Sony Mobile delivers on innovation promise at Mobile World Congress 2017

 Four new X-Series smartphones announced

 Xperia Touch, the Android projector with multi-touch, rolls out to selected markets 

 First showcase of Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT”

Sony Mobile Communications (Sony Mobile) has unveiled new consumer experiences focused on innovation.

"Xperia Touch is a revolutionary interface," said Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO, Sony Mobile Communications. “A year on from unveiling our new brand direction and vision for the future of communications, not only are we announcing Xperia XZ Premium, equipped with the most advanced technologies to enhance the essential features on smartphones, we’re creating whole new interactive communication experiences with our Xperia Smart Products.”

The company has made four additions to its X-series, enhancing both the premium and mid-range models - the flagship Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZs and super mid-range Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra. The XperiaXZ Premium and Xperia XZs belong to Sony Mobile’s premium range, while the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra are the brand’s super mid-range models. All four new X-Series smartphones will be available in Singapore.

Hideyuki Furumi, EVP, Global Sales & Marketing, Sony Mobile Communications said: “We’ve continued to evolve and transform our smartphone portfolio, with an unwavering focus on delivering the most advanced technology in elegantly designed products. Whether it’s a memory-stacked camera system capable of super slow motion capture or the world’s first 4K HDR smartphone display, we’re delivering experiences that connect with users in emotional and meaningful ways like never before.”

Source: Sony Mobile. The Xperia XZ Premium.

Xperia XZ Premium showcases Sony’s new Motion Eye camera system to enable advanced features and excellence in picture quality, as well as the world’s first 4K HDR display¹ (5.5”). Motion Eye camera provides 960 frames-per-second (fps) super slow motion video capture and playback, four times slower than any other smartphone². Xperia XZ Premium is available globally from late spring 2017 (editor's note: roughly Q1 to Q2).

The flagship variant Xperia XZs brings the same re-engineered Motion Eye camera to selected markets in a 5.2” form factor and is available from April 2017.

Building on the success of the Xperia XA models launched last year, Xperia XA1 and the 6” large screen XA1 Ultra feature a borderless design with edge-to-edge screens. Both will surpass camera expectations with high-end rear camera specs including 23MP sensors and low-light capabilities, whilst XA1 Ultra has been designed for selfie lovers with a 16MP front camera. Both smartphones will roll out from spring 2017³ with Android Nougat.

Built with Sony’s SXRD projection display technology, Xperia Touch is an interactive projector that turns any flat surface into a 23” HD touchscreen. This allows people to gather around a table or flat wall to play games, watch video, or communicate on social networks. The Xperia Touch is compatible with the PlayStation 4 Remote Play⁴, as well as any app or game downloaded from the Google Play Store⁵.

The unique projection, touch capability and sensor architecture will provide developers with an entirely new platform on which to build and create. It rolls out initially in Europe from spring 2017, with a suggested retail price of €1,499⁶.

The Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” is based on 'open-ear' audio technology developed within Sony's Future Lab Program, an incubator that enables consumers to trial and shape prototypes from Sony’s R&D division. The product utilises Sony's acoustics research and expertise to deliver wireless 'openear' stereo headphones, so wearers can listen to music and receive notifications, whilst simultaneously hearing sounds from the world around them. 

Source: Sony Mobile. The Xperia Ear "Open-
Style CONCEPT".

Just as with Xperia Ear, Xperia Ear “Open-style CONCEPT” will be powered by Sony Agent Technology - a personal assistant that uses conversational voice interaction and head gestures to help users get things done.

Sony Mobile will continue to develop new features to further increase the in-ear assistant capability. An example of this is Anytime Talk, a new voice chat service that will allow users to start a group conversation in real-time with just a press of a button or a single head movement. The beta version will roll out for the first-generation Xperia Ear over the coming months.

Sony Mobile is also exploring collaborative possibilities with Sony Agent Technology on Xperia Smart Products and the new cloud artificial intelligence (AI) platform from LINE Corporation, the company behind the popular LINE messaging app, to develop and co-create a new communication experience.

Hashtag: #MWC2017

1 Xperia XZ Premium features a 4K UHD (2,160 x 3,840 pixels) High Dynamic Range (HDR) 5.5" display. Verified by Strategy Analytics' SpecTRAX Service  against the published display specifications for over 9,800 smartphones. Correct as of 16 December 2016. 

2 Xperia XZ Premium and XZs features a memory stacked image sensor capable of slow motion video at 960 fps in HD  (720p) using device hardware. Verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service against the published camera sensor specifications for over 9,800 smartphones. Correct as of 16 December 2016  

3 Availability varies by market, please check with local operators or retailers 

4 Single player only - no local multiplayer support 

5 Application and game performance may vary and/or have limited functionality if leveraging gyroscopic sensing and/or movement, designed for portable devices

6 Pricing and availability may vary by market