Bellevue, Wash. – T-Mobile followed Verizon in announcing a price and availability date for Sony’s premium waterproof Z3 smartphone, making it available Oct. 29 at participating stores nationwide and online at $0 down and monthly payments of $26.25 for 24 months, for a total of $630.
In contract, Verizon last week announced a Z3 variant, called the Z3v. It will be available at $199 with two-year contract on Oct. 23 through Verizon stores and national retailers. The no-contract up-front price is $599, though Edge installment-payment plans will be available to pay off the phone over time.
The Z3 was unveiled at Berlin’s IFA show in September, and the launch through Verizon marks the Sony brand’s return to Verizon’s smartphone lineup after an absence of three years. Verizon had been offering Sony connected accessories and launched a Sony 4G LTE tablet launched during the summer.
For now, Sony’s smartphones are available only through the two carriers and no regional carriers.
The T-Mobile version is among the carrier’s growing selection of phones with Wi-Fi Calling. Verizon’s Z3v variant will add such features as wireless charging, 3200mAh battery instead of 3100mAh battery, and Verizon’s dual-band XLT LTE service.
In addition, Verizon will offer black and white Z3v phones, while T-Mobile plans a black Z3.
Both the Z3 and Z3v feature 5.2-inch 1920×1080 display, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, and 20.7-megapixel main camera with 4K video capture, IS0 12,800 sensitivity, and 25mm lens. It also features high-resolution audio playback, compressed-music restorer, and 2.2-megapixel front camera.
The phones are also IP65- and IP58-rated for complete protection against dust and for immersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
