WSJ: Apple had 92% of smartphone industry’s profits in Q1 2015
Despite the countless advantages of Android, Apple has absolute control over smartphone profits.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there are now approximately a thousand different companies producing smartphones. That number is absolutely staggering, and should without a doubt infer that there are OEMs above and beyond the scope of knowledge of just about anyone.
But Apple it seems, receives almost all of the profits from the industry according to Mike Walkley, Canaccord Genuity managing director. Specifically, in the first quarter of 2015, it earned 92% of the total operating income from the world’s leading 8 OEMs, an impressive 65% increase over the same period last year. Samsung, on the other hand, received only 15%. (Because many companies actually lose money in the smartphone business, the total share of those who profit is bigger than 100%.) In light of all those other manufactures who aren’t mentioned, Canaccord estimates that they are essentially irrelevant (from this perspective) given that they “broke even or lost money.”
Apple’s market
The report explains that Apple “sells less than 20% of smartphones, in terms of unit sales” and that “the disparity reflects its ability to command much higher prices for its phones”, something that is no longer true of Android OEMs as they face an increasingly crowded marketplace. The result is a lack of core differentiation which has forced many companies to slash prices in order to appeal to consumers. This trend is totally alien from Apple’s attention, as last year the iPhone “sold for a global average of $624, compared with $185 for smartphones running Android, according to Strategy Analytics.”
It should be note that Canaccord’s data “doesn’t include privately held companies including Xiaomi and India’s Micromax Informatics Ltd.” however, “Mr. Walkley said those companies’ profits—if any—are unlikely to alter the industry-wide profit picture.” While some might be eager to speak otherwise, given the extremely low retail prices for these OEM’s products, it is basically assumed they are selling them at-or-around production costs, and thus what little profit to be had comes from selling massive numbers of product, or even from value-added services, offers, or accessories.
Google’s gain (as OEMs feel the pain)
While this report may enrage Android fans, especially those with more antagonistic views of Apple, this is little more than a reinforcement of just how profitable Cupertino’s business model is, and exactly why companies like Samsung are so eager to try and break free of Android. Indeed there is a certain element of irony at play here: many view Google’s “open” OS as pro-choice, yet Google’s overall business strategy is largely self serving. In other words, Google makes a lot of money of Android, even if actual most phone makers don’t.
It matters very little who makes Android phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services
Google wants Android on as many devices as possible, because each one is a potential profit center for the company’s main business: advertising. To Google, it matters very little who makes their phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services. This fractured reality is exactly why the “China situation” is such a pain in Mountain View’s side, and why it’s looking more likely 2015 will see the release of a Huawei Nexus.
Indeed as Android has gradually matured, Google has sought to exercise tighter control over the OS. Likewise, the once-flourishing sales of Samsung are ultimately of little concern now that Android has achieved its absolute market share dominance. Whereas the Galaxy series was once – arguably – the sole contender against Apple’s iPhone, the tables have turned and now any random would-be OEM can make a pretty decent smartphone.
Each Android phone is a potential profit center for Google’s main business: advertising.
Notice, however, just how rare it is to find any given one (or tablet for that matter) that doesn’t run Google Play Services, something that used to happen on a somewhat frequent basis in the early days of Android and budget-friendly products. This is not to say they don’t exist, not at all, but rather there are just so many smaller-scale tablets that do support Play Services, the problem is nowhere near as pressing as it might once have been.
Profit pictures
Had HTC released the One M9+ as its flagship, perhaps the financial fall-out would have been somewhat lessened…or even staved-off entirely.
As far as key Android OEMs go and their potential for profits, the sad reality is that things don’t look good at all. Samsung had an extremely favorable reception when the Galaxy S6 was announced which prompted almost unreasonable projections of potential sales. Reports began to come in that painted a different picture, and in the more recent past it’s become quite clear that the Korean smartphone manufacturer will ultimately fail to live up to the lofty expectations many had set up. HTC is in a similar boat, largely due to its decision to release the One M9 as its flagship, despite an absolute menagerie of other prime products exclusively available in Asia. LG is also facing scrutiny given that the G4 has, by all accounts so far, failed to live up to its sales potential.
