Sony Xperia Z2 preview
Here's everything you need to know about Sony's upcoming Xperia flag-bearer, which was just launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Z1 DNA
The Xperia Z2 looks and feels a lot like its predecessors the Xperia Z, Z1 and Z1 compact: there's a similar mix of glass and metal, the former on both the front and back and the latter at the sides, and the two elements are joined seamlessly (even more so than on the Z1). Sony's engineers have done a top notch job: it's every bit as well put together as an iPhone 5S.
And it's just as water- and dustproof as its Z forebears. The Z2 can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5m of water, so neither the British weather nor your bathtub pose any danger.
There are a number of differences from the Z1, naturally. The screen is 5.2in rather than 5in but thanks to a skinnier bezel the phone feels the same size in your hand, and the edges are a little more rounded. The handset's pretty thin on the whole, in fact: 8.2mm.
The Z2 will come in four different colour finishes: black, white, dark silver and a Cadbury-esque purple.
A 1080P GROWTH SPURT WITH SIZE ZERO BEZELS
The Z2 has a 5.2in screen as opposed to the 5in screen of the Z1. It shouldn't be much harder to use with one hand though, thanks to Sony's bezel slicing magic which should ensure that the Z2's footprint isn't any larger than the Z1's.
While the Z2's display remains in the 1080p camp, it's a whole new screen with Live Colour LED technology, which uses blue LEDs, customised colour filters and red and green phosphors. Sony says that this set up means richer colours and more uniform backlighting compared to the Z1, and while we haven't had the chance to put this to the test properly, our hands-on time with the Z2 suggested that this claim holds water.
SLIGHTLY STRONGER
Like the Z1, the Xperia Z2 will arrive packing Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, with a few slight tweaks.
The Z2 will feature the higher binned 800 chip (called the Snapdragon 801) meaning it's clocked at 2.3GHz as opposed to the Z1's 2.2GHz.
You're unlikely to notice any real difference (both devices should handle everything you throw at them with ease), but it's something to bear in mind if you're an Android nerd that likes to tinker around with overclocking.
The Z2 will also have the additional benefit of 3GB of RAM, which should provide even more room for multitasking fiends to play around with.
It's also packing a 3200mAh battery, which should provide decent longevity even with the 5.2in screen and power-hungry innards.
SNAP HAPPY, WITH 4K VIDEO TO BOOT
The Xperia Z2 keeps the same impressive 20.7MP snapper that graces the Z1, with a couple of improvements: a slightly larger 1/2.5" sensor as opposed to the Z1's 1/2.3" offering, and SteadyShot image stabilisation to combat blurriness from handheld shooting.
We'll have to wait till our full review to see whether or not these things will make a difference to snaps when compared on a big screen, so stay tuned.
One huge difference is the ability to capture 4K video accompanied by stereo audio (you'll need the new STM10 microphone accessory for the latter, but it should mean far clearer audio than a standard phone mic can offer). From what we've seen of the Z2's 4K skills so far, it's an impressive feature – albeit one that you'll also need a 4K telly to truly appreciate.
The fun AR mode also returns, and there's also a Background Defocus mode for recreating DSLR-like blurred background shots.
KITKAT TWEAKS
A leaked Android 4.4 KitKat build for the Z2 confirms that it'll arrive with Google's latest and greatest mobile OS, with a slathering of Sony's tweaks layered on top.
One of these is a Smart Backlight feature which will keep the screen on for as long as you're looking at it, just like the Galaxy S4's Smart Stay function.
The screen will also support Glove Mode, which is pretty self explanatory, not to mention a bonus in cold weather.
Smart call handling will let Xperia Z2 users answer or reject calls with hand gestures, and you'll be able to double tap the screen to wake it up, which is one of our favourite features on the LG G2.
Two home screens will also be included – Simple Home with bigger icons and the Xperia Home screen which we've seen on existing devices.
The Xperia Z2 will also feature USB DAC support out of the box, which is a tasty surprise for audiophiles.
PRICE AND RELEASE DATE
The Z2 is now available for pre-order at Sony's site, priced at £600. Clove has it listed for £565, with stock expected in April.
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