Sony Xperia Z Release Date: Unlocked Model Available From Sony Store for $629.99, No LTE Support

The Sony Xperia Z is slated for release on T-Mobile soon, but impatient customers can buy one directly from the Sony online store for $629.99.

The Xperia Z also comes unlocked for use on any carrier. "Before you get too excited, only the HSPA+ version (C6602) is on sale. The North American LTE SKU (C6606) is notably absent most probably as T-Mobile will be carrying it exclusively. All three colours are available (black, purple and white) and will set you back $629.99," writes Xperiablog.

And while that's the official price, it isn't the cheapest one.

"It is worth noting that Amazon and Newegg both have it in stock for $599.99," Xperiablog adds.

For those who absolutely need those LTE speeds, the comparable Xperia ZL has dropped to the same price at the Sony Store. Again, it's probably better to shop around. Newegg has the ZL for $20 less and a wider variety of colors.

The ZL is very similar to the Xperia Z, but it lacks the waterproof and dustproof rubberized flaps that allow the Xperia Z to take lengthy dips underwater. If you're more interested in the sleek design of the Xperia Z and aren't worried about forgetting it in your pocket when you go for a swim, the Xperia ZL might be a good choice for now.

Of course, subsidized versions of the Xperia Z proper will be hitting the market soon, anyway, but LTE on a carrier besides T-Mobile will be hard to come by.

The Sony Xperia Z features a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch 1920x1080 pixel display, a 13.1-megapixel camera with 1080p video, 16GB of internal storage and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, though Sony has promised a quick upgrade to 4.2. It is waterproof down to a meter in depth for up to half an hour.

Check back for the latest information on the Xperia Z as it becomes available.