Meanwhile, over in Apple-land, rumblings of rumors couldn’t be more rosy. The WSJ points out that “events last week highlighted the lopsided financial picture [with] Apple…asking suppliers to make a record number of new iPhone models.” Given that the products expected to launch this year, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are – based on past releases – going to retain the same design but instead offer upgraded internals, it truly just shows how much power Apple has when it comes to products, purchases, and profits.
Unlike Apple, HTC or Sony can’t get away with releasing iterative products.
HTC by all accounts, did the exact same thing with its One M9 and yet has met with disastrous results. Even Sony has faced intense scrutiny for this strategy given that the Xperia Z4 is basically a retread of the Z3, a reality that has literally forced the company to re-brand it as the Z3+ outside of Japan. How the tables might have turned had HTC at least had the foresight to release the One M9+ as its flagship, or had Sony deemed it fit to launch the Verizon-exclusive Z4v on a global scale.
Forecasting the future
Even were it to feature a teleportation beam, it’s unlikely the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 would ever be able to transport Samsung back to its former finances.
It is unlikely that things will improve for legacy Android OEMs in the future. New rumors are suggesting that Samsung will launch its upcoming Galaxy Note 5 earlier than in the past, simply because it doesn’t want to compete with the iPhone’s juggernaut-strong offensive. Likewise, the company is expected to bring to market a super-sized Galaxy S6 Edge as clear competition for the new iPhone. The Note series has always been a less mainstream affair, and thus it is unlikely to move massive numbers enough to bring Samsung back to positive growth on a mass-scale, the likes of which it used to enjoy on a quarterly basis for year-upon-year in the past.
With even Android’s largest OEM facing slowing sales, the potential for smaller players is all the more marred, baring a major upturning of strategy. In their place will be dozens of companies from China, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE, who will be the ones to truly take advantage of the world’s emerging markets. These companies are not hell-bent on mass profits, nor do many of them have speculators or investors governing the decisions that go on behind the scenes the way that publicly traded companies do.
Your favorite pigeon-dating simulator hits PS4, Vita in July
Hatoful Boyfriend, the best game about a human dating birds in a creepy post-apocalyptic world, is coming to PlayStation 4 and Vita on July 21st. The PC version launched on Steam in September to critical acclaim and public bewilderment — and then some public acclaim, too. Hatoful Boyfriend literally is a video game about a human girl navigating high school life in a world run by birds, though after the dating aspect of the game fizzles out, the story gets dense and fairly dark.
Hatoful Boyfriend on PS4 and Vita includes a brand new romance option with Tohri, a character (see: bird) that appears in the coming sequel, Holiday Star. “This new content means there is a whole new story path for longtime fans and new players to the series as well as a brand new ending,” Devolver Digital’s Nigel Lowrie writes on the PlayStation Blog. “Explore questionable stalkers, bitter rivalries and even doomsday devices in this exclusive new Hatoful Boyfriend content.” Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star is also due out this year, simultaneously on PC, PS4 and Vita.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Shuhei Yoshida on China and why PlayStation can never go Home again
One does not simply get enough of Shuhei Yoshida, the head of Sony PlayStation’s Worldwide Studios. So following our nice, long chat with him at E3 (seriously, go read it), we managed to get hold of him again in Hong Kong and picked his brain with more questions about Project Morpheus. These include the VR headset’s final form (you’re looking at it), its compatibility with other devices and whether it’ll revive the now-defunct PlayStation Home. We also took the opportunity to ask about the challenges of bringing PlayStation games into China.
As to whether users can expect Project Morpheus to work with our smartphones and various video sources, Yoshida said that’s a firm “no.” Morpheus’ display has to run at a speedy 120Hz to deliver a smooth visual experience, and this means it has to be connected directly to the PS4. But of course, given that the PS4 is also a multimedia hub, you can expect to enjoy 3D movies and other types of entertainment content with the headset. “Things that come to the PS4, there’s a chance that [they] can be enjoyed on Project Morpheus,” he said. While the company plans to talk more about Project Morpheus’ non-gaming functionality and its user interface in the future, Yoshida said the focus for now is on its gaming applications.
Although Morpheus and PlayStation Home may seem like a match made in VR heaven, Yoshida indicated there’s no plan to resurrect the virtual community. Nor is any company currently developing a similar service for the headset. Should something pop up later in this category, however, Yoshida believes it’d mesh very well with Project Morpheus.
