Sony has always been at the forefront of technological advances and quality in the field of consumer electronics. This expertise has led to Sony garnering many prestigious technological and design awards from professional and mainstream media and sources through the years. These accolades aptly personify Sony’s Purpose and Values which is to “Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.”
This trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down and right now, we’d like to present to you the latest award-winning Sony products of distinction that deserve a space in your home, office, outdoors, or while on the move!
Awards won: Red Dot Winner 2021 Best of the Best and CES 2021 Innovation Awards.
With more of us staying at home and watching blockbusters streamed directly to us, the TV – our “go-to” medium for premium home entertainment, has evolved constantly. The BRAVIA X95J 4KTV is Sony’s latest technological marvel powered by the Cognitive Processor XR, the brain of the new BRAVIA XR series. It uses a completely new processing method that goes beyond conventional AI, designed to replicate the ways humans see and hear. Each element is adjusted to its best outcome, in conjunction with each other, so everything is synchronised and lifelike – something that conventional AI cannot achieve.
Cognitive Processor XR also analyses sound position in the signal so the sound matches precisely with what’s on the screen. In addition, it upconverts any sound to 3D surround sound, to deliver supreme realism with an immersive soundscape. It learns, analyses, and understands unprecedented amounts of data and intelligently optimises every pixel, frame, and scene for the most lifelike picture and sound Sony has ever delivered. This is done through Sony Acoustic Multi-Audio™ which offers a combination of sound positioning of tweeters, speakers, and subwoofers for a truly immersive experience.
Other great features include Ambient Optimisation which uses light and colour sensors to automatically adjust picture quality to your environment. It can even determine the best frequency response for your home, improving your audio experience no matter where you choose to sit. Besides being a Google TV to facilitate easy access to content and facilitating Voice Search, the X95J also supports Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos™ that provides immersive audio to transform entertainment with ultra-vivid picture quality and incredible moving sound.
Awards won: TIPA World Awards 2021 for Best Photo Smartphone, IF Design Awards 2021, EISA Awards 2021-2022
Rather than follow convention, Sony has again pushed the mobile space via the 5G equipped Xperia 1 III, a hand-held marvel that provides a rich collection of integrated features that connect Xperia users with their passions. Whether you’re a photographer, audiophile, cinephile, gamer, or cinematographer, the Xperia 1 III will enrich the user experience with its plethora of new features. This is the next level of Xperia that transforms with speed and beyond.
The camera featured in the Xperia 1 III was co-developed with the engineers behind the award-winning Alpha series cameras. It includes fast, accurate continuous AF and Real-time Eye AF. Real-time Tracking allow users to shoot the most challenging moving subjects in precise focus and accurately continues to track the subject even if it temporarily moves out of frame.
The continuous AF performance is comparable to professional sports cameras such as the Alpha 9 series while the BIONZ X™ processor enables users to shoot in low-light scenarios in Burst Mode for the first time, with excellent noise reduction. The Photography Pro function was developed in collaboration with professional photographers and it mirrors many of the manual controls available in Alpha series cameras including ISO, shutter speed, EV Indicator, RAW support plus a dedicated shutter button.
The Xperia 1 III features a large 6.5” 21:9 CinemaWideTM 4K HDR OLED display with 120Hz Refresh rate transporting users into a uniquely immersive viewing experience, allowing them to lose themselves in their favourite movies or TV shows.
Mobile gamers can gain a key advantage using the Xperia 1 III. Thanks to a new and improved 120Hz Refresh rate display and the addition of 240Hz Motion blur reduction, the result is crystal clear performance with a lack of game lag.
For audiophiles, the new Xperia models utilise sound tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment. In addition to its unique hardware decoding, a newly developed speaker virtualiser enables the Xperia 1 III to be the world's first smartphone to reproduce 360 Reality Audio in the speakers. Listeners can immerse themselves in sound so authentic, it will feel like they are at a live concert or with the artist recording in a studio. All enjoyed through the Full-stage in-built stereo speakers or with wired (through a 3.5mm jack) or wireless headphones. As well as High-Resolution and High-Resolution Wireless Audio, the Xperia 1 III continues to offer DSEE Ultimate which enhances the quality of digital music in real-time using Sony AI technology, including audio and video streaming services.
Awards won: What Hi-Fi Awards 2021, Techgoondu Editor’s Award, Tech Radar Editor’s Choice.
Building on the reputation garnered by its multiple-award-winning predecessor is not an easy task to follow, and the WF-1000XM4 carries on that pedigree with much aplomb! It elevates your everyday experiences with Industry Leading Noise Cancellation, smart listening technology, and the ultimate design. Whether you’re working from home, watching your favorite Netflix shows, or even while exercising, the WH-1000XM4 is the perfect companion for you and your loved ones.
