Updated on 07-08-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added official launch date of August 13 at Verizon.
After the disappointment over the Xperia Z4, which was only announced for Japan, and then the Xperia Z3+ only going to Europe, there was some doubt over whether a decent Sony flagship would ever make it to the U.S.. Happily, the Xperia Z4V is everything the Z4 and Z3+ are, and with quite a lot more added.
The Z4V is Sony’s first Android smartphone with a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel screen, which measures 5.2-inches. It’s a considerable step up over the 1080p panels on the other Z4 models. It still has Sony’s Triluminos and X-Reality tech for sharp, natural colors, so it promises to look superb.
Powering the phone is a Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM, plus there is 32GB of internal storage space and a MicroSD card slot. A 3,000Ah battery provides the energy, and to ensure it doesn’t leave you stranded without power, Sony’s Battery Stamina Mode technology can return up to seven days of battery life on one charge, but only with calls and texts active — that’s about 12-percent battery use per day. Also, the Xperia Z4V has wireless charging, and is compatible with both the Qi and PMA standards.
The highest water resistant IP rating on a smartphone yet
However, while these are all great features, we’ve seen them elsewhere this year. The Xperia Z4V has an ace card though — it has IP65/68 waterproofing, which is the highest rating given to a smartphone yet. What’s more, Sony has got rid of the annoying USB charging port cover, leaving it open and easier to access, without compromising on the water resistance. Very cool.
Moving on to the camera, there is a 20.7-megapixel, 25mm wide-angle lens on the rear, with an Exmor RS sensor, steady shot image stabilization for video, and 4K recording. The selfie cam has 5 megapixels and a 25mm wide-angle lens, plus anti distortion control, so group selfies look natural.
Other features include 4G LTE, Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, NFC, PS4 Remote Play, and support for High-Res Audio. There’s even an auto headset optimization mode, where it adjusts the audio based on your headphones and even your ears, adapting for any flaws it may find. The phone will come in black and white, and if there is a downside to the device, it’s that the body is relatively thick at 8.6mm, compared to the 7.3mm thick Xperia Z4.
Excited? You’ll need to have a little patience, because although we know it’s coming during the summer, but Sony and Verizon haven’t fixed an exact price for the Xperia Z4V yet. We’ll keep you updated here.
