> I'm asking because I'm torn between Xperia XZ1 Compact and the iPhone SE...

As someone who's in the likely unique position of carrying an iPhone SE and an XZ1 Compact in their pocket every day (and a Pixel), I'd recommend the iPhone SE:

- The iPhone SE is 20% lighter, which you notice over an extended time of using both phones.

- The camera on the XZ1C is frankly abysmal. The iPhone SE has a far better camera.

- I think the iPhone SE runs iOS better than the XZ1C runs Android.

However:

- I think the XZ1C has better battery life.

- The XZ1C has a MicroSD slot.

- You can install open source ROMs and MicroG if you want to own your device.

I have the Xperia XZ1 Compact and it's a good piece of hardware. Sony's put a bit of bloatware on it, but also Stamina Mode which I think is worth it vs Google's stock. Signal strength and speed have been good for me. I reboot it every few weeks.

But, using an OS made by an ads company is starting to get a bit creepy, so maybe it's time to switch.

Yeah the XZ1C hardware is exactly what I'm looking for. On the software side tho: Amazon and Facebook apps pre-installed, Google tracking, but also that kind of bullshit: https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/09/13/pixels-suddenly-sta...

I used an Xperia Z3 Compact for a while before I bought an iPhone SE and loved it. Sony's walled-garden for Android was pretty nice, I'll probably be back as long as they continue making compact phones once my SE gets too slow/old/breaks/whatever. The SE was my first iPhone, and unfortunately seems like it might be my last.

I also had a Z3 Compact before switching back to an SE. There was some stupid crap, off the top of my head I believe the camera's image processing was DRM locked and didn't work in any 3rd part camera apps. Low light noise reduction was the most obvious symptom.

This might have been fine if Sony's camera app wasn't a trainwreck compared to the 3rd party developers'. It also meant that image quality in other apps like Snapchat suffered. I was never 100% clear on whether the better camera algorithms were available to 3rd party devs if they bothered to implement them as a Sony specific feature, or if they were entirely locked to Sony's own camera app. In either case, 3rd party camera apps were bad.

Similarly, if you unlocked your bootloader you'd lose those image processing DRM keys and the camera turns into hot garbage.

> Sony has updated the text of the bootloader unlock warning on its website to be clear about the camera impact. It reads, "...the removal of DRM security keys may affect advanced camera functionality. For example, noise reduction algorithms might be removed, and performance when taking photos in low-light conditions might be affected."

https://www.androidpolice.com/2014/10/02/unlocking-the-bootl...

I don't know whether they're still doing this nonsense or not. Other than that it was a decent phone. They didn't mess with the OS too much. I don't hate Android as an OS, but it seems like whichever OEM you pick you're just deciding which particular flavor of bullshit you want.

Wow that's an especially bad case of Android Phone Name

Apple iPhone XS Max Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

Seems the same to me

Z5 Compact user here. It's very good, only occassional issue is Sony's "What's new" bloatware and its notifications. Easy enough to swipe&ignore.

I wish Sony will keep this line alive, Apple SE was only real alternative when I was buying the phone . . .

I've considered Sony's compact series of phones, as they're about the only higher end phones that are small enough for one handed use.

The XZ1 itself is quite a large phone, 73 mm wide. I find those quite awkward to use.

XZ1 Compact is different from XZ1. Make sure you are checking out the right phone specs.

I meant the XZ1 Compact sorry. (I edited my post since)