Sony may have dropped the first official hint about a brand new smartphone. The company tweeted we should, “Get ready for a smartphone with greater focus. All will become clear on 02.09.2015” along with a blurred image of a Sony smartphone and the Brandenburg Gate in the background. Focus on the camera hints at a high-end device, especially since Sony’s flagship hasn’t received a major camera upgrade since the Xperia Z2.
Get ready for a smartphone with greater focus. All will become clear on 02.09.2015. pic.twitter.com/Mm7HjWKojA
— Sony Xperia GB (@sonyxperiagb) August 24, 2015
The Japanese company is well known for launching devices at IFA 2015, which will be held between September 4 – 9 in Berlin. It is also known for its unconventional launch windows, sometimes waiting less than five months before launching its next high-end phone. This year it has already released the Xperia Z4/Xperia Z3+, and in 2014, the Xperia Z3, and Z3 Compact were both launched at IFA, despite the Xperia Z2 only being available in the U.S. for five months.
The tweet doesn’t explicitly mention the Xperia Z5, but rumors are circulating about an entire smartphone family built around the new flagship phone, so there’s a strong chance this is the device which it’s teasing. Sony subsequently confirmed it will attend IFA 2015, and that its keynote will be hosted two days prior to the event on September 2 at 16:45 CET (11:45 ET).
7 days to go… Join us on 02.09.15 for the future of Xperia evolution. #SonyIFA pic.twitter.com/JXfNBnesdT
— Sony Xperia (@sonyxperia) August 26, 2015
If it is the Xperia Z5, what should we expect? Apart from the new camera, Sony might also upgrade the display to 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, so it can better compete with other Android flagships. There are also reports of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor coming to the Xperia Z5, but Qualcomm doesn’t expect the chip to be ready for sale until 2016. On the software side, Sony will most likely continue to use its standard Xperia user interface (UI), but it was looking for testers earlier in the year to work on a “stripped back” version of Android, similar to the stock operating system from Google.
Sony needs to make big steps with the Xperia Z5 to keep up with competition. The OnePlus 2, Moto X Pure, HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6, and a few other Android devices are packed into an extremely competitive market, and most are still losing market share.
