Sony has confirmed the Sony Xperia Z1 will be getting an Android 4.4 KitKat update, along with a host of other handsets.
A week after Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat, Sony has revealed its upgrade plans for the Xperia Z1 and other high-end handsets.
The Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1 will all be getting the Android KitKat update, but Sony hasn’t yet outlined any time-frames.
The Japanese electronics manufacturer did say that the aforementioned devices will make up “the first raft” of updates, suggesting that more devices will be upgraded to KitKat in the future.
Sony also revealed that a number of handsets would also be getting an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update “from next month”.
These are: the Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V, Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP, Xperia Z Ultra and the Xperia Z1.
HTC has also confirmed its plans for Android 4.4 updates, with unlocked HTC One handsets getting the latest Android edition within 30 days of Google’s announcement. Network locked versions will get Android KitKat within 90 days.
Android 4.4 KitKat Features
Launched alongside the Nexus 5, Android 4.4 KitKat introduces a load of minor changes over Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, rather than a huge UI overhaul.
When on the Google Now screen or home screen, you can now say “OK Google” to launch voice search, send texts or access other smartphone features.
Google has also slimmed down the memory footprint of Android KitKat so that it only requires 512MB of RAM to run, making it more compatible with lower-end, budget handsets. Memory optimisation has also increased multitasking capability in KitKat.
There’s a new Hangouts app in KitKat too, which replaces the original messages app. It collates all messages from a single contact in one conversation – regardless of whether it’s an email, SMS, MMS or other chat format.
The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update has started rolling out for the Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.
Sony promised that the Android 4.3 update would be available sometime this month for selected handsets, and now the first two on the list are receiving the software update.
Offering an update from Android 4.2.2 Jelly Beans along with additional Sony software improvements, the update is rolling out to the Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra now.
The update is available today, but Sony reminds users that as with all updates, it could take a while for it to arrive on all carriers in all regions.
Software update for the Z1 and Z Ultra includes performance enhancements and updates to Sony’s inbuilt apps like Messaging, My Xperia, Smart Connect, Track ID and Sony Walkman among others.
The Xperia Z Ultra will get access to the Sony Smart Social Camera feature of the Xperia Z1 with the update too. This will allow the rear camera to use Sony’s downloadable camera apps.
The firmware update will also offer support for downloaded themes from the Xperia Theme system. Sony has said it will expand upon this feature in the future as well.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean offers software features like Restricted Profiles, which allow users to control access to content and apps at a user level. Users can hide all the purchase functionality within apps and access to the Google Play store, leaving only the purchased content shown to family members.
The latest version of Android Jelly Bean also introduces Bluetooth 4.0 LE and OpenGL ES 3.0 support. Google also added new DRM APIs with Android 4.3 to allow Full 1080p HD streaming.
Other Android 4.3 features included easier text input and faster profile switching.
The Sony Xperia Z1 is yet another step in the comeback of a failing brand. While the headline spec may be the 20.7MP G Lens camera sensor, this is a phone packed to the rafters with cutting-edge tech.
Its hard to express the joy of comparing the Z1 to a previous Sony flagship cameraphone: the Satio from four years ago. Okay, that was a time when things were decidedly more Ericsson, but the difference between these two phones is vast.
Thats not because the Z1 is an amazing phone (it might be, but its hard to tell with only an hours time playing with it) but just how bad the Sony Ericsson Satio was. It may have had a 12MP camera, but it was running Symbian, packed a resistive touchscreen and was generally one of the worst phones weve played with.
Thankfully Sony recognised its tailspin and is now producing phones like the Z1 - the follow-up to the Sony Xperia Z that launched earlier this year, and the design principles back that up.
Design
However, while this is also a water resistant and dust-proof phone (IP55 and IP58 rated), the chassis has a lot more metal packed in, with aluminium replacing the glass in many places throughout the Z1.
In doing so its acquired some heft, with the depth of the phone noticeably greater in the hand. Thats to accommodate the new camera sensor while maintaining the flat exterior, but it does make a huge difference when you pick up the phone for the first time.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One its not that different, but with the added weight combined with the heavier innards and angular design, the Z1 feels like a much more substantial beast, which may put some people off.
