The Sony Honami, or Xperia Z1, is expected to be announced at Sony’s pre-IFA event on September 4, with the company hoping to steal the limelight from another eagerly awaited device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which will also be launched that day. Details about the highly-anticipated smartphone from Sony has been making the rounds of the rumor mill for a while now, and with less than ten days to go, we thought it best to put it all together in one place! Here’s everything we (think) we know about the Sony Honami/i1/Xperia Z1.
The Camera
The “G” lens is shown on an upcoming Sony device, believed to be the Honami
This year has been the year of the smartphone camera, with all OEMs, including HTC, Samsung, Motorola, and Nokia doing something different, and that is definitely the case with Sony as well, with the Honami’s biggest selling point expected to be its camera. Everything we know about the Sony Honami camera is based on leaks and speculation, and all we have so far is a teaser image from Sony featuring the camera lens and flash, with the G-lens branding next to it.
As far as the specs are concerned, an alleged camera sample that is assumed to have been taken by the Honami, and device specifications leaked by ePrice, confirms a 20.7 MP shooter (5248 x 3936 resolution) with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, a 4:3 aspect ratio, and f/2.0 aperture, with Sony G Lens and BIONZ Image processing engine, and a dedicated camera shutter button. Another leak suggests that the Honami camera will be capable of 4k video recording, which is something we expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to feature as well. We can also expect the camera software to be packed with features (ala Samsung Galaxy S4) to make the most out of the impressive hardware.
Hardware Specs
While some OEMs have been known to pair a great camera on an otherwise mid-range device, that is definitely not the way Sony is going with this particular device. The specifications of the Sony Honami were leaked a while ago, and unless we’re way off base, this is what you can expect from the upcoming Sony flagship -
- 5-inch Triluminos display with X-Reality engine and 1080p (Full HD) resolution
- 2.2 Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
- 1/2.3-inch 20.7 MP Exmor RS display with Sony Lens G, BIONZ for mobile image processor and dedicated camera shutter button
- 2MP Exmor R front camera
- 3,000 mAh battery
- IPX5/IPX7 certification (waterproof)
- NFC, MHL, WiFi, LTE
Software
A while ago, a system dump of the Honami’s software was leaked, allowing us to get a look at the brand new user interface, which include an updated launcher, a new app drawer, and some new apps, such as a new Walkman app which features Music Unlimited integration.
There's also a new version of Small Apps, which allows users to run multiple apps on the screen at the same time, along with a new virtual keyboard, which I’m sure will introduce some new features. You can take a look at the UI screenshots and software changes here.
Design
If the leaked press images are accurate, Sony is planning to stick with a clean, flat, and elegant design for the Sony Honami, which will be quite similar to its other major 2013 releases, such as the Xperia Z and the Xperia Z Ultra. If the teaser image of the camera lens (above) is any indication, we’re looking at a glass back, with slightly more curved corners compared Sony’s other high-end smartphones.
We can also expect the Sony Honami to be waterproof, unless the “about to make a splash” teaser isn’t as literal as we think. In this teaser, we also get a good look at the top and right side of the device, with the headphone jack on the top side, and the port flaps, power button, volume rocker, and what is probably a dedicated camera button on the right side of the handset.
Another press image leak suggests that the Sony Honami will be available in multiple color options, including black, white, and purple.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there’s quite a lot we know about the Sony Honami and with a little more than a week to go before its official release, the rumors and leaks are definitely going to increase, and we’ll definitely keep this post updated.
September 4 cannot get here fast enough!
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