Sony's press conference was smartphone-free this year and, as expected, the Sony Xperia Z4 was a no-show at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company, instead, focused on 4K devices and a thinner Bravia TV. 

In a Q&A held after the presscon, Product Marketing Communications Executive of Sony Mobile Stephen Sneeden addressed the elephant in the room. Sony does not pre-announce products, he answered jokingly.

The executive remained coy whether Sony has plans of releasing an Xperia Z4 anytime soon. Sneeden emphasized that the company recently updated its mobile line with Sony Xperia Z3 and its full line of variants. He added that the company is currently studying the impact made by Xperia Z3. 

Many thought that Sony will announce the Sony Xperia Z4 at the CES 2015 after it released a video teaser entitled "Welcome to the New World," which some people decoded to have provided hints on the upcoming handset. 

Hearsays claim that the Sony Xperia Z4 will include a 5.4-inch quad HD Triluminos display, and will be powered by Snapdragon 805 or 810 processor paired with 4 GB RAM. Since Sony confirmed that it will push the Android 5.0 Lollipop OS to Xperia smartphones next month, the handset will most likely come with the same version of Android out-of-the-box. 

Sony's new 21-megapixel Exmor IMX230 camera sensor, paired with a 3.2-megapixel shooter in front, will enable users to snap sharp photos using the Z4. And just like the Xperia Z3, the upcoming handset is said to have 4K capture. Lastly, all of these features will be supported by a 3300 mAh battery. 

Although Sony is cautious in spilling information regarding the announcement of the Xperia Z4, rumors are now pointing to the Mobile World Congress in March as the handset's launching platform. The smartphone is also rumored to be released alongside its variants, the Xperia Z4 Compact and the Xperia Z4 Ultra.