IFA 2017 has already brought with it some new smartphones, and thanks to Sony, we’ve got some more new hardware in the pipeline.
Sony today introduced three new Xperia smartphones: the Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact, and Xperia XA1 Plus. We’ll start with the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact.
The Sony Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact share several specs, including a 19-megapixel rear camera. Sony is touting this camera heavily, talking up its super slow motion 960fps video capture and Predictive Capture, the latter of which automatically starts buffering images when it sense action or a smile, before you press the shutter button. The rear cameras on the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact also offer 4K video capture, SteadyShot stabilization, and more.
Sony Xperia XZ1
Also of note is that both the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact feature IP68 water and dust resistance and high-resolution audio features like Stereo Speaker S-Fore Surround Sound and Stereo Recording. Both phones also come preloaded with Android 8.0, making them some of the first non-Pixel, non-Nexus Android phones to run Oreo.
Rounding out the shared features of these two Xperia XZ1 phones is the Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, microSD slot, USB Type-C, and a 2,700mAh battery. Both phones will include a side-mounted fingerprint reader, too, except in the U.S. where that fingerprint reader will be absent.
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
As for the differences between the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, the XZ1 features a 5.2-inch 1920×1080 display while the XZ1 Compact has a 4.6-inch HD screen. The XZ1 also comes with more built-in storage than the XZ1 Compact (64GB vs 32GB), and the XZ1 Compact has an 18-megapixel front-facing camera with wide angle lens while the XZ1 has a 13-megapixel front camera with wide angle lens.
The unlocked Sony Xperia XZ1 will begin rolling out around the globe in September, and as noted by The Verge, it’ll hit the U.S. on September 19th for $699.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. The unlocked Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact will arrive in the U.S. a bit later, hitting on October 4th for $599.99. Also of note is that the Xperia XZ1 Compact will include support for T-Mobile US VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling.
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
Also revealed today is the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus. This handset runs Android Nougat — Sony has already confirmed that it’ll be updated to Oreo — on a 5.5-inch 1920×1080 display. It’s powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor that’s paired with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 3,430mAh battery.
One of the highlight features of the Xperia XA1 Plus is its 23-megapixel rear camera, which boasts a 0.6-second Quick Launch and Capture feature to help you get that important shot. It’s also got a 23mm wide angle lens and HDR for photos and videos. The XA1 Plus is also packing an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with its own 23mm wide angle lens and HDR for photos support.
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus will begin rolling out this fall.
Sources: Sony (1), (2)
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