Can't make up my mind about buying the Z2 - Xperia Z2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Can't make up my mind about buying the Z2 - Xperia Z2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I'm currently an owner of an S3 . I've been wanting to upgrade for some time now and I just can't decide what to buy.
I love the M8, but the camera is so awful that I am just not ready to pay a flagship-phone price for a phone like that. (my old s3 beats m8's camera (!!) )
I loved the G3 too , but reading in the GSMaren's review how bad its battery is (aside from 3G talk time , it really isn't that different than my ancient S3 in terms of its battery life which is just ridiculous! )
The Z2 has a boring and an outdated UI which is just a shame for a 2014 phone.
But , its battery ,camera, overall performance are superb. At least compared to its rivals. (Though it seems that the screen is rather dim and dark compared to the S5 and M8).
But my main concern , is that Video shooting and overheating issue.
I don't need to record videos in 4K. But as far as I understand the the overheating issue occurs even when shooting an 1080p video, and that's a problem.
Does 1080p shooting cause the overheating and camera app shut down for everyone?

If you really think the UI is "boring and outdated" (really?!) it is easily remedied with any launcher of your choice..
Regarding the overheating issue, I have been recording 12 minute 4K videos (it shut down by itself) and 30 minute 1080p videos (I stopped recording, I could have gone longer the phone was warm but not hot at that point) without any issues.
That being said, based on what everyone on here has been saying my experience is not the same as most.
At the end of the day mate, it's a mobile phone. You don't have much to lose picking this over one of the other flagships.

Have you seen the phone in person and used it? I read a lot of reviews complaining about the brightness but when I got it I was quite surprised I could use it in daylight with no issues. As for the UI you can alway use a launcher or themer to change the look of the phone, as for the 4K video recording it seems to be an issue across all companies I think it's probably being an issue of the hardware not being at that level yet. I am hoping that there will be a software fix for the overheating issues. I'm not sure if you are in the US but there are sellers who are Amazon verified once in a while that will let you do no hassle returns if you dont like it. I was really impressed with the phone but ended up returning it because it was a bit too big for my tastes but I am planning on buying it again when the prices go down. Good Luck!

jawang26 said:
Have you seen the phone in person and used it? I read a lot of reviews complaining about the brightness but when I got it I was quite surprised I could use it in daylight with no issues. As for the UI you can alway use a launcher or themer to change the look of the phone, as for the 4K video recording it seems to be an issue across all companies I think it's probably being an issue of the hardware not being at that level yet. I am hoping that there will be a software fix for the overheating issues. I'm not sure if you are in the US but there are sellers who are Amazon verified once in a while that will let you do no hassle returns if you dont like it. I was really impressed with the phone but ended up returning it because it was a bit too big for my tastes but I am planning on buying it again when the prices go down. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing for sure when the price reduces the phone will NOT reduce in size
Ryland

Somnium1 said:
The Z2 has a boring and an outdated UI which is just a shame for a 2014 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have to disagree with you here. The Z2 has a beautiful elegant UI IMO, one of the best Android "skins" aside from stock Android on the flagship devices. I've owned the One M8, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3, and this is my favorite device by far.

I had...well,still have a z2 (its in for repair, after three days of light use the back panel cracked).
I did want to like it, but a few things missing from it that I missed from previously having Samsungs. Yes the ui is cleaner,closer to stock android but the the features of Touchwiz for me, make android better.
Like the swipe left to call/right to text.... Vibrate when there is an unread text, scheduled text messages, block numbers etc.
Ok, apps can be installed to mimic most of these but arnt as fluid as the built in features of Touchwiz.
Also had issues with the volume of notifications and screen brightness in the sun.
Great looking phone tbh, but have a play properly with a demo unit before committing.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk (how ironic is that eh)

Somnium1 said:
Does 1080p shooting cause the overheating and camera app shut down for everyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the ambient temperature where you will be shooting ?
---------- Post added at 05:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 AM ----------
ProdigalFather said:
Regarding the overheating issue, I have been recording 12 minute 4K videos (it shut down by itself) and 30 minute 1080p videos (I stopped recording, I could have gone longer the phone was warm but not hot at that point) without any issues.
That being said, based on what everyone on here has been saying my experience is not the same as most.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't from what i can see and i'm trying to figure it out.
Go on then. Tell us what was the ambient temperature when you recorded those vids ? particularly that half hour long 1080p one.

Ryland Johnson said:
One thing for sure when the price reduces the phone will NOT reduce in size
Ryland
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen

jawang26 said:
Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get the Z2 tablet.

irishrally said:
Get the Z2 tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha I have an iPad already (don't judge!) like having a different eco system...We'll see hopefully I can hold out of the Z3 or Sony releases something similar in the 4.7 - 5 range.
As of now the Z2 is the best phone I've used compared to the S5 and the HTC One M8 but everyone has different preferences and tastes

I wrote a FULL REVIEW of the Xperia Z2 here - http://bit.ly/1kPjBJP
Read it and i'm pretty sure you will make up your mind easier.

One Twelve said:
What is the ambient temperature where you will be shooting ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)

One Twelve said:
It isn't from what i can see and i'm trying to figure it out.
Go on then. Tell us what was the ambient temperature when you recorded those vids ? particularly that half hour long 1080p one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Around 11-13C for both.

Any Middle east user out there? How is the heat problem with z2 as ambient is around 45+ C
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

I'm reading answers here and it's very annoying to see some of them...
Most of us choose one brand and stick to it, why?
Just because we found something on that brand that cannot be found on others.
To compare touchwiz and Sony UI is... Hmm...let's say odd..
Why to compare?
I like Sony UI and I'm using Xperia devices, for years.
I don't like touchwiz so I don't use it.
Sony UI isn't outdated, dev brought UI on XS and older devices back in 2012/2013 but it wasn't meant to be for those devices.
Sony UI (new UI) was built for Honami, for Z1 and that's not old guys...
I thought I won't buy Z2, I own Z1 and Z2 now and I can't tell which one is Z2 from distance...so, yeah, there's not much new when you look device while it's off.
But...
When you take Z2 in your hands, when you feel it, when you see that fantastic IPS screen - you'll see the difference.
While I'm talking about screen I'll say just a few things about heating, not overheating.
If you watch 4K video or shoot one, play heavy games - it'll be hot, quite hot but there'll be no apps crashing or device freezing - that's the difference between heating and overheating.
That's perfectly normal and I'm sure next update will reduce that a bit...
Also, screen is a bit dark and you'll have trouble to watch video outside on bright sun.
You won't see problems in menus and other apps but video is hard to watch...
That's minus, at least for me...
But that's something next firmware releases could fix without any problems.
Even custom kernels could fix something like that...
If you can wait, wait for next Xperia device, it'll be better, that's for sure.
But comparing this device with Z/ZL/ZR/Z1 I can say this is not just a better device, Z2 is something new from Sony...
Believe me, I'm using Z1 at the same time and comparing them all the time - Z2 is really, really something else...
Is it better then competitions flagships?
For me it is but if you like Sony and their ideas it'll be best for you as well...
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ----------
Somnium1 said:
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait for a new update and we'll confirm if that heating is fixed.
55 has that problem and I think next one has it to (I think it's 402 or 420, I'm not sure) so next firmware update could fix that problem.
Wait for that and you'll know...
BTW, I just tried to shoot 1080 / 60fps video.
I recorded 3.20mins and played it, so it's almost 7 mins of 1080p videos and no heating at all.
Device is just a bit warmer (top back) but that's nothing.
It's not hot at all....
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

I have the M8 and Z2. The screen on the Z2 is brighter than my M8.
Sent from my C6806_GPe using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

jawang26 said:
Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A suggestion. If you have the Z1 compact as your mobile phone and desire on times a larger viewing area I would skip the Z2 and go for the Xperia Z Ultra. Prices are incredibly low now and its one hell of a viewing experience. I own the Ultra and Z2 and think the Ultra is certainly better quality in terms of materials used and construction methods. Nothing wrong with the Z2 but I was some what surprised when I received it last week. I used to own the Xperia Z and that was, despite many negative comments, a very good phone. I am unsure if the jump in size from the compact to the Z2 would be worth the financial outlay. Now the Ultra has a far greater viewing area and its less than half the price of the new Z2.
Again, just some food for thought. Your choice will be right for you I am sure of that. Good luck with what ever you purchase.
Ryland

Why I like the Xperia Z2 over other competitors (Galaxy S5, One M8, G3). Below are just my personal opinion and observations. I have used my Z2 for 3 weeks now. This is my first noob review so please bear with me.
Camera
I was disappointed when I first heard that Sony limited its Superior Auto mode to 8MP only, I admit Im one of the people who believes more megapixel the better, but I was wrong. Even at 8MP, Z2 captures amazing shots, HDR is not as great as Galaxy S5s HDR shots, but as a whole camera, its better. Color accuracy is near perfect as I have compared through reviews. 4K video, although it heats up the phone quickly, I dont often use them. 1080p video recording is great, with a choice of 30fps or 60fps, sound is loud. Shots are fast and focus is 90% hit. Dont mind about HTC One M8's "Ultrapixel", they shoot awful shots.
Battery
3200mah Z2 vs 3200mah G3? G3 with QHD screen undoubtly will eat up more battery that Z2's FHD screen. Galaxy S5's 2800mAh and HTC One 2600 will normally never last longer than Z2. Rocking the phone for 24 hrs is a piece of cake. Dont forget Sony's Stamina mode that saves up a significant amount of juice.
Screen display
Although many people have been complaining about Z2's screen a bit dim. In my opinion its not too dim or too bright that I have to squint to see what im looking at. In my observation, Z2's brightness bursts from 75% and above. Previous flagships use TFT LCD and that was a big deal breaker for me. I could have got the Z1 if the screen was IPS. Texts and icons are sharper and brighter. Images are more vivid and accurate. Coming from Galaxy S4, I am used to those AMOLED displays, downside is that its not as sharp as IPS LCD, plus X-Reality does the job well done to movies and pictures (sharper and more vivid). As for HTC One M8, screen is comparable to IPS, but gives a bluish tint as I have read. Imagine yellows with blueish/colder colors.
Stereo Speakers/Sound
HTC is undoubtly the champ. But we are pinning Z2's dual front facing stereo speakers at 2nd, ahead of Galaxy S5 or G3 with one speaker. Sound is a bit soft/low even at 50%. You wont even notice a significant change from 1%-50% volume. Volume bursts from 50% and above. Thats just my opinion. Theres a little bit of trick with Z2's speakers to sound great or at least better. Watching movies or listening to music in landscape greatly improves the audio experience. Its probably because sound is distributed well to your left and right ear.
Noise-cancelling headphones
Its my first ever high-end earphones ever had. I was amazed how it cancels out 98% of background noise. And its 0 outside noise when im playing music. I couldnt even hear my friend shout at me. Bass is good, im not a boomboom person but I think its better than my GS4 generic headphones, or my Sony MDR ZX100. Definitely a steal.
Design/Build Quality
Coming from GS4, im loving my premium Z2. The glass and metal finish it has over Samsung's plastic, and horrible GS5 design, GS3 was good though. M8s design is good too, but that camera and battery . G3 is a bit big for me, and the back buttons are something that needs to get used to. Although heavy (Z2), Im getting used to it. Im using Spigen Ultra Fit case for increased grip and protection. I believe its a must for cases because the sides of the Z2 is kinda slippery. And I dont wanna scratch the back glass, lol.
User Interface and features
I find Z2 a wee bit lacking of features, like Touchwiz S-Beam. Palm tap to mute, especially calls and alarm and Smart Stay. Nevermind smart scroll and Air view stuff, they are hardly useful. The Sony UI feels light, not much bloated than Samsung. And it doesnt lag!! Unlike Samsung. Generally speaking. The UI is simple and snappy, though personally I feel its getting old/outdated. Needs to freshen up the icons and apps. With the new Quick Settings tab under notification, its a big improvement from older android versions with only limited and un-editable quick settings
Conclusion:
Coming from Galaxy S4, I am not disappointed that I ditched GS4 for Xperia Z2. With the screen improved from TFT LCD to IPS LCD, with 2 front facing stereo speakers, with the much improved camera than the previous Z1, the premium noise cancelling earphones, a premium phone made with glass and aluminum, water-proof, and ofcourse the massive 3200mAh battery. You cant go wrong buying the Xperia Z2.
Upon writing this lousy review back from a fresh shower, I just dropped my Z2 (with case ofcourse, 2nd time) from shoulder height to the floor tiles, and survived. Not a single scratch or crack.

