The new Xperia Z5 Premium by Sony is the world's first smartphone to have a 4K UHD display.
If there's a race in this type of technology, Sony had clearly won. However, if no one else is interested in competing, then it can be considered as a milestone and not as a victory.
"Imagine the best of Sony TV technologies delivered in a smartphone. A super-vivid and sharp display, right in the palm of your hand. Meet Xperia Z5 Premium. With a 4K Ultra HD display, this 5.5-inch smartphone packs in four times the resolution of Full HD for an unrivaled viewing experience," said Sony Mobile.
Sony's claiming tactic of being the first smartphone maker to equip its devices with the 4K display technology is not entirely new in the mobile industry. Other companies such as Apple, Samsung and LG all have claimed their own "firsts." These include Apple with its 3D Touch in the new iPhone 6s flagships, Samsung with its wireless mobile charging system and LG with its curved display.
A 4K display has a resolution of 3840 by 2160 and has around 8.3 megapixels. This is equivalent to four times the number of pixels found in a regular 1920 by 1080. In other words, displays in the 4K range have the capacity to produce on-screen images that are absolutely sharper.
It's but natural for everyone to want sharper images on their screen display. It definitely makes the viewing experience more fun and worthwhile. However, this may still depend on what type of device has the 4K display.
If it's a television, a 4K display would undoubtedly make sense. Of course, the content should also be made to accommodate the type of resolution it requires.
Sony has designed the Xperia Z5 Premium with the capacity to stream 4K content from the phone to a 4K TV. This can be wirelessly done through MHL 3.0 or DLNA. With that being said, it means that one would need to have a 4K TV in his living room if he wants to take advantage of the feature. It also boils down the fact that Sony understands very well how 4K technology becomes more significant when used in the living room as compared to utilizing it through one's smartphone.
Other devices such as laptops and PCs can also take advantage of the added resolution.
"Xperia Z5 Premium takes a giant leap in display technology, adding more pixels to reach an ultra-sharp 806 PPI. That's around 10x the pixels of a Full HD TV, and more than double most smartphones," said Sony.
If having a 4K display on a phone is something that would make a user truly happy, then the Xperia Z5 Premium fits the tab perfectly well. It remains to be seen just how far Sony will continue touting the device to be the first to have the technology when no one else seemed interested to follow its lead.
