The Sony Xperia XZ1 is in the house!
Last week, Sony announced the arrival of the Xperia XZ1 in New Zealand. This latest addition to the Xperia X series family introduces some new features including the world’s first mobile phone 3D Creation functionality, a new revamped Motion Eye camera which pays a lot of attention to details beyond the human eye capability, an HDR display and Hi-Res audio built in. It also comes housed in a design all Sony fans should now be familiar with, on its Xperia X family lineup. The Sony Xperia XZ1 smartphone is available exclusively through mobile operator 2degrees, and soon to be available at Sony’s online store too.
Thanks to Sony, we also have a Sony Xperia XZ1 smartphone in the house to play with. One of the features I am most looking forward to playing with, is the world’s first 3D Creator feature on a smartphone. 3D Creator is Sony’s unique algorithm for being able to take a scan of a 3D object in real life. This offers a world of possibilities, including the ability to take a 3D scan of a real person and then 3D printing that model.
For the first time ever in a smartphone, you can capture high quality 3D scans of objects in just one minute using the four scan modes; head scan, face scan, food scan, and freeform scan. Each mode has its own custom guides for ease of use and after finishing your object scan there are various playful options. You can upload your creations to 3D communities such as Sketchfab or make your scan come to life by creating an avatar to use in the camera’s AR effects options, third party apps or as a live wallpaper. You can even send your scan to a 3D printer to make it into a memorable keepsake. Within the 3D Creator app you can also choose the ‘Find More’ button which offers you more creative possibilities available through Google Play, so you can explore a wider and ever growing 3D ecosystem.
The Xperia XZ1 has a 19MP Motion Eye camera and a 13MP front facing camera. The camera also lets you capture video at 960 frames per second which enables you to capture ultra slow motion footage. It features a memory-stacked image sensor capable of directly capturing slow motion video at 960 frames per second in High Definition (720p) using device hardware. In a Super slow motion sequence, this camera captures 0.184 seconds at 960 fps for a playback of 5.9 seconds each time. In addition to that, the Sony Xperia XZ1 incorporates a new Predictive Capture which stays one step ahead by automatically buffering images when it detects action or even a smile, even before you press the shutter button.
The Sony Xperia XZ1 has a full HD, HDR (High Dynamic Range) 5.2″ display. This is based of its Bravia TV’s technology, which includes its Triluminos Display for mobile, X-Reality for mobile and a Dynamic Contrast Enhancer to help give the screen a brighter, crisper image.
Stereo speakers, which are in the XZ1, give a better sound for listening to music compared to just a mono speaker. Its Hi-Res audio, upscaling technology through Sony’s DSEE HX, and S-Force Front Surround sound make listening without headphones a luxury. Plus the built in Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC) technology reduces exterior noise by up to 98% when paired with DNC headphones for undisturbed listening.
Equally tough against outside elements, Xperia XZ1 is water resistant, dust-proof, and reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the display so it’s tough enough to take on your everyday. For a personalised touch, the integrated fingerprint sensor recognises you intuitively, giving you a unique and secure assurance. To enhance your lifestyle choices, Sony’s new h.ear (pronounced ‘hear’) headphones (h.ear on 2 Mini Wireless, h.ear on 2 Wireless NC and h.ear in 2 Wireless) will also be available in colours that will complement your Xperia.
To get to the grunt of things, the Xperia XZ1 is powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform with X16 LTE, designed to provide blazing fast Gigabit LTE downloads speeds (up to 1Gbps) and performance to enjoy a modern and efficient lifestyle.
The Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform is engineered to support stunning graphics, smooth performance, and enhanced battery efficiency. Perfect for smooth, responsive gameplay of your favourite PlayStation 4 games using PS4 Remote Play.
File transfers are also super-charged thanks to the USB 3.1 connection which is 10 times quicker than USB 2.0 with a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps. Keeping your XZ1 powered with all day reliable battery, offering plenty of power on a full charge. But on days when you’re using extra energy, Smart Stamina works ahead of time to keep you powered up by estimating how long your current battery will last based on how you normally use your phone. And if it thinks you’re going to run out, it will prompt you to activate Stamina mode which cuts energy consumption so your battery lasts longer. Its charging technologies, Battery Care and Qnovo Adaptive Charging, help the battery stay healthy to give you a longer battery lifespan.
The Xperia XZ1 is available exclusively through mobile operator 2degrees. The device is currently available in ‘Black’ for $999 NZD or $41 per month on the $55 Pay Month Carryover Plan.
For the full specifications of the Xperia XZ1, please visit: Sony Mobile Products