The battle for smartphones reaches its peak every day. Interestingly, with the surprising return of Blackberry OS10 and the emphatic arrival of Windows 8, there has been some very close competition in the high-end smartphone space. A battle within a battle is raging between the Android chariot. Google’s popular operating system is clearly the industry favorite for volume-based smartphones. With top brands vying for their fair share of the Android space, Google is enjoying massive growth in its high-end consumer base.
The latest high-end smartphone from Japanese giant, Sony Corporation, the Sony Xperia Z is an honest attempt by Sony to create some inroads into the high-end smartphone domain. Driven by irresistible sound clarity unique to Sony, the Xperia Z is sure to present a palpable proposition. Sony enjoys high brand recall value in the world of consumer electronics, and it’s no surprise that brand equity easily rubs off on smartphone versions of the brand as well.
Powered by an impressive camera, the super slim Xperia Z offers a rugged design. The phone doesn’t feel heavy and lacks a certain “plastic” feel (most common with the Samsung Galaxy series). An Android Jelly Bean phone, the Xperia Z is the latest and perhaps the most promising entry from Sony’s stable. Launching just before the HTC one and Samsung Galaxy S4, it gives the Xperia Z a leg up for early adopters, but is the phone poised to turn hype into revenue figures for the struggling brand (in revenue terms)?
A 1.5 GHz quad-core processor called Snapdragon Krait makes up the majority of the Xperia Z’s responsiveness. Lenses and camera have always been a strong point of Sony phones, and the Xperia Z doesn’t disappoint here. sense. The Xperia Z has a powerful 13 MP snapper, which may mean that the user no longer needs the DSLR. The internal memory of 16 Gb is more than enough to accommodate the basic requirements and to top it off the user can also expand the memory.
But, the standout and coolest feature of the lot is its unique body and design. Going by Sony’s claims, the phone is waterproof and scratch resistant. So you don’t need to worry about how you’re using it and for those who were big fans of Nokia for the ruggedness of their phones, the Xperia Z with its amazing ruggedness can provide the perfect Phillip to cross over.
A 2GB RAM takes care of the speed quotient and response time is decent compared to other Xperia Z comrades. If you’re a fan of Bravia (remember Sony’s durable consumer market LED series), you’re going to love the screen resolution. A powerful 1080p HD display bolstered by the Bravia engine is a treat for the eyes. Granted, it might not exactly rub shoulders with Apple’s retina display, but it surely makes you realize that it’s slightly different from regular phones.
Ergonomically, Sony has always been a delight for users. The Xperia Z is no different in this regard. All the control ports, the SIM slot, the volume controls, the micro SD slots, the power control, etc. they are cleverly spaced on either side of the phone. One thing that certainly goes against the Xperia Z is its contrasting viewing angles. The phone just isn’t consistent across all viewing angles and the visible deviation from standards fails to impress.
The Xperia Z may be Sony’s latest roll of the dice. No wonder the brand is spending heavily on marketing and sales promotions. In the UK, for example, the phone covered all the visible spots in the early days of announcements. Surely Sony has realized that it is no longer the product that is going to speak, but the brand as a whole has to start talking. It’s certainly a sign that Sony has finally realized that it has to get live to the audience and the changed landscape.
