Sony Xperia Z1 review: Walking on water

GSMArena team, 19 September 2013.

Sony's got a plan and it's sticking to it - while other makers pile software feature upon feature, the Japanese focus on their historical strengths, such as beautiful, durable design, photographic excellence and enviable display tech. That in short is what the Xperia Z1 is all about.

Sony Xperia Z1 official images

The upper Xperia echelon is known for its slim design and the Z1 is no exception - 8.5mm doesn't sound wafer thin, but not until you realize that inside this phone's body there's a 1/2.3" sensor and a 3,000mAh battery. The sensor is 70% bigger in terms of surface area than what smartphones usually get (1/3") and large sensors require bigger optics, hence thicker phones. The same goes for high-capacity batteries.

Of course, the big, high-resolution sensor will give the Xperia Z1 a leg up on the competition in the imaging department. But Sony is also responding to Nokia's propensity for name-dropping (ZEISS lenses) by using its own sensor brand and lens design, plus a BIONZ image processor.

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support; 3G with 42Mbps HSPA; 150Mbps LTE 5" 16M-color 1080p capacitive touchscreen Triluminos display (441ppi pixel density); X-Reality engineAndroid OS v4.2.2 Jelly Bean with custom UIQuad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400 CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 330 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset20.7MP autofocus camera with a 1/2.3" Exmor RS sensor and F/2.0 Sony G Lens; Info-eye, AR effects1080p video recording @ 30fps, continuous autofocus and stereo sound; live video streaming to Facebook2 MP front-facing camera, 1080p video recordingIP 58 certification - dust resistant and water resistant Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA; Wireless TV outGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS16GB of built-in storage; microSD card slotMHL-enabled microUSB portBluetooth v4.0NFC Standard 3.5 mm audio jack Accelerometer and proximity sensorActive noise cancellation with dedicated micAmple 3,000mAh batteryQuite big even for a 5-inch screen phoneNon-user-replaceable batteryBelow average loudspeaker performance (probably due to the enhanced waterproofing)No proper video playback decoders (XviD, DivX) out of the box

With no unsightly humps (looking at you, Lumia 1020 and Galaxy S4 zoom) the Xperia Z1 makes the OmniBalance design shine. It's an aluminum frame, with durable glass panels on both the front and back, and design accents like the aluminum power key and the color notification light.

Don't forget the IP58 certification, which means the phone will easily go swimming with you so you can take it in the pool or wade into the sea. Water resistance is good all year round, not just summer vacation - a spilled glass can turn a $600+ gadget into a paperweight. You or someone you know has at one point stood over a bag of rice hoping to bring their wet phone back to life.

Sony Xperia Z1 chilling in our office

And unlike their treatment of the Xperia Z, this time around Sony is using the best chipset on the market, the Snapdragon 800. Also, a good deal of work has gone into the screen, another point the Xperia Z was criticized on. Finally, the Sony Xperia Z1 even manages to shame the competition by having expandable storage, even though this complicates the waterproofing process.

Sony's recent press releases indicate that the mobile phone business is becoming one of the main money makers (same goes for Samsung) and you can tell the company's heart is into making the best product around. Jump over to the next page to see whether ambition has matched competence.

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Unlocking the Xperia Z1 bootloader will screw up your camera, warns Sony

If you've just picked up a shiny new Sony Xperia Z1 and want to get hacking away at the device, you may want to hold off for awhile. A new message on the Sony Mobile bootloader unlock site warns that —

"Warning! At the moment, unlocking the Xperia™ Z1 boot loader will stop the camera functionality."

So presumably if you go ahead with the unlock process, that fancy 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS camera will turn into a pumpkin. It's likely this is a temporary glitch — and given Sony's track record with allowing devices to be unlocked we'd expect a fix to arrive in due course. Nevertheless, if you want to actually take photos on your Z1 it seems you'll need to keep your hands off the bootloader for now.

We've got an email out to Sony, and we'll update this post with any further info they provide.

Source: Sony Bootloader Unlock; via: XperiaBlog

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Sony Xperia Z1 camera samples, fresh off the IFA booth

The Sony Xperia Z1 went official yesterday at IFA in Berlin, and today we've got the camera samples taken directly from our visit to the Sony booth.
First up are several 16:9 camera samples in the maximum allowable resolution for that aspect ratio, 8MP. You'll see some accurate colors and good dynamic range considering the interior lighting, but the oversharpening filter is working overtime to restore the sharpness lost after the generous noise reduction. At 8MP these shots have been downsampled from what essentially is a 20MP sensor, so the photos noise levels have certainly benefited from that.

