Sony’s Xperia Ear is launching in November

Listen up: You’ll soon be able to put Sony in your ear.

Sony’s Xperia Ear was first launched as a prototype back at Mobile World Congress in February, and it’ll soon be ready for prime time. The Japanese firm has announced that the wearable will be launching in “select markets” from November.

Sony’s Bluetooth follows in the footsteps of Bluetooth-based wearable assistants like the ill-fated Moto Hint, with support for spoken notifications and voice interaction. As we reported back in February:

As well as being a notification reader, the Xperia Ear is can tell you the weather and remind you about upcoming appointments. It’s also always listening for voice commands so you can navigate, dictate messages and search the web, all through a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. Expect to hear more about the Ear as it approaches release this summer.

Alongside the Xperia Ear, Sony will also be reintroducing the Xperia Agent and Xperia Projector — two different takes on home-based smart assistants, at IFA in Berlin this week.

Read to put Sony in your ear (or maybe your home) as well as your pocket? Shout out in the comments!

Sony Xperia X Compact hands-on

Sony’s fan-favorite ‘Compact’ line returns with what might be its most compelling installment yet.

If you want a flagship-class Android phone in a smaller form factor, Sony’s Compact series of phones is basically the only game in town. Unveiled at IFA 2016 in Berlin today, the Xperia X Compact is the series’ fourth addition, bringing the internals of the Xperia X down to a more manageable size. We’ve had an early look at the X Compact ahead of today’s unveiling, and what we’ve found is a worthy addition to one of the most unique Android families — though one lacking the trailblazing specs of previous generations.

If you’ve used an Xperia Z5 Compact, it should come as no surprise to find the X Compact is — as well as being smaller — both chunkier and more plasticky than its big brother the XZ. Like the XZ, it features Sony’s new “loop surface” design, which wraps around the body of the phone. But in place of the metal back on the larger model you’ve got glossy plastic. It’s a step down in terms of materials, but given how fingerprinty the metal back of the Xperia XZ can get, it’s kind of a wash overall.

On the outside: An bigger, chunkier, plasticky Xperia XZ. On the inside: A mix of high-end and mid-range.

Like Sony’s new flagship, the top and bottom are completely flat, except for headphone jack up top and USB-C port down below. It’s an unusual look that builds on Sony’s established design language, but admittedly not as eye-catching as the metal and glass-based competition.

On the inside, the Xperia X Compact packs the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chip used by the Xperia X, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The 650 lacks the processing oomph of the Snapdragon 820 used in the higher-end XZ, but given the X Compact’s 720p screen resolution, there should be plenty of horsepower to go around. For what it’s worth, we didn’t see any performance issues in our time with the phone.

MORE: Sony Xperia XZ + X Compact specs

Battery capacity actually gets a small bump up to 2,700mAh, which bodes well for longevity given the phone’s efficient internals and relatively small screen. (It wouldn’t be the first time a Sony “Compact” knocked it out of the park with amazing battery life.) And what’s more, the new Compact inherits its big brother’s Quick Charge 3.0 capabilities for even faster recharges.

The Compact should also benefit from Sony’s software optimizations and features like Stamina mode, which builds on Android Marshmallow’s “doze” capabilities to cut back CPU speeds and background tasks when required, or when the battery’s running low. In fact, Sony’s software as a whole does a great job of building on Android without stepping on Google’s design work. Sony’s stylized lock screen looks great, and in other areas like the notification shade the company has tweaked things to allow for more customization.

There are compromises, but the Xperia X Compact might be the best small Android phone of 2016.

It’s a relatively minimalist UI that still looks like Android, but with a handful of bundled apps and some unique UI design cues.

But perhaps the most important feature brought over to this smaller form factor is the X Compact’s camera, which comes straight from the Xperia XZ, along with its laser autofocus, 5-axis stabilization and 23-megapixel sensor size. It’s every bit the flagship camera we’re seeing in the new Sony, giving it a real edge over every other small Android phone — assuming the hype is to be believed.

As the Android phone marketplace continues to be dominated by 5.2- to 5.7-inch handsets, it’s great to see Sony sticking with a smaller option for those who want something more hand- and pocket-friendly. There are some compromises to be made coming down from the XZ to X Compact, sure — a less beastly CPU, less exotic materials and lower-resolution display. But if you’re looking for a decent, small Android phone in 2016, the X Compact might well be your best option.

The Sony Xperia X Compact launches on September 25, ahead of the XZ on October 23. We’ll update this post with pricing info when it’s made available.

NOW READ: Sony Xperia XZ review

Sony Xperia XZ review: Return of the flagship

Sony’s late-2016 flagship is the phone it needed six months ago, with some of the most important upgrades in years for an Xperia phone. But is it enough?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. With the apparently sunsetting of the Xperia Z line and the move to Xperia X, Sony appeared to have lost interest in the traditional spec-chasing high-end smartphone game. Yet here we are less than half a year later with a new Sony flagship: The Xperia XZ.

