Everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia Z3
With the Sony Xperia Z3 release date expected to be held this autumn, the mooted handset currently has us scratching our heads.
According to recent Xperia Z3 leaks, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 rival will offer only marginal improvements on the existing Sony Xperia Z2 – a device launched just months ago – begging the question, why bother?
Set to feature a similar design to its predecessor, an identical display and camera collection, the Z3 looks set to benefit from a slight power boost but little else.
We will be updating this page with all the latest Sony Xperia Z3 release date details, leaks, news and rumours as new information emerges. Bookmark it now to ensure you are kept in the loop on all things Z3.
Sony Xperia Z3 Release Date
Despite the Sony Xperia Z2 having only been introduced back in February, the Japanese manufacturer’s insistence on twice annual smartphone updates means the much mooted Xperia Z3 will be with us in a matter of weeks.
Although Sony has yet to confirm an exact Xperia Z3 release date, the company has revealed the phone will be unveiled on September 3. Set to be the focus of the company’s IFA 2014 press conference, the tech giant has issued media invites to a September 3 launch event (above), teasing images of a new handset in the process.
Given Sony’s recent flagship phone patterns, it appears likely that the Sony Xperia Z3 release date will be held within a month of the phone’s IFA unveiling. This late Q3/early Q4 arrival will likely see the handset touch down during one of the most competitive launch windows of the year.
With IFA also expected to act as the launch platform for the high-end Samsung Galaxy Note 4, September is widely expected to see the eagerly awaited iPhone 6 enter the realms of reality. Let the smartphone battles commence.
Adding some confusion to the phone’s release, it is believed that the handset will have to share the launch stage with the potentially more exciting Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.
Despite dropping down to a smaller, 4.6-inch form factor, it has been suggested that the Z3 Compact will feature the same set of specs as its big brother, again questioning the need for the Z3.
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Sony Xperia Z3 Rumours
Latest Sony Xperia Z3 leaks have claimed to show off the phone’s design, with the handset boasting a finish markedly similar to that of its predecessor.
However, as many similarities as there are shaping up to be between the Xperia Z3 and the existing Xperia Z2, one area seemingly set for change is the phone’s thickness.
Despite the Z2 boasting an already svelte 8.2mm thick form factor, latest reports have claimed the Z3 has been put on the smartphone Atkins, dropping to just 7mm in size. While the thickness of the Z2 was never something we saw as a concern about Sony’s S5 rival, the Japanese manufacturer also looks set to address the blocky nature of the device.
A number of leaked Z3 pictures have shown the phone boasting a slightly more rounded finish as well. This adjustment should give the handset a more ergonomic fit in the hand. The Z3 Compact is expected to follow a similar route.
One area of the Z3 which has to date avoided much attention is the phone’s software package. Although little has been teased on the handset’s UI, this could be a great way for Sony to help differentiate the Z3 from the Z2.
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Sony Xperia Z3 Specs
Although the Sony Xperia Z3 specs sheet does not look disappointing in its own right – holding its own against any phone on the market – the lack of meaningful improvements over the Z2 have left us feeling let down.
Whereas the LG G3 has made the move to a 5.5-inch QHD display with a stunning 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution – a move expected to be followed by the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – the Z3 looks set to retain the same 5.15-inch, 1080p Full HD panel as found on the Z2.
Unfortunately, this isn’t where the similarities end either.
According to multiple leaks, there will be only minor performance improvements over Z2. Despite edging into the era of the Snapdragon 805 chipset, the Z3 has been tipped to run a 2.4GHz Snapdragon 801 CPU, up on the Z2’s 2.3GHz offering.
The phone’s camera collection also looks set to remain largely unchanged with a 20.7-megapixel primary camera sitting on the phone’s rear, just like on the Z2. However, where the Z2 hosted a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, the Z3 could move to the same 5-megapixel selfie-loving snapper found on the new Sony Xperia C3.
Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, expect the Xperia Z3 to feature a water and dust-proof coating and a premium metal finish.
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Sony Xperia Z3 Price
With the Xperia Z2 currently being offered on pay as you go by networks for a whopping £620, don’t expect the Sony Xperia Z3 price to be easy on your wallet. The near two year old Xperia Z is still being sold for £520 too, another sign that the Z3 will set wannabe owners back a sizeable chunk of money.
Given its high-end specs and premium materials, expect to see the Sony Xperia Z3 float somewhere around the £600 mark
Share your thoughts on what you would like to see included in the Sony Xperia Z3 in the comments boxes below and stay tuned for all the latest on the arrival of the next generation Sony smartphone.
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