I came from the SIII and certainly don't regret it. My main concern was the size. Whilst I have got used to it, it definitely is not pocket sized. In fact, ignoring weight and thickness it is the same size as my first ever mobile, the Ericsson Hotline EH97! Ok, the screen is a bit larger
On the plus side, the biggest improvement is the battery. I always struggled to get one day out of the SIII but get a day and a half comfortably now.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

Somnium1 said:
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long do you want to shoot 1080p ? Also if you don't use stabilisation then it will last longer. But this may not always be an option you want.
Not a problem for those that shoot at half the temperature.
The thread on undervolting looks promising. There apparently is a difference with .420, maybe they will lower it further in future updates.
---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 AM ----------
funky0308 said:
While I'm talking about screen I'll say just a few things about heating, not overheating.
If you watch 4K video or shoot one, play heavy games - it'll be hot, quite hot but there'll be no apps crashing or device freezing - that's the difference between heating and overheating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a fair way to draw a distinction
People tend to use it in a relative way though, this other device does not get so hot so Z2 gets hotter than them therefore it overheats.

Related

exchange note 2 for z ultra

Hi guys,
I am about to exchange my note 2 with z ultra amd some added cash ? Should I go forward ? Comparing the battery life after 4.3 update is it better, a little better or a ton better ?

Hard to tell what your needs are but I came from Note 1 to Note 2 then Xperia Z Ultra and aside from some things the spen can do, I couldnt be happier!
This thing is a beast but I wanted the extra large display so that made it a great option for me.
So it all depends on your needs..like for example why are you not considering the Note 3? Think is too small of a jump display wise?

shaolin95 said:
Hard to tell what your needs are but I came from Note 1 to Note 2 then Xperia Z Ultra and aside from some things the spen can do, I couldnt be happier!
This thing is a beast but I wanted the extra large display so that made it a great option for me.
So it all depends on your needs..like for example why are you not considering the Note 3? Think is too small of a jump display wise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yuo I kinda like to draw and I like added pixel. m very picky on display. I just never thought of note 3 as it didnt have the 'wow' factor for me. plus somehow the pixel are still visible to me. I love big working space but the only thing thats keeping me from buying it is the battery life. how good is it afer 4.3 update ?

Honestly, for battery life I cannot really help as I am most of the time connected to power and the few times I let it run a bit low on power, I didnt pay attention to how long it lasted but of course, I will never feel as confident as when I had my Note 2 and 4 extra batteries
Still, the Stamina mode is very nice in my opinion but hopefully someone else will provide feedback on battery life.

Battery life it's excellent in my experience: I use 2x Battery (search it into the Play Store), and I get two full days of usage. In line with my previous Galaxy Note. But for the rest, believe me, there is no comparison: the Ultra is totally in another league.
Sent from my C6833 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Pannam said:
yuo I kinda like to draw and I like added pixel. m very picky on display. I just never thought of note 3 as it didnt have the 'wow' factor for me. plus somehow the pixel are still visible to me. I love big working space but the only thing thats keeping me from buying it is the battery life. how good is it afer 4.3 update ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you don't mind the absence of pressure sensitve stylus, the z ultra will still cater you fine with its pencil sensitive screen. But better prepare it with screen protector (the anti glare one) so those shallow scratches won't bother you too much. Or if you have some extra dough you could buy the z ultra stylus or the adonit stylus.
The battery life for a non intense internet will have you around 6-7.5 hours of screen time. I have tried it by taking a note in evernote and the battery reaches 50% with 4 hours of screen time which can be calculated to be around 8 hours tops if i continue doing the same thing, plus i was using bluetooh mouse and keyboard too. So if you really focused while you're drawing, then the battery will not be a concern most of the time. Just don't try to browse with mobile data too often. It will drain the battery in 5 hours tops.
Plus the only concern with non removable battery is only after you use the phone for more than 2 years, but if you can take care of your battery (i.e don't charge it while it's hot or don't charge after its fully depleted), 3 years of lifetime is not impossible. In the mean time those slim sony powerbank will certainly help you to extend battery life should you want it.
So yeah nothing to worry i guess.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app

I would do it. I just came from the note 2 and not going to go back. Everything the Samsung has the Sony has way better. Sony quality is awesome.
Sent from my C6806 using XDA Premium HD app

Oh and the Sony stock ROM is the best I have ever tried stock. I dont feel the need to keep looking for Custom Roms as It was with my Note 2..then again, this thing is a beast so nothing can make it seem laggy lol
Go for it mate!

trellva25 said:
The following is just my own personal opinion and my experience using the z ultra...originally i had a note 2 and the moved over to the z ultra...after 3 months i sold the z ultra and bought a note 3 which iam very happy with. The main reasons why i decided to switch to the note 3 are as follows;
1) At first i didn't really mind the size, in fact the main reason i bought the phone in the first place was due to size. My main use of a smartphone are media consumption first and communication second. although the z ultra is a lot more portable than some 7 inch tablets, its still pretty big for a phone. often times i found my self getting frustrated due to not being able to fit it properly in some of my pockets. Unless i went out with a bag, i had to think carefully about the types of clothes i had to wear just so i can carry the z ultra. The note 3 seems to provide a big enough screen while not compromising portability, now i don't have to dress for the phone anymore.
2) the screen is not as good as i had thought. Now i have to reiterate this is my own opinion: after using the z ultra i found that the screen had some flaws which i just couldn't get over. The black levels are poor compared to other LCD like the htc one and LG G pro. When looking at the screen in bright ambient lighting you wont notice how poor the black levels are, its only in dimly lit light that it becomes evident, now i use my phone a lot in a dimly lit bedroom so it becomes an issue. The blacks also wash out becoming milky white if you view the phone off angle, the color does not shift, only the color of the blacks...this issue is not as apparent as like the xperia z. but its still far worse compared to other flagships out there.
The screen is very bright even at the lowest setting, i had to use a screen adjuster app just to get the screen to be comfortable to use at night.
X-reality is pure garbage, sony replaced bravia engine with x reality, why they did this i will never understand as x-reality brings along image sharpening and grain which makes videos look unwatchable. But turning it off makes the screen look washed out. I compared every phone i had to the z ultra without x-reality and the z ultra was the worse of the bunch. One color the z ultra the z ultra seemed to have trouble producing accurately was green, compared to other high end phones, any green that's not dark green always appeared to look yellowish green.
One issue i found annoying when viewing pictures and videos was that the screen had poor gamma levels. skin tones appear too bright for what they should be and shadows appear too dark. watching dark scenes was just unbearable as all the shadowy areas would loose all detail and look all black, while the faces especially for light skinned people would look pale white. other phones would show details in the shadows and skin tones would be full of color.
3) sound quality is pretty bad, coming from the note 2 i thought the speaker sound wouldn't bother me, after a few weeks it become annoying as the z ultra has the worst external speaker on any smartphone i have used.
4)The camera is complete utter crap...now i dont take photos much, and i didnt think it would be an issue, but the few times i did take pictures always thought of the note 2 which i had sold off to buy the z ultra. If you like taking picture, do not buy the z ultra.
5) the sony UI is very beautiful and snappy, but after using lg pro, htc one x and note 2 and 3 i found it the least functional especially when it comes to calling and messaging. don't have time to elaborate on this one.
6) The font and icons are so tiny, this for some people wont be an issue but it was for me. even though you can view more content on the z ultra screen, everything is so shrunk down that reading on the thing becomes straining on the eyes. even when you increase the font size in the settings menu, some apps still show font too small.
After a few months i just could not stand these flaws and sold the phone to buy note 3. So far i couldn't be happier. I can carry the phone with no issue, the screen is vibrant and clear with multiple modes to choose from. skin tones look better and shadows are represented accurately. sound quality is vastly improved, the list could keep going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I dont dress for my phone...never have. The Notes are not small enough to fit that good with what I wear anyway so i always carry them so no big deal for me.
2) To me the screen was the biggest surprise on how beautiful it looks. I was afraid of black levels coming from a long line of Samsung phones but the Pros far outweight the cons.
For someone so picky about the display its odd how you seem to "not see" the issues with the note 3 screen...
Yes x-reality creates too many issues for some media. Would be better to have options for it but all the stuff you mention I just dont buy it. Your opinion it may be and I disagree totally.
3) Really..comparing phone speaker qualities....oh boy. In any case, the less clarify of the speaker is of course due to the water proof nature of the phone. You cant get something for nothing in real life.
4) The camera is utter crap...mhm...actually is not. In low light it is pretty lame, which goes for most many phones but for me to call a phone camera utter crap means I am into photography (which I am) so I use a real camera for my photos so the phone camera is good enough for what I will use it.
To correct your statement "If you like taking pictures, do not buy a phone, buy a real CAMERA!"
But I am sure the Note A7R with FF sensor is much better...
5) Of course you wont ellaborate...I wanted to see what exactly you were going to claim here is as the issue since the Sony ROM has been one of the most impressive things I have found after moving from Samsung. Just clean and smooth without needing Custom Roms.
6) Straining on the eyes? Really...you got some eye problems, go to an eye doctor, dont blame the phone.
So lets see by your logic, you want a phone with a BIG screen to resize the Icons to fit the same lame quantity of Icons and things that will fit if the screen was smaller thus not really taking advantage of the bigger screen?
That is actually one of the greatest things about the Sony Rom even compared to Googles version of the Xperia.
So after a few months you sold the phone and yet you hang around the Xperia Z Ultra forum? Interesting behavior indeed...
To each its own..but the Note 4 would have to be DAMN good for me to leave the Xperia Z Ultra...that is how GOOD and impressive this phone is.