The naming convention speaks to the nature of the phone: A continuation of the X series spearheaded earlier this year with the Xperia X and X Performance, but with hints of the old Xperia Z brand: A bigger screen, a more capacious battery, and some seriously important camera upgrades — including, for the first time in a Sony phone, hardware stabilization.

This is the phone Sony needed half a year ago — and arguably a device which is more of a complete through than the overpriced, underwhelming X Performance. But the competition in the high-end space hasn’t died down since the spring, and the ZX will face a similar band of challengers as its immediate predecessor.

So how does the most interesting Sony phone in two years measure up? Read on to find out.

The quick take

The Sony Xperia XZ is a return to form for the manufacturer, with a much-improved camera, a more interesting chassis design and solid performance in other areas. But some nagging issues remain, such as the general dullness of Sony’s hardware, and the inexplicable lack of fingerprint security in the U.S. models. And although the camera is a lot better than any other Sony phone, it’s not as dependable as Samsung’s latest.

The Good

• Impressive display, even at 1080p
• Solid performance
• Camera a decent all-round performer
• Water resistance
• Clean, well-designed software

The Bad

• Boring design
• Smudgy back panel
• No fingerprint security in U.S.
• Large, thick form factor with big bezels
• Camera scene detection + color wonk

About this review

We’re publishing this review after four days with a pre-production U.S.-spec Sony Xperia XZ (model F8331) in Berlin, Germany on the Telekom.de network. Our review unit was using software version 39.0.A.1.205, based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with the 1 July 2016 Android security patch.

Sony Xperia XZ Video Review

Understated

Sony Xperia XZ Hardware

As we’ve come to expect from Sony, the Xperia XZ is a big rectangular slab of a phone. But unlike some earlier Sony models, the design balance is skewed more in favor of ergonomics in the XZ. The comfort factor stems from the fact that it’s composed, like the Xperia X, of a polycarbonate trim and metal back panel. This time the metal and plastic combo is handled differently — the plastic curves around the frame of the device, while the polished metal panel sits around the back, with subtle curves on its edges.

Together with the slight taper of the edges of the front glass, this gives the Xperia XZ a pleasing symmetry. However there’s no avoiding that the main contact points are with plastic, not metal. And that plastic frame makes it feel somewhat less premium than last year’s Z5, with its aluminum border. In design terms, it feels a bit like one step forward, two steps back — a decision made perhaps for monetary, not aesthetic reasons.

The outer trim houses a familiar collection of buttons — power, volume and a dedicated camera key all along the right edge. In the United States you’ll miss out on the fingerprint security that’s been a standard feature in other parts of the world for the past couple of generations of Sony phones, which is unfortunate. As with the Xperia X, the power button on the XZ is just a plain old button, and that’s a big omission for what’s supposed to be a flagship smartphone. (Again, economics seem to be conspiring against the user.)

The top and bottom edges are completely flat, with a USB Type-C slot down below and 3.5mm headphone jack up top. Standard stuff — however Sony’s now taking advantage of Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 for faster refills, which is a welcome addition.

This is a big phone in all directions, with hefty top and bottom bezels, along with a relatively girthy thickness of 8.1mm. And that contributes to a slightly frumpy look compared to the likes of the Galaxy Note 7 — particularly given its relatively small 5.2-inch screen size. This isn’t an ugly phone per se, but it is hard to enthuse over what is a relatively bland design, save for one or two visual flourishes. It’s solid, not exciting.

We can’t complain about the quality of the display though. It’s an LCD panel with Sony’s “TRILUMINOS” branding, and buzzwords aside we’ve found it to be as clear and vibrant as any display in an Android phone, even under direct sunlight. Nor have we noticed any excessive distortion at wide viewing angles.

Top-notch internals inside a relatively bland shell.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 (and others) have the XZ beaten on sheer pixel density, but in every other area it’s a top-notch screen. And it’s backed up by Sony’s image enhancement software, including X-Reality for enhancing contrast and sharpness in photos and video.

As we’ve always said, 1080p at this screen size is perfectly fine, and I didn’t find myself missing the extra density of Samsung’s latest displays.

On the audio side, Sony continues its use of front-facing stereo speakers that do a decent job of putting out plenty of volume, but lack the bass of competitors like HTC. Thankfully the phone has plenty of audio tricks up its sleeve in other areas, with the ability to upsample compressed music to high-res quality when using wired headphones.

