There’s a lot of new innovation in the Sony Xperia Z1 apart from just beefy hardware that practically every OEM is employing now. The conglomerate has made imaging the main focus of its flagship with features capable of taking on the photography-focused Galaxy devices and the Lumia 1020 PureView. This is made possible through a 20.7MP 1/2.3-type CMOS Exmor RS for mobile sensor and a suite of applications.
The sensor is accompanied by Sony’s G Lens that proffers a 27mm wide angle f2.0 aperture, and Bionz for mobile image processing engine. Like Nokia’s current flagship, the device is capable of delivering 3x magnification sans any loss in quality. The company calls it clear image zoom. Additionally, the phone will be able to capture clear and blur-free images in low-light conditions owing to the high shutter speeds. The disappointing bit here is that the Xperia Z1 doesn’t have 4K recording. Based on the official specs sheet, the handset can capture videos at up to 1080p HD only.
Sony has thrown in a bunch of camera applications on the Xperia Z1, most of which we’ve already seen and used thanks to previous leaks. Social live allows you to stream content to Facebook in real-time, while Info-eye provides information on locations and items through the camera. There’s also Timeshift burst that takes 61 images in a span of 2 seconds and AR effect which provides animations while clicking images by leveraging the SmartAR technology. Sony is also offering the QX10 and QX100 lens-style attachable cameras which provide a host of features such as optical zoom, Optical SteadyShot and various manual controls.
Price and availability:
The Sony Xperia Z1 is expected to go on sale globally this month. The device is officially priced at €649 in Germany. Clove is accepting pre-orders in the UK at £564 and the first stock is slated to arrive on September 16. The device is also expected to go official in India on the 18th of this month. In the US, it can be book via Negri Electronics for $729.50 with a release date set for the 20th. The QX10 and QX100 lens-style camera are up for pre-order as well, for $249.99 and $499.99, respectively.
Specifications:
Platform: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Display: 5-inch 1080p Triluminos panel with X-Reality for mobile
Processor: 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800
Memory: 2GB RAM; 16GB ROM
Battery: 3000mAh battery
Dimensions: 144.4mm x 73.9mm x 8.5mm
Weight: 169 grams