Alcatel A5 LED is a fun mobile light show

Alcatel has taken the wraps off its latest smartphone, and is attempting to offer something completely unique to the younger end of the consumer market. The Alcatel A5 LED is a refreshing change.

Starting with its most notable, and most unique feature, the entire back is covered in an LED light show. It lights up when you receive notifications, and not only that, it lights up a different pattern and colour depending on the application that’s sending the alert. For instance, if it’s Facebook, you can get a blue background with a white “F” scrolling across the back. For Snapchat, it could be yellow. But you can program it to do what you want.

Using a feature called Colour Catcher will enable you to create your own unique LED cover patterns and themes. Whether you want to design something eye-catching and wacky for when your best friends call, or just have something that matches your outfit, you have the freedom to make something fresh.

Pocket-lint

As you’d expect, the LED cover isn’t just for notifications. You can also use it as a mobile light show when you’re listening to music, or just have it as an ambient light when watching movies or videos. This, of course, emphasises the main aim here, which is to have a phone that’s both different, and fun.

Taking this customisation further, the Android Marshmallow based software has an app which allows you to choose colours using the camera, and then sets a wallpaper and theme to match. This changes the app icon colours as well as the rest of the phone’s user interface.

The launcher also allows you to change how many rows and columns of apps you want on your home screen, how big you want those icons to be as well as a host of the usual Android customisation options.

As for specifications, the screen on the front is a 5.2-inch HD 720p display which is powered by an octacore MediaTek processor and a 2,800mAh battery. This battery should be more than capable of lasting a full day, and for those worrying about the detrimental effects of the LED cover, we’re told in average use tests, it only used 3% extra battery over a full day.

Pocket-lint

The 8-megapixel camera on the back is adequate for snapping pictures to share on social media, and the 5-megapixel selfie cam, likewise, should be suitable for the odd self portrait.

Clearly, specifications aren’t going to set the world alight here, but the added LED Cover and its features might just be enough to make the targeted young demographic think it’s a cool smartphone. It will be available in May across Europe and is set to cost €199. 

Lenovo Miix 320 is an entry level, portable 2-in-1

Lenovo has come out all guns blazing at Mobile World Congress, unveiling a new Tab 4 series of tablets, two new Yoga laptops and now the Miix 320 detachable laptop/tablet.

In its most basic form, the Miix 320 is a tablet with an Intel Atom X5 processor, Intel HD graphics, memory that can be specified up to 4GB and internal storage up to 128GB. Your content is presented on a 10.1in 1920×1080 full HD display, with Dolby Advanced Audio taking care of sound duties.

On paper, the Miix 320 in tablet mode sounds like an ideal companion for watching movies and TV shows on a commute, a plane, or simply at home. If you need to shift into work mode, you can attach the included keyboard dock, which includes a trackpad and turns the Miix 320 into a fully functioning laptop substitute.

Windows 10 comes preinstalled and supports Windows Continuum for seamlessly switching between tablet and laptop modes.

Lenovo claims the Miix 320’s battery is good for up to 10 hours of use and Wi-Fi and 4G LTE support ensure you’ll always have an internet connection whenever you go.

Both the Wi-Fi only and LTE versions of Miix 320 will launch in April, with prices starting at €269 for the former, and €399 for the LTE variant; these will change depending on your memory and storage choices.

Lenovo will sell the Miix 320 with Active Pen support, especially useful if you’re a designer, and a 12 month Microsoft Office 365 subscription from July. Both models will be available in platinum silver and Snow White.

Lenovo Yoga 720 and Yoga 520 are portable powerhouses

Lenovo has used Mobile World Congress to launch two new Yoga convertible laptops: the Yoga 720 and 520. Both have been designed and developed in direct response to user feedback, so the company is pretty confident it’s got the specs and features across both models spot on and believes them to be the ideal computer companion for productivity, as well as consuming media.

• Mobile World Congress 2017: Nokia, Sony, Huawei, smartphones and more

Like other Yoga convertibles, the new 720 and 520 can be used in any of four modes: laptop, tablet, tent and stand and both are thinner and lighter than their respective 710 and 510 predecessors.

Lenovo

The 13in Yoga 720 for example is now 14.3mm at its thickest points and weighs 1.3kg, while the 520 is slightly tubbier, at 19.9mm at thickest point and coming in at 1.74kg on the scales. Despite their diminutive dimensions, Lenovo has managed to fit in a high capacity battery, claiming the 15in Yoga 720 can last up to 9 hours with a full HD screen, or 8 hours with a 4K Ultra HD screen.

Its 13in sibling meanwhile can last up to 8 hours with a full HD screen or 7 hours with a 4K screen. The 14in Yoga 520 is available with either a 1366 x 768 HD screen or 1920 x 1080 full HD, with the latter,it can last up to 10 hours on a single charge.