Internally, the XZ packs in standard high-end Android internals — a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. And powering the whole assembly is a 2,900mAh internal battery — a welcome upgrade from the 2,620mAh of the Xperia X. We’ll discuss battery longevity later in this review, but the phone always performed admirably — the only performance lag we noticed was during the initial setup, where the phone was updating apps over an LTE connection. And gaming performance impressed too, with the Adreno 530 handling 1080p gaming with ease.

A big upgrade for Sony’s cameras — including, for the first time, hardware stabilization.

The internals may be mostly the same, but Sony’s camera hardware has undergone some significant upgrades. For the first time, the rear camera sports hardware stabilization — a 5-axis stabilization solution that Sony says has not yet been offered to partners — backed up by laser autofocus and a new color spectrum sensor around the back. The sensor itself is a 23-megapixel Exmor RS unit, similar to the Xperia X, offering a similar balance of fine detail in daylight scenes. The new stabilization capabilities allow the ZX to boast improved low-light performance though — something we’ll explore in further detail later in this review.

The Xperia XZ is also one of the few phones able to boast water resistance — something Sony has a long history with, but a characteristic only it and Samsung are currently offering. It’s a much needed differentiator for the company, and something which gives added peace of mind when using the phone around a pool or in heavy rain.

Sony has all the specs, some unique camera hardware, and most of the audio and video bells and whistles… and yet the company seems to be treading water when it comes to design. As such, it’s difficult to see how anyone but die-hard Sony fans will be getting excited about the look and feel of the Xperia ZX. Calling it boring seems harsh, but that’s where we are in the smartphone market of 2016.

Sony + Marshmallow

Sony Xperia ZX Software

Over the past year Sony has toned down its customization of Android considerably, focusing on differentiated apps and services, while leaving the core of Google’s Material Design interface alone. That trend continues into the company’s newest handsets; the XZ’s software is largely a mirror image of the Xperia X.

The main aesthetic flourishes center around Sony’s stylized lock screen and launcher, as well as a handful of the company’s own apps, like the Material-style weather app.

For the first time, Sony’s launcher can incorporate a Google Now panel.

A first outside of the Google Now Launcher — at least officially — Sony’s home screen setup is able to bring Google Now into the mix through its own vertical-scrolling pane on the leftmost home screen panel. That’s a helpful addition that lets you stick with Sony’s home screen setup if you prefer the greater customization and app suggestions it provides, while also keeping Google’s predictive capabilities at your fingertips.

Elsewhere, it’s all about smaller tweaks to a largely vanilla Android experience: Things like custom quick settings buttons, a Sony launcher with suggested apps and recommended downloads, and Google’s Doze mode augmented by Sony’s proven “Stamina” mode, which cuts back on background data and CPU performance to extend battery life.

Aside from the usual stuff — things like the Sony Album and Music apps — there’s a new News Reader application that can get a little notification-happy, and Sony’s “What’s New” app for keeping on top of new apps and other content. All of these link into Sony’s broader ecosystem, but the integration between the preloaded apps and Sony’s services is handled in a way that’s not a distraction if you prefer not to use them.

Sony’s software is lightweight, fast and approachable.

So the day-to-day experience of using a Sony phone hasn’t really changed from the Xperia X back in May.

The only new features we were able to track down live in the Settings app — the new Smart Cleaner recreates the phone “optimization” features of rivals like Samsung and HTC, helping you clear out old files and optimize memory for frequently used apps. After our first week with the phone there’s not too much cludge accumulated in the internal storage just yet, but this is a feature that may become more useful over time.

And for total newbies, the Xperia Tips section provide interactive walkthroughs to help you get up and running.

So that’s Sony’s software in a nutshell: lightweight, fast, and approachable.

Other software bits:

• Sony appears to have sped up some of Android’s built-in animations, like the deck of cards in the recent apps switcher. The result is a software experience that feels quicker in places.
• There’s a relatively small amount of preloaded bloatware on the U.S. unlocked Xperia XZ, the main offenders being Amazon and AVG Antivirus.
• The placement of Sony’s “Clear All” apps button is terrible, and it’s way too easy to hit when you’re tapping the Recent apps key.

Better, but not best

Sony Xperia XZ Camera

Cameras have been a huge part of Sony’s smartphones for as long as it’s been making them. But the manufacturer has neglected to catch onto some of the more recent trends like optical stabilization and laser autofocus — technologies which have played an important part in some of the best phone cameras of this generation.

No more. Finally, Sony has a smartphone with hardware stabilization — in fact, a new 5-axis stabilization tech adopted from the company’s HandyCam camcorders. That’s backed up by a color spectrum sensor, LED flash and laser autofocus to complete the smartphone camera trifecta.

Sony continues to use a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor behind an f/2.0 lens, and by default the XZ downsamples to an 8-megapixel image. That means you’ve got plenty of wiggle room for zooming in while still retaining fine detail. During our time with the Xperia XZ, we alternated between 8- and 23-megapixel modes, before eventually settling on shooting at the maximum resolution.