Since Yoshida was in Hong Kong to meet both the local media and those from mainland China, I asked him about what it takes to bring PlayStation games into the Middle Kingdom where censorship is the norm. The exec wasn’t afraid to admit that “it’s a big challenge,” partly because it takes a long time to get games approved. But his team is trying to work very closely with the authorities to better understand their requirements. “It’s a learning experience as of now,” he said.
So far, the general rule is to keep the games family friendly, which is why the likes of LittleBigPlanet 3, Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD, Driveclub, Knack, Rayman Legends, Dynasty Warriors 8 and more have made the short list of 12 games. It’s been an even bigger struggle for the PS Vita, which only has eight approved games right now, of which Farming Simulator 14 is one. But as we all know, there’s no stopping Chinese gamers from obtaining their favorite titles through other means.
Who’s who in the smartphone camera business
Camera technology has always been an important feature in smartphones but this generation of flagships have been putting particular emphasis on the quality of their camera modules. So it seems worthwhile to dive on into the world of camera sensors and take a look at who is building the best and most popular products.
Sony
We’ll start with one of the biggest and that is Sony. The company has a long legacy in the image sensor market and has been at the forefront of mobile camera technology for a number of years. The company accounted for roughly 40 percent of all smartphone image sensors in 2014.
Sony’s image sensors have found their way into numerous smartphones and tablets, even if the company doesn’t provide the whole module. If you’re curious, the difference is that image sensors are responsible for converting the light into digital information, which determines the number of megapixels, pixel size and density, recording frame rates, etc. The broader camera module determines focus, aperture and other attributes.
Sony’s Exmor image sensors are behind a number of high-end smartphone cameras.
Sony’s high-end image sensors fall under the Exmor RS brand name. Its latest model is the Back Side Illuminated (BSI) 21 megapixel IMX230, which has started to find its way into the latest smartphones. It’s IMX240 powers the Galaxy Note 4 and some S6 models, while the IMX234 forms the basis of the LG G4’s camera.
The company isn’t just catering to the very high-end market, Sony’s 8MP and 13MP mid-range sensors have been in high demand from Chinese smartphone manufacturers looking to decent cameras at a reasonable cost. The 13 megapixel IMX214 has proven particularly popular with manufacturers like Huawei and Oppo over the past twelve months.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Handsets examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMX 135 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | LG G3, Note 3, Moto X |
| IMX 214 | 13 MP (4224 x 3176) | 1/3.06″ | 1.12 um | Find 7, Honor 6, OnePlus One |
| IMX 220 | 20.7 MP (5344 х 4016) | 1/2.3″ | 1.2 um | Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Meizu MX4 |
| IMX 234 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.12 um | LG G4, ZTE Nubia Z9 |
| IMX 240 | 16 MP (5312 x 2988) | 1/2.6″ | 1.2 um | Galaxy S6, Note 4 |
As well as basic sensor hardware, Sony has also developed Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology, in-sensor HDR, and high speed shooting modes for its sensors, which is helping to keep the company at the forefront of the market.
So important is its image sensor business that Sony is willing to invest billions into additional production capacity by issuing new shares for the first time since 1989, just in order to keep up with demand.
OmniVision
OmniVision is another big name in the smartphone image sensor business, but you’re more likely to find its products in the low and mid-tier markets, rather than high-end smartphones.
The company’s typical sensor selling price is just $1.79, compared with upwards of $7 from Sony. As a result, OmniVision is expected to capitalize on the new demand for lower cost CMOS sensors from the growing Chinese and Indian smartphone markets.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV5640 | 5 MP | 1/4″ | 1.4 um | 15 fps |
| OV8825 | 8 MP | 1/3.2″ | 1.4 um | 24 fps |
| OV13860 | 13 MP | 1/2.6″ | 1.3 um | 30 fps |
| OV16825 | 16 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.34 um | 30 fps |
| OV23850 | 23.8 MP | 1/2.3″ | 1.12 um | 24 fps |
That said, the company’s hardware has occasionally cropped up in high-end devices, including the last generation HTC One M8. The company also used to supply image sensors to Apple before Sony took the contract.