The following is just my own personal opinion and my experience using the z ultra...originally i had a note 2 and the moved over to the z ultra...after 3 months i sold the z ultra and bought a note 3 which iam very happy with. The main reasons why i decided to switch to the note 3 are as follows;
1) At first i didn't really mind the size, in fact the main reason i bought the phone in the first place was due to size. My main use of a smartphone are media consumption first and communication second. although the z ultra is a lot more portable than some 7 inch tablets, its still pretty big for a phone. often times i found my self getting frustrated due to not being able to fit it properly in some of my pockets. Unless i went out with a bag, i had to think carefully about the types of clothes i had to wear just so i can carry the z ultra. The note 3 seems to provide a big enough screen while not compromising portability, now i don't have to dress for the phone anymore.
2) the screen is not as good as i had thought. Now i have to reiterate this is my own opinion: after using the z ultra i found that the screen had some flaws which i just couldn't get over. The black levels are poor compared to other LCD like the htc one and LG G pro. When looking at the screen in bright ambient lighting you wont notice how poor the black levels are, its only in dimly lit light that it becomes evident, now i use my phone a lot in a dimly lit bedroom so it becomes an issue. The blacks also wash out becoming milky white if you view the phone off angle, the color does not shift, only the color of the blacks...this issue is not as apparent as like the xperia z. but its still far worse compared to other flagships out there.
The screen is very bright even at the lowest setting, i had to use a screen adjuster app just to get the screen to be comfortable to use at night.
X-reality is pure garbage, sony replaced bravia engine with x reality, why they did this i will never understand as x-reality brings along image sharpening and grain which makes videos look unwatchable. But turning it off makes the screen look washed out. I compared every phone i had to the z ultra without x-reality and the z ultra was the worse of the bunch. One color the z ultra the z ultra seemed to have trouble producing accurately was green, compared to other high end phones, any green that's not dark green always appeared to look yellowish green.
One issue i found annoying when viewing pictures and videos was that the screen had poor gamma levels. skin tones appear too bright for what they should be and shadows appear too dark. watching dark scenes was just unbearable as all the shadowy areas would loose all detail and look all black, while the faces especially for light skinned people would look pale white. other phones would show details in the shadows and skin tones would be full of color.
3) sound quality is pretty bad, coming from the note 2 i thought the speaker sound wouldn't bother me, after a few weeks it become annoying as the z ultra has the worst external speaker on any smartphone i have used.
4)The camera is complete utter crap...now i dont take photos much, and i didnt think it would be an issue, but the few times i did take pictures always thought of the note 2 which i had sold off to buy the z ultra. If you like taking picture, do not buy the z ultra.
5) the sony UI is very beautiful and snappy, but after using lg pro, htc one x and note 2 and 3 i found it the least functional especially when it comes to calling and messaging. don't have time to elaborate on this one.
6) The font and icons are so tiny, this for some people wont be an issue but it was for me. even though you can view more content on the z ultra screen, everything is so shrunk down that reading on the thing becomes straining on the eyes. even when you increase the font size in the settings menu, some apps still show font too small.
After a few months i just could not stand these flaws and sold the phone to buy note 3. So far i couldn't be happier. I can carry the phone with no issue, the screen is vibrant and clear with multiple modes to choose from. skin tones look better and shadows are represented accurately. sound quality is vastly improved, the list could keep going on.
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Click to collapse
1. I fit it into my front chest pocket and never have any problem with it. in fact Sony engineers stated that it is the max that a pocket can be fitted because it is designed with a passport width in mind. So I'm not sure why can't you.
2. Blacks will never be a true black even with AMOLED one. Yeah the contrast is good when you push the brightness, but when you're reducing it you'll know that their blacks are not as black as you thought. I have had using razr Maxx fyi so there's that. If you don't like x reality then just turn it off simple. It's like you need to change color temperature mode first to get more accurate color in GS4 and Note 3. Plus those oversaturated colors.. I don't know but my eyes bleed when i saw my friend's Note 2 after using the Z Ultra. There's a reason why professional monitor doesn't use AMOLED.
3. Nothing beats HTC one in that regard i admit, but frankly all other smartphones can only produce so much sound too plus it is water proof so like shaolin said. You don't get something for nothing
4. Just switch to manual and reduce ISO to max 200. Boom done. Or better yet the qx100..
5. To each other's preferences then. But if we have to be honest, people loves to flash CM ROM on their Samsung/LG because of the bloated skin. Whereas with sony sometimes people regret doing that and came back to stock Sony ROM because the beautiful factor and simplicity is damn near AOSP one.
6. I have pity for you then. You are wasting all that ppi provided by the phone these days just for a bigger font. Granted if you have eye problem but if you do, better make it with some low end galaxy grand I suppose?
But i do understand that Note 3 has advantages over Z Ultra. S-pen and slighlty longer lasting battery, but none of the above you mentioned I'd consider as the disadvantages of the Z Ultra.
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app

I clearly stated multiple times that everything i stated was based on my personal experience for the very reason that this is a z ultra forum, most people who frequent this forum will be z ultra owners of which there will be many people that do like the z ultra.
All the negatives i wrote about are based on my experiences and my uses of the phone, they wont be the same nor should they be the same as everyone's else...as of now i find the note 3 suits my needs better than the z ultra, does that mean i find the note 3 perfect....NO...does that mean the z ultra is a bad phone....NO
I use most of my phones stock, i seldom root much less use custom ROMS...if a phone does do or perform the way i want out the box then iam less likely to keep it...
The OP asked if its worth switching from the note 2 to z ultra....now since i used the note 2 for over a year before switching i felt my input could be of help, its up to the OP to look into the issues i stated and see for him/herself if 1) he can actually see the same issues stated in the phone 2) if he does see the issues are they a deal breaker for him
One thing i do know for sure is that iam not the only one who feels the way i do, each point i made has already been made by different forum members,
For example the font being too small, there is already a thread made about it in the forum, the screen issues i mentioned forum member angelofmusic has stated my experience with actual measurements made
Iam sure the z ultra is a good phone for some, but its just not for me

I have been using many phones before the Z.U. Honestly I only like Samsung phone for the Galaxy S1,S2. Since s3, the quality is, sorry for all Samsung users, never be able to beat Sony.
If you compare between the screen of Z.U and Samsung phone. Indeed the samsung will have brighter, more vivid colors, but not as real as the Z.U. I am an Z.U users and I am giving my personal opinion.
To the OP, I do NOT think it is worth to switch to the Note2. When you buy the Z.U, you know that the size is large and at some points, it may cause inconvenience. For the Note 2, it might be smaller, but I think you will miss the badass screen of Z.U soon.
With me, there is no reason to swith from Z.U to Note2, only if it is because of the battery. However, using a Phablet like the Z.U, you should prepare that the battery will not last all day long like smaller ones. Why? besides the badass screen, you have the Snap 800 inside, which is far too strong for any usual tasks.

justsomebody said:
I have been using many phones before the Z.U. Honestly I only like Samsung phone for the Galaxy S1,S2. Since s3, the quality is, sorry for all Samsung users, never be able to beat Sony.
If you compare between the screen of Z.U and Samsung phone. Indeed the samsung will have brighter, more vivid colors, but not as real as the Z.U. I am an Z.U users and I am giving my personal opinion.
To the OP, I do NOT think it is worth to switch to the Note2. When you buy the Z.U, you know that the size is large and at some points, it may cause inconvenience. For the Note 2, it might be smaller, but I think you will miss the badass screen of Z.U soon.
With me, there is no reason to swith from Z.U to Note2, only if it is because of the battery. However, using a Phablet like the Z.U, you should prepare that the battery will not last all day long like smaller ones. Why? besides the badass screen, you have the Snap 800 inside, which is far too strong for any usual tasks.
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Click to collapse
Seems like OP wants to switch from note 2 to z ultra not the other way around
Sent from my C6802 using xda app-developers app

thanx guys for ur input ,much appreciated. I have until tomorrow to make the deal so I am trying to consider all the facts. the pros and cons.very strong points from both end. I just met the guy. the screen looked washed out to me while the note 2 looked unnecessarily colorful him. the funny thing is now my note 2 looks so small and I cant get over it. wow! the screen size and all those extra space to work with but I just cant say abt the battery life if it suits my need.
lasts thank you for your time and all those long reviews. I hope I make the right choice.

Also, Z Ultra will survive a toilet dip , that's something to be bragged about.

trellva25 said:
I clearly stated multiple times that everything i stated was based on my personal experience for the very reason that this is a z ultra forum, most people who frequent this forum will be z ultra owners of which there will be many people that do like the z ultra.
All the negatives i wrote about are based on my experiences and my uses of the phone, they wont be the same nor should they be the same as everyone's else...as of now i find the note 3 suits my needs better than the z ultra, does that mean i find the note 3 perfect....NO...does that mean the z ultra is a bad phone....NO
I use most of my phones stock, i seldom root much less use custom ROMS...if a phone does do or perform the way i want out the box then iam less likely to keep it...
The OP asked if its worth switching from the note 2 to z ultra....now since i used the note 2 for over a year before switching i felt my input could be of help, its up to the OP to look into the issues i stated and see for him/herself if 1) he can actually see the same issues stated in the phone 2) if he does see the issues are they a deal breaker for him
One thing i do know for sure is that iam not the only one who feels the way i do, each point i made has already been made by different forum members,
For example the font being too small, there is already a thread made about it in the forum, the screen issues i mentioned forum member angelofmusic has stated my experience with actual measurements made
Iam sure the z ultra is a good phone for some, but its just not for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good so like after I sold a phone, I dont keep hanging around the old forums to post stuff like you just did. Just does not make sense to hang around a forum for a device I only had for a few months and did not like...I move on with my life to the new phone I got and the corresponding forums...
I already replied to all your points before so I wont rehash that. I do not mean the Note 3 is a bad phone nor that the Ultra is perfect, it sure is not. But your post really blows things out of proportions. Your opinion it is and I totally disagree with most of it as I said...so that is MY opinion too.
The OP will decide at the end.
Pannam said:
thanx guys for ur input ,much appreciated. I have until tomorrow to make the deal so I am trying to consider all the facts. the pros and cons.very strong points from both end. I just met the guy. the screen looked washed out to me while the note 2 looked unnecessarily colorful him. the funny thing is now my note 2 looks so small and I cant get over it. wow! the screen size and all those extra space to work with but I just cant say abt the battery life if it suits my need.
lasts thank you for your time and all those long reviews. I hope I make the right choice.
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Click to collapse
I always had to tame down the colors on my Note phones using a kernel feature or at least changing to movie mode or something like that. The sony just looks perfect to me but I am used to working on a calibrated monitor for photo editing so give it a bit of time for your eyes to adjust maybe.
In any case, good luck with your decision!
I wont deny I was afraid of changing from Samsung after so many phones and being a Note 1 and Note 2 fan but now I cannot see myself without my Ultra! :good:

Pannam said:
Hi guys,
I am about to exchange my note 2 with z ultra amd some added cash ? Should I go forward ? Comparing the battery life after 4.3 update is it better, a little better or a ton better ?
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Click to collapse
I came from the note 2 myself... The battery on The Z Ultra is just fine, it actually got considerably better after a few weeks use. I was paranoid at first worrying when I got down to 50% etc, but honestly one the initial setup and benchmarking frenzy was over it easily lasts me a day now. I normally charge between 5 and 7 when I get home after work, and thats the only time I do charge, its left unplugged overnight. When I come to charge it the next day I've usually got 40%+ left in the tank. To summarise I don't worry about battery whatsoever with this device. :good:

People keep complaining about the black levels on the ZU's screen - but they don't seem to realize what accurate colours truly are.
If you are the type of person who sets their TV to 'vivid' or 'dynamic' or one of those other fake settings that artificially enhance the hues and saturation of colours to make them pop - then by all means, please go the Samsung route; to your eyes, the colours are most likely going to seem more vibrant and thus imply that the screen quality is actually better.
If you want colours that are as close to those you will get from a professionally calibrated television set or monitor - the Sony is hands down the way to go.
Even comparing the Sony ZU side by side with my first generation Galaxy Note, the colours on the Note can in some cases strike out a little more - but when I put them up against my 55" professionally calibrated Samsung TV - the Sony's colours are most in line with the calibrated display - the Samsung looks skewed.
In short, if you think skin tones actually are supposed to be orange - stick with a Samsung.
If you want accurate, realistic depiction of your media - go Sony.

hassanmahmood said:
People keep complaining about the black levels on the ZU's screen - but they don't seem to realize what accurate colours truly are.
If you are the type of person who sets their TV to 'vivid' or 'dynamic' or one of those other fake settings that artificially enhance the hues and saturation of colours to make them pop - then by all means, please go the Samsung route; to your eyes, the colours are most likely going to seem more vibrant and thus imply that the screen quality is actually better.
If you want colours that are as close to those you will get from a professionally calibrated television set or monitor - the Sony is hands down the way to go.
Even comparing the Sony ZU side by side with my first generation Galaxy Note, the colours on the Note can in some cases strike out a little more - but when I put them up against my 55" professionally calibrated Samsung TV - the Sony's colours are most in line with the calibrated display - the Samsung looks skewed.
In short, if you think skin tones actually are supposed to be orange - stick with a Samsung.
If you want accurate, realistic depiction of your media - go Sony.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, cannot agree more on that

