Samsung and Sony are respectively expected to introduce new variants of their flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z1, specifically intended for the Japanese market. According to a leaked NTT DoCoMo brochure obtained by RBMen, both phones should join the carrier’s roster over the next few quarters.
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For all practical purposes, the Sony Zperia Z1 f figures to be a smaller take on the Xperia Z1. The internal hardware components should remain largely unchanged, including the quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU and the 20.7-megapixel rear camera.
The smaller, 4.3-inch 720p HD display, however, should prove to be more pocketable than the 5-inch 1080p of its brethren. Operating under the code name of Itsuki, the Xperia Z1 is expected to show up in black, white, pink, and lime green colors.
Over on the Samsung side, we have the Galaxy J, which looks to be a slightly more powerful take on the Galaxy S4. Boasting 3GB RAM instead of the standard 2GB, this meatier Galaxy J also comes with a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. Based on the leaked photos, NTT DoCoMo customers can look for the handset in coral pink, satin white, and lapis blue.
It is unclear whether either of these two devices will make their way outside of Japan; I would not expect either model with its new internals in the United States. Sony has a few North American options and seems content to take things slow, and Samsung already provides a number of Galaxy S4 models.
It’s always possible that carriers will nab an exclusive new color, though, with all other specs remaining untouched.