#SonyMWC – the week that was

What a week we’ve had! On Monday the entire mobile industry gathered in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2016. It’s one of our favourite dates in the calendar, and this year was bigger and better than ever before.

On Monday 22^nd February, we unveiled a new-look Xperia^TM brand with the first “X” series smartphones and a vision for the future of communications.

Our President and CEO, Hiroki Totoki, announced our new“X” series smartphones – Xperia X, Xperia X Performance and Xperia XA. It was an exciting moment as Hiroki Totoki held up the new devices and explored the shift Xperia is taking to add new layers of intelligence into the features that matter most to our customers: camera, battery and design. To help you understand a little more about our brand new phones we’ve published an infographic, exploring “3 ways Xperia X series is smarter than your average smartphone”.

To show our commitment to this new brand vision, we surprised MWC by introducing our new Xperia smart products, each featuring expanded communication experiences. Xperia Ear is a next-generation wireless ear-piece lets you communicate at the same time as enjoying the world around you. The device was well received by delegates and the tech press with both Tom’s Guide and Alphr awarding it “Best of MWC”. Take a look for yourself.

Finally, as the cherry on the top we unveiled our all-new Xperia smart product concepts including Xperia Eye, Xperia Agent and Xperia Projector. The machine learning, natural user interface and sensing inherent to these devices are just a taster of the journey Xperia is on as we continually aim to use intelligent solutions to make communications more straightforward. You can rewatch the whole press announcement below:

On Monday we also held our live Twitter Q+A with our very own Jun Makino, giving you all the chance to get involved and find out everything you needed to know about the new products and Sony’s brand vision.
Below you can see a few of your most asked questions:

• When will the Xperia X Series phones be available to purchase?
  Whilst we announced our new products at MWC, the rollout of devices will start in Summer 2016. Also make sure you check in with your local operators for more information on availability. 

• Will Sony make an Xperia thicker to incorporate a larger battery or are you focusing on software to prolong battery life?
  We focus on providing a great battery life without compromising on the perfect fit in your hand. We introduced Qnovo adaptive charging ¹ to enhance battery lifespan on top of up to two days battery ² on a single charge.
• What are the differences between Xperia X and Xperia X Performance? 
  Xperia X Performance is a high powered variant for select markets. For those thirsty for the highest speed and performance, Xperia X Performance also comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and an IP68 body!
  

• Is there a flash on the front-facing Xperia X series camera
  The 13MP front camera of the Xperia X has the same low-light technology as our main camera and ensures great selfies even in low light.
• Why are Xperia X & XA not waterproof?
  We have reviewed the market and believe that our customers for these phones have different priorities. We believe that focusing on improving the camera, battery and design for these models are more important to provide a better user experience that will seamlessly integrate into, and enhance, our customers’ lives.

Check out our Twitter feed to see all the questions we answered.

On top of the great feedback we received all week on the stand, the huge social media buzz, and the great coverage that’s been appearing across the world, we’ve also seen Xperia products collect loads of awards

You can see the list of winners below:

• Mobile Geeks: Best Midrange – Xperia XA
• Ubergizmo: Best of MWC – Xperia Performance
• Tech Spot: Best of MWC – Xperia Projector
• Alphr: Best of MWC – Xperia Ear
• Trusted Reviews: Best of MWC – Xperia Agent
• Alphr: Best Mid-Range – Xperia XA
• Expert Reviews: Best Mid-Range – Xperia XA
• Mobile Geeks: Best Accessory – Xperia Ear
• Android Central: MWC 2016 Top Pick – Xperia X Performance
• Android Pit: Best Android Wearable
• Tom’s Guide: Best of MWC – Xperia Ear
• 4g News: Best Wearable at MWC 2016
• Tech Radar: Best Wearable – Highly Commended
• Gizmag: Best Surprise – Xperia Ear

We couldn’t be happier with how the new products have been received, with lots of excellent first impressions being published by the likes of Pocketlint, CNET, and Tech Radar.

The fun didn’t stop there. Aside from beavering away on our stand, we were also working on an exciting project that will be coming very soon. Here’s a little teaser but we can’t give anymore away right now. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

That’s everything for now. Adios!

 

1 Qnovo adaptive charging is  featured on all X series models. 2x battery lifespan refers to Xperia X and Xperia X Performance with Qnovo enabled when compared to Xperia Z2. During laboratory battery capacity retention cycle testing conducted by Sony Mobile Communications and Qnovo Incorporated, the battery cell used in Xperia Z2 achieved a lifespan up to 2 times longer with Qnovo. The result may vary depending on conditions and environment.

2 Battery life is estimated at up to 3.5 hours based on continuous usage, with an extra 12 hours available using in-case charging. Usage measured against Sony Mobile’s typical accessory user profile (including but not limited to voice input, calls and message dictation). Performance may vary according to usage.

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