Similar to the regular Z3 but better in a few ways. Very similar to the Z5.
Same Snapdragon 810 as in the Z5 (Z3 has an 801)
Same 5.2", 1080p display as the Z5.
Same 20.7 MP rear-camera as the Z3 (Z5 has 23 MP)
Same 5.1 MP front-facing camera as the Z5 (Z3 has 2.2 MP)
Bluetooth 4.1, same as the Z5 (Z3 has 4.0)
3 GB RAM, same as the Z5
32 GB storage
MicroSD support, same as the Z5
NFC, same as the Z5
Larger battery than the Z5
Only released in June. Sony have promised a Marshmallow update 'soon'. It is an open box return, which means it will have been opened and maybe turned on, but not 'used'. Bought several phones from Currys / PC World eBay in the past, all have been absolutely perfect - when sold to CeX they've always given an 'A' rating, if that helps.
Free P&P, 14 day return, 12 month warranty offered through Currys / PC World, should also be available through Sony as the phone will be at most 6 months old.
Top comments
tranceazure3933
14 Dec 157#9
if you get one of these and a few m9s you could turn central heating off for the winter they awesome devices
keejoonc to ddmafrost
14 Dec 153#17
I've been using a Z3 for the last year or so and perfectly happy with it. Don't quite understand what the big deal is with the micro usb flap. You only charge it once every day or two. How hard is it to open a flap?
The camera could be better and speaker could be a bit louder but other than that, it's been one of the most reliable phones I've used up until now and most of all, battery life is great.
Don't think it's the phone's fault if you sat down on it....
topss
14 Dec 153#4
I'm led to believe its a bit like the Z5
Latest comments (53)
solid
21 Dec 15#53
I don't understand why people still put their phones in their back pockets :neutral_face:
ddmafrost
14 Dec 151#13
Great phone in terms of computing power. Awful phone in terms of usability. You will really regret thinking that a water resistant design for the micro usb slot is any advantage at all due to it being a pain especially when travelling. Oh, and don't think that the Sony power stand will help as that's just as annoying after a while. Stick to a Samsung or iPhone, that's my advice having been using a Z3 as a company phone for 12 months. Just to add that I no longer use a Z3 as I sat down in a chair, forgetting it was in my back pocket - the complete screen shattered and phone was totally inoperable by touch screen.
keejoonc to ddmafrost
14 Dec 153#17
I've been using a Z3 for the last year or so and perfectly happy with it. Don't quite understand what the big deal is with the micro usb flap. You only charge it once every day or two. How hard is it to open a flap?
The camera could be better and speaker could be a bit louder but other than that, it's been one of the most reliable phones I've used up until now and most of all, battery life is great.
Don't think it's the phone's fault if you sat down on it....
Everything2anything to ddmafrost
14 Dec 15#30
Z3+ plus does not require charging port closed unlike Z3. it's less hassle than Z3 as Z3+ charging port is waterproof
brilly to ddmafrost
14 Dec 15#38
sounds like user error tbh
JTW8W to ddmafrost
21 Dec 151#52
So, you sat on your phone, broke it and then got upset when it didn't work? Hmm...
jezzer
17 Dec 15#51
Up until recently (Tuesday night) I had been very happy with my Xperia Z (modded to latest Cyanogenmod) until I dropped it onto a car park floor with devastating results. Thanks for the post as I ordered and received mine yesterday. Lovely bit of kit and still selling for £499.99 rrp sim-free unlocked.
solid
17 Dec 15#50
Anyone received theirs yet?
toolongawake
16 Dec 15#49
Anybody know which companies would provide insurance for a phone, bearing in mind its been purchased on an auction site, as most I have looked at do not cover this.
Retify
15 Dec 15#48
You are 100% spot on, however the "overheating" is across the Xperia range. My point still stands that here in blighty it is unlikely that your phone will overheat
nilzza
14 Dec 15#42
are these unlocked to all network? currently have a 16Gb Z3, thinking about getting this!!!
hammeredpizza to nilzza
15 Dec 15#47
Fully unlocked.
matth9999
15 Dec 151#45
Pretty sure the Z3+ is called the Z4 in other places - I'd have been tempted if I'd missed the Z1, but can't be bothered taking the loss on selling the Z1 that does me quite well.
brookysm to matth9999
15 Dec 15#46
Called the Z4 in Japan and America.
Dar22
14 Dec 15#44
I was, I agree especially with the snapdragon 810 being a toasty processor.
