Sony Xperia Z3: all the new features

The Sony Xperia Z3 might be just a slight upgrade over its predecessor, but when you think of it, Sony's newly-unveiled flagship addresses several key aspects that amp up the game of the Xperia flagship line even more. Well, not as much as we'd like it to be, but we have to give Sony some credit for keeping its flagships moderately up-to-date and always with a new feature or two.

As the improvements the new Xperia Z3 flaunts over the Xperia Z2 are somewhat hard to spot at first sight, we decided to detail them in handy list. Starting from the improvements to the camera and moving on to the slightly better SoC, the Xperia Z3 will probably appeal to those who have eyed Sony's most advanced lineup with awe, but were reluctant to jump on the bandwagon with either the Xperia Z2 or the Xperia Z1. Not that the Z3 is such a significant upgrade compared to its predecessor, it's just a more polished and refined device as a whole.

Sony Xperia Z3 - all the new features

1. Faster processor

Well, it's not a Snapdragon 805, but the Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC in the Xperia Z3 is slightly more power-laden than the Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AB inside the Xperia Z2. The latter is already powerful enough to ensure a smooth and lag-free everyday use, but it's always good to have a clock rate that is several hundred megahertz higher, isn't it?

2. New 25mm wide-angle camera lens

The Sony Xperia Z3 comes with a 20.7MP camera that is endowed with a brand new, 25mm wide-angle "G Lens", which allows you to fit more in every shot, as per the manufacturer. We'll have to wait until the first camera comparisons before we can say if this has amped up the image quality, though.

3. ISO 12800 for better low-light photography

Sony boasts that the Xperia Z3 is the first smartphone from a major manufacturer that allows photography devotees to boost the light sensitivity all the way up to ISO 12800. This will most probably allow for more-detailed photos under nightmarish low-light conditions.

4. More lightweight and compact

Sony has really outdone itself in the size department this time, as the Xperia Z3 is shorter, narrower, and extremely thin with dimensions of 5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 inches (146 x 72 x 7.3 mm). This has resulted in a negative spike in its weight, as well - it tips the scales at 5.36 oz (152 gr).

5. Better water-resistance

The Xperia Z2 is already IP58-certified, but the Xperia Z3 runs circles around it with its IP65/IP68 certification, the "highest waterproof rating". According to Sony, this enables the device to remain undamaged by being submersed up to 1.5 meters of water for as long as 30 minutes, "even with an open headphone jack".