Coming From Galaxy Note 2 - Thread - Sony Xperia ZL

I thought I might start a thread for people who are getting or want to get the Xperia ZL coming from the Galaxy Note 2.
I myself just listed mine up for sell to pay for the ZL I could had last week but didnt know so I canceled it which I should not have
So Will you be switching from the Note 2?

Kind of "I selling my horse to bay an donkey" story! But maybe you can explain why?
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zmadaric said:
Kind of "I selling my horse to bay an donkey" story! But maybe you can explain why?
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Huh?

hyelton said:
Huh?
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What he meant is Galaxy Note 2 is better than the Sony ZL. I want to try one but but it is more expensive than the note 2. I am not a Samsung fan but I have to admit that No other smart phones can beat the Note 2 right now.

I just sold my note 2...going get xperia zl when it becomes available...

htc fan89 said:
I just sold my note 2...going get xperia zl when it becomes available...
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I sold mine a few days after I bought my ZL, Now to pay the credit card haha. I love the ZL! The Note 2 camera was way better though.

zmadaric said:
Kind of "I selling my horse to bay an donkey" story! But maybe you can explain why?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
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Ha ha.. Sold my note2 as well in a heartbeat as soon I laid my hands upon the ZL. And I'm very happy with my decision.
Apart from the bigger screen & battery life on note2, I find everything else better on the ZL (which also doesn't have buggy emmc nor corrupts those 64gb SanDisk SDXC cards like note2/GS3 ).

Sold note 1 for zl tho.. Im quite satisfied. My samsung experience was horrible. Batt bloated 3xs for one year of usage. Cant waste more money.
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app

what? note 2 camera much more better?hyelton

jianlinooi said:
what? note 2 camera much more better?hyelton
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I think this camera is better than the note 2 camera
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Yes it is
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Camera wise, it seems out of focus at times... From my opinion, samsung is a lil bit better.. For now. Not sure bout you guys
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safuan7822 said:
Camera wise, it seems out of focus at times... From my opinion, samsung is a lil bit better.. For now. Not sure bout you guys
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
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It really depends on how u use it. If u like to simply point and shoot, I would say Samsung (note2/GS3) is bit better for day photography, but Sony is better for indoors & night shots. But, if you workaround (play with different modes/settings ), then Xperia camera beats Samsung's, whether day or night. I've had some decent shots with my note2, but some really good ones with the ZL. Having said that, I have no doubt that the camera hardware is much better in the ZL, but sony really need to fix the default high ISO preference (auto mode) & resulting loss of sharpness (due to over smoothening). Besides, I feel that Samsung camera software is zippier, with better optimised post processing, but always liked the colours (also details due to higher pixel count) captured by Sony more than by Samsung.

Dpk1 said:
It really depends on how u use it. If u like to simply point and shoot, I would say Samsung (note2/GS3) is bit better for day photography, but Sony is better for indoors & night shots. But, if you workaround (play with different modes/settings ), then Xperia camera beats Samsung's, whether day or night. I've had some decent shots with my note2, but some really good ones with the ZL. Having said that, I have no doubt that the camera hardware is much better in the ZL, but sony really need to fix the default high ISO preference (auto mode) & resulting loss of sharpness (due to over smoothening). Besides, I feel that Samsung camera software is zippier, with better optimised post processing, but always liked the colours (also details due to higher pixel count) captured by Sony more than by Samsung.
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Can you gives us some pointers on what mode/settings to use for best pictures in different sceneries.
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cheapshot789 said:
Can you gives us some pointers on what mode/settings to use for best pictures in different sceneries.
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I don't know about Dpk1's experience, but I've had better luck with getting good pictures switching to Normal mode instead of using the default Superior+ mode. I seem to be able to get the right exposure and focus on a consistent basis this way.

cheapshot789 said:
Can you gives us some pointers on what mode/settings to use for best pictures in different sceneries.
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Try this. What I usually do is use the auto mode with auto flash at night/poor light, and Normal mode with ISO auto, hdr off, center metering, flash off in bright light. For indoors ISO 200/400, flash off, hdr off, average metering. For landscapes (in daylight), the scene mode "landscape" does a decent job. I'm yet exploring other options. I've also noticed that auto mode sometimes delivers quite good results even in daylight (its a hit or miss). Burst mode (mid) does provide crisp images in bright daylight. Sony really needs to improve on the post processing, i.e reduce & optimise its aggressive noise reduction. Hope it helps.

Iv been a Note 2 user since it came out and i have zero complaints..I wanted to give the ZL a try because i figured google wallet would work on an unlocked phone. When i got the ZL i was very happy. But the happiness didnt last long. I love the looks of the phone but there are alot of downsides that i experienced (which might not be what you guys experience).
First the size, im so used to using the big note 2 its hard to use something smaller even if it is only .5 smaller. its a big difference when you type and web browse etc.
2nd, google wallet doesnt work unless you root and tweak and tweak and etc..i want google wallet working straight out of the box since its an unlocked non carrier specific phone with nfc.
3rd, the signal on the ZL is not the greatest, it doesnt seem to get my wifi signal too well compared to my note 2 and it would be in hsdpa(+) mode in an LTE area sometimes where my note 2 would be in LTE all the time. also the LTE signal is weaker by one bar compared to my note 2.
4th, the screen is beautiful and crisp but the note 2 screen seems so much brighter and more vibrant, thats just my opinion.
5th, camera start up time is like 4 seconds..this is on the initial start up..from then when i close the camera and reopen it it starts up within 2 seconds which the note 2 does every single time.
6th, i compared the call quality to the note 2 since i heard the quality on the ZL was awesome. I heard alot of hissing noise when calling someone and during the call. I know that has alot to do with the network but when i called on the note 2 right after i get no hissing noise. its just a cleaner call quality on the note 2..much cleaner..for me
7th, battery. I knew going into this the battery wouldnt compare to the note 2 but my god the battery sucks..im to used to the note 2 lasting 2 days.
8th, the loud speaker sounds good but the note 2 speaker blows it away..there is a big difference in the speaker quality and music output
there were few other minor issues like the notification light bug which i got around and fixed it.. but those r the main ones..so im keeping my note 2 and selling the ZL..I hope you guys have a better experience with the ZL than me..i wanted to like this phone so bad but it cant beat the note 2 sorry guys.

I LOVE The size of my zl but its sitting in a box. I ordered a note 2 and should be here Monday. The value of the zl dropped big time. I paid 635 when it came out and I can't even sell it used for 500
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Well
I Just ordered a Xperia ZL today - Will be here Tuesday - Paid $515 delivered to me - Put my Note II for sale online and locally.
The 1080p Screen and easier "pocket-ability" is what got me Interested - and the fact that I could get it for almost nothing after I sell my Note II.
It was an impulse buy as it was a good price and only 2 of them were available.
This thread has me wondering - I expect the battery life to be less - But I think I'll be happy with it.

bigystyle84 said:
Well
I Just ordered a Xperia ZL today - Will be here Tuesday - Paid $515 delivered to me - Put my Note II for sale online and locally.
The 1080p Screen and easier "pocket-ability" is what got me Interested - and the fact that I could get it for almost nothing after I sell my Note II.
It was an impulse buy as it was a good price and only 2 of them were available.
This thread has me wondering - I expect the battery life to be less - But I think I'll be happy with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life is definitely note2's forte (7hrs vs 5.5hrs screen time for me). But I am enjoying my ZL and certainly don't miss my note2 (sold). It's more portable & fits in pocket/hand better than note2. I'm much impressed with sony's build quality! Mine survived a 3ft drop (without case) on concrete floor with minor scratches on two edges, which note2 certainly wouldn't have imo. I think the call signal/volume is as good as on note2 (even louder maybe) on C6502. Camera launches faster than note2 within 1-1.5 secs from screen off/sleep (using camera button). Default sound quality (via headphones) is better on the ZL to my ears & speakers are loud enough (note2 was louder). I can't even think of going back to 270ppi AMOLED display after being spoiled by super crisp 441ppi Sony ZL's display! Reading text is much better on ZL, its like night and day for me !
Remember, every device has its pros n cons. So, don't be bothered and enjoy your new purchase!

