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Hi
I'm aware there is already a similar thread but I wanted some answers more specific to my needs and to current prices. I recently had my uninsured S5 stolen and I'm stuck in a contract so I need to buy a mid-range phone which is going to last me another 16 months or so without feeling too outdated. I want a smaller handset as I was getting sick of the larger phones. My budget stretches to about £270 for which both the S5 mini and the Z1 compact are currently priced. Unfortunately I can't stretch to the z3 compact price. I want to know which phone has the better camera, as this is one of the main selling points for me. I know that neither will match up to the s5 camera. On paper the z1 compact has the best camera, but I've seen a few posts saying it is actually disappointing and often freezes. The S5 minis camera seems to get fairly positive reviews despite being only 8MP. I'm no pro photographer so will I even be able to tell the difference?!
I don't care about the samsungs gimmicks (heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner etc.) and also don't mind touchwhiz too much. I do like the fact it has a removable battery as I often carry a spare, but maybe the sony battery is miles better anyway?
I'm also wary about changing to Sony. I've had Samsungs for years and they've never broken, apart from when I dropped them. Samsung quickly replaced them for me free of charge after some persuasion it wasn't my fault! I've seen a lot of posts questioning the z1 compacts reliability, and a few more claiming sony aren't too good at dealing with replacements etc. Also slightly wary about the glass back cracking? Though I admit the Sony looks better.
I've never rooted or flashed custom ROMs or anything so I'm probably in the wrong forum (sorry!) but this seems to be the most active phone forum I could find. I'm not completely opposed to rooting etc if it would be really beneficial, though again, I'm wary!
Should point out that I don't game much on mobile, I just like a smooth, reliable experience for browsing internet, watching youtube, using facebook, whatsapp, reddit etc, and a good reliable camera.
So basically, do I play it safe and stick with Samsung, better screen, decent camera, pics may even look better on the better screen, though the phone may be slightly slower? Or do I go for the z1 despite my reliability concerns?! Is rooting going to change the decision between the two??
Thanks, and sorry for the long post! Appreciate your answers, if I get any!
The Z1 Compact is by far the superior device.
Thanks for the reply. On paper it looks the better phone, but is it reliable? Hows sonys customer service? And is the camera better than the s5 minis?
Yeah but I've seen a lot of posts about a sudden unexplained death of the Z1C so that makes me hesitant
It´s fine. Some people doesn't know how to take care of a phone while in other situations things explodes at random. But to the point, i have the Z2 and it's a really good phone. I actually like the Sony UI and their experience. So there isn't a reason to not choose the Z1 compact, if the specs are superior compared to S5 Mini.
There are 3 threads already established that are devoted to discussions about devices, please read, and if necessary, repost your question in one of these threads: The what should I buy thread or the The Device Suggestion Thread or the The Device Comparison Thread.
There are also several other discussion threads that you probably should review to help you. They are What phone do you wish you had? or
The Worst Android Device That You've Ever Had & Why or even this place that talks about The best phone you ever owned.
Will have to close this.
With the phone now out for some time, I wanted to see what the overall atmosphere for the phone was.
How does everyone like the phone? Specifically the US T-Mobile variant (D6616). I'm reading nothing but complaints about battery not lasting as long as it should/used to, WiFi issues, issues running LTE and so on. Are these the outliers or are they the common case?
With rumors of the Z4 growing (and all other competition as well), I've been wanting to upgrade from my Nexus 5 (with HORRIBLE battery life) for some time now. I've had my eye on the Z3 because of its purported insanely long battery, great display, great audio, great camera. Again, is this all really the case?
Also, with a hopeful Lollipop build releasing from Sony direct, I just wanted to verify that a user could technically flash the image directly to the phone and only risk losing T-Mobile's WiFi calling ability?
Wait for the Z4, because the Z1/2/3 use almost the same chipset. The Snapdragon 810 in the Z4 is a full generation newer with lower power consumption, much faster and has a 2x2 WiFi antenna.
Also support will probably be better as Sony will go to a one year release cycle unlike before where they had a new device every ~6 months.
As for my experience, it's pretty good I get 7-9Hrs of screen time in a 24-30 Hr period, without power saving options. I even have autosync and location services on. The battery life is just amazing. The UI is pretty smooth almost as quick as HTC Sense UI. Also not much bloat when you compare with Samsung.