Theres a lot thats reminiscent of the Xperia Z Ultra here; not only because of the amount of technology thats been nabbed from the big Sony factory, but also because some of the clever design tweaks have made their way over to the new device too.
One of the things were happiest to see is the headphone slot being open and unfettered. Sony has made the waterproof phone its own over the last year, and by removing the need for the headphone to have a cover its made the Z1 so much more usable compared to its predecessor.
The rest of the slots follow Sonys heritage of premium design, being easy to shut while feeling secure against the elements should you want to lob your phone in a bucket of water and then roll it through a desert.
Dont do that, though. Youll probably lose it and be inadequately hydrated for such a trip.
Theres a microSD card slot on offer still, which partly makes up for the lack of a removable battery. Were getting sick of the latter refrain – consumers want it, but phone designers want to make things as integrated as possible, and its the ones with the pencils that win out.
But overall the Sony Xperia Z1 is a very well-finished phone that makes use of a number premium materials in its construction – the only issue for consumers could be the sheer heft of the device theyre carrying in their pocket, and theyll have to decide whether the mega powerful new camera is worth it.
Screen
With the Xperia Z1, Sony has opened the door to the TV factory, selected its favourite model and then crammed it into a 5-inch screen, meaning youve got all manner of technology on offer.
Triluminous Display tech brings a really crisp and clear picture, and combined with X Reality on video playback serves to bring a phone that knows what its doing when it comes to a 1080p screen.
The display is definitely a step forward from the washed out nature of the Xperia Z, although the viewing angles are still not as impressive as seen on other phones.
The LG G2 is still the poster boy for phone displays, but the Z1 isnt that far behind, especially when its video processing kicks in.
The clarity and refresh rate are certainly impressive, but it still doesnt pack the wow factor seen from a number of other smartphones.
Thats not to say its not really good, it just still falls slightly short when compared to the clarity of the G2 or the colour reproduction of the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4 (provided you like higher colour saturation, that is).
Video playback
We can see that Sony has really worked hard on the video playback capabilities of the Xperia Z1, with the movies app in particular coming with a really nice interface.
Your last watched flick will display in the background of the app while youre selecting your next file, which really makes the phone feel like yours, rather than a sterile area to trawl through in search of anything to make the commute feel shorter.
The quality of 1080p video is really impressive on here as well, with the precision of the display making it a really high-end experience and the X Reality engine working hard to make sure even standard definition footage is upscaled to look clean and crisp.
Given that video (movies in particular) is one of Sonys strengths, were glad to see that its made a decent fist of things on its mobile devices.
CPU
Like its Xperia Ultra brother, the Sony Xperia Z1 comes with a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, meaning whizzy fast speeds in a quad-core package.
This is the highest level of CPU on offer at the moment, and promises better battery management as well as an improved ability to connect to 4G networks, allowing the double speed connection that has been rolled out in a number of countries.
Combined with 2GB of RAM, theres very little youll want when it comes to speed from the Sony Xperia Z1, thanks to a well-integrated chipset thats really more than enough for most users.
There will be 16GB of internal storage on offer as well as the microSD card slot, which means that even if you want to pack in a session of video editing on your phone youll be able to do so easily with the required grunt on board.
Weve yet to test the capabilities of the 3000mAh battery in the Z1 as yet, although we didnt notice a massive drop in the power pack during our testing, and this included a large amount of picture taking.
In our tests with other Snapdragon 800 devices weve seen some excellent battery life on offer, so weve got high hopes the trick will be repeated on the Xperia Z1.
Interface
Sony hasnt beaten around the bush when it comes to the interface on the Xperia Z1, keeping things simple and similar to that seen on its other Android devices at the moment.
Running Android 4.2 (with an upgrade to 4.3 likely in the next few months) things are very simple and well laid out on the Z1, with the ability to move widgets around with ease and the exploded view of all homescreens at once available simply by pinching in on the screen.
