yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Xperia Z2 General] 3f1f37:
Minor spec bump with updated kitkat OS version, nothing to warrant a jump IMO.

If it was Android L then it would be a totally different story, I would jump AOSP but the Z2 gets the job done.
[Xperia Z2 General] roanmy:
I really want to, if only for the audio capabilities! I also like the design a lot.

Then again, I'm very happy with my Z2, but if I sell my Z2 and Z, I'll have enough to buy it, tempting, tempting.
[Xperia Z2 General] numskull:
Only interested in ps4 remote play, but im pretty sure someone will be able to port that...... On the plus side, every new xperia z flagship from now on should have ps4 remote play
[Xperia Z2 General] stephen2529:
I'm tempted. Not because of the spec jump but because I'm one of the unlucky ones that has a dodgy z2.

It literally has all the bugs and defects. Gaps in the screen, over heat in the normal camera and gaming, tap to wake is a joke, camera lets in way to much light and ruins pictures, flaps keep falling out, cameras not centered properly ect ect. The list goes on.

This was my first Sony phone and if it worked as it should I'd love it. That's why I'm tempted to try the z3.i am a little apprehensive though due to all the problems on the z2 I've had.
[Xperia Z2 General] Q.Entity:
TMo confirmed bringing the Z3. As with all my Zs, I already put myself onto Clove's list. However, I in Europe about once a month so warranty is not a concern.
[Xperia Z2 General] [kEkA]:
I'm really sorry about your z2, but there are some things that are common with all z2s and thats:

1) every z2 has a small gap somewhere

2) every z2 gets really warm in games, not all games, just those high end ones and that one depends as well

3) and if you checked checked thread with pics taken with z2 you'd notice that each one lets too much light into, its not just yours :)

I hope your experience will get better with the time,

regards :)
[Xperia Z2 General] xianpu:
upgrading to Z3?

no, not yet for me. slight improvements does not justify Z3 as a new phone on xperia line, will wait for a new one
[Xperia Z2 General] ramordep:
If only the Z3 has the SMaster amp then its no brainer. I owned Walkman Auido player before and that DSEE HX isn't noticeable specially when you are using a regular earphone, plus it affects battery performance.
[Xperia Z2 General] RalphLauren:
Unfortunately the technology inside does not matter so much anymore when Sony fails to provide the decent grill and space for it.

Putting the Porsche engine into SMART car does not make latter a F1 beast.
[Xperia Z2 General] TokedUp:
Hey guys! With the Z3v coming to VZW I was thinking about waiting to get is as I am due for an upgrade and I dont like anything out right now. My main concern about an upgrade is being able to Root and Unlock the boot loader so I can run PA. Whats the history been like as far as Rooting and Unlocking on the Z series? Do you guys think theres a chance of the Z3v being unlockable?
[Xperia Z2 General] SwiftSmoke:
No upgrade here, the IR blaster I thought would be nice on z2 but got it anyway due to upgrade time. Was hoping the z3 might have it but nope :( so no buying z3 here plus I already have a ps vita so ps4 gameplay streaming is nothing new to me.
[Xperia Z2 General] roanmy:
Slightly off-topic, but I saw the Z3 will support ALAC playback. Seeing as how ALAC is "less" hi-res than FLAC, DSD etc, do you guys think there's any chance the Z2 will get that support? I'm thinking maybe not, but it would be better for as I have a mac, haha.
[Xperia Z2 General] RalphLauren:
International Z serie (Z, Z1, Z2) has very positive history of rooting and unlocking (bootloader).

However, since Z3 will be the first one on Verizon (correct me someone if Z2 is already available on VRZ as well) no one can tell you how easy will be to fiddle with this model.

Also taking in account history of some models (not only Sony) released in usa, the chances are high that the bootloader will not be unlockable.

