Sony Xperia XZ
Brand | Sony |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Sony Mobile Communications |
Type | Smartphone |
Slogan | Capture without blur |
Series | Sony Xperia |
First released | 30 September 2016 |
Availability by region | 30 September 2016Taiwan) 1 October 2016 (United Arab Emirates) 2 October 2016 (United States) 6 October 2016 (United Kingdom) 7 October 2016 (Hong Kong) 10 October 2016 (India) 13 October 2016 (Brazil) 15 October 2016 (Singapore) 20 October 2016 (Australia) 27 October 2016 (Thailand) 2 November 2016 (Japan) 18 November 2016 (Philippines) | (
Predecessor | Sony Xperia X Performance |
Successor | Sony Xperia XZs |
Related | Sony Xperia X Compact Sony Xperia X Performance Sony Xperia XZs |
Compatible networks | HSPA, GSM & LTE |
Form factor | Slate |
Dimensions | 146 mm (5.7 in) H 72 mm (2.8 in) W 8.1 mm (0.32 in) D |
Weight | 161 g (5.7 oz) |
Operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow (launch) Android 7.0 Nougat Android 7.1.1 Nougat Android 8.0.0 Oreo (current) |
System-on-chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 |
CPU | Quad-core (dual 2.15 GHz + dual 1.6 GHz) 64-bit Kryo processor |
GPU | Adreno 530 |
Memory | 3 GB RAM |
Storage | 32 GB (Single SIM) 64 GB (Dual SIM) |
Removable storage | microSDXC; expandable up to 256 GB |
Battery | Non-removable Li-ion 2900 mAh |
Rear camera | 23 MP 1/2.3 Exmor RS for mobile sensor, BIONZ, RGBC-IR, Laser AF, Predictive Hybrid AF, Quick launch, 5x Clear Image Zoom, 24mm Wide Angle G Lens F2.0 4K (2160p) video recording @ 30 fps, 1080p@60fps |
Front camera | 13 MP 1/3.06 Exmor RS for mobile sensor, with Quick launch and 22mm Wide Angle Lens F2.0 |
Display | 5.2 in (130 mm) 1080p IPS LCD Full HD 1920x1080 px TRILUMINOS Display for mobile with X-Reality for mobile and Dynamic Contrast Enhancement |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi DLNA GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou Bluetooth 4.2 USB 2.0 (Type-C port, USB charging, Quick Charge 3.0) USB OTG |
Data inputs | Multi-touch, capacitive touchscreen, proximity sensor |
Model | Single SIM: F8331, SO-01J (NTT DoCoMo), SOV34 (au by KDDI), 601SO (SoftBank Mobile) Dual SIM: F8332 |
Codename | Kagura |
Website | Official Website |
References | [1] |
The Sony Xperia XZ is an Android smartphone manufactured and marketed by Sony.[2] Part of the Xperia X series, the device was announced to the public along with the Xperia X Compact at a press conference held at the annual IFA event on September 1, 2016.[3] The Xperia XZ was first released in Taiwan on September 30, 2016, with worldwide sales starting with the United Arab Emirates on October 1 and the United States the following day; its home country Japan only started sales on November 2, 2016.
The device serves as the true successor of the Xperia Z5[4] and the whole Xperia Z series, and was Sony's flagship after the Xperia Z5 Premium. The Xperia X Performance was thought by many to be the successor of the Xperia Z5 but that wasn't the case. Nonetheless, the Xperia XZ is also the successor of the Xperia X Performance, but it is the first flagship in the Xperia X series.[5] It is succeeded by the Xperia XZs and the recently launched flagship, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
It is also one of the first smartphones manufactured by Sony to utilize USB-C connectivity for charging and data transfer.[6] Compared to its predecessors, the rear camera of the Xperia XZ now has laser autofocus, a first for Sony, built-in alongside the hybrid contrast/phase detection autofocus also found on the previous flagship. It also the first Sony device to sport an RGBC-IR color sensor to assist the image sensor in capturing accurate colors, temperature and white balance[7] and the first smartphone to feature a five-axis digital image stabilization system for capturing blur-free photos and videos [8], not forgetting that this smartphone keeps the Sony innovation of the ip68 making their flagships water and dust proof.