The new, Sony-designed Integrated Processor V1 in the WF-1000XM4 provides even better noise cancellation delivering the industry’s highest level of noise-cancelling yet. It features high performance dual noise sensor microphones per ear for excellent, more accurate noise cancellation.
A newly designed 6mm driver unit with a 20% increase in magnet volume also improves the WF-1000XM4’s noise cancelling capabilities by generating a high-precision cancellation signal to the low frequency range.
Newly developed Noise Isolation Earbud Tips made from a unique polyurethane foam provide an improved fit with the WF-1000XM4 maximising the surface contact area between the earbud tip and the ear canal. This helps to insulate sound and reduce noise, as well as improving adhesion to the ear canal for a more stable fit.
The WF-1000XM4 also supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC, Sony’s industry-adopted audio coding technology. LDAC transmits approximately three times more data than conventional Bluetooth® audio, allowing you to enjoy High-Resolution Audio content in exceptional quality, as close as possible to that of a dedicated wired connection.
Other amazing features include Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention modes, Adaptive Sound Control, smaller and lighter design, 24 hours of uninterrupted listening, IPX4 water resistance, Google and Alexa voice assistant capabilities, and intuitive touch controls, making the WF-1000XM4 one of the best Truly Wireless earphones with Active Noise Cancellation around!
Awards won: Red Dot Design Awards 2021
By all accounts, the Alpha 7C is a wonderful camera. It’s the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame camera body with uncompromising performance, featuring advanced AF (autofocus), high-resolution 4K video capabilities, and more. When paired with the world’s smallest and lightest FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 standard zoom lens, this versatile combination delivers an experience unlike any other by maximising portability and versatility without sacrificing any of the power of full-frame imaging. This opens up a new world of possibilities for creators, giving them the uncompromised power of a full-frame system in the palm of their hand.
The camera features a 24.2MP, 35mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and BIONZ X™ image processing engine. This offers high sensitivity, outstanding resolution, wide dynamic range, and high-speed image data processing, offering the user stunning image quality for shooting everyday photography and movies such as nature, portraits, sports, street photography, and more. In spite of its compact size, the Alpha 7C features a 5-step stabilisation effect that allows shooting snaps without a tripod!
Using AI-driven functions, the Alpha 7C’s Real-time Tracking maintains accurate focus automatically and also features Real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals to achieve fast and accurate focus.
On the video front, the Alpha 7C is capable of capturing high-quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth. The camera also supports HDR (HLG) and S-Log/S-Gamut profiles, Slow & Quick motion, high-speed full HD recording at 120 fps, and other advanced video features to capture high-quality video footage. To complement the camera’s photo and video capturing capabilities the Alpha 7C features a side-opening vari-angle LCD monitor, making it easy to record selfies, overhead shots, low ground-level shots, or whatever the user requires.
Awards won: Red Dot Design Awards 2021, IF Design Awards 2021 
While Sony’s reputation in the arena of full-frame mirrorless cameras has never been in doubt, the company also has a history of pushing the envelope in compact camera technology.
The ZV-1 is one example of this. It’s a lightweight, compact “all-in-one” style solution perfect for casual video shooters who are currently using their smartphones to shoot casual videos and share on social networks. The ZV-1 combines easy-to-use features with uncompromising imaging technology, making this the perfect tool for users to shoot and share casual daily videos.
It features a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS® CMOS image sensor with DRAM chip and 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* large-aperture lens creating beautiful background bokeh. The camera locks on and tracks subjects with high accuracy and speed using Sony’s leading-edge autofocus system.
The ZV-1 also includes the latest-generation BIONZ X™ image processor that delivers high resolution as well as low noise for superior image quality. It also combines this exceptional imaging technology with high-quality and versatile audio options. The ZV-1 features a side-opening Vari-angle LCD screen, making it easier to compose your shots in mobile phone-friendly view while connecting external audio accessories. The ZV-1 contains advanced video features including 4K movie recording and in-body image stabilisation. Users can comfortably operate the ZV-1 with one hand thanks to the easy-to-hold built-in body grip and a large movie REC button located on the top of the camera for quick access to video recording
The new Face Priority autoexposure (AE) function detects and prioritises the subject’s face and adjusts the exposure to ensure the face is depicted at an ideal brightness in any environment. Advanced colour science re-engineered to optimise skin tones– especially when shooting in selfie mode – allowing the ZV-1 to create a smooth and natural complexion, while also maintaining sharp images of the mouth and eyes in both videos and stills.
High-quality content requires clear, excellent audio quality, and the ZV-1’s onboard mic features Sony’s latest Directional 3-capsule Mic for forward-directional audio capture, allowing for clear capture of the subject’s voice while minimising background noise. For added flexibility, the ZV-1 also features a standard 3.5mm mic jack and Multi Interface Shoe™ making it easy to connect a wide range of external microphones. The ZV-1 is also supplied with a wind screen accessory that fits on the MI shoe to minimise wind interference.