All new Yoga models can be specified with up 7th generation Intel Core i7 processors and come running Windows 10. Lenovo says the 15in Yoga 720 is the most powerful convertible laptop in its class, thanks to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics and Thunderbolt 3 for high-speed data transfers.

You can put your drawing skills to the test with either model as they both offer active pen support, which lets you sketch in Windows Ink, take notes or assist with editing documents.

Lenovo

But if you’d rather use them for watching movies and TV shows, you’ll be pleased to know both should offer decent sound thanks to Harman speakers on the Yoga 520 and JBL speakers on the 720, and both support Dolby Audio Premium. Finally, both models support fingerprint scanning security – standard on the 720, an option on the 520 – to log in to the computer and store passwords.

The Lenovo Yoga 720 will be the first model to launch, in April, with prices starting at €999. It will be available platinum silver, iron grey or copper, but the latter is exclusive to the 13in model. The Yoga 520 meanwhile will launch in July with prices starting at €599 and mineral grey and onyx black colour finishes.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview: The complete Xperia package

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium sits at the top of the huge portfolio of Sony phones, not just of the four debuting at Mobile World Congress 2017, but the rest of the Xperia gang too.

It has it all in Sony’s world of smartphones, pulling in technology from other aspects of the company’s business including camera and display technology, both of which are coupled with Qualcomm’s latest SD835 chip. We got our hands on a non-working model before MWC kicked off. Here are our first thoughts.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: Design

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is the best you’ll get from the Xperia range of smartphones. As the name suggests, it has premium finish that surpasses the likes of the Xperia XZ and Xperia XZs with its mirrored body. The XZ Premium is available in Luminous Chrome or Deepsea Black and although both pick up fingerprints like they are going out of fashion, the glossy look is fabulous.

Pocket-lint

The Deepsea Black is the subtler of the two finishes and the nicer, featuring elements of blue like the Xperia XZ did, but both are striking. Sticking true to the Sony smartphone legacy, the Xperia XZ Premium has that OmniBalance flat-slab design we’ve come to expect from Xperia devices, though its finish is more seamless than its less premium sibling and slimmer, with a 7.9mm build.

Rather than several different materials joined together, resulting in a somewhat messy design, the Xperia XZ Premium has one sheet of 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass on the rear and one on the front, creating a great finish that is significantly less fussy. The edges remain flat with a slight curve, a feature that was introduced on the Xperia Z5, but the 2.5D curved glass makes everything look more considered as does the reduction in thickness.

Pocket-lint

Letting down the otherwise great design a little however, are the large bezels above and below the display. It’s a trait all the Xperia devices feature and although it distinguishes them, we would have liked to see Sony reduce them slightly. LG has made its latest flagship all about the screen and Samsung is rumoured to be doing the same so it would have been great to see Sony do similar, especially as the display is such a big aspect of this device and deserves to be more prominent. 

In other news, as Sony fans will expect, the signature side-mounted fingerprint sensor is present within the power button on the right of the Xperia XZ Premium, with the camera launcher button positioned a little further down on the same side. A 3.5mm headphone jack sits to the right at the top of the device, while USB Type-C is centralised at the bottom. There is a microSD and SIM slot on the left of the Xperia XZ Premium beneath a flap, ensuring IP65 and IP68 waterproofing.

• Sony Xperia XZs preview: Same design, new hardware

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: Display

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium features a 5.5-inch display with a 4K resolution for a pixel density of 801ppi, following in the footsteps of the Xperia Z5 Premium. Sony has taken the trend for HDR, a technology found on the latest televisions, and introduced it to the new device in a bid to deliver richer and more vibrant colours with better contrast and more detail.

Pocket-lint

It’s not the first time we have seen HDR on a mobile device as Samsung introduced it on the Galaxy Note 7’s 2K display, but it is the first time it has been used with a 4K resolution. Sony has said it would be collaborating with Amazon Prime Video, like Samsung did, in order to offer access to content that will take full advantage of the display.

The Xperia XZ Premium was displayed alongside the Xperia Z5 Premium and the difference was noticeable in terms of colour vibrancy but as it was a controlled environment with only certain images displayed, we will be waiting for our review unit to decide the true impact of the HDR, as well as aspects like viewing angles. We suspect this new device will be a dream for VR though as the Xperia Z5 Premium was.

• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: Camera

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium introduces a new camera to the Xperia party. Sony usually places a big emphasis on the camera within its smartphones so it will come as no surprise that this is one of the three features the company has chosen to focus on for this flagship. The new camera is being called Motion Eye and Sony claims it is the first memory-stacked sensor, which should mean faster scanning.

