 Plus
- Larger screen
- Unique dual-lens camera
- Affordable price (when new)
- Weaker performance
- Lower image quality
- Less durable build
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
- Excellent battery life
- Better performance
- Durable build (water resistant)
- Superior camera
- Older design
- Smaller screen
- Can be harder to find new
Display Comparison
The Xperia Z3 Compact boasts a slightly better display with excellent sunlight readability (2.616 contrast ratio) and a respectable 942:1 contrast ratio. The Honor 6 Plus had a larger screen, but its display quality wasn't as impressive. Both used IPS LCD panels.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia Z3 Compact's camera is generally considered superior. While the Honor 6 Plus had a unique dual-lens setup for depth-of-field effects, the Z3 Compact's image quality, especially in low light, was better. Both offered decent video recording capabilities.
Performance
The Xperia Z3 Compact's Snapdragon 801 offers significantly better performance than the Honor 6 Plus's Kirin 925. The Snapdragon's quad-core Krait 400 CPU at 2.5 GHz provides a smoother and more responsive experience, especially for demanding apps and games. The Honor 6 Plus's octa-core Kirin 925, while having more cores, wasn't as efficient.
Battery Life
The Xperia Z3 Compact shines in battery life, achieving an impressive endurance rating of 101 hours. The Honor 6 Plus's battery life was respectable, but not in the same league as the Z3 Compact.
Buying Guide
The Honor 6 Plus is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a large screen and a unique dual-lens camera. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is ideal for those seeking a compact, durable phone with excellent battery life and a reliable camera, even if it's a bit older.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor 6 Plus still worth buying?
It's a budget option if you need a large screen and don't mind older hardware. However, newer phones offer significantly better performance and features.
❓ How durable is the Xperia Z3 Compact?
The Z3 Compact is known for its durability, featuring a water-resistant design and a robust build quality.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates anymore. Both are running older versions of Android.
