Home Gaming Sony reveals bigger Xperia Z5 range, with a ridiculous 4K smartphone

Sony reveals bigger Xperia Z5 range, with a ridiculous 4K smartphone

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Sony reveals Zperia Z5 range

Despite their sales not always being a good indicator, I think Sony really have one of the best smartphone lines on the market. Previous Xperias have been fast, durable and battery efficient to the point of embarrassing Apple, all wrapped up in a slick and attractive design that always catches the eye. The same, it seems, goes for their brand new Xperia Z5 range, which comes with at least one ridiculous model.

As always, there’s little to pick apart from the now three phone strong line-up. The Z5, Z5 Compact and Z5 premium all feature the same innards – the same Snapdragon 810 64-bit processor powering all three and nearly the same amount of RAM across the board (the Compact gets 2GB, while the bigger ones get 3GB). All three are dust-resistant, waterproof and have 32GB of expandable internal memory (by means of a standard MicroSD card). Also, they all have a brand new 23-megapixel camera, which Sony says has the fastest laser-autofocus on the market.

So how is it any different I hear you so eagerly asking? Well, to be frank, it really isn’t that much at all. The Z5 looks mostly the same, runs a little faster and carries a beefier camera – which is the standard blueprint for year on year upgrades. What is new though is the built-in fingerprint scanner with the power button, which will finally let you unlock your phone in a flash should you need to.

That’s where the Z5 and Z5 compact call it a day, but the Premium has its name for a reason. With it, Sony is cramming the first 4K display onto a smartphone, with a mind-blowing 806 ppi on the larger 5.5-inch display. It’s absurd, and will likely suffer from the same issue 4K TVs have still. Most content will have to be upscaled, meaning the 4K won’t actually be put to good use most of the time. Worse still are questions around how a display like this will suck your battery – with LGs 2K displays on their phones already proving that it’s a bit of an issue.

Those sorts of questions that will only really be answered when the phones hit market later this year. And don’t worry – that chrome finish is reserved only for the Premium model (in case you find it as appalling as I do).

Last Updated: September 3, 2015

54 Comments

  1. They look awesome and all (Im a sony smartphone guy), but I feel somehow a bit let down with some specs. Mainly being that its going to have the Snapdragon 810 instead of the 820. I think if it came with the 820 it would have been so much more appealing to me considering Id look at getting the premium version with the 4k display. I think the 820 would be perfectly home to that sort of crazy. Also i SERIOUSLY hope the new camera brings big improvements, Mainly their software cause they always seem to have issues with camera software itself. Brilliant camera’s but poorly optimised software. If I look at Huawei (my other fav brand) they all equipped with Sony Camera’s and they take brilliant photos. Also iphone. They equipped with sony camera’s and they take stellar photos. I think it boils down to software. If Sony can nail that then it would be brilliant. I still believe Sony needs to bring back their CyberShot range with a new improved and smaller Xenon flash.

    Reply

  2. Kromas untamed

    September 3, 2015 at 13:29

    Waiting for the arguments over 4K on something the size of a phone.

    Regardless of that argument it is scientific fact that if you think 4K on a phone looks any better than HD you are either superman/are wearing special microscopic goggles or are an idiot.

    Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      September 3, 2015 at 13:35

      4K on anything smaller than a 32 inch screen is a complete waste… Simply because, to see the difference, you have to sit so close to the screen that you leave strips of snot on it….

      Reply

      • Kromas untamed

        September 3, 2015 at 13:37

        Yep. Still most people will tell you its bull and that 4K does look better no matter if it is a 108″ screen or a micro screen the size of a pin.Sometimes you can’t win even with science at your back.

        Reply

        • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

          September 3, 2015 at 13:41

          I was at a Sony shop in Saudi a year or so ago and they had a ridiculous screen there, but right next to it they had a normal 1080p screen, naturally they were showing different videos on them so you couldn’t draw a direct comparison, but they also had a couch in front of the huge 80 inch screen at 2m away from it…if you leaned back on said couch (as flee infested as it could be) you could not tell the difference between the two screens…

          Reply

    • Spathi

      September 3, 2015 at 13:56

      YOUR WROGN!!!11137!! 4K bestest best EVaR!!1

      Reply

  3. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    September 3, 2015 at 13:30

    A chrome finish on a phone is like a mosquito bite… It just begs to be scratched….

    Reply

    • CypherGate

      September 3, 2015 at 13:31

      Guerilla Glass 4 helps a lot with the scratch department. I had the black Z1 and never used a cover and never had scratches and that didnt use the latest Guerilla Glass.

