Sony is bringing its new smartphone to market within just one month of revealing the Xperia Z3 waterproof phone at the Berlin trade show in September. The consumer electronics giant learned their lesson from their Xperia Z1, which took months to appear in the US market, making the phone feel old even before it started selling. The Z2, which came out this past spring, never partnered with a wireless carrier in the US.

Consumers can expect to see the Z3 available beginning on October 23. The timing is good, as it is within one month of the release of Apple’s iPhone 6, and only one week from the date the new Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be launched by Samsung.
Sony is struggling to recoup a bit of the smartphone market share and getting to market in a timely fashion is part of their strategy.

T-Mobile will be carrying the standard model, which charges in the traditional manner. The Verizon version, to be called the Z3v will offer an optional accessory with which users will be able to charge their phone wirelessly, in other words, the need for a USB cable will be rendered obsolete.

The two different models are sized a bit differently, but their screen sizes are both 5.2 inches on the diagonal.

Both phones have the ability to play Sony PlayStation 4 games, even while the user is in a different location than the TV. The phones can also survive a dip in the pool, sink or any other body of water. (Salt water too? Not sure.) They also have 20.7 megapixel cameras which can record video in ultra-high, 4K, definition.

The pricing for the T-Mobile has not been announced yet but the Verizon version will cost $200 with a two-year contract or $600 without.