There is much to be said about repackaging devices. There are those of the camp that says you’re not supposed to fix things if they aren’t broken, and those who say “If you can’t, why not?” I happen to be of the latter disposition. Regardless of the motivation behind the repackage, more options means more options. The Xperia Z1 Compact, for example, takes the already amazing Xperia Z1 and shrinking it down to a more manageable size, losing almost none of the awesome spec sheet in the process. Before we get to the specs, let’s take a look at what you get.
The box is a nice, small deal, hinting at the pocket-friendly device inside.
As soon as you open it up, you are greeted by the warranty document and the Sony VIP service card. This card entitles the holder to free pickup and delivery services should the phone act up, a loaner phone to use in place of the unit for repair, guaranteed turn-around time of seven days, and access to the VIP lane at service centers. It’s a very nice touch that gives Sony a bit of an edge over its competitors.
The device comes with a wall charger, a microUSB cable, and, quite helpfully, an OTG cable for all your mobile USB requirements.
It also comes with a pair of headphones with an in-line mic and “Answer” button. It’s the regular non-isolating in-ear kind, though. It would have been awesome to have a different pair in the box, but more than likely, users will opt to use a third-party set of ears anyway.
The Z1 Compact is a nice-looking phone. It has a beautiful Triluminos display, soft curved edges and a gorgeous glass back.
Smaller by about half an inch in height and width and just a hair thicker, the Z1 Compact packs a screen that’s still quite comfortably large at 4.3 inches on the diagonal.
The central positioning of the power button is typical Sony, and something I actually to appreciate.
The other edge of the phone is home to the SIM and MicroSD card slots.
The main draw for me, though, apart from LTE connectivity, is the powerful 20.7 MP main camera; the same as that found in the larger, full-sized Z1.
The focus on imaging is made even more apparent by the placement of the shutter button conveniently located for landscape photography. It may be a little less convenient for taking photos vertically, though you could just use the screen for that.
It runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, again just like its larger brother.
Were going to give this bad boy a spin, and let you know how it goes. If you want the whole review, be sure to check back here, and again in our June issue. It’ll be worth the wait, we promise!