Specifications
Hardware
The Xperia XZ's design consists of 3 different materials that seamlessly blend together in what Sony calls "Loop Surface": a nylon frame, scratch-resistant front glass and an aluminium alloy metal back. The rear cover of the device is made from an aluminium alloy marketed as ALKALEIDO, a trademark by Kobe Steel,[9] specifically engineered to complement the smartphone's premium design with a material "that has an extra shine and a feeling of depth".[10] The device's front side is covered in Gorilla Glass to protect it from scratches and high drops. Also up front are dual front-firing stereo speakers, one on top along with the front selfie camera, ambient light and proximity sensors and notification LED, and the other one at the bottom bezel.
The Xperia XZ's dimensions are 146 mm (5.7 in) in height, with a width of 72 mm (2.8 in) and a depth of 8.1 mm (0.32 in) and weighs approximately 161 g (5.7 oz).[11] The device brings back the 5.2 in (130 mm) 1080p IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 424 ppi that started with the Xperia Z2 but with a brand new panel, featuring Sony's TRILUMINOS™ display and X-Reality for mobile technology.[12] It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) chipset with 4 custom Kryo processors (2x 2.15 GHz and 2x 1.6 GHz), 3 GB of RAM and relies on the Adreno 530 clocked at 624 MHz for graphics rendering.[13] The device also has an internal storage of 32 GB for the single-SIM variant and 64 GB for the dual-SIM variant, both with microSD card expansions up to 256 GB (in a hybrid slot for the dual-SIM variant).
Connectivity and Features
Unlike some recently released smartphones from competing brands, the Xperia XZ doesn't abandon the standard 3.5 mm audio jack in favor of wireless substitutes. It does, however, have LDAC, an audio coding technology developed by Sony[14], that enables the transmission of 24bit/96khz High-Resolution (Hi-Res) audio content over Bluetooth at up to 990 kbit/s, three times faster than conventional audio streaming codecs, to compatible audio devices. It also has the standard set of connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.2 LE with aptX, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA and hotspot, GPS and A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS. Like its predecessors, it has an IP rating of IP68, making the Xperia XZ dust proof and water resistant for over 1.5 meters and 30 minutes under water.[15] The device also feature a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button that can be used to unlock the phone and secure it from unauthorized access. Unfortunately, in the US this feature is disabled by default.[16]
Battery
The Xperia XZ is powered by a non-removable 2900 mAh battery, with a USB-C connector for charging and data transfer, one of the first two Sony smartphones to have one, the other one being the Xperia X Compact. It has QuickCharge 3.0 support and Qnovo adaptive charging technology built-in. This allows the device to monitor the cell's electrochemical processes in real time and adjust charging parameters accordingly to minimize cell damage and extend the battery cell's lifespan.[17] It also comes with Battery Care, a Sony proprietary feature, that controls the charging process of the phone by learning and recognizing the user's charging patterns, preventing the phone from damaging the battery's cells from excessive heat due to overcharging. For example, when charging overnight, Battery Care stops the initial charge to 90 percent and then continue charging until full where it left off the next day.[17][6][18]
Camera
The rear camera of the Xperia XZ features a new multi-aspect 24.8MP Sony Exmor RS image sensor, officially named as Sony IMX300.[19] Similar to the Xperia Z5 series, the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance, it has 23 megapixels with a sensor size of 1/2.3 inch and a f/2.0 aperture. Sony introduces the Triple Image Sensing technology with the Xperia XZ, comprised by the Image sensing (CMOS sensor with PDAF), Distance sensing (Laser AF sensor) and Color sensing (RGBC-IR sensor) systems. It features a hybrid autofocus that utilizes phase detection to lock focus on a subject within 0.03 seconds, also same with the Xperia Z5.[20] It also includes phase and contrast detection along with predictive motion tracking, both working together to adjust the right amount of contrast accurately and significantly reduce blur and image shift caused by shaky hands.[21]
The Xperia XZ, for the first time, includes a laser autofocus sensor alongside the hybrid/PDAF in tracking and locking focus on an object faster than regular autofocus modes, and an RGBC-IR (RedGreenBlueClear-InfraRed) color sensor that assists the white balance function of the camera by providing additional data about the light conditions of the environment, thus improving the color accuracy of the image.[21] It also has an upgraded SteadyShot with Intelligent Auto in addition to the 5-axis image stabilization. The front selfie camera has a 13 megapixel sensor with 22 mm and 90 degree wide angle lens, making it the highest-resolution front-facer on a flagship Sony device.[22][23]