Related

Droid DNA : is it really a challenge for the galaxy note 2 ???

I wonder now with the upcoming release of the droid dna...is it really a match for our beloved note 2
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Nice design, but lack of features and stylus, no battery removal or external sd..not for me..
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witeboy07 said:
Nice design, but lack of features and stylus, no battery removal or external sd..not for me..
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Yea I see that im wondering why htc is going this way all of sudden with these phones...they really need to keep external memory as a option still...
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Samsung intends this to be a niche device (a phablet, if you will) while HTC has strongly insisted that the DNA be called a phone. Oh, and by launching only on Verizon, that means I won't be buying it... ever. (T-Mobile fanboy here ... not to mention I save a ton too)
achusaysblessyou said:
Samsung intends this to be a niche device (a phablet, if you will) while HTC has strongly insisted that the DNA be called a phone. Oh, and by launching only on Verizon, that means I won't be buying it... ever. (T-Mobile fanboy here ... not to mention I save a ton too)
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Lol yea I see that...verizon plans are disgustingly high :*(...I was hoping t-mobile was going to release a htc j butterfly but the note is satisfying in almost every way
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witeboy07 said:
Nice design, but lack of features and stylus, no battery removal or external sd..not for me..
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This
noted for future reference on my Note 2
it has a smaller battery than the GS3 but it has a bigger 1080p screen so yeah good luck with the battery
haldi15 said:
it has a smaller battery than the GS3 but it has a bigger 1080p screen so yeah good luck with the battery
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Hahaha! Yea I was thinking it has a higher resolution but yet the battery is weaker than that of the GS3. So either you carry a charger with you all day or have a set of battery extension because its going to drain fast during usage.
Now I wouldn't think about trading my Note 2 for the DNA one bit because both phones pretty much have the same specs. The Note 2 at 720p is already rich in screen resolution. You'll have to stare at it from about half an inch away from the screen to notice the pixels. I'm pretty sure you'll see less pixels on the DNA while staring at the screen from the same distance, but who'll want to do that?. With the Note 2 you can also record videos and take pictures at the same time like the how the HTC always advertise on their phones. Nothing new about that. Now the only down side I see on the DNA is no stylus (many people who hates holding a pencil, let alone writing their name would not care for it at all), no expansion slot (I cannot rely on cloud storage as an alternative), the battery is weak and non-removable (so unlike the Note 2 it is not meant for heavy usage), and finally it's from Verizon (the carrier whom loves to brand the **** out of their phones).
But I don't like to tell people what to get. If any phone they find that suits them, then great and good luck with their new devices. We all win. :good:
EDIT: Forgot to mention that with LTE the DNA will suffer even more on its battery.
haldi15 said:
it has a smaller battery than the GS3 but it has a bigger 1080p screen so yeah good luck with the battery
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I agtee battery will be a problem. I think I read the DNA had like 1000 less milli amp hours than our battery! Thats pretty significant
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Droid DNA is a phone - GN2 is a phablet ...
But i want both of them, the best two devices in the world until now.:silly:
DNA has everything I try to avoid in a phone...
Lol im surprised at how everybody like shot the droid dna out of clouds ...so it seemz that gn2 is still the god of phones!!! Or has HTC started losing their over all appeal because of the recent designs and bad moves they made (locked bootloaders/failure to see their batteries are basically dead paperweights/ etc)...idk what is your opinions...cuz those were tge reason I avoided the one x and grew sick of the one s
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The only thing arguably better would be the display / resolution. Other than that, Note 2 owns all the way. At this point in time, I don't really care much for 1080p. For my next phone in about a year or two, thats a different story.
a less than 16gb for screen 1080p phone, pass...
boodies said:
The only thing arguably better would be the display / resolution. Other than that, Note 2 owns all the way. At this point in time, I don't really care much for 1080p. For my next phone in about a year or two, thats a different story.
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I checked out the Note2 again tonight this time only for about 15 min when I stopped by Best Buy & immediately felt like this is such a real huge upgrade from my EVO 4G that I must have it soon. Then I started noticing the whites weren't as white as my EVO & it could be brighter (set to max) & even experienced some lag but I did not have time to do a reboot.
I am curious to see the DDNA, 1080p natural color screen with amazing cameras like the OneX & improved speaker etc but obviously annoyed with battery & sdcard situtation (not a huge fan of all the red styling either but would slap a case on it) yet I will have to check it out. I think the OneX variants are the best "smartphone" display & camera & at 5" DDNA should be impressive (always thought 5" is a great size but the N2 managed its 5.55" amazingly as well & the stylus puts it in its own class).
So do the non-white whites & brightness of the screen around sunlight on the N2 ever bother anyone?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hPBIJrq44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5bFRt_3U0c
- Thnx
psn1819 said:
Yea I see that im wondering why htc is going this way all of sudden with these phones...they really need to keep external memory as a option still...
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I would go back to HTC if they stopped emulating the iPhone in their designs. My SGN2 is my first non-HTC phone in 7 years - They no longer offer anything I'm interested in.
SMARTPHONEPC said:
I checked out the Note2 again tonight this time only for about 15 min when I stopped by Best Buy & immediately felt like this is such a real huge upgrade from my EVO 4G that I must have it soon. Then I started noticing the whites weren't as white as my EVO & it could be brighter (set to max) & even experienced some lag but I did not have time to do a reboot.
I am curious to see the DDNA, 1080p natural color screen with amazing cameras like the OneX & improved speaker etc but obviously annoyed with battery & sdcard situtation (not a huge fan of all the red styling either but would slap a case on it) yet I will have to check it out. I think the OneX variants are the best "smartphone" display & camera & at 5" DDNA should be impressive (always thought 5" is a great size but the N2 managed its 5.55" amazingly as well & the stylus puts it in its own class).
So do the non-white whites & brightness of the screen around sunlight on the N2 ever bother anyone?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hPBIJrq44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5bFRt_3U0c
- Thnx
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Click to collapse
I will admit that the 440ppi and handling of colors is a huge notch against the n2.. the droid however is it a dealbreaker for me...No...does it hurt people who are truly craving that 1080p display and higher color reproduction...it might...Htc decisions to do certain designs and moves on there devices seem to be pushing people away already from what it seems...as well as the fact the series of their devices theyve released is starting to flow the "Apple way"..thats just coming from me though
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Screen size is a deal breaker for me. Can't go smaller after this
From the Best: Note 2
sprintuser1977 said:
Screen size is a deal breaker for me. Can't go smaller after this
From the Best: Note 2
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No doubt. I gave my Galaxy S III to my girlfriend. I held it this morning for the first time in a week. It feels so small and tiny now that I'm used to my Note II. Next phone I get will need to be around the size of the Note II.
Sistum Id said:
No doubt. I gave my Galaxy S III to my girlfriend. I held it this morning for the first time in a week. It feels so small and tiny now that I'm used to my Note II. Next phone I get will need to be around the size of the Note II.
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Lol when I first was deciphering if I was gonna keep the n2 my sister placed her gs3 next to it...I thought my eyes were messing with me...in comparison that phone dwarfs and can basically devour the gs3...I couldnt go back to the gs3 if I tried now
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Note II user trying an Xperia ZL

