Sony Xperia XZ lands with Snapdragon 820, enhanced camera, USB-C
Design
Not only that, but the new colors of the XZ - the signature hue is Forest Blue, but it will also come in Mineral Black and Platinum - will also get matching interface shade for a more complete synergy of form and function. As typical for a Sony high-ender, the Xperia XZ is IP68-certified as a waterproof phone, too. Last but not least - there is a key difference with the X Performance, as we get to receive the trendy USB-C connector at the bottom, a first for Sony's Android posse.
Hardware
Moving on under the hood, we can find a Snapdragon 820 ticker, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB expandable storage, 5.2" 1080p panel, 23 MP camera, and a 13 MP selfie snapper. The battery pack has gotten a boost from the 2700 mAh one in the X Performance, and now sports 2900 mAh of juice.
Sony again promises two-day battery life from its new flagship, but, given Snapdragon's latest history, we'd have to put those claims to the test first. The company also offers fast charging with the XZ, as well as its yet-to-be-proven battery preservation tech that is gentler on the charge/discharge cycles to aid the longevity of the sealed battery pack.
The audio department has been enhanced by an improved stereo noise-canceling mics set, and 3D surround speaker, plus the usual Sony combo of high-fidelity sound reproduction techniques.
Cameras
Now we arrive at the most interesting part about the handset. Sony has equipped the Xperia XZ with a 23 MP IMX300 sensor with 1/2.3"size, 6-element lens with f/2 aperture, as well as all the camera technologies you can think of. There is phase-detection AF for quicker snaps, but also laser AF and IR color sensor. This holy trinity is what Sony calls "triple image sensing technology," and hopefully it will return better results in low-light than what we have now on Sony's current flagships.
Unfortunately, while a new Sony 5-axis software stabilization is present (borrowed from the Handycam line), the company has again felt no need to include optical image stabilization - the Steady Shot function apparently works well as it is. Fortunately, however, the phone now does 4K video recording, which is a first for the X-line, though the 5-axis SteadyShot is available only while filming 1080p footage.
At the front we get a hearty 13 MP shooter with 1/3" sensor size and 90 degree wide-angle lens. Hey, this was most phones' rear camera just a year or two ago, so it should be returning some grand selfie snaps.
Price and release date
The Xperia XZ will command "flagship pricing" when it lands on October 23 with the Xperia UI and Android Marshmallow on board. There is a finger scanner on the side power key, though whether this one will be missing in the US edition, like on other X-series units, remains to be seen. Any takers?
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