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If you’ve been wondering when Sony’s latest flagship Android handset would hit American shores, speculate no longer. The global and unlocked device is now for sale at Sony’s U.S. Web site for $629.99.
Keep in mind that the Xperia Z is not to be confused with the Xperia ZL. While both smartphones boast huge 5-inch full HD screens, have fabulous cameras, run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, along with a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, plus 2GB of RAM, the Xperia Z sports premium design and materials.
Unlike the ZL’s plastic chassis, the Xperia Z flaunts a glossy glass backing. The Z also features a dust- and water-resistant design, something the lesser ZL lacks. Of course the unlocked version of the Xperia Z supports GSM cellular networks so you’ll only be able to set the phone up on AT&T or perhaps T-Mobile in the U.S. The handset should be able to play well with AT&T 4G LTE and possibly T-Mobile’s variant when T-Mobile’s LTE network hits your neck of the woods.
Interestingly, both the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL have the same $629.99 sticker price. Sony must not plan on moving a lot of ZLs into U.S. customer hands since I see no reason to grab one over the more capable Xperia Z. To be honest I bet the market for Sony’s unlocked phones isn’t very large anyway, given their high prices.
Also, If the Xperia Z ever makes it to a big American carrier, which I suspect it will by summer, it will no doubt have a much more palatable, subsidized pricing. Other reports point to Sony’s Xperia L device, a lower-cost unit, gaining FCC approval. That means it could pop up on U.S. carrier store shelves before too long, and for much less than the Z.
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A look at Sony’s premium high-end Xperia Z
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