The Sony Xperia Z3+ is far from being a game changer

May 26, 2015 11:34 GMT  ·  By

Sony launched the Xperia Z4 flagship a few weeks ago, but soon afterwards we got word that the phone would be available only in Japan.

Even so, the company was said to be prepping a second flagship device aimed at the international market. Today the Japanese device maker has pulled off the veil the Xperia Z3+ model that will be soon be made available in the western world.

Welcome the 2015 Sony Xperia Z3

Yes, right from the get-go we’ll tell you that you need a set of trained eyes to differentiate between the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3+ because they look pretty much the same.

The phone takes advantage of a 5.2-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution like its predecessor, but its internals have been revamped (as seen at Engadget).

Like with the Xperia Z4, Sony has opted to use a Snapdragon 810 processor fitted with 3GB of RAM to fuel the insides of the device.

The Xperia Z3 employed the services of a Snapdragon 801 processor with 3GB of RAM, so at least in the processor department things got renewed.

On the imaging front we find the same 20.7MP camera the Xperia Z3 used to don and there’s still no OIS (optical image stabilization) onboard. The good news is for selfie lovers, as Sony has bumped up the frontal shooter from 2MP to 5MP.

Sony Xperia Z3+ has a thinner profile

Another difference compared to the predecessor is that the Xperia Z3+ is sleeker coming in at 6.9 mm / 0.27 inches, as opposed to 7.3mm / 0.28 inches. But Sony had to make some compromises to achieve this feature, so the battery onboard the new phone is of a 2,900 mAh battery and not of 3,100 mAh, as was the case with the Xperia Z3.

The USB port now lives at the bottom of the phone and comes devoid of a water protecting cap. Even so, the handset still arrives with an IP65/68 rating for dust and waterproofing. IP68 translates into the fact that you’ll be able to emerge the phone in water up to 3m / 9.8 ft deep for up to 30 mins.

We don’t know exactly when we should expect to see the Xperia Z3+ arrive on the market, but chances are it’s going to make an appearance later this summer. No word on pricing either.

Still Sony will probably fail to impress smartphone enthusiasts once again, but the real changes to the company’s premium lineup are expected to arrive with the Xperia Z5.

Sony Xperia Z3+ (12 Images)

Sony Xperia Z3+ comes in different colors
Sony Xperia Z3+ front and back viewSony Xperia Z3+ is a waterproof device
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