Sony have released their latest flagship smartphone in the UK: the Xperia Z3+. Their marketing is refreshingly straight-forward:
Slimmer, lighter, faster
Our best Android mobile made even better.
That’s a pretty fair assessment, actually. The Xperia Z3+ is indeed a lighter, slimmer and more powerful version of last year’s Xperia Z3. It’s not a massive leap forward, as Samsung made between the S5 and S6, but instead a sensible and iterative improvement. If you liked the Xperia Z3 (or the Z1 or Z2), then the Z3+ is more of the same: great big camera, slim metal body, a stylish look and bleeding edge specifications.
Reviews of the Xperia Z3+ have been largely positive. Android Pit released their review earlier today, giving the phone a 70% rating. They praised the design and build quality of the phone, as well as its waterproof and dust-proof chassis. That feature is a common one in Sony’s native Japan, but continues to be something of a rarity in Western markets. In rainy countries like the UK, it’s easy to see why consumers and reviewers have praised the feature. In the negatives column, Pit mentions a heat problem, which appears to be a side effect of the troubled Snapdragon 810 CPU. The phone appears to shut down apps and services when the problem occurs, and often affects the camera. Sony will no doubt be looking to fix this issue through software, but it’s worrying that the problem has persisted through to the phone’s European launch.
GSMArena published their review earlier this month, praising the luxurious and sleek design of the phone inside and out. The camera system was also singled out for special mention, with both the 20-megapixel sensor on the back and the new 5-megapixel unit up front performing well in a range of situations. Still, they note that the phone is a minor upgrade; the 6 month release cycle means that this isn’t an essential upgrade for Xperia Z3 owners.
What do you think of the phone? Let us know in the comments below, or write to us on Twitter @mobilefun.
If you are picking one up – or you’ve got one already – take a look at our range of Xperia Z3+ accessories and Z3+ cases!