Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact US Version Confirmed

There are some great smartphones in the Sony Xperia line, and none better than the new Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact, which were announced in September and launched in October. Sony’s smartphones are hugely popular outside the United States, and now, early next month, two options are finally coming to the US.

Over the years Sony has made some good phones in non-US regions and occasionally on T-Mobile or AT&T, but none have been released in all US carriers like Samsung, LG, and others. And while the new Z5 series looks similar to its predecessor, the Z4, it still has a lot to offer US smartphone buyers.

Probably the best smartphone Sony has ever released is the trio of devices announced late last year. Unfortunately none of them made it to the United States, but that’s about to change. Here’s what you need to know about the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact version in the US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG2JLelx5qA

This week Sony made an important announcement, confirming that two of its three latest phones will be fully unlocked and available for purchase in the United States. Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact will be officially available from February 7th. These are two great phones, but they may have a hard time competing with devices like the Moto X or the recently discounted Nexus 5X.

Unfortunately Sony’s impressive Z5 Premium with a 4K 5.5-inch display hasn’t been mentioned, so for now we’re not sure if this device will be available. However, the other two went on sale fully carrier on February 7.

Today we learned that the US versions of the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact will have fingerprint scanners. The feature has been removed from the US models while the price remains the same.

The Z5 series is pretty unique. They all have the same features but different screen sizes and battery options. The result is the flagship Xperia Z5 with a 5.2-inch HD display and an equally impressive phone with a smaller 4.6-inch display. Many want Samsung’s Galaxy S6 features in a smaller package, and now it’s finally available in the form of the Z5 Compact. Here’s what to expect from Sony’s new phones.

The Z5 and Z5 Compact have powerful 8-core processors, 32GB of storage with micro SD card, fully dust and water resistant (not just rugged), and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the home button. Reviews were mostly positive about the scanners, but for whatever reason this feature has been completely removed from US models due next month.

Many of the options and features are competing options available on the Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4 or Nexus 6P today. However, they have not yet been updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and were not available in the US until now.

On February 7, Sony will offer the Z5 and the smaller 4.6-inch Z5 Compact on its websites, as well as on Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and more. The Z5 Compact will retail for $499, while its larger 5.2-inch Galaxy S6 rival will be $599. You can import one for about $50 less today, so keep that in mind.

All said and done, Sony is a little late. We hear that the new and even better Galaxy S7 will be announced and launched at the end of February, followed closely by an all-new LG G5 and HTC’s redesigned flagship smartphone. Stay tuned for more details and pick up one of Sony’s phones in early February if you want. It’s a tough sell with the Moto X, Nexus 6P and more costing $499 or less and offering the same or more. Add to the fact that these won’t have a fingerprint scanner but are still priced this high, you’re better off going with most Galaxy S6 or Nexus devices.