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Sony Xperia Z1: Is this the ultimate cameraphone?

Sony Xperia Z1: Is this the ultimate cameraphone?

The whirlwind of IFA has begun and device after device has been announced. When it came to Sony, a new 20.7-megapixel flagship smartphone was clearly one of the stars of the show.

It launches with the highest resolution camera on Android, swatting aside the 13-megapixel Samsung Galaxy S4 and Apple's 8-megapixel iPhone 5, looking to give you the best pictures around.

They company's marketing teasers claimed "the best of Sony is about to get even better" and if you look at the Xperia Z1 spec sheet, it wasn't lying.

Better specs

Enhanced processor, better display and improved bodywork are all part of the deal. But it's the upgraded camera, which is its biggest attribute.

It comes with an Exmor RS 1/2.3-inch 20.7-megapixel sensor, which makes it the highest resolution Android smartphone on the market, and Sony has also included a Sony G lens and Bionz processor. It doesn't only offer more pixels, it's physically larger, to capture more light.

In a nutshell, Sony has taken the sensor in its HX50 compact camera and popped it into the Xperia Z1. You won't get the 30x optical zoom you get with the compact, but given that the Xperia Z1 is only 8.5mm thick, it's pretty impressive.

How does it do

On first play, it's quick and responsive and the images are sharp. There are also some really useful and fun features that come along with it and Sony has also added a number of modes to help you get more out of it including Social Live, Info-Eye, Timeshift Burst and AR effect.

If you are an avid Facebook picture uploader, then you'll enjoy Social Live as it allows you to live stream to the social network for up to 10 minutes at a time. Your friends will be able to comment on the video as you record it so if they want to see more of the room you filming in for example, they can use the comments to tell you so you can move to accommodate.

Taking an image in Info-Eye mode will give you information, for example, we tried it on Brandenburg Gate and it gave us a whole host of information.

Time Shift Burst takes 61 shots at the press of the button, 30 frames before you press it and 30 after, allowing you to choose the image you like most and AR effect lets you automatically add silly extras.

The modes are not only good fun but they could prove to be quite useful in some situations so we think they are valuable added extras.

What else you get

The Xperia Z1 builds on the current Xperia Z, which already has a lot going for it, and adds some of the larger Sony Xperia Z Ultra's great features.

It will launch with Android 4.2.2 and there are plenty of Sony features including battery management options, the Walkman app with music unlimited integrated, as well as video unlimited integrated into the movies app.

The 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor means the device is very responsive and fast, with no waiting around for it to load or complete a task.

It comes with 2GB RAM, along with 16GB of storage, expandable through microSD which you will need if you plan on taking advantage of it's mighty camera.

In addition, you’ll get NFC connectivity, GPS and Bluetooth, plus (drum roll) the Xperia Z1, like the Xperia Z, is waterproof.

Verdict

From what we have seen so far, it's a great phone with a very good camera. It brings a number of Sony's best features into it, such as the Triluminos display technology found in the company's Bravia TVs. The 5-inch Full HD display is really impressive.

Different people enjoy different features, but on paper and after trying the Xperia Z1 out, it certainly deserves to be in the running for the market's ultimate cameraphone.




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