After announcing the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact at IFA this year, Sony finally launched the two devices in India today. Sony Xperia Z3 clocked into the market 6 months after the launch of Xperia Z2 and offers modest upgrades over its predecessor. It comes with improved ergonomics, thinner bezels and a smaller footprint. Dust and water resistance has been upgraded too, along with a couple of Camera modes. Read on to find out the detailed specifications, pricing and availability details.

Specifications :

XPERIA Z3:

• 5.2″ IPS LCD Display. 1080p Resolution, Pixel Density- 424ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with quad-core 2.5GHz Krait 400 processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• 3GB of RAM
• LTE connectivity
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Xperia UI
• IP68 certified – dust and water proof up to 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
• 20.7MP primary camera with single LED flash, 2160p video recording and dedicated hardware shutter key
• 2.2MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording
• 16/32 GB of built-in storage, expandable via the microSD card slot
• Stereo Speakers
• Active noise cancellation
• 3,100mAh battery with STAMINA Power Saving Mode

XPERIA Z3 Compact

• 4.6″ IPS LCD Display. 720p Resolution, Pixel Density- 319 ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with quad-core 2.5GHz Krait 400 processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• 2 GB of RAM
• LTE connectivity
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Xperia UI
• IP68 certified – dust and water proof up to 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
• 20.7 MP primary camera with single LED flash, 2160p video recording and dedicated hardware shutter key
• 2.2 MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording
• 16 GB of built-in storage, expandable via the microSD card slot
• Stereo Speakers
• Active noise cancellation
• 2600 mAh battery with STAMINA Power Saving Mode

Hardware

Although carrying a signature design language of Xperia smartphones, the Z3 comes with a few subtle changes in its hardware department. The device now comes with rounded metal band in place of flat sides. The device is also slimmer than the Xperia Z2 and it feels apparent when you use it. The glass front and back along with the signature power key are also present, continuing the heritage of design language of Xperia series of smartphones. The display panel is completely revamped and offers great brightness along with better sunlight legibility.

Xperia Z3 compact however is devoid of any metal frame like its bigger brother, the Z3 but has the front and rear glass panels. Although the screen size and battery has been upgraded from 4.3 to 4.6 inches, the device is actually thinner and lighter than the previous iteration. The display is also revamped with better performance.

Software

There aren’t many core changes in software department in the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact. Sony announced PS4 connectivity exclusively to the these devices which allows you to connect a DualShock controller to the smartphone and stream full PS4 games on your phone- Which, we think doesn’t make any sense because of the size of the display. Android 4.4 KitKat comes preloaded underneath the Xperia UI with all its bells and whistles.

Pricing and Availability

The Xperia Z3 & Z3 Compact are priced at Rs. 51,990 & Rs. 44,990 respectively and are available for purchase across all Sony Centers and Smartphone Lounge. The Z3 is available in 3 colors – Black, White & Copper and Z3 Compact comes in 4 colors – Black, White, Green and Orange.

Expert Analysis

Featuring a top of the line hardware specifications set, water and dust proofing, a great camera and a comparatively less obtrusive Android UI, the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact are certainly impressive. Z3 has a combination of features and looks that no other manufacturer can provide at this point of time and we’re impressed with the result. It doesn’t try to revolutionize the flagship war, but it subtly and slowly improves on the existing flagship, offering a more polished and coherent experience to the users.

Xperia Z3 Compact addresses one of the major gripes of smartphone industry at the moment- providing flagship experience in a compact form factor. Xperia Z3 looks and performs in an excellent fashion. The pricing could use some help though.