CES 2013: Sony announces Xperia Z and Xperia ZL 1080p smartphones

One of the most anticipated devices leading up to CES 2013 has been Sony’s upcoming flagship phone—the Sony Xperia Z. The company has finally announced the device during the ongoing event. With this phone, Sony is joining the current trend of stuffing a 1080p resolution in a 5-inch screen. This gives the device a pixel resolution of 443 ppi. The effect this will have on the battery life of the phone is yet to be seen.

The main selling point of the device will undoubtedly be the 13 megapixel camera. The camera gives users the ability to record HDR video. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and is LTE-capable. The company has announced a global launch for the device this quarter.

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The LTE-enabled Sony Xperia Z

Here are some of the specifications of the Xperia Z:

• 5-inch screen with a 1080p resolution
• 4G LTE, EDGE, Wi-Fi, NFC
• GPS with A-GPS support
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 13 megapixel camera with HDR recording and 2 megapixel front-facing camera

The Xperia Z’s display is powered by Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine 2. Another major feature is a Battery Stamina Mode that the company claims can improve the standby time of the phone by four times by shutting down battery draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on.

The Sony Xperia ZL without LTE

Along with the Xperia Z, Sony has also announced the Xperia ZL—a variant that will only be available in some regions where the Xperia Z isn’t. While the specifications are identical to the Xperia Z, the Xperia ZL is slightly thicker and lacks a glass back panel and LTE capabilities. The ZL also lacks the IP55 and IP57 certification, which means it isn’t dust and water resistant like the Z.