Last month, Sony launched the Xperia Z4 in Japan. Today, the company launched what looks to be exactly the same device for the international market, but with the name "Xperia Z3+."
Why didn't Sony use the Xperia Z4 name? That's likely because there have been only minor changes in the Xperia Z4 compared to the Xperia Z3, and Sony must have thought it would be best not to raise people's expectations internationally about a "true successor" to the Xperia Z3.
That doesn't mean there aren't any changes, just that there aren't particularly exciting ones. For example, the processor has changed from the Snapdragon 801 to the Snapdragon 810, (which may or may not be a great improvement depending on how you see it, considering all of the controversy around this chip).
The default storage space has doubled from 16 GB to 32 GB. The device is a little slimmer, which has resulted in a slightly smaller battery (from 3,100 mAh to 2,930 mAh). The good news is that Sony still promises two days of battery life, just as it did for the Xperia Z3.
The camera in the Z3+ device appears to be the same as in the Z3; it's using a 20.7MP sensor with an f/2.0 lens. The device also comes with a wide 25 mm front-facing camera with a 5MP sensor, which is optimized for selfies.
The Xperia Z3+ has retained the 5.2" 1080p display, the 3 GB of RAM memory, and its IP68 certification, but it has gained support for the newer Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity protocol. The device also comes with Android 5.0 out of the box.
The Xperia Z3+ will ship globally in June. It will arrive in both single-SIM and dual-SIM variants. Pricing has not yet been specified. The device will be available in four colors, including the classic Black and White, as well as Copper and Aqua Green.
Now, the question is when is Sony planning to release its real Xperia Z4 for the global market?
Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
