Sony at CES 2014 announced the Xperia Z1 Compact. A mini version of its successful and bigger Xperia Z1 smartphone that was released late last year.
Sony is one of the companies that is always present at the annual Consumer Electronics Show or CES to showcase their most recent technology and products they are either currently working on and products and services that are ready for release. So far I have heard PlayStation Now a cloud-based streaming game service, a 4K handycam, 4K TVs, and there's even a what they call "Short-throw 4K projector" that was announced during one of Sony's CES 2014 press conferences but there was no actual device that was shown only a presentation and how it should work once out. And then of course smartphone, another product line the Japanese company is also known for. Introducing Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.
The word "Compact" in this Xperia Z1 Compact is just another naming for the "Mini" version we know from other big players such as Samsung and Apple. However, that word, upon checking the specs of the said miniature Z1, is a more appropriate naming than using the word "mini". Why? Because it still packs a punch. Sony managed to bring the Snapdragon 800 processor, 16GB internal storage (expandable also), 2GB RAM and even the 20.7MP camera to the Z1 Compact which are the same specs we see in the bigger Z1.
Sony will release the Xperia Z1 Compact running on Android 4.3 Jellybean but promised an update to Android 4.4 Kitkat shortly after that. Isn't that amazing? So what are the specs that were brought down? Of course the screen size and display as the this smartphone features a 4.3-inch Triluminous 720p display with 341ppi. The original one has 5-inch Triluminous 1920x1080 Full HD display with 441ppi. Then the battery which was brought down from 3000mAh to 2300mAh which I think still not much of a big deal.
The reason why I talk this way is because based on what other "minified" Android smartphones that were released last year and the year before most of them were down sized not just the physical sizes of the devices but also the internal specs which somehow made the device less appealing if only not using the name of the flagship level predecessors.
We can still find the same waterproof, metal and glass design language Sony has put on the original one plus the LTE support on the Z1 Compact handset. LTE to me is now a must-feature that should be included in many smartphones not just the mid-range and flagship level ones but also the entry level devices. What do you think? It can still be submerged into water provided that it is not more than a meter deep and not longer than 30-minutes.
Pricing was not announced and additional info as to when the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact will hit markets apart from it will debut in February in some countries in Europe.
