By 
Verizon finally has themselves a good Sony phone worth owning. It’s the Sony Xperia Z3v, a slightly different take on Sony’s flagship smartphone, and it’s now available for purchase at Big Red. Verizon’s version goes with a slightly different look — one akin to that of the Xperia Z2 — and also adds a couple neat bells and whistles that the original Xperia Z3 doesn’t have. Those bells and whistles would be wireless charging, as well as bigger battery capacity.
You’ll find identical specs otherwise, though, including a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset, a 20.7 megapixel camera, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) and more. $200 will get you the phone if you’re down to sign a two-year contract, though Verizon Edge is certainly a viable route to take at $25 per month for 24 months. That figures to be about $600 if you decide to just buy the thing outright. Verizon’s site has the goods right here if you’re looking to purchase one today.
I “think” this is my new phone – or the Turbo – but I need to go check it out.
I need to keep unlimited data, so I may have to do the full retail pop.
I want to wait for the Turbo before deciding too, but this being available right now is making the wait difficult…
Yeah, I do plan to wait for the Turbo. I don’t want to, but I need to. I have read a LOT about this Z3v and in the end, it is really not a Z3 actually. A lot was changed for VZW: body, screen, camera, battery. It is more like a Z2 in reality. So, I got all pumped for the Z3 specs, but since this is essentially a Z2, I am not so sure it will live up to the Z3 hype for me so I have to decide that. And to decide that, I need to see the Turbo. The Nexus 6 beast is out for me, to much phone size for me to carry and not feel stupid using.
I didn’t know they changed the screen and camera… Definitely good to know.
Yep and the screen is why they had to change the “2 day” battery verbiage to “a full day” for this VZW model as the screen is NOT what is used on the real Z3 – it uses a Z2 screen (and Z2 body mind you) – and so because of that, the refresh rate is higher and thus zaps more battery and takes more power to run so they could no longer say “2 day battery” for the Z3v. And the angles on the camera lens changes for the Z3v model.
In the end, the Z3v is NOT a Z3, it is a slightly improved Z2 and even uses a Z2 body not even a Z3 body. So not sure why they even call it a Z3.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sony-xperia-z3v-hands-on-benchmarks,27875.html
verizon def wants this phone to be associated with the real z3 but crazy how sony let them get away with it
True that. It is a bit surprising when you see what Sony got us hooked on, and what Verizon actually got them to make. 2 very different phones.
Being as how neither the Z2 or Z3 is available on Verizon, and only the Z3v, then the comparisons don’t really matter. If you’re committed to Verizon, then compare it against a non-Sony phone. If you’re not committed to Verizon, then you probably should have left a long time ago :)
I for one am quite certain this thing will have better battery life than my verizon gnex :D
Look, get one, don’t get one, I could care less, you can believe what ever you want, this is what we are getting on VZW can’t change that, so either go to another carrier and get your beloved Z3 or get this one.
Your not swaying me from my choice, screen, camera or body design. I don’t listen to the rhetoric I choice what I want, I do use reviews as guides but in the end after holding one today, just a few hours ago, I am getting one, end of story.
This is the best we can do on VZW right now and I an okay with that.
Oh Z3v has wireless charging and larger battery. Oh wait you’ll dispute that too, right?
http://www.androidcentral.com/sony-xperia-z3-specs
Xperia Z3:
Display 5.2-inch 1920×1080 (424 ppi) IPS LCD
Processor Snapdragon 801 quad-core at 2.5GHz
Adreno 330 GPU
Memory 3GB
Storage 16GB internal, MicroSD expandable
Cameras 20.7MP f/2.0 rear, 4K video
2.2MP front
Connectivity 802.11ac Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS
LTE Cat 4, HSPA+ 42
Radio bands (ROW) GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
UMTS: 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
LTE: Band 1/3/5/7/8/28/40
Battery 3100mAh non-removable
Charging Micro USB 2.0
Dimensions 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm
Weight 152g
Resistance IP68 water, dust resistant
Xperia Z3v:
(BE SURE TO READ THIS LINE BELOW)
(Unless noted here, the phone has the same specs as the Xperia Z3.)
Storage 32GB internal, MicroSD expandable
Radios GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G)
UMTS HSPA (3G)
EVDO (3G)
LTE (4G)
Charging USB 2.0, Qi wireless charging
Thanks for giving me the OK to get what I want. Until you gave me that go ahead, I was so unsure.
