The Xperia Z is a pretty spiffy flagship phone, and tough as well, thanks to its IP55/IP57 Ingress Protection rating. But now there's a more specialized model coming, the Xperia ZR, designed specifically for waterproof functioning in even wetter environments. The new phone is manufactured to the higher IP55/IP58 standard, meaning that it can be safely submersed in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
The Xperia ZR roughly follows the Z's design, getting rid of some of the slim lines and premium materials for the sake of its more waterproof chassis. It looks a lot like the slightly down-market ZL, in fact, with a 10.4mm-thick plastic body. The star of the show is the 13MP rear camera, which is specifically designed for underwater photos and videos with an external camera button. (The sensor is the same one found on the Xperia Z.) The smaller 4.6" screen has the "Reality Display" marketing tag, but is unfortunately only a 720p panel. Four body colors were shown: black, white, pink, and mint.
Other specifications include a 1.5Ghz quad-core Snapdragon Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, and NFC sharing functions were shown in the video. Android 4.1 runs underneath, though the manufacturer skin is the same one Sony has been using for some time. Storage is 8GB in the phone, with MicroSD expanding it up to 32GB. The international GSM model will include LTE bands.
According to the press release, the Xperia ZR will be available in the second quarter. Sony will also launch the SBH50 Bluetooth headset and FM radio, which will pair with the ZR automatically, along with a charging dock and a smartwatch (MN2) which was not shown. Naturally, price was not mentioned.