Sony has announced the compact Xperia Z1F in Japan, where it has partnered up with local network NTT Docomo. It’s one of several new devices all set to hit Japan over the coming months, such as the LG G2 and the Galaxy Note 3, and a special edition Dragon Quest phone made by Sharp. The Xperia Z1F is the one we’re most interested in though, as it’s something a little bit special.
Over the past few months, leaks have indicated the Xperia Z1F will have a small size, but plenty of power, and sure enough the spec is good enough to shame all other “mini” phones. The processor is a 2.2GHz, quad-core Snapdragon 800, which is the same chip found in the full-size Xperia Z1, along with 2GB of RAM.
The news gets better, as the same 20.7-megapixel camera from the Z1 also appears on the Z1F, and there’s a 2.2-megapixel video call camera on the front. The Z1F has 16GB of internal memory, connects to NTT Docomo’s 4G LTE network, has a 2300mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, and is water and dust proof.
So where’s the difference between it and the Z1? It’s all in the screen, as the Z1 has a 5-inch, 1080p display, while the Z1F has a 4.3-inch, 720p panel fitted on the front. It’s still the same Triluminous display with the X-Reality engine though, making the size the only real difference. At 9.4mm thick and 140 grams, the Xperia Z1F isn’t the slimmest or lightest smartphone around, but it’s certainly one of the most powerful small devices we’ve seen in a while.
Sadly, at the moment Sony has only announced the Xperia Z1F for Japan, and it’s unknown if it’ll ever go on sale internationally. Sony’s keen to keep building its smartphone business though, and the Xperia Z1F does fill a gap in the market in the U.S. and Europe, so we’d be surprised if it kept the phone all to itself forever.
