So far, Sony has been unable to break the iPhone/Samsung Galaxy stranglehold in the smartphone market.
It has taken the approach of releasing two flagship phones within a year to try to win over consumers with the most up-to-date technology. The latest, the Xperia Z3 Dual, took centre stage at the IFA Berlin consumer electronics show last week.
“Sony is relentless in its pursuit of innovation and we believe that consumers shouldn’t settle for good experiences, but demand great ones,” I was told by Kunimasa Suzuki, the president and chief executive of Sony Mobile Communications, in Germany, along with everyone else listening amid the razzmatazz.
And this time around, Sony has been as good as its word and delivered the kind of technical innovation that may just make Apple fans think twice.
Although it won’t be to everyone’s taste, the Xperia Z3’s PlayStation 4 remote play feature is a winner.
It allows PS4 owners, via Wi-Fi, to use their console without a television set by utilising the Xperia Z3 screen, thus being able to play games anywhere in the house.
It is a smart move by Sony that strengthens its ecosystem and encourages loyalty – PS4 owners will be more inclined to buy a Sony smartphone, or the new Xperia Z3 tablet which can also be used with the console.
Of course, there are a limited number of PS4 owners compared to the number of smartphones being shipped, but this is a big move in the right direction.
As for the phone itself, the Xperia Z3 is a classy, lightweight handset with a phenomenal screen and has all the hallmarks you would expect from the Japanese company. It feels as though you are clasping a little Sony television, laptop and Walkman all in one.
While Xperia Z2 owners who don’t play PS4 may feel it is too soon to shell out for a new phone, for those looking for a high-end, dazzling piece of technology, the Z3 is a decent option.
Q&A
So, is there anything else we should know about this remote play?
Well, Sony is going to release what it calls the GCM10 game control mount. Basically it attaches the PS4 DualShock controller to the Z3 so the phone is held in place making it like a hand-held console such as the PS Vita.
Nifty. What else can the phone do?
Sony’s new and improved SteadyShot technology produces smoother videos and images, so, for example, if you’re out running or on a boat and camera is bouncing around, the phone will balance it out for you and remove the jigging about. Quite amazing. It also has 4K resolution and what Sony says is “the best camera and camcorder in a smartphone”. The camera is, like on the Xperia Z2, 20.7 megapixels and comes with a hefty array of artistic apps.
Tell me more, this sounds quite tasty.
Yes, it is. Once again it runs on Google’s Android operating system, has a 5.2in screen, weighs just 152g and has the highest smartphone waterproof rating. The processor is faster than on the Z2 and the battery lasts for two days. It also comes in a compact version for those who prefer one-handed usage. This has a 4.6in screen and still has all the tech-spec tucked away.
Any snags?
I haven’t mentioned the price yet, have I. The Z3 Dual will cost Dh3,349 when released in the UAE at the beginning of next month. The Z3 Compact will be a little cheaper at Dh2,499, while the Z3 tablet will be Dh1,999 for the LTE version and Dh1,699 for Wi-Fi.
ioxborrow@thenational.ae
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