Full Sony Xperia X Catalog US Launch Date Starts June 26

Back at MWC 2016, Sony sought to redefine the Xperia brand and, in doing so, start a new generation of Xperia smartphones. Retiring the "Xperia Z" line (and soon the C and M names as well), Sony introduced the new Xperia X family with an increased focus on mobile photography as well as design, on top of the Xperia's much boasted battery life. Today, Sony has announced the good news that it will be bringing all four Sony Xperia X models to the US, with pre-orders starting today for the Xperia X, and a retail launch scheduled for June 26.

The predominant theme of the new Xperia branding revolves around making devices, not just smartphones mind you, smarter and putting those smarts to good use. In the case of the Xperia X smartphones, that is given flesh in the device's cameras, particularly those for the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance. Those boast of the new Predictive Hybrid Autofocus developed together with Sony's Alpha camera team. Along with features like Quick Shot and SteadyShot, Sony promises that you won't miss a beat with its Xperia X smartphones.

An interesting deviation is the Xperia XA Ultra, which puts the focus more on the 16 megapixel front camera than the 21.5 megapixel rear one. The selfie-centric 6.0-inch phablet boasts of OIS not on the main camera but on the front-facing one.

The new Xperia X also adopts what Sony brands as a more unified design language for smartphones. The curved glass edges and 5-inch display (at least for the Xperia X) make for an easier grip. Here, the somewhat mid-range Xperia XA Ultra trumps the other three with its edge-to-edge borderless display, supposedly possible because it doesn't sport a fingerprint scanner.

As a new flagship series, it is quite fortunate that Sony will be bringing all four Xperia X models to the US, though at varying dates and, naturally, varying prices. Details are as follows:

• Sony Xperia X – $549.99 with free 128 GB microSD card, available in White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold colors. Pre-orders start today, launch date set for June 26.

• Sony Xperia X Performance – $699.99 with free 128 GB microSD card, available in White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold colors. Pre-orders start June 19, launch date set for July 17

• Sony Xperia XA – $279.99 with free microSD card, available in White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold colors. Pre-orders start June 19, launch date set for July 17

• Sony Xperia XA Ultra – $369.99 with free 128 GB microSD card, available in White, Graphite Black, and Lime Gold. Pre-orders start June 19, launch date set for July 24.

All Xperia X smartphones will be available from Sony's website, Amazon, BestBuy, B&H Photo Video, and Reagan Wireless.