Sony Xperia Z3+ is official: Snapdragon 810 SoC, new 5MP front-facing camera and trimmer design

Since the Sony Xperia Z4 is launching in Japan only, Sony needed a new top-of-the-line model to appease global buyers outside of its own country. This morning, the Sony Xperia Z3+ has been announced by the manufacturer to fill the spot in its lineup for a new flagship model headed to the rest of the world. Right off the bat, we can tell you that the new model looks very much like the Sony Xperia Z3, down to the 5.2-inch, 1080 x 1920 resolution screen. 

Inside, though, Sony has opted to go ahead and power the device with the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 SoC which features an octa-core CPU and the Adreno 430 GPU. 3GB of RAM is inside. The rear camera is the same 20.7MP snapper employed on the Xperia Z3 (still no OIS) but the front camera has been bumped from 2MP to 5MP in order to take better selfies. Sony has trimmed the sails on the battery, choosing to enlist a 2900mAh juicer rather than the 3100mAh cell that powered the Xperia Z3. But the smaller battery allowed Sony to cut the thickness of the phone to a svelte 6.9mm from 7.3mm.

Sony was able to move the USB port from the top to the bottom of the phone, and it no longer comes with a cap even though the handset has an IP 65/68 rating for dust and waterproofing. IP68 means that the phone can be submerged in water as deep as 3 meters (9.8 feet) without getting damaged.

We expect to see the Sony Xperia Z3+ released sometime later this summer. Pricing will be announced later, although it probably won't stray far from the launch price of the Xperia Z3. The thing to keep in mind with the Xperia Z3+ is that this is probably a sacrificial lamb thrown out to satisfy Sony's ardent fans. The real changes will take place with a brand new top-shelf model that will probably come out late this year. That handset will include the design and hardware changes that many have been looking for.


source: Engadget, Hi-Tech@mail.ru