Dar22
14 Dec 15#43
Yep I agree, I have a z1 compact and still don't need to upgrade. I was simply stating that the specs are not the same as that could be misleading to someone who doesn't know.
chappie86
14 Dec 15#41
brilliant deal. upgrading from my z3 compact. Looking forward to having a larger screen. Thanks OP
Opelope
14 Dec 15#40
heat for the effort
HST7
14 Dec 15#39
The Z3+ is a great phone and there are subtle style differences between this and the Z3. The flaps over the ports being the main difference and yes the phone is fully waterproof, having tested mine in a few jugs of water as a party trick.
The overheating when using the camera was an issue at one point, however, a recent update seems to have alleviated this issue. At this price it's a really good deal.
hammeredpizza
14 Dec 15#33
Worth noting that Currys / PC World offer a 12 month guarantee themselves, if you're worried about Sony's standard of care. That said, I've never needed to use a warranty through them, and can't really vouch for them.
moosery2 to hammeredpizza
14 Dec 15#37
I have, with a canon SLR I bought there - they sent me straight to canon (which is naughty), though canon have awesome service so I wasn't bothered :smiley:
brookysm
14 Dec 151#36
Aye, same phone, well bar the different CPU, GPU, Double the storage, waterproof USB, Different battery, Different Glass.
But other than those minor differences its the same spec.....
PhilK
14 Dec 15#35
I agree. Daft comment wasn't it. This phone is a significant upgrade on an already great phone
moosery2
14 Dec 15#15
Yeah so I'm currently battling sony to either fix my power button on my phone or return the phone to me, they're doing NEITHER and NOT RESPONDING to any communications. I've been through trading standards, written a letter, nothing. I'm looking like I might have to take them to small claims JUST TO GET THE BROKEN PHONE BACK.
It was only the power button!?!?
Would not recommend, their support really sucks, it's 2015 and you don't expect this kind of thing, unfortunately you only find this out when they have your phone. Google it.
hammeredpizza to moosery2
14 Dec 15#16
That sounds awful. I'd only heard good about Sony support in the past to be honest. Apple still top of the pile by a long way it seems.
PhilK to moosery2
14 Dec 15#34
Yes, Sony used to have great after sales, now theirs is appalling but no worse than any of the others.
BUT - I've found the European and American ones have a great rep - it's ONLY the British ones which are badly run and incompetent
iDealYou
14 Dec 15#32
This is a Z3+ not a Z3.
intranix
14 Dec 15#31
Keep in mind the Z3+ and Z5 do not have the magnetic charging port that you can find on the Z2 and Z3.
I have a Z2 and *love* the magnetic charging port and rarely use the USB port.
brookysm
14 Dec 15#29
Use the magnetic charging port, no need to constantly open the flaps = no problem with the seals failing. Docks or USB to magnetic connection leads are cheap as chips these days.
brookysm
14 Dec 15#28
They replaced my Z2 without quibble when the simcard reader failed, took less than a week to turnaround too.
Rimi
14 Dec 151#6
Same specs as Z2,which can be bought for £210 brand new from Very with 20% new customer discount.
Dar22 to Rimi
14 Dec 151#10
No the processor in this is better
brookysm to Rimi
14 Dec 15#27
No it isn't!
plewis00
14 Dec 15#26
Sorry - but I have to say it is annoying, not in itself but overtime dirt and bits get near the port and rip the rubber gasket so the seal fails and you'll usually only find out when water gets in there or in the case of my long-time Z Ultra, falls off completely and the port flap just hangs loose. The Z5 series have very tight seals around the ports you use once or twice ever (e.g. microSD and SIM) which is much better and then the open USB port on the Z3+ and Z5, which is a very welcome upgrade!
rohitmkiller
14 Dec 15#25
all I can say is that o2 Customer service is brilliant
keejoonc
14 Dec 15#24
I've actually had to use my warranty once as the camera button broke and had no issues. However, I went through O2 rather than deal with Sony directly. Not sure whether that changes anything.
jimborae
14 Dec 15#23
Sorry But I'm with keenjoonc, bought the Z3 on launch day and it's hands down the best phone I've had in last 12 months, better than my G4 and miles better than my Galaxy S6. The flap is a very minor annoyance and the magnetic charging points work well with the correct charger or adapter so it's a non issue.
Comments about poor Sony after sales support are unfortunately true, the 3rd party that Sony use to provide a repair service are truly dire.
Rimi
14 Dec 15#22
I am using Xperia Z2 as work phone and iPhone 6 as private.
Z2 is 3X cheaper and beats iPhone TBH.
Also reliable,not like Samsung...
All after all I am very happy with Z2 !
GizModio
14 Dec 152#21
810 = Portable frying pan
For that reason, have some heat
adsham
14 Dec 15#20
I'm sure Dar22 was simply pointing out that your statement wasn't accurate. I.e. the specs aren't the same as you stated in your post, although I agree with you that there may not be much of a tangible difference to warrant an upgrade.
iDealYou
14 Dec 15#12
Good price.
