Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact Final Review: The Triumphant Return Of The ...

• Android 15
• iOS 18
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Pro

• Home
• Smartphone
• Manufacturer

Read in other languages:

Deutsch / Italiano / Français / Español

Last year, Sony released its Xperia X Compact, a small mid-range smartphone. Now, Sony is back with another compact smartphone, but this time it's a flagship. In our final review, we explain exactly what this device is capable of.

• Sony Xperia X Compact review
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium review

Summary Buy Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

Good

• Very good battery life
• Easy to use one-handed
• Great performance
• Ships with Android 8.0
• Good audio quality

Bad

• Deceptive camera

• Check offer $259.99 (32 GB - new) *
• Find on eBay (eBay) *

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

• Check offer $259.99 (32 GB - new)
• Find on eBay (eBay)

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact: All deals

Jump directly to:

• Release Date and Price
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Audio
• Camera
• Battery
• Technical Specifications
• Final Verdict

Affiliate offer

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

• Check offer $259.99 (32 GB - new)
• Find on eBay (eBay)

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact release date and price

Since the debut of its Xperia X3 Compact in 2014, the IFA has become an important date for the Japanese manufacturer. Each year, Sony presents us with a new smartphone during the event, but unfortunately it disappointed fans of compact smartphones last year, because the model presented was a mid-range device and not a high-end smartphone.

This year, with the XZ1 Compact, Sony is making a big comeback in the compact smartphone market. We find in this small device almost the same material as in the high end of the series: the XZ Premium. Having more powerful (and expensive) hardware obviously raises the cost of the device: while the mid-range X Compact cost $500 in 2016, the flagship XZ1 Compact costs $600.

That said, if you are looking for an Android flagship with a small size, you have no other compact alternatives. For this device, you get to choose between black, silver, blue and pink colors.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact design and build quality

Regarding the design, Sony remains faithful to its Xperia XZ range. The screen is HD and 4.6 inches, but unlike many flagships today, its bezels are rather thick. This is due to the construction of the device and the components used. The fingerprint reader alone takes up 1.5 mm of space on the edge of the screen (on the power button). Above the camera, we can find the 19 MP Motion Eye camera, with its 3-layer sensor, right next to the speaker.

On the lower edge of the screen we find the second speaker and the Type-C USB port. Sony has learned from the past, and places the processor away from the photo sensor. That said, a heat conducting plate with a pipe was added to allow heat to escape the device, a useful thing for when you want to record video in 4K, for example.

It is a shame that the design isn't totally premium. The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is mostly plastic, made more stable using carbon fiber. The choice to use plastic wasn't about cost, it was technical: with plastic, the antennae can be placed behind the rest of the equipment in the device. This allows the Xperia XZ1 Compact to be compatible with 4G Cat 15, which allows a download speed of up to 800 Mbit/s.

Like the XZ Premium, only the top and bottom are made of metal. In any case, the Xperia XZ1 Compact is protected from dust and water according to IP65/68 certification, while the Xperia X Compact was not.

The big advantage of this smartphone is obviously its size. Thanks to its compactness, it's easy to handle even with just one hand, which is a real treat.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact display

In terms of display, the XZ1 Compact offers what's usually found with a screen of this size, so don't hold your breath for a 4K screen or HDR on this 4.6-inch IPS display. That said, with such a small screen it would be totally unnecessary. Sony offers HD definition with a maximum brightness of 600 nits. For protection, this little Sony device uses the same glass as its upscale cousins: Gorilla Glass 5.

During our review, the screen performed well and was bright enough to use in direct sunlight, but could also get dim enough to use in the dark without hurting your eyes. As explained above, the great advantage of this device is its small size: with a diagonal of 4.6 inches, it is possible to use with just one hand without the slightest problem.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact software

We find a little surprise software interface level. Sony will offer this smartphone (and the XZ1) with Android 8.0 Oreo. That said, it modifies the interface slightly by overlaying its UI, with which it isn't possible to access the app drawer via a swipe from bottom to top, as it offers a more conventional launcher.

• Android Oreo's new features

Sony offers several features to make it easy for new users to adapt to the system quickly. Unfortunately, there are some small logical quirks in the interface that may make things less intuitive. For example, the user has to launch the new 3D scanner for the Motion Eye camera, while the other special features of the camera are found in the photo app.

Fortunately, Sony learns from its mistakes. On this version based on Android 8.0 Oreo, it is no longer necessary to use a specific, separate app to record videos in 4K: you can now enter the camera app options and change the resolution there. Thank you for a more intuitive solution, Sony!

