The iPhone 6 is getting all the headlines these days. Apple announced the phone sold more than 10 million units in its opening week—a personal best since the first iPhone in 2007. The iPhone 6 is grabbing so many headlines, in fact, that it’s easy to miss a dark horse in the smartphone race. Samsung and Motorola are the more popular alternatives to Apple, but there’s another company that released a decent contender: Sony.
The Xperia Z3, Sony’s flagship phone of 2014, packs some incredible features worthy of envy. The Z3 actually has some bragging rights over the iPhone 6. Here are four features the Sony Xperia Z3 holds over Apple this year.
Design & Build
The iPhone 6 can claim thinness, but it also landed Apple in BendGate hot water. When the iPhone launched in September, a few users reported that the phone was actually bending in their pockets. The devices still worked, but they were stuck with a permanent curvature. Because the iPhone 6 is so thin, it’s more susceptible to bending compared to other phones. Consumer Reports tested the iPhone 6 with a stress test and found that it takes roughly 70-90 pounds of pressure to bend the phone—a decent amount, but low enough that the wrong angle might just make the phone give way.
That is not the case with Sony. The Xperia Z3 is about a millimeter thicker than the iPhone 6, just enough to give it extra strength but maintain a smooth, attractive design. It certainly is not a clunker like an old Nokia.
Specs
Like many Android phones, the Xperia Z3 has guts that leave the iPhone 6 in the dust. The newest iPhone does have 64-bit architecture, but the A8 chip is only 1.4 GHz and has 1GB RAM. By contrast, the Z3 touts a 2.5 GHz CPU with 3GB RAM—nearly double the power of the iPhone 6.
Camera
The Xperia Z3’s camera is an absolute monster. It’s 20.7 megapixels (the iPhone is 8) and can film video at 2160p at 30fps up to 720p at 120fps. The iPhone 6 does have the ability to film at 240fps, but it can’t touch the image size of the Xperia Z3.
Software
We realize that the iOS vs. Android debate is totally subjective, but for what it’s worth, Android is not what it used to be. Android 5.0 Lollipop is a huge success for Google, and it’s an OS that can really compete with Apple. So software is no longer a deterrent for any Android phone.
The Verdict
Apple fans will do what they do best: Stick with Apple. But users on the bubble have a great option with the Sony Xperia Z3. Carriers are selling the phone with $0 down, so it’s easy to get your hands on one. Google is also making it easier to switch from iOS to Android, so even if you were an iPhone user in the past, it’s no sweat to make the switch.
The Sony Xperia Z3 is available now. If you’re looking for a more durable phone (no BendGate!), better camera, or just a powerful Android alternative, this is the phone you need to buy.
