Sony Corp Logo
A logo of Sony Corp is pictured at an electronic store in Tokyo May 14, 2014. Reuters/Toru Hanai

Sony has quietly introduced the Xperia Z4 in its home country, Japan. In general, Sony is known for refreshing its flagship twice a year. However, with the Sony Xperia Z4 release, the tech giant has apparently opted to stick to the one-year-one-flagship cycle. But the questions that come to mind are - Should one upgrade to a Z4 from Z3? Is it worth it? In order to find out, here is a list of specifications and features comparison between the new Xperia Z4 and the predecessor Xperia Z3.

Sony will apparently build a near identical international variant with a different name for global users. According to Phone Arena, the device could be called the “Sony Xperia Z3+.”

Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Xperia Z3: Display And Design

The new Sony Xperia Z4 apparently comes with the same 5.2-inch IPS LCD display and 1,080 x 1,920 pixels resolution. When the whole tech world is going behind the Quad HD resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels, Sony is happy to stick to the same resolution seen in the predecessor. However, readers should note that, having a relatively lesser resolution helps the Xperia Z4’s processor work faster and economical, opines Phone Arena.

When it comes to design, the Xperia Z4 apparently comes with the same OmniBalance design language, along with a premium aluminium frame surrounding the handset. Plus, two sheets of protective glasses can also be seen affixed on the front and back of the device. Otherwise, the Z4 reportedly looks like a replica of the Z3.

Speaking of size, the Xperia Z4 is 0.27-inch thick, while the Xperia Z3 measure 0.29-inch. In addition, the Z4 is 144 g in weight, whereas the Z3 settles for 152 g. Needless to say, the new handset is slimmer and lighter than the predecessor. Similar to the predecessor, the Z4 also comes with dust- and water-proof exterior and therefore, it is IP 68 certified.

Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Xperia Z3: Under The Hood

While the Xperia Z3 comes powered by Snapdragon 801 chipset, the new Z4 is powered by the latest 64-bit, octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor. Notably, the new Snapdragon 810 is reportedly manufactured by the 20 nm process and it is guaranteed to provide better performance by utilising less power. When it comes to GPU, the Z4 houses an Adreno 430 unit, while the Z3 settles for Adreno 330. This means, the new handset is relatively better with respect to running super high-resolution content and power-hungry games. Despite the difference, both the handsets feature the same 3 GB of RAM.

As far as the memory goes, the Z3 comes equipped with 16 GB and 32 GB of storage, whereas the Xperia Z4 comes with 32 GB and 64 GB of in-built storage. However, both the handsets support microSD card slot for expansion up to 128 GB.

Sony Xperia Z4 vs. Xperia Z3: Camera And Battery

Apparently, Sony has not confirmed the technical details of the sensor used in the Z4 as yet. However, Phone Arena says, the camera unit of the new handset reportedly comes with 20.7 MP unit, which is similar to the Z3. Therefore, in case, Sony has done any improvements to the sensor, it should be on the camera software front. Moving on to the selfie camera specification, the Z3 sports a 2.2 MP unit, while the Xperia Z4 has a gracious 5.1 MP wide-angled unit at the front.

Speaking of software configuration, even though, the Xperia Z3 runs on Android v4.4.4 (KitKat), it is upgradable to v5.0.2 (Lollipop). Meanwhile, the Xperia Z4 apparently runs on the Android 5.0 (Lollipop).

On the other hand, Sony has cut down the battery capacity of the Xperia Z4 by 170 mAh unit (i.e. 2,930 mAh) when compared to the predecessor, which comes with 3,100 mAh unit. However, this battery deficit is unavoidable in order to get the thinner profile of the Z4, notes Phone Arena.

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