HandsetExpert.com
  • Phones
  • SIM Only
  • Compare Specs
  • Search
Loading more deals...
Sorry, but something has gone wrong. Please reload the page and try again.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact deals and reviews

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

84/100
27 Critic Reviews

Take your number with you with a simple text.

Looking for the Xperia Z5 Premium? Click here.

Looking for the Xperia Z5? Click here.

Release Date (UK): September 2015

  • Expert Reviews

  • Best Deals

  • Phone Specs

  • Photos Taken

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100

Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim

If you want a powerful smartphone without the inconvenience of heft and bulk, a smartphone ripe with features and versed in multimedia, it is a must-have.

Read full review
100

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

If you're after something smaller, nothing does it better than the Z5 Compact. It wins a Best Buy award. The Z5 Compact is the complete package if you want top performance in a small package.

Read full review
100

Recombu | Alex Todd

There's little else out there with such an attractive design, stellar battery life, great optics, waterproofing and solid performance unless you're happy breaking the 5-inch barrier and in truth to meet all those criteria, you'll likely still find yourself looking at Sony's other top devices.

Read full review
100

S21

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact offers a superphone experience in a compact form factor. With a 4.6-inch HD screen and a premium, lightweight build, the Z5 Compact is easy to handle, but delivers the power of an 8-core processor, a 23 megapixel camera with 4K video capability, and a two-day battery.

Read full review
100

Alphr | Alan Martin

In its more compact frame, it barely puts a foot wrong, with a super camera, generally zippy performance, a decent screen and impressive battery life. The side-mounted fingerprint reader is also a genuinely brilliant innovation that you can expect other manufacturers to steal over the next few years.

Read full review
100

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

Three-day battery, great camera and flagship innards squeezed into a more compact frame make the Xperia Z5 Compact no cut-spec 'mini' version. The design will not be to everyone's liking – it could be thinner and the screen could be of higher resolution, but they are trade-offs worth making.

Read full review
90

TechRadar | James Peckham

Sony's new small form phone is the hidden gem of the Xperia Z5 range - it's just a shame there isn't a Full HD screen.

Read full review
90

Know Your Mobile

A truly one-of-a-kind handset, the Z5 Compact proves that big isn't always better. It's the perfect phone for those who don't want a phablet but still want cutting-edge power.

Read full review
90

International Business Times | Anthony Curtbertson

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is the only high-end contender for anyone looking for a smaller device, but to simply call the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact the best small phone on the market is to not give it due credit. Despite its size, it is able to pack in the same features and performance as the rest of the Z5 family, all of which offer worthy competition to the heavyweights of the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S6.

Read full review
89

NotebookCheck | Michael Moser

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is a very good and compact smartphone with an impressive set of features and a powerful SoC. There are some positive aspects to consider...Overall, you do not have to make any compromises compared to the flagship Xperia Z5.

Read full review
86

Android Authority | Gary Sims

Unlike other "mini" handsets, the Z5 Compact retains almost the same specs and quality as its larger siblings while giving consumers a small form factor option. It is certainly a small powerhouse, however the camera could disappoint those who were expecting the very best in photo capture.

Read full review
85

The Journal

Compact by name, compact in nature but above all, a fantastic phone for those not keen on larger screens.

Read full review
84

MobileTechTalk | Domenico Lamberti

The Z5 Compact isn't a bad phone, but it feels unfinished and overpriced for what it currently offers.

Read full review
80

AndroidPit | Eric Ferrari-Herrmann

Ultimately, if you want a flagship standard smartphone that's less than 5-inches tall, you should get the Xperia Z5 Compact.

Read full review
80

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

The Z5 Compact is refined, small, and manufactured with the best materials. The glass-and-metal combo offers a premium experience, and its waterproof nature makes it all the more appealing.

Read full review
80

Android Central | Richard Devine

It can be said that the Z5 compact is good phone, because it is. Generally. And it has a very good camera. But we're still waiting for that 'wow' factor. For Sony to do something to blow us away...The Z5 Compact carries on the tradition of being one of our favorite phones. Just because it exists. It has its flaws, but we're better off for it existing.

Read full review
80

Brighthand | Dragan Petric

When all advantages of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact are summed up, its practical nature is what stands out the most. For those who do not like the trend of big smartphones, the Compact offers a powerful flagship in a smaller body.