In any case, if you can hold till the moment when Z3 is in VRZ shops, dial *#*#SERVICE#*#* on the gadget and you can check personally in service menu if the bootloader is unlockable (just taking for granted that there is a service menu on vrz iteration, but if not -sorry can't help)
[Xperia Z2 General] vctrdnl:
Nope, a switch from Z2 to Z3 is pointless. It would be only reasonable to wait for Z5 or even Z6, provided that Sony keeps up with this tempo. Anyway, kudos for the new energy-saving display technology.
[Xperia Z2 General] festa20:
The z3 is pretty much pointless it has a few extra features

Really disappointed about z3 but what epse coyod they hace possibpy done to make it better next year devices will be alot better and thats when most of z2 users will probably upgrage or later that year

:) :) :)
[Xperia Z2 General] stress40:
Well no Z3 for me. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a Z2 with the processor over clocked to 2.5Ghz.:rolleyes: I'm gonna wait till the Z5 or Z6. By then 64bit phones should have all their teething problems sorted out and most of the app devs should be on board. :victory:
[Xperia Z2 General] Achmad Arif:
The Xperia Z3 battery is smaller than Z2

Sent from my Xperia Z2
[Xperia Z2 General] knoxploration:
According to whom? The previews I read said it was the same size.
[Xperia Z2 General] festa20:
To what i read its a 3100 battery amd ours is 3200
[Xperia Z2 General] Jhon998:
My Z2 is already 2.5 by DoomKernel
[Xperia Z2 General] mariosraptor:
Not for me. Actually I'm selling Z2. It could have had what z3 has. I am deeply disappointed. It's in for service. Losing constantly signal. Also the Mic record ability really pisses me off.

And I don't see a move to fix it officially.
[Xperia Z2 General] belloni:
I'll be making the upgrade due to the better screen technology, better audio technology and longer battery life. Oh, and the improved camera, especially it's low light performance.
[Xperia Z2 General] hypertx:
I'll have to wait for the full user reviews first before deciding to upgrade. I don't want to regret after.
[Xperia Z2 General] tomo100brt:
After presentation I see upgrade. They upgrade sound, camera, battery life (not battery), procesor, design and flaps. Nothing sensational but updates are there. So after thinking I am going to upgrade to Z3 especially after micro USB/micro SIM flap problem on my Z2 (on first Z2 I had overheating and back glass cracked; service send me new one).
[Xperia Z2 General] eagle25884:
I will definitely not upgrade to Z3.
[Xperia Z2 General] Kelvin0007:
Not worth the update
[Xperia Z2 General] cyng98:
Definitely not. In a time when even yearly refreshes are panned as being iterative, a 6 month release cycle is crazy.
[Xperia Z2 General] zodiac100:
Well said!! It's just madness. Didn't work too well for htc a few years ago. Sony's turn to learn the same lesson now.

All they're achieving is a devaluation of their own xperia brand. And that's in every way.

There's absolutely nothing about the minor hardware Improvements of the z3 that couldn't wait until next year when the real z3 should have been released.

Sony would have been better off releasing the z2 compact with a 1080p display for the second half of this year. Now that would have made a splash. As it is now, what we have is another early prototype release and an incomplete flashship in the z3 compact. Bad choices!
[Xperia Z2 General] knoxploration:
Except that when a new customer goes into a store (as opposed to an existing customer like you, who they know won't be upgrading regardless of what they offer) that new customer sees that the newest phone on the shelf is the Sony. Like it or not, the sixth month cycle is aimed at getting new customers to buy in, not existing ones to upgrade.

That's why this whole thread misses the point. Sony never intended for anybody to upgrade from the Z2 to the Z3. The Z3 is solely a way of making the Z2 sell better in the second half of its life with a new name and a few minor tweaks.

This isn't remotely like HTC's strategy, which was to flood the market with dozens of near-identical phones, all released and current at the same time as each other.
[Xperia Z2 General] hpl912:
The only sale point of the Z3 for me (if i do upgrade) would be the even thinner profile and the new copper color. thought the speakers design look fugly compared to the Z2 :/

Remainder specs is not really a big change/deal for me... now waiting on the price for my final decision...

The Z3 tablet on the other hand it's something interesting from Sony.
[Xperia Z2 General] zodiac100:
The z2 is more than capable of lasting a full year as flashship on the market. Apple, lg, Samsung and now htc have a clearer strategy that doesn't cause as much confusion as this 6 month business.

What does the consumer really benefit from the z3's launch that they couldn't have benefited from the z2 if it had the same software on it.

As far as I'm concerned, Sony's now in the business of selling early prototypes to consumers. The z3 is just a rough sketch of where Sony's going to end up with the z4 next year just as the Z1 was to the z2.

