{"id":15520,"date":"2017-04-26T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-04-26T06:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.pricecheck.co.za\/?p=15520"},"modified":"2017-05-16T08:56:19","modified_gmt":"2017-05-16T06:56:19","slug":"hands-on-review-sony-xperia-x-compact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/hands-on-review-sony-xperia-x-compact\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-on Review: Sony Xperia X Compact"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smartphones are getting bigger, but not everyone wants a larger phone, that’s the thought that crossed my mind when I first held the Sony Xperia Compact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only does the Xperia X Compact excel in one-handed use, but the lower specs do not negatively impact it either.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First impression<\/strong><\/p>\n

The glossy body of the device reflects \u2013 literally. The front and the back have a mirror-like quality, which is a bit off-putting. However, it does feel very comfortable in the hand \u2013 albeit quite slippery \u2013 and it is one-hand-operation wonder. So, does Sony\u2019s latest compact do justice to the concept of a smaller phone that is still packed with great specs \u2013 let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Hardware and display<\/strong><\/p>\n

The device is equipped with a Snapdragon 650 \u2013 also used in its bigger sibling, the Xperia X. Interestingly, it doesn\u2019t have an IP rating, which is strange because it’s a feature that was pioneered by Sony. The 4.6\u201d Xperia X Compact is equipped with a display resolution of 720p (HD), which isn\u2019t too bad, but \u00a0a step up to 1080p (FHD) would be welcomed.<\/p>\n

Build<\/strong><\/p>\n

The build of the Xperia X Compact is very disappointing. It\u2019s made completely of plastic \u2013 many of Sony\u2019s competitors have managed to add a metal body without having to push up the price. I also feel that the plastic body \u2013 unless you have a case \u2013 gives the phone slipperiness that is very frustrating; I had to be mindful of my grip on the device. Not only that, but it’s also a fingerprint magnet which means that you’re going to have to get a case for it.<\/p>\n

GSMArena comments that \u201cthe choice of material coupled with the dimensions gives it a more youthful look, as opposed to the more authoritative and mature XZ.\u201d\u00a0I completely agree with this statement.<\/p>\n

Another issue that I have is with the thickness of the device, which clocks in at nearly 1cm –<\/p>\n

\"\"by today\u2019s standards, that\u2019s pretty chunky, especially since it\u2019s marketed as part of the Compact range.<\/p>\n

Design<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is another aspect of the Xperia X Compact that fails to pique my interest. While the curved edges do make it feel quite pleasing in the hand, it\u2019s the overall design that bothers me; it feels bland and trite, essentially, whether it\u2019s the flagship XZ or even XA Ultra, Sony has simply not embraced the realm of innovative design compared to other brands.<\/p>\n

UI<\/strong><\/p>\n

The interface is near stock Marshmallow with a few useful Sony modifications, including app search, power saving modes, resource manager. The proprietary multimedia suite is hard to beat in terms of features.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Connectivity and battery life<\/strong><\/p>\n

In terms of mobile data speed, the X Compact boasts LTE Cat. 6 – 300Mbps down, 50Mbps up along with HSPA as a backup – 42.2Mbps\/5.76Mbps.<\/p>\n

Local connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi a\/b\/g\/n\/ac, as well as Bluetooth\u00ae 4.2 with aptX and NFC. There is also a FM radio with RDS, which is not present on the flagship.<\/p>\n

Sony Xperia phones are known for their excellent battery life and the X Compact lives up to this legacy. The 2700mAh battery is identical to the one found in the Z5 and provides just over 11 hours of above average usages – including watching an HD video or two and the occasional game. If you’re a light user, then you can expect to get up to 2 days on a single charge.<\/p>\n

Camera<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now this is where the XC makes a statement; it has a camera that shares the same specs as the high-end XZ. It boasts the impressive 23 MP with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and a LED flash. The features include: 1\/2.3″ sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama.<\/p>\n

However, the selfie camera is where the problem lies. The 5 MP shooter is the lowest-resolution in the whole X-series range, which I find confusing \u2013 why has Sony downgraded it from the 5.1 MP, f\/2.4, 1080p with HDR found in the Z5 Compact? It\u2019s a mystery.<\/p>\n

Video<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Xperia Compact is able to shoot 1080p@30fps, 1080p@60fps; I was hoping that Sony would equip the device with 4K video-recording capability. Nevertheless, I filmed inside \u2013 and outside; I was pleasantly surprised by the results.<\/p>\n

Audio<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was quite disappointed with the audio quality of the device. Even though it is equipped with front-firing stereo speakers, the sound is not very loud and becomes distorted when turned to the maximum level.<\/p>\n

Final words<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>After considering all these factors, I have to say that this is by no means a “bad” phone. While it is lacking in certain areas, it excels in others. So, for those of you that enjoy a compact device, it is definitely worth considering – it is Sony after all!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Pros: <\/strong>Front-firing stereo speakers; Snapdragon 650 SoC; 23 MP camera with predictive hybrid auto-focus<\/p>\n

Cons<\/strong>: Not waterproof or dustproof; No 4K video recording capability; Low-res selfie camera<\/p>\n

Key specs<\/strong><\/p>\n