Cellular signal is as good as my mother's iPhone 6 and dad's HTC M8. As for camera It's great, just leave it on "manual" as "Superior Auto" sucks. It's probably Sony's best camera module for phones. Remember that even Apple, LG, Samsung use Sony Exmor camera modules.
Only issue I had was cosmetic with gaps between frame and screen and light bleed from gaps. I exchanged mine 3 times for that. Currently happy with the one I have. It's not a big deal because T-Mobile exchanged my phone without any hassles.
There will always be a Z4 5 6 in development, ultimately you have to make the decision, if you want to wait it out no issues, but if your looking to upgrade now then z3 is the best choice among all the smartphones,the battery life is phenomenal and the real world performance is brilliant, I think it's one of the few android phones which can give the iPhone a run for the money in terms of performance and smoothness. The multitasking is hands down the best among android phones.I have never experienced a lag or crash till now. I have always been a Samsung user, have used the galaxy sl, s3 and 4,buying the Z3 was like taking a giant leap of faith and it paid off, theres no way in hell I'll ever go back to Samsung.
P.S Did I mention dipping the phone in a bucket of water a few times aswell? Yeah that too.
Sent from my D6653 using XDA Free mobile app
the Z4 will obviously happen, although it may be the last xperia flagship to hit the market, at least from sony alone - if they are looking to exit the business it's possible that the Z3 will be more fully supported in the long run, but who knows? the other point to bear in mind is how long it took to root the Z3 whilst retaining a locked bootloader - the Z4 may be more difficult again here..... having had the Z3 from launch it's now a known quantity, so you can ascertain fully what you're buying and what you can do with it, and whilst build qualities can be inconsistent just control the risk and buy from a no nonsense retailer with a clear returns policy ? for me it's a 9.5/10 and criminally underrated by the masses, but that at least lets you pick up something a bit different that may possibly be better than the existing competition, depending on who you speak to......
But seriously though tech wise the Z1/2/3 are very similar the Z4 is a big upgrade chipset wise.
Even if Z4 is the last Xperia from Sony, it could still continue under a new owner. Motorola for example still exists, though now under Lenovo. Nexus 6 support did not suddenly stop.
I'm mostly interested in good battery life, little to no lag, a good camer and a decent/good screen (not that interested in 4K).
All in all, it sounds like the Z5 is a very good choice.
What do you guys think?
Xperia Z5 hasn't been too good of an experience for me. It gets pretty warm even during light web browsing, battery life isn't up to par for me, and the display and the camera is definitely worse (in most areas) than the Galaxy S6. I'd say keep your Galaxy S6.
All the inverse for me...
Xz5 is a killer.
Better manufacture quality
More true color display and photo
Plus PSN synchro
Sent from my E6653 using XDA Free mobile app
1-1 .
The thing that gets to me with the S6 is the battery, and also the app lag after a while... :/ That's why I am thinking of moving on really.
Not got either but are you interested in waiting for the 820 phones in a few months?
I've had a lot of phones and this z5 is right up there as an oem phone (not rooted) Its the best I've had little things like battery percentage, clear all apps button, battery management tools all Inc I've mixed feelings because battery life isn't as good as my nexus was, but last day or so I've tinkered with stamina mode with the battery and that's made a big difference to me about 3 hrs 30 min screen on time yesterday and 30% left going to bed that's Bluetooth and wifi on all day it's not bad.. If you have a playstation the remote play is pretty awesome too, i've noticed playing some games it's gets a bit hot but not for long, if your a flashaholic with custom roms though you'll be a tad frustrated at the mo
Sent from my Sony Z5 ooossshhhh
King p1n said:
Not got either but are you interested in waiting for the 820 phones in a few months?
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Or that you are right.
Thing is, I am still within my Amazon return period and with less than 100 pounds more I could get the Z5 over the S6.
Question is, is it worth it?
The other thing to keep in mind is when you come to forums like this you usually only see posts about people with problems so it never paints a good picture the same can be said of any device, is it worth £100 more than your s6 not sure but defo worth considering
Sent from my Sony Z5 ooossshhhh
I'm doing just this. I have an AT&T S6, and I'm less then impressed with the battery life and the RAM management. I ordered the Z5 from expansys-usa.com hoping it works better for my needs (had a nexus 6 but it was a bit to big and my brother wanted it for Christmas.