Hardware stabilization brings big improvements in indoor and low-light recording.

The much-needed move to hardware stabilization brings some serious improvements to Sony’s latest camera — especially in indoor and low-light conditions. For the most part, this is a dependable “all-around” camera that can produce good-looking photos in just about all situations. When Superior Auto mode gets things right — and it very often does — it’ll select the perfect scene mode for you, and the result will be a genuinely impressive image. (Allowing for lighting, motion and your own skill, of course.)

But there are caveats attached. First of all, it’s easier than we’d like to capture blurry shots in darker conditions, and strangely Sony’s stabilization system seems a little more susceptible to hand motion than the likes of Samsung and LG. Occasionally that new color spectrum sensor dramatically misfires, giving outdoor scenes an unnatural blue or green hue. And the same software confusion can trip up Superior Auto.

The other asterisk has to do with the 23-megapixel size, and the amount of sharpening going on when you zoom in. If you’re taking photos at the full sensor size, be prepared for fine details to be mired in noise when you zoom in, and for there to be plenty of over-sharpening going on, to the point where images lose the natural look offered by the iPhone and some other competitors.

It seems like the XZ’s software processing just needs a little tune-up. It’s entirely possible that’ll happen before launch — after all, we’re using a pre-production device here.

Sony’s camera app hasn’t changed a whole lot since we last saw it in the Xperia X. A slider on the right edge lets you choose between Manual, Superior Auto+, video and Sony’s various plug-in camera apps. (These include things like AR modes for adding dinosaurs to your snaps, to sweep panoramas mode, to the dedicated 4K shooting mode.)

Most of the time, despite its occasional finickiness, you’ll want to live in Auto+. For finer control, Manual lets you set select specific scene modes, set your ISO, enable HDR and object tracking, and tweak things like metering and timer settings. (Basically, everything you’d expect from a standalone digital camera.)

Sony expects you to use Superior Auto+ most of the time — and you probably should.

It’d be nice if some of these options were a little more discoverable, but Sony’s clearly putting a lot of emphasis behind Superior Auto+.

In video recording, Sony’s stabilization tech really comes into its own, with smooth 1080p/60fps recording even in darker conditions with minimal amounts of noise. And 4K recording is also supported, though with the usual heat-related warnings. Given the file size constraints of 4K, you’ll want to stick to 1080p most of the time.

So overall this is easily Sony’s best phone camera yet, but it doesn’t quite reach the standards of Apple and Samsung in terms of guaranteed brilliance every time. Sony’s getting close though, and with some software updates the Xperia XZ could be a real challenger.

Other camera-related nuggets:

• Sony’s intelligent object tracking tech from the Xperia X returns, and works just as well in the XR.
• The new 13-megapixel selfie camera is great in daylight and decent in indoor settings, but quality rapidly degrades in darker settings like bars and outdoor scenes lit by streetlight. It’s not certainly bad, but it’s also no match for the likes of HTC’s UltraSelfie camera on the HTC 10.
• Again, this could be a software tuning issue, but our Xperia XZ unit had a tendency to aggressively crush shadowed areas in outdoor shots — way more than we’ve seen from previous Sony cameras.

A one-day phone

Sony Xperia XZ Battery life

I’ve been using the Sony Xperia XZ for just four days at the time of writing, so I’m still getting the hang of the phone’s day-to-day battery performance. What’s more, we’ve been pushing it harder than we normally would at the IFA show in Berlin. Travel is hard on phones.

That said, we have a reasonable idea of how the Xperia XZ performs in the real world, and the verdict is that it’s a solid “one-day” phone, but no more than that unless you’re using it really sparingly.

That’s about par for the course for a Snapdragon 820 running a 5.2-inch screen on a battery of this size.

We were regularly getting between 12 and 14 hours out of the Xperia XZ working on LTE all day, before hitting Battery Stamina mode at 30 percent charge. That’s with around 3 hours of screen on time up to that point, which is a respectable showing for a current Android phone. We’d liken it to what some of our editors have been getting from the OnePlus 3 in recent weeks.

As mentioned, Battery Stamina mode can step in to save the day when you’re running low on charge, and Sony includes both regular Stamina and Ultra Stamina modes depending on just how much functionality you want to cut back in the name of battery life. There’s a noticeable performance hit when Stamina is enabled though, so it’s probably not something you’ll want to get into the habit of using.

And when it’s time to charge, the latest Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 means you’re never below 50 percent for long.

On balance, we’re reasonably happy with the battery performance we’ve been getting from the Xperia XZ. You may be disappointed if you’re coming from an earlier Xperia phone with truly phenomenal longevity. But for most people it’s going to be perfectly fine.