Pocket-lint

There is a 19-megapixel resolution on board the rear, which although is a slightly lower resolution than the Xperia XZ and previous flagship Xperia devices, it offers 19 per cent larger pixels at 1.22µm, according to the company. There is also a new G lens on the rear that is claimed to deliver more clarity and a 13-megapixel camera on the front, but perhaps the most exciting new feature is the super slow motion functionality of the main camera.

Most smartphones offer 240fps slow motion, but the camera on the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs offers 960fps. We tried it out on the Xperia XZs filming a skateboarder doing tricks with glitter and a cocktail maker messing around with fire and dry ice and the results were very cool. We weren’t able to use it on the Xperia XZ Premium but the feature itself is definitely one that we will be looking forward to testing on both devices when we get them in for review.

• Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra preview: Edgy mid-rangers

Sony Xperia XZ Premium: Hardware and software

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chip, coupled with 4GB of RAM and a base storage of 64GB. As we mentioned, there is microSD on board for storage expansion and Sony has claimed the XZ Premium will offer all-day battery life from the 3230mAh capacity with accurate estimation, Stamina Mode and Quick Charge 3.0 all on board.

Pocket-lint

We weren’t able to test the performance of the XZ Premium during our time with it as this is a little hard when there are none switched on, but we will give you an update on this area, along with software when we have the chance to test it. We do know the Xperia XZ Premium will launch on Android Nougat but Sony hasn’t detailed what new software features or refinements will be available as yet.

First Impressions

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium doesn’t break new ground when it comes to design, sticking with what Sony knows best, but it does offer refinement and a much more seamless finish to previous Xperia devices.

It’s Sony’s most exciting device so far, and although we would liked to have seen a slight change up in design, especially in terms of the front, the glossy, slimmer build is fabulous and the 4K HDR display has the potential to be great.

We are also big fans of the super slow motion video feature and although it’s also available on the Xperia XZs, the Xperia XZ Premium is the whole Xperia package. It’s the one we can’t wait to put through its paces in the real world.

Sony Xperia Touch: The €1499 protector that puts Android on your kitchen table

Sony Mobile has announced four new Xperia smartphones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, along with the Xperia Touch projectors price and availability.

The Xperia Touch first debuted as a projector concept without a proper name at MWC 2016, alongside the Xperia Ear and Xperia Agent. One year later and Sony has renamed it the Xperia Touch and said it is now ready to be a commercial product. Well, so long as you have a spare €1499.

For those that don’t know, the projector is an interactive Android projector that will turn any flat surface, horizontal or vertical, into a 23-inch 720p touchscreen using ultrashort-throw projection.

• Sony Xperia Touch preview

It uses Sony’s SXRD projection display technology, combined with a built-in camera and Infrared light to detect touch in real-time at 60fps. The Xperia Touch allows users to play games, such as Angry Birds on the table or wall, as well as watch online video streaming services and communicate with social platforms, such as Skype.

In addition to this, the Xperia Touch will offer real-time weather information, a memo board, calendar access and it is also compatible with PlayStation 4 Remote Play. You’ll also be able to run any app downloaded from Google Play.

The Sony Xperia Touch will be available through select retailers and the Xperia Online Store in certain countries, starting in France, from Spring 2017 with a price tag of €1499.

Sony also announced a new Xperia Ear “Open-Style Concept at the show, allowing users to listen to music and receive notifications simultaneously. The Xperia Ear that was presented alongside the Xperia Touch projector last year is already on sale for $199. No word yet on the Xperia Agent.

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra preview: Edgy mid-rangers

Sony announced the X series of smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2016, marking the death of the Z line and a new path for the Japanese manufacturer. There were several X devices announced, including the lovely Xperia XA with its edge-to-edge display.

One year on and Sony has followed up this device with two more edge-to-edge mid-rangers: the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra. Ignoring the odd naming convention, the XA1 is the successor to the XA, while the XA1 Ultra is a larger version of the new model. Here are our first impressions.

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra: Design

The Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra offer almost identical designs, aside from their physical size and a silver ring around the front-facing camera on the XA1 Ultra. The smaller model measures 145 x 67 x 7.9mm and weighs 145g, while the larger model measures 165 x 79 x 8.1mm and weighs 210g so there is quite a big difference in size and weight, with the XA1 definitely the more manageable in the hand.

Pocket-lint

Both feature the signature Xperia design features, including large bezels at the top and bottom of the display, a side power button and a rear camera lens in the top left corner. The two devices also offer the OmniBalance flat-slab design which is associated with all Xperia smartphones, from the lower-end to the flagship models.

