I moved from Verizon to AT&T to save money by sharing a plan with my fianc? (who is under contract with AT&T). Sold my Verizon unlimited data account and my old phone, and was able to pretty much pay for a new Xperia Z1 (6902 model from Sony Store USA).
First phone was sold to me as "black" but in turn was the white model. The Sony store told me to hold onto it and swap for a black one when they arrived. About 1.5 weeks later I get the new black phone.
White phone: perfect screen, great build quality. Strange issue with calls- lots of static on my end, but those who I speak to hear me perfectly fine.
Black Phone #1: Great call quality, poor build quality. Port covers are not 100% flush with phone. Screen has 4 "hot" pixels. One pixel was right under the back key on the menu buttons, very annoying.
Go back to store, manager allows me to swap for another black phone.
Black Phone #2: Great call quality, great build quality. Get new screen protector for phone and when I peel off the temporary shipping protector Sony installs, notice there are 12 hot pixels and 1 stuck pixel (red). 1 hot pixel and the stuck pixel are in the menu key area of the screen. I am BEYOND irritated at this phone by now.
Go back to store, different manager doesn't see my pixel issue. I explain that I wouldn't come to the store and look like a fool if these things weren't there. He allows me to swap again for another unit, makes me check it in the store. Under the bright lights I was pretty sure the screen looked good. Take it home.
Black Phone #3: Great call quality, great build quality. Screen- perfect, 0 dead/stuck/hot pixels. This time however, there is an issue with the vibration motor. Unlike my first 3 Xperia Z1 phones, this motor buzzes more than it vibrates, and although vibration works, it does not feel as "haptic" as the other 3 does, and is audibly loud when using any of the menu keys or typing.
This phone should be returned as defective and sent back to Sony for QC issues, but I doubt the store would take a 4th return from me, and they already think I'm a nut job. I am making this post as a warning to those who import the phone. If you like to get a "perfect" phone for your $650+, I would highly suggest ordering this phone from a place with a VERY good return policy. While the phone has a beautiful design, and is overall very sold in the hand, these little QC issues drive me nuts- and I'm sure it would irritate most of the users on this forum too. If I did not return 3 phones, I would go back and return this, pay the 15% restocking fee, and pick up a Lumia 1520 tomorrow. I love the phone, and Sony's take on Android is even better than WP8, but the build problems are way too problematic for a flagship from a high end company like Sony.
First phone was sold to me as "black" but in turn was the white model. The Sony store told me to hold onto it and swap for a black one when they arrived. About 1.5 weeks later I get the new black phone.
White phone: perfect screen, great build quality. Strange issue with calls- lots of static on my end, but those who I speak to hear me perfectly fine.
Black Phone #1: Great call quality, poor build quality. Port covers are not 100% flush with phone. Screen has 4 "hot" pixels. One pixel was right under the back key on the menu buttons, very annoying.
Go back to store, manager allows me to swap for another black phone.
Black Phone #2: Great call quality, great build quality. Get new screen protector for phone and when I peel off the temporary shipping protector Sony installs, notice there are 12 hot pixels and 1 stuck pixel (red). 1 hot pixel and the stuck pixel are in the menu key area of the screen. I am BEYOND irritated at this phone by now.
Go back to store, different manager doesn't see my pixel issue. I explain that I wouldn't come to the store and look like a fool if these things weren't there. He allows me to swap again for another unit, makes me check it in the store. Under the bright lights I was pretty sure the screen looked good. Take it home.
Black Phone #3: Great call quality, great build quality. Screen- perfect, 0 dead/stuck/hot pixels. This time however, there is an issue with the vibration motor. Unlike my first 3 Xperia Z1 phones, this motor buzzes more than it vibrates, and although vibration works, it does not feel as "haptic" as the other 3 does, and is audibly loud when using any of the menu keys or typing.
This phone should be returned as defective and sent back to Sony for QC issues, but I doubt the store would take a 4th return from me, and they already think I'm a nut job. I am making this post as a warning to those who import the phone. If you like to get a "perfect" phone for your $650+, I would highly suggest ordering this phone from a place with a VERY good return policy. While the phone has a beautiful design, and is overall very sold in the hand, these little QC issues drive me nuts- and I'm sure it would irritate most of the users on this forum too. If I did not return 3 phones, I would go back and return this, pay the 15% restocking fee, and pick up a Lumia 1520 tomorrow. I love the phone, and Sony's take on Android is even better than WP8, but the build problems are way too problematic for a flagship from a high end company like Sony.
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