Recent rumors circulated that Sony will release two new smartphones in 2016, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. There are also talks that the company will launch five Xperia Z6 handsets in all by the end of next year.
GforGames reported that Sony is rumored to launch five Z6 variants in 2016, namely the Xperia Z6, Z6 Compact, Z6 Plus, Z6 Ultra and Z6 Mini. However, there will only be two major Sony smartphones next year, featuring the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC. The two phones is also said to feature a new predominantly metal design. Sources claim that the two products will be launched about four months apart. The first model may be released in June 2016, while the second will become available in October. There may be no new Sony smartphones introduced at CES in January in Las Vegas.
SlashGear noted that the first major Z6 phone will be a standard model, although it is still uncertain whether the second that releases in October will be the Z6 Plus, Compact, Ultra or Mini.
Independent wrote that Sony has been struggling to get a bigger share of the smartphone industry in the past few years, despite offering a number of great products. There were talks that the company would lower the number of devices that it launches annually, but it seems that Sony still aims to be aggressive. Hopefully, the two Z6 models will encourage users to shift to the brand. So far, only the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset and attractive metallic design have been claimed. More specifications about the new devices are expected in the coming months.
The Xperia Z6 Mini is said to have a 4-inch display, the Z6 Compact may have a 4.6-inch screen, the Xperia Z6 may have a 5.2-inch display, the Z6 Plus may have a 5.8-inch screen, while the Z6 Ultra may have the biggest 6.4-inch screen. None of the phones will have 4K displays, like the Xperia Z5 Premium. There are also rumors that four of the devices will run on the Snapdragon 820. If Sony focuses on two major models only, it will be consistent with their usual tradition of offering two flagship phones every year.
Sony has not yet issued an official statement regarding the Z6 phones. The first revelation is expected in June 2016, not in January. Users are advised to take the claims with a grain of salt in the meantime. More updates and details on the handsets are expected soon.