Sony's Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are now finally getting the Android 5.0 Lollipop update, but the catch is that it's only happening in Europe so far. Fortunately for Sony fans, the Z4 is expected to be coming soon with the latest version of Android installed.
"You'll see the upgrade hit first devices in the Nordics and Baltics, continuing to further markets, for more Xperia Z Series products, starting in around two weeks time," Sony's official mobile blog stated earlier this week. "We'll share the latest here, as it happens."
With a blend of Android Lollipop's exciting new features and Sony's own tweaks on the software, the company listed a host of new goodies to look forward to on the Xperia Z3 with this update.
- Fresh, streamlined looks - based on Google's material design, but retaining our minimalistic approach to interface and application design
- New look notifications and lock screen - with fully customizable settings, so you only get the information you really need
- Multi user profiles and guest mode - making it easy for family and friends to use your device, or the creation of dual environments for work and play...
- Android for Work - not only are business-ready Xperia smartphones and tablets unique devices for work - with waterproof form factors, great battery life and productivity features - they will now also be part of the Android for Work ecosystem
- Better storage control and customization - with the option to easily move applications from internal memory to SD card - giving you more control over your content, particularly useful for devices with slightly less space
As for the Xperia Z4, the highly anticipated successor to the Z3 has already been shown in leaked renders with rumored specs all over the board, but some bad news came from TechnoBuffalo this week regarding the release date.
Even though Sony had previously stated that it would continue to release fresh new phones sooner than every 12 months, it looks like that won't be true for the Z4. The tech website HDBlog is reporting that Sony plans to officially announce the Z4 during the IFA trade show in Berlin this coming September, so we still have another six months before the phone is even shown off.
As as TechnoBuffalo points out, this gives plenty of time for rivals Samsung and HTC to gain traction with the Galaxy S6 and One M9 long before the Sony roduct comes out. This could be either be bad for Sony as potential customers get lured in to these other phones and locked into a contract first, or it could be good for Sony if people are turned off by the summer releases.
The Z4 is expected to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3 or 4 GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch display with Quad HD resolution, and a rear camera upwards of 20 megapixels.