Just picked up an Xperia Zl (C6506) and using it on Bell Mobility Canada. I currently use a Note II (came from a Note I prior, and an iPhone 4S before that). After just a few hours here are my thoughts (I'll update this later as I get to try battery power and reception a bit more).
I will be using this for a week or two for sure, and I'll either give this to my wife and grab a Galaxy S4, or I will keep this and get an Xperia ZL for the wife too. I'll decide when the S4 comes out, but so far I could happily live with this device.
Obviously, the points below are incomplete. I'll update over the next few weeks:
Screen:
- Nice and sharp. Boy was I more worried than I should have been about the 'terrible' viewing angles. I am picky about the display too, so I was worried I would not like it. Display is fine (yes, colours washed out a bit on an angle but its really not a big deal).
- Screen size is great! If the Note's screen size has you spoiled, the Xperia is a good device to move to if you want a smaller 'pocket' footprint.
Build quality/Size:
- Feels great in the hand. The plastic feels better quality than the Note II or S3s. Does not feel cheap.
- Wife who has iPhone 4S loves it too (she has very small hands, unlike the big ones I have). She says it "does not feel dainty like the iPhone". I asked her if she would be happy with it and she said she will use this no prob, and she hates big phones.
- Feels great in the pocket (but I did not mind the Note II in my jeans so that that into account).
Performance:
- snappy scrolling and app launching. Comparable to the Note II (in my eyes).
- Took my 64GB microSD card no problems. It was formatted by my Note II (not sure of the file format) and the ZL took the card and reads all the data already on it without an issue or need to reformat.
Conclusion (after 3 hours of use):
- Nothing to worry about as far as screen size and screen quality if you are a Note II user.
There's already a thread regarding this in the Q&A section as many of us (ZL owners) have/had note2. I've done my comparison of the two here. Anyway thanks for sharing your views!
Dpk1 said:
There's already a thread regarding this in the Q&A section as many of us (ZL owners) have/had note2. I've done my comparison of the two here. Anyway thanks for sharing your views!
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Haha awesome. I did not look too closely at the Indian ZL thread. Looks like your experiences are close to what I am seeing (the model numbers of the Note II and ZL differ mostly in just the available modems correct?)
chriskwarren said:
Haha awesome. I did not look too closely at the Indian ZL thread. Looks like your experiences are close to what I am seeing (the model numbers of the Note II and ZL differ mostly in just the available modems correct?)
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Yeah, I guess. Lol, we do share quite similar thoughts !
came from note 2 here as well. loving the phone!
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hyelton said:
came from note 2 here as well. loving the phone!
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Click to collapse
So actually whats the Difference you found in Xperia Zl vs Galaxy Note II ?
Why you choose Zl, instead of getting S4?
All people having complain about viewing angle, I also want to go for Xperia Zl but now by people reviews I really disappointed to go for it, but I love Xperia Zl
If you're another victim of the viewing angle plot, get your self a s4 and end convo now. What is the matter with people and viewing angles? **** is a useless extra that Samsung fan boys dug out their ass to justify the flat looking icons their Ui looks. And even so, who looks into their screens from an angle? Rreally? Common people.
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Lusterboi said:
If you're another victim of the viewing angle plot, get your self a s4 and end convo now. What is the matter with people and viewing angles? **** is a useless extra that Samsung fan boys dug out their ass to justify the flat looking icons their Ui looks. And even so, who looks into their screens from an angle? Rreally? Common people.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
No Brother you are wrong I'm not victim of Bloody viewing angles, but I'm just try to asking actually How the screen of Xperia Zl is looking ???
Because I love the Simplicity of Sony UI & also compact design,
One-thing more is ntt-docomo Xperia is using looking better than normal Xperia line, do you know about it?
jhony.liver said:
No Brother you are wrong I'm not victim of Bloody viewing angles, but I'm just try to asking actually How the screen of Xperia Zl is looking ???
Because I love the Simplicity of Sony UI & also compact design,
One-thing more is ntt-docomo Xperia is using looking better than normal Xperia line, do you know about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Compared to other flagship, screen is good. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to keep nagging about either. You see so many complaining about it, because there is very little wrong with the ZL. The best thing to do, if you are on the fence, would be to compare them once the S4 is out. The screen looks insanely sharp on their new ads.
As for the NTT DOCOMO version, remember that its bootloader will be locked. Whether its unlockable or not, you will need to check.
I think you need to decide if you want
Soft buttons or Sammy style buttons
Dedicated camera button or not
Touch whiz or Sony styling
Lcd or amoled
Removable battery or not
When you have decided you have made your decision.
The rest just doesn't matter.
Processor - you won't know the difference
Camera - both good
Battery life - comparable
Good luck.
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Week 2 after trading Note 2 for X ZL
I was in the same boat as you. Actually, I loved my Note 2 I used the hell out of it, the screen size was enough that I almost completely abandoned my Nexus 7, it just fit the gap between Tablet and phone so close that I hardly ever felt myself needing to switch to the Nexus 7.
Not to mention the battery was awesome and I don't remember ever having a day where I didn't get a full day of heavy use out of it. It was my favorite gadget ever so, as you can imagine, I was a bit reluctant to give it up easily. I actually had no real intention of selling my note 2 but I've had it for a while and it started to show it's age.
I was in a mobile shop the other day and I saw a ZL there. It was used 2 days and almost $200 dollars off the new price. In the end it cost me a grand total of $50 and heavily used, year old Note 2 as a trade in. Pretty damn good deal if you ask me. The phone was in mint condition. I had some experience with the Xperia Z which a friend bought and I really, really liked it. At first I was kind of sad that the Z was not available but I couldn't pass it up at that good of a deal. Now having used it for a couple weeks, I like the ZL much, much better than the Z
So, two weeks in and I am super happy. I love the ZL completely. I was a worried I wouldn't like it as much because the screen a little smalled but the nearly invisible bezel on the ZL and the build quality made it all worth it. ( I would love to see a 5.5" screen on the next version of it )
All in all I don't regret my decision at all and I don't think I will be giving it up anytime soon ( that is maybe until the note 3 is released, or the fabled Xphone from Motorola ) until then I will love and enjoy my ZL.
I do have a few minor issues with the ZL. First and foremost it seems to get a bit warm pretty quickly, I'm not exactly sure why this is but I never had any heat issues with any of my previous phones ( samsungs and nokias mostly )
People mention the viewing angles, and I honestly can't understand why this is an issue. With A TV I could understand because you sometimes have to sit at weird angles., but on a mobile I don't understand why anyone would want ( or would be able to ) use their phone at any angle that would cause any problems. In my experience the ZL has an awesome screen, althoughI did notice a single dead pixel which kinda makes me sad but you can't really notice it.
My other issues are simply, I can't find any aftermarket stuff for it in my area. There are no cases or anything to speak of so I am super paranoid about dropping it.
