Sony's compact phone lineup has always been a strong contender, but choosing between the Z3+ dual and Z4 Compact can be tricky. Both offer premium features in a smaller form factor, but subtle differences impact their overall appeal. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Z4 Compact edges out the Z3+ dual thanks to its slightly improved battery charging and minor design refinements. However, the Z3+ dual remains a compelling option, especially if you can find it at a significantly lower price, offering similar performance and a robust feature set.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, May. Released 2015, June | Exp. announcement 2015, Q3 |
| Status | Discontinued | Cancelled |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 6.9 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.27 in) | - |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | - |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Shatter proof glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~428 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~469 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 73.2 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow) | Android 5.0 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20.7 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.12µm, AF | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5.1 MP, f/2.4 | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, aptX | 4.0, A2DP, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | ANT+ | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC2 |
| Music play | Up to 81 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 530 h (2G) / Up to 510 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 21 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2930 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, black, copper, aqua green | Black, White |
| Models | E6533 | - |
| Price | About 320 EUR | - |
| SAR | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.43 W/kg (head) 0.36 W/kg (body) | - |
Sony Xperia Z3+ dual
- Excellent camera
- Water and dust resistant
- Powerful performance
- Good battery life (despite slower charging)
- Compact size
- Slower charging
- Can exhibit slight throttling
- Design starting to feel dated
Sony Xperia Z4 Compact
- Faster charging (QC2)
- Slightly improved performance and thermal management
- Refined design
- Excellent camera
- Water and dust resistant
- Higher price
- Battery life not significantly better than Z3+ dual
- Still a relatively small screen for some
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 5.2-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with Sony's TRILUMINOS technology and X-Reality Engine. While the Z4 Compact boasts a marginally brighter display, the difference is subtle and unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. Color accuracy and viewing angles are excellent on both.
Camera Comparison
The Z3+ dual and Z4 Compact both have a 20.7MP rear camera and a 5.1MP front camera. Image quality is generally excellent on both, with vibrant colors and good detail. The Z4 Compact's camera software offers slightly more refined processing, resulting in marginally better low-light performance and more natural-looking images. Both record 4K video.
Performance
Despite sharing the same Snapdragon 810 chipset and CPU configuration, the Z4 Compact benefits from Sony's software optimizations, resulting in slightly smoother performance and better thermal management. However, both phones handle demanding apps and games with ease. The Z3+ dual can sometimes exhibit slight throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Z4 Compact has a slightly larger 2600mAh battery compared to the Z3+ dual's 2930mAh. However, the Z4 Compact's 18W fast charging (QC2) provides a significant advantage, allowing for much quicker top-ups. The Z3+ dual relies on standard charging, which takes considerably longer.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Z3+ dual is ideal for users seeking a powerful, compact phone with excellent camera capabilities and water resistance at a potentially lower price point. The Sony Xperia Z4 Compact is best suited for those prioritizing faster charging, a slightly more modern design, and a bit more refinement, willing to pay a premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 810 chipset known for overheating?
Yes, the Snapdragon 810 can be prone to overheating under sustained load. Sony implemented thermal management solutions in both phones, but the Z4 Compact's optimizations are slightly more effective.
❓ Are both phones water resistant?
Yes, both the Z3+ dual and Z4 Compact are IP65/IP68 rated, meaning they are dust-tight and can withstand immersion in fresh water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