I always liked the software on my Z Ultra, was way to big though.
I'm just waiting on it to get in now (few weeks di to the song to my location).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
evak2979 said:
Or that you are right.
Thing is, I am still within my Amazon return period and with less than 100 pounds more I could get the Z5 over the S6.
Question is, is it worth it?
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Click to collapse
Well I guess thats the beauty of Amazon, you could (Although tedious)
Return S6.
Buy Z5 and see If you like it If not return and rebuy S6?
I dunno lol.
Im tossing up between the Z5 and S6.
I don't think i can wait till next year, as I have a first gen Moto G
I can get the S6 for cheaper, Im not sure the Z5 is worth more with its hot 810.
Decisions will be made by the end of the month otherwise its going to be a tough few months surviving with lackluster Moto G
I've gone from the S6 to the Z5 and couldn't be happier.
Couldn't wait to get rid of the S6 and touchwiz, Christ I don't know what Samsung are thinking with that buggy battery sucking mess.
I (somehow) just downgraded from S6 to Z5, cause really cannot stand the S6 poor batt life.
I'm happy with Z5 camera speed, batt life but i really miss Samsung SideSync
Jumped from sammie i9205
used s6 and z5 or a week.
Winner - Z5
why? i like the design and battery.
You will read alot about problems with z5 but...
well i was samsung fan for many years.
Always was like" bleah wthell" when i was looking at xperia menu buttons.
- it turns out its not a waste of space -
its rly well designed and the buttons desaphere when they should and pop up back when they are needed. 3rd week - used it for games, browsing, google drive and office things, movies.
Its easier to hold z5 in 2 hands w/o pressing anything accidently. The space between screen and edge of phone is perfect for thumbs and the cam button - dmn i love it.
I always rooted / used roms for sammie phones. in Z5 - i unlocked it but than... well i stopped.
Yee yee u loose low light cam quality a little bit. i rly dont notice it. yea it piss me off that i lost some things from system ( even if i dont use them ).
Fingerprint scan is in a dmn good place. Took few days before i got used to new buttons locations.
Screen wont leave u with " hey mr pixel i see u there!" bad taste.
other things like specs and tests etc - are all over the place so i skip thatXD
( sorry for my bad eng
I'm also at the same boat as you, I currently using s6 edge for abt 3 monts now and I just received my Z5 dual 2 days ago. Just fyi I also have LG G4 which I use for ard 5 months. So my opinion will be based ard those 3 devices.
Well, I like the way Z5 handles, it feels balanced and easy to use one-handed, which strangely enough even my smaller s6edge is harder to use as my palm sometimes accidentally tap on the edge screen, and also the capacitive keys, where I believe both problems will not exist on regular s6.
I have a photography hobby, I use full-frame Nikon DSLR, but as they say, the best camera is the one in your pocket, which is my smartphone 99% of the time and the only thing holding me back is the camera quality on z5, when u compare side-by-size, then u zoomed in on the photos u will really notice how bad the image processing on the Z5, too many artifacts and the edges of the object is like its over sharpened, the result is quite similar to G4 but worse. S6 is much much better camera overall, clean pictures with minimal noise and great sharpness.
The worse part is it tends to affect people photos quite badly, which I use my smartphone to take pictures of most of the time, taking those precious moments of my 3yo, even when standing still the details is loss on z5, on the other hand G4 gets most details with most noise but S6 gets almost as much details as G4 without all the noise.
One more thing worth mentioning is that the time when u hit the shutter button until it actually captures the photos is quite slow, even in bright sunlight, I'm not sure whats happening there but I might try a factory reset to see if that helps. S6 is almost instant, while G4 is as fast as s6 in good light but when its not that bright it the worst of the three, it could take a full 2 seconds just to capture the photos.
I read from xda and some other sites that sony is planning on releasing new camera software with new UI, that is my last hope tbh, if that fixes the issue I'm having then I will definetely keep my Z5 as my primary phone. It doesnt have to get s6-quality but at least not this bad.