And finally, there is a lack of custom roms out there for the ZL. This is more because I'm a Rom addict and not smart enough to bake my own ;D
I rooted it and unlocked the boot-loader out of the box I would love to put PAC Rom on it at some point.
Again, it took my 64GB SD card with no problems.
The battery life is not as good as the Note 2 but it is very, very good. I make it through a whole day, with heavy use no problem.
In closing, if you are on the fence about trading in your Note 2, don't be. It's a worthy upgrade.
chriskwarren said:
Just picked up an Xperia Zl (C6506) and using it on Bell Mobility Canada. I currently use a Note II (came from a Note I prior, and an iPhone 4S before that). After just a few hours here are my thoughts (I'll update this later as I get to try battery power and reception a bit more).
I will be using this for a week or two for sure, and I'll either give this to my wife and grab a Galaxy S4, or I will keep this and get an Xperia ZL for the wife too. I'll decide when the S4 comes out, but so far I could happily live with this device.
Obviously, the points below are incomplete. I'll update over the next few weeks:
Screen:
- Nice and sharp. Boy was I more worried than I should have been about the 'terrible' viewing angles. I am picky about the display too, so I was worried I would not like it. Display is fine (yes, colours washed out a bit on an angle but its really not a big deal).
- Screen size is great! If the Note's screen size has you spoiled, the Xperia is a good device to move to if you want a smaller 'pocket' footprint.
Build quality/Size:
- Feels great in the hand. The plastic feels better quality than the Note II or S3s. Does not feel cheap.
- Wife who has iPhone 4S loves it too (she has very small hands, unlike the big ones I have). She says it "does not feel dainty like the iPhone". I asked her if she would be happy with it and she said she will use this no prob, and she hates big phones.
- Feels great in the pocket (but I did not mind the Note II in my jeans so that that into account).
Performance:
- snappy scrolling and app launching. Comparable to the Note II (in my eyes).
- Took my 64GB microSD card no problems. It was formatted by my Note II (not sure of the file format) and the ZL took the card and reads all the data already on it without an issue or need to reformat.
Conclusion (after 3 hours of use):
- Nothing to worry about as far as screen size and screen quality if you are a Note II user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're a flash a holic and you made a new account and this is your first post?
thx bro for the review btw. this is good to hear as I am also considering Sony Xperia ZL, but strictly for the ROMs (because I thought development for Sony was better, vs Samsung's AT&T Note 2 ROMs which I found a bit lacking even after one year).
I'm currently on GSM Galaxy Nexus which has a boat load of ROMs to flash.
I might wait a year to see how the development shapes up. I will get the ZL that comes with LTE support so I'm reading around for a while.
abuayyoub said:
I was in the same boat as you. Actually, I loved my Note 2 I used the hell out of it, the screen size was enough that I almost completely abandoned my Nexus 7, it just fit the gap between Tablet and phone so close that I hardly ever felt myself needing to switch to the Nexus 7.
Not to mention the battery was awesome and I don't remember ever having a day where I didn't get a full day of heavy use out of it. It was my favorite gadget ever so, as you can imagine, I was a bit reluctant to give it up easily. I actually had no real intention of selling my note 2 but I've had it for a while and it started to show it's age.
I was in a mobile shop the other day and I saw a ZL there. It was used 2 days and almost $200 dollars off the new price. In the end it cost me a grand total of $50 and heavily used, year old Note 2 as a trade in. Pretty damn good deal if you ask me. The phone was in mint condition. I had some experience with the Xperia Z which a friend bought and I really, really liked it. At first I was kind of sad that the Z was not available but I couldn't pass it up at that good of a deal. Now having used it for a couple weeks, I like the ZL much, much better than the Z
So, two weeks in and I am super happy. I love the ZL completely. I was a worried I wouldn't like it as much because the screen a little smalled but the nearly invisible bezel on the ZL and the build quality made it all worth it. ( I would love to see a 5.5" screen on the next version of it )
All in all I don't regret my decision at all and I don't think I will be giving it up anytime soon ( that is maybe until the note 3 is released, or the fabled Xphone from Motorola ) until then I will love and enjoy my ZL.
I do have a few minor issues with the ZL. First and foremost it seems to get a bit warm pretty quickly, I'm not exactly sure why this is but I never had any heat issues with any of my previous phones ( samsungs and nokias mostly )
People mention the viewing angles, and I honestly can't understand why this is an issue. With A TV I could understand because you sometimes have to sit at weird angles., but on a mobile I don't understand why anyone would want ( or would be able to ) use their phone at any angle that would cause any problems. In my experience the ZL has an awesome screen, althoughI did notice a single dead pixel which kinda makes me sad but you can't really notice it.
My other issues are simply, I can't find any aftermarket stuff for it in my area. There are no cases or anything to speak of so I am super paranoid about dropping it.
And finally, there is a lack of custom roms out there for the ZL. This is more because I'm a Rom addict and not smart enough to bake my own ;D
I rooted it and unlocked the boot-loader out of the box I would love to put PAC Rom on it at some point.
Again, it took my 64GB SD card with no problems.
The battery life is not as good as the Note 2 but it is very, very good. I make it through a whole day, with heavy use no problem.
In closing, if you are on the fence about trading in your Note 2, don't be. It's a worthy upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. I'm impressed with the reviews from Note users.
At this point the lack of Roms that's stopping me. I had the XS and used the KA roms and see he is developing for the the ZL which is good.
never stock always tweaked
I had a ZL for 10 days, loved the build quality & size. I would have kept it, but the locked bootloader convinced me that it wasn't worth keeping it. I did find battery life is longer on the Note2. I am hanging on to my Note2 for now.
me too came from note 2.. the phone is pretty badA$$.
I'm surprised I'm not the only Note 2 user looking at this phone... I wonder what it is about it that attracts the Note 2 userbase??
Question for those who have switched regarding the screen, how are the blacks? I know they aren't AMOLED black, but are they still pretty dark?
arthurbrownleeiv said:
I'm surprised I'm not the only Note 2 user looking at this phone... I wonder what it is about it that attracts the Note 2 userbase??
Question for those who have switched regarding the screen, how are the blacks? I know they aren't AMOLED black, but are they still pretty dark?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're ok, about average for a TFT screen. Nothing compares to AMOLED when it comes to blacks.
Not a note 2 owner
I was torn between Xperia ZL and note 2, because here in my country, they are sold for almost exactly the same price.
With much thinking and reading, I have decided to go for the ZL mainly because of: Compactness, and a brighter future ahead in terms of development support (as I see it).
Getting it next week. Sooo excited
JRBT24 said:
I was torn between Xperia ZL and note 2, because here in my country, they are sold for almost exactly the same price.
With much thinking and reading, I have decided to go for the ZL mainly because of: Compactness, and a brighter future ahead in terms of development support (as I see it).
Getting it next week. Sooo excited
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup its a great phone but don't bother to sell your note 2 ...
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Should I get this phone?

