Sony’s latest mid-range smartphone has made a splash at MWC 2015, with the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua landing as a waterproof Android offering.
Featuring IP65 and IP68 certification, the M4 Aqua can be submerged in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes without succumbing to the negative effects usually associated with electronics meeting liquids.
A direct follow-on to the September released Xperia M2 Aqua, the submersible M4 pairs an improved camera combination with a speedier, 64-bit processor.
“Xperia M4 Aqua represents our renewed mid-range focus - with no compromises” Dennis van Schie, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications, said in unveiling the handsets.
“Offering the most popular standout features made famous by our Xperia Z Series; camera capability, two-day battery life and waterproofing - Xperia M4 Aqua brings a proposition and price, products in this section of the market simply cannot match.”
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Features
Powered by Qualcomm’s new 64-bit, octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor (there’s no overheating concerns here), the M4 Aqua’s specs sheet is further enhanced by the inclusion of 2GB of RAM and 8GB if internal storage, expandable via microSD.
Bestowed with a 5-inch, IPS display, the handset’s screen features a slightly disappointing 720p HD resolution.
Where the big strides have been made, however, are on the handset’s imaging options. Jumping from an 8-megapixel to a new 13-megapixel primary camera, the M4 Aqua adds a secondary, 5-megapixel snapper up front.
This forward-facing option boasts a wide, 88-degree field of view, ideal for those partial to the odd group selfie. There is even a dedicated camera shutter button for simple shot taking.
Perhaps most impressively, Sony has claimed the M4 Aqua’s 2400mAh Lithium-Ion battery will comfortably see the handset through two full days of steady usage.
‘How?’ we hear you cry, well through the use of new STAMINAmode 5.0 technology of course. The software enhancements combine with the power-friendly CPU to further eke out the handset’s staying power.
Related: Sony Xperia Z4 release date
Lining up at 7.3mm thick and 135g in weight, Sony’s latest mid-market blower will be offered in four varying colours at launch. As well as the customary black and white options, additional silver and coral (read pink) offerings will also be available.
With 4G LTE connectivity capabilities, the M4 Aqua will run Google’s latest Android 5.0 Lollipop OS direct from the box.
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Release Date and Price
Although an exact Xperia M4 Aqua release date has yet to be confirmed, Sony has revealed the handset will hit the UK and European markets this spring.
While this is slightly vague, finalised pricing is far more firmed up – at least for the European market. The M4 Aqua price has been announced as €299 (£217). Exact UK pricing is still up in the air.