Of course the z3 isn't intended for z2 owners, it couldn't possibly be. What I say though is the z2 would have more than met the demands of any new customers now. It's better in almost every respect than the newly announced iPhone 6.

If Sony doesn't want to take on Samsung in the phablet space then they should focus attention on the compact series for launch in H2. They need to bring the display up to 1080p to make it a fully fledged flashship and sell it at full price as only a compact alternative to the bigger sibling and not a spec downgrade in any respect. That strategy makes more sense to me than this 6 months business!
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
That's the thing. If Sony wants to keep innovating, do it with different devices to build a portfolio, not just replacing your 'best of Sony' device with 'even more best of Sony'. When you're even keeping features off an older model for marketing reasons and not any technical reasons, you're really going to **** customers off. If the PS4 streaming doesn't come to the Z2, when it was the 'best of Sony' even after the PS4 was on sale, what will people think of trusting Sony not to stitch them up again in the near future?

Sony now has the flagship, which could easily be a once a year affair. Then it has the Compact, which as 'smaller' phones go is the best because it doesn't put in a crappy SoC and cut all the other features, before putting in a sub 2,000mAh battery so it lasts all of five minutes.

Then it has its tablets, and has now introduced the Compact tablet. For a while it also had the Ultra, which could have been developed - but presumably didn't sell.

It has also had the odd variant for other markets, or the non-waterproof version (so, again, it could have released a different variant of the Z2 for a different market, instead of the Z3 which is aimed at the exact same person). It then has the cheaper models, with small to large screens, and then more entry level models.

As it stands, Sony has a lot of products released in any given year. It really CAN afford to slow down a bit.

Given a 12-18 month development cycle, it must be very confusing to work for Sony and look at the internal road maps and see how things cross over so much. I guess Sony isn't willing to drop something and wait, even if you realised the Z2 could have been kept on sale until early 2015.

Or failing all that, do like Apple and upgrade the hardware a bit, but keep the same external look. Call the release the Z2s or something.

The Z3 goes on sale at the start of October. Let's assume new customers or those coming up for an upgrade start to buy between then and Christmas, many will be aware as time goes on that there's now a new model coming. By January, people may well decide to hang on and wait. So that's lost sales for Sony because some people will think the only safe time to buy a new phone is within a matter of weeks of it being put on sale!

I know there's a wider market that won't care. They'll be signing up for an 18 or 24 month contract and won't be fussed, but I really do believe they'll be somewhat upset that half way into their contract there will have been at least two new models announced. I am sure iPhone customers are quite happy to get a phone that won't become the old model anywhere near as quick.
[Xperia Z2 General] doministry:
That's so funny :)

You guys, homemade businessmen,

should just remember that with THAT particular strategy

Sony sells more and more and more every single year

Thanks.
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
Sony is making some really nice kit, but I think it could do better - don't you? The company isn't suddenly biting the ankles of Samsung, so it has a way to go - and I do think that the company strategy IS doing them some harm.

And another mistake is not trying to get back into the US market properly. Why? Because a lot of the sites that really help boost customer awareness are based there, and besides regularly writing news stories, rarely feature any Sony devices in reviews, round-ups or comparisons. Sony loses out on a hell of a lot of exposure, as well as a lot of sales from a company that should be big in the US but isn't and hasn't been for years.

Clearly Sony doesn't think the same way, and so be it. My opinions are free, and my life doesn't change either way. But I think I'll be proven right eventually, as the six-monthly cycle is now becoming a thing that lots of people are talking about (and not in a positive way), and it's regularly a question asked to Sony execs now and they have to continue to defend it.

It's not just releasing a new phone either, but sneaky things like holding back software features that can (and do) run perfectly well on older models. Sony is well within its rights to do what it likes, but when you create a feeling of badwill with customers, they might look elsewhere next time.

I'm sorry but I do think that when you replace phones every six months, people get upset. Yes, technology moves fast, but it doesn't have to move artificially fast. It also makes people wonder why Sony can't get things right by building something that can last longer.

