New Z3V Owner - First Impressions

[BigCTM]

To revive this dead forum, I thought I would post my initial impressions of the Z3V. In a nutshell, this is a seriously underrated beast! I have owned the G2, G3 and M8 in the past. Reviewers made too big of a deal about it having the Z2 design. I really like the design and have no complaints. So far, I am trying to find a weakness but I am not seeing it yet. The screen is great and better than the screen on the M8. The speakers are very good but not quite as good as the M8. The camera is overall better than the M8 but I do think the M8 has the edge in low light. The ultrapixel technology was great in low light. It is fast and reception seems fine. I like the small touches Sony brings to the table without adding too much like TouchWiz.

If I had to pick a complaint, it would be the amount of bloatware. Way too much...I think I have already disabled and uninstalled at least 20 apps.

For everyone wanting lollipop, all I can say is that I hope it's better than it was on the M8. The battery life was much worse with lollipop and I honestly saw very little benefits with lollipop. If the Z3V gets it, I will wait and make sure that everything looks good before downloading. Maybe they will skip 5.02 and go straight to 5.1 but I doubt it.

This phone is a steal for the price it's going for these days.

 

[pchain]

To revive this dead forum, I thought I would post my initial impressions of the Z3V. In a nutshell, this is a seriously underrated beast! I have owned the G2, G3 and M8 in the past. Reviewers made too big of a deal about it having the Z2 design. I really like the design and have no complaints. So far, I am trying to find a weakness but I am not seeing it yet. The screen is great and better than the screen on the M8. The speakers are very good but not quite as good as the M8. The camera is overall better than the M8 but I do think the M8 has the edge in low light. The ultrapixel technology was great in low light. It is fast and reception seems fine. I like the small touches Sony brings to the table without adding too much like TouchWiz.

If I had to pick a complaint, it would be the amount of bloatware. Way too much...I think I have already disabled and uninstalled at least 20 apps.

For everyone wanting lollipop, all I can say is that I hope it's better than it was on the M8. The battery life was much worse with lollipop and I honestly saw very little benefits with lollipop. If the Z3V gets it, I will wait and make sure that everything looks good before downloading. Maybe they will skip 5.02 and go straight to 5.1 but I doubt it.

This phone is a steal for the price it's going for these days.

Welcome to this forum too!

Can't agree more with your assessment. I've had the Z3v since launch and it has performed flawlessly!

 

[steve115]

+1

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[ReasonableD0ubt]

Nice man. I recently picked up the phone as well and I'm loving it. The only complaints I have are the bloat also (disabled about 20 or so apps) and the lack of accessories, namely cases. But I'm using the Incipio DualPro right now and it's a solid case.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[DJ Sandman]

Nice man. I recently picked up the phone as well and I'm loving it. The only complaints I have are the bloat also (disabled about 20 or so apps) and the lack of accessories, namely cases. But I'm using the Incipio DualPro right now and it's a solid case.

Posted via the Android Central App

Enjoying the phone as well since it first hit Big Red! I'm also using the Dual Pro case... not too shabby... especially without the outer shell/case.

 

[methodtoll]

I don't own the device yet but really leaning towards this phone over the LG G3. I really like the LG G3 but I read that the phone is having a few issues with battery life and WiFi when the phone is switched to lollipop.

I am not sure what to do :-/

 

[Wingwraith]

I don't own the device yet but really leaning towards this phone over the LG G3. I really like the LG G3 but I read that the phone is having a few issues with battery life and WiFi when the phone is switched to lollipop.

I am not sure what to do :-/

I hear every phone is having those issues when switching to Lollipop. So I don't think I would hold it against that phone in particular.

 

[DJ Sandman]

I don't own the device yet but really leaning towards this phone over the LG G3. I really like the LG G3 but I read that the phone is having a few issues with battery life and WiFi when the phone is switched to lollipop.

I am not sure what to do :-/

If I were in your shoes, I'd be more interested in the LG G4, which I hear is coming to Big Red on June 4th.

And if you can wait a little while longer, I hear that the Z4 will be coming to Big Red, too!

 

[methodtoll]

If I were in your shoes, I'd be more interested in the LG G4, which I hear is coming to Big Red on June 4th.

And if you can wait a little while longer, I hear that the Z4 will be coming to Big Red, too!

I would absolutely love to get the G4 but unless they have a good deal around that time (highly doubt that they will put it on sale after just releasing it) I won't be paying what I think the price will be ( I am guessing $199 on new 2-year plan.)

Right now Best Buy has the LG G3 for $1 and Verizon has the Z3v for just 99¢. Pretty tempting.

 

[DJ Sandman]

I would absolutely love to get the G4 but unless they have a good deal around that time (highly doubt that they will put it on sale after just releasing it) I won't be paying what I think the price will be ( I am guessing $199 on new 2-year plan.)