I've read a few articles where the phone shuts down due to the overheating while using the camera.
Japanese telcos had warning message about this issue.
I'm not sure if it's been resolved, people were saying it's the SD810 that is causing the overheating.
Retify to iDealYou
14 Dec 15#19
I have the Z3 and had this warning only once - while taking pics and videos for about an hour in the sun in 45+ degrees heat in South Africa. I have used the camera for an hour plus in our delightful weather and indoors and not had the warning since. Turns out a 30 degrees difference in ambient temperature and being in the sun affects it
moosery2
14 Dec 15#18
Yeah I didn't see it coming, otherwise I probably would have used the retailer for the warranty. I just thought it would be a simple repair with no issues, not that they'd confiscate my phone, quote me £120 to repair it, then go silent and refuse to reveal a) why they want to charge me or b) giving me it back instead so I can go through amazon, which I should have in the first place apparently.
They also use SBE Limited to repair phones, you would want to google them too.
PhilK
14 Dec 15#14
Got my Z2 off these people this time last year and it was excellent VERY hot from me
Rimi
14 Dec 151#11
So what? It doesn't plays any difference in mobile phone,you can't feel it... Basically, all series Z Sony mobiles are similar, and if you have Xperia Z2, you don't need to upgrade to Z5, as this would be just waste of money.
tranceazure3933
14 Dec 157#9
if you get one of these and a few m9s you could turn central heating off for the winter they awesome devices
candyman86
14 Dec 152#8
Similar to the regular Z3 but better in a few ways. Very similar to the Z5 which is also similar to Z1 :stuck_out_tongue:
v5535
14 Dec 15#7
What is the this comparable with OP ; good as s6?
v5535
14 Dec 15#5
Looks good
topss
14 Dec 153#4
I'm led to believe its a bit like the Z5
loupou22
14 Dec 15#3
what are the real world usage results like ? have you used it? - benchmarks are one thing, but in the real world things often work in different ways - can you recomend?
added heat though - as it is a good deal
hammeredpizza
14 Dec 151#2
Worth noting that this is available for £265 from CeX unlocked, but as said before, this will be pretty much brand new, and no chance of it being blacklisted by the network.
Opening post
Same Snapdragon 810 as in the Z5 (Z3 has an 801)
Same 5.2", 1080p display as the Z5.
Same 20.7 MP rear-camera as the Z3 (Z5 has 23 MP)
Same 5.1 MP front-facing camera as the Z5 (Z3 has 2.2 MP)
Bluetooth 4.1, same as the Z5 (Z3 has 4.0)
3 GB RAM, same as the Z5
32 GB storage
MicroSD support, same as the Z5
NFC, same as the Z5
Larger battery than the Z5
Only released in June. Sony have promised a Marshmallow update 'soon'. It is an open box return, which means it will have been opened and maybe turned on, but not 'used'. Bought several phones from Currys / PC World eBay in the past, all have been absolutely perfect - when sold to CeX they've always given an 'A' rating, if that helps.
Free P&P, 14 day return, 12 month warranty offered through Currys / PC World, should also be available through Sony as the phone will be at most 6 months old.
Top comments
The camera could be better and speaker could be a bit louder but other than that, it's been one of the most reliable phones I've used up until now and most of all, battery life is great.
Don't think it's the phone's fault if you sat down on it....
Latest comments (53)
The camera could be better and speaker could be a bit louder but other than that, it's been one of the most reliable phones I've used up until now and most of all, battery life is great.
Don't think it's the phone's fault if you sat down on it....
The overheating when using the camera was an issue at one point, however, a recent update seems to have alleviated this issue. At this price it's a really good deal.
But other than those minor differences its the same spec.....
It was only the power button!?!?
Would not recommend, their support really sucks, it's 2015 and you don't expect this kind of thing, unfortunately you only find this out when they have your phone. Google it.
BUT - I've found the European and American ones have a great rep - it's ONLY the British ones which are badly run and incompetent
I have a Z2 and *love* the magnetic charging port and rarely use the USB port.
Comments about poor Sony after sales support are unfortunately true, the 3rd party that Sony use to provide a repair service are truly dire.
Z2 is 3X cheaper and beats iPhone TBH.
Also reliable,not like Samsung...
All after all I am very happy with Z2 !
For that reason, have some heat
I've read a few articles where the phone shuts down due to the overheating while using the camera.
Japanese telcos had warning message about this issue.
I'm not sure if it's been resolved, people were saying it's the SD810 that is causing the overheating.
They also use SBE Limited to repair phones, you would want to google them too.
added heat though - as it is a good deal