4K Xperiance on a Mobile Phone

By Justin Choo | September 25, 2015 0 Comments

Sony has introduced its next-generation Xperia phone: the Xperia Z5, in three different configurations.

The spotlight of course, falls on its flagship – the Xperia Z5 Premium, as it is the world’s first smartphone with a 4K display – it’s equipped with a sharp, vivid 5.5-inch 4K Trilumimos screen, and the phone is also able to upscale content to 4K to maximise the screen’s capabilities. Appropriately, the Xperia Z5 Premium features 32GB internal memory and the capability to take a 200GB external microSD card to hold 4K content.

But. The Z5 Premium won’t be available till November, although the Z5 and the Z5 Compact will go on sale in October. Don’t be fooled; the Z5 and Z5 Compact aren’t exactly poorer cousins. They’re essentially different-sized phones bearing the appropriate screen sizes and resolutions, but with mostly the same hardware. Not everyone would need the overkill of a 4K-capable screen, so the Z5 and Z5 Compact will have their suitors.

Sleek Design

Sony phones over the years have stuck to a recognisable design motif, and the Z5 series is the same: a svelte continuous plate form, with a metal frame and glass back (each phone in the series has a slightly different back). It’s also waterproof, which makes it perfect for everyday use.

As their names suggest, the new Z5 phones are differentiated by size. The Compact uses a 4.6-inch, 720p display, the regular Z5 uses a 5.2-inch 1080p display, while the Premium edition uses a 5.5-inch 4K display.

Their take on their fingerprint sensor is also clever: an fingerprint sensor (supports FIDO standard, pending support for online payment services) integrated into the power button means unlocking the phone is as easy as picking it up and turning it on in one movement.

Next-Gen Camera

Sony’s new phones can truly boast cameras that take one step further in rivalling compact cameras. The new 1/2.3-inch (same size as many compact cameras) Exmor RS, 23-megapixel sensor and F2.0 G Lens were designed with knowledge and tech derived from their highly-regarded Alpha line of cameras.

Sony claims a ground-breaking autofocus speed of just 0.037 seconds – faster than the blink of a human eye, which averages 0.1 – 0.4 s, which is great progress in when it comes to taking pictures of moving objects on a mobile phone. The same could be said about 23 megapixels that the new phone cameras have. Sony says that the combination of the new sensor and software allows you simulate a 5x clear image zoom with minimum loss of quality. Sony also touts advancements in low-light photography, making night shots more forgiving, while an Intelligent Active Mode for video significantly reduces the effects of jolts and judder due to movement, making it useful for night shots and action videos.

 

Feature Packed

All three phones utilise the powerful octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. They also boast long-lasting battery performance, claiming up to two days battery life on a charge, and complemented with a quick charge feature.

Sony has placed quite a bit of work on the audio capabilities of their phones. They utilise DSEE HX, which upscales the audio fidelity of your compressed music tracks to near 24-bit (which they call High-Res Audio) quality. The phones also utilise advanced LDAC codecs, which supports high quality wireless music listening on LDAC-capable headphones. Sony also built-in digital noise cancelling, which can be activated when you use a supported headset, such as the MDR-NC750. Sony’s approach means you don’t have to deal with a bulky battery and circuitry unit used on conventional noise-cancelling earphones. And for a bit of fun, you can use the Z5 as a screen so that you game on the PS4, anywhere in the house with the Dualshock 4 wireless controller.

Availability

Xperia Z5 (single SIM) will retail at S$998, while Xperia Z5 Compact (Single SIM) will retail at S$828 from October 2015 at Sony stores and centres, and you can pre-order at these places from 24 September to 11 October.

Pre-orders come with a free micro USB Charging Dock DK52 (S$58), and comes with a purchase-with-purchase promotion of the MDR-NC750 at S$49 (usual price S$149).

The Xperia Z5 Premium (single SIM) will be available in November 2015 for S$1,098.

 

All photos courtesy of Sony

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