Watch the entire IFA 2016's Sony press conference
Berlin, Germany – The Japanese tech powerhouse Sony Corporation introduced a broad range of new flagship products for some of its signature device lineups. The announcement took place at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) 2016 this Thursday, September 1.
Sony’s iconic line of smartphones Xperia saw two new additions, as well as the introduction a new smart device. The Tokyo-based company also revealed significant audio products, including the return of the Walkman with two new media players.
Cameras, TVs, home image and sound solutions, futuristic startups, and the PlayStation VR are also part of Sony’s exhibition in the German capital.
Thursday’s unveiling follows stellar presentations from other Asian manufacturers like the South Korean LG and the Taiwanese Acer. IFA 2016 is Europe’s largest annual electronics trade show, and many more exciting tech products will take the stage throughout the week until September 7.
Xperia XZ, the Xperia X Compact, and the Xperia Ear: Specs and features
The Xperia family has two new members: The Xperia XZ and the Xperia X Compact. The new devices’ main features are their unique body materials and image technologies. The XZ features a full-metal body finished with a special ‘Alkaleido’ treatment, while the X Compact comes in a ceramic-coated casing.
Both handsets pack a rocking 23 MP camera in the rear, but the XZ has a 13 MP selfie camera while the X Compact has a modest 5 MP selfie cam. Sony introduced cutting-edge triple image sensing technology in these new handsets, including 5-axis image stabilization and 4K video capabilities.
Sony’s new smartphones also pack Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of base storage, and USB Type-C connectivity support.
The Xperia XZ and X Compact still don’t have an official retail price, but they will launch in October and September respectively. Both run Android 6.0 out of the box with the promise to upgrade to Nougat soon.
On the other hand, the Xperia Ear is a Bluetooth-like earpiece with digital assistant features built upon Sony’s Agent Technology. The device is voice-responsive and synchronizes wirelessly with other Xperia products to provide assistance in scheduling, information, directions, and more.
Sony unveils the NW-WM1Z and NW-WM1A high-end walkmans
Sony’s audio devices were the ones to truly steal the show at IFA, with the introduction of high-end Walkmans and the new ‘Signature Series’ of headphones.
The WM1 series of Sony’s iconic Walkman media players saw the addition of two new models: the NW-WM1Z and the NW-WM1A.
The WM1Z is truly a device to admire, with 256 GB of storage and a copper body coated in gold. The aluminum WM1A offers the same top quality with a black paint job and 128 GB. Both devices rock powerful batteries providing up to 30 hours of music and media.
The new Walkmans have dedicated buttons on the side, support Bluetooth 4.2 and have 4-inch LCD touch displays. However, quality comes at a hefty price: the WM1Z will cost $3,200 and the WM1A $1,200.
Sony does not mess around when it comes to audio quality, as it also introduced the MDR-1000X noise-cancelling wireless headphones at the Berlin show. With a price tag surpassing the $400 mark, the high-resolution headphones pair nicely with the newly launched Walkmans, all of which will be available for purchase starting October.
People can try out the PS VR at IFA 2016
Highlights of Sony’s presentation and exhibition booth include new BRAVIA monitors, media players, FDR series digital cameras and lenses, portable projectors and speakers.
The PlayStation VR will be on showcase at IFA 2016, allowing those in attendance to play ‘The Playroom VR,’ one of the many upcoming titles for the virtual reality headset. Upon launch in October, the PS VR will support games like ‘EVE: Valkyrie,’ ‘Resident Evil 7,’ and more.
Sony has surprised audiences at IFA 2016, with many left expectant to see what is next in the six remaining days of the massive European tech event.
Source: Sony
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