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Sony’s latest two entries in the super-competitive smartphone wars bring photo-taking to a new level, with the Xperia C5 Ultra, which is built around twin 13-megapixel cameras front and rear, and the Xperia M5, which sports a 21.5MP main rear-facing camera that includes hybrid auto-focus, a 5X zoom and 4K video capabilities.
The new Xperia 4G LTE-capable smartphones were unveiled by Sony on Aug. 3 as mid-range devices aimed at attracting consumers who are trying to increase the photographic capabilities of their handsets.
The Xperia 5 Ultra (pictured) is being touted as including professional-quality selfie capabilities through the new 13MP front and rear camera that offer high-resolution imagery, according to the company. Both cameras include Sony’s leading Exmor RS sensor, high-definition HDR for photos and videos and a preset automatic scene recognition mode that analyzes and adjusts settings automatically for better photos.
Also included is an enhanced selfie flash that lightens up more of the frame for clearer, brighter images when taken with the front-facing 22mm wide-angle lens.
The Xperia C5 Ultra features a 6-inch HD display that also includes Sony’s television technology Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, which lets users see their videos and photos with clearer details, according to the company.
The smartphone includes a 1.7 GHz 64 bit octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in flash storage (expandable via a micro SD card up to 200GB), an aluminum frame and a 2,930mAh battery. The phone runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. The devices come in black, white or glossy soft mint.
The new Xperia M5 has an even more powerful rear-facing camera than its stablemate, with a 21.5MP camera that also includes a 5X zoom, bringing the features of a quality point-and-shoot camera to a smartphone, according to Sony.
Also included is a 13MP selfie cam, which features integrated autofocus and full-HD video recording capabilities.
The Xperia M5 includes a 5-inch full HD display, a 64-bit 2GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in flash memory (which is expandable with a micro SD card up to 200GB) and a 2,600mAh battery. It is available in gold, black or white and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Xperia M5 is also waterproof and dust-proof to protect against accidental splashes and tough conditions.
Both smartphones are available in either single or dual SIM models and will be offered for sale in selected countries starting in mid-August. Prices have not yet been announced.
“We are pleased to present two new products that highlight Sony’s advances in camera technology,” Tony McNulty, vice-president of the value category business management division at Sony Mobile Communications, said in a statement. “We understand that camera capabilities are important to smartphone users, so we ensured that Sony’s existing camera brilliance was once again surpassed in the new Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia M5 without compromising on other features across design and performance.”