The widgets on offer are decent, with options like a camera pane that allows you to instantly open different modes rather than just booting into the main camera app and having to scoot around in there.
On top of a simple layout of music, movies and internet browsing, with things like Music Unlimited combined nicely with the relevant app, Sony has kept things simple with the Z1 while allowing most things you open up a good amount of power.
Camera
Heres where things get really interesting: the Sony Xperia Z1 camera is where the Japanese firm has really pushed the boat out.
With a 20.7MP sensor, strong low light ability and wide range of options to improve the quality of your photos, the camera on the Z1 takes mobile photography to another level.
When compared with the likes of the Nokia Lumia 1020, with its 41MP sensor, and the HTC One, with its 4MP Ultrapixel option, theres a feeling that the Z1 fits in between the two.
However, this is more of a camera in the traditional sense, taking really crisp and clear photos with little interpolation of multiple shots (as weve seen on the Nokia range). The result is a photo that just looks good, especially if youre firing the Superior auto mode which makes it almost impossible to take a bad shot.
We really like messing around with this option, as no matter what youre trying to do, be it take a close up picture, get a low light snap without the flash or even take a picture of text, the Z1 was able to work out what we needed time and again and adjust the settings to make use of it.
However, go beyond this and there are loads of modes to play with – some useful, and some less so.
Were intrigued by the possibility of being able to stream video from our phone over Facebook with Social Live – Sony seems to think there will be loads of uses for such a feature, but we cant really see what they might be beyond accidentally turning it on while youre on the toilet.
If you are desperate to destroy your battery at a wedding just so your grandparents, who sadly couldnt be there, can try to set up a Facebook account and miss it, then the option is there.
Timeshift Burst is probably the only other mode we think is worth talking about, and it really is. With a stupendously fast capture rate, youre getting dozens of photos from one shot that means you wont miss the right moment if theres movement going on.
Beyond that, the interface for selecting said photo is just brilliant. Being able to slide your thumb up and down the arc of picture options works so well, and while there was often a lot of blur present in most of the snaps we took, we generally could find at least one useable one.
This isnt a mode youll be using regularly, but for anything where you arent able to set the scene properly its a really excellent option.
However, Sony told us that the camera software wasnt ready for final testing, and that seemed to bear out during our time with the phone - in comparison tests with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, it was certainly a better picture, but not by much.
The raw pictures captured are decent without being mind blowing at the moment - but as we saw with the Xperia Z (and a multitude of other cameraphones) the tricks are mostly performed in post processing, so well wait to pass judgement.
However, it was disappointing to see that the pictures didnt blow our mind at this point, as thats what we were hoping from a cameraphone with such a ridiculous sensor.
Early verdict
The Sony Xperia Z1 is definitely another step forward from the brand thats going from strength to strength in the smartphone market.
Its an impressive phone that packs so much technology inside you cant help but enjoy all the treats on offer - and its well packaged in a way that makes us love to try all the different features.
Its a chunky beast, which may put some people off, but the metallic chassis is one we really like and pushes the premium message even further, and the addition of a microSD card slot is one we always love to see.
Given its not likely to command the mega cost of the Lumia 1020, the Z1 is a decent phone that will rival the Galaxy S4 on the shop shelves - so if you can get over the bulk, its one of the most exciting smartphones to check out this year.
The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is a phone that many people have asked for – a mobile with top-end specs but a screen small enough to let the phone comfortably fit in your pocket. Not everyone wants a 5-inch screen. And god knows why anyone would want a 6-inch one.
In many respects the Z1 Compact and the 2013 flagship SonyXperia Z1 are pretty similar. They both have expandable storage, the same UI, the same camera and a familiar design.
But are you really missing out on anything when you buy a Compact over the full-size model? Here’s how the two differ.
The Z1 is much, much larger
The most obvious – and probably most important – difference between the Xperia Z1 Compact and the Xperia Z1 is size. There’s a huge gulf between these two.
The Z1 is 17mm taller and 9mm wider. In phone terms that a lot of extra footprint. A trade-off is that the full-size Z1 manages to get a full 1mm slimmer than the Z1 Compact, as there’s more room for the internal components to spread out.
