Sony Xperia Z4 Reportedly Only for Japan; Global Flagship Due by May-End

The company didn't even reveal details about global availability of the Sony Xperia Z4 leaving many to speculate whether the company is shrinking its smartphone business to select markets. Now, a report seems to have clarified Sony's move with claims that the Xperia Z4 will be only for Japanese market and Sony will be launching a new global flagship by the end of May.

Details about the global variant of the Sony Xperia Z4 are currently limited. On being asked about global plans, a Sony Mobile representative separately told CNET via email, "Sony Mobile is considering the feasibility in other markets."

(Also see: Sony Xperia Z4 vs. HTC One M9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S6)

Hi-Tech Mail.ru reports that the global version of the Xperia Z4 could sport a different name and might even include some changes in specifications. For now, no further details are available.

To recall, Sony's latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z4, is almost identical to its predecessor the Xperia Z3 in terms of design. According to the company, the Xperia Z4 will be available in Japan starting this summer, but no price details have been revealed so far.

For specifications, the Android 5.0 Lollipop-based Sony Xperia Z4 features a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) Triluminos display and is backed by the firm's X-Reality mobile picture engine. Much like recent high-end handsets, the Xperia Z4 is also powered by a 64-bit octa-core (quad-core 1.5GHz + quad-core 2GHz) Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. The handset is enclosed in a metal frame.

(Also see: Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Sony Xperia Z3)

The new flagship also retains the 20.7-megapixel autofocus rear camera of its predecessor. The rear camera however now features 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS BSI sensor, Bionz image processor, and a pulsed LED flash. The Sony Xperia Z4 also sports a 5.1-megapixel front-facing camera with Exmor R BSI sensor, which is an upgrade from Xperia Z3's 2.2-megapixel front camera. It also features a 25mm wide angle lens, apart from electronic image stabilisation.

The handset includes 32GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB). The smartphone is backed by a 2930mAh battery. Other features on the Xperia Z4 include an IPX5/IPX8 equivalent certification, which rates the phone as waterproof, and IP6X certification, which rates it as dustproof.