MWC: Sony Experia Z4?

[GTaudiophile]

When is Sony supposed to announce the Z4?

 

[rudeguy]

Nothing on the MWC that I can see for Sony:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/MWC-2015-event-schedule_id66582

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_mwc_2015-review-1219.php

the tech giant had decided to postpone the launch of the Xperia Z4 high-end smartphone.

 

[GTaudiophile]

WTF. Well that sucks.

 

[swilli89]

WTF. Well that sucks.

Currently the Sony Z3 doesn't support group messaging? WHAT?!

Yep. Doesn't do a basic function that almost everyone needs. Sony rep confirmed in a T-mobile store its a firmware/hardware issue. No replacement app can fix this and I should know, I've tried 7 SMS apps.

I really hate that because aside from that and the fact that the phone is ultra slippery on anything but a completely flat surface, I love it. Its great battery life is the #1 thing I like but also the speakers and in hand feel great as well.

Here's hoping that they fix that with the eventual Z4.

 

[Strk]

Currently the Sony Z3 doesn't support group messaging? WHAT?!

Yep. Doesn't do a basic function that almost everyone needs. Sony rep confirmed in a T-mobile store its a firmware/hardware issue. No replacement app can fix this and I should know, I've tried 7 SMS apps.

I really hate that because aside from that and the fact that the phone is ultra slippery on anything but a completely flat surface, I love it. Its great battery life is the #1 thing I like but also the speakers and in hand feel great as well.

Here's hoping that they fix that with the eventual Z4.

I thought that was a feature in Hangouts?

 

[swilli89]

I thought that was a feature in Hangouts?

It is if the phone handles mms correctly, which the Sony z3 does not. If you Google it you will see a ton of ppl complaining. T-mobile sent me a replacement z3 and even that didn't fix it.

 

[TheStu]

It is if the phone handles mms correctly, which the Sony z3 does not. If you Google it you will see a ton of ppl complaining. T-mobile sent me a replacement z3 and even that didn't fix it.

So it's a Z3 issue? How does that even happen?

 

[BW86]

Currently the Sony Z3 doesn't support group messaging? WHAT?!

My SO has the t-mo z3 and uses group messaging just fine. She's using google messenger as her main sms app.

She was however having a ton of sms problems when she first got the phone. Turning off VoLTE in settings fixed that.

 

[swilli89]

So it's a Z3 issue? How does that even happen?

Man your guess is as good as mine. I've tried it all, APN settings, factory resets, actual different Z3's, multiple sms apps including the awful stock one, messed with mms settings. If I put my sim in a nexus 5 or Galaxy s4 BOOM it works perfectly.

The issue is all over Sony z3 and T-mobile support forums and there is no solution. I was in a T-mobile store complaining (trying to get out of this phone) one day a and a Sony rep was there and confirmed that it's a firmware issue.

To me they are passing it off as a fully functioning phone which isn't true.

Again, it's a shame because I love the handset. It's so full of win in pretty much every category except it's lack of group texting, a feature that was already old hat in 2010.

 

[swilli89]

My SO has the t-mo z3 and uses group messaging just fine. She's using google messenger as her main sms app.

She was however having a ton of sms problems when she first got the phone. Turning off VoLTE in settings fixed that.

That's the problem with anecdotal evidence. Always gonna be outliers.

 

[Strk]

That's the problem with anecdotal evidence. Always gonna be outliers.

Technically, so is yours

I do wonder if it is their UI and, if so, if other Xperia phones are affected by it.

 

[swilli89]

Technically, so is yours

I do wonder if it is their UI and, if so, if other Xperia phones are affected by it.

Ha yeah that's true except I've found that my case is closer to the rule rather than the norm. The T-mobile top even admitted going so far as to say he had one himself but his techs couldn't fix it so he went back to the S5

 

[holden j caufield]

sony support is garbage, don't expect them to fix it. You'll need to fix it yourself, find a workaround, or hope xda has fix.

 

[Kelvrick]

Ha yeah that's true except I've found that my case is closer to the rule rather than the norm. The T-mobile top even admitted going so far as to say he had one himself but his techs couldn't fix it so he went back to the S5

My Z3 (tmo) had some MMS issues too. It seemed to work better using Google's messenger program, but I'd still have a weird thing with receiving my own reply whenever responding to a group message.

I didn't mind much as everything else seemed to work fine.

The battery life is amazing. I don't know how it does it. It also seemed "smoother" in operation than my replacement LG G3 (long story) and everything else I've tried.

 

[foghorn67]

That's the problem with anecdotal evidence. Always gonna be outliers.

Turning off my VoLTE fixed my SMS messages not sending as well.

 

[swilli89]

Turning off my VoLTE fixed my SMS messages not sending as well.

Yeah I turned that crap off day 1 after I heard what the audio quality on phone calls sounded like.

 

[Bateluer]

My Z3 also handles MMS and group messaging fine, however, I need to be connected to mobile data for MMS to go through. Normally, when my Z3 is on WiFi, it disconnects from mobile data and MMS will fail. My m7 was the same way.

 

[Strk]

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Leak...thinner-device-without-a-microSD-slot_id66904

Well, if this is true, it sounds more evolutionary than revolutionary. But that's not terrible since that's basically what Sony has been doing with the Z line.

I just wish they announced it during MWC

 

[rudeguy]

http://www.androidcentral.com/purported-leaked-renders-sony-xperia-z4-give-us-look-design

Leaks are starting to show up.

 

[Strk]

http://www.androidcentral.com/purported-leaked-renders-sony-xperia-z4-give-us-look-design

Leaks are starting to show up.

I kind of wish it was a little bigger. Maybe 5.5" like the G3.

 

[EvilYoda]

I've always loved the Z3 but with the S6 and M9 imminent I'm torn (at the moment). If the Z4 somehow gets announced in the near future, it'll probably be my next phone.

I actually like the smaller screen...my OPO is too big for me.

 

[dawheat]

http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-...tos-show-up-for-your-viewing-pleasure_id67969

Z4 looks like a continued evolution. I thought they'd mix it up a bit after several iterations, but they do have a pretty good design going on. I hope the S810 doesn't ruin what's the best thing about the Z3 - the battery life. Otherwise looks like pretty standard 2015 flagship specs.

T-mobile pulling the Z3 after only 6 months is not a great sign however. The optimist will pin it on the Z4 coming out soon, the pessimist on poor sales. I lean on the pessimistic as I don't think it's standard practice for an older model to be removed well before the newer model is on sale.

Will the Z-series ever catch on in the US?

 

[Imported]

The S810 scares me.. blah.

 

[yh125d]

If they want my money, they probably shouldn't tarry. I'm considering an early upgrade to the GS6 but if this is true it will be worth waiting a bit longer IMO, especially if it doesn't lose that extreme battery life of the Z3 or micro SD, and has wireless charging.

Then again, I'm on Verizon which means there's a possibility they'll come up with some godawful mishmash of a Z4 in a Z2 or Z3 body like they did with the Z3v. Ugh.