Any issues we have with reaching from one end of the screen to the other with a 5-inch phone melt away with the Z1 Compact. Its design is a lot more accessible in this respect.
And has a larger screen
This difference in size is all down to the size of the screens. The Z1 has a 5-inch screen, the Z1 Compact a 4.3-inch display.
Although 4.3 inches seemed large for a phone just a few years ago, it’s now the sort of size we usually see in much lower-end, affordable mobiles. This is the risk of making a phone like the Z1 Compact – such associations may mean the average buyer simply isn’t willing to pay out for it.
The Xperia Z1 has a higher resolution screen
The screen specs do give some cause for arguing the Z1 Compact should be a bit cheaper, though. It has a 720p screen where the Z1 display is Full HD.
Sony would argue that a smaller screen means the Z1 Compact doesn’t need as many pixels, but pixel density is still a lot lower in the Compact despite the smaller screen. The Compact’s pixels-per-inch rating is 342 where the Z1 rides high with 441. There’s not a dramatic difference in terms of the perception of sharpness, but keen eyes will certainly be able to tell the difference.
But the Z1 Compact has a better-quality panel
That said, the Z1 Compact does benefit from being a newer phone in other ways. Sony has learnt a few tricks since the Z1 arrived in September 2013.
Many people, us included, complained about the slightly rubbish viewing angles of Sony’s top-end Xperia Z1 – despite Sonys claim that it features some of the technology that powers the company’s flashy LCD TVs. As is often the case, these claims rang a bit hollow in the end.
The Z1 Compact makes significant improvements to the actual image quality, which is arguably much more valuable than pure pixel density. Contrast and black levels are improved, and there’s less of the ‘greying’ effect when the phone is at an angle than you get with the full-size Z1.
Compact has a smaller battery, lesser stamina in some situations
As a small phone, it not great surprise that the Z1 Compact has a smaller battery than the 5-inch Z1. It has a 2300mAh battery compared to the Z1’s 3000mAh unit.
Numbers for things like call time, standby time and music playback are naturally much better on the Z1. However, real life performance is likely to be a lot closer as the Compact has a less battery-draining screen.We’re currently mid-way through our battery testing of the Z1 Compact, but we expect to see – like the Z1 – strong battery stamina. The Z1 can last for two days of light use, and a good day and a half for even pretty enthusiastic mobile phone folk.
They have the same core processor specs, storage
Other than these differences, the Sony Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact are pretty-much identical. They have the same camera, the same Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the HTC One Mini, the Z1 Compact is not a phone built with budgetary compromises that fit with its smaller scale.
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The heavily rumoured Sony Xperia Z1 has been spotted gaining FCC certification and is due to launch in Europe early next year.
Previously known as the Sony Xperia Z1s, the Xperia Z1 mini is now going under a new name – Amami.
Sony has already released an Xperia Z1 mini in the form of the Xperia Z1f, but its only for Japanese markets. This smaller version of the Sony Xperia Z1 is supposedly destined for other worldwide markets in the New Year.
The FFC certification tips that the Sony Xperia Z1 mini will launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean rather than the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS featured in devices like the Google Nexus 5.
Other smartphone manufacturers have already launched their own miniature versions of flagships smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and HTC One mini, but they haven’t proved as popular with consumers as their beefier counterparts.
However, it seems Sony is taking a slightly different tack with the Sony Xperia Z1 mini bound for European shores.
Unlike other mini flagships, the Z1 mini should feature the same processor as the powerful Xperia Z1. This means the Z1 mini will have a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU.
The Z1 mini should also retain the Z1’s 20.7-megapixel rear camera with f.20, 27mm wide angle lens and 3x digital zoom. This rear camera also has 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor and Bionz image processing engine.
The biggest difference between the two smartphones will obviously be the screen size. The Z1 mini is said to have a 4.3-inch display, in comparison to the flagship Sony Xperia Z1.
Sony is heavily anticipated to unveil the Xperia Z1 mini at CES during its January 6 press conference.
