Sony to focus on higher-end smartphones, Xperia Z test photos and videos surface, ZL confirmed for Canada
There’s no question when it came to Android announcements at last week’s CES 2013, Sony stole the show with the Xperia Z and ZL. A pair of high-end devices to compete with the best Samsung and even Apple have to offer, the phones combine top-of-the-line specs with solid build quality and design.
We had the opportunity to play with both of them (as seen in our CES coverage here), even testing out the devices’ camera functions. Touted as one of the best in the biz, Sony’s packing a new 13MP Exmor RS sensor into each of its Z’s.
Unfortunately, the devices we played with weren’t connected to WiFi, so we had no way of uploading said images and video online. No worries, it looks like some lucky fellas over at BestBoys.de were able to quickly take the devices cameras for a spin, uploading the resulting images and video (in HDR) to the interwebz. Let’s take a look at a few of ’em:
The video and images look rather crisp and well exposed. Guess the Exmor RS sensor wasn’t all talk after all. Remember, the Sony Xperia Z and ZL are both able to crank out HDR photos and video, creating images that rival even the iPhone’s or One X. It’s this attention to hardware details that makes the Xperia Z and ZL one of the highest-end Android devices to date.
Speaking of high-end, wheree Samsung and other Android OEM’s tend to blanket the market in entry-level, mid, and high-end devices, Sony could be taking a entirely different route this time around. In an interview with Cnet, Sony’s Xperia Product Manager Stephen Sneeden mentioned Sony could be forgoing lower, entry-level devices, focusing all their attention on superphones like the Xperia Z. Apparently this has more to do with brand image than anything with Sneeden saying in the interview:
“We’re ready to be a premium smartphone provider, logically then, at the very entry level is where you lose the ‘Sonyness.’”
In the Android space, attention is definitely a good thing. With a smaller product line to focus on, a manufacturer could — hypothetically speaking — offer more timely firmware and maintenance updates to address bugs. Sounds like a winning strategy for both Sony, and consumers if you ask me. ‘Course, I’m sure if you ask any Android manufacturer, they’ll tell you none of their devices are “entry level,” they’re simply “more affordable premium devices.”
Also, as if there was any question the Sony Xperia ZL would be making its way on over to Canada it seems the official Twitter account for Xperia Canada has confirmed the device will in fact be available in Canada, although no specific date was given. Now, we just have to play the waiting game to see which US carrier will be the first to snatch up and announce either the Z or ZL here in the states. My gut is telling me AT&T with the Z, and possibly T-Mobile with the ZL but anything can happen.