      Reply

      • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

        September 3, 2015 at 13:36

        I have the predecessor to yours’ and I cannot warrant an upgrade to the latest, my wife’s got the Z3 and I can’t tell the difference other than a brighter screen on hers…

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          September 3, 2015 at 13:56

          Yeah I know what you mean. The Z1 to this day is still a really good phone although yours and your wifes is a bit better with regards to battery management and improved camera. I honestly expected a bit more from the Z5 because it was delayed for such a long time.

          Reply

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            September 3, 2015 at 14:02

            Thing is though…How much better can they get? These phones are phenomenal, to say the least, to improve on them is a massive challenge….

          • CypherGate

            September 3, 2015 at 14:08

            There are a few ways that wont seem like much but can make a big difference. For starters: Implementing quick charge with wireless charging, Improved battery. Those are very important to most people who dont want to charge their phone every 8 hours. If they can bring out some form of new batter tech that would be awesome. Im glad they included Stereo speakers in the front though. Thats a good start. They can improve on the camera as well meaning instead of a duel tone LED flash they can insert an LED flash for low powered camera shots and a slim Xenon flash for those awesome shots you need when you fully charged and ready. If they could create a new slimline form of Xenon flash that would appeal to many out there who are into mobile photography. Another thing is their front camera. Include a soft LED flash and up the camera to 13mp instead of 5 or 8mp. Thats some of what i think of right now. Oh and they should release a high end premium phone every 2 years instead of every 6months. inbetween upgrades should suffice.

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            September 3, 2015 at 14:15

            You make very good points, for people that already own a Z series phone most of the features you mentioned are nice to haves, or little tweaks, unfortunately it isn’t a complete overhaul, not that they need one, it’s just that for a visible/warranted upgrade there has to be a massive leap forward before it’d be economical…

          • CypherGate

            September 3, 2015 at 14:19

            Thats very true and oh not to forget a whole new design for the phone itself. Not that the phone looks ugly. I just think its time for a complete refresh of the look.

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            September 3, 2015 at 14:20

            Hahaha!! Yes, that too….

          • Spathi

            September 3, 2015 at 14:09

            Exactly. Five or six years ago I couldn’t wait for my time to upgrade. The tech was changing fast. But now upgrading after two years seem quite fast.

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            September 3, 2015 at 14:13

            Exactly! I suppose it depends on what you use it for, but essentially it’s a phone, that’s what it has to be first and foremost, other than that, a 5 MP camera increase doesn’t warrant an upgrade for me, working out how much you pay for your phone versus how many of those features you use every day is an eye opener…

  4. FoxOneZA

    September 3, 2015 at 13:32

    The Huawei Mate S was the better reveal yesterday. No wonder Sony’s mobile division is tanking.

    Reply

    • CypherGate

      September 3, 2015 at 13:33

      I must agree with that. Im a fan of both brands and think Sony could have done a better job. I mean many people have been waiting for quite a long time.

      Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        September 3, 2015 at 13:39

        After all the great things they’ve done with the C5 and M5, they go on and let down the loyal fans that waited. I must say though, I’m impressed with Sony’s implementation of Android across all their devices.

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          September 3, 2015 at 13:58

          Exactly the C5 and M5 looks awesome. The Z series suppose to be the cream of the crop and even those two other models seems better in some instances. Their implementation of the Android OS is good though. I also like the fact they update most of their models as well.

          Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 3, 2015 at 13:43

      But does the Huawei have 4K? No but I bet it’s more than 4K cheaper 😛

      Reply

      • CypherGate

        September 3, 2015 at 14:00

        Funny you should mention cheaper lol Im surprised at how much Huawei phone prices shot up. I remember buying the P6 for like R99 per month on contract. Then the P7 came out and I got that one for my fiance off contract. The P7 on contract wasnt too bad either at R279 per month with 800mb data etc. Then I saw the Ascend Mate 7 price and the new P8 price and I was like wtf? Since when did their prices shoot up that much lol

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          September 3, 2015 at 14:07

          Supply and demand?

          Reply

          • CypherGate

            September 3, 2015 at 14:15

            Thats also true. Huawei is like what Samsung used to be when they first started. People moaned their phones were cheap ass stuff that broke easily and then the company improved and sold more and more units until they entered the proper high end premium market. Huawei is moving into the same direction. It wont be long until people will see them as the ‘new samsung’

          • Hammersteyn

            September 3, 2015 at 15:22

            Then we buy the Chengwai brand or whatever the hell they name the next new make on the market

          • CypherGate

            September 3, 2015 at 15:26

            I think phones like Oppo & Xiaomi are all the up and comers

  5. WitWolfy

    September 3, 2015 at 13:35

    Cool I estimate a R13000 price range.. AT LEAST!