The rear is a lot less fussy than the Xperia XZ and XZs however, with one sheet of metal rather than the combination of textures offered on the flagship devices for a much more fluid finish. The speakers and microphone are also tucked out of the way at the very top and bottom of the devices, keeping things fuss-free.

Pocket-lint

Where the XA range really sets itself apart from the rest of the Xperia handsets is its edge-to-edge screen though. This feature results in a more seamless and interesting design than the likes of the Xperia XZ and its Xperia XZs successor, allowing the edges to curve into the display as you’ll find on more premium smartphones at the higher end of the market.

The edges of the XA1 and XA1 Ultra are flatter than the original Xperia XA, tying them into the XZ models better and resulting in both devices delivering a slim and consistent design. The edge-to-edge display means there is no fingerprint sensor on either model though, as there wasn’t with last year’s model. The oblong power button with the built-in fingerprint sensor found on the higher-specced Xperia models has to be traded in for the circular power button found on the older Z devices in order to accommodate the screen, meaning you lose what is now considered a pretty key feature on all smartphones.

Pocket-lint

There is no mention of waterproofing either, but the rest of the overall designs are familiar and up-to-date with USB Type-C over Micro-USB at the bottom, a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top, camera launcher button on the right-hand side and a microSD and SIM slot covered by a flap on the left. Both the XA1 and the XA1 Ultra are available in four metallic finishes, like the original XA.

• Sony Xperia XZs preview: Same design, new hardware

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra: Display

The Sony Xperia XA1 comes with a 5-inch HD edge-to-edge display for a pixel density of 294ppi, like the original model, and it looks great. We loved the design last year and we love it again this year. We just wish Sony would consider doing something like it with its flagship devices. The XA1 Ultra also has an edge-to-edge display, as we mentioned, but it adds an inch and a few more pixels, resulting in a 6-inch Full HD display that delivers a pixel density of 367ppi.

As with the original Xperia XA, the XA1’s display seems to do well enough, despite it being a lower resolution than the likes of the Xperia XZs. The Xperia XA1 Ultra also seems to do well, although we will reserve judgement on both until we have had the opportunity to test them properly in the real world.

Pocket-lint

There is no HDR on board either the XA1 or XA1 Ultra, like the flagship Xperia XZ Premium, and there is no mention of Triluminos or X-Reality technologies, both of which can be found on the XZ and XZs, but Sony does offer Super Vivid mode on the XA range. As we said with the XZ Premium and XZs, we would have loved to have seen Sony reduce those top and bottom bezels on these two devices too for an even more striking display, but we suppose you can’t have it all right?

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview: The whole Xperia package

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra: Cameras

The Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra are mid-range handsets so unfortunately they don’t get the latest and greatest when it comes to Sony’s camera features, though they do improve on last year’s model and they certainly don’t settle for mid-range specs.

That means that while you won’t get the new Motion Eye camera with its super slow motion video feature that has been introduced on the Xperia XZs and XZ Premium, you will get a 23-megapixel rear camera on both models. The XA1 also has an 8-megapixel front facing snapper, while the XA1 Ultra has a 16-megapixel front snapper, with an f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilisation and a flash so theoretically this larger model should really help you up your selfie game.

Pocket-lint

There are a couple of features that transfer over from the higher end Xperia devices too, such as Hybrid autofocus and SteadyShot, plus they both have five times Clear Image Zoom too. Ultimately though, if you’re after for Sony’s latest camera technology, you’ll need to be looking a little higher up the Xperia food chain.

We didn’t get a chance to test the XA1 and XA1 Ultra cameras during our brief amount of time with them but we will be sure to put them both through their paces when we get our hands on them in the real world.

• Sony Xperia XZ review

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra: Hardware and software

The Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra both have the same octa-core MediaTek processor under their hoods, along with 32GB of internal memory that can be expanded via microSD. The XA1 Ultra has 4GB of RAM compared to the XA1’s 3GB, but considering these two devices are mid-range as we mentioned, these are pretty good hardware specs.

The XA1 has a 2300mAh battery capacity, while the XA1 Ultra has a 2700mAh battery, both of which are charged via USB Type-C and both of which feature Sony’s Stamina Mode software. We of course didn’t get a chance to test either the performance or the battery life of either model during our time with them but we will do as soon as they come in for review.

Pocket-lint

The XA1 Ultra’s battery seems small for a 6-inch device, but Sony smartphone’s battery life has been very good in the past, bar perhaps the Xperia XZ which wasn’t as great as previous models, so we aren’t too concerned.

Both the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra will launch on Android Nougat with Sony’s software over the top, meaning Sony fans will get a familiar experience. It looks as though the software has been refined slightly again compared to the Xperia XZ but we will be taking a closer look when we are able to spend more time with the two devices. 