If you disagree with what I've said, that's fine. But I've worked in the mobile industry since 1990 and followed Sony since it was Sony, Ericsson when it was Ericsson, through to the joint venture and on to where we are now. I've known many key people for years (some who have come and gone), and some of them agree with my opinion but probably don't want to rock the boat, or wouldn't actually have the power to effect any change.
[Xperia Z2 General] doministry:
I don't disagree with everything you said.

I just say Sony's strategy in the recent years multiplied their

Xperia sales massively.

That is true that releasing new models is to attract another dozens of millions of NEW customers not only updating ones.

And holding back with the updates for older models - well... All the players do the same. And I think Sony does it more nicely than most of the others, sorry.
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
Sony has done loads of things right, but still haven't had the sales I think they deserve. The most important thing is that they're making good looking, powerful, devices and Sony is a trusted brand for many.

But I still feel it important to call them out when they make poor decisions that will harm their reputation and alienate loyal customers.

Even just calling the Z3 something else so it was seen as more of an update than an attempt to sell it as a brand new phone (it's new, but really just a Z3 in a different case) might have sufficed.

Anyway, let's see how it all works out. Sony obviously thinks it knows best.
[Xperia Z2 General] doministry:
They are on a very good track ATM.
[Xperia Z2 General] zodiac100:
Last time I checked, sales came in below forecast which they had to downgrade themselves. I just don't see any evidence of its commercial advantage!
[Xperia Z2 General] doministry:
Lool.

Look at the Xperia sales progress X10 - Z2.

Or even S - Z2 and the whole Xperia line in this timeframe.
[Xperia Z2 General] zodiac100:
Loo

Figures for q3 and q4 2013 were below target and so to those for q1 2014. They had decent results q2 last year because of the Z's sales but since then, they've been below target. The z2, s5,g3 and m8 are all now much cheaper than the z3 and considering it doesn't have anything major above either of those devices, I really can't see where all these sales are going to come from.

I think you're taking a very simplistic view of this. Because something is new doesn't automatically guarantee sales. If we consider value for money, then I'm afraid the z3's the worst of the aforementioned devices.

The z2's currently about £100 less, don't know about you but to me, that is by far and away the better buy and I'm sure many others would see it that way too. As John said earlier, rumours of the z4 will kick off by about November confusing consumers even more. Many will start to hold off waiting for that phone.

The 6 month cycle is idiotic and will ultimately be ditched. It serves nobody. Sony's just taking a very narrow minded approach to things thinking it can gain advantage by doing such. They'll learn eventually. Just hope it doesn't drag out as long as the whole TN lcd panels with the viewing angles problem did.
[Xperia Z2 General] doministry:
We'll see, I'm no expert either.
[Xperia Z2 General] styxter:
For me it is a good decision to have a 6 month cycle before cause the technology cant keep up the demand users experience such as butter smooth experience os, screen and sound quality.

But now I think it's time to lessen the premium from 6 month to 1 year cycle. Cause all of the demand is now meets from acceptable performance. All I can think now more on camera performance side front and back and battery.

If they need to improved so much they should fix there low to mid range phone. Cause it is not yet acceptable to the consumers from price to hardware value.
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
Hardware certainly isn't advancing quite as quick now as it was. It's as much about reducing power consumption than it is about having more and more power. Even Snapdragon 4x0 is proving to be very powerful and capable.

And even this year, Snapdragon 801 was a bit of a con. It's really Snapdragon 800 - but as Qualcomm wasn't ready with 805, it came up with a solution to satisfy the manufacturers wanting to sell something new. Sure, the clock speed went up a bit - and it's gone up a bit more with the Z3 - but these are such minor updates that it wasn't necessary to release the Z3 unless they'd done something radical (like fix the thermal issues).

Yes it looks really nice. Yes, copper is a nice colour.. but couldn't it have waited until next year? Sony might say today that it doesn't see the need for a 2K screen (and it's true you can't really see the difference, as my G3 demonstrates) but you know it will still go with a 2K screen in the future. And Sony will also go with Snapdragon 805 (or newer, if available, or maybe Qualcomm will give them an 806 variant), Cat 6 LTE and maybe USB 3 etc in the future too. I guess the front facing camera will get an update too, making it more selfie friendly like the C3.

Personally, I think most people could have waited until the new year for all that. Sony could then hold its own event to launch the phone on its own terms, not at CES or MWC.

But I don't see it changing because Sony still wants to produce new kit for the Japanese market, which requires two 'ranges' per year. I don't really understand why the Japanese do things that way either.
[Xperia Z2 General] styxter:
Ok Yes it looks really nice. Yes, copper is a nice colour.. but couldn't it have waited until next year? Sony might say today that it doesn't see the need for a 2K screen (and it's true you can't really see the difference, as my G3 demonstrates) but you know it will still go with a 2K screen in the future. And Sony will also go with Snapdragon 805 (or newer, if available, or maybe Qualcomm will give them an 806 variant), Cat 6 LTE and maybe USB 3 etc in the future too. I guess the front facing camera will get an update too, making it more selfie friendly like the C3.

Personally, I think most people could have waited until the new year for all that. Sony could then hold its own event to launch the phone on its own terms, not at CES or MWC[/QUOTE]

What if before z3 is in designing phase they are expecting to put s810 but the timing doesn't expected as per schedule of Qualcomm releases. Cause I cant think of any reason why didn't just upgrade atleast a single hardware. Aside from aesthetics. Almost their upgrade comes from softwares in which case (crossed fingers) we can get from z2.

I think they know that iphone 6 and 6 plus has a little update from hardware. Cause most of the oem such as samsung, Sony, moto and etc. had a product launch. And this is also good time to eat some market shares from ios.

sorry cant used proper quote :'(
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
What if before z3 is in designing phase they are expecting to put s810 but the timing doesn't expected as per schedule of Qualcomm releases. Cause I cant think of any reason why didn't just upgrade atleast a single hardware. Aside from aesthetics. Almost their upgrade comes from softwares in which case (crossed fingers) we can get from z2.

I think they know that iphone 6 and 6 plus has a little update from hardware. Cause most of the oem such as samsung, Sony, moto and etc. had a product launch. And this is also good time to eat some market shares from ios.

[/QUOTE]

Nobody forced Sony to release the Z3 at IFA. It's as if they had to launch something, so didn't wait until they could get at least Snapdragon 805 in it, and also update the modem etc.

I mean, they had the Z3 Tablet Compact and the Z3 Compact. I think that would have been enough! A new Compact made sense, although that could have been the Z2 Compact.

Sony obviously sees IFA as a big event, along with MWC, and the timings fit well for a new phone every six months, but it makes me wonder what they'll show at CES now. They have to do something, even if the US market isn't very big for them.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at Sony HQ and see how they decide things. I already know that not everyone thinks it's a good idea, so I wonder if any people dare question the bosses?
[Xperia Z2 General] styxter:
I think their marketing is the one to be blame why can't they justify that releasing z3 without any major upgrade be released. I rather have a z3 compact and z3 ultra. To compete a note 4 cause the problem on z ultra can't compete with note series is that they didn't hit the market wants such as better battery life a better stylus pen and superior camera performance. I hope sony learns like htc that releasing one flag ship is better than releasing 2 flagship wake up sony it is time
[Xperia Z2 General] funky0308:
Z4 will be announced next year in Barcelona.

Powered by new Android L (first 64 bit Android) and hopefully first Qualcomm 64 bit procesor, Z4 will be the reason to hit my devices (Z1 and Z2) into drawer and move on.

Z3 isn't something I would buy considering I have both previous flagships.

And yeah...as soon as Niaboc release new eXistenZ Ultimate - Z2 will be Z3 :P

With a same specif.there's only software to deal on and Niaboc already did fantastic job on porting all new goodies from Z3.
[Xperia Z2 General] jonmorris:
http://www.mobileworldlive.com/sony-set-loss-weak-mobile-performance

Can't quite believe Sony is still struggling, but it seems to think the solution is less mid range devices.

I'd say less high end, and perhaps Sony also needs a more affordable phone to compete with the runaway success of the Moto G.
[Xperia Z2 General] BRNRD:
with a rooted Z2 the sky's the limit.. no need to upgrade anytime soon :)
[Xperia Z2 General] eddie0uk:
The Z3 is my short list (upgrading from a Galaxy S3) but the only thing that keeps me off are all the reports about the cracking screen in previous xperia phones. The technology has not changed so the Z3 is bound to have the same problem. That is the only reason I am thinking of having the Moto X instead, otherwise I would be ordering the Z3 right now.