Think that Sony’s announcements at IFA 2014 were all amazing and you can’t wait to get your hands on the company’s new devices? Yesterday, Sony held a regional launch event in Singapore to announce that they will be bringing several of the most exciting devices to our region, including the Sony Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, Xperia E3, and two new wearables – the SmartBand Talk and Smartwatch 3.
The Xperia Z3 line-up will be heading to Malaysia in October whereby the company will hold a separate local launch event to announce the retail prices. We have no idea how much they would cost but judging from the prices of previous devices and the pre-order prices in certain European countries including the UK, we are expecting something similar – the Xperia Z2 was launched here for RM2,399, Xperia Z1 Compact at RM1,699 and the Z2 Tablet starting from RM1999, though there should be a bigger difference here since the Z2 Tablet is a full-sized tablet while the Z3 Tablet Compact is comes with a smaller screen of only 8 inches.
While these new Xperia devices may not feature much differences to the Xperia Z2 series in terms of specifications, Sony has made several important improvements to make its flagship devices more desirable than ever. First up, all three devices are now tougher than ever with the highest waterproof rating of IP65/68. This means that whether you wish to answer a call in the rain, or take pictures in the pool, you can do so with greater confidence.
Sony’s latest devices were all immersed inside a water-filled cylindrical tube
While the camera on the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact may still have the same 20.7MP sensor, Sony has also improved things in the imaging department. With a maximum ISO sensitivity of 12800, you can capture the best pictures even in low light conditions. Sony also equipped its camera with a wider 25mm lens to capture more things into a single frame. To top things off, there is also SteadyShot technology with Intelligent Active Mode for dramatically smoother videos and images.
On of the most interesting things packed into the Xperia Z3 series would definitely have to be the addition of PS4 Remote Play built in. The Xperia Z3 series are the only devices in the world with this feature that allows you to use your device as a remote screen for your PlayStation games – just pause your game on the TV and continue playing on your tablet or smartphone. Why fight for the TV when you can have your own screen attached right on your DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller?
Other improvements include a slightly better Snapdragon processor (Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.5GHz), an improved TRILUMINOS display for mobile with contrast enhancement technology, and the addition of more camera apps for its default camera.
With so much more features, Sony has also managed to improve its battery to last a whopping 48 hours of normal usage. There are also additional power saving mode called Ultra Stamina Mode to help extend the battery life even further.
For those of you who are looking for something more affordable, Sony will also be bringing its new mid-range Xperia E3 to Malaysia this October. Featuring fun features at an affordable price, the Xperia E3 shares the same design language as the premium Z3 flagship. It has a 4.5″ display with a rather poor 480 x 854 resolution, a 5MP rear camera with HDR and creative camera apps, and decent performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz quad-core processor, all at an affordable price. Again, Sony did not mention the price but they did say that it will be similarly priced as previous generation devices so in case you’re wondering, the Xperia E1 was launched here in Malaysia for RM459.
As for the wearables, the Sony SmartBand Talk will be arriving in Malaysia by the end of 2014, while the SmartWatch 3 will be available at a later date. The Sony SmartBand Talk looks similar to the existing SmartBand, but it features a 1.4″ e-ink display so you can view LifeLog activities, notifications and the time at a glance. It also has a new built-in accelerometer and altimeter sensor technology to track your movements be it walking, running or even climbing. It can also be used to control a connected phone’s music player.
The SmartWatch 3 is the first Smartwatch from Sony to be powered by Android Wear. It offers a significant step up from the SmartWatch 2 including a 1.6″ 320 x 320 TFT LCD Transflective display, and a stainless steel back for a more premium look and feel. Other features include 4GB of storage, built-in accelerometer, compass, Gyro and GPS sensor. Like the Xperia Z3 series, these two wearables are IP68 certified, meaning that you can shower and even swim with these devices.
We will definitely be there for the local launch of these devices, so stay tuned for the exact pricing and date of availability. How many of you are greeting one of these devices once they come out? In the meantime, check out our hands-on with the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact to keep you excited.