    Reply

  6. Ranting Raptor

    September 3, 2015 at 13:38

    4K display? Battery life 0

    Reply

  7. Ir0nseraph

    September 3, 2015 at 13:39

    Nice phone but not worth upgrading from the Z3 for me, I will wait for the Z6 or whatever is new in 2016.
    My Z3 is probably one of the best phones if not the best I have ever owned.

    Reply

    • Spathi

      September 3, 2015 at 13:55

      Yeah, I have the Z1 and am due for an upgrade, but don’t feel the Z3 is different enough to warrant an upgrade. The Z5 though, mmmm, looks good.

      Reply

      • CypherGate

        September 3, 2015 at 14:01

        You at a good stage to upgrade though. From the Z1 to the Z5 is a decent upgrade. If you had the Z3 or even Z2 I would have said noooooo dont upgrade.

        Reply

        • Spathi

          September 3, 2015 at 14:05

          Actually had a look at the LG G4, also a nice looking phone.

          Reply

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            September 3, 2015 at 14:07

            I had an LG p920 once… I couldn’t find any form of an update for it anywhere after it had been out for about 6 months… I don’t think I’ll ever buy another LG phone….Ever….

          • CypherGate

            September 3, 2015 at 14:16

            My brother got that phone 2 weeks ago. The phone is brilliant. They werent kidding about that camera either. Still the best camera on the market today. The performance as well and screen is awesome.

    • CypherGate

      September 3, 2015 at 14:02

      I think to get any form of proper upgrade you would need to wait at least another 3 iterations. If there will be a Z8 then thats what you should wait for. Your Z3 is pretty secure for a while.

      Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    September 3, 2015 at 13:44

    I’d love one of their phones. But when the price tag is more than a PS4 they can drop it in the sea

    Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      September 3, 2015 at 13:53

      What’s scary about that is that the flagships are usually double that of a PS4…

      Reply

    • CypherGate

      September 3, 2015 at 14:03

      LOL there prices are crazy indeed, but keep in mind how much the Galaxy series costs nowadays. I saw the note 4 still goes for R600 per month lol and one with smart watch for R899 per month. The normal S6 goes for like R600 as well. I remember the days bought a Galaxy S2 + Galaxy 10.1 Tablet for R349 per month lol those were the days…

      Oh one more thing. Cash prices for these phones are beyond my understanding…. Note4 still costs R12 000.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 3, 2015 at 14:06

        The prices are insane

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          September 3, 2015 at 14:17

          Exactly… thats why i dont have a phone anymore. Im using a borrowed phone from my mother lol an S3mini. Hell they make fun of me at home cause they say I used to be the one with the latest phones and now my mother even beats me. She has a big S3 and an LG G2 lol she plays games on both shockingly lol

          Reply

        • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

          September 3, 2015 at 14:18

          On that note…. Mumford and sons sold out in two minutes….

          Reply

  9. Mistake Not...

    September 3, 2015 at 13:55

    Meanwhile I’m just trying to find an old Z2 to replace my 6 year old phone. Where do they come up with the prices for new phones?

    Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      September 3, 2015 at 14:01

      They have a bowl, in said bowl they have an assortment of sea creatures that they’ve starved for a few days, they then grab one of their bottom end workers and tell him to pick one, not knowing that the complete collection of creatures all have venomous tentacles…Once he plunges his hand in, they rate how far they can hear his screams of utmost torture, the further the sound, the higher the price….and the phone that can record said incident with the least amount of distortion becomes the flagship….

      Reply

  10. RinceThis

    September 3, 2015 at 13:56

    4k? For what, Smurfs to watch ‘TV’ on?

    Reply

    • Spathi

      September 3, 2015 at 13:57

      Actually, it’s quite useful as a TV and used as such at the School for Ants…

      As a phone though, nope.

      Reply

  11. Victor "Vicky" Moolman

    September 3, 2015 at 14:02

    Hehe “those of questions”

    Reply

  12. Ghost In The Rift

    September 3, 2015 at 15:00

    So its safe to say the premium will cash in at around ZAR21 000?!?!

    Reply

  13. Marc O Polo

    September 3, 2015 at 21:15

    Shiny and chrome…

    Reply

  14. BacchusZA

    September 4, 2015 at 11:12

    I have a serious problem with “Shiny Toy Syndrome”, and I’d love to get one of these when I renew my contract in a few months. But I have to be honest with myself and consider if it’s really worth it. I’d *live* to replace my current phone, but I really don’t *need* to.

    The S4 Zoom I have now is far more than adequate for my needs, and even though the newer cameras have higher resolution cameras, I have an idea I’d miss the 10X optical zoom on my phone more than I’ll enjoy the extra MP on the sensor a newer phone would give me.

    Reply

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