The bottom line

Should you buy the Sony Xperia XZ? If you’re a fan

Sony is almost back on top form. The Xperia XZ is a solid all-round handset that does a lot of things right — a handset to restore the faith of Sony fans. Its greatest sin is probably looking a little dull — this is no Galaxy Note 7, after all — but once you look path its monolithic exterior there’s a lot to like.

Sony bucks the trend of 2K displays and instead goes with a fantastic looking 1080p panel, with power savings as a result. Performance is speedy across the board, and Sony’s software is thoughtful and measured. And we’re finally seeing a significant leap forward in camera performance in an Xperia phone, with big hardware additions that result in better photos almost every time.

The problem for Sony, like so many other Android manufacturers, is the fact that Samsung’s absolutely crushing it this year. Sony’s camera is great, but it’s not the best. Same deal with its screen, its build quality and its battery life. And U.S. buyers once again get the short end of the stick, as Sony cheaps out on fingerprint security.

As such, the XZ’s appeal is likely limited to hardcore Sony fans. And if that’s you, then you’ll be getting a hell of a phone.

DJI Osmo Mobile wants to help you create buttery smooth video from your phone

DJI, more famous for its range of drones that take to the sky than mobile phone accessories, has releases a new version of its Osmo Mobile camera, this time for smartphone users not needing the device’s previously built in camera.

Launched at the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, Germany, the newly updated accessory ditches the previously built-in camera on a gimble, and instead requires the user to provide their own.

Previously, the fairly expensive device insisted that users still have a smartphone, but use it only as a display to see the video they shot. Now DJI has brought the price down, and clearly believes that the cameras on the latest smartphones are good enough for most people.

The new Osmo still promises to use “DJI’s signature three-axis gimbal stabilization and SmoothTrack technology to let users shoot effortless, high-quality photos and videos on the go.”

There are three different operation modes: standard, Portrait, Flashlight and Underslung giving plenty of options for capturing movies.

Connected via Bluetooth, users of the “rig” will be able to use the device’s trigger control, to access various modes, as well as switch between the phone’s front and rear cameras. Camera settings, such as ISO, shutter speed and white balance are reachable directly onscreen through the accompanying dedicated app.

That app, the DJI GO App, will also let you do things like ActiveTrack, Motion Time lapse, Live Stream, Panorama, Long Exposure, Camera Settings saving you using a bevy of other apps from different developers.

The Osmo Mobile is compatible with most recent smartphone models, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Huawei Mate 8, and presumably the new iPhone 7 when it comes out later this month. It should, say DJI, accommodate any Android or iOS smartphone with a width between 2.31 and 3.34 inches.

The Osmo Mobile costs £289 and is available to buy now.

May the Force be with you: Battle worn BB-8 and Force Band let you ditch phone control

First announced at CES in Las Vegas in January, Sphero has finally put its “battle worn” version of BB-8 on sale alongside offering the “Force Band” that allows you to control the Droid by moving your arm.

The Droid, which is identical in all aspects apart from the new lick of paint, will also come with a new optional accessory, the Force Band.

Working in a similar way to the Apple Watch app already available, the wrist band will allow you to control BB-8 by moving around your arm, but without having to own the Apple wearable or better still use an smartphone – something that is sure to please a lot of parents. 

Owners will be able to perform a number of gestures to move and steer, as well as perform tricks as if they wield the power of The Force.

After you’ve advanced beyond Droid Control, you’ll be able to expand your abilities as BB-8 guides you through Force Training claims Sphero. Users will be able to use the band by itself to complete Combat Training for Blasters, Lightsabers, and the Force itself, or uncover and collect digital holocrons in your environment with Force Awareness.

Pocket-lint

A Sphero spokesman told Pocket-lint in January that the Force Band offers a much better “core experience” over the Apple Watch.

The addition of the Force Band makes for a great accessory, although we suspect it will take users some time to get to grips with the control mechanism. We’ve tried the Apple Watch app and it is great fun and watching the demo dudes at the show it will certainly appeal to kids and adults keen to get their iPhones back.

The Force Band is compatible with the original BB-8 App-Enabled Droid by Sphero and other Sphero robots powered by Bluetooth SMART.

The Special Edition comes bundled with the Force Band and will retail for £179.99

The Force Band will also be sold separately for £69.99

Both the Force Band and Special Edition Battle-Worn BB-8 Droid will be available worldwide on 30th September from Disney Store, Amazon UK, Argos and Tesco.

At internetmatters.org parents can find all the advice they will need to keep their children safe online. Designed specifically for parents, the site offers a wealth of up-to-date, unbiased information and advice about how to deal with online safety. Parents can learn about the latest issues and technologies, get great tips on how to talk about online safety with their children and get the best advice on dealing with issues and taking action. Created with experts, Internet Matters provides detailed information, but also signposts to best-in-class resources from individual expert organisations. Our goal is to ensure parents can always access the information that they need, in a format that is clear and concise.

