Sony announces 4K capable Xperia Z2 waterproof phone & tablet, fitness band and mid-range M2 phone

The Sony Xperia Z2 waterproof phone with 4K video recording

Sony announced four new products at Mobile World Congress: two new Xperia phones, a matching tablet and a fitness band.

The Xperia Z2, the replacement for its Z1 waterproof phone, adds 4K video recording, SteadyShot image-stabilisation, digital noise-cancelling stereo mics and what the company describes as its ‘brightest and most vivid’ LED display. We first got wind of the 4K video capabilities last month via a screengrab of the camera app … 

Other specs represent a modest bump on its predecessor, with a slightly faster processor and larger screen in essentially the same casing. The Z2 is expected to cost upward of £500 ($830) contract-free in the UK when it goes on sale next month, but it’s not known if or when it will be released in the U.S.

Accompany it is a 10-inch tablet variant, the Xperia Z2 Tablet, with a similar spec but the 20.7MP camera swapped out for a lower-res 8.1MP one. The tablet, like the phone, is certified waterproof to IP58 standard, meaning safe against total immersion up to one metre. Pricing is expected to put the device firmly into high-end territory at around $650-700.

Sony also announced its own fitness band, also with Xperia branding, the SmartBand SWR10. This logs activity to a companion Lifelog app running on an Android handset, and offers vibrating alerts for things like text messages. Unlike the Nike Fuel band, there is no display, so you’ll need to check the app on your phone to view your activity. The SmartBand is expected to go on sale in April for around $130.

Sony completed its announcements with a mid-range Xperia M2 phone, with a 4.8-inch display, modest Snapdragon 400 CPU and 8MP camera. The price is expected to be around $300 contract-free.