Sony announces waterproof Xperia Z1 smartphone with 20.7-megapixel camera

Sony has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1, claiming it features the best camera in any waterproof phone, with the company also pre-announcing a smartwatch accessory for the device.

The device was unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin.

It features a 20.7-megapixel camera with a 27mm wide aperture, a custom made large 1/2.3-type CMOS image sensor and BIONZ for mobile image processing software.

“The combination of these technologies delivers the same level of quality and performance as a conventional compact digital camera in a slim, waterproof smartphone,” the company says in a statement.

The device runs on Android 2.2, featuring a customised Sony skin.

It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2 Ghz processor, a 1080p LCD display, a 3000 mAh battery, NFC-connectivity and runs on 4G LTE networks.

In terms of storage, it comes with 2 gigabytes of RAM, 16 gigabytes of flash memory storage, extendable to up 64 gigabytes through microSD.

The device bundles access to a range of Sony cloud-based apps and services, including its PlayMemories image and video storage service, its WALKMAN music app and Video Unlimited movies app.

The company has also promised a smartwatch, known as the SmartWatch 2, that can be paired with the new smartphone using NFC, and communicates over Bluetooth.

Other Sony devices unveiled by the company at the show include Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 cameras, a 4k video Handycam, a VAIO multi-flip PC with Windows 8 that can transform from a tablet to a laptop, and a high-resolution 4K video projector.