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Sony's mid-range Xperia X gets a smaller spin-off
The new Xperia XZ might be the flagship phone Sony loyalists have been waiting for, but Sony still hasn't given up on making small smartphones. That's where the Xperia X Compact comes in: It's more enticing a package than you might think, given the company's recent batch of love-em-or-hate-em devices, and it's set to land the United States on Sept. 25.
Sony Xperia X Performance review: $700 worth of disappointment
Oh, Sony. The company has tried time and again to craft a smartphone that would find success in the US, and time and again it has fallen short. But when Sony pulled back the curtain on a batch of new Xperia X's at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, I allowed myself to get a little excited. Maybe these were the right phones at the right time, I thought, and maybe a company whose products I otherwise respected would find the foothold it was looking for. After being underwhelmed by the standard Xperia X last month, I still held out hope that the high-end Xperia X Performance would be the phone Sony needed. Long story short, it's not. Don't get me wrong: It's a serviceable device, and in many ways it's actually very nice. The thing is, a $700 smartphone should be able to deliver some modicum of excitement to the person who owns it; the X Performance mostly just leaves me cold.
Sony's Xperia X hits the US on June 26, but you don't need one
After a confusing introduction at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, Sony is finally gearing up to bring its new Xperias -- the Xperia X, X Performance, XA and XA Ultra -- to the US this summer. Alas, the Xperia X is set to land here first (June 26th for $550), though it's arguably the least interesting of the bunch. It's a handsome little phone and channels many of the Xperia Z5's design and construction strengths, but after a week of using it, one thing is clear: There isn't a great reason to actually buy one.
Sony's Xperia X Performance is a confusing phone
If you need another reminder that Sony is hurting in mobile, just take a look at the Xperia X Performance. It's the most powerful version of the electronics giant's new phone lineup, but rather than a full-fledged successor to the Xperia Z5 (itself a mid-range entry), it's more of a half-hearted attempt at staying relevant. But if you want the fastest Sony phone around, it's also your only option. The Xperia X Performance is the most intriguing of Sony's new X lineup with its Snapdragon 820 processor, waterproof case, and 3GB of RAM. The base Xperia X only has a Snapdragon 650 processor, and the Xperia XA is even worse off with a MediaTekHelio P10 chip (along with lower specs all around). But, unfortunately, it's only rocking a 5-inch, 1080p screen, which is 0.2-inches smaller than the Z5 (as well as the same resolution). And while its 23 megapixel rear camera and 13 megapixel front-facing camera sound impressive, they're also the same sensors we got last year. Of course, we also loved the Z5's screen and camera, so perhaps Sony didn't need to change much after all. Specs aside, the X5 Premium feels pretty great. At 8.7 millimeters thick, it's noticeably chunkier than the 7.1 millimeter thick iPhone 6S, but that also gives it a solid feel that I've grown to miss as flagship phones got thinner and thinner. And as always with Sony phones, its metal case gives it a decidedly premium feel. It's a phone that feels like it can withstand a few drops without falling apart, but at the same time it feels luxurious in your hand. While it seems like the Xperia Z line is pretty much dead, Sony tells us it'll stick around at least until the summer. It's unclear if we'll actually see a new Z model this year, which means the Xperia X Performance is your best choice if you want the fastest Sony phone around. If you're looking for an even bigger and better screen though, along with improved battery life, the Z5 Premium is still worth considering. Chris Velazco contributed to this report.
Sony is done with the Xperia Z range
When Sony announced three new Xperias earlier this week, it wasn't really apparent where they fit into its grander smartphone plans. Turns out, the X, XA and X Performance are its future. Since 2013 Sony's flagships have been defined by the letter "Z." We've seen over 10 smartphones with the label, the latest of which were the Xperia Z5 Compact, Z5 and Z5 Premium, released last fall. That led many to expect that, at some point in 2016, an Xperia Z6 series would arrive to replace it. But that's not going to happen. Speaking to the British site uSwitch, a Sony Mobile senior product marketing manager confirmed that Sony "will not be releasing a Z6," adding that it's "turning to the next stage with the Xperia X series." We reached out to Sony for confirmation of the statement (it's made similar remarks to other publications) but it makes a lot of sense.
Sony focuses on the camera with its Xperia X lineup
It was a mystery what Sony was going to unveil at MWC this year, but now we know -- a new line of Xperia X smartphones and "smart products" to go with them. The Xperia X and Xperia XA aren't going to set any performance records, but Sony has tried to make them as compelling as possible in terms of design and photo features. As such, the mobile group worked closely with the engineers who created Sony's popular Alpha hybrid camera products. The result is a smartphone camera that focuses rapidly and accurately by predicting subject motion to eliminate any blur. Both phones also sport all-metal bodies with curved glass around the display "for a familiar form that feels comfortable in the hand," according to the company.
