Sony Xperia Z2 Finally Has Australian Price And Release Date

We’ve poked, prodded and comprehensively reviewed the early-2014 flagships from HTC with the M8 and Samsung with the S5, but still we’re missing Sony’s offering with the Xperia Z2. Finally, however, the phone has an Aussie price and release date.

The phone is getting a staggered release across Australia’s three top carriers: Vodafone, Optus and Telstra, in that order.

From 7 May, you’ll be able to order the Z2 from Vodafone for an extra $10 per month on the $65 plan, which includes infinite minutes to anyone in Australia, infinite standard text both within Australia and to anyone overseas, infinite voicemail and infinite 13 and 1800 numbers. You also get 3GB of data right now thanks to a double data offer from the carrier. Normally, it’s 1.5GB. All up, you’re on a 24 month contract with that one.

Optus will carry the Z2 for an additional $16 per month on the $60 plan, which includes 600 minutes of calls, unlimited text and MMS within Australia and 1.5GB, all on a 24-month contract.

Telstra customers will be able to pre-order soon, with pricing yet to be announced.

The Xperia Z2, announced at Mobile World Congress, is packing a 1920x1080p, 5.2-inch Full HD screen with both TRILUMINOUS Display technology and Sony’s proprietary X-Reality engine from its BRAVIA TV line for better colour and image reproduction. It’s also got a 20.7-megapixel camera with a mobile CMOS sensor and the ability to capture 4K video.

Unlike a lot of Android handsets being released these days, the Z2 is mercifully running Google Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box. Sony will likely still throw its own Android skin at the device, however. We’ll have to see how it runs when we go hands-on later.

On the inside you’ve got a 2.3GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor keeping everything ticking over, with a whopping 3GB of RAM and a 3200mAh battery to keep everything ticking.

The phone is still waterproof, but this time it comes with the IPX-5 rating, which means it’s protected against “water jets” rather than just splashes. It’s also still dust protected too.

Sony continues to draw on its many different businesses and their products to throw cool stuff into the Xperia devices. For example, the phone now has digital noise cancelling tech from the audio business which purports to let users listen to music even in high-volume external environments.

The audio business has also kicked in a new stereo microphone for high-quality sound recording on videos. Given Sony’s push towards high-resolution audio, it comes as no surprise that it’s lifting the standard for audio across the company.

The camera business has kicked in a 1/2.3-type Exmor RS sensor with the ability to capture images and videos at 4K (3840×2160) thanks to “advanced video mode. There’s also a new SteadyShot system which keeps everything on the level while shooting.

Speaking of the camera, TimeShift Video mode allows you to capture 120fps slow-motion video, as well as support for Vine out of the box.

There’s still no word on when the Xperia Z2’s wearable companion, the Lifeband, will be available in Australia, but we’ll keep our ears to the ground for you.

We’ll also be bringing you a review of the Z2 shortly!


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