Ultra HD hits market

By Li Qiaoyi Source:Global Times Published: 2014-3-28 5:03:03

Nearly seven years after Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc introduced its trend-setting device - the iPhone featuring a 3.5-inch multi-touch display, the cellphone sector has been inundated with multi-functional touch-screen smartphones from a crowded bunch of manufacturers.

Playing out a ceaseless competition, cellphone vendors have over the past few years filled up ammunition for their gadgets, boosting hardware specifications.

With powerful chips of up to eight CPU cores, gigantic phone displays of more than 6 inches and dazzling kaleidoscopic functionality that makes people tend to ignore the basic function of the handset, is there any room left for the next big upgrade on phones?

A few vendors are trying to find the desired answer, the latest of which being Sony which outed its newest flagship the Xperia Z2 in Beijing on Thursday in fresh push for success.

One of the biggest draws to the phone is that it enables users to record videos in 4K, a capacity few phone manufacturers sport so far.

Having about four times as many pixels overall as full high-definition (HD) or 1080p, the ultra HD 4K is a top-level specification for the majority of smartphones.

The ultra HD format, a bet by some TV makers to revitalize the entire sector, has made inroads into the smartphone world with Taiwanese company Acer taking the wraps off the Liquid S2 at an event last summer. Acer claims the Liquid S2 was the world's first phone packing 4K recording capture capacity.

Speculation is also circulating that Apple's much-anticipated iPhone 6 may come with 4K recording capacity as well.

But can a clearer world put forth by 4K stimulate growth in the smartphone arena, which is expected to see an inevitable slowdown in China in 2014 after years of rapid growth?

China's smartphone market is approaching saturation, CK Lu, a Taipei-based senior analyst of mobile devices at research firm Gartner Inc, told a briefing in Beijing last week.

"To stand out in such a competitive market, innovation in technology is an absolute must," IDC said in a statement released on February 19, according to which phones with higher screen resolution would be one of the technical innovation trends to prevail this year.

"4K sounds fairly fancy," Becky Liu, an art designer in Beijing in her early 30s, said Wednesday.

Liu is considering trading in her old phone for a new gadget "that would really be something different."

Wang Jun, an industry analyst with research consultancy Analysys International, noted that smartphone vendors were not bound to win over consumers by hyping the ritzy feature of 4K recording capture.

"Instead of the continuing march to upgrade hardware, a greater focus on apps and other services would help phone vendors get better traction," Wang told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Hardware vendors will continue to face the challenge of hardware commoditization as ecosystem owners will focus on shifting consumers' focus away from the hardware and onto their services and brands," Gartner also said in a statement recently sent to the Global Times.

 



Sony Xperia Z2 about $800

The Xperia Z2, Sony Mobile's latest flagship phone, was unfolded by the Japanese manufacturer at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month, and Sony announced its entry into the mainland market on Thursday.

The phone, featuring a 5.2-inch HD IPS screen, looks similar to its predecessors. Boasting a dustproof and waterproof body with a size of 146.8 by 73.3 by 8.2 millimeters, the phone weighs 163 grams. It runs on Qualcomm's latest 2.3-gigahertz quad-core processor, supporting 3 gigabytes of RAM as well as 16 gigabytes of internal storage. The phone also carries a 3,200mAh battery.

The company, a camera veteran, lends its smartphone lineup special strength in optics. Borrowing the same 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS camera from its predecessor Xperia Z1, the new device improves its front-facing camera with a 2.2-megapixel shooter.

The Android gadget gets a particular boost in its video department, boasting 4K video recording in 2160p at 30 frames per second coupled with its proprietary SteadyShot image stabilization technology.

A shortcoming for the 4K shooting capture capacity, however, is that videos can only play back in full HD on screen.

It will not only test how consumers like the new feature, but how Sony Corp, the maker of Xperia phones can truly take on market leaders such as Samsung and Apple.

 



Samsung Galaxy S5 about $700

While its arch-rival Apple is rumored to release its next-gen iPhone with 4K shooting capacity, South Korean handset maker Samsung already has a gadget supporting the function.

The Galaxy S5, the fifth generation of Samsung's upscale Galaxy S lineup, was unveiled in February, which very much resembles its predecessor, the S4, in terms of design.

The new phone, however, boasts a dust- and water-proof shell compared to the cheap looking glossy body of the previous generation.

Powered by Qualcomm's 2.5-gigahertz quad-core CPU and 2 gigabytes of RAM, the phone packs a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen.

The Android phone carries a 2,800mAh battery and weighs 145 grams with dimensions of 142 by 72.5 by 8.1 millimeters.

The new Galaxy flagship phone gets a special improvement in its shooting department, featuring a 2-megapixel front camera in addition to a rear camera of 16 megapixels.

What may add to its appeal is that the gadget's capable of shooting videos in 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, otherwise known as 4K.

The phone also comes with other features including an upgraded S Health functionality that provides users with a personal fitness tracker to monitor their pedometer, diet and exercise.

The device is expected to go on sale globally starting from April.

 



Acer Liquid S2 about $600

Taiwanese company Acer has taken a conspicuous lead in freshening the smartphone market with its announcement of the Liquid S2 at the Computex in Taipei last year, allegedly the world's first phone sporting 4K shooting capacity.

Touting a 6-inch IPS touchscreen, the phone weighs 231 grams with a body of 166 by 86 by 9 millimeters. It has a 3,300mAh battery.

The phone features Qualcomm's 2.2-gigabyte quad-core CPU, running on the latest Android operating system.

The main draw of the Liquid S2 is that it packs a 13-megapixel primary camera capable of 4K video capture in 4,160 by 3,120 pixels.

It also has a front-facing shooter of 2 megapixels.

Each 4K ultra HD video saved to the smartphone's internal storage or microSD card can be up to five minutes long, according to the company.

The phone has gone on sale since late last year, but it is unknown how many units have been sold.



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