Not too long ago OmniVision announced its 23.8 megapixel OV23850 image sensor for smartphones, which comes with PDAF, video binning, and 4K video recording.
In a separate bid to cater to the high end market, OmniVision has been pushing its 13MP PureCel design. This is a slightly larger image sensor with bigger 1.3um pixels to capture more light for better looking images. You’ll probably recognise this idea from HTC’s Ultrapixel idea, which OmniVision was involved with.
Toshiba
Toshiba is another large company with a strong legacy in the mobile camera business. The company’s sensor may not be appearing many high-end smartphones these days, but it was behind the impressive 41 megapixel sensor that powered the Nokia 808 PureView’s camera.
The company has most recently been working on further reducing the size and power consumption of its smartphone image sensors. The company also launched a 240fps slow motion capable T4K82 sensor back in March of this year.
Typically, Toshiba produces 13 and 8 megapixel sensors for smartphones and also has a 20 megapixel sensor for the high-end market. The Toshiba’s BSI T4KA7 is apparently powering the HTC One M9’s rear camera. Like Sony, Toshiba has integrated PDAF into its sensors and has its own 3D depth mapping technology and bright mode technology for improving the visibility of slow motion videos.
Toshiba camera modules developed for Project Ara
At last check in, Toshiba was looking to focus on providing sensors to Chinese smartphone manufacturers and had turned to automotive and medical markets for further growth. Although it did show off some neat modular prototypes for Project Ara as well.
SK Hynix
SK Hynix, a South Korean semiconductor supplier, is also a key player in the low cost smartphone camera market. Much like its competitors, the company produces a range of sensors and its 8 and 13 megapixel option are moving popular in mainstream handsets and it is focusing its operations in the growing Chinese market. SK Hynix had also previously provided low end cameras for Samsung’s budget smartphones.
Last year the company announced that it had a high-end 21 megapixel sensor in development. SK Hynix isn’t really doing much that hasn’t already been done by the competition, instead it appeals to manufacturers based on its low price point.
Samsung
Samsung has tried its hand at producing many key smartphone technologies itself and is also in the image sensor game. Although not as large of an operation as Sony, Samsung has been attempting to grow its image sensor and camera module businesses.
Besides hardware, Samsung has been working on software features, like picture re-focusing using depth information.
Samsung has quite a large catalog of sensors, including Front Side (FSI) and Back Side Illuminated (BSI) sensors. Its high-end technology uses the company’s own ISOCELL pixel type, which aims to reduce noise compared with its traditional BSI sensors by reducing interference between different color pixels.
| Sensor | Resolution | Sensor Size | Pixel Size | Pixel Type | Full Video Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5K3H5 | 8 MP | 1/3.2 | 1.4 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K4H5YB | 8 MP | 1/4 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K3L2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | BSI | 30 fps |
| S5K3M2 | 13 MP | 1/3.06 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
| S5K2P8 | 16 MP | 1/2.6 | 1.12 um | ISOCELL | 30 fps |
Although we may typically associate Samsung with high-end products, the company’s average sensor selling price is only $1.93. You can find a range of products from small 1.3MP sensors for the low end market, up to 16MP sensors found in the flagship Galaxy S6. Samsung also develops complete modules for its sensors.
Most recently, Samsung’s own image sensors have found their way into the Galaxy S5 and S6 smartphones. However, due to its limited production capabilities, Samsung has to mix its own and Sony image sensors in the Galaxy S6. Closer inspection revealed some noticeable differences between the two, but without a side by side comparison you would probably struggle to notice any major differences in quality, suggesting that Samsung is managing to keep up with Sony.
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LG
Much like Samsung, LG is both a component and product manufacturer and is making strides with its camera components. LG Innotek is the division of the company that focuses on components and designed the impressive camera inside the company’s latest G4 flagship.
However, unlike Samsung, LG doesn’t make its own image sensor components, but designs the wider camera module instead. LG’s high-end smartphone cameras have all been based on Sony Exmor image sensors. LG has most recently pushed the boat with its f/1.8 aperture camera in its LG G4, which will let in around 80 percent more light than the G3’s f/2.2 module. This is the wider aperture that we’ve seen yet in a smartphone.