Traded my Note 3 for Z Ultra impressions

Well i just done it and traded my Note 3 for this beautiful phone and here are my first day impressions
Build Quality : Solid, sleek, beautiful and classy.. Kinda like the White Iphone 4 i got when it was just released and not many people had it yet... i pulled this thing out in the public and people were either in awe or thought i was stupid.. im not sure yet but i notice people tend to look over. I saw alot of reviews saying because it was really thin it's hard to pick up, i tried and really found out they were being nit picky about that kinda stuff (like phones that rock when you touch them).. who cares its easy to pick up its not going to make your life harder.
Cons : As nice as it is, Samsung won me over with the removal back cover and replacement battery. One time i had no idea what was wrong with my phone, i called my friend up and asked him to swap batteries.. turns out my battery died from wiping my phone down with too much water lol. i would of wasted alot of money sending it in if i didn't swap batteries with my friend to see the problem. $15 to replace the battery. On the plus side the Z Ultra is waterproof so i can wipe it down as much as i want now.
Battery Life : Decent, compared to my Note 3 i surfed the net for an hr and a half and ended up with about %70 battery life on max brightness, if i did the same with the Note i would be around %80 and not need to set brightness that high and have even more battery saved.
Screen and Size : When i first saw the screen it didn't blow me away initially because i was used to the over saturated display of the amoled but non the less the more i looked at it the more i realized it was a Beautiful display panel, unsaturated colours bigger and better with better colour accuracy over the Note. It wasn't until i decided to see how good the blacks were was where it was a let down. I loaded up the movie Aliens and tried watching a few dark scenes, the colour skin tones and everything was nice and way better then the Note but the blacks in the dark scenes were not deep enough.. it made the movie feel washed out and faded and was not enjoyable as seeing the dark corners clearly takes away from the movie experience.. This is coming from someone who loves watching movies on projector i can't but notice that flaw..from my eye test it seems to have a 1000:1 contrast ratio which is not good. To the average user i would say the blacks are definitely sufficient for movies but to the trained eye it totally sucks and i was expecting more from sony on the display as i bought this phone only for media purposes. That being said it seems like a big trade off for me since the amoled has the best blacks of any phone and i'm sure their over saturated colours can be corrected with proper tools but can the blacks be fixed on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra? i'll have to see if there are tools for it but the limitations are likely within the panels itself.
Note 3 Display (Amoled) = Deep blacks really good for watching movies,
Cons = Over saturated inaccurate colours
Sony Xperia Z Ulta = Accurate colours,better tones, sharper better to look at
Cons = Blacks are a little washed out and faded (average users may not care or notice)
Games = I have yet to play a game on this but i can tell its going to kick some butt because the screen is so nice and large
Sound = The Speakers on this thing blows.. it sounds like my old Iphone 4 just louder.. and vs modern phones its far too quiet.. don't expect anything more
Pocket test, i'm 5'10 and a half wore skinny jeans with it, to my surprise it didn't stick out of my pocket like everyone. Pocketable for me
Camera = I don't take pictures not a deal for me
Speed = Although the Note 3 has 3 gigs of ram and faster mhz, the Sony felt snappier the moment i used it. Everything felt zippier and just faster overall. Likely due to Samsung touchwiz
Am i going to return/sell this for a Note 3? Probably not, i'll need a week or 2 to decide if i watch that many dark movies for the blacks to bother me enough. Everything about the screen is better except for the blacks as long as you don't mind then go for the SXU. I love big screens and if i could get the Mediapad X1 when it releases i'll buy that but for now the Sony Xperia Z Ultra seems like a fine phone to me.

anonapersons said:
Well i just done it and traded my Note 3 for this beautiful phone and here are my first day impressions
Build Quality : Solid, sleek, beautiful and classy.. Kinda like the White Iphone 4 i got when it was just released and not many people had it yet... i pulled this thing out in the public and people were either in awe or thought i was stupid.. im not sure yet but i notice people tend to look over. I saw alot of reviews saying because it was really thin it's hard to pick up, i tried and really found out they were being nit picky about that kinda stuff (like phones that rock when you touch them).. who cares its easy to pick up its not going to make your life harder.
Cons : As nice as it is, Samsung won me over with the removal back cover and replacement battery. One time i had no idea what was wrong with my phone, i called my friend up and asked him to swap batteries.. turns out my battery died from wiping my phone down with too much water lol. i would of wasted alot of money sending it in if i didn't swap batteries with my friend to see the problem. $15 to replace the battery. On the plus side the Z Ultra is waterproof so i can wipe it down as much as i want now.
Battery Life : Decent, compared to my Note 3 i surfed the net for an hr and a half and ended up with about %70 battery life on max brightness, if i did the same with the Note i would be around %80 and not need to set brightness that high and have even more battery saved.
Screen and Size : When i first saw the screen it didn't blow me away initially because i was used to the over saturated display of the amoled but non the less the more i looked at it the more i realized it was a Beautiful display panel, unsaturated colours bigger and better with better colour accuracy over the Note. It wasn't until i decided to see how good the blacks were was where it was a let down. I loaded up the movie Aliens and tried watching a few dark scenes, the colour skin tones and everything was nice and way better then the Note but the blacks in the dark scenes were not deep enough.. it made the movie feel washed out and faded and was not enjoyable as seeing the dark corners clearly takes away from the movie experience.. This is coming from someone who loves watching movies on projector i can't but notice that flaw..from my eye test it seems to have a 1000:1 contrast ratio which is not good. To the average user i would say the blacks are definitely sufficient for movies but to the trained eye it totally sucks and i was expecting more from sony on the display as i bought this phone only for media purposes. That being said it seems like a big trade off for me since the amoled has the best blacks of any phone and i'm sure their over saturated colours can be corrected with proper tools but can the blacks be fixed on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra? i'll have to see if there are tools for it but the limitations are likely within the panels itself.
Note 3 Display (Amoled) = Deep blacks really good for watching movies,
Cons = Over saturated inaccurate colours
Sony Xperia Z Ulta = Accurate colours,better tones, sharper better to look at
Cons = Blacks are a little washed out and faded (average users may not care or notice)
Games = I have yet to play a game on this but i can tell its going to kick some butt because the screen is so nice and large
Sound = The Speakers on this thing blows.. it sounds like my old Iphone 4 just louder.. and vs modern phones its far too quiet.. don't expect anything more
Pocket test, i'm 5'10 and a half wore skinny jeans with it, to my surprise it didn't stick out of my pocket like everyone. Pocketable for me
Camera = I don't take pictures not a deal for me
Speed = Although the Note 3 has 3 gigs of ram and faster mhz, the Sony felt snappier the moment i used it. Everything felt zippier and just faster overall. Likely due to Samsung touchwiz
Am i going to return/sell this for a Note 3? Probably not, i'll need a week or 2 to decide if i watch that many dark movies for the blacks to bother me enough. Everything about the screen is better except for the blacks as long as you don't mind then go for the SXU. I love big screens and if i could get the Mediapad X1 when it releases i'll buy that but for now the Sony Xperia Z Ultra seems like a fine phone to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your expectations were too high in regard to the black value on the ZXU. The Notes all have amoled, thus the pixels are nearly off when displaying black. Mind you, this is the only screen tech that offers that. Super LCD, IPS, Triluminos don't have that. It's a well known trade off. What you get back in return is better color reproduction, better sharpness, etc. The black value is by no means bad, not different from most televisions actually. A lot of reviewers call the ZXU a mini Sony Bravia TV and that is exactly what it is.
I reckon your eyes really need to get used to the ZXU display, which requires extensive time and movie watching. This makes sense if your eyes have been accustomed to the Note line for a long time now. I have the Note 2 as well and I find the greys/black not that good to be honest, as the contrast doesn't seem to work that well. A lot of times scenes are too dark compared to reference material.
The ZXU remains a marvel, I suggest you spend some more time with it and report back in a while :good:

anonapersons said:
Well i just done it and traded my Note 3 for this beautiful phone and here are my first day impressions
Build Quality : Solid, sleek, beautiful and classy.. Kinda like the White Iphone 4 i got when it was just released and not many people had it yet... i pulled this thing out in the public and people were either in awe or thought i was stupid.. im not sure yet but i notice people tend to look over. I saw alot of reviews saying because it was really thin it's hard to pick up, i tried and really found out they were being nit picky about that kinda stuff (like phones that rock when you touch them).. who cares its easy to pick up its not going to make your life harder.
Cons : As nice as it is, Samsung won me over with the removal back cover and replacement battery. One time i had no idea what was wrong with my phone, i called my friend up and asked him to swap batteries.. turns out my battery died from wiping my phone down with too much water lol. i would of wasted alot of money sending it in if i didn't swap batteries with my friend to see the problem. $15 to replace the battery. On the plus side the Z Ultra is waterproof so i can wipe it down as much as i want now.
Battery Life : Decent, compared to my Note 3 i surfed the net for an hr and a half and ended up with about %70 battery life on max brightness, if i did the same with the Note i would be around %80 and not need to set brightness that high and have even more battery saved.
Screen and Size : When i first saw the screen it didn't blow me away initially because i was used to the over saturated display of the amoled but non the less the more i looked at it the more i realized it was a Beautiful display panel, unsaturated colours bigger and better with better colour accuracy over the Note. It wasn't until i decided to see how good the blacks were was where it was a let down. I loaded up the movie Aliens and tried watching a few dark scenes, the colour skin tones and everything was nice and way better then the Note but the blacks in the dark scenes were not deep enough.. it made the movie feel washed out and faded and was not enjoyable as seeing the dark corners clearly takes away from the movie experience.. This is coming from someone who loves watching movies on projector i can't but notice that flaw..from my eye test it seems to have a 1000:1 contrast ratio which is not good. To the average user i would say the blacks are definitely sufficient for movies but to the trained eye it totally sucks and i was expecting more from sony on the display as i bought this phone only for media purposes. That being said it seems like a big trade off for me since the amoled has the best blacks of any phone and i'm sure their over saturated colours can be corrected with proper tools but can the blacks be fixed on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra? i'll have to see if there are tools for it but the limitations are likely within the panels itself.
Note 3 Display (Amoled) = Deep blacks really good for watching movies,
Cons = Over saturated inaccurate colours
Sony Xperia Z Ulta = Accurate colours,better tones, sharper better to look at
Cons = Blacks are a little washed out and faded (average users may not care or notice)
Games = I have yet to play a game on this but i can tell its going to kick some butt because the screen is so nice and large
Sound = The Speakers on this thing blows.. it sounds like my old Iphone 4 just louder.. and vs modern phones its far too quiet.. don't expect anything more
Pocket test, i'm 5'10 and a half wore skinny jeans with it, to my surprise it didn't stick out of my pocket like everyone. Pocketable for me
Camera = I don't take pictures not a deal for me
Speed = Although the Note 3 has 3 gigs of ram and faster mhz, the Sony felt snappier the moment i used it. Everything felt zippier and just faster overall. Likely due to Samsung touchwiz
Am i going to return/sell this for a Note 3? Probably not, i'll need a week or 2 to decide if i watch that many dark movies for the blacks to bother me enough. Everything about the screen is better except for the blacks as long as you don't mind then go for the SXU. I love big screens and if i could get the Mediapad X1 when it releases i'll buy that but for now the Sony Xperia Z Ultra seems like a fine phone to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, Gideon is pretty much straight on here. I came from a Galaxy Note so I was used to an AMOLED panel, and let me tell you that I was quite shocked. Deep blacks (in the dark)? Nope. Aaand that's pretty much it. The Note display was darker and more saturated, and I was pretty much surprised when I got the Ultra, except I wasn't.
AMOLED displays do not have a backlight, so black will actually be black. Black will be turned off.
LCD panels do have backlights, so black will still have a backlight, only the light will be dimmed. It's the same thing as your TV. The Ultra uses LED. So yeah, the Ultra is pretty much a Bravia TV.
Audio, yeah... It's not very good. Don't forget that the Ultra is waterproof so the speakers have a membrane that makes it waterproof.
Camera: No flash so it won't take great photos in the dark or even inside your home, bit it's not that bad once you're outside in the daylight.
Overall, the Note 3 is a more "all arounder", but you're paying a lot for a luxury item that doesn't feel like it's what it is. It feels like a plasticy...thing. The Sony is a luxury item that does a lot, but it also feels like a luxury item. It's incredible big, but you also feel that you've paid for a quality glass and aluminium product.
- Note 3: Big plastic phablet
- Z Ultra: Huge glass and metal phablet
Sent from my Z Ultra