It is August 3 2013 and this phone has been out for a little while now. I am looking for a new phone because I need to switch carriers. I currently have a Galaxy Note 2 and I absolutely love it. I see that Sony announced they will update it to 4.3. The screen is only 0.5" smaller then my Note 2. The Sony has a higher resolution though. The battery life doesn't seem to be a problem for most of you (I checked the battery thread). Do all of you who currently own the Sony absolutely love the phone? Do you wish you tried a different phone? I love the look of the phone.
I am stuck between the Galaxy S4, HTC one, and this ZL. The S4 seems to have a ton of bloatware that I will never use but since the Google edition was announced, I might be able to flash a stock version of android on it once they figure out the battery drain issue. Same goes for the HTC one. I love the Sony for no apparent reason. It looks like a decent phone on paper and I remember reading about how Sony is really making an effort to help out developers. They also seem to keep updating this phone (4.2.2 and 4.3).
I need to decide soon so I appreciate any responses!
Edit** was this phone really just released 4 months ago? For some reason I thought it was older.
It's your decision of course and nobody here can really make that decision for you... it's a very subjective topic and you will get 100 different "answers".
However, I'll give you my highly subjective and personal opinion... for what it's worth.
I have both the Z and ZL, a GS3 and have had an HTC One. The GS3 is a reliable and usable phone that is easy to mod. It does everything well, except the screen is really unreadable outside. The 2 particular key points for me on phones, other than the ability to function reliably as a phone, are a good notification LED and a decent FM radio. The Radio is quite passable on the GS3. I bought an HTC One to replace the GS3 and was both impressed by some aspects and seriously disappointed by others. The notification LED is a joke and the FM radio was chronically insensitive to the point of being worthless. Plus the speaker grilles didn't fit correctly. It lasted a week and then got returned.
The GS4 doesn't have an FM radio... pathetic discrimination
Anyway, on to Sony...
The Z was bought in lieu of the H1. I've always liked Sony and SE phones, they are designed in Scandinavia and it shows, certainly in the electronic design and qualification. I also bought the ZL whilst on a business trip in Germany a week or two later. Both phones are great, but I prefer the ZL - because it is physically smaller (thicker but nicer to hold), has a better screen (higher brightness and contrast plus better viewing angles), no flaps to mess about with, the Sony logo is on the phone not the ASF (gives you more options) and has a slightly better notification LED. The FM radio is fantastic on both, although for some reason the Z is more sensitive, by about 10% I reckon. I also prefer the easy access SIM and SD card slots. The loudspeaker on the ZL is not restricted by waterproofing and is thus a fair bit louder...
So for me, the ZL is my phone of choice. It does everything I need and well. Sony are quick with updates and there are no obvious bugs. The UI is rather less "Noddy" than TW and less intrusive than Sense. The call quality is excellent too, in case you need to use it as a phone!!!
So it's down to what is important to you...
That was a awesome post very informative of different phones. I just got a zl to replace my broken HTC one xl and I love it I'm a big Sony fan they make solid products and I've never had a issue and when I have Sony has been quick to respond. It's a good choice
Sent from my Xperia Arc using xda app-developers app
It's honestly a great phone and highly underrated. Maybe it is a very polarizing phone, in that some hate it while others absolutely love it.
Well it's down to what your needs are.
For custom roms development support go for either Htc one or S4.
For sound Htc one.
For screen brilliance HTC One or possibly S4. Zl screen looks washed out and very poor viewing angles.
Camera. ZL or S4.
Memory Zl or S4.
Smoothness UI Htc one.
Design HTC one.
Speed HTC One or S4.
Notification light ZL or S4.
Premium build HTC One.
For me it has to be HTC One.
riz157 said:
Well it's down to what your needs are.
For custom roms development support go for either Htc one or S4.
For sound Htc one.
For screen brilliance HTC One or possibly S4. Zl screen looks washed out and very poor viewing angles.
Camera. ZL or S4.
Memory Zl or S4.
Smoothness UI Htc one.
Design HTC one.
Speed HTC One or S4.
Notification light ZL or S4.
Premium build HTC One.
For me it has to be HTC One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had someone offer me a HTC One + $50 the other day. I just don't see the appeal.
Which HTC One has...
4G (LTE)?
notification toggles?
support to microSD card, including SDXC (I still believe Sony will really fix it )?
Sony design?
Sony UI and Sony exclusive widgets?
full integration with Sony products (PS3, Bravia, Muteki, Music Unlimited...)?
movie player with BE2?
a full 5" screen almost to the edge of the bevel of the phone?
a 2013 main camera (against the 2009-compatible 4 Mpx from HTC one?)
Andre Verissimo said:
Which HTC One has...
4G (LTE)?
notification toggles?
support to microSD card, including SDXC (I still believe Sony will really fix it )?
Sony design?
Sony UI and Sony exclusive widgets?
full integration with Sony products (PS3, Bravia, Muteki, Music Unlimited...)?
movie player with BE2?
a full 5" screen almost to the edge of the bevel of the phone?
a 2013 main camera (against the 2009-compatible 4 Mpx from HTC one?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The One has LTE and notification toggles. To the OP. I switch phones A LOT so I've had all the big boys and I have to say the ZL is a really nice phone. The One is definitely a good competitor though. As for the S4 that has been my least favorite as it feels so cheap and i hate the home button. It all depends on personal preference but as for me I'll probably keep this for the next 2 months and then get the Moto X.
I think the answer depends on your timetable and perspective:
On 8/7, the LG G2 is going to be announed, which will be the first American-carrier snapdragon 800 phone. A month later, Samsung is expected to announce the Note 3 and a Galaxy S4 advanced. By the late fall, there should even be a Nexus 5.
Battery may not be a problem for us... but we don't have notes. We have small phones with giant screens and have (relatively) low standards like a phone lasting 12 hours on a charge rather than the Note's 2 day/no charge norm.
--
I like the ZL (bought 3 months ago). It has met my needs pretty well. I find that it's easier to make a mistake flashing mods and have bootloops needing reflashes... compared to my Samsung experience. I dislike its bluetooth stack... as I have to disable wifi for it to facilitate phone calls in my car. I have a slight feeling of it being the stepchild of the Sony family, as the developer of the only kernel stopped supporting the phone (he never owned it) and the custom roms are not as numerous as the Xperia Z. I had an AT&T LG Optimus G (same processor, smaller screen, wider body) directly before it and the SGS3 before that. I don't wish I had the HTC One.
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
ajhavery said:
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, screen quality is much much better after the Update. Camera vise its really improved. If i am at a party with friends its like they want me to click pics from my ZL and day light pics are just great.
Compression Issue has been fixed in HDR. So its less noisy in low light condition with HDR.(Really Improved)
close up i would prefer my ZL.
But macros are not that great.
New update increased screen responsiveness. Frankly speaking Its getting better in every update.
But Beware, in Some phones there seems to some sort of Microphone bug which i am facing right now.(software May be as it works in everything else like recording)
Happy with Sony Xperia ZL Using from Past 5 Months.
Price has also been reduced. so its a best buy as of now.
IMO,if you need phone that trending (more dev support),go for HTC One or S4,since it also have Google Edition
but here few advantage of ZL to me:
-compact size 5' screen: -it slightly thicker than z,but more compact,it have thin bezel (fit into my pocket)
-omnibalance design: -slightly curve on the back,which support better grip,not need for cover since it make from plactic (still look premium)
-don't have to worry to put with key in pocket (still you should at least use screen protector to prevent direct scratch)
-camera : hv 13mp back n 2mp front,can recorded full hd video,have hdr,and hv dedicated shutter key with 2 press mechanism
image captured viewed beautiful on the phone with bravia engine 2 on
-notification light: at bottom,look really premium to me
-hv expandable storage (compare to HTC One)
-hv ir blaster: can control tv (compare to xperia z)
