Sony Xperia ZL now available in Russia, priced at $895

It has been a week after the Sony Xperia Z launched in some markets, and now it's time for its sibling – the Sony Xperia ZL, to hit the shelves as well. The latter has just been released in Russia and can be bought online from Sony's web store. It doesn't come cheap, however. The unlocked, contract-free Sony Xperia ZL costs a whopping 27,490 Russian rubles, which equals to $895. Also, one may only have the smartphone in black as its white version is out of stock while the elusive red variant isn't listed at all.

What you get for all that cash is a 1080p screen, fast quad-core processor, capable 13MP camera, and all sorts of bells and whistles one would expect from a high-end Android device. The Sony Xperia ZL is also more compact than the Xperia Z and comes with a dedicated camera shutter key while the latter doesn't. However, Sony hasn't added any waterproofing to the Xperia ZL, meaning that it won't survive an accidental dunk in the bath tub, unlike the Z. But as an added bonus, the Sony Xperia ZL is equipped with an IR blaster that can be used to control TVs, stereos, and other gadgets remotely.

The Sony Xperia ZL rollout will continue with countries across Asia where it should be released before this month is out. Canada is bound to get the smartphone in April. It is bound to land Stateside as well, although a release date has not yet been specified. To learn more about the handset, check out our Sony Xperia ZL hands-on.

source: Sony Russia via Unwired View