The flagship Z5, which is already several months tardy in comparison to its launch in other countries, won’t have a fingerprint sensor when it comes stateside. To make it even less attractive, the retail price of $599 and $499 is higher than what you can track down on Amazon or other sites that feature the international SKU.
The spec sheet is decent enough: there’s a 5.2-inch screen, Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, a microSD slot, and a 2,900 mAh battery. There’s also a rather impressive 23-megapixel rear-facing camera.
The Z5 Compact also has 2GB of RAM and a 2,700 mAh battery, with both phones claiming two days of life. The display is much smaller at 4.6 inches, though the main camera is a similar 23MP.
Sony told Android Police about the fingerprint sensor removal, “this was simply a business decision,” which won’t help the cause any.
Why this matters: It’s hard to see this as a compelling offer. Sony’s latest phones are coming here with brand-new pricing but lacking what’s become an essential component of smartphone life: a fingerprint sensor. Sony has often had a difficult time selling its phones here, and unfortunately it seems to be yet again fumbling the efforts.