Sony is bringing technology from its popular Bravia OLED television range to the small screen for the first time with the launch of its new Xperia smartphone.
The Xperia XZ3 boasts a six-inch display the Japanese technology firm says can display ‘more vibrant colours’ and higher quality images by leveraging the award-winning OLED technology found in the high-end Bravia TV line.
The new handset is able to upscale content on the screen to high dynamic range (HDR), which can improve resolution as well as the range of colours seen on-screen.
Sony unveiled the new smartphone during its annual press conference at the IFA technology tradeshow in Berlin, which runs from August 31 to September 5.
The Xperia XZ3 will go on sale October 5 for £699 ($900), with pre-orders for the next-generation handset available from tomorrow, August 31.
Pictured is the Sony Xperia XZ3 — the latest flagship smartphone from the Japanese company. The handset uses AI to automatically launch the camera when it detects that it has been raised horizontally – as if to take a picture
Equipped with a six inch OLED screen with Quad HD resolution, the Xperia XZ3 will upscale content displayed on the screen to high dynamic range (HDR), which can improve resolution as well as the range of colours seen on-screen.
The XZ3 also uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, known as Side Sense, that lets users double-tap the side of the phone to call-up their most commonly used apps.
In addition, it includes Smart Launch, which automatically unlocks the phone and launches the camera when it detects it is raised horizontally – as if to take a picture.
‘Our new XZ3 flagship smartphone is not just beautiful to look at, but it’s packed with Sony’s cutting-edge audio and visual technologies,’ said Hideyuki Furumi, executive deputy president and head of sales marketing at Sony Mobile.
‘This lets you enjoy high quality content just as the creators intended, for a truly immersive entertainment experience in the palm of your hand.’
Powering the new handset is a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU and features 4GB of RAM. Out of the box, the phone will run Android 9.0 Pie – the latest version of the Google-designed mobile operating system
Sony says the Xperia XZ3 can display ‘more vibrant colours’ and higher quality images by leveraging the award-winning OLED technology found in the high-end Bravia TV line
Alongside the new phone, Sony also unveiled a range of new audio products, including a new flagship version of its 1000X wireless, noise-cancelling headphones (pictured)
Xperia XZ3 includes a 19MP Motion Eye rear-facing camera, which is capable of shooting 4K Ultra HD HDR videos and 960fps slow motion video.
On the front, there’s a 13MP shooter for selfies.
The new Xperia XZ3 has a bigger battery than its predecessor – 3,330mAh, compared to 3,180mAh on the Sony Xperia XZ2.
Powering the new handset is a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU and features 4GB of RAM.
Out of the box, the phone will run Android 9.0 Pie – the latest version of the Google-designed mobile operating system.
The handset will be available in four colours: Black, White Silver, Forest Green and Bordeaux Red.
Sony’s new flagship handset will be available in four colours – Black, White Silver, Forest Green and Bordeaux Red
According to Sony, the Bravia television technology in its new smartphone allows users to ‘enjoy high quality content just as the creators intended’
Alongside the new phone, Sony also unveiled a range of new audio products, including a new flagship version of its 1000X wireless, noise-cancelling headphones, and a new portable speaker.
Sony’s new fashion watch, the FES Watch U, which uses e-ink technology similar to that found in e-readers was also on show and will go on sale in the UK later this year.
The company also used the IFA tradeshow to showcase its artificially intelligent robot dog Aibo, announced earlier this year, in Europe for the first time.
The Sony FES Watch U, which uses e-ink technology similar to that found in Kindle e-readers, will go on sale in the UK later this year, Sony has confirmed