[Xperia Z3 General] CandyAndy:
A quick review of Sony Z3 after using it just for a day now. For some background my previous phones have been M7 and M8.

And I would like to point at first that this is quite harsh review, not because I want to hate this vice versa I really really try to love it because I paid quite a lot of money for this and I doubt I can get my money back after using it. I will probably loose 10-15% of the value already.

Anyway, I don't like this phone too much. Sure, the hardware look pretty nice. I still prefer the cold brushed aluminium on HTC M8, I like how the curve feels in the hand and I like it that its usually cold. Sony on the other hand gets warm quite easily, not hot but warm. When holding the phone and hands start sweating its just not cool. Edges are not as bad as they were in Z2 (reason why I purchased M8 at the first place) but this still is not as comfy as if it had a curved back. Anyway for the hardware not much bad to say, premium materials and premium look.

Problems start with the software. First thing I noticed was how big all the icons were. The launcher has one less line to put widgets or apps and everything is just big. Open the google folder you actually have to scroll it to see everything.

Also I remember how I first hated the HTC implementation of recent apps. Well now I realize how great it is to actually see all the previous apps at glance without swiping the menu. Just annoying.

Well why did I buy the Z3 at the first was the camera on M8. Its quite ok, but not perfect. I need my camera at work quite a lot to take pictures from exhibitions etc and while the pics on M8 look nice when you take them on phone screen they become useless if want to print them for example.

Well the camera on Z3 is also not very good. Everyone can have their own thoughts from here https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0MUVjq_igOMZHpjODJTNkRDZmc&usp=drive_web

I took some comparison photos. With the closeup on the berries you can see its out of focus. Yes yes, blame the photographer I failed it, but the reason is that the camera is so much slower than on M8. Especially with close ups. I wasn't prepared to hold it still as long as I eventually was supposed to.

And here again the biggest complaint of camera is not actually the hardware. I could maybe live with the pictures even if I am not blown away, but the software is not fun to use. HTC might have had just 4 ultra pixels but the camera software is just fantastic.

All the other images are also just so so and they look somehow artificially sharpened.

Now to the good points. Screen looks fantastic. Yes its a bit blueish compared to M8 but it somehow looks sharper. Maybe just I have smudged the M8 or something but something there looks sharper. Also the overall scrolling feels maybe just a little bit more fluid than on M8. Not much but just enough so you can notice it.

Also I should do a bit better comparison but music sounded fantastic through the Sennheiser Momentum headset. I don't remember that M8 gave me this "fantastic" feeling, only "very good" feeling. I might have to test the sound more carefully soon.

Oh, one little annoyance which is actually HTC which started: Just when I got used to the line cable plug to be at the bottom of the device now I am again taking the phone wrong way out of my pocket. But yeah, majority still has it on top like Samsung, LG and Sony.

Overall I am not very impressed. But it doesn't mean that this is a bad device. If I would have still had my Note 2 I think that I would be pissing my pants for joy.

Anyway I might still give Z3 a try and I do have two sim cards so two phones wouldn't be out of question..just that my better half is not very thrilled of all this spending...