I just sold my note 3 and ordered zu gpe I loved the phone but locked bootloader killed it for me cant wait to try this phone!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

gtshiftin6 said:
I just sold my note 3 and ordered zu gpe I loved the phone but locked bootloader killed it for me cant wait to try this phone!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just dumped my day one note2 and ordered stock sony version last night Samsung was driving me crazy with the knox crap lol.

bryce850 said:
Just dumped my day one note2 and ordered stock sony version last night Samsung was driving me crazy with the knox crap lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here... Love the big screen on this beast.
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk

I, too, traded in a Note 3 for a Z Ultra, but I bought the Google Play Edition (and of course I bought it a little over a month before they dropped the price to $449). I couldn't be happier with this thing. My only real gripes are:
1. The camera sucks in low light.
2. The headphone jack is on the side. That placement makes it awkward sometimes when I put the phone in my pocket while going out for a walk.
3. I absolutely HATE that anti-shatter film that's on the front and back glass. For starters, it scratches if you look at it (just like any screen protector does), and the oleophobic coating that they put on the front rubs off within the first 3 or so weeks. I would remove it, but I don't really care enough to waste the time, plus you need a razorblade to do it and I don't like getting razorblades anywhere near my phone. This also says nothing of the fact that removing the film also voids your warranty.
These are all pretty minor complaints in the grand scheme of things, at least when I consider my own needs in a phone. When it comes to the important stuff, this phone excels. The hardware is top shelf, it's fast, stock Android runs amazingly well on it, the screen is gorgeous, and it's really the perfect size for me. :good:

oldblue910 said:
I, too, traded in a Note 3 for a Z Ultra, but I bought the Google Play Edition (and of course I bought it a little over a month before they dropped the price to $449). I couldn't be happier with this thing. My only real gripes are:
1. The camera sucks in low light.
2. The headphone jack is on the side. That placement makes it awkward sometimes when I put the phone in my pocket while going out for a walk.
3. I absolutely HATE that anti-shatter film that's on the front and back glass. For starters, it scratches if you look at it (just like any screen protector does), and the oleophobic coating that they put on the front rubs off within the first 3 or so weeks. I would remove it, but I don't really care enough to waste the time, plus you need a razorblade to do it and I don't like getting razorblades anywhere near my phone. This also says nothing of the fact that removing the film also voids your warranty.
These are all pretty minor complaints in the grand scheme of things, at least when I consider my own needs in a phone. When it comes to the important stuff, this phone excels. The hardware is top shelf, it's fast, stock Android runs amazingly well on it, the screen is gorgeous, and it's really the perfect size for me. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Z2 Ultra is indeed an oversized Z2, all your complaint will be gone (except maybe the camera, but 13mp one would not hurt just like T2U) then that would really ring my bell..
about headset placement, actually i think i like it on the side. Because the device itself is longer than any general pocket available, so when the jack comes in, it might very well be outside the pocket. Plus when you play it landscape, nothing protrude from the side, hence easier handling. Plus some Bluetooth Companion wouldn't hurt (in fact such device is promoted from the start to be used with XZU)

I came from a Note 1 (GT-N7000) and at the time it was basically price between note 3 and z ultra. The ultra was $100 cheaper and I had a buyer for my N7000 so I went ahead and got the Z.
I agree with the following:
1. Amoled is a superior display, no doubt. However, the 6.4" vs 5.7 makes up for it.
2. Unlocked - I have changed carriers twice since owning this phone. If I bought the t-mobile Note 3, i'd be out of luck (the model I was previously leaning toward), or at the least, had to pay a fee to unlock it.
3. Camera is an absolute joke. I don't take many pictures like the OP, but the ones I do take are just horrid in low light.
4. There are issues with sony software. I get crackle in my text messages, and the phantom touch issue is there sometimes. However, i'd rather have these issues than be faced with KNOX. Plus, I know sony will address the issues eventually.
In the end, i'm glad I got the z ultra over note 3.

Z Ultra
Well, I also just bought the Xperia Z Ultra and as soon as I finished updating and arranging most things, I came here for some extra search for extra work that needs to be done with this device! I am also an owner of the Xperia Z (yuga/C6603) for more than a year and since I had enough to complain issues with it, I was a little bit puzzled about how the big brother Ultra was going to perform! As it has been mentioned, and that's the reason I am posting in this thread, I was between 3 devices including Samsung's Note 3 and LG's G Flex! The reason I didn't go with the Note 3, despite the perfect screen and the faster and bigger RAM, and among the 4K camera capabilities, was that as soon as I hold it in my hand I knew it wouldn't even compare to the Z's quality I've been using for quite long! The plastic leather-alike back cover was quite a lot slippery after you have used the device enough to sweat your hand! Also a drawback I could also see was that its 5.7" display looked tiny next to the G Flex and the Ultra for me, so as to be consider a phablet! It actually felt more like a normal phone like anything else with a little bit oversized screen. And then came G Flex which also astonished me with its design and curved build but I could spot a huge difference in the 720p display next to the Note 3 and the Ultra! I adored though the design and the 32gb built in storage but those couldn't be enough for me to purchase it! I also didn't like so much the coating on the back cover, which also feels and is slippy straight out of the box, although I think it is supposed to be some kind of self healing coating to help with shallow and/or light scratches. After some minor tests I was able to make in a store that had them all for customers to see and play with, when I reached the Ultra and hold it in my hand I knew it was the device I would after all buy since its build quality and its exceptional slim design made me looking around like a retard :laugh: !! So, to end up with, after experiencing these three phabs the weight up of pros and cons for each had come and despite all the camera capabilities both G Flex and Note 3 had over the Ultra the price tags pointed which deserved to be bought, considering what it offered and it could't be anything else than the Ultra! For the records, I bought it in purple(cuz i couldn't find yuga back in 2013 in purple and i was craving for it ) in the awesome price of 325 euros with the G Flex costing 425 euros and the Note 3 being at the price of 460 euros! As it is obvious, I could't even a second think for a reason to spend over 100 euros forone of the other two! After 4 days of heavy usage and insanely lots of recharges I am extraordinarily amazed to find out that Sony has done everything that hasn't for the yuga! No more lags, no more UI glitches, no more stuttering animations and no more scrolling problems within every day apps like Chrome! The only cons I was able to notice that do disappoint me are:
1. Sound quality or at least one more speaker like the one it is already on device would be perfect! (I am searching for sound mods now, hope to find sth good)
2. The camera sensor could have been the same with the Xperia Z (13MP) with a LED (though I wont be taking any pictures with any phablet for now)
3. I would expect a bigger battery, although it has convinced me to be fair enough despite its small, for the screen's size, capacity
4. The phantom touch issue is a bit annoying from times to times
5. The screen should be a a little more dimmer for outdoors use
To conclude with, I'll always find it a lovely device, with great network speed, excellent performance, excellent build quality and excessively excellent and gorgeous design! I hope I made a good choice to choose the Ultra over the other two, but even if I didn't I am still more than a hundred euros richer to consume on accessories!
PS: I was amazed to find out the time I was unboxing that the magnetic dock DK30 was included in the box for free! I really didn't expect that and I was really pleased to find out that Sony saved me about 25 euros for spending on sth else!

I came from the Note 3 and the Note 2 I had before that.
I agree with the removable battery thing, but honestly, battery life is able to last me throughout the day unless I'm heavily using it, so I haven't really been in a bind yet in that regard.
I also agree with the speaker. Flash the sound boost mod, it's mandatory IMO. I've attached it for you. It's like night and day, honestly, but I've found it's a louder boost on 4.3 than it is on 4.4, which is one reason I haven't updated to KitKat. But, if you are using the ZU mainly for media consumption, what are you doing not using a bluetooth speaker!?!? I waited a long time to get one and shouldn't have waited. I researched a lot, pick up an Arctic S113BT off Amazon. It's aptx, got NFC, louder than the Jambox, and 3x less expensive ($40). Only thing that's annoying is the BT audio/video syncing that's always a bit off 90% of the time you first turn it on. Needs some closing of programs and going back to the homescreen to get it to sync up sometimes. I just have the speaker next to me when I'm watching my shows now, it's made everything more enjoyable.
Your gripes and analysis pretty much echoed mine, you'll really get to love the device after a little more time (I should be a rapper, mad rhymes).

SonyMan7 said:
Well, I also just bought the Xperia Z Ultra and as soon as I finished updating and arranging most things, I came here for some extra search for extra work that needs to be done with this device! I am also an owner of the Xperia Z (yuga/C6603) for more than a year and since I had enough to complain issues with it, I was a little bit puzzled about how the big brother Ultra was going to perform! As it has been mentioned, and that's the reason I am posting in this thread, I was between 3 devices including Samsung's Note 3 and LG's G Flex! The reason I didn't go with the Note 3, despite the perfect screen and the faster and bigger RAM, and among the 4K camera capabilities, was that as soon as I hold it in my hand I knew it wouldn't even compare to the Z's quality I've been using for quite long! The plastic leather-alike back cover was quite a lot slippery after you have used the device enough to sweat your hand! Also a drawback I could also see was that its 5.7" display looked tiny next to the G Flex and the Ultra for me, so as to be consider a phablet! It actually felt more like a normal phone like anything else with a little bit oversized screen. And then came G Flex which also astonished me with its design and curved build but I could spot a huge difference in the 720p display next to the Note 3 and the Ultra! I adored though the design and the 32gb built in storage but those couldn't be enough for me to purchase it! I also didn't like so much the coating on the back cover, which also feels and is slippy straight out of the box, although I think it is supposed to be some kind of self healing coating to help with shallow and/or light scratches. After some minor tests I was able to make in a store that had them all for customers to see and play with, when I reached the Ultra and hold it in my hand I knew it was the device I would after all buy since its build quality and its exceptional slim design made me looking around like a retard :laugh: !! So, to end up with, after experiencing these three phabs the weight up of pros and cons for each had come and despite all the camera capabilities both G Flex and Note 3 had over the Ultra the price tags pointed which deserved to be bought, considering what it offered and it could't be anything else than the Ultra! For the records, I bought it in purple(cuz i couldn't find yuga back in 2013 in purple and i was craving for it ) in the awesome price of 325 euros with the G Flex costing 425 euros and the Note 3 being at the price of 460 euros! As it is obvious, I could't even a second think for a reason to spend over 100 euros forone of the other two! After 4 days of heavy usage and insanely lots of recharges I am extraordinarily amazed to find out that Sony has done everything that hasn't for the yuga! No more lags, no more UI glitches, no more stuttering animations and no more scrolling problems within every day apps like Chrome! The only cons I was able to notice that do disappoint me are:
1. Sound quality or at least one more speaker like the one it is already on device would be perfect! (I am searching for sound mods now, hope to find sth good)
2. The camera sensor could have been the same with the Xperia Z (13MP) with a LED (though I wont be taking any pictures with any phablet for now)
3. I would expect a bigger battery, although it has convinced me to be fair enough despite its small, for the screen's size, capacity
4. The phantom touch issue is a bit annoying from times to times
5. The screen should be a a little more dimmer for outdoors use
To conclude with, I'll always find it a lovely device, with great network speed, excellent performance, excellent build quality and excessively excellent and gorgeous design! I hope I made a good choice to choose the Ultra over the other two, but even if I didn't I am still more than a hundred euros richer to consume on accessories!
PS: I was amazed to find out the time I was unboxing that the magnetic dock DK30 was included in the box for free! I really didn't expect that and I was really pleased to find out that Sony saved me about 25 euros for spending on sth else!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice post, and welcome!
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk

Thanks
LordManhattan said:
Very nice post, and welcome!
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you a lot my friend! Nice to be in such a community, although I am not quite new as of time concerned! On the contrary, it is such a complete this community I really hadn't to create an account to participate! Everything I ever searched for from the times of galaxy ace back to the '06s! Awesome work from anyone here! ??

