In a move that will definitely be creating plenty of traction in the coming months, Sony unveils two new smartphones at MWC 2018 in the form of the Sony Xperia XZ2 and the Xperia XZ2 Compact. The Japanese company introduces new design aesthetics to its devices, along with a host of new features and some familiar faces as well.
This time around, Sony has finally decided to abolish its blocky design for something more aesthetically pleasing and fluid. Being of the very few brands to still feature a large forehead and chin with glaringly huge bezels, Sony has turned it down this time with much slimmer bezels along with a much smaller forehead and chin.
The back of the smartphone is also a complete change for Sony, going for a curved glass back. Some other design changes is the fingerprint sensor, now moved to the centre of the smartphone at the back. One omission that unfortunately saw its end was the 3.5mm headphone jack; Sony believes it is high time for headphones to go wireless and while many will argue, many others can agree as well.
In terms of its hardware, the Xperia XZ2 doesn’t disappoint, housing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. There will also be 4GB of RAM and 64GB of UFS internal storage, which can be upgraded via microSD. There will also be a Dual-SIM option, but sadly it can either support a secondary SIM card or the microSD.
On the front, the Xperia XZ2 carries a 5.7-inch HDR Full HD+ display panel with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It also comes with an SDR – HDR Up Conversion, which is done through Advanced X-Reality for mobile. The Sony Xperia XZ2 also houses a 3,180mAh battery with Qi wireless charging capabilities. Other hardware features includes Bluetooth v5.0, a welcoming update to 2018 smartphones. Lastly, it does come with IP65/68 certification,
Of course, you cannot talk about smartphones without touching on its camera. Sony still isn’t following the crowd and using a dual-sensor setup, sticking with its single shooter at the back. The camera in question is a 19-megapixel MotionEye camera sensor that comes with 4K HDR video recording, the first for smartphones. it can also record in Full HD Super Slow Motion at 960 frames per second (fps).
While the 5-megapixel front camera is nothing special, it does feature a new 3D Creator from Sony. It now provides a 3D selfie scan of your face for 3D printing or editing in the 3D creator app.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Sony Xperia smartphone if it didn’t come with a host of entertainment features meant to keep you glued to its screen. A new feature that will be coming with the Sony Xperia XZ2 is known as the Dynamic Vibration System (DVS). This new technology allows you to experience games, music, movies and videos on a whole new level as it is fine-tuned for entertainment. There is also a built-in actuator in the Sony Xperia XZ2, which drew inspiration from the PlayStation DualShock controllers from Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Another feature is S-Force Front Surround, which provides you with greater overall audio quality. This allows you to watch videos and play games at a much higher level of experience, thus elevating the overall experience of the Sony Xperia XZ2. It also supports Hi-Res audio with Sony wireless headphones as well as third-party brands. The user interaction with the Sony Xperia XZ2 also has a complete overhaul, going with a more casual chat style UI. This gives you a more personal experience with your smartphone as you can now be more connected to it.
If you think the Sony Xperia XZ2 is a bit too big for your liking, there is the Xperia XZ2 Compact, which is essentially its younger brother. There isn’t much different compared between both devices; you will get a 5-inch display panel and a smaller battery at 2,870mAh. Aside from those two distinct differences, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is a much smaller version of the Xperia XZ2.
Both devices are slated to release in Malaysia in April 2018 but unfortunately, an exact date or price has yet to be confirmed. What is confirmed however, is the colourways for both devices, which there are four. The Sony Xperia XZ2 comes in Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green and Ash Pink while the Xperia XZ2 Compact will carry either Black, White Silver, Moss Green or Coral Pink.
More MWC 2018 stories can be found in the targeted tag that is now used to curate the coverage for this event.
