Sony Launches Xperia XZ, Xperia X Compact & Xperia Ear

Sony just unveiled three new devices at IFA 2016. These are the Xperia XZ, Xperia X Compact, and the Xperia Ear. The Xperia XZ is the first of the bunch and features Sony's newest design language called Unified Design. It is characterized by rounded edges, a seamless transition from front to back, and a shiny ALKALEIDO aluminum alloy back. The Sony Xperia XZ packs a 5.2-inch display of 1080p Full HD resolution. It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable internal storage. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the latest Xperia UI on top.

As for the camera, the Xperia XZ is equipped with a 23-MP IMX300 primary camera with a 6-element lens, an f/2.0 aperture, phase detection auto-focus, laser auto-focus, and an LED flash. The main camera also features Sony's new 5-axis software stabilization (SteadyShot) but is disabled when shooting videos in 4K resolution. In front, a 13-MP camera with wide-angle lens can be found. Connectivity-wise, it uses the new USB Type-C connector. It also comes with 3D surround dual front speakers and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Like most high-end Sony smartphones, the Xperia XZ is water resistant and dust proof, thanks to its IP68 certification. A 2,900 mAh battery will keep its lights on. It will come in three color options: Forest Blue, Mineral Black, and Platinum. Launching on October 23, 2016, the Sony Xperia XZ is expected to carry a flagship-grade price tag.

Image by Sony

Then we have the Sony Xperia X Compact, which is sort of the successor to the Xperia Z5 Compact. It has a 4.6-inch LCD of 720p HD resolution, protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 4. Ticking inside it is a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable internal storage. Its main camera setup is similar to that of the larger Xperia XZ (minus 4K video recording) but its front camera has been reduced to just a 5-MP wide-angle lens. Connectivity options are also similar to that of its larger sibling and it also runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. Aside from it dual front speakers, the Xperia X Compact also comes with Sony's LDAC technology as well as digital noise cancellation, and the S-Force Front Surround technology. A 2,700 mAh battery, with Quick Charge 3.0 technology, will keep its lights on. The Xperia X Compact will come in Mist Blue, Universe Black, and White color options and will become available on September 25, 2016. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced.

Image by Sony

Lastly, we have the Sony Xperia Ear, which may remind you of Samsung's Gear IconX. It is a wireless earpiece that promises to provide its users with authentic voice interaction (through a companion app) and would function as an in-ear personal assistant. Among the information it can provide are upcoming events, weather conditions, calendar entries, content of text messages, and more. The Xperia Ear will only be available in black and will come with a rubber-coated carry case that doubles as a charger. It will start selling in November 2016 with a price yet to be determined. Are you interested in getting any of three newly announced Sony devices?