Today we go over smart devices and what they can do for us, we go looking at specs, features, sound, display and other interesting facts. When choosing a smart device its best to see when the OS was last updated and see if the companies take user input.
Design & Display
When it comes to design, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact doesn’t have much competition. In fact, the entire Xperia line looks great, and the Z1 Compact makes no exception. From the exceptional build-quality to the eye-pleasing design, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact really has everything going for it. It’s a rather heavy phone, weighing roughly 137 g, but this likely is a direct result of the Xperia Z1 Compact’s IP55 and IP58 certifications. In other words, Sony’s phone is water resistant, drop resistant and dust resistant. It’s not extremely large, being sized at 127x65x9.5 mm, so fitting it into a pocket is perfectly doable.
In terms of display, the Xperia Z1 Compact comes with a 4.3 inch Triluminos display that runs at a 1280x720p resolution and provides 342 PPI density. The display is in no ways bad, but we were expecting better from Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact, especially considering its price. Still, the display is extremely resilient, taking a beating and repeated drops like a boss.
What about the Nexus 5? Well, the Nexus 5 doesn’t stand out in terms of design. It has plastic written all over it, but this also makes it more scratch-resistant and less prone to be exposed to dirt of fingerprints. It’s no beauty, but it’s light enough, weighing 130 g, despite being fairly large (138x69x8.6 mm).
Where the Nexus 5 shines though is through the display, one that has impressed us repeatedly. The Google Nexus 5 brings a 5 inch IPS display that runs at a nice 1920x1080p resolution and pulls off an impressive 445 PPI. It has the bigger and the better screen, and it doesn’t compromise anything for it. Colors are vibrant and sharp, and staring at the Nexus 5’s display is an eye-pleasing process indeed.
Hardware & Software
The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact comes with really strong hardware, sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz. It also brings along 2 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 16GB. The great thing about it is that the storage can be expanded through a microSD slot, which is a huge plus for the Z1 Compact. Unfortunately, the Xperia Z1 Compact doesn’t come with Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box, instead coming with a customized 4.3 Jelly Bean. The OS is definitely not bad, but we’d expect higher-range 2014 phones to have KitKat support by now.
How does the Nexus 5 measure up to all of this? It’s certainly on par, at least on paper. Also bringing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, the Nexus 5 has slightly better clock-speeds, with a CPU clocked at 2.3 GHz. The Google Nexus 5 also has 2GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, depending on the model. Sadly, no microSD support is included, so you’re stuck with what you’re buying. OS-wise, the Nexus 5 brings KitKat 4.4.2 from the box, which is a plus by any standards. It’s a standard version of Android’s OS that has not been modified by LG.
Camera, Battery, Price
The Xperia Z1 Compact has little to no competition when it comes to the camera. The 20.7 MP rear camera is simply one of the very best on the market in Android Phones, and Sony is using it in multiple models, such as the Xperia Z1, the Xperia Z2 or the Xperia Z1 Compact. The photo quality of the sensor simply can’t be equaled by any other phone right now, so the Xperia Z1 Compact wins here by a long-shot. When it comes to battery, the 2300 mAh one included in the Xperia Z1 Compact is pretty much standard, offering good battery life, although nothing really impressive. It’s fit for everyday use. Price however is a significant drawback for the Xperia Z1 Compact, as the phone costs around $650 carrier-free, which is rather steep. It’s definitely a great phone, but the price is not modest at all. Then again, no Sony phone is ever cheap.
The Nexus 5 has a good camera as well. The 8 MP rear camera does a good enough job in taking quality shots, and the presence of the 1.3 MP front camera is a plus too. The focus feature of the Nexus 5’s camera is a bit lack-luster and can be a pain to use however, so keep that in mind. The Nexus 5 also brings a 2300 mAh battery, and similarly to its competitor, provides decent battery life. Price is where the Nexus 5 truly shines however, and for what it offers, it’s a bargain. Costing around $400 carrier-free, the Nexus 5 brings great value to the table, and it’s hard to match Google’s offering in this regard.
Conclusions
In most aspects, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the better phone. While on paper the hardware of the Nexus 5 seems to be slightly better, the Xperia Z1 Compact outperforms its competitor consistently. It runs better and feels more stable under heavy load. Build-quality is better on the Xperia Z1 Compact, and its camera is unparalleled. That being said, the Nexus 5 remains a very solid phone too, and costs considerably less. If you have the spare cash and money isn’t an issue, the Xperia Z1 Compact is the obvious choice. However, if you want the most bang out of your buck and general value per dollar, the Nexus 5 is a clear winner.
