Sony Xperia Z2
A Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone (L) and a Sony Xperia Z2 tablet are displayed at the company's stand during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona February 24, 2014. The congress is the wireless industry's largest annual conference and runs February 24-27, 2014. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

Pictures and specifications of the Xperia Z3 have surfaced online giving a glimpse of Sony's upcoming flagship smartphone.

Prolific Twitter spy, @evleaks has released the snapshots of the alleged Xperia Z3 smartphone. In the picture, the phone's edge flaunts Sony's hallmark circular metallic power-button (on the right side) with volume rockers and camera button below it and micro-SD card slot on top.

According to the tipster, the new Xperia Z3 (D6653) is said to sport a 5.15-inch full HD (1920x1080p) display and runs on the Android's latest v4.4.4 KitKat OS powered by the 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 series quad-core processor backed by Adreno 330 graphics engine, 3GB RAM, 16GB inbuilt memory , 20.7-megapixel camera and 2.1-megapixel snapper on the front.

The phone looks very similar to its predecessor on the inside as well as out, hence casting a shadow of doubt over the authenticity of @evleaks' claim. Even though the tipster has a good track of predicting un-released smartphones in the past, this recent disclosure seems a little out of place.

At least for the sake of differentiation between the two flagship smartphones, there is fair chance of Sony using the new 805 series Snapdragon CPU (with Adreno 420), which can top max speed of 2.7GHz and also incorporate newer camera technology, probably with increase in lens size and megapixel count to help snap good quality picture.

As of now, the Japanese consumer giant is yet to respond to the rumors twirling wild on the internet. Until Sony comes out and clears the air over the rumor, this report will remain as pure speculations only.