A couple of weeks ago we published our review of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and found it to be a wonderful phone. At the time we though it to be the prime competitor of the iPhone 6, which according us is the best smartphone in the world. Now, that both devices are available in the Indian MARKET, we compare them on several key parameters. Both phones are shockingly good. In fact, if it was not for the price, the Xperia Z3 Compact would have gained a higher rating. Let’s see how they fare in a head-to-head comparison.
Design
Both the iPhone 6 and the Z3 Compact are beautiful phones. The Z3 Compact retains a rectangular slab like design, sandwiched between two layers of glass. On the sides, it has a frosted plastic finish, which looks good. But this is a design that is now growing old. Over multiple generations, Sony has refined the design, but it looks outdated. The iPhone 6 is crazy slim at 6.9mm and has rounded sides that offer sublime in-hand feel. The brushed metal back also looks super sexy.
In terms of ergonomics, the iPhone 6 is better in our opinion. It is more comfortable to hold than the Z3 Compact thanks to its curved edges.
Bottom line: The iPhone 6 not only looks better but also feels better in hand
Display
The Z3 Compact has a 720P 4.6-inch IPS display, which looks stunning. It is the best display we have seen in a Sony phone. It shows vivid colours and is adequately bright. But, the 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 pixels IPS panel on the iPhone 6 is equally good if not better. Its colours are more natural and not as vivid as the Sony. But the viewing angles are brilliant and it is brighter than the Z3 Compact. Frankly, there is very little to choose between the two displays. It boils down to what type of colours one likes. If you like vivid colours then the Z3 Compact is better for you. Or else, the iPhone 6 will take the cake.
Bottom line: The Z3 compact shows more vivid colours, the iPhone 6 is brighter
Camera
The camera on the Z3 Compact packs quite a punch. Hardware wise it has perhaps the most powerful camera in any Android phone. Its 20.7-megapixel sensor has an f/2.0 aperture and a Sony G lens system. That said, the software experience is not exactly straightforward. In day light, the superior auto mode works well, but in low light it tends to overexpose images and is slow. It is a complicated camera to use.
The iPhone 6 on the other hand has a fabulous camera that just works. It has great software and hardware. Using a new 8-megapixel sensor, the iPhone 6 packs in large 1.5micron pixels, and it has a new circular truetone flash. Also, the way Apple processes images in the iPhone ensures quality is consistent and images are good even when they are shot in auto mode. Its HDR mode is also great. The new phase detection auto-focus system means you won’t miss moments you are trying to freeze in an image. For videos, Apple has added a great 240FPS slow-motion mode, which is spectacular and fun.
Bottom line: The iPhone 6 clicks better images.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Z3 Compact is brilliant. It lasts around 25-26 hours on a single charge. It has a 2,600mAh battery, but when used with the battery saver mode, it is a roadrunner. The iPhone 6 vastly improves upon the abysmal battery life offered by the iPhone 5S, but it is not better than the Z3 compact. In fact, the Z3 compact can pull away by a good 5 hours. That’s like a Delhi-Bangkok flight.
Bottom line: The Z3 Compact lasts longer. Much longer.
Software
The Z3 Compact runs Android 4.4 modified with Sony’s custom user interface. The phone will be among the first Sony devices to get upcoming Android Lollipop early next year though for now there is no specific date.
The iPhone 6 comes loaded with iOS 8, which adds a lot of features that Android phones have had for years. This includes features like extendibility so that apps can interact with each other, support for third party keyboards and continuity — a feature that adds synergy with other Apple products. While Android is a more complex OS, it is very customisable and open. Apple’s OS is more straightforward, but is locked down. This will boil down to a personal preference. Most apps are available on both OSes, but iOS is the only mobile OS where all Google, Apple and Microsoft apps are available.
Bottom line: The Z3 Compact offers flexibility of Android, the iPhone 6 has usability of the iOS8
Performance
Both phones offer fantastic performance, though on paper the iPhone 6 pulls ahead due to its extremely powerful A8 processor. The A8 CPU has been designed for iOS and it is a 64-bit chipset, with a very powerful graphics processor inside it. Its dual-core nature also enables it to be more power efficient. The iPhone 6 has 1GB RAM, which could be a problem in the future, but right now even with 50 apps, we found it to be ample.
That said, the Snapdragon 801 CPU on the Xperia is no slouch. It is one of the most powerful CPUs in the MARKET and helps the phone deal with even demanding 3D games with ease. The phone never feels slow. In fact, the Z3 compact is one of the most responsive Android phones MONEY can buy.
Bottom line: The iPhone 6 has more powerful hardware though both are very fast phones.
Extra features
The Z3 Compact offers 16GB of storage with support for microSD cards. It also has impressive features like water resistance. It starts at Rs.44,990, which is expensive for an Android phone, however it is still appreciably cheaper than the 16GB iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 does not allow for memory expansion. So if one is looking for more memory then the 64GB model will set back a user by Rs.62,500. In terms of extras, the iPhone 6 comes with a fingerprint scanner. Considering that Apple Pay is not yet available in India, the fingerprint scanner is not a necessity but it is definitely a cool feature.
Bottom line: The Z3 Compact offers more utility with support for microSD card and waterproof body.
Which one should you buy
No doubt, this is a close call, and the preference of the operating system will play a major role in the final choice. But the iPhone 6 offers a better deal. It offers a better smartphone experience unless you must require features like support for microSD card or waterproof body. Overall, the iPhone 6 is a better phone than the Xperia Z3 Compact and at least for a year it will remain the phone that every other phone will be compared with.
The iPhone 6 is considerably more expensive but considering the almost flawless experience it offers, we believe it is worth the price.
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