Hands On: Sony's Xperia Z3 Series, Z3 Tablet Compact

BERLIN—Sony just unveiled a ton of new additions to its Xperia line at IFA, including a new flagship Z3 smartphone and Z3 Compact tablet.

Many of these devices share a number of similar features—like Sony's highest-ever IP68 waterproof rating—but each differs in its own unique way. I got a chance to spend some time with them after Sony's press conference.

The Xperia Z3 is perhaps the most highly anticipated of Sony's new devices. While its predecessor, the Xperia Z2, only hit U.S. store shelves earlier this summer, the biggest news is that Xperia Z3 will be available on T-Mobile starting this fall. That makes this the first time Sony has announced a phone with both global and U.S. availability, which could mean the company is getting more serious about increasing its mobile presence in the U.S.

Physically, the Z3 doesn't stray too far from the classic Xperia formula. But this time around the frame is aluminum and rounded, which makes it more comfortable to hold. The body of the phone is also a bit narrower, lighter, and thinner than the Z2 (the Z3 weighs 5.5 ounces compared with the 5.75-ounce Z2). It also carries Sony's highest waterproof rating ever—IP68—so the phone is waterproof to 8 feet deep and "dust tight." That makes it tougher than the IP67-rated Samsung Galaxy S5 , which is a plus, especially when you consider the Xperia Z3 feels far more premium.

The phone basically has the same 5.2-inch, 1080p screen as the Xperia Z2. That might not sound exciting, but Sony makes nice displays, and the Xperia Z3 doesn't disappoint. Everything is razor sharp, and colors look particularly inky and saturated, thanks to Sony's latest Triluminos display technology.

On the spec front, the Xperia Z3 is powered by a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM, which means it should be able to handle just about any task you can throw at it. It felt incredibly fast the short amount of time I got to use it, but I didn't get a chance to run any benchmarks.

Sony is also making a very big deal about camera quality. The Xperia Z3 features a 20.7-megapixel camera with 1/2.3 Exmor RS sensor and a 25mm wide-angle Song G Lens, which the company claims makes for the world's first ISO 12,800 sensitivity in a smartphone camera. In addition to this, the camera allows you to record clips in 4K, and a host of cool new software features are available, including Multi-camera, which lets you record multiple angles with up to three compatible Xperia devices filming at the same time.

Audio has been given a boost as well, as the phone has support for high-resolution audio tracks when paired with compatible headphones. And because high-resolution audio can get expensive, the Z3 uses Sony's DSEE HX technology to upscale the fidelity of your existing AAC and MP3 files to near high-res quality.

For gamers, the Xperia Z3 series also features PS4 Remote Play, which lets you use it as a remote to connect to and control your games on the PS4. You can also use your device to pick up in a game from right where you left off on the TV. In addition to gaming prowess, Sony also claims the phone can provide up to two days of battery life via a Battery Stamina Mode, which turns off background functions when you're not using them.

Xperia Z3 Compact and Z3 Tablet Compact
Luckily, most of these features are available across Sony's new Xperia Z3 lineup. In addition to the Xperia Z3 flagship, Sony also announced the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Z3 Tablet Compact. Unlike "mini" versions from other manufacturers like HTC or Samsung, Sony doesn't actually skimp on power or features for its Compact line. Instead, each device features roughly the same specs as listed above, albeit in a different form factor.

Let's start with the Z3 Compact, which is really just a 4.6-inch version of the Xperia Z3. In addition to a smaller screen, it brings the weight down to 4.6 ounces, which makes it a lot more pocket friendly. It also steps the screen resolution down to 720p, although the smaller display area means that it still remains extremely sharp. RAM is reduced to 2GB, which should not have a huge impact on performance. Other than that, everything is pretty much comparable with the Xperia Z3.

The same goes for the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, which essentially takes the same exact feature set as the Xperia Z3 and spreads its across an 8-inch screen. Of particular note is the physical size of the tablet, which measures just 0.25 inches thick and weighs 9.5 ounces, which is so light it feels like you're practically holding air. It features stainless steel corners and tempered glass, like the rest of the Z3 lineup, and also carries an IP68 rating, making it a lot more durable than it feels.

Sony also introduced the Xperia E3, which is a midrange smartphone that borrows some elements from the Z series. The Xperia E3 features a slim, light design that is clearly inspired by its higher-end handsets. But unlike the stainless steel on the Z3 series, the E3 is framed by a layer of chunky layer of plastic, which almost brings the iPhone 5c to mind. It lacks the Z series IP68 rating, but Sony claims the 4.5-inch screen in made of scratch-resistant, tempered glass.

The Xperia E3 still manages to feel like a quality device, even if its specs aren't quite up to par with the rest of Sony's new offerings. It's powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. It has a 5-megapixel camera on the back, and a relatively large 2,330mAh battery with Sony's Stamina mode. Unlike the Xperia Z3, Sony says the E3 might come to the U.S., but will likely be more of a draw elsewhere. Considering it comes in single and dual-SIM variants, I'm thinking so, too.

Sony didn't say much about pricing in general, but the new Z3 series certainly looks good, and U.S. availability from the get-go is promising. I'm not sure that a T-Mobile exclusive is a great idea if Sony truly wants to break through in the U.S., but it's a better deal than the Z2, which took months to make it stateside. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what impact that will have when the devices are released this fall, but we're looking forward to spending more time with them.