With Samsung side-stepping this year's IFA expo by having already launched the Galaxy Note 7 at its own dedicated event in New York, the Berlin-based convention seems to be taking a turn back towards non-mobile products as the main emphasis. Major smartphone makers will be in attendance of course, but there aren't many major launch devices gearing up to debut at the event.

However, we're now hearing word that Sony is in fact planning to launch its latest batch of Android-based, Xperia-branded smartphones at IFA 2016 on September 1, name-dropped by sources including @evleaks as the Xperia X Compact and Xperia XR. On top of this, leaked details have now emerged of what specs we can expect, as well as photos and renders of the products.

The Xperia XR (which some rumors have said may be called the Xperia XZ) appears to be the lead model with a 5.2in display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, Type-C USB and both 23MP rear and 13MP front cameras. The Xperia X Compact follows Sony's typical Xperia Compact line with much the same specs but a smaller 4.6in display and a 2,700mAh battery - we don't yet know the spec for the Xperia XR's battery but it will likely be bigger, perhaps around 3,000mAh.

Sony's design language doesn't appear to have changed one iota, however, and if the on-screen software is anything to go by neither has the UI. For long-standing fans of the series this won't be a problem of course, but if Sony is hoping to bring new people into the fold, well, there have been plenty of previous Xperia models with the same overall style and feel that have already failed to do that.