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact performance

The XZ1 Compact aspires to be a tiny flagship so it must have high-end hardware to match. Its configuration is identical to that of its brothers, the XZ Premium and XZ. With a Snapdragon 835, 4 GB RAM and UFS memory, the XZ1 is exactly like the XZ Premium and the XZ1. The only difference with the XZ1 is the size of its internal memory since the compact model only has 32 GB. Rest assured, this can be expanded up to 256 GB with a microSD card.

• Sony Xperia XZ1 review

On paper, this smartphone seems to be able to stand up to other high-end models on the market. We have submitted it to several benchmark tests and can only note that it is as efficient as we imagined it.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact: benchmark results

3D Mark Sling Shot ES 3.1	3D Mark Sling Shot ES 3.0	3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited ES 2.0	Geekbench CPU - single core	Geekbench CPU - multicore	PC Mark Work Performance	PC Mark Storage
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact	3541	4794	40985	1823	6495	6571	5516
LG V30	3585	4523	38824	1921	6354	6200	5042
Sony Xperia XZ1	3547	4555	38014	1832	6406	6537	6297
Samsung Galaxy S8	3174	3217	27330	1983	6402	6135	4644

In everyday life, the Sony Xperia XZ1 is incredibly fast and shows no sign of weakness. We didn't catch a single instance of slowing down. The relatively low-definition display and its small size certainly play a role in this, but the result is nevertheless a delight and we are excited to finally find a flagship at this size. If you are looking for a smartphone that's both compact and powerful, then this device is for you.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact audio

As for the sound, Sony has always been a winner. Just look at the history of the brand and its other products, we can quickly see that the Japanese giant has proven itself with Sony Music and its legendary Walkman brand.

With its stereo speakers on the front of the device, the Xperia XZ1 Compact shows its muscles. Of course, and like many larger smartphones, it lacks a loudspeaker worthy of its name in order to offer good bass, but if we take into account the size of the device the result isn't bad. From a technical perspective, Sony pulled out all the stops for this device: Bluetooth 5.0, HD aptX, High-Resolution Audio, LDAC, etc.. This is the combination that Sony always puts in its high-end smartphones. Of course, the user needs to use the necessary, compatible hardware to be able to get the best quality, be it a HiFi system, headphones or headphones.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact camera

At the main camera level, the Xperia XZ Compact has once again been inspired by the XZ Premium. Nothing changes at the hardware level, but Sony has worked on its software. The "Predictive Shoot" feature is now triggered with a simple smile (as long as someone is in its field of view). In addition, there is also a hybrid prediction autofocus, which will keep the focus on an object moving over a series of shots. With its adaptive autofocus, it's possible to take up to 10 frames per second. Sony has also placed something of interest in the front camera: it has two focal lengths, one of 12.5 mm and 120 degrees, the other of 28 mm and 80 degrees. The latter is achieved by interpolation and trimming of the image. In order to be able to take good selfies in a dark environment, the entire display can be used as a flash.

The Motion Eye Camera can use an app by Sony to analyze objects in 3D. From faces, heads, foods or other objects, you can create objects in 3D with a little practice. You can then share these digital objects with your friends, from simple images to animated GIFs or MP4 videos. As Sony records 3D objects in OBJ format, it is also possible to use them with a 3D printer to create real objects in 3D.

As my colleague Luca said in his review of the Xperia XZ1, there's a learning curve for this feature. It's interesting, for the average user, 3D scanning will be something fun to try and get the hang of, but not something one will use in everyday life.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact battery

The XZ1 Compact shares many of the same technical specs as another device introduced by Sony at the IFA: the XZ1. This is also the case with the battery, as even the rather large XZ1 has a capacity of 2,700 mAh. The XZ1 Compact has adaptive charging with Qnovo and support for Quick Charge 3.0. With a screen resolution lower than that of the Full-HD XZ1, 5.2 inches, the battery life proves sufficient.

It's a shame that Sony has been so stingy: there is no Quick Charge charger in the box. If you want it, you have to spend even more money.

The battery life of the XZ1 Compact is good. On the PCMark benchmark, at maximum brightness, it still managed to hold for 6 hours and 35 minutes. At 50% brightness, it manages to hold for 14 and a half hours.

In everyday life, the phone managed to last through a whole day and until the evening still with 30%. Of course, usage varies from one person to another, so your mileage may vary.

