Sony’s H81XX series was spotted once again, with its references recently being uncovered as part of the Japanese company’s User Agent Profile (UAProf) listings. The lineup is understood to entail at least two handsets bearing the model numbers H8116 and H8166, both of which feature 4K display panels with a resolution of 2,160 by 3,840 pixels. This particular detail adds more credence to recent reports that Sony’s 2018 flagships won’t adopt 18:9 screens despite the fact that the firm is said to be preparing a major redesign of its mobile offerings. The rumored “Mirai” aesthetic is expected to bring slimmer bezels and possibly more rounded corners that would be a major departure from the OmniBalance design, though Sony still doesn’t appear interested in taller aspect ratios. Given how the vast majority of the industry is presently coupling bezel-free phones with 18:9 displays, Sony may be hoping to provide consumers with a different combination of features and end up being unique by virtue of the fact that it still releases premium 16:9 handsets.
The newly uncovered UAProf listings also reveal that the H81XX lineup will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, presumably enhanced with Sony’s proprietary software suite. As the Japanese original equipment manufacturer was the first to start launching devices with the latest major iteration of Google’s operating system, there’s no reason to believe its high-end 2018 flagships will ship with anything but Oreo. The same goes for Bluetooth connectivity, with the H81XX lineup being listed as supporting Bluetooth 5.0.
Apart from new premium devices, Sony also appears to be working on a mid-range series known as the H82XX, with some industry watchers speculating this particular product family will succeed the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact, whereas the H81XX one is meant to follow up on the Xperia XZ Premium. According to another set of recently spotted UAProf listings, the handsets bearing the model numbers H8216, H8266, H8276, and H8296 will also launch with Android 8.0 Oreo but feature regular FHD screens with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. Sony‘s 2018 devices are expected to be announced at the upcoming iteration of Mobile World Congress scheduled to start in late February and should hit the market by spring.