First look: Sony SmartWatch 2 and Xperia M (video)

9 Jul 2013

We had our first look at a prototype of Sony’s next-generation wearable tech, the SmartWatch 2 as well as Sony’s new affordable Xperia M smartphone.

Don’t be fooled by the name, the SmartWatch 2 is actually Sony’s third-generation Android smartwatch. The water-resistant, NFC-enabled device was first announced less than two weeks ago, alongside the Xperia Z Ultra, and will be available worldwide from September.

We got a glimpse of an early model from Ciaran Cleary, Sony Mobile’s national sales and marketing manager for Ireland, who quickly explained how the 1.6-inch screen can be connected to a smartphone to receive notifications and control music playback.

Cleary also walked us through the key features of the new Sony Xperia M, an affordable 4-inch smartphone coming mid-August. Cleary expects a €199 price tag for the Xperia M on pre-pay plans.

Echoing aspects of the OmniBalance design language introduced with the flagship Xperia Z, the Xperia M is an attractive smartphone available in standard black and white as well as rich purple and eye-popping tennis-ball green.

While checking out these new products from Sony Mobile, we also got to see the latest from the Bravia TV range. The 55-inch W9 Bravia TV is equipped with a Triluminos display and X-Reality processor that enhances all images on-screen, and you’ll have to take my word for it as seeing is believing for the stunning depth and clarity this display provides.

Sony Home Entertainment’s Sarah Flanagan demonstrated how Sony’s Bravia range connects to mobile devices via NFC for screen mirroring or to enable a second-screen experience, and we also talked further with Cleary on Sony Mobile’s strategy for increased connectivity across the Sony range.

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com