SonyMan7 said:
Thank you a lot my friend! Nice to be in such a community, although I am not quite new as of time concerned! On the contrary, it is such a complete this community I really hadn't to create an account to participate! Everything I ever searched for from the times of galaxy ace back to the '06s! Awesome work from anyone here! ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're a lurker becoming a poster. Good stuff!
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk

LordManhattan said:
So you're a lurker becoming a poster. Good stuff!
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try!

[Q] Do all Z2s have problems?

I'm thinking of getting the Z2 but I'm worried after seeing how many people have problems with overheating, bad build quality, self cracking so on so forth... I just wanted to know whether every Z2 has these issues or is it a game of luck? And does the batch number have anything to do with these issues? AND, did they fix the camera overheat problem (in normal, non 4k mode) via the updates or no? If not then I think it's... I don't know, lame? there's no other phone, no matter high or low end that can't stay in camera without overheating, I guess we have to pay 700$ to get that exclusive "feature" then.
Also, off topic, how is the speaker quality compared to iPhone 5S and/or Note 3? And is the amp powerful enough to power high end headphones decently?

Mk-Raul said:
I'm thinking of getting the Z2 but I'm worried after seeing how many people have problems with overheating, bad build quality, self cracking so on so forth... I just wanted to know whether every Z2 has these issues or is it a game of luck? And does the batch number have anything to do with these issues? AND, did they fix the camera overheat problem (in normal, non 4k mode) via the updates or no? If not then I think it's... I don't know, lame? there's no other phone, no matter high or low end that can't stay in camera without overheating, I guess we have to pay 700$ to get that exclusive "feature" then.
Also, off topic, how is the speaker quality compared to iPhone 5S and/or Note 3? And is the amp powerful enough to power high end headphones decently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is very obvious and understandable to have this doubt which you are facing right now. I had the similar apprehensions before and also post purchasing the Z2. However, the truth is far from it.
A few points we all need to understand:
1) Users on XDA Z2 forum are only a fraction of all the Z2 owners in the world. The issues depeicted here are majorly very minor when the ratio is compared to the whole lot of Z2s sold so far by Sony.
2) Had it been that majority of Z2s facing the mentioned issues, Sony would have been trashed across all the global forums, blogs and other tech portals.
Camera overheating issue is a bug. Again, this is not so rampant. And not that everyone will use 4k recording all the time for video shooting, as I can say this for all, not all of us own a 4K TV or monitor to enjoy the video. 1080p still serves the purpose.
Speaker quality is great. I say this post comparing it with S5, Iphone5s, Note 3, Nexus. However, you cannot compare it to HTC One (Both M7 &M8).
I hope I could settle a few concerns you had here. I would end saying this. Buy any device, any phone. But only when you are sure about it 100% (50% heart + 50% Mind)
-unease

unease said:
It is very obvious and understandable to have this doubt which you are facing right now. I had the similar apprehensions before and also post purchasing the Z2. However, the truth is far from it.
A few points we all need to understand:
1) Users on XDA Z2 forum are only a fraction of all the Z2 owners in the world. The issues depeicted here are majorly very minor when the ratio is compared to the whole lot of Z2s sold so far by Sony.
2) Had it been that majority of Z2s facing the mentioned issues, Sony would have been trashed across all the global forums, blogs and other tech portals.
Camera overheating issue is a bug. Again, this is not so rampant. And not that everyone will use 4k recording all the time for video shooting, as I can say this for all, not all of us own a 4K TV or monitor to enjoy the video. 1080p still serves the purpose.
Speaker quality is great. I say this post comparing it with S5, Iphone5s, Note 3, Nexus. However, you cannot compare it to HTC One (Both M7 &M8).
I hope I could settle a few concerns you had here. I would end saying this. Buy any device, any phone. But only when you are sure about it 100% (50% heart + 50% Mind)
-unease
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying.
I'm all up for it (heart wise) but the brain part still worries me because I'm not that rich to just get a new flagship after few days because mine is faulty.
My concern about the camera wasn't about the 4K overheating, my brother's Note 3 has 4k too, it NEVER gets used. I'm just worried because I've seen some people both on XDA and other forums/YT having overheating during normal photo shooting in SA mode.

Mk-Raul said:
Thanks for replying.
I'm all up for it (heart wise) but the brain part still worries me because I'm not that rich to just get a new flagship after few days because mine is faulty.
My concern about the camera wasn't about the 4K overheating, my brother's Note 3 has 4k too, it NEVER gets used. I'm just worried because I've seen some people both on XDA and other forums/YT having overheating during normal photo shooting in SA mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there, well so far (I am using the Indian variant D6502 with .314 rom) I haven't had any concerns while using the camera. So can't comment on that. Maybe, you should visit nearest retailer and play around with a demo piece before committing for a purchase.
Sent from my Sony Xperia Z2

Hello . I got my Z2 the other day and no problems. I configurated it, updated to latest firmware, rooted and it's been working great.
I saw some issues with it overheating when charged but I didn't get that. So far no screen crack either.
I was worried about the self cracking as well but in the end I got it anyway. I really hope I won't experience it. I had a Z1 and Z ultra previously who both were great.
The speaker/mic quality sounds worse but I don't really care seeing as I will be talking with a headset anyway.

Ive just got the phone and have it for 4 days now.Switched from Xperia ZR. To be honest yes the phone overheats more when you use the camera,videorecording / 4k or 1080p doesnt metta. (comparing with the ZR). And yes,ive read alot about the cracked screens before taking the phone also but..thats the price for its classy look.you need to be careful even if you take a case / protector. The ZR had the same overheating problems when it first came out but sony gave us an update that fixed it.Soo lets hope they will manage to make 1 for the Z2 too On the other hand the Snapdragon is very close to the camera sensor so thats the thingy thats cousin the overheat.And afterall its an No fan device. Uh and for the speakers,yes,they are nice,but not the best as Unease said,but.still louder than prev Z series.cheerz

Thanks for asking these questions Op as I also have the same concerns about buying the Z2 (as I'm sure many others do as well).

Any large purchase, especially with a 2 year contract, is daunting but rest assured that the vast majority of Z2's are problem free. Certainly my week old model hasn't had any problems.

its only early model xperia Z2s which have problems, and if its a problem then sony has to replace it or repair it since its in the warrenty
All Sony Mobile device issues that are Sonys fault is covered by their 2 year warrenty, and modifacation of the device will result in a warrenty void.

Thanks for all the replies, guys.
I've waited way too long and now it's time for Z3 to be released... I know it doesn't offer much more than Z2 but I'm kinda between 2 rocks at the moment. I'd hate to spend 700$ on a flagship if it's going to be "outdated" after 20 days... I think I will though. :\

Mk-Raul said:
Thanks for all the replies, guys.
I've waited way too long and now it's time for Z3 to be released... I know it doesn't offer much more than Z2 but I'm kinda between 2 rocks at the moment. I'd hate to spend 700$ on a flagship if it's going to be "outdated" after 20 days... I think I will though. :\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buying a z3 instead of a z2 is pointless, they just look different, not much performance wise
only thing sony is doing with z series is trying to find that perfect phone by trying different things

Envious_Data said:
buying a z3 instead of a z2 is pointless, they just look different, not much performance wise
only thing sony is doing with z series is trying to find that perfect phone by trying different things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I think to be honest. And the fact that rumored pictures of Z3 show that the speakers aren't front facing is enough for me to take Z2 instead.
How long do they keep updating their phones? I mean will my Z2 get its updates after Z3? and if it will, will they take ages? I haven't owned an Xperia device so I don't know how their support works for older phones.

Apart from Camera Overheating issue , I have ZERO problems for my phone dated 14 W18.

Mk-Raul said:
That's exactly what I think to be honest. And the fact that rumored pictures of Z3 show that the speakers aren't front facing is enough for me to take Z2 instead.
How long do they keep updating their phones? I mean will my Z2 get its updates after Z3? and if it will, will they take ages? I haven't owned an Xperia device so I don't know how their support works for older phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
18 months standard, some devices get more or less depending on their popularity for support time and updates are there when they can update, not tooo often but when a version is busted they try to get another update out as soon as

Mk-Raul said:
Thanks for all the replies, guys.
I've waited way too long and now it's time for Z3 to be released... I know it doesn't offer much more than Z2 but I'm kinda between 2 rocks at the moment. I'd hate to spend 700$ on a flagship if it's going to be "outdated" after 20 days... I think I will though. :\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If z3 truly is thinner I wouldn't be surprised to see overheating, or at the very least CPU throttling, to be worse than z2

ghostofcain said:
If z3 truly is thinner I wouldn't be surprised to see overheating, or at the very least CPU throttling, to be worse than z2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
heating is caused by bad motherboard design
cpu is next to the camera, neither have any breathing space for cooler air, hence the extreme heating when not using the camera and even worse with using the camera

Envious_Data said:
heating is caused by bad motherboard design
cpu is next to the camera, neither have any breathing space for cooler air, hence the extreme heating when not using the camera and even worse with using the camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And when you are forced to cram them closer together by having a thinner casing it gets worse, don't forget a waterproof sealed casing has little air movement.

ghostofcain said:
And when you are forced to cram them closer together by having a thinner casing it gets worse, don't forget a waterproof sealed casing has little air movement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is also no heat pipes like found in HTC or iphones
im hoping sony learns from their mistakes, they are slowly learning from some mistakes but not all, they seem to only listen to the majority of complaints, aka poor camera qualitys, bootloader issues
for some reason not enough people complain about heating and thats one of the biggest issues, yet i see little about this issue

I suspect that's because for MOST users it's not an issue, certainly in the week I've had mine it's got no warmer in general use than my galaxy s3 did, I'll admit I've not done any 4k videoing yet but I've not had any close downs or noticeable throttling.

If all Z2's had problems then mine would as well... But mine doesn't, ergo, not all Z2's have problems...

Z5 compact? Need your input

Hello there,
After much inquiry, I've become undecided about this phone. I have been looking for a 4.7-5in phone with a good and snappy camera, battery, USA bands, and micro sd support, and the z5 compact seems to fit the bill. However, I keep reading problems about this device mainly concerning its software and camera. I really like the device given all it has to offer but I'm just not inclined to dish out $500+ on a device that has a problematic camera i.e. blurred edges caused by software or hardware, no warranty (here in the USA), over-heating, sony ui, etc. I currently have an LG G4 which absolutely meets my needs but like I said, I'm looking for a smaller phone for traveling and one hand handling.
So my question for those who own the Z5c, is it really THAT bad and will the firmware update fix the purported problems of this device? I'm concerned about the blurry edges being a hardware issue and perhaps Sony is just covering their tracks by saying that an "update" will fix that problem. If you have updated your device, could you post a sample of the fixed camera or at least let us know here?
Really appreciate your time and input!