The device also has 4K resolution video recording capabilities like the Xperia Z5.[15] Similar to the Sony α7 II camera, the Xperia XZ features five-axis digital image stabilization, a first for a smartphone, that helps in producing smooth video with less camera shake and improved image quality in low light environments.[8] This technology improves the image and video produced by detecting camera shake, such as angular motion consisting of pitch and yaw, shift shakes which consists of X and Y axis shifts and (rotational shake) by correcting the effects detected, shifting the lens to reduce visible image blur and shift shake.[21][24][25]
Software
The Sony Xperia XZ launches with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, with Sony's custom interface and software. On December 1, 2016, along with the Xperia X Performance and a few other Xperia devices, Sony announced that the Xperia XZ would receive an update to Android 7.0 Nougat. Just a day after, the Android 7.0 update has officially rolled out.[26][27][28]
References
- ^ "Product Specifications". sonymobile.com. Sony Mobile Communications Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Daniel P. (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ lands with Snapdragon 820, enhanced camera, USB-C". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Edgar Cervantes (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact announced at IFA 2016". androidauthority.com. Android Authority. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Katharine Byrne (5 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ review: Fast, gorgeous – and flawed". Expert Reviews. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ "Sony Xperia XZ, The First Flagship In The X Series". SonymobileBlog.
- ^ a b Vlad Savov (1 September 2016). "Sony throws all its mobile eggs into the camera basket with new Xperia XZ flagship". The Verge. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Ray S (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ hands-on: back to awesomeness". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b Sam Rutherford (1 September 2016). "Meet the First Phone Camera with 5-Axis Image Stabilization". Tom's Guide. Purch. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ https://trademarks.justia.com/868/69/alkaleido-86869557.html
- ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - Hardware overview". GSMArena. GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ Luis D (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ – specs review". Phonearena. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ James Peckham (1 September 2016). "Hands on: Sony Xperia XZ review". Techradar. Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review". GSMArena. GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "Sony Global - LDAC™: High quality wireless listening". Sony Global. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ a b Chris Fernando (1 September 2016). "Preview: Sony Xperia XZ". PC Mag Middle East. ZiffDavis, LLC. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Maurizio Pesce (2 September 2016). "Sony's New Xperia Phones Have Big OI' Camera, Meh Specs". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ a b GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - Sony Xperia XZ battery life". GSMArena. GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ Shivali Best (1 September 2016). "Meet the Xperia XZ: Sony's flagship phone has a laser camera and 'smart' battery that will last TWICE as long". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Kaloyan (1 September 2016). "Sony unveils Xperia XZ flagship and Xperia X Compact". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Chris Halls (2 September 2015). "Sony Xperia Z5 camera: Sample image and new tech explained". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Chris Halls (1 September 2016). "Sony Xperia XZ camera: New tech explained". Pocket-lint. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ GSMArena team (31 October 2016). "X to the Z: Sony Xperia XZ review - 13MP selfie camera". GSMArena. GSMArena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ Chris Smith (1 September 2016). "A challenger for the iPhone 7? Sony's brand new Xperia smartphones come with top cameras". BGR. BGR Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Simon Crisp (20 November 2014). "Sony reveals the α7 II with 5-axis image stabilization". News Atlas. GIZMAG PTY LTD. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Rod Lawton (27 November 2014). "Sony α7 II 5-axis stabilisation: how it works". Techradar. Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Android Nougat arrives on the Xperia XZ". Xperia Blog. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Starting our Android 7.0, Nougat rollout for Xperia XZ & Xperia X Performance". Sony Mobile Blog. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ Chris Loterina (2 December 2016). "Android 7.0 Nougat Update For Sony Xperia XZ Now Launching". Tech Times. Retrieved 4 December 2016.