Sony has been dormant for a while with regard to the race to produce better smartphones. However, the company recently made a comeback, and this time it seems that they are going to keep up with major brands, with the upcoming launch of the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact.

Both phones look simple enough. The company made an effort to get the Xperia appearance in line with some of the commonly seen design choices of most flagship phones. It did not quite lose its signature bezels, but those have been reduced significantly. It also features a slimmer display that looks as sleek as the phones from Samsung and LG.

The new phones also keep up with regard to technical specifications. Both the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are going to be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 845 chip. This is the latest from the mobile processor manufacturer. The processor part already puts both phones above others that have the older Snapdragon 835 — like HTC's U11 Plus phone, for instance.

The XZ2's 5.7-inch screen is set in a 2:1 aspect ratio, with Full High-Definition Plus (FHD+) resolution of 2,160 by 1,080 pixels. It supports high-dynamic range (HDR) display, which means colors would look more vibrant in photo viewing or video playback. What's more, the phone can reportedly convert Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) images and videos to make them look like HDR content.

One of the most significant design choices within the phones is the removal of the headphone jack. This is rather unusual for a company that supports high fidelity audio. However, the XZ2 has stereo speakers and support for aptX high-definition audio and LDAC codecs for playing back high-quality audio.

All in all, Sony's latest smartphone offerings seem to keep up with current trends. For those who want to upgrade their phones to the new Xperia, the phones are expected to ship in spring. The pricing will be announced around that time, as well.