Sony Xperia Z5 Compact Overview

With its 4.6-inch 720p screen the Xperia Z5 Compact comes with the smallest display size and resolution Sony's updated Xperia Z line. However, screen size and resolution are essentially the only important differences between the devices. Camera modules are identical and for the first time since the Xperia Z1 there has been significant change in the camera department. A 23MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor is paired with an F2.0 lens. Sony claims the hybrid AF system, which combines contrast and phase detect technologies, makes the Z5 series the fastest focusing camera phones in the business at 0.03 seconds. It also says that low light performance has been improved over the Xperia Z3+.

Changes have also been made to the camera app. The 23MP full resolution mode is now also available in Superior Auto which previously had been limited to 8MP and 16:9 aspect ratio. Now you can choose between 8MP (16:9), 20MP (16:9) and 23MP (4:3). The Touch Focus feature allows you to touch anywhere on the live view image to focus and capture the image in one go.

The Android operating system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system chip and 2GB of RAM. 32GB of on-board storage can be expanded by up to 200GB via microSD card. The fingerprint reader for increased security is a new addition but the new model features a similarly boxy design as previous Xperia Z devices, including the dedicated camera button. It is also waterproof with a coverless microUSB port. The Compact model has a few more plastic parts, including the frame, than the larger devices but build quality is still very good.