Sony has announced its new flagship device, the XPERIA Z3, at the IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany. This news has arrived half a dozen months after the release of their current forerunner, the XPERIA Z2 prompting some skepticism and raised eyebrows in the smart device community which, while justified, can be put to rest by the proposed feature list of the Z3. This new device will come pre-packaged with PS4 remote play (as previously seen in the PS Vita) utilising the standard PS4 controller and a mount for holding it while you enjoy your Playstation 4 games on your mobile device. Officials at Sony were unable to confirm as to whether this feature would be ported to earlier Z-series devices.

The new Z3 comes with 16GB of internal memory which one might find necessary to boost to 128GB with a compatible microSD card as this device is big on the High Definition media experience from the Sony HD Audio library, the fantastic audio upscaling feature called DSEE HX, the top-shelf 1080p tri-luminous display boasting 600 candelas or the ability to record and play back next generation 4K video via the 20.7MP snapper.

All this is packed into a stunningly slim, water and dust-proof form factor designed to please aesthetically while taking the hard knocks like a mineworker takes Amstel lagers and boasting the rare design mantra of actually making the device last longer and degrade very little over time.

The other new Z devices announced were the XPERIA Z3 compact and compact tablet. Don’t let the word ‘compact’ lull you into a false sense of inferiority, the compact packs a punch like a heavyweight. Sony has explained that their compact devices are not sub-par, watered-down versions, but actually the same powerhouses in a more diminutive shell and nowhere does this reflect better than with the Z3 compact, it sharing the majority of components and all the features of its bigger brother.

The Z4 compact tablet will fit comfortably in the palms of most hands and sits at the sweet spot of size at 8-inches while also managing to pack the same powerful features of the flagship model.

Sony also introduced their new Smart Band talk to succeed their previous Smart Band and their 4th generation smart watch, the Smart Watch 3. Both devices interface seamlessly with the new Z’s and are highly recommended to be paired as such if only to live out ones spy fantasies on a more subtle scale.

All in all this new line-up looks pretty solid and I look forward to spending some time with the devices.