14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, Xperia Z1 f, the latest Android-based smartphone that Sony has launched on the market in Japan, managed to top selling charts in the country, leaving Apple’s iPhone 5s behind.
The device, launched as the smaller version of the Xperia Z1, packs powerful hardware inside, similar to that of its larger brother, but it is available only in Japan for the time being.
In fact, Sony hasn’t confirmed any plans on launching the smartphone in other markets around the world, despite the fact that there have been quite a lot of rumors on the matter already.
The one thing that is certain at the moment is the fact that the market performance of the handset in Japan could determine Sony to launch it in other countries out there.
The phone could be released internationally as the Xperia Z1 mini, just as previous reports on the matter have suggested.
In Japan, the device landed on shelves with a 4.3-inch IPS touchscreen display capable of delivering a 720p HD resolution, as well as with a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor inside.
Furthermore, Xperia Z1 f features 2GB of RAM inside, as well as a 2300mAh battery, which can easily deliver longer usage times than Xperia Z1’s 3000mAh battery does, as PhoneArena notes.
On the back, the smartphone packs a 20-megapixel camera, the same as Xperia Z1 does, which means that it can offer the same imaging experience as Sony’s current flagship.
The smaller device is priced only a bit lower than the Xperia Z1, but that does not appear to be an issue for enthusiasts. Given the handset’s hardware specifications, we can clearly see why.
What remains to be seen is whether the phone’s momentum in Japan will continue, so stay tuned for more on the matter. Hopefully, CES 2014 will bring along an announcement regarding its international availability.