-speaker: average to me (htc one better i think) but it still able to make me up in the morning (i'm a heavy sleeper xD )
the earphone include is good enough (but can't compare it with high end earphone)
-sony software that does matter : walkman,album,movie,etc- support BE2,xloud,clearphase equalizer,which make music better
disadvantage:
-highly under rated (less dev support,however most dev in xperia z do port to zl,we still hv CM,PAC support )
-camera apps takes some times to launch (about 1-2 sec)
-screen does hv limited viewing angles but still visible in bright sunlight (with the help of UI itself that mainly white/grey colour)
Last word: xperia ZL does not hv the hype of other phone such as HTC One or S4 but it does hv enough power to run almost any apps in the play store,moreover with gr8 support from sony,i believe you could stay in stock firmware for quite sometimes,i used to unlock my bootloader and use custom rom for a week (to do this make sure you read all FAQ first if you not used to sony devices) but i'm back to stock and i'm happy with what sony offer to me
---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 AM ----------
ajhavery said:
I have checked almost every review available on the internet and they all wish the device had better screen and camera.
The screen has poor viewing angles and camera is gainy in low light and looses focus even in bright light.
Well I don't want to base my idea totally on reviews, since they compare it with the best.
Will you guys recommend if the Screen and camera quality are at par with a high end phone, so that I can consider buying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i suggest you bring ur current phone and compare it with zl at retail shop,i u satisfied then grab it,if not choose others,review is useful but sometimes the company hv push updates to the phone to fix/improve the problem appear,while review stay the same,for example we recently received updates that improve touch sensitivity,ram management,camera low-light performance,etc,the latest firmware changelog can be view here
Ya I wasn't really looking for a specific yes or no. I was looking for things like: are you happy with it? Things you like about it and things you dislike. Did you find out anything after you bought it that you wish you knew before you bought it?
I really wish I could wait for the Note 3 but I need the phone basically this week. I am not a heavy user so I am pretty sure the smaller battery in this phone will be fine. My current Note 2 is amazing though. I understand that there will always be a better phone that is out or coming out soon. The Sony zl is free at Rogers right now so if I hate it that much I can sell it and get a nexus 4 or something. I don't really care about custom roms that much anymore. I used to care more because my first android phone was an LG G2x and they never updated it so I had to rely on custom roms for upgrades. As long as Sony will update it for another year or 2 ill be happy.
htc one vs sony zl
After many reviews online, I could not decide between One and ZL, so I bought both on eBay for my personal evaluation but will sell the other one later. HTC One is very good phone, high contrast screen, hi-powered speakers and responsive touch (very good if you want to watch YouTube). But, my choice is Sony ZL. There are much talks on the internet about washed screen on ZL. Do not believe it and I tell you why. For some reasons Sony designers chose to use the theme with dark grey background and white letters which is easier for eyes for long time but losing on sensation of hi-contrast. However, if you can choose a dark theme, it will change the game. Also, latest updates for ZL tend toward black background. Really, do you think that Sony, that makes TVs, laptops and professional monitors can not make phone screens? The speakers of One is better but that does not apply for the speaker when you make a phone call, which is sensational for ZL with xLoud and noise canceling enhancements. Overall the ZL looks and feels much more modern with very thin bezel while the One feels like an upgrade from old one. I thought BraviaEngine is there for commercial reasons but its really good when you watch movies and videos.
ZL is a awesome device. Its that developers don't do anything currently. There is a dev kamarush who said if he get the device he will do the kernels. But he didn't have money AFAIK. Some1 should come and help the community. Looks like we gotta donate a device to a very well know xda member: suggestion - tonyp, slim_rick, pulser_q2 etc etc
Sent from my C6503 using Tapatalk 4
Never really understood the issues people are having with the screen. All the reviews made it out to look like it was the most horrible screen on a phone to date. That is simply not the case. Having came from a galaxy note 1 I can honestly say the screen is on par with it. The viewing angle issue is a joke and should be experienced first hand and not from some reviewer with his head stuck up his ass. Thank god I got this phone despite what the reviews said. I'd have missed out on a great device.
Sent from my C6503
Agree that the screen (as stated in my post above) is not at all bad. Better than the XZ
Sent from my C6503 using xda premium
devilsshadow said:
Never really understood the issues people are having with the screen. All the reviews made it out to look like it was the most horrible screen on a phone to date. That is simply not the case. Having came from a galaxy note 1 I can honestly say the screen is on par with it. The viewing angle issue is a joke and should be experienced first hand and not from some reviewer with his head stuck up his ass. Thank god I got this phone despite what the reviews said. I'd have missed out on a great device.
Sent from my C6503
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100% ! I just love it.
The viewing angle is indeed deficient but I dont care. Its still bright and colorful. The FM radio and the loads of media formats it can play built in, are a great plus for me Really enjoyable device. Cant wait for an aokp 4.3 custom rom
unoo said:
Ya I wasn't really looking for a specific yes or no. I was looking for things like: are you happy with it? Things you like about it and things you dislike. Did you find out anything after you bought it that you wish you knew before you bought it?
I really wish I could wait for the Note 3 but I need the phone basically this week. I am not a heavy user so I am pretty sure the smaller battery in this phone will be fine. My current Note 2 is amazing though. I understand that there will always be a better phone that is out or coming out soon. The Sony zl is free at Rogers right now so if I hate it that much I can sell it and get a nexus 4 or something. I don't really care about custom roms that much anymore. I used to care more because my first android phone was an LG G2x and they never updated it so I had to rely on custom roms for upgrades. As long as Sony will update it for another year or 2 ill be happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would not sure if there will be update for 2 years,you said u used note 2,so r u using the s-pen heavily,i hv a friend that like to sketch cartoon with his note 2,and i think that phone really suitable for him,if you one of them,you should wait for note 3,if not,i suggest you give zl a shot,nexus 4 also a good phone but i choose zl instead of nexus 4 when i buy it because i want to hv expandable storage n i also use fm radio quite frequently,i use zl since early 3 april until today and so far i'm happy with it.what i like mainly the phone shape,different from other and the only thing i dislike is the camera takes some times to load as i mention earlier,hope sony will fix it later on
ihsan123 said:
i would not sure if there will be update for 2 years,you said u used note 2,so r u using the s-pen heavily,i hv a friend that like to sketch cartoon with his note 2,and i think that phone really suitable for him,if you one of them,you should wait for note 3,if not,i suggest you give zl a shot,nexus 4 also a good phone but i choose zl instead of nexus 4 when i buy it because i want to hv expandable storage n i also use fm radio quite frequently,i use zl since early 3 april until today and so far i'm happy with it.what i like mainly the phone shape,different from other and the only thing i dislike is the camera takes some times to load as i mention earlier,hope sony will fix it later on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never use the sPen. I don't care about the speakers either because I never use external speakers in a phone. I never heard anything bad about the screen but I make the assumption that sony makes TV's so that can make a decent cell phone screen haha. The more I think about it, I just want a properly functioning phone. If Sony updates it then that is great but as long as it is smooth and everything works then ill be happy. It is going to be my phone for the next 3 years so it needs to last!

