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Berlin – The IFA international gadget show opened officially on Friday in Berlin, Germany with mobile manufacturers vying to woo consumers with new devices.
Sony showed off its new Xperia Z5 to scores who gathered to test out the smartphone set.
It differentiates from the previous generation Z3 in that the power button now doubles as a fingerprint reader.
In a Fin24 hands on, the new Z feels much the same as the Z3, but pictures look somewhat sharper, even in the low light environment of the exhibition hall.
Sony elected to skip a Z4, instead releasing an Xperia Z3+ in selected markets as the company struggles to gain market traction, despite advertising its waterproof smartphones.
LG’s G4 feels bigger in the hand than rival devices, despite the elegant curved design as the South Korean company takes on neighbour Samsung.
The G4 has a rich display, with sharp text making it easier to read and view images on the device.
A 16 megapixel camera delivers crisp pictures and a 3 000mAh battery should be good enough for two days use on one charge.
LG has packed the device with shortcuts which clutter the display, especially for people with larger hands.
LG's G4 on display at IFA 2015. (Duncan Alfreds)
Samsung also updated its Galaxy S6 edge with a larger (predictably) Plus version on Thursday.
The curved screen device feels more fragile than the S6 edge though despite its size, doesn’t feel enormous in the hand.
In terms of functionality, the Edge+ is similar to the Edge which makes it hard to justify a case for this device.
It seems to fit between the Note 5 and Edge, and a Samsung representative told Fin24 that it’s aimed at the business executive who demands an elegant device.
Most of the new devices should be available in South Africa before the Christmas shopping season, though pricing may be a key decider.