First Impressions

Sony’s Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra might not be flagship devices, but their edge-to-edge displays are great. So much so that we’d love to have seen them on both the Xperia XZs and the Xperia XZ Premium. Just imagine how fabulous a 4K HDR edge-to-edge display could be.

We’re not entirely sure what Sony was thinking when it chose the names for these two devices, but we are big fans of their designs, as we were when the Xperia XA launched last year.

Considering they are mid-range devices, the Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra show a lot of promise on paper. They are definitely be up there with the most exciting Xperia devices in Sony’s portfolio, mainly thanks to offering something a bit different. If only Sony had given them the Motion Eye camera with its super slow motion video too. Huff.

Sony Xperia 2017 smartphone differences: XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra

There are few companies, if any, that launch as many smartphones in one year as Sony Mobile. We saw the death of the Z range and the rise of the X series at Mobile World Congress 2016, while at MWC 2017, we have the continuation of the X range with four new smartphones. Yes four.

Wondering what the differences are between them all? We were too. Here is how the Sony Xperia XZ Premium compares to the Xperia XZs, Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Design

• Xperia XA1 Ultra is the largest and heaviest
• XZ Premium and XZs have waterproofing and fingerprint sensor
• XZ Premium has most seamless design

All four of the 2017 Xperia smartphones look like Xperia smartphones. They all have the signature OmniBalance flat-slab design, large bezels above and below the display and they all have a side-mounted power button.

The Xperia XZ Premium and the Xperia XZs have the oblong power button with built-in fingerprint sensor and they are waterproof, while the XA1 and XA1 Ultra have the circular power button found on older Xperia devices and they don’t appear to be waterproof.

The largest and heaviest of the bunch is the Xperia XA1 Ultra measuring 165 x 79 x 8.1mm and weighing 210g, which is followed by the glossy and most seamless in design, Xperia XZ Premium, that measures 156 x 77 x 7.9mm and weighs 195g. The XA1 is the smallest and lightest at 145 x 67 x 7.9mm and 145g, while the XZs sits in the middle at 146 x 72 x 8.1mm and 161g.

The XZ Premium comes in Luminous Chrome and Deepsea Black colour options, both of which are mirrored, while the XA1 and XA1 Ultra come in four metallic finishes comprising black, white, pink and gold. The Xperia XZs is available in three colours: Ice Blue, Warm Silver and Black. 

• Sony Xperia XZs preview

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Display

• Xperia XZ Premium has 4K resolution and HDR
• Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra have edge-to-edge displays

The Sony Xperia XA1 has the largest display at 6-inches, while the Xperia XA1 has the smallest at 5-inches but both of these have edge-to-edge screens making them a little more exciting than the other two. The Xperia XZ Premium has a 5.5-inch screen, while the Xperia XZs has a 5.2-inch screen, like the Xperia XZ.

In terms of resolution, the XZ Premium is the clear winner, offering a 4K display like the Z5 Premium, which delivers a pixel density of 806ppi but it also adds HDR to the mix. The Xperia XZs and XA1 Ultra both have Full HD displays, offering pixel densities of 424ppi and 367ppi, respectively. The lowest resolution appears on the XA1 with its 720p screen, offering a pixel density of 245ppi.

The Triluminos and X-Reality Sony technologies are present on the XZ Premium and XZs devices, as well as something called Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. The XA1 and XA1 Ultra both have something called Super Vivid Mode, but they miss out on the other technologies.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Camera

• Xperia XZ Premium and XZs have new Motion Eye camera
• 960fps super slo-mo video on XZ Premium and XZs
• 16MP front camera on XA1 Ultra with OIS

The camera element is where the four new Xperia devices differ the most in terms of hardware. The Xperia XZ Premium and the Xperia XZs both have Sony’s new Motion Eye rear camera, which features a 19-megapixel triple sensor with 1.22µm pixels. They also both have a 13-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Motion Eye camera also comes with a new lens which is said to help deliver more clarity but the most exciting feature on board is its ability to capture super slow motion video at 960fps.

The Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra both have 23-megapixel single sensor rear snappers, with an 88-degree wide-angle lens and 0.7-second quick launch. The XA1 has an 8-megapixel front camera, but the XA1 Ultra pulls its selfie game out of the bag with a 16-megapixel snapper featuring OIS and a flash.

• Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra preview

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Hardware

• Xperia XZ Premium has fastest processor and largest battery capacity
• All have microSD
• High-res audio support on XZ Premium and XZs

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There is a 3230mAh battery capacity on board, along with all Sony’s latest battery technology including Smart Stamina, Battery Care and support for Quick Charge 3.0.

