Sony today became the first OEM to announce smartphones running Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. The Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are successors to the Xperia XZ and X Compact from last year. Among other things, the new handsets feature a refreshed camera setup which Sony hopes will help garner consumer interest in its smartphone lineup once again.
In terms of specs, both phones are largely the same. The Xperia XZ1 features a 5.2-inch Full HD display with HDR support, while the XZ1 Compact makes do with a 4.6-inch 720p resolution display. Both handsets are powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 chip running at 2.35GHz, 4GB RAM, and sport 64 and 32GB of internal storage. They are also IP68 dust and water-resistant and are powered by a 2700mAh battery which supports QuickCharge 3.0 and Qnovo Adaptive charging. Other specs of both devices include Wi-Fi ac, LTE Cat. 16, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, NFC, Fingerprint sensor (not in the US), and DLNA.
Both handsets are powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 chip running at 2.35GHz, 4GB RAM, and sport 64 and 32GB of internal storage. They are also IP68 dust and water-resistant and are powered by a 2700mAh battery which supports QuickCharge 3.0 and Qnovo Adaptive charging. Other specs of both devices include Wi-Fi ac, LTE Cat. 16, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, NFC, Fingerprint sensor (not in the US), and DLNA.
The highlight of both handsets is the 19MP 1/2.3-inch Magic Eye camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.22um pixels. The camera features predictive hybrid AF, Steadyshot, and super slow motion video recording at 960fps — a feature which was previously seen on Sony’s Xperia XZ Premium. The Magic Eye camera on the handsets will allow users to scan their face in 3D which can then be integrated with their avatar, sent to a 3D printer, and more. At the front, the Xperia XZ1 features a 13MP shooter, while the XZ1 Compact features an 8MP super-wide-angle lens.
A key area where the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact differ from each other is in the build quality department. The Xperia XZ1 features a metallic chassis, while the XZ1 Compact makes use of fiber glass panels and plastic.
As mentioned earlier, the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact will be running on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Sony has removed all the bloatware from its skin over the last few years and now offers an almost near-stock Android experience on its devices. So, on the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, you are going to get a taste of a near-stock build of Oreo.
The Xperia XZ1 will be available for $699.99 in the United States from September 19th, while the Xperia XZ1 Compact will be available on October 4th for $599.99.
