Sony Xperia XZ Philippines Price and Release Date Guesstimate, Key Features

Equipped with the best pair of cameras and set of internal hardware on any Android smartphone by the Japanese tech giant this year, the Sony Xperia XZ is a top-notch flagship release through and through.

Practically the follow-up to the 2015 Sony Xperia Z5 from the discontinued Z-Series, this elegant handset features a slew of fresh innovations from the company including a triple image sensing technology, a more intelligent battery, and a re-imagined design that should appeal to discerning consumers.

Looks-wise, it flaunts a no-non-sense design language, a clear and vibrant 5.2-inch Full HD Triluminos Display with X-Reality Engine that enhances hues and contrast depending on the ambient light or the user's preference, and a tubular feel in the hand that - together - allow the device to exude an air of sophistication. The back is crafted from what the company calls ALKALEIDO metal that adds more depth and brilliance to the finish.

Just like Sony Xperia Z5, Xperia XZ's Fingerprint Scanner is located on the right panel for quick and easy access using the thumb when holding the phone with one hand.

Crafted to put a smile on the faces of the most demanding mobile photographers, Sony Xperia XZ is equipped with a 23 MegaPixel camera featuring three imaging sensors that analyze and capture images better than previous models in various lighting conditions. To be specific, it has a standard sensor, a laser autofocus sensor measuring the distance of the shooter from the subject, and another one that tracks visible color and infrared information to better adjust white balance and deliver more natural tones.

This main camera is complemented by a 13 MegaPixel front snapper with Beauty or Soft Skin mode that should give you selfies that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook and Instagram.

Under the hood, Sony Xperia XZ runs Android Marshmallow OS right out of the box with the beastly Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor for industry-leading mobile gaming performance, has 3GB of RAM, and comes with either 32 or 64GB of internal storage that's expandable via the dedicated microSD card slot on the Single SIM version or the hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot on the Dual SIM variant.

This flagship smartphone is powered by a non-removable 2,900 mAh Li-Ion battery pack providing two days of uptime from 100% and featuring Sony's all-new intelligent charging technology that prevents long-term battery decline.

Available in a number of classy colors including Forest Blue, Platinum, and Mineral Black, Sony Xperia XZ has already been previewed in the Philippines so there's a big chance that it will be launched here. The official price and release date have yet to be disclosed but I'm guessing it should land here come Yuletide 2016 with SRP in the range of Php 35,000 to Php 37,000 for the Dual SIM version.

Update as of Q1 2017: Sony Xperia XZ has been officially launched in the Philippines with an official suggested retail price of Php 37,990.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST) Name : Sony Xperia XZ Philippines
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm
Weight : 161 grams
Available Colors : Platinum, Mineral Back, Forest Blue, Deep Pink
Operating System : Android 7.1 Nougat (via upgrade) with Xperia UI
Display : 5.2 inches (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~424 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Corning Gorilla Glass (TBD)
Processor : 64-Bit Quad Core (2.15 GHz Kryo X 2 + 1.6 GHz Kryo X 2), Adreno 530 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 32GB/64GB ROM options, expandable via hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot doubling as microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 23 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, 25mm focal length, EIS (gyro), predictive phase detection and laser autofocus, 1/2.3" sensor size, LED flash
Front: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, 22mm, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Video Capture : Back - 4K 30 frames per second, Full HD 30 frames per second
Front - 1080p
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.2 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE-A Cat9
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Color Spectrum
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 19(800), 20(800), 26(850), 28(700), 29(700), 32(1500), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 2,900 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : 610 Hours of Standby, 17 Hours and 30 Minutes of Talk Time
Value-Added Features : Premium Build, Dual Front Facing Speakers, IP68 Certified Water and Dust Resistant
Announcement : Philippines - Q1 2017
Availability : Philippines - Q1 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 37,990