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Sony gets Serius, unveils Xperia Z2 and Xperia M2 Android phones (Updated)

The Xperia Z2 Tablet isn’t Sony’s only new device to be launched at Mobile World Congress. It also has a pair of new smartphones to show us, following on from the Z1S and Z1 Compact announced at CES. The Xperia Z2 is a brand-new flagship Android phone, which we have been tracking under the codename Sirius, and it builds on the already excellent Xperia Z1. It’s joined by the Xperia M2, a mid-range 4G LTE phone with a large screen and a decent camera.

Updated by Jeff from Mobile World Congress: Added in a few shots from the show.

Xperia Z2

Xperia Z2Let’s take a closer look at the Xperia Z2 first. The Full HD Triluminos (LCD) screen measures 5.2-inches, and uses the same Live Color LED technology introduced on the Xperia Tablet Z2, promising brighter more natural colors, and improved legibility in sunlight. Also taken from the tablet is Sony’s noise cancelling technology, cutting out ambient noise by 98 percent provided you’re using a compatible headset.

Qualcomm’s new quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor running at 2.3GHz powers the Z2, and it’s assisted by 3GB of RAM. A massive 3200mAh battery is stuffed inside the water and dust proof chassis, which measures 8.2mm thick. Sony’s well-known for its premium build quality, and the Z2 has been crafted from aluminum and glass. A 20.7-megapixel camera using the Exmor RS sensor and Sony’s G Lens setup is fitted to the back, and it can record 4K video.

Xperia M2Xperia M2

Finally, the Xperia M2 isn’t as high-tech as its big brother. It comes with a 4.8-inch display, which does without all the flashy Bravia technology, and has a cheaper 960 x 540 pixel resolution. The processor is a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400, and it has an 8-megapixel camera, plus 4G LTE. Sony intends to sell the Xperia M2 all around the world from April.

Both run Android, and although Sony hasn’t confirmed which version, we’re expecting it to be Android 4.4 KitKat or a late build of Android 4.3. The company hasn’t shared any news on the price or specific release dates yet either. We’ll update you when we have more news on both new devices.

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
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