Sep 24, 2016 09:31 AM EDT By Vinay Patel, UniversityHerald Reporter

Sony is gearing up to launch its new flagship Android phone in the US just a couple of days before Google launches its highly lauded Android flagship phones - a sheer case of bad timing? Most probably, yes.

The Japanese company has just announced that US customers can buy the Xperia XZ for an unsubsidized price of $699.99. Amazon and Best Buy, the participating retailers will also stock Xperia XZ's sibling, the smaller X Compact, which hits the store shelves on Sunday, September 25 for a price of $499.99. Sony's handsets will come with support for GSM networks, which means AT&T, T-Mobile, and their MVNOs, but not Verizon or Sprint, TheVerge reported.

The Xperia XZ's arrival could be deemed as too late in the year in many respects. The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. It relies heavily on its camera performance to catch the eye of buyers; however, those who handled the camera during IFA weren't quite impressed.

Even if Sony's imaging manages to live up to the company's high billing, it would only position the XZ up to the same level as Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which currently lead the Android pack.

Earlier this week, Sony Xperia GB official Twitter account posted a test video for the Xperia XZ showing exactly how good the smartphone's camera is. In this 36-second video footage, the company tests whether or not the XZ can capture shots without blur, but not under normal circumstances though, instead while plunging 160ft at 60mph.

However, the 4.6-inch Xperia X Compact seems to be more intriguing of Sony's two new handsets, and at $500 its also likely to grab attention of the budget conscious buyers, unlike its bigger sibling, the 5.2-inch Xperia XZ.

Interestingly, the X Compact isn't quite a direct shrinking of the bigger handset. Aside from sporting the same design and camera system, there are several differences between the two devices. For instance, the X Compact doesn't come with the same metal back, and is powered by a lower-class Snapdragon 650 processor.

Nevertheless, it promises to be one of the handful options in the category of small Android devices as the holiday shopping season closes in.

Sony Xperia XZ Coming To India

Sony is slated to launch its new flagship phone, the Xperia XZ, in India next week; however, the handset's smaller sibling, the Xperia X Compact may not be launched in India at the moment, according to reports on IndiaToday.

The Xperia XZ is follow-up to the Xperia X Performance, which also didn't hit the store shelves in India.

The imminent phone features a unique loop surface design; in other words, the phone is designed with surface that appears to be seamless, winding around the device in an extended flow giving a sharp look, per Sony.

Moreover, the XZ features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port for data syncing and charging. The phone comes with water-resistance capabilities as well.

Would you buy a device that comes with months-old hardware and software, or rather invest into Google's in-house flagships? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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