Verizon's Sony Xperia Z3v Gains Some Exclusive Features

It was revealed yesterday that Sony’s latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z3v, would be coming to Verizon on October 23rd. Eagle-eyed readers will note that the model number has a ‘v’ tacked on at the end and likely assumed that it simply stood for Verizon with no other changes to the premium smartphone. While it’s true that the ‘v’ at the end is designed to differentiate the model from other Xperia Z3 units that Sony will be shipping out, most notably to T-Mobile, the Xperia Z3v is in a lot of ways quite different than the model its competitors will be receiving. After the jump, we reveal the differences between the two models.

First, let’s talk about what is the same – which is most of the internal specs for the flagship smartphone. That means you can expect:

5.2-inch 1080p display
2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801
3GB RAM
20.7-megapixel Exmor camera
4K Video recording
IP68-certified for waterproofing
32GB internal storage and a microSD slot that can take up to 128GB card
4G LTE
802.11 ac
NFC

To make their model more lucrative, Verizon has worked with Sony to include Qi wireless charging in the Xperia Z3v. Currently, those looking to take advantage of Qi wireless charging for the Xperia Z3 need to purchase a separate case (WCR14) in order to enjoy wireless charging. Because of this, the phone will be wider and thicker than the standard Xperia Z3, though Verizon and Sony have yet to reveal the new dimensions. Whether it’s related or not, the Xperia Z3v features sides that are less rounded (think iPhone 5) than the standard Xperia Z3 where it trades its metal sides for a soft plastic that’s accented by a strip of aluminum down the center. This new design language can even be seen on the microSD tab.

Beyond wireless charging, the Xperia Z3v has also gained a larger battery (3,200mAh, versus 3,100mAh on the original) though interestingly enough, Sony is only claiming a battery that will last “more than a day” where on all other portals where the Xperia Z3 exists, Sony is touting a two day battery life. It’s hard to say if this is a subtle way to point out that the Xperia Z3v does offer less battery life or simply a different way that that the wording or translation was handled. One likely culprit, if there is indeed a difference in battery life, is that the Xperia Z3v packs CDMA radios which Verizon utilizes. Other changes will be the extra software that Verizon will undoubtedly include.

The Sony Xperia Z3v will be available at Verizon on October 23rd for $199.99 in black or white.