Sony Xperia Z1 16:9 samples

The same cannot be said about our full resolution 4:3 shot, measuring 5248 x 3936 pixels, which takes advantage of the entire 20.7MP sensor on the Z1. this one is noticeably more noisy, but remember, the light conditions at the Sony booth were pretty bad.

Sony Xperia Z1 20.7MP camera sample
Finally, here's a quick 1080p video we shot. The rather dim lighting conditions made for some repeated autofocusing attempts.

Given the interior lighting conditions and that the Xperia Z1 may not have finalized software, we won't be too quick in rendering a final judgment on Sony's new flagship.
For more on the Sony Xperia Z1 and its 20.7MP camera, check out our extensive hands-on.

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Sony Xperia Z1 (Honami) press papers leak

The Xperia Z1 has leaked so frequently over the past several months that we can almost consider it virtually announced. Now, just a day before its expected announcement at IFA in Berlin, the press materials package has been posted online.

Here's an at-a-glance look at the features confirmed for the upcoming "Honami" flagship:

5" TFT triluminous display of 1920 x 1080 pixels2.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 processor16GB internal storage, with microSD card support for up to 64 GB2GB RAM1/2.3-inch 20.7MP Exmor RS CMOS image sensor with 27mm wide angle and bright F2.0 aperture3000 mAh battery144 x 74 x 8.5mm, 170 gramsIP55/58 dust and water resistanceAndroid 4.2.2 Jelly BeanAvailable in Black, Purple, and White

The specs sheet doesn't have any major surprises, but fitting in a 3000 mAh battery in only an 8.5mm frame is quite an impressive feat. We can't wait to get our hands on one.

Speaking of hands-on, be sure to check back with us tomorrow for our live coverage of the Xperia Z1 announcement event, where we'll have plenty of pictures and videos of the new Sony flagship.

Meanwhile, you can check out the full set of press papers in our source link.

Source | Via

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra review: Thinking big

GSMArena team, 03 September 2013.
With the Xperia Z Ultra, Sony is finally turning its attention towards a market segment it has avoided so far. The market headstart of their flagship Xperia Z along with the subsequent releases in the upper midrange has set quite a serious foundation for Sony's mobile phone business creating an excellent possibility for experimenting in a niche that has been invented and so far dominated by Samsung's Note series.
Of course, a 6.4" phablet stands little chance of matching the sales of a proper flagship such as the Xperia Z, but it's all about sending a message. And the message is loud and clear: "Be my guest, Galaxy Note III". There's more to it of course - it's about the company's level of confidence to venture into unknown territories. Indeed, it's not every day that we see a device that not only dwarfs the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, but is getting ready to challenge the Note III. It takes courage to stand up to the standard-setter but, at least on paper, the Xperia Z Ultra has the looks and the powerful hardware to pull it off.
Before we proceed any further, here's the cheat sheet for this review.
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support; 3G with 42Mbps HSPA; 150Mbps LTE 6.4" 16M-color 1080p capacitive touchscreen Triluminos display (344ppi pixel density); X-Reality engineAndroid OS v4.2.2 Jelly Bean with custom UIQuad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 330 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset8 MP autofocus camera with geo-tagging, HDR1080p video recording @ 30fps, continuous autofocus and stereo sound 2 MP front-facing camera, 1080p video recordingIP 58 certification - dust resistant and water resistant Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA; Wireless TV outGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS16GB of built-in storage; microSD card slotMHL-enabled microUSB portBluetooth v4.0NFC Standard 3.5 mm audio jack Accelerometer and proximity sensorActive noise cancellation with dedicated micGorgeous design and impressively slim waistlineAmple 3050 mAh batteryUnwieldy size for a phoneNon user-replaceable batteryNo camera flash or camera shutter keyBelow average loudspeaker performance (probably due to the increased water tightness)No proper video playback decoders (XviD, DivX) out of the box
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is one beast of a smartphone (although at this size it already steps on tablet territory). The Snapdragon 800 chipset brings a meaningful performance improvement over an already very snappy Snapdragon 600, while the screen packs all the latest technology Sony has its hands on. The Triluminos display of 1080p resolution promises to solve the long-standing viewing angle issues in Sony's lineup, while the X-Reality enhancements means punchy colors and impressive contrast.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra at ours
With the screen and chipset bagging two industry firsts for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, you'll forgive us for being overly enthusiastic at the start of this review. There's quite a lot to test still and we are itching to see Sony's latest brave our review routine. We start with the design and build right after the break, followed by a closer look at the display before we treat you to a lengthy tour of the UI.