LG’s G4 took a Sony IMX234 sensor and paired it with its own lens, laster auto focus and color compensating technologies to produce one of the best smartphone cameras around.
Not only that, but LG’s research teams are also developing complimentary hardware components for its camera modules. Back with the LG G3 the company announced its laser autofocus system and the LG G4 comes with an infra-red colour correction circuit to better compensate for environmental lighting.
As the company doesn’t have to worry about sensor development, it has more time to work on refining the other module components, which has resulting in some rather interesting and practical camera designs.
HTC
Much like LG, HTC is not in the image sensor business, instead it has had a few attempts at designing its own camera modules.
HTC’s Ultrapixel idea didn’t end up working out to well, so the company ended up moving it to the front camera.
The company coined the phrase “Ultrapixel” for its larger 2.0um pixel smartphone cameras but these actually made use of ST Microelectronics and OmniVision constructed sensors, specifically the VD68969 and OV4688. The company has also experimented with dual-sensor set-ups with the One M8, making use of a 2.1-megapixel OmniVision OV2722 sensor to collect additional depth information.
Despite the novel ideas, the company’s camera technology does not appear to have kept up with the competition lately; the handset scored poorly in our blind test shoot-out.
What to expect next
There are a number of other manufacturers in the mobile image business which produce either their own lens modules or sensors, for example even OnePlus developed its own lens for its smartphone. Hopefully though, I have covered enough of them to give you an idea of what the market is like.
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market
Samsung and Sony are likely quite safe at the top of the sensor market, but smartphone CMOS sensor demand is inherently tied to the smartphone market. Huge growth in low margin handsets is driving demand for competitively priced image sensors with moderate specifications and this is opening the door for OmniVision, Toshiba and others to collect new business and expand their market share in Asia.
At the high-end, we’re quite likely to see OEM companies continue to differentiate their products by tweaking the broader camera modules to bring out subtle improvements in quality. Ideas like dual-image sensors, wider apertures and laser auto focus will probably keep cropping up from time to time, but final image quality is inevitably tied to the limited space for sensors within smartphones.
We have the Sony Xperia Z3+: ask us anything!
It’s no secret that Sony has been having a tough time with mobile, which has lead to plenty of rumors about if or when Sony might jump ship from making smartphones and tablets altogether. Sony has vehemently denied this on more than one occasion, and recently even unveiled the Sony Xperia Z4 for the Japanese market. This handset later became known as the Z3+ in international markets.
The Xperia Z3+ shares a lot in common with the original Xperia Z3, though it does offer an upgraded Snapdragon 810 processor and a few other enhancements that help bring it a little more on par with other 2015 flagship devices.
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If you’re curious as to how the Xperia Z3+ performs and whether it is a worthwhile upgrade, you’ll want to stay tuned to our upcoming full review from Ash Tailor. In the meantime, we wanted to take the time to find out what kind of questions you might have about the device. The best place to post your questions is in the Sony Xperia Z3+ official forum page, where Ash and other members of the team will checking in from time to time. You can also pose your questions here and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Sony devices will malfunction if users enable My Xperia app
We continue to fight the war against phone theft with kill switches, but companies like Sony have been providing theft protection for years. Sony’s My Xperia app can locate, lock, factory reset or even send a sound alert to your phone. That’s not all it does, though – if you have an unlocked bootloader, it may go as far as making your device malfunction.
Those with the My Xperia Theft Protection service on their more recent high-end Sony Xperia smartphones may have noticed that using this service will get rid of the ability to unlock your bootloader. This makes sense, as tinkering with your smartphone can remove certain DRM security keys that are necessary for certain functions to operate. For example, this action can affect camera quality and other features.
The bad news is not exactly that one can’t unlock the bootloader after this app has been in use. It’s what happens if you activate My Xperia Theft Protection after the bootloader has been unlocked that has us worrying. Here’s Sony’s disclaimer:
“After unlocking your device, you should not enable My Xperia (found in the settings menu under security on some devices running Android 5.0) as this might cause the device to malfunction.”
Not a fun scenario, so please make sure you don’t go near this app if you ever want to unlock your bootloader, or if you already have. It’s uncertain what kind of “malfunctioning” Sony is referring to in this statement. It could be something minor… or it could brick your smartphone, turning it into the fanciest paperweight you have ever owned.
