[Sony Xperia X Performance Guides, News, & Discussi] RockStar2005:
Buggy,

You may (or may not) want to still get the XP after hearing what I have to say here. But either way (Z3, Z5, or XP), they are all great phones. The XP may not have the glass back of the Z-series, but for the most part it IS an improvement over both those phones. The XP has a better processor, the Snapdragon 820, which is more power-efficient than the Z5's 810 (40% more actually), and the slightly smaller screen adds to that 40% too. It has the same main camera sensor, but "improved algorithms" in the software to make for even better pictures, in addition to that "Predictive Hybrid Autofocus" feature which Sony has focused a great deal on. This official comparison review video of the Z5 vs. the X (X & XP have the SAME screen & camera) highlights some of the other improvements. But as the video points out, the main specs might be the same, but the software is apparently different. And the front camera apparently has better specs too. Watch it all if you like, but definitely watch 3:35-4:25 with regards to the screen brightness & color accuracy comparisons, and a little after that are the camera comparisons. To me, the XP is worth waiting for. But that's me. I have the S7 and the screen brightness on it sux a$$ under heavy sunlight, so I believe the XP will be better after watching that video. I'll be SHOCKED if the XP's brightness isn't higher than the S7's. I'll be comparing them both regarding that on the day I get the XP. lol Then there's this camera comparison b/t the XP, HTC 10, and Galaxy S7. For the first time EVER, Sony's smartphone camera BEATS Samsung's in quality and color accuracy while in auto mode! I don't believe this was the case even with the Z5. And this isn't even the final release version of the camera software either! :cool:

I have some good news regarding insurance on the unlocked XP. Not sure on Square Trade, but I have T-Mobile as my carrier, and they use Assurance for the phone insurance. I confirmed with TWO T-Mobile reps and ONE Assurance rep that as long as I register the XP on my T-Mobile account and keep paying the $8/mo insurance charge that Assurance WILL insure my unlocked XP phone, even though of course I'm NOT buying it from T-Mobile. This was VERY good news to hear! lol So now buying the (cheaper) int'l version makes even more sense.

Sounds like we think alike. I had the M8 and it was my SECOND favorite phone of all time, with the Z3 being #1 of course. lol That sux about your M7 screen, but yeah that was 3 years ago, so now maybe it IS time for an upgrade, especially if you have a cracked screen. I couldn't agree more on HTC's idiotic decision to remove the 10's bottom speaker and move it to the bottom side, and how it degraded the looks. They could've easily put that fingerprint sensor in front (which is NOT a physical button you can press by the way, which is a + IMO) on the back somewhere or the side like Sony does. I think they were trying emulate Samsung and Apple, which yes makes the phone look more generic. I hope the HTC 11 will see a return of the front-facing stereo speakers for HTC. That's one of the reasons I love Sony so much. They have not abandoned that speaker set up on their flagship phones, and they are still making a flagship-worthy phone that is NOT a phablet. I hate phablets (tried the S7 Edge.......too big IMO), so I'm glad Sony hasn't gone that route. If the XP wasn't coming out, I'd strongly consider the HTC 10 actually.

I too strongly considered the LG V10, mainly because LG put a premium amp/DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) chipset in the V10. It has the same chipset used in my $300 Oppo HA-2 portable amp/DAC. With a phone like that I wouldn't need the HA-2 in b/t my phone and headphones anymore, but again like you, I felt it was simply too big, so I passed, despite its great specs. And yes..... Samsung. lol Not a fan either of their UI or phones, though both have improved much in the last couple of years (I def like that they ditched the plastic-bodied phones finally, which I'm sure Sony and Apple had an influence on lol). The UI is still laggy IMO (downloads faster than my parents' Xperia Z1s ((2014)), but when jumping from app to app on the Z1s, I notice it loads up QUICKER than the S7, for real), the menu is less confusing than the S5's was but still not as simple as HTC's and Sony's, the stupid & awful-sounding lone bottom-facing speaker, the constant skipping when listening to music on it via the MicroUSB port (super annoying), and that physical home button: I hate them. lol I tried to give Samsung another chance, but although the phone is great in many respects & I got some sweet promos from buying it (i.e. 1 year of free Netflix HD streaming, etc), I have no desire at this point to keep it any longer than I have to.

I love Sony's Xperia phones the most, so whichever one you get will be great for sure.