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Sony Xperia Z1 (Honami) official press renders leak

Sony Xperia Z1 a.k.a Honami has appeared in numerous leaks and we even saw a press image of the upcoming cameraphone from Sony. Now, the high-res versions of the official press renders of the Xperia Z1 have been leaked ahead of its announcement at IFA, Berlin.

The high-resolution images show us the elegant design of the Sony Xperia Z1 along with the power button, volume rockers, dedicated camera button and the microSD card slot on the sides of the smartphone.

Sony's upcoming flagship smartphone is rumored to sport a 5-inch Full HD display and a 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 20.7 megapixel camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
Sony Xperia Z1 will be officially unveiled on September 4 at the company's IFA event. Do remember to check back with us as we will be bringing you all the latest news, hands-on images and videos from the trade-show.
Source

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Sony Xperia M review: Morning show

GSMArena team, 29 August 2013.

Sony has made some great entry-level Android phones, but it's been a while since we saw a new model. The Xperia M injects new blood into the segment with both single and dual-SIM options. Based on the trademark Xperia design, the M scores high on looks and build quality.

Sony Xperia M official images
The Sony Xperia M shares many of the design features that made its Xperia Z sibling such a looker, including the signature power key. It also has a hardware shutter key along with a couple of other features that are becoming quite rare in the smartphone world - a removable battery and a microSD card slot.
The Xperia M also offers a relatively big and sharp screen, 4" FWVGA of 245ppi, and a dual-core Krait processor, plus 720p video capture with its 5MP camera. These are specs that can be hard to find in the Xperia M's price bracket. Most entry-level Androids either have Cortex-A9 CPUs (or A5/A7), or record only VGA video or have sub-WVGA screens, which is why entry-level Windows Phone handsets are such an enticing alternative in the price range.
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual or quad-band HSPA supportAlso available in a dual-SIM variant, called Xperia M dual21 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA4" 16M-color TFT capacitive touchscreen of FWVGA resolution (480 x 854 pixels) at 245ppiAndroid OS v4.1.2 Jelly BeanDual-core 1 GHz Krait CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8227 Snapdragon chipset1 GB of RAM4 GB of built-in storage (2 GB user available)microSD slot (cards up to 32GB supported)5 MP autofocus camera, single LED flashlight, geo-tagging, touch focus, HDR, hardware shutter key; VGA front-facing camera720p @ 30fps video captureWi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspotBluetooth 4.0 with A2DPNFC supportANT+ support for connecting low-power wireless sports accessoriesGPS with A-GPS; GLONASSPlayStation certifiedAccelerometer, ambient light and proximity sensorStandard 3.5 mm audio jack; Walkman music player with many audio enhancementsStereo FM radio with RDSmicroUSB port (charging)Built-in LED strip provides a breathing light and notification light 1,750mAh Li-Ion battery, user-replaceableStill and video camera quality not greatNo Mobile BRAVIA engine for the screenScreen has sub-par viewing anglesPoor video codec support out of the boxLimited internal storage for installing apps
Sony may have hit a spot that Samsung, LG and HTC haven't thoroughly covered, which bodes well for the young Xperia M. The optional dual-SIM is great too, since a good smartphone with a second SIM slot can prove harder to find than you would expect (with screen, camera and chipset considerations in mind).
The Sony Xperia M runs Android 4.1 with Sony's magic sprinkled over many of the apps, including a Walkman music player with a dazzling array of sound enhancement options, plus the Album and Movies apps, which have some unique media management skills.

Sony Xperia M in our office
The bold Purple and Yellow colors are a plus too, with an excellent, soft touch plastic on the back - a welcome break from black-or-white options and the prevailing glossy plastics. Hop over to the next page to see what's behind that back cover, as well as whether the screen and camera live up to the expectations and more.

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Galaxy Note III to hit UK on Sept 16, Xperia Z1 on Sept 24

Samsung is doing great job so far keeping the Galaxy Note III phablet under wraps and we are yet to see leaked pictures of the actual device. However we spotted renders, specs, panels, different model rumors, and, most recently a launch date.
Today's piece of info comes for Three UK internal document, which contains various devices release dates including the Samsung Galaxy Note III and Sony Xperia Z1.

According to this leaked doc Three UK will be launching the Samsung Galaxy Note III on September 16, while the Xperia Z1 flagship will hit the UK shelves on September 24. If the document is indeed authentic, we guess the other UK carriers and retailers will be getting the two devices around the same time, as well as the rest of the world's major markets.
Both devices will be unveiled on September 4 in Berlin and we'll be there to cover the events live for you.
Source

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