Sony came in with a flourish at Mobile World Congress 2014, introducing two new smartphones and a tablet. The Sony Xperia Z2 features 4K video recording and the high-end specifications of a strong flagship smartphone. The Xperia M2 is a more mid-range device, but could appeal to those on a budget. Meanwhile, the Xperia Z2 tablet is a super-thin 10.1-inch tablet with cool bells and whistles attached.
Xperia Z2: A flagship worth having
Although the Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone doesn't represent a giant leap forward for Sony, it does offer a few key improvements over its predecessor. The Xperia Z2 features a remarkable 20.7-megapixel camera capable of capturing 4K video. The previous model could only shoot 1080p video, so this is quite a big achievement for Sony. Even though the Z2's camera has the same 20.7-megapixel sensor as the Z1, Sony claims that it has improved the quality of the sensor, so that your images will come out more crisp and full of color.
Unfortunately, the Xperia Z2 has the same 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution display as its predecessor, so watching the 4K videos you recorded on the Z2 won't be quite as awesome as it should be. However, as Sony helpfully points out, the 4K camera is future proof, meaning that even if you keep the Z2 for a few years, you'll still have one of the best smartphone cameras around because the Z2 can capture 4K video. You'll also probably want to watch your 4K video on your big-screen 4K TV anyways, so it's not too much of a big deal. The Z2's display did get a bit bigger, though, measuring 5.2-inches diagonally.
Sony also upgraded the processor to Qualcomm's interim processor, the Snapdragon 801 running at 2.3 GHz. The flagship also features 3 GB of RAM to back up the powerful processor. The Xperia Z2 is also fully waterproof just like its predecessor. It can be submerged in three feet of water for 30 minutes and emerge in fine working order. The Xperia Z2 has a micro SD card slot, so that you can expand the internal storage when you run out. The micro SD card slot will be especially useful for those of you who actually plan to shoot 4K video with the Z2. Another huge plus you'll get with the Xperia Z2 is Android 4.4, which comes preinstalled on the device.
The Sony Xperia Z2 will go on sale in select markets this March. It will come in black, white and purple color options. Sony has not mentioned a price for its new flagship yet, but it's safe to assume that it will probably cost the same as the previous model. It is unknown whether Sony will release the Z2 in the United States, but anything is possible now that a few of its smartphones have made their way stateside.
Xperia M2: A mid-range, waterproof device
The Xperia M2 is definitely a mid-range device that won't elicit a lot of excitement, but it's okay for what it is. The M2 comes with a 4.8-inch, 960 x 540 resolution display, which doesn't look too bad even though its not full HD. The Xperia M2 is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, backed by 1 GB of RAM, so most applications should run pretty smoothly. Although Sony only added 8 GB of internal storage on the M2, the company threw in a micro SD card slot, so that you can increase that number up to 32 GB more.
Sony gave the M2 an 8-megapixel back camera, which in comparison with the Z2's excellent 20.7-megapixel camera, looks positively pathetic. Still, Apple's iPhone 5S only has an 8-megapixel camera onboard, too and nobody seems to be complaining about that. One minor disappointment with the M2 is that the device won't be running the latest version of Android. This device is stuck in the past with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Sony sort of makes up for that letdown by waterproofing the M2, though.
The Sony Xperia M2 will be available in black, white and purple color options this spring. Sony did not specify an exact release date or price for the M2, but if the company wants it to sell, the price will have to be right.
Xperia Z2 tablet: A super-thin tablet with distinct appeal
In addition to the smartphones Sony debuted at MWC 2014, it also showed off the Xperia Z2 tablet. Much like the Z2 smartphone, the Z2 tablet doesn't feature a huge improvement in its specifications, but it does include a few key improvements that put it well ahead of its predecessor.
The Xperia Z2 tablet has the same 10.1-inch, Full HD display as the Xperia Z tablet, but it is significantly thinner at just 6.4-millimeters thick. In case you're wondering. that's thinner than the iPad Air, which measures 7.4-millimeters thick. Of course, this is most likely due to the iPad Air's higher resolution Retina display, so it's a trade off. The Z2 tablet is also completely waterproof and has a micro SD card slot, so that you can expand its internal storage.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor powers the Xperia Z2 tablet, giving it a slight advantage over its predecessor. It also has 3 GB of RAM onboard to speed things up. The addition of Android 4.4 KitKat really puts the Z2 over the top, though.
Just like the Z2 smartphone, the Sony Xperia Z2 tablet will also arrive in March for an unspecified price. However, given its high-end specifications, the Xperia Z2 tablet will probably cost you a pretty penny. Sony did not say whether the Z2 tablet would debut in the United States anytime soon, but as will all of Sony's devices, it will definitely arrive in many European countries, as well as the United Kingdom.
