Sony - Xperia Z3V 4G LTE Cell Phone - Black

The good: The software is very flexible save the verizon and some sony apps you can't uninstall. I haven't rooted it but it looks to be easy, and changing most of the specifics of how the phone works. Another good aspect is the camera, there is a dedicated camera button that is good for landscape shots but not really portrait shots since the button is so close to the corner. The mediocre aspects are some aspects of the hardware itself, I'm not thrilled with the glass back; it does seem to get warm and dirty along with causing an occasional delay while I try to get the phone facing the right direction, but so far no signs of damage to either side. The phone is water resistant through the use of plugs to cover the USB, sim card, and micro SD openings, without a plug is the headphone port which apparently is water resistant by some other means. This is all fine and good but the plugs themselves are physically tethered to the phone by a plastic line, similar to a zip tie. This is good since it prevents misplacing any of the plugs and so far I have had no issues but I could imagine those ties getting worn. Qui charging is supported like wireless file transfers so you may rarely open any ports and not mind the physical tether; but I would prefer a slider for the openings since I use the USB often. Both of these design choices make the phone look very stylish but may hinder some users. Similarly, the worst part of the phone may not be an issue for you either, but the display is polarized along the length of the screen. This means if you wear polarized glasses, as I must on account of eye problems, you cannot see the screen in the landscape position. Other phones have the polarization diagonally aligned to the screen so both landscape and portrait are half as bright instead of this phone going for all of one and nothing for the other. Overall it is a strong offering with only a few minor fit and finish issues that will not impact everyone to the same degree.

I absolutely love this phone! It is so much better looking, has far less bloatware and pre-installed software, and runs so much faster than the Galaxy phones, and I've had both the S5 AND Note 4. The camera is far superior as you get decades of perfected pro-level Sony camera technology packed into this phone! Sony Xperia devices are the most underrated phones! Don't be another Apple/Samsung sheep! Try something new! You'll be SO glad you did!

Sony phones have truly come along over time, and the Xperia Z3V represents a major step towards smartphone perfection. Fast processor, 3 GB RAM, a microSD slot, Playstation streaming capability, a gorgeous 1080p screen, and waterproof design outfit this phone with virtually everything a smartphone shopper could possibly want. True, there are some imperfections, such as the flimsy port gaskets that must be kept shut in order to retain the waterproofing, but the improvements over previous Xperia models put this phone at the top of the smartphone heap. The anti-shatter film that was the bane of the z1 and z1 compact? Gone. Uncomfortable with having to pry open the flap that covers the USB port and feeling the need to invest in a Sony-branded magnetic dock? You can pop this phone on any cheap Qi charger and forget about having to delicately remove the USB port cover. And charging, of course, isn't that great of a concern anyway, because this phone is equipped with a veritable monster of a battery, and convenient battery-saving modes. The battery is built-in and can't be removed, but by the time this phone quit we should be well into the 7th or 8th iteration of the Xperia Z line. Sony's phones are praised all over the world except the USA, where they have curiously limited availability, so check reviews on GSMarena if you're interested in additional feedback (and think I sound a bit too excited). People sometimes fault the rectangular design, but I personally prefer it to the sloped, slippery backs of some smartphone models. Even the venerable Samsung has shifted further and further away from the "inspired-by-nature" design and more towards the angular with the most recent Galaxy S and Galaxy Note. One warning, however - Sony is notorious for sticking to hyperactive refresh cycle, so expect to feel a bit burned when the z4v or the z4 debuts about two months from now. The Z3v, though, is equipped with the hardware necessary to be sufficiently future-proof to prevent byer's remorse, though.

Phone and features are awesome! Was waiting for the newer version to release but Sony kept pushing the US release date back and still not available so bit the bullet and bought this phone. The only area that Sony needs to work on is the flap you have to open and close each time to charge the phone. After only a couple months of owning I had to buy a charging dock so i wouldn't have to keep opening and closing that flap every night i set it up for charging!

I've had my Sony Z3V for around 3 months and I will say it is a great phone. I appreciate the expandable memory. Also it has a nice screen. It's a full 1080p on a 5.2 inch screen (the iPhone 6 plus has the same number of pixels on a 5.5 inch screen). Big differentiator here is the camera. 20.7 megapixels. It's among the best cameras on a smartphone on the market. Also the battery life I find to be amazing. I know a number of people with iPhones who need to recharge their phone mid-day. I'm usually good for 2 full days before recharging, or one day if I use it heavily. I will note that it does not have a removable battery, but I can't imagine needing one. Another thing I like about it (which it is superior from my previous phone) is its ability to play videos of a variety of common video file types. I like to watch videos on my phone, which was a big reason why I got such a large one. I can put a video file on my SD card, pop it in the phone, and play. Takes maybe 5 seconds. Always seems to play without issue. I know that sounds minor but my last phone had trouble with any file type other than AVI. The current buying options aren't the best. I got it for $50 on a 2 year upgrade and current pricing has it as $200 on a 2 year. At that price I'd have considered the Samsung S6 or Note 4, but at a lower price point I don't think you could have found a better phone.

purch phone Nov 2014. Have used every feature that it has that I know of. Pros: most powerful device ever owned - memory, battery life, quad core, largest screen, best camera front & back, 1st water/dust proof easy to move around the UI, etc. Sony did not loose/cover up the Android experience like some other manufacturers. built in wireless charging. love the way it handles notifications and the ability to tweak them on the fly. battery stamina software really works. Cons: must remove cover to charge daily, hardly any accessories (still no more available since 11/2014), did not come with much documentation in the box, Can be a stretch to reach all of screen with one hand, Lots of bloatware from VZW, hardly any advertisement for this phone at all, found it at VZW by accident while at the store. in summary, if you want an advanced communication/entertainment device, this is the phone for you. advice: get a wireless charger (so you don't have to fool with opening/closing flaps. the Cons above are typically harware or personal preference issues, that most likely will not hamper you from enjoying the Xperia Z3v. I cant wait to see the next generation phone (they have forgotten the Z4v, and already moved on to the Z5 and all the hype that it entails.

This is one the best phone's that I've every gotten. Very light,the screen is clearest I've ever seen. It's also super fast because of the extra software the phone has to operate the play station 4. Using it with the ps4 is great.

This is a high end quality built phone from the front and back tempered glass panels to the aluminum frame side with rounded corners it just looks and feels awesome.The 1080p screen looks very nice and the photo and video quality are some of the best I have seen. Battery life is great lasting two days with modest use. Do not over look this phone if you are looking at iPhone or one of the samsung models this one deserves to be put in with all the others.