Sony Xperia XZ2 release date, specs rumors: Major redesign happening prior to MWC 2018 launch

Special blue color variant of Sony Xperia XZ 2016Sony Mobile

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is one of the most anticipated flagship smartphones arriving at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018. Sony has yet to reveal the details regarding the premium handset's specs and features, and it looks like the public will have to wait until the MWC event to confirm them. If the latest rumors are correct, the 2018 flagship is undergoing a last-minute redesigning, which will make all the previous leaks and specs rumors void.

As reported by the Xperia Blog, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently received a message from Sony Mobile pertaining to the last-minute changes of the Sony Xperia XZ2. The FCC, which is the agency in charge of approving patents for telecommunication devices, is being requested to invalidate all the grants given to a certain device with ID number PY7-00718V. This particular device is believed to be the Sony Xperia XZ2, and according to Sony's letter, the request for dismissal of grants is due to a sudden "design change."

Sony sent the letter to the US FCC last Feb. 7, a few weeks away from the MWC 2018 to be held in Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 25. This led to speculations that the Sony device subjected for redesign is the Xperia XZ2, although it is not clear if there will be a major overhaul or just minor changes in some parts of the handset. Likewise, it is also not certain if the particular Sony smartphone with FCC ID PY7-00718V will be the regular Xperia XZ2 or the Xperia XZ2 Compact. Aside from the next-gen Xperia XZ handsets, Sony is also expected to launch the new Xperia XZ1 Premium and Xperia ZX Pro.

So far, the specs leaks for the Sony Xperia XZ2 suggest that the premium smartphone will sport a massive screen display, resembling the display panel of the Samsung Galaxy S8. To achieve an appearance akin to the Galaxy S8's Infinity Display, the Xperia XZ2 should have an all-screen curved-edge front display with almost nonexistent bezels on the sides.

Speaking of the front display, Slash Gear is expecting that the Sony Xperia XZ2 will be the first to ditch the signature angular edges of an Xperia phone. It is likely that Sony will surprise everyone by introducing the Xperia XZ2 with dual curved edges, thus adding to the device's aesthetics.