Sony Xperia Z1s Waterproof Smartphone

Sony announced its new flagship Android smartphone, the waterproof Xperia Z1s. Features include a 20.7 megapixel camera, BIONZ for mobile image processing engine, and Sony G Lens as well as a 5-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS Display and X-Reality for mobile.

Building on the success of Xperia Z, the Xperia Z1s is Sony’s first waterproof smartphone in the U.S. It can be completely submerged in freshwater up to 4.9 feet for 30 minutes, making it waterproof (as per IP58 rating) and with its physical camera key, you can even use the device to shoot photos and videos underwater. It also incorporates wet finger tracking technology, to ensure the phone works perfectly when either the screen or your fingers are wet.

Xperia Z1s leverages Sony’s best digital imaging technology to capture compact digital camera quality 20.7 MP photos and Full HD videos. For the first time in a U.S. flagship smartphone, Sony has added its BIONZ for mobile image processing engine – the ‘brain’ of the camera, which together with the sensor, produces images with less noise or blurring, better auto-focus and white balance, and clear image 3x zoom. Sony’s camera expertise also extends to the lens, with Sony’s award-winning G Lens (F2.0), which incorporates the brand’s unique optical design technology and quality control.

Xperia Z1s features a 5-inch Full HD display incorporating Sony’s intelligent TRILUMINOS Display technology powered by X-Reality for mobile picture engine. The TRILUMINOS for mobile display creates a wide palette of rich natural colors reproducing 130% of the natural color gamut and contrast for an immersive viewing experience thanks to Sony’s BRAVIA expertise. Paired with Sony’s intelligent display technology – X-Reality for mobile, which analyzes each image to optimize resolution and sharpness – the display delivers an unmatched viewing experience.

The Xperia Z1s comes preloaded with a unique suite of applications:

• Info-eye: Perform a visual search that provides related information on items like wine, books, and landmarks, simply by capturing them with the camera
• Timeshift burst: Capture 61 images within two seconds – a second before and after pressing the shutter – so you can scroll back and forth to find the perfect image.
• AR effect: Overlay a selection of fun, customizable animations to create pictures with playful touch using the “SmartAR” augmented reality technology developed by Sony. The animations include dinosaurs, ocean-life and more.
• Social live: Broadcast memories in the making to friends and family on Facebook, live from your Xperia Z1s. Moments such as your best friend’s wedding to your child’s very first recital, are not only shared while you record, but are also made interactive as you receive your friends’ responses right on your screen to keep the conversation going in real-time.
• Background defocus: Adjust the blur in the background for more artistic, professional-looking photos, once only achieved by using top of the line D-SLR cameras or specific lenses, with this exclusive camera app for your Xperia Z1s.
• PlayStation App: Allows direct access to various PlayStation Network features and information such as profiles, trophies, messages, notifications and game invitations, as well as news and blogs from the official PlayStation website. The app is also a companion app to the PS4, allowing for a Second Screen feature in supported games, the use of the Xperia Z1s as a remote control to the PS4, and the ability to watch friends’ PS4 game play. Users can even purchase PlayStation Store game content from the device and download it directly onto their PS4, PS3 or PlayStation Vita while on the go. Beyond the app, Xperia Z1s supports the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, bringing a console-like experience to PlayStation Mobile games.

Price and Availability
The Sony Xperia Z1s smartphone will be available exclusively at T-Mobile stores and online starting January 22, 2014. Pre-ordering opens January 13th online for $0 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $223 with the Simple Choice Plan.

As a special pre-sale promotion, Sony Mobile is providing customers with a $100 VISA gift card with purchase of a Sony Xperia Z1s and a Sony PlayStation 4 for a limited time from Jan. 13 – 21. Additionally, every Xperia Z1s comes with a unique entertainment offer. You get six great movies to download from Video Unlimited including Sony Pictures’ critically acclaimed Captain Phillips on the day of its digital release, 10 preselected PlayStation Mobile games, and a 60-day free trial of Music Unlimited.