Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – Small fish, big bite
It shouldn’t be difficult to guess why we decided to go for the fish reference – the Z3 Compact can handle anything from a downpour to a whole swimming pool! Since it’s the flagship series’ compact offshoot, it gets the same IP68 certified dust and water protection as the bigger models. In the real world scenario, this can be very handy if you’re caught out in the downpour and don’t have a water-proof bag or pouch to drop all your gadgets in (as we’ve learned the hard way). Sure, it doesn’t get the metal accents as the bigger Z3, but the Z3 Compact’s polycarbonate casing, with glass front and back panels, does look good. It comes with rounded edges which are specially designed to absorb the energy, should you drop your phone off the table and on to its edges. The design and build of the Z3 Compact make it a phone apt for those who like the outdoors.
And the phone’s camera also complements its nature. The 20.7MP rear-facing camera is the same as the flagship’s and it is absolutely brilliant. The optics are just outstanding, and the colour reproduction is spot-on. Video recording too is great with 4K support.
We would recommend this phone for someone with a very active, outdoorsy lifestyle, and loves clicking pictures. The Z3 Compact is a complete package, with a great camera, amazing battery life, butter-smooth performance and obviously, Sony’s usual multimedia brilliance and PS4 compatibility. It’s a very lively phone, this one. Our only complaint with the Z3 Compact is that the glass body is a smudge and scratch magnet.
Love – Brilliant camera; Long battery life; Water and dust protection
Hate – Glass back attracts scratches; Plastic frame
Samsung Galaxy Alpha – Elegance in your palm
It took Samsung a lot of time to realize that freshness in design and a good build quality was much needed in the Galaxy lineup. And we’re glad they took it seriously, because the new Galaxy Alpha is simply the sexiest smartphone Samsung has produced, in our opinion. Wrapped in a brushed metal frame, this smartphone comes in a very sleek and extremely ergonomic package. We won’t deny it – we did show the phone off a little bit. While the profile makes it into any pocket comfortably, you’d love carrying this elegant piece of technology in your palm most of the times.
And inside this sleek package is the multi-tasking workhorse that Samsung has created with an octa-core processor and features like Multi-Window, Smart Stay and the usual gamut of Samsung features. This phone is clearly meant for those who love balancing work and personal lives, because while the phone offers enough power to see through the utility apps, it does justice to multimedia too, with a brilliant Super AMOLED display. Whether it’s making a presentation or browsing through your holiday photos, this phone can handle it all. Only, the speakers that come with the gorgeous screen aren’t too great.
You can easily squeeze out one work day’s worth of juice from the Galaxy Alpha, but definitely not more. On the upside, the Galaxy Alpha comes with a heart-rate sensor for the health apps and a fingerprint sensor for security. In our opinion, the Galaxy Alpha is a well balanced package, for those who would like versatility in their phones.
Love – Gorgeous design; Multitasking capabilities; Bright display
Hate – Average battery life; No expandable memory; Speakers