News & Reviews:   Sony Xperia Z

If you were wishing for a Samsung Galaxy S4, LG Nexus 4, Sony Xperia Z or HTC One without any contract but still at a subsidized price, then DiGi is the first telco to offer this type of deal. Covering four of the major smartphones in Malaysia, another thing setting them apart is that they all offer Google Edition versions although, we're pretty sure you won't get the Google Edition if you buy any of them except for the LG Nexus 4. While you won't be contracted for 12 or 24 months you will be signed on with a DG SmartPlan 58 but you can terminate the plan anytime without any early termination fee. In addition to this you will also get two months monthly fee waived. For more details on pricing check out the table below:

Sony's upcoming 6.44-inch phablet codenamed Togari will likely be revealed in a press event in Paris on 4 July 2013. The press invite teases the thin and slim phablet by showing a side view of it in an extra long invite. The Sony Togari phablet will likely be called the Sony Xperia Z Ultra and have the following impressive tech specs:

• 6.44-inch (1080p, Triluminuous) display
• 2.3GHz Qualcomm Quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 8MP Exmore RS Camera
• IP58 certified
• Android 4.2.2

Since Sony did start this whole water-proof smartphone craze with their Sony Xperia Z, it makes sense that they'd also be the first to provide a water-proof tablet as well. The tablet in question is the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. Following the thin and OmniBalance design similar to the Sony Xperia Z, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z looks great with a flat and ultra-slim profile (at 7mm it is thinner than the Apple iPad). Tech specs for the Sony Xperia Tablet Z include:

• 10.1-inch display (1080p, 224ppi)
• 1.5GHz Quadcore Qualcomm S4 Pro processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB RAM + microSD
• 8.1MP rear camera + 2.2MP front camera
• 6000 mAh battery
• IP57 certification
• Android 4.1.2

Sony's upcoming phablet codenamed the Togari or otherwise known as the Sony Xperia ZU has leaked a number of images online. The first of witch involves a cute little cat on top of an ultra slim and thin slate that is supposedly the Togari. Granted, the image is very low quality, but it does give an inkling as to the size and shape of the Togari. Rumoured tech specs for the Togari include:

• 6.44-inch (1080p, Triluminuous) display
• 2.3GHz Qualcomm Quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 8MP Exmore RS Camera
• IP58 certified
• Android 4.2.2

Already, two major smartphones have become Nexus devices by going Google Edition and it appears that the Sony Xperia Z Google Edition is next in line. Admittedly still the flagship smartphone of Sony, the Sony Xperia Z will follow suit and go stock Google according to two separate Android rumour sites. Like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One before it, the Sony Xperia Z will get faster Nexus-like updates but apart from the ROM, it won't get any hardware refresh so tech specs should remain the same.

When the Sony Xperia Z first came out one of it's main features that let it stand out from the crowd was it's IP57 water and dust resistant certification. This meant you could wash the Sony Xperia Z, have it fall into hot soup and still work fine. A lot of creative testing was done, from dipping and freezing it in chocolate to cooking it in the hotpot and in all cases the Sony Xperia Z came out working fine. The Sony Xperia ZR expands upon this feature by offering IP58 water and dust proof certification. How does it match up against the previous Sony Xperia Z? Read on and find out. Click here for the full tech spec comparison.

Confirming earlier rumours about the tougher more waterproof Sony smartphone coming after the Sony Xperia Z, Sony recently announced the Sony Xperia ZR. As mentioned previously before, the new Sony Xperia ZR can now be submerged under 1.5m and complies with the aforementioned IP58 durability ratings. Asides from this it is more dust resistant and has an anti-shatter film (of the kind that can probably take power tools on). Other tech specs include:

• 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 (Quad-core) processor
• 2GB RAM
• 4.55-inch display (720p, anti-shatter, 319ppi)
• 13MP rear camera (Exmor RS sensor, fast capture, 16x digital zoom, Full HD video recording)
• Mobile Bravia Engine 2
• NFC + LTE support

The Sony Xperia Z made waves with its IP57 water, dust and heat durability. Now, rumours are swirling that another tough Sony Xperia smartphone may be coming, this time with IP58 durability rating. According to these rumours, this new tougher smartphone may be called the Sony Xperia ZR. Tech specs for the Sony Xperia ZR may include the following:

• 1.5GHz Quadcore Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
• 2GB RAM
• 13MP Exmor RS camera
• 4.6-inch screen (720p)
• 8GB storage
• 2300 mAh battery
• 10mm thick + 140g weight

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV is probably the most feature-filled smartphone of its class it isn't able to match the Sony Xperia Z in one aspect, which is mainly its IP57 certification, or its ability to withstand water, dust and the elements. This may no longer be the case as Young Soo Kim, President of Samsung Gulf was recently quoted as saying that a tough, more rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV is currently being developed.

This is good news for those of us with butterfingers who tend to drop our smartphones on a regular basis. Unfortunately he did not mention how this would be achieved, only that a water and dust resistant Samsung Galaxy S4 was already being developed and that it would be announced in a few more weeks. This also means that if you've been waiting for the official release of the Samsung Galaxy S4 (Tomorrow, 27 April 2013) and you have butterfingers as well, it may be good for you if you wait a while longer.

Celcom has officially begun the roll-out of its 4G LTE network with a 1000 first-come first-serve deal for all their subscribers. As mentioned earlier, this deal is for 3-months service with the USB dongle. While this seems to be the only device and plan for Celcom 4G LTE for now, the company have stated that more plans and more devices are coming.

At their official roll-out the company listed the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S IV, Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and Sony Xperia Z as smartphones that would support Celcom's 4G LTE network. They hope to roll out LTE support for the iPhone 5 this 18 May 2013 (which according to them is the actual commercial launch date for the service).