IFA 2016
IFA is Europe's big annual gadget show, and it increasingly plays host for new phone announcements. We're expecting news from Sony, Samsung, Lenovo, ZTE, and more. We're in Berlin all week bringing you in-depth hands-on reports.
Hands On with the Sony Xperia XZ
Sony's newest flagship-class device is the Xperia XZ. This phone builds on the design and features we saw in the Xperia X earlier this year and makes strides with the camera and video camera tools. Here are our first impressions.
Hands On with the Sony Xperia X Compact
Sony's compact flagship manages to pack a lot of technology into its tiny frame. The most compelling feature for most potential buyers is likely to be the 23-megapixel camera. Here are Phonescoop's first impressions of the Sony Xperia X Compact.
Sony Xperia XZ Steps Up Camera Tech
Sony today showed off the Xperia XZ smartphone, a high-end follow-up to the Xperia X series devices from earlier this year. For the XZ, Sony said it concentrated on improving the camera and video camera performance, as well as further refining its design language. The XZ features what Sony calls the "loop" design, which relies on a seamless polycarbonate frame, glass display, and metal back plate. The screen measures 5.2 inches with includes 1080p full HD resolution and Gorilla Glass 4. The XZ is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor with Adreno 510 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage. The main camera has a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor with a variety of technologies added to help the phone take better pictures. It uses triple image-sensing and predictive hybrid autofocus to capture sharp images. It relies on electronic image stabilization and delivers 5x digital zoom. The video camera's SteadyShot feature measures 5-axises of movement and captures 4K video. The 13-megapixel selfie camera has an aperture of f/2.0 and a wide-angle 22mm lens. Other specs include CAT9 LTE; 2,900mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and Qnovo adaptive charging; high-resolution stereo audio capture and playback; and IP68 certification for protection against water and dust. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and will come in forest blue, black, and platinum. The Sony Xperia XZ will be sold to U.S. consumers unlocked beginning October 23. Pricing was not disclosed.
Sony's Xperia X Compact a Tiny Powerhouse
Sony today revealed the Xperia X Compact, a smaller but still powerful Android handset. The X Compact is similar to the XZ in many respects, particularly the camera and design. The X Compact uses Sony's "loop" design, which relies on a seamless polycarbonate frame, glass display, and polycarbonate rear plate. The screen measures 4.6 inches with 720p HD resolution and Sony's TriLuminos processing for clarity. The X Compact is powered by a Snapdragon 650 processor with Adreno 510 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage. The main camera has a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor with Sony's triple image-sensing, predictive hybrid autofocus, and electronic image stabilization to capture sharp images. It delivers 5x digital zoom. The video camera's SteadyShot feature measures 5-axises of movement and captures full HD video. The 5-megapixel selfie camera has an aperture of f/2.0 and a wide-angle 22mm lens. Other specs include CAT6 LTE; 2,700mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and Qnovo adaptive charging; high-resolution stereo audio capture and playback. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and will come in mist blue, black, and white. The Sony Xperia X Compact will be sold unlocked online beginning September 25. Pricing was not disclosed.
