Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review: Specs of one of the latest Sony Xperia handsets, sporting a 4.3-inch display has been deemed a standard for “mini” devices in the Android category. Features of this smaller version of the Xperia Z1 has under the hood features comparable to its bigger version.

Weighing only 137 grams and with a handy dimension of 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm, this unit has a light feel and with its water-proof body, can definitely fit the lifestyle of an on the go person. It’s powered with Android 4.3 and has a quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 processor with 2GB of RAM.

The Xperia Z1 compact has a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS display and a 20.7 megapixel camera. The device has a battery power of 2300 mAh which promises up to 18 hours of talk time, 670 hours of standby time, 94 hours of music listening time and 12 hours of video playback.

Based on a review by TechRadar, some of the pros of the unit is its great innards and vibrant screen. CNET described the Z1 Compact as a “top-end Android phone for those of you who don't want their pockets stretched out by 5-inch goliaths.”

DESIGN

In CNET’s review, it noted that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact’s design is identical to the original Xperia Z1. The device has a same all-glass front and back, with the one-piece aluminum band running around the edge. Its power button pokes out of the side and there’s a dedicated camera shutter button as well.

The Z1’s compact slimmer bezels help maximize its screen size and it’s notably easier to hold in one hand. CNET says that with this smaller version (in size) of the Xperia Z1, “it shouldn't embarrassingly bulge out your pocket when it's in your jeans.”

One key selling point and upgrade of the Z1 Compact is that its waterproof for a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes. You can practically dive underwater and take a picture with this device.

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact comes in four colors - black, yellow, white and pink.

DISPLAY

The display of the Xperia Z1 Compact has a resolution of 720P, a step down from Full HD. But even if that’s the case, the pixels remain sharp. CNET notes that it has a pixel density higher than the iPhone 5, the latter having 326ppi and the Xperia Z1 Compact sporting 340 pixels per inch.

COMPACT PROCESSOR AND OS

As some have suggested when rumors on the Xperia Z1 Mini were circling around, the Z1 Compact comes with Android 4.3 out of the box. There’s still no word from Sony on when the unit will have the Android 4.4 KitKat.

According to CNET, the software looks identical to the interface on the Z1. It has the same customizable app tray layout and Sony-made image and video galleries. The tech site said that the interface is simple enough and won’t challenge existing Android users.

Overall, thanks to the fact that Sony didn’t compromised too much on the capabilities of this “mini” smartphone, it’s proving to be a standard-bearer for what a compact version of a flagship may look like.