The "ancient" Sony Xperia X and Xperia X Compact are officially brought up to date from a software standpoint ahead of many new flagship Android phones from other OEMs.
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Android 8.0 Oreo will soon roll out to a bunch of Sony Xperia devices, including the X, X Performance, X Compact, XZ, XA1 and XA1 Ultra.
The post Sony confirms Android 8.0 Oreo plans for nearly a dozen ‘old’ Xperias, but not the Z5 family appeared first on Pocketnow.
The Finnish company is about to start selling its software to developers, but it's still a huge do-it-yourself (and buy-it-yourself) hassle.
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One episode a week, every week. We've been talking mobile technology for five years now. It's about time we bring back the people who started it all.
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Some Jolla Tablet backers who never got their hardware may receive a finished version of Sailfish OS if they opt to buy an Xperia X.
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Sony's "premium standard" smartphone line is apparently dead and buried, X Compact included, with two more high-enders instead in the works.
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Back in the day priced as high as $650, the unlocked Snapdragon 820-powered Sony Xperia X Performance costs $367 now in limited quantities.
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With the Xperia XZ Premium still a ways off and wildly expensive, you might be inclined to give the lower-end Sony Xperia XA1 or Xperia X a chance.
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Early on, it seemed like Motorola and LG would vie for the heavyweight title of fastest and most reliable Android smartphone manufacturer as far as Nougat updates were concerned. But then Sony jumped in to quickly hog the spotlight, sending official over-the-air 7.0 goodies to the Xperia X Performance, XZ and now, standard X and X Compact.
We’re no longer talking beta tests here either, but the real deal, free (at least in theory) of all bugs, minor system instabilities and experimental software features. Sure, rollouts are still “phased”, so not every Xperia X and X Compact user in every market around the world can pull the update OTA just yet.
Worst case scenario though, it’s going to take a couple of weeks for the 1.2GB or so care packages to go global, December security patches baked in and all. That’s probably the same timeframe needed for Samsung’s very first such UI makeover to finally exit the open pre-release beta stage. So, yeah, don’t forget to give Sony a big thumbs up, maybe on your e-way to Amazon, where the Android N-ready Xperia X Compact currently costs $400, and the larger X sets you back as little as $300.
Oh, and before long, the Nougat-powered Xperia model tally should further rise from four to five… or ten, with the XA, XA Ultra, Z5, Z5 Compact, Z5 Premium, Z3+ and Z4 Tablet also confirmed for the crucial OS promotion.
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While Google may be able to update its goods first, Sony wants to stand a chance to be second with Android 7.1.1. And with Android’s stratified software environment and attitudes towards minor point updates, it just might be able to do so.
Xperia Blog is reporting that the Sony Mobile Concept team is working with the Nougat iteration’s source code and is awaiting on Google to deliver an updated Google Mobile Suite apps package and the Compatibility Test Suite. Android 7.1.1 may bring a restart option in the power menu and app integration for image keyboards. Word is that the Xperia X may get first dibs on the package.
“[This] is our number 1 priority,” stated a developer on the team. “[If] you spot any other vendor releasing this faster than us, prepare your rotten tomatoes!”
Sony has traditionally had some of the more robust AOSP and beta programs and a competitive update pace.
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The Xperia XA Ultra is by no means Sony’s best X-series phone launched this year to replace the Z family, and apparently, a few other letters as well. But right now, for the next 18 hours or so only, it’s probably the one with the finest quality – pricing ratio.
Ironically, the upper mid-range 6-inch giant is even cheaper than the non-Ultra, far humbler 5-inch Xperia XA at B&H Photo Video, setting you back $230 compared to $250. That’s because it’s finally the selfie-proficient phablet’s time to shine, shortly after similarly attractive holiday deals on the XZ, standard XA and X Compact.
$229.99 isn’t just a hefty 100 bucks off the XA Ultra’s MSRP, but also its new all-time low price, good for graphite black, lime gold and white color options, with limited one-year warranties, and 4G LTE connectivity on North American GSM networks included.
Seeing as how you get a large 1080p display, octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor, 3GB RAM, expandable 16GB storage, 2700 mAh battery, and especially 21.5/16MP cameras here, the Sony Xperia XA Ultra may well be the best all-around unlocked phone available stateside at under $250. Remember, you have until midnight EST to take advantage of B&H’s killer deal.