Read full review
80

Digital Spy | Luke Johnson

It's a great device for those unconcerned with enjoying hours of movie streaming or 3D gaming. But, hey, with a camera this good though, who needs all that other stuff?

Read full review
80

Wired UK | James Temperton

If you want a smaller Android phone and don't care about cost, get the Z5 Compact. If you want a larger Android phone, the Z5 is much like all the rest of them.

Read full review
80

Stuff | Andrew Williams

A long-lasting phone that's dead easy to live with if you're after a smaller screen.

Read full review
80

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

The Xperia Z5 Compact is the best small phone around, but then there's not much competition in this area anymore and there are a number of phones offering decent specs for a lot less.

Read full review
77

The Verge | Vlad Savov

The Xperia Z5 Compact ... is truly a unique creation. It's a tier below the typical flagship pricing, but offers better battery life than any comparable smartphone and still has that excellent camera inside it.

Read full review
70

Tom's Guide | Cherlynn Low

The Xperia Z5 Compact packs a lot of good things into its small size: powerful performance, excellent endurance and a bright, colorful display. However, the boxy phone is stuffed to the brim with unnecessary apps and marred by awkwardly placed buttons that are hard to access.

Read full review
70

phoneArena | Nick T

It is a good smartphone, just not an excellent one. All things considered, it stands out with its powerful processor, good performance, decent battery life, and water resistance. In most other categories, the Z5 Compact is an average performer.

Read full review
70

Trusted Reviews | Michael Sawh

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is arguably the best 4.6-inch Android phone available right now. If it wasn't plagued by performance issues, it could have been so much more.

Read full review
70

The Inquirer | Carly Page

The Xperia Z5 Compact has its downfalls, its occasional laggy performance or a display which, while perfectly acceptable in terms of performance, feels a little too small. However, it's high-end design, top-end camera and excellent battery life are likely to be enough to satisfy most buyers.

Read full review
60

IT PRO | Adam Shepherd

Sony deserves credit for the top quality camera, accurate fingerprint reader and fast charging. It's therefore a sham that the Z5 Compact isn't quite as fast as other phones, plus there are the overheating problems and the regression in waterproofing. It feels as if Sony has taken two steps forward and one step back.

Read full review

Every day, we search through thousands of tariffs and offers from UK online retailers to find the best Sony Xperia Z5 Compact deals and contracts across a selection of price points and needs.

Select 'Pay Monthly' if you're looking to get the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact as part of a monthly contract with minutes, data and texts. Alternatively, choose 'No Contract' if you prefer to buy the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact SIM Free or on Pay as You Go.
  • Pay Monthly
  • No Contract

Finding the perfect deal is easy. Just use the sliders to filter tariffs for minutes, data, monthly cost and upfront cost. You can also filter by network and retailer to find the best Sony Xperia Z5 Compact deal for you!

Ofcom Logo
Filter Retailers Filter Networks More

Sort

Note: SIM Free and PAYG price comparisons are independent of Ofcom’s accreditation scheme

The cheapest contract price in this category is cheaper than buying the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact SIM Free and a comparable SIM Only tariff by .
View SIM Only Contracts View SIM Free Prices

You could save on the cheapest contract price in this category by buying the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact SIM Free and a comparable SIM Only tariff separately.
View SIM Only Contracts View SIM Free Prices

We're also checking unbundled phone and tariff prices for you...

No deals found. Suggestions:
  • Try expanding the tariff and price slider values.
  • Try including more networks/retailers.
  • Try a different payment model (Pay Monthly/SIM Free).
  • If the device is old, there may not be any deals available.
Loading more deals...

Compare Sony Xperia Z5 Compact specs side-by-side with other phones
COMPARE SPECS

Form factor and dimensions
Dimensions & Form

Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions 127 x 65 x 8.9 mm (5 x 2.56 x 0.35 in)
Weight: 138 g (4.87 oz)

Screen
Screen

Size: 4.6 inches diagonal
Resolution: 1280 x 720 pixels
Screen Density: 319 ppi
Screen-to-Body Ratio: 70.7 %

Display Type: IPS LCD

Operating System
Runs

Android

Performance
Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810
CPU: Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU: Adreno 430
RAM: 2GB

Camera
Camera

Main Camera: 23 megapixels with LED flash, 4k video recording
Secondary Camera: 5 megapixels

Storage
Storage

Built-in Storage: 32GB
Expandable Storage: Micro SD

Battery
Battery & Charging

Capacity: 2700 mAh
Removable Battery: No
Wireless Charging: No
Quick Charge: Yes (v2)

SIM Standard
SIM standard

Dual SIM: Micro SIM + Micro SIM
Compare SIM Only deals

Water and Dust Resistance
Water & Dust Resistance

IP68 Rating: Protection from contact with harmful dust, and protection from immersion in water up to a depth of 30m for up to 30 minutes

Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint Reader

Side

More info
References & More info

Official website
GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact.

