Xperia X Compact Review

Since Sony’s inception into the smart phone market they have created a strong fan base among Android users. Their phones have gone for a flat edged look that has appealed to many, splitting their line into the premium and compact phones. Playing with their latest compact, the Xperia X Compact, there was certainly immense eagerness to see how it improved on the Z5 compact.

There was a bit of curiosity and surprise taking the phone out of the box. Sony has gone for an interesting design choice with the X Compact, and even two weeks in, it’s hard to be sold on it. Looking straight on, it has the normal square shape, but the left and right edges are curved, giving it a one surface feel. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is, however, a very odd design choice that won’t appeal to everyone.
The next noticeable thing is the phone’s interesting surface texture. It feels very plastic, almost like there’s a case on it already. That impression is reinforced by the back of the phone, where the camera and flash sit in an indented area that looks identical to the holes cut into a case.

Strangely, outside of the screen, the black version’s surface has a slightly greyish black tone. When the screen isn’t active, that colour difference becomes obvious. It was annoying to no end, though it won’t be an issue if you pick a non-black model instead. These design choices would suit people who like the look of a phone case, minus the practicality of actually having one.
In everyday use the X Compact is surprisingly comfortable in the hand, certainly more so than the previous compacts. That’s about the only noticeable improvement, though. Battery and power wise there have been no significant upgrades from the Z5 Compact. Honestly, using the phone felt like using the older model in a new case.

Fortunately, they have kept the power button and fingerprint scanner combo. It’s helpful being able to activate the phone, and unlock it at the same time with daily use. Unfortunately, the waterproofing has been dropped again and that’s disappointing. One of the Xperia hallmarks has been their waterproofing, and to see it dropped is a major mark against the phone.

Ultimately the Xperia X Compact is a decent mid-range smart phone. It has some design choices that didn’t click so well, and has lost its waterproofing, but if you need a cheap way into the Sony ecosystem it’s a decent little phone.