Sony just concluded its first-ever online-only phone reveal in lieu of the canceled MWC 2020 in Barcelona. It was a no nonsense, straight to the point reveal. Three devices were revealed by Mitsuya Kishida, President of Sony Mobile Communications, Inc.
The first was the Sony Xperia 1 II (or as Kishida-san refer it to as Xperia 1 Mark II) and the second device was an under development device, simply called Xperia Pro. The final device is a mid-ranger, the Xperia 10 Mark II (or just Xperia 10 II).
In this online reveal, Sony also announced its collaboration with optic company Zeiss to bring Zeiss technology to smartphone. Below are the key highlights of the Sony Xperia 1 II, straight from the horse’s mouth:
• Triple lens camera incorporating industry leading Sony Alpha technology, ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for Xperia with 3D iToF.
• Industry-leading autofocus camera technology offers up to 20 fps burst shooting with 60 times per second AF/AE calculations and Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals
• Cinematography Pro “powered by CineAlta” can record in multiple frame rates and offer more manual controls such as touch auto focus and custom white balance to enhance your cinematographic shooting experiences
• 21:9 CinemaWide 6.5” 4K HDR OLED display delivers unprecedented color accuracy with Creator mode “powered by CineAlta”.
• Watch a movie with Dolby Atmos sound, tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, for a multi-dimensional surround sound experience
• Audio quality as artists intended with sound tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment, front stereo speakers, and new 360 Reality Audio[iv] with unique hardware decoding to optimize sound quality
• Next Generation 5G connectivity and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform, with high capacity 4000mAh battery with wireless charging for optimal speed and performance
The triple camera setup packs 3x 12 MP sensor with 16/70/24 mm focal length, plus there is a 3D iToF sensor, supports Cinematic 21:9 4K GDR recording at up to 60 fps, Touch AF and Metered Manual controls for setting exposure.
The new Xperia is also the world’s first smartphone to rock 360 reality audio hard decoding (that means it will work with any headphone).
Other notables include Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF (so, yes, it is a 5G handset), 8 GB RAM, 256 GB UFS storage, microSDXC support (up to 1TB), dual true stereo front-facing speakers, 3.5 mm headphone jack, supports gaming with PS4 DualShock 4 controller, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on both sides, and an IP65/68 rated construction to keep dust and water out.
Speaking of lack of the details, the Sony Xperia Pro with 5G mmWAVE has even lesser details. Not even press release at the time of this post.
What we know so far is, it is a Xperia designed for professional users, namely broadcast people and the likes. From the presentation, we know it has a sweet matted black back and the same 21:9 aspect ratio.
A few features highlighted were 360-degree antenna coverage through a 4-way antennae arrangement and a micro HDMI interface for hooking up to your pro imaging equipment. But that’s about it cos’ it is still under development.
Finally, there’s the mid-ranger, the Sony Xperia 10 II or Xperia 10 Mark II. Here are the Xperia 10 II highlights straight from the source:
• 21:9 Wide 6.0” OLED display with Video image optimization for immersive entertainment on the go
• New triple lens camera brings new creative possibilities with improved color handling and new Night mode
• Improved sleek and lightweight 151g design featuring IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 to guard against the elements
The three-camera setup comprises of a 12 MP, and two 8 MP lens sensors with the same focal length combination as the Xperia 1, namely ultra wide-angle (16 mm), wide-angle (26 mm) and telephoto (52 mm).
Other notables include Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, microSDXC support (up to 1TB), side sense for access apps with a simple touch of your thumb, a new multi-window switch for switching between last used and recommended apps, and a 3,600 mAh battery with “Battery Care” that cleverly charges to 100 percent just before your wake-up time.
This varying charging ensures the battery is never overworked. The Sony Xperia 1 II will be available in Europe from late Spring 2020, while the Sony Xperia 10 II will be available in select markets starting Spring 2020.
All images courtesy of Sony Europe.
