Sony Xperia Z1s Launching on T-Mobile, Xperia Z1 Compact Announced as a Mini Alternative

Sony has announced its mini follow-up to the Sony Xperia Z1, under the name Xperia Z1 Compact. Another variant, the Xperia Z1s was also announced as a T-Mobile exclusive coming to the Uncarrier in a few weeks' time.

While the Sony Xperia Z1 has failed to penetrate the U.S. market as more than a curiosity for niche buyers, Sony is trying again by teaming up with T-Mobile to release an exclusive variant on the camera-intensive smartphone.

Xperia Z1s

The Sony Xperia Z1s comes with everything you'd expect from a Sony flagship these days - including a waterproof casing, an amped-up camera, and top of the line processor.

Sony has upped the water resistance of the Xperia Z1s's casing, which now has an IP58 rating. That means instead of just getting away with a quick underwater dunk for the smartphone, you can submerge it nearly five feet underwater for 30 minutes without worrying about ruining the device. A lot of other features are just like the Xperia Z1.

The Xperia Z1s comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon system on a chip for mobile devices. The quad core Snapdragon 800 is clocked at 2.2GHz and comes with 2GB of RAM. The 5-inch display on the Xperia Z1s is Sony's Full HD Triluminos technology with the X-Reality graphics engine, which sports a 1920 x 1080p resolution.

An Xperia Z1 variant is bound to have a good camera, and the 20.7-megapixel Sony Exmor RS stands out above many other flagships with the ability to shoot some of the highest resolution photos possible for a multitasking smartphone. With an ample 3,000 mAh battery, you'll be shooting for a while before the phone needs another charge. And despite the large battery, the Xperia Z1s only weighs 5.71 ounces and is just over a third of an inch thick.

The Xperia Z1s runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which is slated for an Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade later, along with the Xperia's range of camera-specific apps preloaded, as well as Sony media apps and services. The flagship smartphone is going for pre-sale online at T-Mobile on Jan. 13, with availability in stores starting Jan. 22. The $22 per month for the Xperia Z1s equals to about $528 over two years, which is a decent price for a flagship with such a great image sensor, though you should be sure you really want the high-spec camera, as there are cheaper alternatives out there without an Exmor RS.

Xperia Z1 Compact

Like Samsung and HTC, Sony is putting out a "mini" version of its flagship phone, though it decided not to call it a mini. Much about this smartphone is the same as the Xperia Z1, but it comes in a smaller form with a smaller screen. The 4.3-inch touchscreen is a Sony Triluminos HD display with X-Reality, but it only comes with 720p resolution. Still, on the smaller screen, you'll get a nice picture with a good pixel density.

It still comes with a 2.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, along with the 20.7-megapixel camera. The Xperia Z1 Compact is going to be available in a range of colors including lime and pink, and will be hitting Europe in mid-February for 550 euros, with a U.S. launch soon after.