Large-screen phones that look a lot like tablets are all the rage. They're enormous, but they can serve as handheld HDTVs, portable offices, or gaming consoles.
Consider the impressive two phones with five-inch screens that Sony launched at the Consumer Electronics Show this week. The Xperia Z and Xperia ZL target multimedia enthusiasts at both the high and middle tiers – and, of course, they're powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processors.
The Xperia Z joins the Droid DNA by HTC, ZTE Grand S, and Oppo Finder 5 in sporting a full 1080p display. It's also dust and water resistant. According to Sony, the Z can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes.
The Xperia ZL differs slightly from the Z. It's smaller, not as rugged, and will be available only in select markets. But it sports the same 1080p screen and 13 Megapixel camera as the Z.
Both the Xperia Z and ZL couldn't support all these power features without the processing might of a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro. The 1.5G hz processor — the same one that powers the Droid DNA by HTC — is packed with quad CPU cores and an Adreno 320 graphics processor. That makes the phones lightning fast.
Other noteworthy features in the Xperia phones include built in NFC and WiFi Direct. They will also be equipped with a power-saving setting called Battery Stamina Mode. In this mode, the phone automatically detects when the screen is off, then turns off the stream of data the phone usually pulls down. However, it's customizable, so you can choose to make exceptions for apps such as Gmail or Facebook. Sony claims its Battery Stamina Mode will extend standby time up to 400%.
The Sony Xperia Z and ZL will be available worldwide by Q1 2013. No word yet on pricing and carrier information.
More CES Coverage:
> Inside the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Theater
> Abby Cadabby and AllJoyn make a splash at CES
> ZTE Grand S makes high definition incredibly thin
> A New Horsepower War Heats Up
> A Twitterview with Raj Talluri - What’s the latest and greatest from Snapdragon processors?
> A Twitterview with Rob Chandhok - the future of mobile user experiences
> Tango and YUZA Use Facial Processing APIs for New App Features
