Event Coverage

Hands-on: Sony Xperia Z3+

By James Lu - 27 May 2015

Hands-on: Sony Xperia Z3+

 

Overview

Sony unveiled its newest flagship smartphone, the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3+, today. Known in Japan as the Z4 (the Japan version includes Digital TV and a Japan-specific FeliCA RFID smart card reader), the Z3+ boasts a slimmer, lighter design, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and a new 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

  Sony Xperia Z3+ Sony Xperia Z3
  Sony Xperia Z3+ Sony Xperia Z3
Operating system
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop
  • Android 4.4.4 KitKat
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core (Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core 2.5GHz
Built-in Memory
  • 3GB RAM
  • 3GB RAM
Display
  • 5.2-inch / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (424 ppi) / IPS LCD
  • 5.2-inch / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (424 ppi) / IPS LCD
Camera
  • Rear: 20.7-megapixel, f/2.0, 1/2.3-inch sensor size, 5248 х 3936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
  • Front: 5-megapixel
  • Rear: 20.7-megapixel with pulsed LED
  • Front: 2.2-megapixel
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth v4.1
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
Storage Type
  • 32GB internal storage
  • microSD support up to 128GB
  • 16GB internal storage
  • microSD support up to 128GB
Battery
  • 2,930mAh
  • 3,100mAh
Dimensions
  • 146 x 72 x 6.9 mm
  • 146 x 72 x 7.3mm
Weight
  • 144g
  • 152g

 

Design

Design-wise, not much has changed. The Z3+ shares the same Omnibalance design as its predecessors, and is the exact same width and height as the Z3, but is slightly thinner, at 6.9mm compared to the Z3's 7.3mm frame. The metal frame is also a bit shinier this time, rather than the matte finish of the Z3.

The Z3+ is slimmer than its predecessor, but it's hard to tell without both in hand.

The biggest change for the design is Sony's new capless micro-USB port. Previously, a flap covered the port to provide water-tight sealing, but the Z3+ boasts a waterproof port design without requiring a flap.

The most impressive upgrade is the Z3+'s new capless micro-USB port, which doesn't require a sealed flap to maintain its water-tightness.

Sony has also removed the magnetic charging connector points, so you won't get a magnetic charging dock for the Z3+ that you've been accustomed with earlier Xperia devices.  In lieu of the magnetic charging dock, Sony will soon make available a conventional micro-USB input ready charging dock, the DK52. That aside, the lanyard slot has also been removed (surprisingly, even the Japan-only Z4 is missing the lanyard slot).

The magnetic charging points of previous Xperia Zs is gone. You'll only be able to charge the Z3+ via its micro-USB port.

The rear camera is the same 20.7-megapixel, f/2.0, 1/2.3-inch Sony Exmor sensor camera module, but the front camera has been upgraded to 5-megapixels (previously, a 2.2MP camera sensor existed).

 

Performance

Internally, the Z3+ gets an upgrade to Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, with 3GB RAM,  and internal storage has also been bumped up from 16 to 32GB

Due to the slimmer profile, the battery on the Z3+ is slightly smaller, at 2930mAh, compared to the 3100mAh battery on the Z3. However, Sony tells us that its software optimization will still allow the Z3+ to run for up to two days of usage.

 

Availability

The Z3+ is scheduled to launch in mid-late June. Local pricing is currently unavailable.

Like the Z3, the Z3+ will be available in four colors: black, white, a revamped copper that is a bit lighter than the previous copper, and a new aqua-green that is quite similar to the old silver-green.

In addition to black and white, the Z3+ gets two new updated colors: copper and aqua-green.

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