What time is the Sony IFA 2016 press conference and can I watch it online?

Sony is hosting its annual IFA 2016 today and you can sit right back and watch it online.

We expect some TV announcements, hopefully something on the brand’s own 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player and, if the leaks are anything to go by, an unveiling of a new smartphone, the Sony Xperia XZ.

So here are the details you need if you want to check out the action.

• Sony Xperia XZ: Rumours, release date and everything you need to know
• IFA 2016: All the smartwatches, smartphones and smarthome gadgets at the show

What time does the Sony IFA 2016 press conference start?

The Sony press conference is held on its stand at IFA each year and will start at 1pm CET today 1 September, so that’s midday in the UK, 7am on the East Coast of America and 4am on the West Coast.

How can I watch the Sony IFA 2016 press conference online?

We’re hosting the conference ourselves below. Just hit the play button…

Alternatively, you can head to Sony’s own blog site at community.sony.co.uk.

Pocket-lint will be reporting live from the event too, so you can catch up with everything that’s announced on our Sony hub as soon as it happens. We’ll also be reporting from IFA in Berlin for the next few days, so you should also bookmark our IFA 2016 hub too.

Sony Xperia Ear wants to be your discreet personal assistant, from November onwards

At Mobile World Congress early in 2016, Sony showed off a concept “smart product”, a Bluetooth headset that wants to be your personal assistant.

Sony has pushed forward with this concept, confirming that the Xperia Ear will be available to buy from November 2016 in select markets. 

This is more than just a Bluetooth headset. Connected to an app on your smartphone, the Xperia Ear aims to move you from an eyes down relationship with your phone, to one where you can keep your head up, but stay connected.

It does this through smart interaction. We got the chance to run through a simple demo that showed off answering questions with a shake of the head, using motion detection, rather than relying solely on voice interaction like any number of other systems like Google Assistant or Siri.

Pocket-lint

The idea is that Xperia Ear can inform you of things, let you manage your communication, in a way that regular Bluetooth headsets never could: this isn’t just about voice and taking calls, it’s about a full range of interactivity with your phone, using Sony Agent Technology. 

Our demo was brief and the scope of it didn’t run too wide, but we can’t help feeling that it isn’t a huge leap forward: smartwatches have tried to save us from our phones and failed. Google Glass tried to provide an alternative and now we’re looking at another wearable that returns to a form factor many have decided they don’t like. 

In some ways, Xperia Ear is pretty cool, giving you that secret agent vibe, but on the other hand, we can’t help feeling that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

Xperia Ear will be available in November, there’s no word on pricing.

Sony Xperia X Compact: It’s Compact, Jim, but not as we know it

Sony’s journey away from the Xperia Z and into the Xperia X series is probably now complete with the launch of the flagship Xperia XZ and the Xperia X Compact.

For those who missed the memo, Sony’s story is that the X series runs from A to Z, with the Xperia XA at the bottom of the ladder and the Xperia XZ at the top. That leaves the X Compact sitting in the middle, a Compact spin-off of the Xperia X. 

That’s a change in positioning from the Compact models of Xperia past. Once this was a compact powerhouse, now it’s a compact mid-ranger, which makes it rather more ordinary.

Pocket-lint

Sony Xperia X Compact: Design

In the X series, Sony has a pocketful of different designs. No longer is there the conformity that the Z series offered. As such, the XA is different to the X, both are different from the XZ, and the X Compact is again unique. While variety is the spice of life, the lack of conformity makes the Xperia X family feel a little like a mixed bag of spanners.

The Xperia X Compact does have some similarity to the XZ, however, both exhibiting what Sony is calling “loop design”. The embodiment of this is a seamless transition from screen to body according to Sony, but this still sits within Sony’s OmniBalance design, with a squared look. 

The Xperia Compact handsets have always been a little on the fat side; with phones like the Z3 Compact and Z5 Compact, we accepted that this was because there was a lot crammed inside. With the X Compact’s position in the mid-range, you still have the fatness at 9.5mm thick, but without the brains, which is a compromise some might not go for.

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Our least favourite factor, however, is the choice of materials. The X Compact feels very plasticky, it’s glossy and it attracts a lot of fingerprints. It’s perhaps an odd move coming from a place where the entry-level device – the XA – feels like a premium device. The X Compact, by comparison, feels wrong. Sony says that it is inspired by ceramic, but this is a far cry from the ceramic of the OnePlus X. 

This phone also isn’t waterproof, so again, it’s a lesser device than others that have carried the Compact name.

