UPDATE: Sony Europe has released prices for all three devices and we’ve added them to the post.
In recent times, Sony has failed to capture the magic of their glory days when the Xperia brand is seen as a leader in the smartphone market. Today, the brand struggles to produce phones than are on par with its competitors.
Sony needs to do something drastic and start making devices that consumers can look forward to if they want to stay relevant. Their Marshmallow concept is the first step in the right direction but the devices that Sony come up with have to be really special. However, if the three new Xperia phones Sony revealed at MWC16 is anything to go by, the brand still has a long way to go.
Let’s see what the new-for-2016 Xperia X range has to offer and you tell us if these three devices are capable contenders against the competitors.
Xperia X Performance
At the top of the range, we have the Xperia X performance. The device features a 5-inch TRILUMINOS Full HD (1920 x 1080) display complete with Sony’s propriety, and very good, X-Reality and Dynamic Contrast Enhancement image enhancement technology on board. The Xperia Performance boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage that’s expandable with microSD up to 200GB. Interesting to note here is that the 64GB option will be a dual-SIM variant while the 32GB unit will have a single SIM slot.
The Xperia Performance also includes a fingerprint scanner that’s integrated with the side mounted power button and support for high-res front facing stereo speakers with a dedicated dedicated DAC (Digital Audio Converter).
For taking pictures, there’s a 23-megapixel camera with an 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor, 5x Clear Image Zoom, Sony F2.0 G Lens and a mind-numbing 12800 ISO. On the front, you get a 13-megapixel camera with a 22mm wide-angle lens.
Powering the Xperia X Performance is a 2,700mAh battery with a claimed two-day run time. The Xperia X Performance also gets Sony’s trademark water and dust resistant capabilities with an IP68 rating.
Xperia X
The Xperia X shares many of the specs of the Xperia Performance including the same screen size and resolution, the same front and rear cameras, as well as the same 3GB RAM and 32GB and 64GB storage options. The major difference is in the processor and the battery. The Xperia X comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 650 processor and a slightly smaller 2,620mAh battery.
Unlike the Xperia X Performance, the Xperia X does away with Sony’s legendary water and dust-resistance capabilities and front-facing stereo speakers.
Xperia XA
The Xperia XA is Sony’s entry level X-series smartphone. It has a 5-inch HD (1280 x 720) display and a budget 64-bit MediaTek MT6755 processor with 2GB of RAM and only 16GB of internal storage. Fortunately, the memory is expandable with microSD up tp 200GB.
In the camera department, the Xperia XA gets a 1/3-inch 13-megapixel rear camera while at the front, you get an 8-megapixel wide-angle shooter.
The battery is the smallest of the range as well, at only 2,300mAh but Sony still claims a 2-day run time thanks to smart power management.
Sony Xperia XA – €299 (RM 1,385.32)
Sony Xperia X – €599 (RM 2,775.27)
Sony Xperia X Performance – €699 (RM 3,238.59)
Let this prices serve as a mere indication as Europe pricing has always been higher when compared to local pricing in Malaysia. Even so, what do you guys think would be an appropriate price range for these three devices?
Also, pleases share with us any other thoughts on Sony’s new range. Let us know in the comments.