I'm using Rev.3 unit (stated on the box), some ppl get Rev.4 already which I also dont know what has improved. I'm also using the latest software which is 5.1.1 build no 32.0.A.6.152 model no E6683 (dual sim)
Tbh I will choose Z5 over s6 any day, I like everything about the Z5 over my s6edge / LG G4, well almost everything, the only single thing that holding me back is the picture quality, as I love photography and this is a huge compromise for me if I would choose the Z5.
Hope that helps your decision.
Keep experiences coming! Threads useful for somebody deciding between the S6 and Z5 also.
If only the 810 didnt ruin this years phones.
And if only the S6 had good battery.
Hows one handed use with the Z5? From dummy models the S6 would seem more comfortable, due to Z5's height.
What's the difference in rev on these phones mines only 5days old and days rev 2 I feel cheated lol
Sent from my Sony Z5 ooossshhhh
got rev 2. Was similar to u - felt cheated. but... after i checked forums it turns out that rev 2 had less problems copmpared to 3-4 but imo - dont even look at rev.
Probably its as important for u as case color for antutu score.
i did the move from S6 to Z5 and overall im disappointed so far
the device heat to much
camera is slow and software on z5 is slower and less polished then s6
battery life is disappointing compared to Z3 and its almost on par with s6
i hope sony will fix all of the problems in the upcoming android 6 upgrade
Never owned a Samsung phone but have owned several Sony phones. Very happy with the Z5.
I am on the same boat. I am just thinking of to jump to the Z5 from s6.
But I had a z3+ and that was very underperforming, hot, laggy Snap 810.
And I am afraid of this hot 810 again. I know, the z5 have pipes to drive away the heat. But dunno.....
S6 camera is awesome, and I have never met a person who could say the z5 is better regarding the whole camera. And this is a shame .
Also I have to notice, the Z3's 6.0 concept sw is very good. BUT that would be nice if we could test it on z5. It could help us to make our best choice.
S6's fast charging is awesome too, and I love S6's health app. Booting speed is fastest in android era.
I am not sure about Sony. Will they keep their phone business, and if NO, will they stop SW upgrades ?
S6's big disappointment is the LAGGY interface, wrong multitasking becouse of bad ram management, battery life is terrible. But I have to notice, z3+ had ALL this wrong things too, and that was 810 SNAPPY too.
Hi guys,
I'm thinking of getting a S6 instead of my Sony Z2 and therefore I've got some questions:
-How durable are the both front and back glasses?
-By previously owning a few Sammys I've learned, that they get easily clogged with trash and start lagging. Have any of you experienced this?
-Is battery life really that bad? I've heard rumours, that sometimes even a day is too much for it.
-Overall, how happy are you with your device? Would you buy it again, or choose, for example, G4, M9 or whatever?
1. Durable? If you have a good case for the bottom and a good screen protector for the front. My S6 has survived a 10ft drop onto marble floor.
2. Yes, it does start to lag a bit, if you have to many apps and all.
3. Battery life can vary for some people. For me, it can last around a day and a half with occasional mobile data use, but for my friends S6, his cannot last a full day even on ultra power saving mode.
4. I am happy with the phone But I would rather have the Z5 Premium, its just better in every aspect for me. The S6s software ruins it, but hopefully CM/AOSP will come for the phone.
Koostis said:
Hi guys,
I'm thinking of getting a S6 instead of my Sony Z2 and therefore I've got some questions:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-How durable are the both front and back glasses?
- VERY durable. i have had all the xpera flagships until z3+, but all had scratches , but s6 don't, and there is none on the camera. From durability s6 is well built.
-By previously owning a few Sammys I've learned, that they get easily clogged with trash and start lagging. Have any of you experienced this?
- of course. the memory management issue is still there, BUT it was there on z3+ too, and can be handled, dont't forget Android 6.0 is coming ( tons of light themes can be also applied)
-Is battery life really that bad? I've heard rumours, that sometimes even a day is too much for it.
- I'm running Simcity build it, all the day. And therefore i have to charge 2x a DAY. NEVER used this phone generally only for phone/text/browsing. Maybe those can handle bat. drain. Only my z3 was better, but that was slower in 3d apps. But bear in mind, THE FASTES charging on the market is for Exynos 7420 devies , such as s6. It can catch up 20-40% of charing within minutes !!!!