The Xperia XZs has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM and it comes in 32GB or 64GB storage options. It’s battery capacity is 2900mAh and it too has Stamina and Battery Care, as well as support for Quick Charge.

The Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra both run on an octa-core MediaTek processor with 32GB of RAM. The XA1 has 3GB of RAM support and a 2300mAh battery, while the XA1 Ultra has 4GB of RAM and a 2700mAh battery.

All four devices have microSD support for storage expansion, as well as USB Type-C. The XZ Premium and XZs both support high-res audio and offer digital noise cancelling.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Software

• All devices will have Android Nougat

All four of Sony’s new devices will launch on Android Nougat with Sony’s bloatware over the top, meaning the user experience will be similar across them. 

There will be a few extra features on the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs compared to the XA1 and XA1 Ultra, such as the camera functions and battery software, but overall, they will all look very familiar and almost identical.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs vs XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: Conclusion

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is the flagship device, with the flagship specs and probably the one to go for if your budget allows. It has the nicest design, most advanced display and it comes with the most powerful hardware and the newest camera. It will be expensive though.

The Xperia XZs gives you the camera and the RAM, but not the latest processor and it has a lower resolution display that lacks the latest tech, like HDR.

The Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra are going to be the cheaper options out of these four devices but they still get some pretty decent specs, including the edge-to-edge display and good camera resolutions, especially in the case of the XA1 Ultra.

Sony Xperia XZs preview: Same design, new hardware

The Xperia XZs is one of four smartphones debuting at Mobile World Congress 2017 from Sony Mobile, succeeding the Xperia XZ that was announced six months ago at IFA in September.

The new smartphone offers an upgrade in terms of camera functionality and hardware over its predecessor, as “s” devices generally do, but it takes it back a notch in terms of finish and display compared to the Xperia XZ Premium flagship, which sits above it in the Xperia portfolio. We got our hands on it before MWC kicked off to see what it brings to Sony’s ever-expanding smartphone portfolio.

Sony Xperia XZs: Design

The Sony Xperia XZs features the same design as the Xperia XZ. It has the company’s OmniBalance flat-slabbed finish, along with large bezels at the top and bottom of the display, both of which are typical design distinctions of Xperia smartphones. The XZs also brings with it the same loop design that launched on the XZ though, delivering a slightly curvier finish at the sides and moving away from the squarer look of previous Z devices.

Pocket-lint

Like the XZ and new XZ Premium, the XZs has USB Type-C at the bottom of the device, a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top and the side-mounted power button with its built-in fingerprint sensor on the right of the device, along with the volume rocker and the camera launcher button. To the left of the XZs is the microSD and SIM slot, covered by a flap for IP65 and IP68 water and dust resistance.

The rear of the XZs is where this device differs from the Premium model launching alongside it. Like its predecessor, the XZs has a separate bottom panel that is a different colour and texture from the rest of the rear, resulting in a finish that isn’t as seamless as the XZ Premium model. It also doesn’t have the 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass like the Premium model so the finish on the sides of the XZs isn’t as smooth as the glossier upgrade, nor as slim, though only by 0.2mm.

Pocket-lint

The XZs is a little more comfortable in the hand in terms of size compared to the Premium model though, measuring 146 x 72mm and it’s also a little lighter at 161g over 195g. It comes in Ice Blue, Warm Silver and Black but we’d choose a colour over black, as we would have done with the Xperia XZ, as they offer much more depth and make the OmniBalance design pop that little bit more.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview

Sony Xperia XZs: Display 

Like Sony Xperia XZ, the XZs has a 5.2-inch Full HD display, adopting the same size and resolution as the now-extinct Z models. Sony has always maintained that Quad HD displays aren’t worth the trade off in battery life so when you get to the flagship models, the options are either Full HD or a jump to 4K, like the XZ Premium and Z5 Premium both offer.

Pocket-lint

The company added HDR to the new XZ Premium model, but there is none of that on the XZs sadly. Instead, Sony has focused on the camera for the XZ upgrade, meaning the display experience will probably be similar to that of the Xperia XZ, unless the Dynamic Contrast Enhancer technology that has been added helps. We felt the XZ display wasn’t as impactful as it could have been, delivering when it came to colour and vibrancy but lacking in punch compared to some AMOLED alternatives.

Occasionally software can be responsible for displays not being as great as they should be so we will still reserve judgment on the XZs until we have reviewed it in the real world, but compared to the XZ Premium model, we are expecting it will be a little less exciting.

• Sony Xperia XZ review

Sony Xperia XZs: Camera

The Sony Xperia XZs does offer excitement elsewhere however – its camera. Like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the XZs features the new memory-stacked camera called Motion Eye on the rear, which has a 19-megapixel resolution and 1.22µm pixels, while the front has a 13-megapixel sensor. The new rear camera is not only said to be five times faster at scanning, but Sony claims it will also offer more clarity thanks to the new G Lens.