It should be noted that since the Xperia X, Sony's smartphones have Qnovo charging technology. In the settings, you will find the option in the battery settings. When activated, the system will analyze the charge and adapt it at night to wait to reach 100% just before you wake up. The battery is quickly charged and as soon as the level drops sufficiently, a new charging cycle begins. As each cycle affects the life of the battery in the long run, the batteries of Sony devices have a much longer life by default.

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact technical specifications

Final verdict

There's simply no direct competition for Sony's XZ1 Compact, which combines a small size with big power. While it is true that it has only 720p definition, for a screen size of 4.6 inches, that's not a problem at all. What can hinder it, however, is the quality of the camera: despite the 3D scanner and SuperSlowMotion mode, it didn't really convince us.

If you are looking for a compact smartphone that has the technical potential of a true flagship, the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is the one for you!

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

To device database

nextpit recommendation	Price tip	Luxury version with handle	Price tip with handle	For Garmin fans	Mid-range tip
Product	Withings Body Smart	Renpho Smart Body Fat Scale	Withings Body Scan	Lepulse Lescale P1	Garmin Index S2 Smart Scale	eufy Smart Scale P3
Image
Deals*	Check offer $79.95 (Amazon - new) * Check offer (Withings) * Check offer (BestBuy) *	Find on Amazon (Amazon) * Find on eBay (eBay) *	Check offer $339.95 (Amazon - new) * Check offer (Withings) * Check offer (BestBuy) *	Check offer $56.29 (Amazon - new) * Check offer (LePulse) * Find on eBay (eBay) *	Check offer $144.99 (Amazon - new) * Check offer (Garmin) * Check offer (BestBuy) *	Check offer $54.99 (Amazon - new) * Check offer (Eufy) * Find on eBay (eBay) *

• Sony
• Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
• +

Previous articlePrevious article Next articleNext article Go to comment (3)

Shu On Kwok Senior Editor

Since 1999, Shu has written about the colorful world of IT and telecommunications. His career started as a presenter at the five-hour TV show NBC GIGA, which led him through several career stages until he finally joined the AndroidPIT team in May of 2015. His passion for mobile devices and gadgets knows no boundaries. Whether Android, iOS or Windows, Shu feels at home with any OS.

Liked this article? Share now! Follow us: Recommended articles

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: The Productivity Powerhouse You Pay For

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra Review: This Android Tablet Trumps All

HMD Barbie Phone Review: Cool yet Ironic Feature Phone

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Amazing Features, But Is It Worth the Price?

Apple's Sleek M2 iPad Air Drops to Its Record-Low Price (Save $100)

Easy Phone Switching: Google's Data Transfer Tool Goes Mainstream Latest articles

M4 iMac Review: A Beautiful Irony

Know Who Signed In: Google Account Details Now Front and Center in Settings

Top 5 Apps of the Week: Dungeon Clawler, 0h h1, and More!

9 out of 10 Stars: Dystopian Thriller Game is Free Right Now

SwitchBot S10 Review: Why Two Base Stations, SwitchBot?

This Weekend's Free Android and iOS Apps Up Comments Push notification All offers Share article Save in Pocket Next article 3 comments Write new comment: All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

• Submit

Write new comment: All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

• Submit Cancel

• 1

  Great to see a review that really appreciates Xperia Compacts for what they are: powerful, human hand sized phones with good battery life. Tired of idiot reviewers trying to goad Sony into, for example, crippling battery life by ramping up the pixel density/making the screen a pointless 1080p. Thanks for the sanity!

• 1

  F***in bezels. i'd love a compact with a S8 screen ratio . [Admin note: edited for language]

  • 4

    Agreed. The 4.6" screen is nice but when you have bezels that big top and bottom, it becomes essentially the same size as the LG G6 which fills its screen. If that same 4.6" screen filled its screen borders, then it would truly be compact.

Write new comment: All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

• Submit

✕ Top Content Apple's Sleek M2 iPad Air Drops to Its Record-Low Price (Save $100)

Recommended editorial content

Jobbio

With your consent, external content is loaded here.

Activate content

By clicking on the button above, you agree that external content may be displayed to you. Personal data may be transmitted to third-party providers in the process. You can find more information about this in our Privacy Policy.

Sign in Sign up Continue with Google Continue with Facebook or Email address Password Forgot password? Stay signed in Login

Don't have an nextpit account yet?Register here

Register for free and become part of our community. As a registered member, you can leave comments, exchange ideas with others, take part in raffles and be active in the forum.

User name This name will be shown publicly on your posts in the community. (At least 3 characters!) Email address Password Stay signed in I accept the terms and conditions and the privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Finish