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Was Sony’s leaked Android Nougat update timetable from back September just a little too good to be true? Well, yeah, since October came and went, and the Japanese device manufacturer couldn’t even roll out a public preview of the latest OS build for one of its two recent flagship phones.
But it really didn’t take the Xperia X Performance very long to iron out all beta kinks and spread the 7.0 love to the masses, and already, the newer, slightly beefier and prettier Xperia XZ reportedly follows suit.
That’s right, there are now two different Sony smartphones on Android 7.0 Nougat, at least in “select regions” around the world, both of which launched earlier this year with Marshmallow loaded up. Quite an accomplishment for an OEM not exactly celebrated for its software makeover promptness, considering Samsung is yet to update a single Galaxy model, while HTC and LG each boast one updated phone, and one released with N goodies out the box.
Of course, in a way, you could draw parallels between the Sony Xperia XZ/X Performance duo and the OnePlus 3 and 3T. The latter two devices, remember, are also slated for 7.0 promotions this month. But right now, we must admit we’re rather impressed to see Android Nougat dispatched OTA to single and dual SIM XZ variants. Nicely done, Sony!
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Even though it’s not explicitly labeled as an early Black Friday “Deal of the Day”, Amazon’s latest Sony Xperia XZ discount will probably last a measly few hours from the time of our writing. One or two days tops, after which we fully expect the 5.2-inch flagship Android handheld to go back up to $650 or so.
First sold stateside for $700 unlocked, the expert cameraphone currently costs just $581.98 in a “Platinum”, aka silver, coat of paint, $589.19 in “Mineral Black”, or $599.99 if you prefer the “Forest Blue” shade.
Best Buy has the same three colors on sale for a limited time both on and offline, charging however 600 bucks across the board, with GSM LTE connectivity covered by all authorized American retailers.
An evolved version of the underwhelming Xperia X Performance, the Sony Xperia XZ mainly stands out in the photography department, courtesy of a triple image sensing 23MP rear shooter and 13MP wide-angle lens selfie cam.
But you have to also commend the phone’s super-sharp Triluminos display, premium metal build with curved glass, water resistance, Snapdragon 820 processor, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD support.
Still, it’s hard to recommend this over the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7, once again available from Best Buy at $550, free fast wireless charger included.
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Still unsure which of Sony’s frequently discounted Xperia X-series phones to pick up for some pre-holiday cheer? Well, they all seem like sensible choices from a software support standpoint, at least in the short term, but you might be surprised to find out the X Performance gets the first official Nougat taste.
Not the newer, arguably superior and significantly pricier XZ, but the February-unveiled, June-released Sony Xperia X Performance, powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB RAM and 2,700 mAh battery, currently going for $500 on Amazon unlocked, US warranty included.
It’s not enough to own one of these to be able to try out Android 7.0 via an over-the-air update delivered between yesterday and tomorrow, as this is still a pre-release beta build whose participants were selected way back in August.
Odds are however that an official, polished, wide-scale goodie pack will follow in a matter of weeks, before spreading to other members of the X family, from the low-cost XA to the diminutive X Compact powerhouse to the full-size XZ flagship. Fingers crossed there aren’t too many bugs crippling this long-awaited Android Nougat beta rollout.
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For Sony and its arguably overpriced, not exactly in vogue Xperia X smartphone family, every day is starting to feel like Black Friday, at least stateside, where authorized third-party sellers are trying their best to make hits out of the standard X, XA, X Performance, XZ and now X Compact.
That’s right, the diminutive but powerful Sony Xperia X Compact’s newest markdown comes hot on the heels of the larger, stronger, speedier XZ’s 50 bucks Amazon rebate. Technically, we’re looking at a $100 MSRP trim here, valid both on Amazon and Best Buy, although the Snapdragon 650 puny puncher was actually never sold for $500.
It launched stateside at $450 not long ago, going $50 off today, possibly for a limited time. But most likely not, since the 5-inch Xperia X still costs $380, down from a list price of $450, with extremely similar specs.
The Xperia X Compact is redesigned to include sharper corners, a smoother finish and USB Type-C port, also squeezing a bigger battery into a smaller footprint with a chunkier figure, featuring an even better 23MP rear-facing camera, but only a 5MP selfie shooter and 720p 4.6-inch screen vs. 13 megapixels and 1080p display resolution.
Bottom line, $400 still doesn’t feel like an ideally low tag, though it’s a definite step in the right direction, unlocked GSM support, US warranty, three color options and all.
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