Sony today unveiled its latest flagship handset: the Xperia XZ. The handset features the same design language that Sony has been using on its devices since all these years albeit with changes to keep the device looking fresh.

The “unified design” now offers more rounded edges with an ALKALEIDO aluminium alloy on the back that has a shiny look but a premium feel. With the XZ, Sony is once again reintroducing water resistance capabilities to its flagship smartphone lineup, though it’s not waterproof like Sony’s previous Xperia Z flagships.

The 8.1mm thick handset features a 5.2-inch 1080p display. Inside the XZ is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a microSD card slot. The handset also sports a 2900mAh battery, which Sony says is enough to make the handset last two days on a single charge. There is also adaptive charging that ensures optimumbattery health. There is also a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button of the handset.

https://youtu.be/QdY4IJguI0k

The 23MP rear shooter of the Xperia XZ uses the company’s latest IMX300 sensor. This 1/2.3-inch sensor is paired with a 6-element f/2.0 lens. It also features PDAF, LaserAF, and IR color sensor for faster autofocus times and improved color accuracy. There is also Sony’s “triple image sensing technology” and 5-axis software stabilisation. The XZ can record videos in up to 4K resolution, though the stabilisation features are only available while shooting Full HD videos. At the front is a 13MP 1/3″ shooter with a 90-degree wide angle lens.

“Both Xperia XZ and X Compact offer significant advancements in the evolution of video recording, with the introduction of the world’s first 5-axis image stabilization cultivated in Sony’s Handycam camcorders, with Sony’s SteadyShot Mode, which allows the user to shoot smoother videos even when walking or capturing extreme close-ups.”

https://youtu.be/MASBntELeAY

Sony did not announce the pricing of the Xperia XZ, but it did reveal that it will be launching the handset in the US on October 23.