Sony just held an Xperia gaming event earlier today where it unveiled the Xperia Stream, a cooling case that is compatible with the Sony Xperia 1 IV smartphone and also doubles down as a streaming platform.
Its primary purpose is to keep your handset cool during intensive gaming sessions, but also includes ports for faster, more stable internet connectivity, power, audio and video output.
The cooling system comprises of a fan with users also able to control the fan’s speed through a Game Enhancer App (in-built on the Xperia 1 IV) which also has other options to tweak your device’s performance such as; thermal boost technology to enable the phone handle demanding loads including high resolution graphics and frame rates.
It doesn’t come with its own battery pack so it completely relies on the attached device’s power supply via a USB-C port.
Despite its large and somewhat bulky size, the Xperia Stream doesn’t feature any additional buttons or joysticks so you’ll still be doing the actual gaming on the phone’s display.
Instead, Sony has opted for extra ports (4 in total) starting off with a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port that allows the Xperia 1 IV’s screen to be outputted to a compatible TV or monitor, although the video output maxes out at 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
Additionally, you can also connect a capture card to record and live-stream your gaming encounters.
There’s also an Ethernet (LAN) port for wired internet access, and since the entire device blocks the phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack, it makes up for this by featuring one alongside the other parts I earlier mentioned, all of which are located at the bottom side.
When connected, all the cables hang downwards so the phone shouldn’t become unbalanced or uncomfortable to hold.
Not A Necessity But Decent Enough To Consider
It’s quite clear to whom Sony is marketing the Xperia Stream to. It’s not necessarily a must have gaming gear, but it can be useful to those who appreciate the features it offers. However, keep in mind this cooling system is tailor-made (exclusively for) to the Xperia 1 IV, meaning it’s not compatible with any other devices.
Pricing & Availability
Despite sources like GSM Arena already quoting the Sony Xperia Stream potentially retailing at 23,100 Japanese Yen/$160 (Kshs 19,248), Sony has yet to independently confirm its pricing or availability, although the Stream has already been listed on the company’s official website.
There’s a Gaming Edition Bundle listed as well, combining the sale of the Xperia 1 IV with the new Xperia Stream. However, if you’re eager to get your hands on this new accessory before everyone else, you could try it out at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in Chiba, Japan starting this Thursday, September 15th.
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Sony adding spice to the game