Xperia ZL or Galaxy S3?

I found a deal that would get me a Galaxy S3 or an Xperia ZL at the same price, the S3 is new, and the Xperia ZL is a used one. I've been having many problems with my Galaxy Nexus lately and am looking for a suitable replacement.
Which one is a better option?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
If ZL is in good condition then you can go for Xperia ZL becoz you will get latest tech spec compare S3, and S3 is now year old device..........
However, Galaxy S3 has an SAMOLED screen (far better blacks and far batter viewing angles), replacable battery and a way bigger developer community. It depends what you expect from your phone.
I had to face the same decision and decided to get the Xperia ZL for the Full HD resolution and hopefully better lifetime of my screen (SAMOLED screens tend to get worse over the course of years).
Greetings
Yeah, coming from a Galaxy Nexus, I was searching for a phone with a great dev support. I like everything about the S3 except the design. And I like the ZL because of it's newer innards and FullHD screen, but I've heard that it's really washed out, color wise..
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
yeah the display appears washed-out when you don't look directly into the screen but in real life it does't matter much at least for me now its depend you...... i had same problem choosing between this phones but i wanted latest spec so that i can have good gaming experience as well as watching video on 5" Full HD screen its too Good, you can compare both phone online that may help you.....
Get ZL if its in good condition.
Its better than s3.
But just make sure ZL is not opened and repaired...before
Sent from my C6502 using xda premium
Well actually i came from S3, i love the viewing angles, and battery replace. but i decided to buy the ZL and let me tell you. ZL its like 1000 times better than S3 in terms of support, hardware, and even quality and design, viewing angles i dont really care, its not that bad at all. the truth is that the screen it the best screen i have seen on a phone, really 441 pixel per inch and a 5'? wow in a compact design even much smaller than S3.
In other words, go for the ZL if the phone is in excelent condition and never had been opened.:good:
Yeah, I went to a nearby shop and got a hands on of the ZL, really nice phone.
What's the battery like? Screen on with 3g?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
With 3G I'd say 3-4 hours but WiFi I get around 5 hours max.
Screen pixels are awesome but energivore. You'll get used to it tho.
The Sony UI is also a huge bonus over vanilla Android UI. At first I was annoyed by it but now I feel like I'm really using my Android phone for real.
I'd go for the ZL. It feels much better than the S3, and looks much better, too. On top of that, you get a better processor (Snapdragon S4 vs Exynos 4412), a better graphics chip (Adreno 320 vs Mali 400), and twice the amount of RAM (1 GB vs 2 GB). On top of that, you get a full HD screen. There have been complaints about the viewing angles, but I'd say the viewing angles are not as bad as they are made out to be. Viewed top-down, though, the display is really, really good. For some reason--and I've observed this on a couple of units--the ZL's display is better than the Z's (I've actually got to evaluate both side by side with a Z).
So, if the ZL's in pristine condition, I'd say you go for it. Otherwise, if it's been "damaged" to some extent--you know, scratches and stuff--opt for the S3. Because personally, I wouldn't go for a damaged phone, no matter how good it might be specs-wise, and neither would I advise anybody to. That said, if you're going to be using your device heavily, and there's the need to carry around a spare battery, then it's obvious the S3's the best bet for you. So, weigh up your options, see what you need. If you're going to be carrying around a spare battery for backup, you're good with the S3. Otherwise, I'd definitely pick the ZL over the S3.
S3 is good, but ZL it's better, for me. :good:
Zl user here.. I was in similar confusion, well the chose zl over one x plus and s3 mainly its full hd display, I agree that viewing angles are not that great but normally the colors of the display cone out really well, camera though there is a problem with over compression and macro, it gives better results with manual settings, ir blaster is added feature, hardware wise its good too, not too old either. And frankly receiving updates faster than other companies. With every updates its improving, battery is better than s3 for sure. Interface is simple yet beautiful, no bloatware, I have tried most of the high end games, there is a heating issue.
Conclusion at this point of time I would buy zl over s3 or one x plus, or wait for mini version of z1
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
coolrevi said:
Zl user here.. I was in similar confusion, well the chose zl over one x plus and s3 mainly its full hd display, I agree that viewing angles are not that great but normally the colors of the display cone out really well, camera though there is a problem with over compression and macro, it gives better results with manual settings, ir blaster is added feature, hardware wise its good too, not too old either. And frankly receiving updates faster than other companies. With every updates its improving, battery is better than s3 for sure. Interface is simple yet beautiful, no bloatware, I have tried most of the high end games, there is a heating issue.
Conclusion at this point of time I would buy zl over s3 or one x plus, or wait for mini version of z1
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the iverheating is firmware version the 67, have that issue. we are all w8ting for the fix ore the update
Thanks guys. Add a Note 2 and Htc One X plus to this mix.
Also, battery life is important for me.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
danieldp1990 said:
the iverheating is firmware version the 67, have that issue. we are all w8ting for the fix ore the update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From 6.7 I got that issue... That's really strange, a repair might just fix that. Didn't get time to do it yet..
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 08:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------
jonathanpeter said:
Thanks guys. Add a Note 2 and Htc One X plus to this mix.
Also, battery life is important for me.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note is different kind of phone. Bigger screen, s pen, these are some added features, which is not there in any of these phones discussed. And all of these are priced at similar range. my suggestion, go to a store use all these phone side by side pick the one you like most, if you are routine phone switcher consider note 2 as is got good resale price of all these phones.
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
Is the battery life on the One X+ really bad? I'm in love with this phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Sticking Around or Moving On?