Have any of you encountered any issues with the My Xperia Theft Protection service on devices with unlocked bootloaders? Please sound off in the comments and share your experiences. We sure wouldn’t want unfortunate events happening to more people.
Related Sony videos
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Sony’s Folding@Home Android app now fights cancer while you sleep
Want to help cure Alzheimer’s or breast cancer? From now on, you don’t have to do much more than charge your phone. Sony has released a big upgrade to its Folding@Home app for Android that can use your phone’s processor for medical research on a continuous basis — so long as you’re on WiFi and charging, you can doze off knowing that you’re contributing to a good cause. It also ties into your Google account to both accumulate time on multiple devices as well as earn game-like achievements. The refresh is available now, so give it a shot if you’d like your phone to do more in its idle time than fetch your email.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Via: Android Community
Source: Sony, Google Play
Sony may launch the Xperia Z4v on Thursday, August 13
A leaked advertisement appeared online earlier today to impart that Sony may launch the Verizon-branded variant of its flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z4, in the United States on Thursday, August 13.
The Xperia Z4v’s design is identical to the original handset, but does differ with regards to some specifications. It now has a Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage on board, which can be expanded via a microSD card.
All other internals are set to remain the same, meaning that the device will continue to sport a 20.7-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5.1-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,000mAh battery and IP68 dust and waterproofing.
Unfortunately, we have no information on pricing or availability just yet, but it shouldn’t be too much longer before more details are disclosed — so be sure to check back.
Source: XperiaBlog
Come comment on this article: Sony may launch the Xperia Z4v on Thursday, August 13
Sony launches Live Screen Streaming app for Xperia smartphones and tablets
Sony has just launched a brand new application called “Live Screen Streaming”on the Play Store, that’s exclusively available to all Xperia smartphone and tablet owners. The app does exactly what it says on the tin; it allows users to stream their screen in real-time.
Live Screen Streaming is predominantly aimed at the mobile gaming market and enables its users to broadcast their gaming sessions directly to YouTube or Twitch. Users also have the ability to save any gameplay footage to their device for uploading at a future date.
Check it out in the screenshots below:
If this sounds like an app you’d like to get your hands on and you own an Xperia smartphone or tablet, simply hit the Play Store link below to start downloading it. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code to instantly initiate the installation process.
Come comment on this article: Sony launches Live Screen Streaming app for Xperia smartphones and tablets
Verizon will release the Sony Xperia Z4v on August 13th
If you’re going to be late to the party, it’s best to make a grand entrance. Such is true in life, and indeed for smartphones as well. Sony’s latest flagship, the Xperia Z4/Z3+ has already seen release across the globe, with the solid exception being North America. Now granted the device can be had from some established marketplaces, but those looking for an on-contract deal have nowhere to turn. Thankfully, Sony itself has confirmed that Verizon Wireless is set to release the Sony Xperia Z4v in a little over a month. August 13th to be precise.
While the Xperia Z4/Z3+ has received more than its fair share of publicity (most of it not good), the Verizon-variant is quite possibly the feature flagship that Sony could have and should have released around the world. Included is the first – and so-far only – QHD (2560X1440) display on an Xperia smartphone at 5.2 inches, a slightly larger battery than the standard Z4/Z3+ at 3,000mAh, and dual-mode Qi and PMA wireless charging, also absent from the standard model. Aside from those three unique points, the Z4v also includes a Snapdragon 810 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board memory, a 20.7 megapixel rear/5 megapixel front camera, IP65 and IP68 ratings for water and dust protection, and microSD card support.
Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful: the Verizon Xperia Z4v has a gorgeous QHD display to offer its potential purchasers. Sony fans around the world may look on it with immense envy.
Pricing on the device is still up-in-the-air, but Verizon will likely supply the cash-factor details as we get closer to the launch, as well as the possibility of any tie-in promotions or such that could theoretically be offered.
Given that Sony Mobile’s CEO has recently informed the world that his company has no plans to disappear, the Xperia Z4v looks like an even stronger offering. The question is, however, just how many takers it will get being carrier exclusive. At the very least Sony should have offered a device with similar specs for the global market, though perhaps that’s the plan for the Z5. Any Verizon customers planning to pick this up? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
AIVAnet 