Your issue is… you are spreading wrong info. I corrected you. Period.
I wanted this phone, bad. But now, the FACTS are simple.. this is NOT the Z3 the was promised by Sony. It is a Z2 with some Z3 stuff thanks to Verizon.
ps – no, I won’t dispute QI wireless as you actually got that right, but you are a sucker if you think that makes up for what was stolen: phone size/case/body and weight of a Z2, camera, screen of a Z2.
pss – you are WRONG about the battery, again, because, again, you didn’t research nor know the facts so let me educate you since you will not do your own research.. yes, battery is bigger BUT due to the power hungry CDMA modem and lower quality higher refreshing screen rate that is inefficient from the Z2 battery LIFE IS LESS!! So they tried to make it up with a “larger” battery. But all you see is, “it has a bigger battery”. Clueless.
Just who the heck do you think you are? God of Phones? News flash bro, your not! You are so full of yourself you can’t see that you contradict your own words, dolt!
Ending this now with this thought, get Mom and Dad to buy you one of each and then you tell us which one, OKAY?
READ ANY OF THE 3 LINKS I POSTED ABOVE… Got Lord man, do some research, I gave you 3 links, and you will see the glaring differences with your very own eyes.
They didn’t change the screen or the camera: “You’ll find identical specs otherwise, though, including a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset, a 20.7 megapixel camera, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) and more.”
yes, they did. You need to do your research. Screen and camera ARE changes and ARE different.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sony-xperia-z3v-hands-on-benchmarks,27875.html
or
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/10/23/sony-xperia-z3v-now-available-from-verizon-for-199/
or
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/z3v-verizon-variant-discussion-t2877502
all “20.7 megapixel cameras” are not the same – the Z3v has a different 20.7 cam hardware setup and even Sony confirmed the screen change and using a Z2.
Screen is the same as the Z3 and so is camera (Z2 lens design), at least from all the reviews I have read thus far stated that. Biggest grip is the style (Z2) and that it is slightly fatter cause of the wireless battery charger, oh and the obligatory VZW bloatware.
Don’t believe all the opinions of fickle journalist, I am just happy ZVW finally gets a top tier Sony product.
I am getting one, damn the journalist that don’t like the Z3v.
No, screen is NOT the same as the Z3. It is a Z2 screen.
“UPDATE: Sony got back to us after the event to clarify that, in fact, the Z3v does still use the same screen as the Z2, not the brighter one of the Z3.”
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sony-xperia-z3v-hands-on-benchmarks,27875.html
And NO, the camera is NOT the same as the Z3.
“The Xperia Z3 does have a few improvements to the camera hardware that the Z3v, unfortunately, does NOT have.” and there are ISO differences, wide angle is not as wide.
Not sure where you are getting your info, and it is not journalist bias it is physical facts the phones are different on verizon, but you are wrong as both of these items – screen and camera – are NOT what is on the real Z3. The only thing you got right was the body change as the body is a Z2 not a Z3 for Verizon.
Was planning on switching from my M8 and its joke of a camera to this “Z3” when I originally looked into it, but not now. Appreciate the info!
Ha, same boat. If I get a new phone, which I need my old one has some bad issues, this will be it.
If I do get this Sony, watch for a vid on a LG Spectrum meets a large caliber fast traveling projectile.
Does anybody know if the Z3 could just be dropped a SIM card from Verizon and work on their network? Sorry, but i’m not feeling Z3v’s outdated body. The Z3 is smaller, sexier looking. Verizon always f**** s*** up.
Nope, the Z3 and Z3 Compact will only work on Att and Tmobile, that’s why they came up with the Z3v specifically for Verizon.
really sucks. I will pass up on this phone JUST because of this Verizon atrocity. I refuse to get a version of the phone that looks generations old.
Yeah, it is pretty lame they took a killer Z3, changed some key aspects, shoved it in the older Z2 body and called it a Z3v. Really bums me out as I was hyped up by the Z3 specs and now… it is really a Z2 in many respects.
Great phone, tyrannical carrier
I received my original Z3 “D6603” yesterday. Love it so far. Runs great on Cricket with LTE, though the LTE speeds were not what I was expecting. Does AT&T throttle LTE speeds on Cricket?
Yep, 8mb/s LTE and 4mb/s 4g speeds. Doesn’t stop me from loving them though as I rarely need speeds that fast.
My T-Mobile z3 arrives tomorrow. Can’t wait!
Give me the z3 compact and I’ll pay 350 on contract.