Sony launched its flagship Android smartphone, the Xperia Z, at the International CES earlier this year. Now recent rumors indicate the Japanese company will launch another handset called the Xperia ZR, which may compete with current top-end smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the latest HTC One.

"We have it on good authority that Sony will shortly launch a new Xperia model called the Xperia ZR. This is believed to [sic] the same handset codenamed Dogo with model number C550X," reports Xperia Blog.

The rumors suggest that the Xperia ZR will have a 4.6-inch display with 720 x 1280 resolution. A 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm S4 Pro chipset is expected to power the handset along with 2GB RAM. The Xperia ZR will be equipped with a 13-megapixel Exmor RS camera sensor. The smartphone is speculated to have 8GB of on-board storage along with the option to expand using a microSD card. A 2300mAh battery may fuel the upcoming handset.

The Sony Xperia Z is one of the first smartphones to be dust- and water-resistant and it seems that the Xperia ZR will follow suit. The Xperia Z is IP55/57 certified, which means that the handset is dust-proof and resistant to water to up to one meter depth. The Xperia ZR may be IP55/58 certified, meaning that the device will be dustproof and water resistant to up to 1.5 meter depth.

"The design of the handset is more akin to the Xperia ZL than the Xperia Z with its glass body. Whilst we don't have firm details on dimensions and weight, we understand it will be slightly above 10mm in thickness and around 140g in weight," writes Xperia Blog.

There is no official word from Sony on the Xperia ZR. Now the question arises: will the specs of Sony Xperia ZR be enough to steal Samsung Galaxy S4's thunder?