Sony has unveiled two new flagships at IFA 2017 – the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. For the first time after introducing its Xperia X series, Sony now has a new compact flagship that offers top of the line hardware in a sub-5 inch form factor.
Xperia XZ1
Replacing its current Xperia XZs, the Xperia XZ1 is their updated flagship which now runs on a Snapdragon 835 processor along with 4GB of RAM. The rest of the hardware including the design remains pretty much unchanged but it gets a more upmarket metal frame. You get 64GB of expandable storage, 13MP f/2.0 front camera and a 19MP Motion Eye camera that can capture slow-mo at 960fps. The display is still a 5.2″ screen with Full HD resolution but it is now updated to support HDR.
Like what you would expect from a Sony flagship, it still gets IP68 dust and water resistance, Hi-Res Audio with DSEE HX and the main camera gets 5-axis stabilisation using SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode.
While it gets a more efficient 10nm Snapdragon 835 processor, the battery capacity on the XZ1 has been reduced from 2,900mAh on the XZs to only 2,700mAh on the XZ1. It still charges using USB Type-C (USB 3.1) with support for QuickCharge 3.0 and Qnovo Adaptive Charging.
New on the Xperia XZ1 is its 3D Creator feature. It’s basically a 3D scanning app which lets you create virtual objects such as a high-resolution 3D avatar of yourself. It has 4 different capture modes – face, head, freeform and food. Apparently, this is supposed to up your social game by sharing your memories in 3D. In addition, you can even create a physical copy by sending it to a 3D printer.
Sony also claims to have the most powerful Xperia speakers to date as they have upgraded its front stereo speakers with 50% more sound pressure than its previous models. Like its predecessors, the fingerprint sensor is still integrated on the side power button but it isn’t available for those in the US.
The Xperia XZ1 comes in Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink, Warm Silver and classic Black.
Xperia XZ1 Compact
For those wanting flagship specs without the heft, the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact offers similar hardware with a smaller 4.6″ HD 720p display. It also runs on a Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB RAM but storage is smaller at 32GB. If you need more, you can always pop-in a microSD card.
The main camera is the same 19MP Motion Eye camera but the front is a notch lower with an 8MP selfie shooter. It also comes with front stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio and IP68 water resistance. Although the XZ1 Compact is smaller in size, it still packs a 2,700mAh battery like its bigger XZ1. With a smaller and lower resolution screen, we can probably expect better battery life out of the Xperia XZ1 Compact.
The Xperia XZ1 Compact is available in White Silver, Horizon Blue, Black and Twilight Pink.
It’s worth pointing out that both the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are running on the latest Android 8.0 Oreo, making it one of the first smartphones to get the latest Android out of the box. If you’re interested, both models will be available globally beginning September 2017.