Coming from the z1 compact and z3 compact, although I loved those phones I did find the camera sub par, and the external speaker volume too low and muffled, the front and back screens were finger print magnets and easily scratched.
But I love the compact series and put my hope and money back into the z5-compact.
Had mine for 2 weeks now (Arctic white) and I love the new design, the no finger print frosted rear glass and the front screen also just doesn't seem to attract finger prints either!, improved and much louder external speakers, the camera has improved dramatically. I have none of the reported issues of blurred edges, slow camera opening etc it's all good. Oh and the fingerprint scanner is awesome!
I love this phone to death it's perfect in my eyes. It will be hard to part with this when it comes time to upgrade to the z6 compact ☺

Woza72 said:
Coming from the z1 compact and z3 compact, although I loved those phones I did find the camera sub par, and the external speaker volume too low and muffled, the front and back screens were finger print magnets and easily scratched.
But I love the compact series and put my hope and money back into the z5-compact.
Had mine for 2 weeks now (Arctic white) and I love the new design, the no finger print frosted rear glass and the front screen also just doesn't seem to attract finger prints either!, improved and much louder external speakers, the camera has improved dramatically. I have none of the reported issues of blurred edges, slow camera opening etc it's all good. Oh and the fingerprint scanner is awesome!
I love this phone to death it's perfect in my eyes. It will be hard to part with this when it comes time to upgrade to the z6 compact ☺
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the software seem good and fast? No stutters or lag?
Thanks
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Notchr302 said:
Does the software seem good and fast? No stutters or lag?
Thanks
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There were stutters and lags, but since the last update they all are gone.

Drakorcarnis0 said:
There were stutters and lags, but since the last update they all are gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so confused because some say there is still lag after the update. Ugh lol
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

I am one of those who would say that the lags are gone after the update. And whatever that guy said, I agree wholeheartedly. This phone is a beast. I also come from a Z3 Compact and I am loving the Z5c. Especially the camera

It was a little stuttery straight out of the box but I downloaded Sony PC companion (just googled it) and then downloaded the latest firmware 32.0.A.6.152 (it took a couple of hours, which by all reports is normal) then updated my phone.
Happy to report it is buttery smooth with no stutters or lags all super fast.
Interesting to see that the pre installed photo analyzer app (Sony) which was reportedly causing some lag, had disappeared in the latest firmware.
I hope this has helped you with your decision.
Cheers

Do you still have the blurry edges or has it been fixed?

moist_line said:
Do you still have the blurry edges or has it been fixed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
99% sure it's good. You be the judge. Just a quick picture, tried to place items on every edge/corner.
I'm sitting at the park, it's dusk and a little cloudy. No flash, superior auto, 8mp.

I've had the Z5C for a week now and I can't comment too much on certain details because this is my very first Android phone - I am coming straight from a Nokia 808. The phone is compact, slick-looking, seems incredibly fast to me and I am liking the Android experience as a whole, although a few things Symbian had were simpler and more elegant (changing phone profiles, searching for contacts under phone, for instance).
The one issue I have, and that is a big one and it is so big of an issue that I registered today on XDA to ask for help, is the extremely poor photo/camera quality. I cannot understand what is going on here. This is a $600 2015 brand new release phone. Something must be wrong either with the software or hardware on my phone, which sucks since I purchased it for US operation (no warranty). I do not know how to express in words how disappointed I am with the camera. Let's just say that my 2012 Nokia 808 takes photos comparable to my SLR system. I was expecting at least equivalent photo quality from a modern/newer phone.

OldSkewler said:
I've had the Z5C for a week now and I can't comment too much on certain details because this is my very first Android phone - I am coming straight from a Nokia 808. The phone is compact, slick-looking, seems incredibly fast to me and I am liking the Android experience as a whole, although a few things Symbian had were simpler and more elegant (changing phone profiles, searching for contacts under phone, for instance).
The one issue I have, and that is a big one and it is so big of an issue that I registered today on XDA to ask for help, is the extremely poor photo/camera quality. I cannot understand what is going on here. This is a $600 2015 brand new release phone. Something must be wrong either with the software or hardware on my phone, which sucks since I purchased it for US operation (no warranty). I do not know how to express in words how disappointed I am with the camera. Let's just say that my 2012 Nokia 808 takes photos comparable to my SLR system. I was expecting at least equivalent photo quality from a modern/newer phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are your thoughts on the quick photo I posted? All standard settings in quite average light? Do you see any of the issues you are experiencing on your phone?

Woza72 said:
What are your thoughts on the quick photo I posted? All standard settings in quite average light? Do you see any of the issues you are experiencing on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the resolution posted, I dont see any issues. What I see on my photos is some sort of sharpening which causes details to be lost when zooming in. And believe me, I am not even remotely pixel-peeking, just basic cropping for creative purposes.
I'll try to post some sample photos to illustrate what I am facing here.
Cheers,
BB

OldSkewler said:
The one issue I have, and that is a big one and it is so big of an issue that I registered today on XDA to ask for help, is the extremely poor photo/camera quality. I cannot understand what is going on here. This is a $600 2015 brand new release phone. Something must be wrong either with the software or hardware on my phone, which sucks since I purchased it for US operation (no warranty). I do not know how to express in words how disappointed I am with the camera. Let's just say that my 2012 Nokia 808 takes photos comparable to my SLR system. I was expecting at least equivalent photo quality from a modern/newer phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you haven't already, you might want to check the main Xperia Z5 subforum about this issue, specifically this thread where they talk about the camera, and the best settings for particular lighting. It could be you have a defective camera though, and if so, I feel for ya since I also imported my device.

Adrift98 said:
If you haven't already, you might want to check the main Xperia Z5 subforum about this issue, specifically this thread where they talk about the camera, and the best settings for particular lighting. It could be you have a defective camera though, and if so, I feel for ya since I also imported my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly how my photos look like! Thanks for linking me to this thread, even though what I learned from it is not exactly great news!

OldSkewler said:
Exactly how my photos look like! Thanks for linking me to this thread, even though what I learned from it is not exactly great news!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem for me. It's a very expansive phone and you have to read pages of forums to understand how to make the most of it.
But still, the camera to me is a complete disaster. The app is cheap, very laggy, menus are terrible and the most improtant part, it takes poor photos.
Oversharpened and zooming in a tiny bit on a 23Mp pictures is just horrible.
The photo shared a few post back in the park is just awful too, sorry bro no offense, but it's not a defective camera it's just what is sold.
When you come from other brands, you are automatically disapointed.
P.S. videos are quite amazing though, especially in 60fps and the management of the edit app of videos is very good too.
I just switched to the nexus 5X, and there are no comparaison. Much much simpler, you don't need to test every little setting to take a good pic and zooming in is incredible, the best.
Yet I really loved the compact shape and overall build quality of the z5 device.
Comments non related to the camera is : the system is quite good as it is very similar to stock android but a little disappointed too by the performance.
I don't speak about lags and everything as it is quite fluid, but it just takes time to open or reload apps compared to my other devices.
I am still keeping the device to see if there will be improvement (there should be a major camera app update this month) but i don't believe in miracles, i don't think that will solve the pictures quality.

If you know how to use it (8mp at SA for darker scenarios, 23mp manual for bright daylight) it's been reviewed in a number of places as the best camera currently on the market. It's interesting to me how polarizing the camera is for people though. People either think it's the second coming, or the antichrist. I imagine that the improvements to the software promised with the Marshmallow update will go a long way to getting a lot of naysayers to give it a second look.

Adrift98 said:
If you know how to use it (8mp at SA for darker scenarios, 23mp manual for bright daylight) it's been reviewed in a number of places as the best camera currently on the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a very interesting perspective on the topic; so basically it boils down to misuse by users! And I suspect this is from someone that has never even tried the phone!
Let me propose the exact opposite, and I suspect a portion (if not majority) of people complaining about the imaging performance on these Z5 phones are actually far from amateur photographers and do understand what is achievable and should be expected in terms o quality. There is no way to slice this or put a twist on it, and I don't care about DXO ratings.

OldSkewler said:
That is a very interesting perspective on the topic; so basically it boils down to misuse by users! And I suspect this is from someone that has never even tried the phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's certainly been by those who've tried the phone. By the looks of it you didn't get too far into that thread I previously recommended, but Timaustin2000 and a few others in that thread really turned the tone around with their investigations on the ability of the camera, and comparison shots. They've even had an influential effect on reviewers. So for instance, it wasn't till TimAustin pointed out to the reviewers at Android Authority that they were crippling the phone by using the 23mp in low light scenarios that they took into consideration the supersampling of the 8mp default settings. From there a number of other reviewers, bloggers, vloggers, and the like took a second look at the camera in the phone and tested appropriately with often very very positive results (many of these reviews and videos are also mentioned in that thread).
Let me propose the exact opposite, and I suspect a portion (if not majority) of people complaining about the imaging performance on these Z5 phones are actually far from amateur photographers and do understand what is achievable and should be expected in terms o quality. There is no way to slice this or put a twist on it, and I don't care about DXO ratings.
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Click to collapse
From the recent reviews that I've been reading and watching, that doesn't appear to be the case, but of course, you're free to come to your own conclusions.

Haven't had much experience with the Z5C camera yet, only had it for a week.
But one thing, it takes so long to open. This is my 1St Android phone, been an ios user for around 4.5 years & the iPhones were just easier to access their camera. Slide up, click camera & it opened. On the Z5C, you press & hold the camera button, feel it vibrate, let it go... & wait.
After a second or so, the screen goes black, then the camera opens, then the screen starts to set itself up.
Just tried then & it was around 4 seconds.
I love the phone so far, but it seems to really struggle with normal usage.
By normal usage, for me, I mean it lags. Playing YouTube videos, it lags, I'm in Oz & we have an online streaming movie/TV service called Stan.... It doesn't work on the Z5.
Switching between tasks can give the phone a heart attack. For example, I was playing Clash Of Clans & some one tried to call me, the box popped down, I clicked answer & nothing happened.
I clicked answer two or three more times, before clicking back to the home screen, the phone call went to message bank while my phone locked up, went black & I had to wait around 30 seconds for it to sort itself out.
Even typing this it lags every now & then.
8 Ball Pool is laggy... If messages pop while playing, it gets even worse.
I do love the phone, I am enjoying Android (I miss a few ios advantages), but I just wish that the phone didn't feel like it was made with enough Ram to run the OS & one app at a time.
Oh... The audio is quiet, it doesn't go as loud as my iPhone 4 did, with my Bose head set & it lacks the same bass, but does sound alright.
The included Sony ear plugs are uncomfortable, have no sound advantages, have annoying different length ear cords & no volume control.
No supplied quick charger.
The back of the phone tends to get quite hot.