I am just curious to see how everyone feels about their ZL, or experience with Sony as a whole.
For me it's been a mixed bag. Overall, this is by LONG and FAR the most headache-free phone I've ever owned. Period. It's got all the features that I need and it works as it should when needed. I would not trade it for any other Android phone out there, especially a Samsung or HTC. With that all said, I can't help myself being sucked in by all the Nexus 5 rumors. Coming from a Galaxy Nexus, I should have naturally grabbed the Nexus 4, but lack of AT&T-compatible LTE kept me away. Now, with rumored specs coming out by the day, I must say that I am highly tempted by the prospect of owning a Nexus 5.
So what hasn't Sony done to possibly lose me as a customer? Here is the list:
Camera
I doubt I'm alone here to admit that I got had [major time] by Sony's PR when it came to the camera. Simply put, the camera is pure rubbish. I use my work provided iPhone 5c to take pics instead. Sad.
Hardware
Speaking strictly of the paint around the edge, could sony have made it less durable? The slightest bump flakes it off.
Update
I love the fact that there is an update every month to address an issue or two. The bad part, every update either reintroduces an old issue or introduces a new one. Come on.
Wireless Charging
Instead of focusing their efforts on waterproofing, I would love to see Sony bring us wireless charging. Chances of me using wireless charging, every hour of every day. Chances of me diving into a pool with my phone, next to none.
AOSP
If you're going to claim that you support the open community and such, don't release AOSP binaries that do not work. That defeats the whole purpose. I don't mind Sony's stock ROMs, but I like the fact that AOSP gets me the latest and greatest.
Speakers
iPhone had it right. HTC One got it right. Nexus 5 rumored to have gotten it right. Why did Sony put the speaker on the back of the phone is beyond me. It renders it useless when in it's natural position.
So, does this mean I don't adore my Xperia ZL? No, far from it. Does it mean I might consider an alternative device that gives me the above, maybe. Is the Nexus 5 looking better and better? Yeah!
The ZL was the phone I kept the longest in years...
Moving to a Z1. Just receive from Clove. Not waiting for the US ones.
ZL will stay as a back up.
Sendt fra XPERIA ZL 6506
Even if I had €1000000 I would probably still stick with ZL until Sony comes with a ZL1.
Z1f looks nice thought but I don't wanna go back to 4.3". I just want a ZL with new hardware and waterproof.
But... I don't have €1000000 so I will have my ZL for at least another 1.5 years if all goes well
I love my ZL but today I've saw the Note 3 and damn it's a nice phone.. Thinking about moving forward...
Sent from my ZL [email protected]
Sticking around with zl, however fully dependant on nexus 5 features and pricing.
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
Luv my zl, but kinda bored with it. Thinking of z ultra, or maybe im dreaming..
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I'll be replacing my ZL with the Note 5 or 6, it wholly depends on when it dies on me.
coming from galaxy s4...lovin my ZL:victory:
Based on leaks from the official Google Play store, the 16GB is sure to be $349. Guessing the 32GB is $399. The phone looks sick good though. Like I said, love my ZL, but wireless charging and stock Android might win me over with that price.
coolrevi said:
Sticking around with zl, however fully dependant on nexus 5 features and pricing.
Sent from my C6502 using xda app-developers app
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Are the pictures really that bad on the ZL cause that would be of the only thing's that I don't like about the phone that and the fact they don't use guerrilla glass looking to leave my Xperia T for a ZL I'm not liking any other phone at the moment.
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spielnicht said:
Based on leaks from the official Google Play store, the 16GB is sure to be $349. Guessing the 32GB is $399. The phone looks sick good though. Like I said, love my ZL, but wireless charging and stock Android might win me over with that price.
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From Xperia t to zl I don see it as upgrade. If you are willing to buy I would rather suggest z1 which is a good buy in many term
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I'll keep mine till its dead, I was thinking about the Z1 but its way to big, if they do a new more powerful 5" with the same overall size as the ZL I would consider it in 2 years... interested to see if the camera gets any more improvements in the ZL, I like the quality, but not as picky as some..... video recording is good too.... Battery life could use a little more help though
Hoping for the Z1 camera App on the ZL in the 4.3 update, hopefully before Christmas...... Personally I think superior auto sucks, no image stabilizer, normal mode with my own settings works great.
4.4 may never come but that's ok, as long as 4.3 gets minor tweaking updates here and there.
So do you guys think the ZL is a good phone for a beginner?
The Z1 looks bulky indeed and LG G2 will be sold in my country (Brazil) only in 16GB option (no SD slot? WTF LG?)
I don´t have plans to play powerful games on it (just angry birds or something like when I'm waiting for something). I want a bigger screen to my GPS aps, listen music via Bluethoot (via car stereo) and watch video (High def videos on SD card, youtube, vimeo etc)
My dad has an Xperia T and based on some comparison shots, the images don't differ much. In other words, they both...suck. If I was to pick a single disappointment with the ZL, it would be the camera.
I know where you are coming from not liking any other phone out there. I am not an SG4 or HTC One fan. I'd consider the Z1, but Sony really dropped the ball by not including an AT&T/T-Mobile LTE friendly chip. So it's not even a consideration for me
Definitely wait until the Nexus 5 comes out. Looks very promising, both in specs and design.
Torres77an said:
Are the pictures really that bad on the ZL cause that would be of the only thing's that I don't like about the phone that and the fact they don't use guerrilla glass looking to leave my Xperia T for a ZL I'm not liking any other phone at the moment.
Sent from my LT30p using xda app-developers app
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thinking of upgrading from a xperia ion....zl is the maximum that i can afford..nd i kinda love the white one
Is there anything else apart from the camera that i should look into before buying?
no nexus in my country else would've waited for nexus 5 :/
I've take the same picture with an iPhone 5 and with my Xperia T and then again the same picture with a Galaxy s3 we compared them at work and my other to co-workers had to agree that the Xperia T photo looked the best though mind you Bravia was enabled yes there's room for improvement on Sony's camera phones but even with the Bravia engine turned off the photos are not that far behind the rest of the mobile devices out there but what it does lack is consistency that the others have now with the z1 having better hardware and software the problem with the camera is almost gone it just seems to over expose photos at times so does the LG G2 though it's clearly not as good in the comparison that I've seen between it and the Z1
Sent from my LT30p using xda app-developers app
Torres77an said:
I've take the same picture with an iPhone 5 and with my Xperia T and then again the same picture with a Galaxy s3 we compared them at work and my other to co-workers had to agree that the Xperia T photo looked the best though mind you Bravia was enabled yes there's room for improvement on Sony's camera phones but even with the Bravia engine turned off the photos are not that far behind the rest of the mobile devices out there but what it does lack is consistency that the others have now with the z1 having better hardware and software the problem with the camera is almost gone it just seems to over expose photos at times so does the LG G2 though it's clearly not as good in the comparison that I've seen between it and the Z1
Sent from my LT30p using xda app-developers app
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That's not how you compare photos, you put them on the same computer and then compare them on the PC. That way the different displays and image rendering software of each phone won't interfere.
my photos look basically the same after they have been uploaded to my pc
Dead Metal said:
That's not how you compare photos, you put them on the same computer and then compare them on the PC. That way the different displays and image rendering software of each phone won't interfere.
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I've also seen comparisons with the iPhone 5 and the Xperia T on the internet and the iPhone's aren't that much better better but not by much but definitely more consistent I think the Xperia software may need some work with it's poor autofocus half of the photos do turn out like crap.
Torres77an said:
I've also seen comparisons with the iPhone 5 and the Xperia T on the internet and the iPhone's aren't that much better better but not by much but definitely more consistent I think the Xperia software may need some work with it's poor autofocus half of the photos do turn out like crap.
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Yup, they do need to give that a work over, but someone pointed be in the direction of Camera FV-5, which is brilliant. The best camera app I've ever used, only downside is it does not have an auto-mode, and sometimes it does not save the pictures, especially when you use the hardware camera button.
Hope that gets fixed soon.
That's exactly what I did Took a pic of the same object, dropped them in Lightroom side-by-side, the ZL was slightly better (very slightly), but neither anything to brag out.
Dead Metal said:
That's not how you compare photos, you put them on the same computer and then compare them on the PC. That way the different displays and image rendering software of each phone won't interfere.
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