-Overall, how happy are you with your device? Would you buy it again, or choose, for example, G4, M9 or whatever?
- deffinetly yes. There is q810 devices OR slower 808 devices on the market now. THEY ARE ALL WORST than S6 or other Exynos 7420 devices. I always bought Xperias, but 810 leads me not to buy. M9, Nexus 6p also suffering becouse of the wrong q810. I have tried the G4 several times, but slower in 3d related apps, it has slower specs from everything.
Hey everyone i just want to know is xzp better option then s8?
Is Xzp good interms of rom development and future software support?
Hello . no doubt you should buy the premium xz. all videos on YouTube shows that the xz premium is faster than the s8.
Envoyé de mon G8141 en utilisant Tapatalk
Wolvym4 said:
Hey everyone i just want to know is xzp better option then s8?
Is Xzp good interms of rom development and future software support?
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Click to collapse
roms? dont know about that mate, but speed its faster, also nicer screen, although the design of the s8 is better, but the XZP feels snappier, better screen, and overall just out performs the s8 in almost every corner
but in terms of rom developing this isnt the best phone I can tell you that, I dont know if things will change after android Pie is out, but nothing is sure, I hope though
but I would definatly say the S9 is better, has a better camera, screen that is also great, better design, feels better and more stylish
Wolvym4 said:
Hey everyone i just want to know is xzp better option then s8?
Is Xzp good interms of rom development and future software support?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as official software support, Pie is the last Android XZP will get.
If you're switching from S8 in hope of getting longer software support, then XZ2/XZ2P might be a better choice for you.
As far as XZP vs S8 goes, it's difficult to say which phone is better, depends what you're looking for.
S8 has a better camera and more software toys and gadgets. However, that's the primary reason why I steer clear from Samsung and LG-the software. I've dealt with months old S8s and S9s that had lag and freezing issues, bad battery life and random shutdowns. It's behaviour I haven't seen in a single Xperia for the last five years. They just simply work, and they're built like tanks for the most part.
The second reason why I keep rocking Sony is the battery life. The first phone that got me through two days without a charge with normal usage was the Z3, and that's where I got hooked and stayed with Sony.
Xperias are just as flawed as any other brand, it's just a matter of what you're looking for.
If I needed the best camera phone on the market, I'd go for Pixel, for example.
Bottom line, if you're considering Xperia and the budget allows it, rather go for XZ2 lineup. I'm looking at the XZ2, bit I just can't stomach the design of it. Had it in my hand, it just feels odd to me, unlike XZ2P even though it's bigger. Probably a matter of being used to really slim Xperias.
As far as custom rom support goes, I'd guess the Samsung scene is richer, but then again, since I started using Sony, I stopped rooting and flashing custom roms, I just don't see the need for it. The OEM software is very clean and debloated, you can further disable stuff you don't need and you get quick monthly updates, I have yet to see a compelling reason to root it and flash a custom rom, considering my needs.
Good luck
Cheers
Went from always having Samsungs to risking it and buying an XZ Premium. I'd say don't get the XZP, to be honest. The camera is good on paper, but it's actually pretty bad compared to my Note 7. Low light is terrible. A lot of these devices (including mine) have intermittent WiFi connection issues and piss poor screen share stability with a lot of lag.
I dropped my Note 7 loads of times and it was fine. Dropped this once and the screen is all scraped. I'm going back to Samsung soon.
Future software support isn't looking good either.
Have a look at how cheap these phones are on eBay already. People are finding them hard to sell
cmac669 said:
Went from always having Samsungs to risking it and buying an XZ Premium. I'd say don't get the XZP, to be honest. The camera is good on paper, but it's actually pretty bad compared to my Note 7. Low light is terrible. A lot of these devices (including mine) have intermittent WiFi connection issues and piss poor screen share stability with a lot of lag.
I dropped my Note 7 loads of times and it was fine. Dropped this once and the screen is all scraped. I'm going back to Samsung soon.
Future software support isn't looking good either.