Sid3wayz said:
Haven't had much experience with the Z5C camera yet, only had it for a week.
But one thing, it takes so long to open. This is my 1St Android phone, been an ios user for around 4.5 years & the iPhones were just easier to access their camera. Slide up, click camera & it opened. On the Z5C, you press & hold the camera button, feel it vibrate, let it go... & wait.
After a second or so, the screen goes black, then the camera opens, then the screen starts to set itself up.
Just tried then & it was around 4 seconds.
I love the phone so far, but it seems to really struggle with normal usage.
By normal usage, for me, I mean it lags. Playing YouTube videos, it lags, I'm in Oz & we have an online streaming movie/TV service called Stan.... It doesn't work on the Z5.
Switching between tasks can give the phone a heart attack. For example, I was playing Clash Of Clans & some one tried to call me, the box popped down, I clicked answer & nothing happened.
I clicked answer two or three more times, before clicking back to the home screen, the phone call went to message bank while my phone locked up, went black & I had to wait around 30 seconds for it to sort itself out.
Even typing this it lags every now & then.
8 Ball Pool is laggy... If messages pop while playing, it gets even worse.
I do love the phone, I am enjoying Android (I miss a few ios advantages), but I just wish that the phone didn't feel like it was made with enough Ram to run the OS & one app at a time.
Oh... The audio is quiet, it doesn't go as loud as my iPhone 4 did, with my Bose head set & it lacks the same bass, but does sound alright.
The included Sony ear plugs are uncomfortable, have no sound advantages, have annoying different length ear cords & no volume control.
No supplied quick charger.
The back of the phone tends to get quite hot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Previous iPhone only user here too. Have you updated to the latest firmware? My camera takes about 2 seconds to come up pressing the side button since the update. Further improvements are expected with the Marshmallow update.
Also, I have no lag since the latest firmware, but I'm also using the Nova Launcher which you can get for free in the Play Store (not sure if that makes any difference or not).
I also have a problem with the volume, especially from the front speakers. Thought having two speakers instead of one, as I did on my iPhone 2G, 3G, 4S. and 6S would make it louder, but it's not. Still, honestly, I don't find it much quieter than those devices either. the 6S was maybe a tick louder, but not by much. I still want more punch from the front speakers, and I'm hoping that's something I can fix by doing some sort of ROM tweak. If not, I suppose I can live with it, but its the biggest disappointment about the device for me, not because its so much quieter than my iPhone devices, but because it doesn't stand head and shoulders above them.
I don't know about you, but my Sony ear plugs are way way wayyyyy more comfortable than my iPhone headphones. In fact, they're the most comfortable in-ear headphones I've ever worn. The different length on the cords I don't really have much issue with, since I usually drape the longest cord behind my head to my right ear (which is how I'm assuming they're meant to be worn). I will admit that they seem slightly cheap-ish, and I was hoping that where the volume button was (which I DO have on my pair) also had a mic so I could answer in-coming calls, but overall, I think they're pretty okay. Again, they're much more comfortable than the headphones that came with my iPhones. As far as loudness in the headphones is concerned, they're loud enough, but I definitely wouldn't mind if they were louder. I'll probably end up getting some sort of thin amp/dac like the dragonfly or the Aqua to boost the volume. Shame I have to do that, but oh well.
Again, its interesting to me how varied people's reactions are to this device. I'm FAR more happier with this device than I am my previous iPhones. Its not perfect, but it hits so many of the checkboxes for me that its hard to complain.
Edit: Oh, also, I got a quick charger with my device, but I bought the Taiwan version, so maybe that accounts for the difference in headphones and charger.
Lastly, after the initial setup, and especially after the update, my phone doesn't get very hot. Maybe I'm not using the same intensive programs that you are, though. The phone gets a little warm with Candy Crush and Asphalt 8, but my iPhone 6S also got pretty hot just using the camera (which is something my mother noticed when I handed her the phone to see some pictures).

Is this worth the upgrade from a Z3C?

Hi all,
Just wondered what people's opinions are on upgrading from the Xperia Z3 compact to the Z5 Compact.
I generally keep my phones for 12 months then upgrade to get a decent resell value.
I love the Z3c and don't really want to go any bigger. Looking at the reviews the Z5c comes out as better value than the full size Z5, with almost identical hardware.
Any thoughts?
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Honestly, now its NO, but in month or two it just might be a YES. But keep tracking threads here to see general opinions.

Unless your waiting for the price to come down, I say buy! I also have the z3c but I feel the fingerprint scanner alone is worth the upgrade if you can handle it. The z5c has quick charging, a more powerful processor a more attractive build and improved speakers from what I gather. I was hesitant as well but actually because of things I read about performance problems but it seems there has been software updates to clean it up. Some say the Camara has a blurred edge at distance but honestly I could care less. Pictures for the Internet or the kids at events will be fine to take with this Camara and I'm not sure it's indicative of all units. I just ordered mine and can't wait! Remember Marshmallow hopefully in December!
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

YesEvil said:
Hi all,
Just wondered what people's opinions are on upgrading from the Xperia Z3 compact to the Z5 Compact.
I generally keep my phones for 12 months then upgrade to get a decent resell value.
I love the Z3c and don't really want to go any bigger. Looking at the reviews the Z5c comes out as better value than the full size Z5, with almost identical hardware.
Any thoughts?
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have upgraded from Z3c recently. After the latest software update, I can say that Z5c is better than Z3c in nearly every way. The battery life is a little worse but the camera is far better. The z5c is much better for gaming but there are occasional stutters in the UI. Once those are fixed, Z5c > Z3c
Speakers with clear audio turned on, are far better. And the fingerprint sensor is awesome. Plus, i LOVE the new back *_*

Sadman Khan said:
I have upgraded from Z3c recently. After the latest software update, I can say that Z5c is better than Z3c in nearly every way. The battery life is a little worse but the camera is far better. The z5c is much better for gaming but there are occasional stutters in the UI. Once those are fixed, Z5c > Z3c
Speakers with clear audio turned on, are far better. And the fingerprint sensor is awesome. Plus, i LOVE the new back *_*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What stutters do you still see?
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

What stutters? I dont see any with new update...

A few here and there. I see them hardly nowadays except for when i tap on a contact in the contacts app. Does anyone else have this? Other than that, it's perfect. Getting better everyday in fact

I've upgraded from Z1c(and also own a S6). The battery performance is identical to Z1c, it won't be as good as Z3c but still good enough for one day normal use.
The screen is much better than Z1c(should little better than Z3c as well). The real major improvement comes from camera, the focus is incredible now about the same with S6 while I think the details remain the same level on Z1c, still not as nice as S6 though. BTW, they finally fixed the annoyed focus which is a big big big mile stone.
If you don't always shoot photo then I think no need to Z5c wait one more year until SD820 Z6c comes out because Z5c is very hot during heavy gaming or video recording. My S6 performs much cooler, not to mention my even cooler SD810 Z1c. SD820 speed is real quick, though a bit slower than Exynos 7420 but on a 720P screen, I think the smoothness is nearly same, noticeably faster than Z1c.

I won't upgrade from my z3c.
The screen is basically the same, and the z5c is not as beautiful.
The battery is better on the z3c, and I am currently happy with the camera but I know it can probably be better in certain conditions.
I don't miss the fingerprint scanner since the lockscreen is automatically triggered with my smartwach presence.
Oh and my z3c is fast as hell and do not heat.
I don't thing the extra cost with it for me.
Envoyé de mon D5803 en utilisant Tapatalk

Sichroteph said:
I won't upgrade from my z3c.
The screen is basically the same, and the z5c is not as beautiful.
The battery is better on the z3c, and I am currently happy with the camera but I know it can probably be better in certain conditions.
I don't miss the fingerprint scanner since the lockscreen is automatically triggered with my smartwach presence.
Oh and my z3c is fast as hell and do not heat.
I don't thing the extra cost with it for me.
Envoyé de mon D5803 en utilisant Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded from z1 compact to z3 compact and was disappointed that nothing had improved. Now having upgraded from z3 compact to z5 compact and couldnt be more impressedimpressed.
1. Much better camera - video and pictures are great. Video is next to perfect!
2. The build and finish off the phone is impeccable. So nice in the hand.
3. The glass, front and back is 100% better. No finger prints on the back due to the frosting but the front glass is amazing! On the old z1 and z3 I had to wipe it all the time as the oil and prints from my fingers were always over it. (and I got super oily fingers) on the z5 compact it just stays clean! I never have to wipe it!
4. Screen viewing and brightness - on the z1 and z3 the white balance was easy off (blueish) on the z5-compact it's pretty spot on. The screen is also way brighter, I only need the brightness on about 25% most of the time and 50% - 70% in bright sunlight.
5. Speakers - 3x louder than the previous compacts and clearer.
6. Fingerprint sensor - works fast every time, all the time.
7. No stutters or lags ever with the 32.0.A.6.152 firmware.
8. Battery life - wasn't as good at first but once Google play services fix was applied and google chrome (merge tabs and apps) disabled, it's now the same as previous models.
9. I think many things will improve even further with the next firmware update and android 6.0.
Cheers mate

Woza72 said:
I upgraded from z1 compact to z3 compact and was disappointed that nothing had improved. Now having upgraded from z3 compact to z5 compact and couldnt be more impressedimpressed.
1. Much better camera - video and pictures are great. Video is next to perfect!
2. The build and finish off the phone is impeccable. So nice in the hand.
3. The glass, front and back is 100% better. No finger prints on the back due to the frosting but the front glass is amazing! On the old z1 and z3 I had to wipe it all the time as the oil and prints from my fingers were always over it. (and I got super oily fingers) on the z5 compact it just stays clean! I never have to wipe it!
4. Screen viewing and brightness - on the z1 and z3 the white balance was easy off (blueish) on the z5-compact it's pretty spot on. The screen is also way brighter, I only need the brightness on about 25% most of the time and 50% - 70% in bright sunlight.
5. Speakers - 3x louder than the previous compacts and clearer.
6. Fingerprint sensor - works fast every time, all the time.
7. No stutters or lags ever with the 32.0.A.6.152 firmware.
8. Battery life - wasn't as good at first but once Google play services fix was applied and google chrome (merge tabs and apps) disabled, it's now the same as previous models.
9. I think many things will improve even further with the next firmware update and android 6.0.
Cheers mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two of the annoyances I have with my z3c is the bluish screen and the speakers being low, especially in a call. I'm glad to see they have improved things that need improving and made pretty much everything else better. My z5c should be here early next week and I can't wait!
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Notchr302 said:
Two of the annoyances I have with my z3c is the bluish screen and the speakers being low, especially in a call. I'm glad to see they have improved things that need improving and made pretty much everything else better. My z5c should be here early next week and I can't wait!
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, you'll love it. My two previous compacts were black. I got the white now, it just oozes style, it's the bomb ?

Woza72 said:
Honestly, you'll love it. My two previous compacts were black. I got the white now, it just oozes style, it's the bomb ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My previous one was white so I got black. Lol. I actually think it's more gunmetal color which I think I'll like. The white does look stylish though!
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Z5c ordered, hopefully here in a couple of days.
Thanks for all the input guys
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Mine is grey and it looks just *_* i'm loving this phone more and more and the camera is VERY impressive. Just the auto mode on 8 mp is enough for any shot. The best feature is that the exposure and saturation can be tweaked even in Superior Auto to get the best colours.

I would upgrade from my x3c in a heartbeat, but they dropped the aws 1700 band and that's what my carrier uses. reading this post makes me pissed that sony dropped the aws 1700 band.
oh well what to do.

HackitZ said:
I would upgrade from my x3c in a heartbeat, but they dropped the aws 1700 band and that's what my carrier uses. reading this post makes me pissed that sony dropped the aws 1700 band.
oh well what to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that the Tmobile band?
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

T mobile now uses the 1700 for lte, im on wind in Canada and I need 1700 for hspda.

Woza72 said:
8. Battery life - wasn't as good at first but once Google play services fix was applied and google chrome (merge tabs and apps) disabled, it's now the same as previous models.
Cheers mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you offer your GServiceFix patch?

TheEndHK said:
Can you offer your GServiceFix patch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the opening post. Download Gservicefix from play store

Better Mobile App

welcome