Sony introduces new Xperia X series
Nobody expected anything major from Sony this year at MWC and most people definitely didn’t expect the company to announce a whole new upper mid-range smartphone series, though this is exactly what the company has done. The new range, known as the Xperia X line, consists of three devices: The Xperia XA, the Xperia X and the Xperia X Performance.
As is common with Sony, the line brings yet another tiny evolution over the same basic design we have become accustomed to – this time with slightly rounded corners and metal bodies, though the Xperia XA model features a plastic rear.
Design and Display
All three models come with the same overall design though some tiny details do vary. Looking at the front panel, it is essentially the same simplistic glass panel you seen on most Sony devices these days. The Xperia X and X Performance feature slim bezels on either side of the display and relatively thick bezels underneath and on top, which house two front-facing speakers and the typical front facing camera and proximity sensor. The Xperia XA, on the other hand, features extremely thin bezels on either side of the display, though it doesn’t feature the dual front-facing speakers that are seen on the other two devices. Looking at the rear, the design is identical on all three, with the only difference being the material and finish that has been applied. The Xperia XA features a rear made out of high quality polycarbonate, the Xperia X, on the other hand, features an aluminium rear which gives the device a very sophisticated look. The X Performance model also features an aluminium rear, though a hairline finish has been applied to make it look even more premium and it is also IP68 certified, meaning it can be submerged into water without the need to worry. Both the Xperia X and XA are just 7.9mm thin, while the X Performance is just 7.6mm thin. Regarding weight, the Xperia XA weighs in at 137.4g, the X weighs in at 153g and the X Performance is the heaviest at 165g. Lastly, all three devices will be made available in a range of colours, specifically White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold and Rose Gold.
Moving on to the displays, all three devices feature the same IPS LCD 5-inch display, though the Xperia X and X performance come with a higher 1080x1920p resolution, meaning a pixel density of 441ppi. The XA, on the other hand, features a 720x1080p resolution, which equates to a pixel density of 294ppi.
Processor and Storage
This is where the biggest difference lies when comparing the three. The Xperia XA is considered to be the most budget friendly of the three with its octa-core MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10 processor along with the Mali-T860MP2 GPU and 2GB of RAM.
Next up, the Xperia X, which features another octa-core processor, though this time it’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 accompanied by the Adreno 510 GPU and 3GB of RAM. Last, but definitely not least, is the X Performance which is clearly the most impressive of the three with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, the same one featured inside the LG G5 and Galaxy S7.
The processor is accompanied by the new Adreno 530 GPU and is coupled with 3GB of RAM. Regarding internal storage, the XA comes with 16GB, the X comes with 32GB and the X Performance comes in both 32 and 64GB models, though all three devices can be expanded via microSD.
Camera
This is another arear where significant differences can be noted. On the one hand, the lower-end Xperia XA comes with a still quite impressive 13MP sensor accompanied by phase detection autofocus and an LED Flash, but on the other hand, the Xperia X and X Performance come with the same 23MP sensor that is featured on the Z5 and this is also accompanied by phase detection autofocus and an LED Flash.
Regarding the selfie sensors, the Xperia XA comes with an impressive 8MP sensor capable of recording 1080p video, while the X and X Performance come with an even better 13MP sensor, which is a clear sign that Sony is taking full advantage of its experience in the image sensor business.
Additional Features and Software
All three devices come with Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and support for 4G LTE, while the X and X Performance both come with fingerprint scanners integrated into the power button. Regarding the battery, the XA comes with a small 2300mAh one, the X comes with a slightly larger 2620mAh battery and the X Performance comes with a still quite small 2700mAh. Regarding software, all three devices come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow straight out of the box along with Sony’s minimal overlay on top.
Price and Release
As far as pricing is confirmed, Sony hasn’t given any details yet, though it has stated that all three devices will launch at the beginning of summer.
If Sony prices these devices well enough, the company may well be on to a winner with this new range, especially with the Xperia X Performance which is on par with some of the latest flagships in some areas. There is a possibility though, that the X Performance was originally set to launch as the Z6, considering many of the specs it features are the same as those in the Z5, other than the processor, which is actually a significant upgrade versus the Z5.
Overall though, the range is sure to please many consumers, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: | Sony |
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Via: | GSMArena |
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Image Credits: | Sony | | PhoneArena (1) | | PhoneArena (2) |
