Sony Xperia Z3 Compact 16GB

Of all the features that set smartphones apart, screen size is as close to a decider as they get. Counter to the trend of the last decade that saw cell phones become as small as technology allowed, the emergence of touchscreen and the resolution race have brought about a major shift towards the larger form factor.

The 5.2" Sony Xperia Z3, 5.5" LG G3, and the 5.7" Samsung Galaxy Note 4 have all made it clear that screen real estate is in high demand. Even Apple has to play along now - the 5.5" iPhone 6 Plus, which looked less than certain until its very premiere, is now the platform's major weapon against Android flagships.

The actual iPhone 6 that should've been the star of the show, has in a way been relegated to the role of a mini - in Android terms. A giant leap for the 4.7" iPhone (up from 4") is a small step in an industry that has long crossed the 5" mark. Yet, size is both an asset and a liability, making the redefined compact flagship an increasingly valuable commodity.

Sony were among the first to realize this and the second generation of their Xperia Z compact series will look to consolidate their leadership. Enter the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.The industry is no stranger to more reasonably sized screens, with the likes of Samsung, HTC, and LG all offering downsized versions of their past and present flagships.

Unfortunately, most of these also come with a respective reduction in specs, which is a big no-no in our books. As you know, we're huge believers in capable compact smartphones.