When Sony’s new flagship phone, the Xperia Z1, was nothing more than a rumor, people said there would also be a smaller version of it with the exact same internals. Today, that rumor has become fact with the introduction of the Z1F by the Japanese operator NTT DOCOMO. Like the Z1, the Z1F has 2 GB of RAM, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, and it has a 20.7 megapixel camera. What’s changed is the screen. Goodbye 5.0 inch 1080p panel, hello 4.3 inch 720p panel.
Will this phone be sold outside of Japan? Something tells me the answer to that question will be a resounding yes. I don’t have any inside sources or anything, it’s just a gut feeling. There’s no word on pricing, sadly, but again, those specs in that kind of chassis will come at a price. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Apple’s flagship iPhone 5s, with an even smaller 4.0 inch screen, sells for $700 unlocked and unsubsidized.
Why aren’t we seeing other companies try to make tiny flagship phones? Tough to say. Size does matter, and marketing has taught people to expect that a bigger phone is automatically better than a smaller phone. Unlearning that association is going to be difficult, and it might even prove to be impossible.
