My jobs phone is up for renewel. Ordered a Sony Z3

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,060
880
126
So, I control the companies wireless phone plan and have used upgrades over the years to get myself pretty much any phone I want. Right now i am sporting a Note 4 (personal) and an M8 (work). My job phone is up for renewal and while I can get an S6 edge 128gb, the price is 500 bucks. I noticed the Sony Z3 is .99 and I was always interested in its waterproofness so I chose it for a buck.

Has anyone tried taking underwater pics with it? How is this phone overall? Any good roms for it or is stock good?
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
6,820
136
So, I control the companies wireless phone plan and have used upgrades over the years to get myself pretty much any phone I want. Right now i am sporting a Note 4 (personal) and an M8 (work). My job phone is up for renewal and while I can get an S6 edge 128gb, the price is 500 bucks. I noticed the Sony Z3 is .99 and I was always interested in its waterproofness so I chose it for a buck.

Has anyone tried taking underwater pics with it? How is this phone overall? Any good roms for it or is stock good?

You can do underwater pics, but suffice it to say that I wouldn't get one for that purpose.

The general rule: it's a pretty accomplished phone with good performance and exceptional battery life for the class, but you'll have to be okay with that very flat design and Sony's (relatively light) customizations. The camera is above-average, although the overall nod goes to the iPhone 6 Plus, GS6 and G4.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,060
880
126
You can do underwater pics, but suffice it to say that I wouldn't get one for that purpose.

The general rule: it's a pretty accomplished phone with good performance and exceptional battery life for the class, but you'll have to be okay with that very flat design and Sony's (relatively light) customizations. The camera is above-average, although the overall nod goes to the iPhone 6 Plus, GS6 and G4.

Well, for 99 cents I think its gonna be sweet. I already have my Note 4 which takes great pics. Just interested in underwater pics with the Z3.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
It's really hard to hold and type. It digs in to the fingers it cradles, and it gets old after a couple sentences.
The camera ain't too bad. But the UI for the camera app is bad, very bad. And slow.
I think Lolipop should take care of the rest of my complaints.
It's a good everyday phone.
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
6,820
136
Well, for 99 cents I think its gonna be sweet. I already have my Note 4 which takes great pics. Just interested in underwater pics with the Z3.

Yeah, that's the clincher... 99 cents for a phone that's still pretty high-end is a deal in my book, even with the Z3's quirks.
 

zerogear

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2000
5,611
9
81
So, I control the companies wireless phone plan and have used upgrades over the years to get myself pretty much any phone I want. Right now i am sporting a Note 4 (personal) and an M8 (work). My job phone is up for renewal and while I can get an S6 edge 128gb, the price is 500 bucks. I noticed the Sony Z3 is .99 and I was always interested in its waterproofness so I chose it for a buck.

Has anyone tried taking underwater pics with it? How is this phone overall? Any good roms for it or is stock good?

One thing to note, if you get the T-Mobile version of Z3, D6616, the phone is root-able via an exploit, the bootloader is NOT unlock-able. So that will rule out flashing custom ROMs.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
I tried taking underwater pics with my Z3 Compact and its meh.
Also, they dont say anything about its ability to withstand chlorine or saltwater so think about that.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,060
880
126
One thing to note, if you get the T-Mobile version of Z3, D6616, the phone is root-able via an exploit, the bootloader is NOT unlock-able. So that will rule out flashing custom ROMs.

Unfortunately its verizon. Their version is not the same externally as the other carriers. I believe its thicker and lack the FM radio.
 

cronos

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2001
9,380
26
101
Unfortunately its verizon. Their version is not the same externally as the other carriers. I believe its thicker and lack the FM radio.

I was going to comment yesterday. It is obvious for some that a 'Z3' that is 'on contract' is definitely describing the Z3V from Verizon, but not everyone is aware of this. This version is unique and different than the regular Z3. In fact it actually looks more like the Z2 than the Z3 (which, to me, is better).
 

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
18,120
911
126
The Z3 has a terrible overheating problem. You need to google it before you buy one.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,060
880
126
Got the z3v yesterday, it's actually a nice phone. Well made. 99 cents it's a steal.