The majority of smartphone manufacturers are currently readying their next flagship devices. Every gadget enthusiast expects the first half of 2014 to be full of impressive releases, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G3, just to name a few. But what about Sony? Is the Japanese manufacturer planning on releasing anything new during these following months? The company in question was quite active last year, when it released a handful of impressive and successful smartphones. The list includes the Xperia Z, the Z1, and of course, the gargantuan Xperia Z Ultra – all of them dust and waterproof.
So what are Sony’s plans anyway? Earlier this month, during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), we found out that the company has been working on the so-called Xperia Z1 Compact. The device in question packs high-end specifications, but its screen measures only 4.3 inches in diagonal. This makes the Compact a unique specimen in the Android world, and you can read more about it in our recent comparison between the Z1 Compact and the 5-inch Xperia Z1.
But speaking of the Xperia Z1, the most recent leaks and rumors have revealed that Sony is working on what appears to be a Z1 successor. For now, the device is known either as the “Xperia Sirius” or “Xperia Z2.” Regardless of what nametag will be chosen, this particular handset has a lot to show for itself.
Rumored Hardware Specifications
Despite the fact that the Xperia Sirius is a new blip on the radar, leaks are coming in strong and the handset has already been captured in numerous photos. Information about the gadget’s alleged hardware specifications are also present, and according to these rumors, we should expect a 5.2-inch smartphone boasting a Snapdragon 800 MSM8974-AB processor. The CPU takes advantage of quad-core architecture, it runs at a frequency of 2.3 GHz and it’s coupled with an Adreno 330 graphics chip. 3 GB of RAM are expected to be on-board, as well as 16 GB of storage expandable via microSD.
Some people consider the Sirius an Xperia Z1 refresh rather than a true successor due to the handset’s screen resolution. According to all of these leaks and rumors, the Sirius would supposedly feature a 1080 x 1920 panel, which is exactly what you get from the Z1.
In any case, the device is also rumored to feature a 20.7 MP main camera with a 1/2.5” sensor size and an LED flash. The unit is expected to be capable of recording 2160p videos, and it could also take advantage of features such as slow motion video capture and background defocus mode (for blurred “bokeh”backgrounds).
Software and Design
As far as the handset’s software goes, it appears that the Sirius will arrive with Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box. That should be a big plus in everyone’s book. The story doesn’t end there however, as a ton of screenshots depicting a new user interface has also hit the blogosphere. These shots gave us the opportunity to learn that the device will use a Simple Home launcher, featuring a larger grid of applications and three speed dial shortcuts. There’s also a new dialer which appears to take advantage of an answering machine feature, and Smart call handling also appears to be present.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing additions is a news feed screen that is quite similar to what HTC is offering via BlinkFeed in the Sense 5 (and up) user interface. It’s currently unknown how this social media feature will work, but it doesn’t seem to replace the regular Android home screen.
Last but certainly not least, these UI screenshots have also been accompanied by a multitude of photos showing off the device in all possible angles. The handset appears to deliver a very thin screen bezel, and when compared with the Xperia Z1 side-by-side, the Sirius is only slightly larger (in height if not anywhere else). There also seems to be a notification LED at the very top edge of the front panel, and after a close inspection it appears that the device could take advantage of two front-mounted stereo speakers. Finally, the Sirius doesn’t seem to break the Xperia tradition, and based on the lids and covers concealing all of its ports, the device should be dust and water proof.
Expected Unveiling
The mysterious Sirius seems to be almost ready for launch, and according to sources, the handset should be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress in February. The event will take place in Barcelona between the 24th and 27th of the month, but until that moment comes, more leaks and rumors surrounding the Sirius are bound to surface.
What are your thoughts on this particular device? Assuming that all these leaks turn out to be true, would you consider the Sirius a Z1 successor, or a refresh? We invite you to share your opinion in the comment section below.
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues. Follow Vlad on Google Plus.