Oh for sure: slower more energy efficient SoC + energy efficient DAC + low amplification power output.
People wrongly accuse Android of being a bettery hog but Android in DAPs is generally highly optimised and stripped down to basics.
It's all the power hungry hardware around it, plus high-res, high-refresh screens (also missing from the new Walkmans, btw), that consume all the power.
I suspect coming from a more modern, powerful Android DAP (not to mention smartphones), many will be disappointed with the UI speed and responsiveness of the new Walkmans. Tidal, for example, is very resource intensive, and even if you don't stream, try managing a 10,000+ track library on an underpowered Android device...
A very interesting point for me!
"high-refresh screens (also missing from the new Walkmans, btw)", -
now I'm personally very interested in this.
On the old and much missed and shut down WM1Z HF page I'd discussed Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) screen issues I have still with the Wm1Z screen.
@MrWalkman even looked under the software hood for me.
The Sony Z3 phone gave me terrible headaches too - and the iPHone 10 (11?) also changed its screen PWM and caused users real headache problems. Apple shifted the hardware refresh forward by 6 months because of it. A real misstep for them.
I've been in contact with the Walkman engineers too about this. I'm sure it's a low PWM rate is to reduce battery consumption for these screens.
I have to have the screen of my WM1Z set at 100% all the time to try and mitigate the PWM. And it does not get rid of the problem fully.
Hardwiring Sound?
The other thing of interest in this new version is how much difference the hardware upgrades will actually make to an already money no object 5 years ago player (Aware that NP audio will mod the Z for £700)
Because the WM1Z for me has only been musically satisfying using
@MrWalkman mods as a WM1A. Because the software over egged the 'warmth' of the kimber et al and the hardware differences.
I wrote a review on the old WM1Z thread
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-nw-wm1z-wm1a.815841/post-15769389
a short version being...
Try 1z as 1a using
@MrWalkman Chameleon. That refines the signature and dems the diff in Hardware. The stock 1z fw adds braces to the belt of the 1Z HW. Prob to justify cost. That's what i found when I did a 1A & 1Z side be side hardware review. The 1z is better tuned as a 1a. I found the ++ fw mods exciting and intriguing. But I found they introduce sound artifacts at 2khz and in some other places. But they are great to have. Bravo Mr Walkman.