Following the Sony press conference at CES 2013, the announcement of the Xperia Z, the next question to ask is — when and where can I get it? Sony is the number 2 Android smartphone OEM in the UK, after Samsung, so we had no doubts that we’d be seeing it receive a British launch. The good news is that the device itself isn’t a carrier exclusive.
O2, Vodafone and Three have all released statements of their intent to carry the new 5 inch, 1080p flagship smartphone from Sony. Dates are somewhat lacking, as is any indication of price. But, we do know that O2 will be carrying an exclusive purple version of the Xperia Z, along with the black version we saw yesterday. Vodafone intends to carry the Xperia Z “as soon as it is released in the UK,” while Three simply says “in the not too distant future.”
High Street retailer Phones4U is a little more accurate with a release date though. In a press release issued by the chain, they announce their intentions to launch the handset on March 1 in store, with pre-registration beginning immediately on their website. That press release can be found after the break.
Update – We’ve just received word from Clove Technology that they too will be stocking the Xperia Z. They expect to offer it in the same time frame as Phones4U, and currently are taking pre-orders for SIM-free devices. The price is pretty steep at £528, but we’d expect a high price for a device of this stature.
Sources: O2, Vodafone, Three, Clove
PHONES 4U ANNOUNCES IT WILL RANGE THE NEW SONY XPERIA™ Z
PURCHASE IN STORE FROM 1st MARCH AND PRE-REGISTER ON PHONES 4U WEBSITE NOW
LONDON, TUESDAY 8TH JANUARY, 2013: Phones 4u is pleased to announce that Sony’s new flagship handset – the Sony Xperia™ Z – will be available in Phones 4u stores from 1st March 2013.
Boasting the world’s sharpest, boldest and brightest display, the new Sony Xperia™ Z has been created by the engineers behind Sony BRAVIA® TVs. The new, precision-engineered Full HD superphone displays content in stunning Full 1080p HD detail on the large 5” display, which also claims the highest pixel density of any smartphone. The OptiContrast™ panel guarantees crystal clear images when in use, as well as a seamless black finish when switched off.
The handset features a 13 megapixel fast-capture camera which switches from sleep to snap in under a second, as well as a next-generation Sony EXMOR RS sensor that ensures the Sony Xperia™ Z delivers stunning photos and videos in any light.