Sony has introduced the NW-A306 globally, a cheaper alternative to the NW-ZX707. The NW-A306 is also smaller than the NW-ZX707 and considerably lighter. For reference, the NW-ZX707 measures 72.5 x 132.3 x 16.9 mm and weighs 227 g. In comparison, the NW-A306 comes in at approximately 56.5 x 98 x 11.8 mm and 113 g. In other words, the NW-A306 should be the more portable of the two, particularly if you carry a smartphone with you.
The NW-A306 retains its predecessor’s 3.6-inch display too, 1.4-inches smaller than the display in the NW-ZX707. Both displays operate at 1,280 x 720 pixels though, which means that the cheaper NW-A306 offers a sharper display than its more expensive sibling. Better still, the NW-A306 delivers superior battery life, with up to 32 hours of playback time when listening to 96 kHz FLAC recordings. Additionally, the NW-A306 should last up to 36 hours when playing 128 kbps MP3 files but just 14 hours for DSD files (11.2896 MHz/1 bit).
The NW-A306 will be available first in Japan, starting at JPY 46,000 (~US$347) with 32 GB of storage. Alternatively, Sony will sell a 64 GB edition for JPY 57,000 (~US$430). In comparison, Sony only plans to offer the NW-A306 with 32 GB of storage in Europe and the UK. The NW-A306 will be available in black and blue colorways at launch for £349 and €399, respectively. Sony states that the NW-A306 will be available later this month in Europe and the UK; the company has not shared a specific release date yet though, nor what the device looks like in blue.
Prior to writing and translating for Notebookcheck, I worked for various companies including Apple and Neowin. I have a BA in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, which I have since converted to a Law Degree. Happy to chat on Twitter or Notebookchat.
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