Sony Xperia Z2 with 5.2-inch display, 4K ultra-HD recording launched

Sony Xperia Z2 with 5.2-inch display, 4K ultra-HD recording launched
Advertisement
Sony Corp. is borrowing innovations from its audio and camcorder businesses and incorporating its new Xperia Z2 smartphone with noise-canceling technology and ultra-high-definition video recording.

Noise cancellation works with an in-ear headset sold separately, while the Z2's built-in camera can capture video in so-called 4K resolution, an emerging standard that offers four times the details as current high-definition video.

"With Xperia Z2 we have taken our premium Z series to the next level, delivering unique experiences that only Sony can offer," Kunimasa Suzuki, Sony Mobile's president and CEO, said in a statement.

Monday's announcement at the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, comes just weeks after Sony said it was selling its Vaio personal computer operations and making its Bravia TV business a subsidiary company. Sony also plans to cut its global workforce by about 3 percent, or 5,000 people, by the end of March 2015.

Sony, once an electronics powerhouse when its Walkman music players defined what portable gadgets should be, has had difficulty keeping up with Samsung and other rivals in various consumer electronics.

Phones are no different. Despite favorable reviews, Sony phones haven't had much traction in an industry dominated by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

With the Z2, Sony is trying to innovate on hardware, while many of the groundbreaking features in rival devices have been in their software.

The Z2 sports the same 20.7 megapixel camera found in its predecessors, the Z1 and the Z1s. Most other smartphone cameras have 8 to 13 megapixels. The Z2 is waterproof, like the Z1 phones, and its screen is slightly larger, at 5.2 inches diagonally instead of 5 inches.

Sony also announced a high-end tablet and a separate, mid-range smartphone.

The tablet is also called the Xperia Z2 and features a 10.1-inch screen, larger than most full-size tablets. It is also waterproof. The Wi-Fi-only model weights 426 grams (0.94 pound), which is lighter than Apple's lightweight iPad Air, despite the Z2's larger size.

Sony's Xperia M2, meanwhile, is meant as a cheaper alternative to the Z2. Its camera isn't as powerful, at only 8 megapixels, and the screen is only 4.8 inches.

Sony is making a version of the M2 with two SIM card slots, something in demand in emerging markets, where plans vary so much that people often have service with multiple carriers and use what's most economical for the circumstance.

Both Z2 devices will be available in March, while the M2 is slated for April. Sony did not immediately announce prices or specific U.S. plans. Sony sometimes makes phones available in the U.S. later than elsewhere around the world.

Sony also took the wraps off its latest premium tablet, dubbed Xperia Z2 Tablet and mid-range Xperia M2 smartphone, at MWC 2014 in Barcelona.


MWC 2014 in pictures
  • REVIEW
  • KEY SPECS
  • NEWS
  • Design
  • Display
  • Software
  • Performance
  • Battery Life
  • Camera
  • Value for Money
  • Good
  • Brilliant full-HD screen
  • Great performance and value
  • Excellent camera
  • Good construction quality
  • Bad
  • Tons of bloatware and Sony cross-promotions
  • Slightly unwieldy and difficult to hold
Display 5.20-inch
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB)
Front Camera 2.2-megapixel
Rear Camera 20.7-megapixel
RAM 3GB
Storage 16GB
Battery Capacity 3200mAh
OS Android 4.4
Resolution 1080x1920 pixels
Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Nokia X Android phone launch: Live video from MWC 2014 Barcelona
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet with Android 4.4, Snapdragon 801 launched at MWC 2014
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News
 
 

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »