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Sony Mobile’s contribution to the Mobile World Congress 2018 comes in the shape of the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact smartphones. With a 1/2.3″ 19MP image sensor and F2.0 aperture the basic camera specs remain unchanged from the predecessors, but the cameras in the new models offer a couple of improvements that will be especially welcome by mobile videographers.
The Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are the first smartphones capable of recording 4K HDR video footage, using the Hybrid-Log-Gamma (HLG) standard. This means 4K HDR clips shot on the XZ2 will be playable on most HDR-capable TVs and can be processed by Youtube.
The phones are capable of processing the massive amounts of data that is recorded for HDR video thanks to a built-in DRAM buffer in the imaging chip. The same technology also helps drive Sony’s motion-eye super-slow-motion mode that was first introduced last year. The 2017 Sony flagships could record 960 frames per second at HD resolution for 0.2 seconds, resulting in 6 seconds of playback time – the same as on the brand new Samsung Galaxy S9.
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| The new models come with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. |
On the new XZ2 Sony has taken things one step further and offers the same frame rates at 1080p Full-HD resolution. On the downside, recording time is cut in half, to 0.1 seconds, resulting in 3 seconds of playback time. Super-slow-motion clips can be embedded in standard video, though, so there is plenty of opportunity to get creative with the super-fast frame rates.
Both new devices are powered by Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipset, the Snapdragon 845 and come with Full-HD displays with 18:9 aspect ratio – 5.7″ in size on the XZ2 and 5″ on the Compact model. The latter remains pretty much the only option in the market that combines a compact form factor with high-end performance.
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| The Xperia XZ2 (left) next to its smaller cousin Xperia XZ2 Compact |
Apart from display size the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact differ in several ways: the smaller model does not offer Qi wireless charging nor the new Dynamic Vibration function that translates sound, for example when watching videos or playing a game, into vibrations for a more immersive media consumption experience. It also comes with a smaller battery (2870 mAh vs 3180 mAh) than its larger cousin.
More information on the new Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact is available on the Sony website.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)