Sony launches smartphones, audio-visual solutions

 Four new X-Series smartphones announced

 Xperia Touch, the Android projector with multi-touch, rolls out to selected markets 

 First showcase of Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT”

Sony Mobile Communications (Sony Mobile) has unveiled new consumer experiences focused on innovation.

"Xperia Touch is a revolutionary interface," said Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO, Sony Mobile Communications. “A year on from unveiling our new brand direction and vision for the future of communications, not only are we announcing Xperia XZ Premium, equipped with the most advanced technologies to enhance the essential features on smartphones, we’re creating whole new interactive communication experiences with our Xperia Smart Products.”

The company has added the XperiaXZ Premium and Xperia XZs smartphones to its premium range, while the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra are the brand’s super mid-range models. All four new X-Series smartphones will be available in Singapore.

Hideyuki Furumi, EVP, Global Sales & Marketing, Sony Mobile Communications said: “We’ve continued to evolve and transform our smartphone portfolio, with an unwavering focus on delivering the most advanced technology in elegantly designed products. Whether it’s a memory-stacked camera system capable of super slow motion capture or the world’s first 4K HDR smartphone display, we’re delivering experiences that connect with users in emotional and meaningful ways like never before.”

Source: Sony Mobile. The Xperia XZ Premium.

Xperia XZ Premium showcases Sony’s new Motion Eye camera system to enable advanced features and excellence in picture quality, as well as the world’s first 4K HDR display¹ (5.5”). Motion Eye camera provides 960 frames-per-second (fps) super slow motion video capture and playback, four times slower than any other smartphone². Xperia XZ Premium is available globally in Luminous Chrome and Deepsea Black from late spring 2017 (editor's note: roughly Q1 to Q2).

The flagship variant Xperia XZs brings the same re-engineered Motion Eye camera to selected markets in a 5.2” form factor and is available from April 2017 in Ice Blue, Warm Silver and Black.

Xperia XA1 and the 6” large screen XA1 Ultra feature a borderless design with edge-to-edge screens. Both will surpass camera expectations with high-end rear camera specs including 23MP sensors and low-light capabilities, whilst XA1 Ultra has been designed for selfie lovers with a 16MP front camera. Both smartphones will roll out from spring 2017³ with Android Nougat at launch in a choice of contemporary finishes; White, Black, Pink⁴ and Gold.

Built with Sony’s SXRD projection display technology, Xperia Touch is an interactive projector that turns any flat surface into a 23” HD touchscreen, with either horizontal or vertical ultrashort-throw projection. This allows people to gather around a table or flat wall to play games, watch video, or communicate on social networks. The fast interface responds to touch made possible through a combination of infrared light and real-time detection via its built-in camera, at a rate of 60 fps. 

The Xperia Touch is compatible with the PlayStation 4 Remote Play⁵, as well as any app or game downloaded from the Google Play Store⁶. The home screen skin even provides real-time weather information, a memo board for doodles or video notes, calendar access and a Skype portal for videoconferencing. It rolls out initially in Europe from spring 2017, with a suggested retail price of €1,499⁷.

The Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” is based on 'open-ear' audio technology developed within Sony's Future Lab Program, an incubator that enables consumers to trial and shape prototypes from Sony’s R&D division. The product utilises Sony's acoustics research and expertise to deliver wireless 'openear' stereo headphones, so wearers can listen to music and receive notifications, whilst simultaneously hearing sounds from the world around them.

Source: Sony Mobile. The Xperia Ear "Open-
Style CONCEPT".

Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” has two spatial acoustic conductors and driver units working together to transmit sounds directly to the ear canal. And just as with Xperia Ear, Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” will be powered by Sony Agent Technology - a personal assistant that uses conversational voice interaction and head gestures to help users get things done.

Sony Mobile will continue to develop new features to further increase the in-ear assistant capability. An example of this is Anytime Talk, a new voice chat service that will allow users to start a group conversation in real-time without searching through contacts or needing to dial - just press a button or make a single head movement. The beta version will roll out for the first-generation Xperia Ear over the coming months.

Hashtags: #MWC2017, #MWC17

1 Xperia XZ Premium features a 4K UHD (2,160 x 3,840 pixels) High Dynamic Range (HDR) 5.5" display. Verified by Strategy Analytics' SpecTRAX Service  against the published display specifications for over 9,800 smartphones. Correct as of 16 December 2016. 

2 Xperia XZ Premium and XZs features a memory stacked image sensor capable of slow motion video at 960 fps in HD  (720p) using device hardware. Verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service against the published camera sensor specifications for over 9,800 smartphones. Correct as of 16 December 2016  

3 Availability varies by market, please check with local operators or retailers 

4 Colour variants vary by market, please check with local operators or retailers 

5 Single player only - no local multiplayer support 

6 Application and game performance may vary and/or have limited functionality if leveraging gyroscopic sensing and/or movement, designed for portable devices

7 Pricing and availability may vary by market