• Sony Xperia XZ: Sony sticking to what it knows

Sony Xperia X Compact: Display and hardware

Setting the design to one side, as a large part of that comes down to personal preference, the Xperia X Compact is all about the screen size. This is the reason the Compact exists and here you’ll find a 4.6-inch display, with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, for 319ppi.

That might not sound so impressive in this world of 5.1-inch Quad HD displays, but when it comes to using a phone of this size, the 720p resolution is fine. What’s important is that this display is bright, vibrant and looks good from all angles. We didn’t have the chance to test it fully, but we suspect it will be a pretty good performer.

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That’s quite a different story to the design and it’s in the display that we have much higher hopes for the Xperia X Compact. 

We opened this discussion talking about a step-down for the Compact and in the rest of the hardware that’s where you’ll feel it. The X Compact is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 with 3GB of RAM. Ok, so these mid-range chipsets are actually very competent, but it does align the X Compact as a very different device to what you might expect. 

There’s 32GB of storage, with microSD expansion, and there’s a fingerprint scanner on the side power button as you’ll find on the Xperia Z5 family – in Europe at least, as the US didn’t get this version of the handset. 

Sony’s fingerprint scanner is reportedly one of the most sensitive around, but previous experience of it has lead us to the conclusion that it’s not as well executed as the front or rear options you’ll find from HTC, Samsung, LG, Huawei, Apple and just about everyone else who makes phones. 

We’ll reserve judgement, however, until we’ve fully reviewed this handset and lived with it for a longer period of time. It might be that this Compact is a plucky mid-ranger packed with advantages.

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Sony Xperia X Compact: Battery

One of those advantages might be the battery life. Powering this compact handset is a 2700mAh battery, which we have high hopes for. This is perhaps the area where the X Compact could dominate, because of Sony’s experience of battery management and a relatively large capacity for a small display with less demanding hardware.

Of course we haven’t had the chance to test that, but we’re happy to see that USB Type-C has appeared on the bottom of the handset.

Sony has also changed the way it charges the handset, so that it can ensure the battery lasts a long time. Rather than running the battery up to 100 per cent, it charges to 90 per cent and will then learn your charging patterns, adding the final 10 per cent just as you’re waking up, for example. The aim is to preserve battery health, rather than running it up to max and keeping it there for 5 hours.

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Sony Xperia X Compact: Cameras

The other area where the X Compact could excel is in camera performance. The rear camera offers Sony’s 23-megapixel sensor, boosted with Sony’s new triple sensing technology that makes its debut on the Xperia XZ and the X Compact.

This triple sensing technology combines a number of different elements aiming to make a super snapper in all conditions. There’s phase detection auto focusing, there’s contrast detection as well as the addition of laser autofocusing. This latter element is designed to speed up focusing in low light – and it explains the layout of elements on the rear of the handset.

On the X Compact, that smart-shooting rear camera also offers full manual controls, and these are more enhanced, offering control of things like shutter speed and focusing. We’d expect this to lead to some great results, but naturally we haven’t had the chance to fully test it yet. One of the sacrifices is no 4K video on the Compact.

On the front is a 5-megapixel camera for all your selfies. 

First Impressions

The Sony Xperia X Compact is over-shadowed by the devices that have come before it carrying the same name. The Compact was once the de facto choice for those wanting a smaller device that doesn’t compromise on the power it offers, for flagship performance.

The Z Compact was a rare breed of device in that sense and for fans of those phones, the X Compact perhaps shouldn’t carry the name. Call it the X Micro or the X Mini or the X Whatever, because reusing the name will lead to some confusion.

Battery life and camera are likely to shine and these are two areas that really matter to smartphone owners and that could stand the X Compact in good stead. For us, however, the glossy plastic finish just doesn’t feel right.

Sony MDR-1000X preview: Quite simply phenomenal noise-cancelling headphones

Sony’s mission to deliver noise cancelling headphones has lead to the birth of the MDR-1000X. It’s a solid name, for a solid pair of headphones.

Sony introduced us to these new noise-cancelling cans, telling us that it has seen a upturn in wireless headphones sales – appending this with confirmation that Sony was the number one headphone manufacturer in Europe, both in terms of value and unit sales.

Sony is also no stranger to good quality headphones. The MDR-1000X, then, set their sights on a lucrative end of the market: that part of the wireless noise-cancelling headphone segment that sees a pair of headphones sitting on the bonce of every business traveller on every flight. 

The Sony MDR-1000X might look familiar and that’s because they sit in the same design as the MDR-100ABN headphones that reside in Sony’s h.ear on range. While those headphones are designed to be slightly more consumer, the 1000X want to take the title of the best noise cancelling headphones in their class.

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Now let us tell you something: the MDR-100ABN ain’t half bad at that job, so the 1000X really have to go some to push those headphones off their perch. 

But push they do: having spent a little time with the 1000X, our first impressions are that these are a phenomenal set of noise-cancelling headphones. 

The secret lies in the technology. Not only do these headphones fit well, fold neatly into their (supplied) case making them idea for travel and offer generous padding around the ear cups and headband, but they are packed full of technology to make them make your music sound better.

We’re not talking about processing your music files, we’re talking about getting rid of the other stuff that gets in the way of listening to the music you love. Ok, yes, these headphones offer DSEE HX to upscale your compressed music to near Hi-Res quality, but it’s really the noise-cancelling, driven by the Sense Engine that’s exciting. 

Firstly, the noise cancelling is really good. We’ve not had long to test the 1000X, but put head-to-head with several competitor headphones, they were clearly superior. That was a test in a controlled environment, of course, so not entirely valid in the real world, but we have high hopes. Background hiss from the air conditioning and even noise from the TV as we write this preview are filtered out, almost entirely. 

Some of this comes down to a clever feature that Sony calls Personal NC Optimizer. This runs a quick test and essentially tunes the noise cancellation to account for the shape of your head and the way you wear the headphones. We tried it tuned to someone else and then tuned for us and the difference was noticeable.

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Although noise cancelling is great, it can cut out a lot of what you actually want to hear. With frequent travellers in mind, the 1000X can be set to various levels of acceptable ambient noise. This isn’t a new feature – there are running headphones that will let through noises so that you’re more aware of your environment – but Sony has made the 1000X neatly let through voices too.

The effect is rather drastic. From listening in silence, you can turn on this feature and suddenly hear those around you talking, while still listening to your music. The idea is to let you hear things like airport announcements, so you don’t miss your boarding call. 

Some noise cancelling headphones will let you press a button to cancel the cancellation so you can talk to someone. One the 1000X, this can be done simply by placing your palm over the right ear cup. That dips the music so you can talk normally without having to pull your headphones off and hang them around your neck. 

That right ear cup exterior offers a range of touch controls to help your control volume and skip through tracks too, meaning that some of the unsightly buttons of the MDR-100ABN have been removed. 

Designed primarily for wireless use, the 1000X support LDAC for near Hi-Res quality wireless audio and feature 40mm drivers within. They can be used with the supplied cable, but otherwise charge via the Micro-USB on the bottom of the right-hand cup.

Sony claims that you’ll get 20 hours of music and that a full change takes 4 hours. There’s NFC for easy pairing with compatible devices, naturally. 

First Impressions

First impressions of these noise-cancelling headphones are really good. Not only is the technology very clever and the effect really well handled, but they sound fantastic too, delivering punchy detail, bags of bass and plenty of volume.

We will be bringing you a full review of the MDR-1000-X in the very near future, so stay acoustically tuned.

The Sony NW-WM1Z is a €3300 Walkman for the audiophile generation

Sony’s first Walkman launched in 1979 and played a huge part in popularising portable music. The Walkman became an iconic symbol of setting music free, moving it from a record player or bulky tape player into something that was personal and portable.

With a music player on every smartphone, the Walkman and a whole family of other portable music players fell into disuse. With the launch of the WM1 series at IFA 2016, Sony isn’t just launching a new Walkman, it’s aiming to launch the highest quality audio player in its class.

Arriving in two different models, the 1Z is the premium €3300 model, while the 1A model is a step down at €1200. These are serious music players for those who seriously want the best mobile music.

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Some of that difference in price comes down to the fact that the WM1Z is carved from a solid copper ingot and then plated in gold. This isn’t about offering the best value for money, it’s about offering the best sound quality. The 1A has to make do with being made from aluminium, so it’s still incredibly solid.

Sony has scrutinised every aspect of this device, separating the power and digital audio circuits to ensure that there’s nothing that’s going to interfere with the sound quality. Even the cable that runs from the S-Master HX digital amplifier to the headphone socket is a four wire braided Kimber Kable in pursuit of absolute quality.

The Sony Walkman NW-WM1 series support all the high-end audio formats and everything running down to MP3 and offers DSEE HX processing with five optimised listening modes. This will also upscale your lower quality music to near Hi-Res quality.

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The WM1 doesn’t only offer headphone connections, it will connect to your Bluetooth headphones, supporting LDAC for high quality wireless audio. 

There are some serious buttons running down the side for music control, as well as a full touchscreen interface on the front. In the hand, the weighty new Walkmans feel incredibly plush, a serious piece of high quality audio equipment.

They sound great too. Paired with Sony’s new MDR-Z1R premium headphones also announced today, the result is sublime. They should be when you’re pairing a €3300 music player with a €2200 pair of headphones. 

The new Sony NW-WM1A and WM1Z models will be available from October 2016.