At first glance, the line of devices from the Japanese company Sony looks like one of the most organic and complete. On a cursory examination, it seems that the company has managed to fit all smartphones into the letter 'Z' index by adding understandable prefixes like 'Compact', 'Tablet' or 'Dual'. In reality, in the Sony lineup, not everything is so simple and clear, although I will not argue that compared to Samsung or HTC, the line of Japanese smartphones looks more understandable. And the main merit here lies precisely in the relatively simple names of the models and the transparent system of division into segments.
Sony's lineup consists of smartphones, divided into four groups: Z – flagships, E – budget devices, C – middle segment with an emphasis on the front camera and M – middle segment with an emphasis on the body's protection from moisture.
Budget segment
Smartphones cost about 150-160 US dollars, in Russia this is a segment of up to 15,000 rubles (very approximately). Here are the models with the E index – in 2015 the company introduced the Sony Xperia E4 and then its various variations – E4 Dual, E4g and E4g Dual. The Xperia E4 has a 5 “screen, a resolution of 560 × 940 pixels, 8 and 5 MP cameras, 1/8 GB of memory, a card slot and a platform from Mediatek. In E4 Dual, respectively, everything is the same, but with two slots for SIM-cards.
The Sony Xperia E4g / E4g Dual has a 4.7 ”diagonal with the same resolution as the E4, the rest of the parameters are also almost identical. All four devices in Russia can be purchased for up to 10,000 rubles (the spread is large even in official networks, so there is no point in writing exact prices).
Middle segment
Here are smartphones with a very conditional price of 150-300 US dollars. In Russia, this is a huge segment of smartphones, so I won't even name approximate prices.
From the M line, here are the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua and M4 Aqua Dual smartphones. 5 “screen with a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, 1/8 or 1/16 GB of memory, 13 and 5 MP cameras, platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, as well as a case protected from moisture and dust (IP68). The cost in Russia is approximately 20,000-23,000 rubles. Also in the M series there are models Xperia M5 and M5 Dual, but in terms of their characteristics and price, they are more likely to be in the top segment.
From the C line to the middle segment, Sony includes the Sony Xperia C4 and C4 Dual models. The devices are equipped with a 5 ”screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. Inside there are 2/16 GB of memory, a slot for a microSD card, 13 and 5 MP cameras and a platform Mediatek MT6752. That is, a solid solid middle peasant in terms of characteristics, for the price the devices are at the upper threshold of the middle segment (like everything else in Sony) – 20,000-22,000 rubles. The company positions the device as a smartphone for 'selfies', but its front camera is weak, so this is just an advertising gimmick, nothing more.
Flagships
The most expensive devices in the manufacturer's model range, but also the most powerful and advanced in all respects.
Sony smartphones have never been cheap, the Japanese generally like to add some additional value to the cost of goods when it comes to something made by a Japanese company and, moreover, made in Japan. In shops in Tokyo, for example, you can often find brightly colored 'made in Japan' nameplates on various items, be it clothes, shoes, household appliances, suitcases and much more. And often such a nameplate means, along with other features, a higher value than that of similar goods. For this reason, in a sense, it is in the flagship segment that Sony has the largest number of smartphones.
The current models are: Sony Xperia M5 and M5 Dual, Sony Xperia C5 Ultra and C5 Ultra Dual, Sony Xperia Z3 Plus and Z3 Plus Dual, Sony Xperia Z5, Z5 Premium, Z5 Compact, Z5 Dual and Z5 Premium Dual. That is, more than ten smartphones released in 2015 and relevant at the beginning of 2016.
In fact, almost half of Sony's flagship smartphones are comparable in performance to inexpensive (up to 20,000 rubles) Chinese devices, but in this case, such is the price for the brand, 'It`s a Sony'.
The most famous devices here are the Sony Xperia Z3 Plus (sold under the name Z4 in Japan) and the Sony Xperia Z5. Screen with a diagonal of 5.2 “, a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, 3/32 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card, platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 and protection against water. The Z3 Plus has 21 and 5 MP cameras, the Z5 has 23 and 5 MP cameras, as well as a fingerprint scanner on the side of the case. Actually, this is what distinguishes these devices from each other. The difference in price is significant, Sony Xperia Z3 Plus can now be bought for 25,000-36,000 rubles, while the Z5 officially costs 44,000-45,000 rubles.
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra and C5 Ultra Dual – 'phablets' with a huge 6 ”screen, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 2/16 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card, platform Mediatek and cameras with a resolution of 13 MP (both main and frontal). In Russia it costs about 26,000 rubles.
The Sony Xperia M5 is actually a simplified version of the Z3 Plus / Z5. 5 “screen, resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels, 3/16 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card, platform Mediatek Helio X10, 21 and 13 MP cameras. The cost in Russia is 25,000-30,000 rubles.
Smartphones Sony Xperia Z5 Premium and Z5 Premium Dual – the crown of the development of the company's lineup. 5.5 “screen, resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels or 2160 × 3840 while viewing photos and videos, 3/32 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card, platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 23 and 5 MP cameras, protection from water (IP68), fingerprint scanner, high-capacity battery (against the background of other smartphones of the company) 3430 mAh. However, it is not their characteristics or design that speaks most clearly about the belonging of these models to the flagship segment, but the cost. In Russia, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is available at a price of 59,000-60,000 rubles.
And finally, the cherry on top is the glorious Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. Screen with a diagonal of 4.6 “, a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, 2/32 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card, platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 23 and 5 MP cameras, water protection (IP68) and a fingerprint scanner. The device does not differ in its small thickness, but on the whole it is very compact and neat, fits perfectly in the hand and, against the background of modern spade-like flagships, literally immediately falls in love with itself, despite the rather large cost of 35,000-36,000 rubles.