Pocket-lint

The new camera is designed to combine technologies from Sony’s Alpha and Cyber-shot cameras in order to try and meet professional camera enthusiasts, as well as those who want to just point and shoot. Like the Xperia XZ, there are manual settings available for those that are happy to play around, but there are automatic settings too. 

One of the best things about the new camera is the super slow motion video feature though. It’s great fun to use and the results were great too from what we experienced. The new feature allows you to capture video at 960fps, which means that a water balloon bursting or sparking a lighter up has a much more dramatic result than the standard 240fps capture most smartphones offer.

During our demo of the new Xperia XZs, we tested the super slow motion by filming a skateboarder doing tricks with glitter, as well as a cocktail maker playing around with fire and ice. It takes a couple of attempts to figure out what you need to press and when to ensure you capture the best elements of the action but once you’ve nailed it, the result is very cool. It’s definitely a feature we can’t wait to test out properly when we come to review this device and the Xperia XZ Premium.

• Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra preview

Sony Xperia XZs: Hardware and software

The Sony Xperia XZs features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, along with 4GB of RAM, which is a slight ramp up in RAM from the Xperia XZ but the same processor. There is 32GB or 64GB of internal storage and as we mentioned previously, the XZs features a microSD slot for further storage expansion up to 256GB.

Like its predecessor, there is a 2900mAh battery on board, along with Sony’s Stamina Mode and USB Type-C. We weren’t as impressed with Stamina Mode and the battery life on the Xperia XZ as we have been on previous Xperia devices, but hopefully the XZs will have fixed this once again. There wasn’t time to test the performance of the Xperia XZs during our briefing but we will of course put it through its paces when we come to review it.

Pocket-lint

The Xperia XZs will launch on Android Nougat with Sony’s software over the top. The company has slowly stripped back the bloatware it offers on top of Android, delivering a cleaner result, though it isn’t quite as stripped back as the likes of HTC or even Samsung nowadays. The launcher is pretty nice though, offering sensible options and the apps tray has a nice feature on board too, not only offering search but suggested apps too. 

For Sony fans, the software experience will be familiar and although we’d love to see closer to stock Android, things were smooth enough when moving around, as they were with the Xperia XZ.

First Impressions

The Sony Xperia XZs isn’t as exciting as the XZ Premium in terms of design or features, but it does bring last year’s Xperia XZ up to scratch in terms of Sony’s camera offering.

It would have been nice to see a faster processor coupled with the increase in RAM to warrant the “s” in its name a little more, but the new camera makes the Xperia XZs a more appealing alternative to the Xperia XZ and to those after a Sony flagship smartphone without the price tag that will undoubtedly be attached to the XZ Premium.

We think Sony could have done more with the design of the Xperia XZs to make it more seamless like the Xperia Z5, or give it an edge like the XA range, but as an “s” device, it makes improvements over the Xperia XZ and we can’t argue with that.

Sony’s 2017 smartphone portfolio: Hello Xperia XZ Premium, XZs, XA1 and XA1 Ultra

Sony Mobile has announced another four smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2017, adding to its already-plentiful Xperia portfolio. The Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZs, Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra join the existing line up of Xperia X, Z, M and E smartphones. It’s basically an alphabet soup.

The Xperia XZ Premium is the most exciting of the line-up with its 7.9mm glossy mirrored body, 5.5-inch 4K HDR display, new 19-megapixel rear “Motion Eye” camera and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, marking it as the new Xperia flagship. It offers 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 3230mAh battery, along with a 13-megapixel front camera and IP65 and IP68 waterproofing.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs XZs v XA1 vs XA1 Ultra: What’s the difference?

The Xperia XZs brings a camera and RAM upgrade to the six-month old Xperia XZ, also offering 4GB of RAM and the new Motion Eye rear camera with its 960fps super slow motion video feature, like the XZ Premium. Everything else remains the same as the Xperia XZ however, including design, display, processor and battery, meaning a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and a 2900mAh battery capacity.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview
• Sony Xperia XZs preview

The Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra are what Sony is calling “super” mid-rangers, featuring 5-inch and 6-inch edge-to-edge displays, respectively, and succeeding the Xperia XA that launched at MWC 2016. The Xperia XA1 has a 720p display, while the Xperia XA1 Ultra ups the resolution to Full HD.

Sony Mobile

Both the XA1 and XA1 Ultra have an octa-core MediaTek processor and 23-megapixel rear camera. The XA1 couples this with an 8-megapixel front camera, 3GB of RAM and a 2300mAh battery, while the XA1 Ultra has a 16-megapixel front snapper with OIS and a flash, along with 4GB of RAM and a 2700mAh battery.

• Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra preview

All four of Sony’s new Xperia smartphones will launch on Android Nougat from the box, with the Sony bloatware over the top. Specific pricing and availability has yet to be detailed, but the Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra will launch sometime in Spring 2017, the Xperia XZs in April 2017 and the Xperia XZ Premium in late Spring 2017.

The XZ Premium will come in Luminous Chrome or Deepsea Black, the Xperia XZs in Ice Blue, Warm Silver and Black, and the Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra in White, Black, Pink and Gold.

Sony Mobile

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: What’s the difference?

Sony announced four smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona, one of which is the Xperia XZ Premium, which is the company latest and greatest device with an all new camera and 4K HDR display.

It succeeds the Xperia Z5 Premium, which launched at IFA in September 2015, but how does it compare? Here is the Xperia XZ Premium against the Xperia Z5 Premium.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Design

• XZ Premium is larger and heavier
• More seamless design on XZ Premium thanks to 2.5D glass
• Both IP68 and IP65 water and dust resistant

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia Z5 Premium feature the same OmniBalance, flat-slab design that Xperia smartphones are known for. There’s a side-mounted power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor on both, large bezels at the top and bottom of the displays and the rear camera lens in the top left-hand corner on the back. They are also both IP68 and IP65.

The Xperia XZ Premium does introduce 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass to the Premium party however, on both the front and rear of the device, offering a slightly more seamless design to its predecessor. The new model also opts for USB Type-C over Micro-USB.

The Xperia XZ Premium comes in Luminous Chrome or Deepsea Black and measures 156 x 77 x 7.9mm, with a weight of 195g. The Xperia Z5 Premium comes in Chrome, Black, Gold and Pink and is a little smaller and slimmer at 154.4 x 75.8 x 7.8mm. It is also quite a bit lighter, weighing 180g.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium preview

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Display

• Both have 5.5-inch 4K display
• XZ Premium adds HDR

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium and the Xperia Z5 Premium both have 5.5-inch displays with 3840 x 2160 resolutions, resulting in a pixel densities of 806ppi for super sharp displays.

Both include various Sony display technologies including Triluminos and X-Reality but the new model also adds something called Dynamic Contrast Enhancer and more importantly, HDR.

The inclusion of HDR should mean the XZ Premium will offer better colour vibrancy and contrast compared to the Z5 Premium, though as the resolution is the same, the crispness and sharpness of the two displays should be on par.

• What is Mobile HDR?

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Camera

• XZ Premium has new Motion Eye camera
• Higher resolution front camera on XZ Premium
• Super slow motion video recording on XZ Premium

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium features Sony’s new Motion Eye rear camera, offering a 19-megapixel sensor with 1.22µm pixels, along with a 13-megapixel front-facing camera with an aperture of f/2.0.

The rear camera is capable of 4K video recording, along with super slow motion video capture at 960fps. It also offers various technologies including Predictive Capture, Predictive Hybrid Autofocus and five-axis stabilisation.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium on the other hand, has a 23-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and phase detection autofocus, coupled with a 5.1-megapixel front facing camera with an aperture of f/2.4.

The Z5 Premium is also capable of 4K video recording and it has a number of Sony features on board again, though it misses out on the new 960fps super slow-motion video feature.

• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Hardware

• Newer, faster processor on XZ Premium
• More RAM and storage on XZ Premium
• Larger battery capacity on Z5 Premium

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, supported by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

There is microSD on board for further storage expansion and a 3230mAh battery runs the show, coupled with Sony’s Stamina Mode and Battery Care software working in the background.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor under its hood, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Again, microSD is on board, along with a slightly larger battery than the XZ Premium at 3430mAh.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Software

• Both will have Android Nougat

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium launches on Android Nougat with Sony’s software on top. The Xperia Z5 Premium launched on Android Marshmallow but it is upgradable to Android Nougat so the software should be very similar once the Z5 Premium is updated.

There will be a couple of extra features on the XZ Premium over the Z5 Premium, such as the slow motion video function, but the overall user experience between these two handsets will be familiar for Sony fans.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs Xperia Z5 Premium: Conclusion

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium features a more seamless design, along with camera enhancements, and display improvements. It also brings with it a more powerful processor, a little extra RAM and more storage.

The Xperia Z5 Premium might be smaller and lighter, while also offering a larger battery capacity, but it doesn’t have everything Sony has to offer. It is likely to drop in price when the XZ Premium hits shelves though so if you’re just interested in the 4K display rather than the latest camera and hardware, it could still be a good option for you.