$700 price tag is pretty high.

[Ninjabird7]

This phone looks like a pretty big improvement over the X Performance but I don't see why it should cost 700. Sony should slash the price down to 600. I'll wait for  the price to drop before I consider buying it.

Anyone agree or disagree with me?

[Qatrium]

Initial release price tag usually gets slashed down after a month or so of release, but it's not guaranteed anyways. The technology in this phone's camera is quite interesting and I'd definitely try my best to get my hand on it

[YoGem]

Same, we have to admit that despite the fact Sony do not spend too much in advertisement in North America.. Their devices are top notch. Sure they cost more than other flagship but hey, also some Xperia midrange feels more premium than other flagship.

I will wait for price slashes then the XZ will be in my pocket.

[azzido]

This is a standard price tag for a flagship Sony device since a long time. 
There is no price increase increase in this segment.

While there for sure was a feeling for the first 3 X devices that it was overpriced (especially X and X Premium devices), I think we are getting bigger update with XZ + good headphones for preorder which is making the price to fit better.

Please note this time for pre-order Sony is adding a really nice add-on which are these wireless headphones with Mega Bass which are more expensive than Shamesung's Gear VR.

For the moment what I can see is that there is some update in materials, design and hardware for XZ (especially cameras), but there is a downgrade on the soft side, for any unknown reason Sony decided to give us worse experience on the soft side than it was in the past:

1. UI is getting too stock, soon it will be pure Android and there will be no reason to choose Sony over other Android brands considering the launcher. Not to mention in my ionion pure Googl's Android is ugly now 😕 It looked better in the past. 
2. No radio
3. No small apps
4. No lock screen widgets, no Stamina mode widget
5. No screen recording
6. New Stamina mode is rather a joke in comparison to the real one from the past. I wonder if it is doing anything at all

Too many things taken away in terms of the software... Too stock software. 
While I mostly like where XZ is going in terms of design and partially specs (except 3GB of RAM and slow eMMC internal memory - the reason why pictures are loading so long when you want to see it from the camera), I do not like where the software is going

 

[Ninjabird7]

I think since the US version won't have a fingerprint scanner the price should be 650

[aad14]

It would definately be worth the money for me if it had FM radio. But without, it's not even worth 1/4 the price for me. 

[Ninjabird7]

@aad14 I never really cared about FM radio on a phone but I do want a fingerprint scanner.

[Ninjabird7]

Hate to say it but this phone probably won't sell that well in the US so it would be wise for Sony to put deals on it. And I'm just wondering when will that be?