Have a look at how cheap these phones are on eBay already. People are finding them hard to sell
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Click to collapse
I dont know about camera man, I tried it with my friend he has a s8 and i have xzp, unless he uses manual settings, mine on auto is better, on manual his can get pretty good only slightly better even in low light, but not enough to concider switching... in terms of dropping phone I dont know about you man, my phone dropped multiple times and I was amazed how I barely see scratches (fell like 5 heavy drops with no case on) there are drop marks on the frame of the phone but thats all. I agree wifi connection HAD issues but it was due to software bugs but now its all good.
future software support, we are confirmed to get the Android Pie, concidering the phone comes android 7 out of the box, that is 2 major updates already and we might even get the third as in after android Pie, the updates start to roll form Google them selves rather than each phone's manufacture. (I am not sure if all phones, or only the ones that come android 8 out of the box tho)
the only thing or two someone would put the S8 better than the XZP is the design and sometimes camera (not in all cases tho).
In terms of speed, no lags in the long run, battery life, screen (in terms of realistic and not colorful, as some people think the s8 is better but its only more saturated but the XZP is more realistic and has 4k HDR), the XZP is the clear winner, heck my brother has he s9+ and I still have better battery life even on 4K mode!
Wolvym4 said:
Hey everyone i just want to know is xzp better option then s8?
Is Xzp good interms of rom development and future software support?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a friend with the s8 and he really want to have the same device like me because the xz premium is a beast , more smooth , faster than s8 better screen , camera , battery etc
madshark2009 said:
I dont know about camera man, I tried it with my friend he has a s8 and i have xzp, unless he uses manual settings, mine on auto is better, on manual his can get pretty good only slightly better even in low light, but not enough to concider switching... in terms of dropping phone I dont know about you man, my phone dropped multiple times and I was amazed how I barely see scratches (fell like 5 heavy drops with no case on) there are drop marks on the frame of the phone but thats all. I agree wifi connection HAD issues but it was due to software bugs but now its all good.
future software support, we are confirmed to get the Android Pie, concidering the phone comes android 7 out of the box, that is 2 major updates already and we might even get the third as in after android Pie, the updates start to roll form Google them selves rather than each phone's manufacture. (I am not sure if all phones, or only the ones that come android 8 out of the box tho)
the only thing or two someone would put the S8 better than the XZP is the design and sometimes camera (not in all cases tho).
In terms of speed, no lags in the long run, battery life, screen (in terms of realistic and not colorful, as some people think the s8 is better but its only more saturated but the XZP is more realistic and has 4k HDR), the XZP is the clear winner, heck my brother has he s9+ and I still have better battery life even on 4K mode!
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Some fair points there, but my WiFi and lagging screen mirroring problems are still there - same with a hell of a lot of other people. If you ever have this issue, you'll soon find people flooding forums demanding that Sony give them refunds or fix the problem, since the updates didn't fix the issue at all.
I can see why you would defend the phone though. I loved it at first, but now on reflection after using it for around 8 months, I'd personally go for something else next time. Constant WiFi signal drops are getting pretty annoying.
Sony's Xperia division doesn't exactly have a good reputation for reliability, and I'm beginning to see why. And this is coming from someone you could probably call a Sony "fanboy". I think I'll stick to their PlayStations and headphones!
In terms of specs they are similar, but xz premium software is much closer to stock android.
I'm on a xz premium .and the lineage15 .1. It's very good combination . Fast smooth . 4k is here with a little procedure. s8 is slow compared to xz premium. here the applications opens instantly. the video proves that the original xz is faster than the s8. slightly. so better. after only your choice is important.
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cmac669 said:
Some fair points there, but my WiFi and lagging screen mirroring problems are still there - same with a hell of a lot of other people. If you ever have this issue, you'll soon find people flooding forums demanding that Sony give them refunds or fix the problem, since the updates didn't fix the issue at all.
I can see why you would defend the phone though. I loved it at first, but now on reflection after using it for around 8 months, I'd personally go for something else next time. Constant WiFi signal drops are getting pretty annoying.
Sony's Xperia division doesn't exactly have a good reputation for reliability, and I'm beginning to see why. And this is coming from someone you could probably call a Sony "fanboy". I think I'll stick to their PlayStations and headphones!
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like yah im not saying XZP is the best phone and after trying sony for a while i think there are better options out there, but i wouldnt go for the S8, I would go for S9 to feel a worthful upgrade, or google pixel, or iphone X