Like the year before, Verizon is getting its hands on a new flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia Z4v. This is a good sign for Sony, who has been struggling to gain any marketshare it can, seeing as Verizon is the largest carrier in the US. If the phone above looks slightly different than the Xperia Z3+ (Xperia Z4 in Japan), that’s because again like last year, the Verizon version is getting a few extra tweaks.

When Sony released the Xperia Z3 to the world, they also introduced the Xperia Z3v, exclusive for Verizon. The phone featured more rounded edges and a slightly thicker design. That was because the Xperia Z3v featured wireless charging and a bigger battery compared to the normal Xperia Z3, which carriers like T-Mobile received.

The Sony Xperia Z4v is no different and like its predecessor once again features a body that is thicker and slightly heavier (160 grams versus 144 grams). However, at that expense, Verizon customers will be getting a 5.2-inch Quad HD (or 2560 x1440) display, versus the normal 1080p display and a slightly larger 3,000mAh (vs. 2930mAh) battery. And yes, much like the Xperia Z3v, wireless charging is also back with ‘Qi’ and PMA technology.

All other things, like

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit chipset
• 3GB RAM
• 20.7-Megapixel Exmor RS rear camera
• 5.1-Megapixel Exmor R front-facing camera with 25mm wide-angle lens
• Hi-Res Audio
• Android 5 Lollipop
• Water & Dust Resistant

are still intact, making the phone a superior one if you don’t mind a slightly thicker body. The Sony Xperia Z4v will launch some time in summer in black and white. No price point or exact release date has been revealed yet.

Discuss:

Do the extra features make up for a slightly thicker and heavier device?

[Via Verizon]