While the Xperia  Z1 Compact was pretty much a clone of the Z1, it’s not quite the same story for the Z3 Compact. It retains most of the Z3′s good looks, but you do have to make one compromise: more plastic. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does feel like a backwards step from Sony.

It still has the tempered glass on the back and front, and the latches protecting the key ports to give it the same waterproof certification as the Z3, but it’s on the sides where things are different. The anodised aluminium trim used on the full-fat Z3 has been swapped for a cheaper-looking translucent plastic that takes away some of the Compact’s overall sheen.

The red colouring of the version we tested certainly made the change in materials more noticeable, which dropped the Compact some style points. If you’re hoping for something as elegantly constructed as the Z3, you might be a bit disappointed. Over time, though, you do quickly forget it’s there, and it actually gives the handset a more robust, durable build.

There’s more similarities to be found with the bigger Z3, such as Sony’s Omnibalance design emphasised by the aluminium standby button and more subtly curved look. The Z3 Compact is available in white, black and green versions as well, and we have no doubt that the black and white versions would do a much better job of de-emphasising that plastic trim.