The Sony Xperia Z series of phones certainly have some decent specs and great cameras, but they have made relatively little headway in the US. The Xperia Z4 never got a launch in the country, and the Z5 has been out for a few months in Europe. Now, Sony has announced its launching the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact in the US on February 7.
Sony is launching them in the US as unlocked GSM phones. So that means that they’ll work on any GSM network such as AT&T.
The Xperia Z5 is the slightly higher specification model that will be retailing at $599. The Z5 Compact will be available at $499. The main difference between them is their displays and dimensions. The Compact model has a 4.6-inch HD (720p) display compared with the Z5’s 5.2-inch FHD (1080p) display. Note that neither of the US models will have fingerprint recognition.
Both the models will come with the Android 5.1 Lollipop. However, Sony has also announced it will be rolling out Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates for the Xperia range in February. Those upgrades will include the Z5 and Z5 Compact models. There will also be Xperia Z4, Z3 and Z2 Android 6 updates.
Shopping ad
- 23MP Camera with the world’s fastest Autofocus, highest low-light sensitivity, and highest dxo Score for video stabilization
- PS4 remote play lets you extend your PlayStation games on your Phone via your local Wi-Fi
- Hi-res audio delivers a fully immersive and spectacularly detailed audio experience, Waterproof and dust-tight design keeps you going even in a downpour, SIM Unlocked means no contracts or commitment to a Specific carrier.
- Compatible with GSM Networks including AT&T, T-Mobile and cellular network providers utilizing GSM network such as: Straight Talk, MetroPCS, simple mobile, bright spot, Net10
- FINGERPRINT is not supported for US versions.
The Z5 phone is a Sony flagship that has some decent specs. It includes a Snapdragon 810 chipset with 1.5 GHz CPU. The phone has microSD storage up to 200 GB. In addition, it has 3 GB RAM and a 2,900 mAh battery.
However, the Xperia Z5’s camera is what really sets the handset apart from rivals. The Z5 boasts a 23-megapixel camera on the back. That can also record video at 2160p@30fps. It’s a high-end camera more than a match for Apple and Samsung phones.
Shopping ad
- Main Camera: 23 MP, 5520 4140 pixels, phase detection autofocus, LED flash; Front Camera: 5MP, 1080p, HDR, 32GB ROM, 2GB RAM; Supports Micro-SD up to200 GB, Nano SIM; 4.6-inch with 720 x 1280 Resolution Display.
- Unlocked cell phones are compatible with GSM carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, but are not compatible with CDMA carriers such as Verizon and Sprint.
- Please check if your GSM cellular carrier supports the bands for this model before purchasing: GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS850 (B5), UMTS900 (B8), UMTS1900 (B2), UMTS2100 (B1), LTE2100 (B1), LTE700 (B17), LTE850 (B5), LTE1700/2100 (B4), LTE1800 (B3), LTE2600 (B7), LTE1900 (B2), LTE900 (B8), LTE800 (B20), TD-LTE2600 (B38), TD-LTE2300 (B40), LTE700 (B28).
- This device may not include a US warranty as some manufacturers do not honor warranties for international items. Please contact the seller for specific warranty information.
- Does not include US charger and headphone.
Overall, Sony is some way behind Samsung and Apple in the US market. IDC ranked Sony 14th in the US mobile industry. Consequently, this recent announcement highlights that Sony is attempting to make up some lost ground in the country.
The industry analyst Patrick Moorhead stated, “A lot of Sony’s core technology is camera sensors, so it’s odd that a company really good at miniaturization and cameras would consider getting out of smartphones and not have a big presence there.”
Shopping ad
- 23MP Camera with the world’s fastest Autofocus*, highest low-light sensitivity, and highest dxo Score for video stabilization
- PS4 Remote Play lets you extend your PlayStation games on your Phone via your local Wi-Fi
- Hi-Res audio delivers a fully immersive and spectacularly detailed audio experience
- Water and dust resistant design keeps you going even in a downpour
- SIM Unlocked means no contracts or commitment to a Specific carrier. A Nano SIM card is required.
Sony has made the announcement for the Z5 US launch just before MWC. Then some expect Sony to unveil the Xperia Z6 phone at the show. If that comes out in the United States a little sooner, Xperia phones could become more competitive in the US.
Quick Recap
Shopping ad
- 23MP Camera with the world’s fastest Autofocus*, highest low-light sensitivity, and highest dxo Score for video stabilization*
- Hi-Res audio delivers a fully immersive and spectacularly detailed audio experience. Display: 4.6 inch HD 720p (1280x720), Triluminos display for Mobile, X-Reality for mobile, Dynamic Contrast Enhancer
- Water and dust resistant design keeps you going even in a downpour
- Up to two days of battery life on a single charge
- SIM Unlocked means no contracts or commitment to a Specific carrier
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
