Buzz
After years of anticipation, Sony has finally embraced a design transformation with the official launch of the Sony Xperia XZ2 at the MWC 2018 event. This new design, named 'Ambient Flow' by Sony, aims to strike the perfect balance for the overall aesthetics of the phone, creating harmony between the external and internal designs.
New design following the trend of slim bezels, Sony's first 18:9 aspect ratio display
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2 features a gracefully curved 2.5D design, curved on both edges, with the back seamlessly blending into the glass for a more ergonomic feel. The fingerprint sensor is now relocated to the back. Both XZ2 and XZ2 Compact boast Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, metal frames, slim bottom bezels, and meet IP65/68 dust and water resistance standards. The back of the XZ2 is also crafted from tough Gorilla Glass 5, offering intriguing reflective colors, yet smooth to the touch with a tendency to attract fingerprints.
Sony XZ2 and XZ2 Compact
According to Sony, these are the most durable Xperia devices, featuring a robust metal frame resistant to bending, torsion, and IP65/68 water and dust resistance similar to OPPO phones.
For its younger sibling, the XZ2 Compact, its back is crafted from plastic but designed by Sony to mimic glass, creating a premium feel. Both XZ2 and XZ2 Compact support stereo speakers and S-Force Surround technology for simulated surround sound.
The Evolution of Sony Xperia Design
A noteworthy change on this iteration, the Xperia XZ2, is the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of the USB-C port.
Full HD display on XZ2 and HD on XZ2 Compact: Enhanced by Advanced X-Reality for seamless HDR content conversion
Another feature I appreciate on the Xperia XZ2 is Sony's responsiveness to user feedback by ditching the traditional 16:9 display. The Xperia XZ2 boasts a 5.7-inch 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Full-HD+ resolution, and BT.2020 standard.
XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are backed by Advanced X-Reality, facilitating the conversion of SDR content to HDR
With both XZ2 and XZ2 Compact supported by Advanced X-Reality for seamless conversion of SDR to HDR content, you no longer need to worry about the absence of HDR content as before.
Significant camera upgrade, 4K HDR video recording using BT.2020 color standard in HEVC 10-bit format, 960fps video capture
Sony maintains the use of a 19 MP sensor from its predecessor but has upgraded the internal RAM buffer, allowing the sensor to store more temporary information, enhancing photo and video capture. Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact can now record 960 frames per second in FullHD resolution, significantly higher than the previous 720p. You have the flexibility to choose between these two resolutions, but it's important to note that when recording in FullHD, the 960fps recording time is halved.
The most distinctive and lucrative feature of the Xperia XZ2 is the ability to shoot 4K HDR videos, utilizing the BT.2020 color standard in HEVC 10-bit format, perfect for playback on Sony's latest HDR TVs.
HDR video recording in HEVC format
When shooting 4K HDR videos, XZ2 and XZ2 Compact capture 10-bit images, reducing color banding, providing a wider color space, and higher dynamic contrast. This time, Sony also stores videos in HEVC format for smaller file sizes.
The Slow-motion mode on XZ2 has seen a resolution boost with the capability to record 960 fps in full-HD. However, since the RAM buffer for image processing on the XZ2's chip remains unchanged, you can only capture slow-motion movements in full-HD resolution for half the time compared to 720p resolution.
Concerning the front camera, besides the enhancements that improve image quality with a 5 MP resolution, Sony also updates the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact with the 3D face scanning feature. Now, the front camera supports this feature, and after scanning, the data can be uploaded to Sony's server for recreation at a higher quality, increasing the resolution from FullHD to 4K and the polygon count from 50 thousand to 500 thousand.
The most powerful setup from Snapdragon 845
XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are equipped with the Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and an external memory card slot. The external memory card slot is shared with the SIM tray, so users need to choose between the two needs. They support Wi-Fi ac, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and USB 3.1 Type-C.
The most powerful setup from Snapdragon 845
Xperia XZ2 boasts a 3180mAh battery, while XZ2 Compact packs a 2870mAh one. With a compact screen like that, the device's battery life will undoubtedly be significantly longer. Additionally, Sony has equipped both these devices with wireless charging.
Xperia XZ2 will come in black, silver, deep blue, and pink
Xperia XZ2 will be available in black, silver, deep blue, and pink. The device is expected to be officially released in March or early April, but Sony has yet to disclose the official price.
