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Sony Xperia Z makes its way to T-Mobile

The waterproof smartphone will debut at T-Mobile stores in the "coming weeks" and is exclusive to the carrier.

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Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
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Roger Cheng
Sony Experia Z at CES 2013
Sony put the Xperia Z on display on press day at CES 2013. Sarah Tew/CNET

T-Mobile confirmed on Tuesday that it would be getting the Sony Xperia Z in the coming weeks.

The company didn't include a price, but like all other T-Mobile phones, the Xperia Z will be eligible for a low down payment and monthly installments under T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan. The Xperia Z will be exclusive to T-Mobile.

For Sony, getting the Xperia Z on another big carrier is a step in the right direction. The company has been steadily improving its product lineup and getting more U.S. support for its devices in the last several months. It previously sold many of its phones through its own retail stores without subsidies, which didn't do much to spur demand.

The smartphone, best known for being waterproof, will work on T-Mobile's HPSA+ network, as well as the LTE network where available.

T-Mobile is slowly building out its portfolio of LTE-capable phones after launching in select markets earlier this year. While it often touts its speedy HSPA+ network, the company remains far behind its larger rivals in LTE deployment.

The Xperia Z will come in black or, for a limited time, a purple finish.

Taking a cue from Sony's television line, the Xperia Z has a 5-inch 1080p high-definition "Reality Display" with a mobile Bravia engine. It also features a 13-megapixel camera with a Exmor RS high dynamic range sensor, a "Stamina" mode to stretch out the battery life, and tempered glass and antishatter film on the front and back of the device.

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