The Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, and the new Xperia Z Ultra have made Sony a force to be reckoned within the smartphone arena, finally proving it has got what it takes to produce desirable smartphones without former partner Ericsson. Even with these three devices on its books for , it’s not done for the year. Invitations are circulating for an event in September, where we may see another new Sony device.
So what has it got in store for us? If the rumors are correct, it could be a swish new camera phone named the Sony i1. Camera phones are familiar territory for Sony, as proven as far back as the early 2000s with the Sony Ericsson K800i, but this one has the potential to be really special. The device hasn’t been confirmed by Sony, so everything you read about it is rumor or speculation, but with that in mind, here’s what we think we know about the Sony i1.
September 4 event
The only thing we know for certain is that Sony will be holding an event on Wednesday, September 4 at 4:15 in the afternoon, in its official booth at the IFA show in Berlin. The invitation tells us nothing more than that, but Sony did use this European consumer electronics show to reveal the Xperia T, Xperia V, and Xperia J smartphones last year, along with the Xperia S tablet.
Codename Honami
The Honami codename first started to appear online in April, when it was mentioned in an extensive leak alongside a device known as the Togari, which eventually became the Xperia Z Ultra. The early report claimed the phone would offer the very best Sony technology inside a single device, and that the Honami would rival the iPhone 5 and Xperia Z in design.
Sony i1. Maybe Xperia?
In mid-June, Svartling.net revealed plenty about the Honami, including that it would be known as the i1, but it’s not clear whether Sony will drop the Xperia name. It’s being linked with Sony’s “One Sony” business strategy announced in , where the company identified digital imaging, gaming, and mobile as the three core aspects of its business. One Sony is primarily about internal alterations, but it could also be used to bring about branding changes, so a new, spin-off mobile brand is at least a possibility.
Snapdragon 800 processor
Qualcomm’s top-of-the-range mobile chip is fast becoming the one to have in your flagship device, and Sony has already fitted it into the Xperia Z Ultra. The earliest reports featuring the Honami have almost all included references to the quad-core Snapdragon 800, and speculated it will run at 2.3GHz and be supported by 2GB of RAM.
20-megapixel camera
Most sources agree the Sony i1 will be marketed as a high-end camera phone, but the megapixel count is still in question. A 20-megapixel sensor has been mentioned, but there’s a chance pictures at this resolution will be enhanced by a “Super Resolution” software process, meaning the camera may have a far lower pixel count. If this sounds familiar, it’s the same thinking behind HTC’s UltraPixel camera on the HTC One.
Other possible camera features include the ability to shoot 4K video (something made possible by the Snapdragon 800 processor), a burst mode, a visual search app similar to Nokia’s City Lens, and just like Nokia has also done with the Lumia 1020, the introduction of a camera-specific API, so developers can create software add-ons. A selection of filters and an app to add graphics to your pictures has also been seen.
Another rumor report says the camera will be 20-megapixels and will use Sony’s backside illuminated Exmor R sensor, along with image stabilization, plus an ISO range of between 50 and 12,800, and a F2.0 aperture, with manual control. Other possible features include a Xenon flash, a separate shutter release button, and a 2.2-megapixel front camera.
The source of the Sony i1 name also talks about the phone having interchangeable camera lenses, along with a new Cyber-Shot branded camera app. The latter sounds possible, but the former most unlikely.
5-inch or larger Full HD display
Again, like the camera’s megapixel count, the screen size is also up for debate. Some sources claim it will measure 5 inches, while others aren’t so sure, and say it will fall somewhere in-between the Xperia Z’s 5-inch screen and the Xperia Z Ultra’s 6.4 inches. One thing they all agree on is a 1080p pixel resolution. A leaked picture supposedly shows the phone sandwiched between the Z and the Z Ultra, and suggests the screen will measure around 5.3 or 5.5 inches.
Other features
As a waterproof chassis has become a Sony mobile device staple, expect it on the Honami too, along with dust protection, 4G LTE connectivity, NFC, and an Infrared blaster for TV remote functionality. A pair of stereo speakers powered by Sony’s S-Master MX amp, previously seen on Android Walkman models, has also been rumored. An unknown version of Android will be its operating system, plus Sony could introduce a newly updated user interface.
We’d say we’ve got a relatively good idea of what the Sony i1 will be like, provided the rumors are correct, and we’ll keep you updated if anything else emerges between now and its announcement; after all, Sony has given us plenty of warning.
Source: DigitalTrends