Unlocked Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Tablet Compact available for sale in U.S.

The current Sony Xperia Z3[Photo credit: Sony Mobile]

Good news to buyers waiting for the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Tablet Compact as the devices are now available in the U.S. carrier-free.

Sony announced that the unlocked version of the Xperia Z3 LTE is now available directly from the company for $629.99.

Sony Xperia Z3 packs features such as 5.2-inch Full HD screen display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801SoC clocked at 2.5 GHz with 3 GB RAM, Adreno 330 GPU, Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS, 16 GB and 32 GB storage variants with microSD slot for up to 128 GB additional storage, 20.7 MP snapper at the back with 4K video capture, digital image stabilization, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), and video sharing. It also comes with a 2.2 MP selfie camera and 3100 mAh battery capacity.

Although the Xperia Z3 comes unlocked, the smartphone supports AT&T and T-Mobile LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17 and 20.

Last month, U.S. carrier T-Mobile started offering the Sony Xperia Z3 with no upfront cost, which means that consumers will not have to shell out a cent if they want to take home the latest flagship smartphone from Sony. 

T-Mobile opened the pre-order for the new Sony Xperia Z3 on Oct. 15 and stated that it will offer the device exclusively in its network. Consumers will just have to sign a two-year contract with the carrier. The handset will be available for $26.25 per month for 24 months. The handset is also available for $630 off-contract.

Xperia handsets have been well-regarded by tech reviewers as among the top smartphones in the market although sales do not reflect this fame.

Sony also offers the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact which comes with an 8-inch screen panel, and 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The tablet is also waterproof with the same IP6/68 rating and packs PS4 Remote Play and SteadyShot technology with Intelligent Active Mode. The tablet costs $499.