Slimmer device, but prone to overheating

SINGAPORE — In typical Sony fashion, the Sony Xperia Z3+ (picture) was launched a short eight months after its predecessor, the Z3. So the question is, what more does it have to offer?

In terms of appearance, the Z3+, also called the Z4 in Japan, is similar to its predecessor, boasting a glass front and rear as well as a metal frame, but it is marginally slimmer at 6.9mm and lighter at 144g. The phone is well-balanced, although its slimmer size does make it a tad sharper and more uncomfortable to grip without a cover.

There is now a single entry point for both the nano-SIM and the microSD cards (up to 128GB) hidden under a flap on the left, while the volume rocker, power button and dedicated camera shortcut button sit in a row on the other side of the phone.

It gets quite tricky trying to eject the nano-SIM/microSD card tray from the device, but I think Sony has done a good job in reducing the number of ports on the phone, thereby significantly enhancing the sleekness of the device.

The display’s 5.2-inch screen, Full HD resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and pixel density of 424ppi remain unchanged, offering bright and crisp visuals.

The 20.7-megapixel camera at the back, also unchanged from the previous iteration, delivers well-detailed images in daylight and commendable pictures in low light. The selfie camera gets an upgrade to 5 megapixels from the previous 2.2 megapixels.

The Z3+ runs on Android’s 5.0 Lollipop operating system and uses the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, with 3GB of RAM. This chipset has been controversial, with reports earlier this year stating that LG and Samsung had stopped using the chips after tests showed that they are prone to overheating.

I did notice that parts of the phone felt unusually warm after I used the device to stream videos, although this may not necessarily be due to the chipset. The camera app would also close on several occasions because the device was overheated.

Browsing the Web was generally a breeze, with no noticeable lag.

However, the phone’s battery life is disappointing. I wonder what Sony was trying to achieve when it downgraded the internal battery capacity of the Z3+ to 2930mAh, from the Z3’s 3100mAh. I managed to get only under a day’s use per charge with the Z3+, unlike its predecessor, which was famous for its two-day battery life.

Regardless, the Z3+ is a decent gadget with its aesthetic and practical improvements. The IP68 dust- and waterproof certification also makes the device one of the best waterproof phones. However, its tendency to overheat as well as its dismal battery life are difficult to overlook. Those looking for a new Android phone may want to give the Z3+ a try, but if you already own the Z3, waiting for the next iteration would probably be best.

The Xperia Z3+ is available at Sony stores and centres for S$998.