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A Sony-made Android device appeared on Geekbench earlier today, featuring the model number 90QB16R. Based on the specifications mentioned in the listing, the phone is supposed to be a 2018 flagship, boasting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and 4GB of RAM. Sony is already expected to announce several high-end smartphones under the Xperia XZ2 moniker at this year’s Mobile World Congress starting next week. Previous leaks suggested all of its upcoming phones will have similar specs sheets and the 90QB16R is likely a member of the unannounced Android flagship family.
The device scored 2,367 points in the benchmark’s single-core test and 8,255 points in the multi-core test, which is in line with the results posted by other handsets equipped with the Snapdragon 845. An alleged Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus model powered by Snapdragon 845 with 6GB of RAM that appeared on Geekbench last December had similar scores, for example. Sony has scheduled an MWC product event for February 26 where it is expected to announce three Android flagship smartphones: the Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Pro, and the Xperia XZ2 Compact. These devices will presumably succeed the Sony Xperia XZ1 lineup launched last October. The company is rumored to include an industry-first 4K OLED display in the Xperia XZ2 Pro. All three phones will reportedly have screens using the 18:9 aspect ratio, though their resolutions are likely to differ.
Besides adopting the new aspect ratio, the Japanese brand may also opt for a major design change, doing away with its Omni Balance aesthetic, according to recent rumors. While thinner bezels and two rear cameras are already anticipated for Sony’s next-generation Android phones, not much details about the new design are available as of now. Last week, Sony had requested the FCC to dismiss a particular grant for one of its upcoming smartphones, stating a “design change” as the reason for the move, though the extent of the redesign remains unclear, especially if the smartphone in question is expected to be unveiled next week. The company recently started teasing its upcoming MWC 2018 announcements, suggesting that its next-generation products will be much more curved than their predecessors. All handsets that Sony launches next week should become available for purchase this spring, presumably around May.