Flashback: Sony Xperia Z, ZL and Z Ultra lay the foundations for the modern Xperia flagships

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Previously we traced the history of Sony (Ericsson)’s Xperia line of phones, from the Windows Mobile beginnings through the switch to Android to the birth of the Compact line. All of these eventually lead to the Xperia 1 and 5 series, the latest of which were announced this week.

Today we wanted to look at the phone that prototyped the design language used by Sony today, the Sony Xperia Z. Before that there was the Xperia S, the first phone after the divorce with Ericsson (Sony got to keep the Xperia kids).

   
Sony Xperia Z official photos

The S featured one of the first 720p screens on mobile, a microHDMI port and a dedicated TV launcher. There was the PlayStation Store that emulated PSX games on the Snapdragon S3 chipset. Plus, the 12MP camera with 1080p video capabilities showed promise. The Xperia S sold well, but the mobile division was still struggling.

The aluminum shutter key was a trademark of the Omni-Balance design
The Xperia Z was unveiled the following year at CES 2013 and introduced the Omni-Balance design. It was rectangular with a flat glass back, a departure from the rounded backs of the S. Symmetry was key and the aluminum Power button was a signature decoration.

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