Right now Best Buy has the LG G3 for $1 and Verizon has the Z3v for just 99¢. Pretty tempting.

If money is the bottom line, you really can't go wrong with either phone, or just about any smartphone for that matter. I am an "Underdog Fan" and IMO, the Z3 and Z3v win the "Underdog/Sleeper Award" despite Sony's lack of marketing and some support issues.

Edit: The link below may interest you. LG is planning a 5-inch budget version and a 5.7 inch stylus version on the G4 series, but both have less specs than the original G4.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/19/lgg4-stylus-g4c/

 

[ChuckWithAZ3v]

When I went to pick up the Z3v a couple days after launch, I had been researching every smartphone available on Verizon. The sales rep I got tried his darndest to make me get a G3, but I can say with conviction that I have no regrets continuing with my decision. 8 months later, I am still glad with my choice, plus it's really hard to beat the waterproofing. This honestly has to be the best weatherproof phone Verizon has ever carried.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[smccloud]

I love my Z3v, although its power button is kind of wonky. That part bothers me, but it might have something to do with the fact that I dropped the phone and broke the back glass.

 

[steve115]

My friend and I both have spongy power buttons on the z3v, I agree n think it's from dropping phone multiple times, not glass breaking but I do have tempered protectors both side, but the button still works fine, just doesn't have that click like it use to. I use the screen off and lock app to avoid hitting power button and works flawlessly. But like the op stated, other then that Lil issue phone has been outstanding

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[pchain]

Agreed!

 

[DarkJoker33]

To bring this back from the partial dead , has the phone been updated to lollipop yet?
I've been eyeing this phone to try droid again as a DD device for a bit now, but the lack of voice & data at the same seems trouble some.

 

[smccloud]

Rumor floating around that the 23rd is the current Lollipop release date.

 

[Adrianb72]

Phone would be perfect if it just had VoLTE... I don't even need Lollipop...

 

[eventer79]

I just wanted to reply as I just got this phone yesterday & am still dazed with crossed eyes. Because yes, I'm a cranky 36 year old who held on to her beloved Alias 2 WITH ACTUAL BUTTONS for as long as I could. I HATE touchscreens, but communication & blog marketing demands were outpacing my already sad ability to keep up. And they're not exactly pocket-sized, ROFL! I research for months before buying a phone, as I use them until they literally die (Alias 2 has been the only exception - not dead, but couldn't keep up).

I have a long history with other Sony products, CNET'ed it to death, LOL, & I'm a freshwater wildlife biologist who also keeps her horses at home, so the waterproofing was a really. big. deal. even though I have a work cell phone. It had to be tough & not an insane battery sucker & I WILL NOT TOUCH an Apple product, dang overpriced proprietary nonsense.

Aside from being rather brain overwhelmed, it so far has delivered as expected. Maybe someday I'll even figure out how to use it, haha. I'm in the "mash buttons & see what happens" club, but at least I back things up first. I want my phone to perform well as a PHONE, calls & texts come first, along with sending photos via Twitter/FB for the blog, so I don't have a zillion app needs.

The only speedbump has been failure of Netflix app to let me sign in, I wanted to be able to update my queue, but a quick search revealed that may not neccessarily be a phone problem. I tried rebooting & reinstalling, but no luck yet *shrug*.

A manual would have been useful, ROFL. Or maybe I just need an Android manual. I'm very PC saavy, although I prefer Firefox to Chrome, & run several small websites, but this whole computer phone thingy is a new animal. I'm still staring at some parts asking "What do you want? I don't understand??" Heh.

I'm a bit nervous about the glass part, went ahead & spent the money & ordered a super mega PLASS protector for the front from Amazon, although, wow, it was $9 yesterday (sorry, it wouldn't let me post a link), & an MPERO Flex case for the back, since it was a whopping $2.50, until I decide what I want for a more rugged case. I don't really have $50 to throw at an Otterbox at present, so still perusing options..

At any rate, sorry for the ramble, but wanted to say hi & share impressions from a complete Android newb who is also a very picky equipment buyer to the best of my ability!

 

[pchain]

Welcome! As you have questions just let us know, we are more than happy to help, many very knowledgeable people here.

I was nervous about the glass at first, but now I actually carry the phone without a case. The battery life on the Z3v is one of the best on any phone. If you can spring for it, I'd get a Qi wireless charger, I can't live without it now that I have it, since the battery is so good I never need to plug the phone in, I just set it in my TYLT VU charger while I sleep and am ready to go for another full day.

This phone is the most stable phone I've ever owned, and with the exception of just a couple features it doesn't have, would recommend it to anyone.

 

[DarkJoker33]

Why not get a tempered glass front and rear piece for it?
If I end up getting this phone or the international version or compact, thats the first thing I'd probably do.
I like rocking my phones naked. And thats the closest in can come while being able to see the phone itself still.