Sony’s Xperia XZ and X Compact are launching in Malaysia this week!

If you’ve been waiting for a 2016 Sony Xperia flagship device to hit our shores, there’s good news because Sony Mobile Malaysia will be launching their Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact smartphones in Malaysia this Friday.

Based on the media invite that we have received, the date has been set for the 30th of September 2016 which is only three days from now. We’re definitely excited for these devices because the Malaysian market is finally getting a high-performance flagship from Sony’s new Xperia X line.

Earlier this year when Sony Mobile Malaysia brought in the first wave of Xperia X devices, they did not bring in the top-of-the-line Xperia X Performance, much to everyone’s dismay. Well, if you want to satisfy your craving for a flagship Xperia X device, the Xperia XZ is the smartphone for you.

It’s got top-of-the-line specifications with a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). In front, it gets a 5.2-inch Full HD display and front-facing stereo speakers.

The handset is also encased in a beautifully brushed metal body. This new body also means that the smartphone is now IP68 water resistant and sports a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Keeping the lights on is a 2,900 mAh battery.

On the other hand, the Xperia X Compact is a much more straightforward device. It’s basically the compact version of the Xperia X, so it will come with a Snapdragon 650 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage (expandable via microSD). Since it’s a compact, the device comes with a smaller 4.6-inch HD 720p display and a smaller 2,700 mAh battery too.

Sony’s latest compact smartphone looks pretty similar to the Xperia XZ, but it’s built out of plastic so it will feel less premium in the hand. However, it’s still nice curved for a nice grip.

The biggest omission is that the X Compact is not water resistant like the Xperia XZ — which is actually fitting considering the X isn’t water resistant either.

But, both handsets do share Sony’s new 23-megapixel tri-sensor camera system. Sony says tri-sensor because, in addition to the 23MP Exmor RS mobile image sensor, it’s also got a Laser AF sensor and a dedicated RGBC-IR sensor for fast focusing and accurate white balance. In front, though, things are a little different as the XZ will come sporting a 13-megapixel selfie shooter while the X Compact only gets a 5MP snapper.

Sony is banking a lot of these devices’ success on the new tri-sensor camera system and if you want to see what we think about them, you can check out our hands-on and first impressions with them during IFA 2016.