Handsets

Sony Xperia Z1 f (Mini) official: Snapdragon 800 and 20.7MP camera inside a bite sized shell

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Sony Xperia Z1 f banner

Tales of a smaller, more easily pocketable Sony Xperia Z1 have been rumored around the internet almost as long as the full sized model. This Sony Xperia Z1 Mini as it was known (Honami Mini) was said to be big on specs, while small in overall stature. Today, during the same NTT DoCoMo event that confirmed the Samsung Galaxy J, the Sony Xperia Z1 f (Mini) too was finally announced, arriving on the Japanese carrier later this year.

Sony Xperia Z1 f Mini colors

The Z1 f features the same metal frame as its larger sibling, sandwiched between 2 layers of silky smooth glass. The phone will be available in 4 colors at launch: black, white, pink, and yellow, with a size only a hair larger than that of the Motorola Moto X. Where the Moto X arguably skimped on specs, the Z1 f goes all out, coming in hot with the same powerful Snapdragon 800 processor and 20.7MP Exmor RS as the big Z1. Sony pulled no punches when it came to this phone.

Sony Xperia Z1 f mini thumb

Sony Xperia Z1 f

  • 4.3-inch 720p X-Reality Triluminos display
  • 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage/micro SD card slot
  • 20.7/2.2MP camera
  • 2,300mAh battery
  • Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
  • Dimensions: 127mm × 65mm, 9.4mm thick
  • Water/dust proof
  • NFC

The Z1 f isn’t due out in Japan until late December, so there’s no telling when (or even if) this little device will ever make its way to other markets. With the current trend of “bigger means better” Android devices, the world could use a few more high-powered petite devices like the Sony Xperia Z1 f.

It’s crazy to think that it was only a few years ago that the 4.3-inch form factor was once considered “large”. How far we’ve come. If you want to see the Sony Xperia Z1 f in action, Sony’s promo video can be found below. Spoiler: there’s dinosaurs.

[Sony]

 

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

Samsung Galaxy J official: Snapdragon 800, 3GB RAM, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, and more [VIDEO]

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43 Comments

  1. Sadly, it’ll be hampered by its camera like all of the latest Sonys. :(

    1. I thought Sony made the camera for the iphone?? (“,)

      1. Maybe but the cameras in all of these “flagship” Sony phones have had less than stellar performance. This is according to many reviewers and I’ve personally verified it myself.

        1. I’ve not used a Sony phone for around 6 years so can’t comment, however it seems to me they have the capability to make decent cameras but choose not to put them in their own phones

          1. Yeah, sadly. I really, really wanted that Z and Z1 but after testing the Z next to my Note 2, that want was satiated. Reviews for the camera on the Z1 sound no different. If it does come to Tmo though, I will be there day one doing a side by side test with my Note 3. Hoping but not holding my breath.

          2. you do realize that Sony makes the cameras in Samsung phones??

          3. Maybe. Just like Sony makes some of the sensors in Nikon cameras. Yet Nikon and Samsung seem to be able to spank Sony with their own sensors each and every time. So what’s your point? I still stand by my and most reviews’ points that the cameras on Sony phones don’t stand up to the hype or their competition.

    2. Pretty sure Sony has been making cameras longer than any other phone maker.. They have some wicked cameras in some of the japanese phones they have released.

      1. That’s great but there’s a saying, “What you’ve done is great but what are you doing now?” And the answer to that question isn’t very good as of late for Sony’s cellphone cameras in their phones. They’re great for those that get off on numbers but those of us who need actual image quality are not impressed.

  2. Niiice. Sony is the new HTC. And LG the new Samsung (perhaps).

    1. Samsung is still the new Samgsung LG would be lucky to be considered the new HTC… Selling a bunch of Nexus priced devies isn’t a huge win for them the sales of their normal phones haven’t picked up alot.

      1. yeah.. they are only the 3rd highest selling OEM in the world.

        1. Only because of the Nexus’s look at the figures and subtract the Nexus sales.

          1. they dont even release nexus sales figures as far as i know, and those usually arent high volume sellers… at least they werent in the past, and if they suddenly are, then you could say that LG has something to do with that.

          2. It doesn’t really matter that much, the nexus line is great exposition for the LG brand in the US. Think like a marketing campaign. I think the nexus did great for Samsung branding and is doing great for LG.

      2. I’m talking 2014/15. I honestly believe Sony and LG have the power and will to be very close to Sam and Apple. Will see.

      3. What? Their sales have grown considerably.

    2. If LG and Sony want to get that. They have to conquer first the USA market, and then we’ll see.

      1. Yes that is true, won’t be easy but Sony and LG have been improving so much in smartphones that all they need to do is keeping the good work. I think tho, they need a catchy strong name to call all its devices like galaxy, nexus and iPhone. Só many people think Samsung galaxy is just one phone when in reality there are hundreds of them (a real galaxy of products).

    3. If Sony embrace eco systems then I reckon they can do it. Some good comparability with the ps4 would make them incredibly attractive

  3. Wow, very beast specs for a reasonably sized smartphone. I’m curious how it’s a hair larger than the Moto X which has a 4.7″ screen. Over-sized bezel? That would be a fail then.

    1. Yeah, the Moto X is the best “mini” phone out there right now. If only it had a replaceable battery, I’d jump all over it!

  4. best mini phone by far out of the droid mini, htc one mini, and gs4 mini

  5. Now thats how you do a Mini!!!!

  6. I just switched to docomo a few months back and I was wanting a smaller phone but got a big 5inch one because all the small phones were old and/or specs weren’t top notch. This phone sounds exactly what I was looking for…waterproof, 2gigs of ram, and microSD

  7. is that a speaker grill under the sony logo ?

    1. No. It´s a cheese grinder.

  8. Right so, it’s this or the new Asus Infinity. S800 and microSD, I know the Asus is 5″ but it is already available on Fleabay!!!!

  9. if they didn’t lay off most of there brightest employees, there smartphones cameras would be amazing, (cough, they work at apple or samsung…..Cough)

    1. I never knew that. You got a link?

  10. Noice!

  11. I would love to buy this phone if it came to usa.

  12. Someone actually create a mini phone without skimping of the specs!!!!!

    1. Sony seem to be getting a lot right lately.

  13. Technically neither the Moto X nor the Honami Mini aka Z1 f are really “mini” phones. They’re just average to maybe slightly above average in size and all the flagships today are in fact, oversize phones.

    I am happy to see that Sony has gone against the grain and gone smaller though. Hopefully that trend continues!

    1. I would think that the flagships sort of decide what an “average” size is don’t you think? Most flagships are around 5 inches now, so 4.3 is definitely mini by 2013 standards, but huge by 2010 standards.

  14. Samsung, are you seeing this…

  15. Some people don’t care but I do. This one will suffer from poor viewing angles as well.

    1. Wa wa waa. Go get a s4 mini then. Enjoy your AMOLED screen and rubbish spec lol.

  16. when it will be announced in india…?

  17. I want a quad core high end phone (including screen) with a 4.3 inch screen. Really love this size of the phone, they feel perfect in the hand for one hand operation. The only option I have is the S3. The Z1 f (really weird name) looks something that would interest me.

  18. 4.3in screen does not represent a ‘mini’ phone IMO. Need a junior now, 4in or smaller, same thickness….none of them can d this yet !!! Ill wait another year or two, then look around thks.

  19. Get out of my dreams and into my (European) pocket!

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