Xperia Z3 Release Date, Specs, Rumors: Sony’s Flagship Model and Z3 Compact to Launch at IFA 2014?

A visitor looks at the Sony Xperia Z2 during a press conference at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, on February 24, 2014. The Mobile World Congress runs from the 24 to 27 February where participants and visitors alike can attend conferences, network, discover cutting-edge products and technologies at among the 1,700 exhibitors as well as seek industry opportunities and make deals. (QUIQUE GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images)

Sony’s Xperia Z2 was just released in April, yet rumors of the upcoming Xperia Z3 have already surfaced.

Unlike other smartphone companies that debut one flagship smartphone a year, Sony is sticking to a half-yearly release.

The benefits of pushing out a new flagship phone every six months means that Sony can stay ahead of the rapidly advancing technological curve, but the obvious downside is that loyal customers will find their “latest” flagship phone become an “older” model more quickly than other brands.

Having a six-month cycle does mean a more predictable release date. Given that the Xperia Z2 was launched in April, the Z3 should hypothetically be ready by October.

A smaller version, the Xperia Z3 Compact, is also said to be in the works. Xperiablog has some “leaked“ photos of the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact.

Sony’s newest flagship smartphone will most likely be unveiled at the IFA show, which will be held from the 5th to the 10th of September in Germany.

Indeed, recent information suggests that the Xperia Z3 could be released towards the end of September.

Vodafone Germany is apparently running a competition where winners of a raffle held by Vodafone stores in Germany will stand a chance to win the Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. The competition ends September 30, so this means that new Xperia models should be ready for shipment by then, or very shortly after.

Design-wise, the Xperia Z3 will supposedly have a metal frame, a PVD coating to make it more scratch resistant, and be only 7mm thick.

The Xperia Z3 might also run Google’s latest mobile OS, the Android KitKat 4.4.4, and will almost certainly run the speculated Android L when it rolls out.

Here are some of the speculated specs so far for the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact.

Xperia Z3

Display/resolution: 5.2-inch, 108op

Processor: 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, Adreno 420 GPU

Memory: 3GB RAM

Camera: 20.7 megapixel back, 2.1 megapixel front.

Z3 Compact

Display/resolution: 4.5-inch screen

Processor: 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, Adreno 330 GPU

Memory: 2GB RAM

Camera: Camera: 20.7 megapixel back, 2.1 megapixel front.