  • Sample Photo 0
  • Sample Photo 1
  • Sample Photo 2
  • Sample Photo 3
  • Sample Photo 4
  • Sample Photo 5
  • Sample Photo 6
  • Sample Photo 7
  • Sample Photo 8
  • Sample Photo 9
  • Sample Photo 10
  • Sample Photo 11
  • Sample Photo 12
  • Sample Photo 13
  • Sample Photo 14
  • Sample Photo 15
  • Sample Photo 16
  • Sample Photo 17
  • Sample Photo 18
  • Sample Photo 19
All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.

Filter by Network

You can pick as many (or as few) networks as you wish!

Select All Clear Selection
Cancel Apply

Filter by Retailer

You can pick as many (or as few) retailers as you wish!

Select All Clear Selection
Cancel Apply

Contract Length (months)

You can pick as many (or as few) others as you wish!

  • 1Selected
  • 6Selected
  • 12Selected
  • 18Selected
  • 24Selected
  • 30Selected
  • 36Selected
Select All Clear Selection

Include deals with

Automatic Cashback Selected Cashback by Redemption Selected
Select All Clear Selection
Cancel Apply

Out of Bundle Costs

  • Minutesp/min
  • MMSp/msg
  • SMSp/txt
  • Voicemailp/min

Useful Info

You can check network coverage here, or read our guide for resources on coverage.

Read our guide on network traffic management here. Read about 's fair usage and traffic management policy here.

You can find more information via Ofcom's customer service and complaints handling guide.

Learn more about HandsetExpert and how our comparison engine works.

GET DEAL

Close window

Last Updated: 19th May 2020

How HandsetExpert Works: We don't run ads on the site, or charge users to use the site. The site is funded using commission links, where we may receive a commission if a phone or tariff is purchased via HandsetExpert. Our editorial, phone scoring and recommendation system and deal-finding algorithms are not affected by this; we are fiercely committed to providing unbiased, independent information.

Important notes

  • We aim to compare as many tariffs in the marketplace from the UK as possible. However, we do not include every package (e.g. legacy tariffs no longer available, or tariffs only available to existing/specific customers), nor do we detail every aspect of every tariff (e.g. international out of bundle rates, on-network minutes, etc).
  • SIM Only deals do not include plans shorter than 30 days or Pay As You Go rates.
  • We work really hard to get accurate prices from as many providers as possible, but some deals or providers may not be included; if there’s anything we’ve missed then please get in touch and let us know.
  • Whenever we can, we will let you know if a deal is time limited (such as a flash deal), and when the deal expires.
  • For tariffs which offer "unlimited" allowances, there may be times where traffic management or fair usage policies apply.
  • Additional charges for payment methods other than direct debit and for itemised/paper billing may apply.
  • Data only SIM cards, mobile broadband packages, and pay monthly tablets are currently not included in the comparison.
  • Out of bundle charges are not included in the calculation of Average Monthly Cost.
  • Contracts may not be available for some phone models in all colours and/or sizes, and a small number may only be available either as a pay monthly contract or a contract free handset, but not both.
  • Providers may increase the cost of your contract by RPI (inflation). However, if prices are increased that then cause a materially detrimental impact, you have the right to exit your contract without penalty. More details available from Ofcom plus comparative information on customer service and complaints handling & their guide on how to complain.
  • Ofcom runs a voluntary accreditation scheme for digital comparison tools (DCTs) for telephone, broadband and pay-TV, and has confirmed that this DCT meets the criteria for accreditation. For further details about the scheme, including the criteria that DCTs must meet, visit the price comparison page on the Ofcom website.
© 2023 - HandsetExpert
  • Home
  • Reviews & Deals
  • Blog
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • Cookies & Privacy Policy
HandsetExpert FaceBook HandsetExpert Twitter HandsetExpert Messenger