14 DAY TRIAL // Shortly after introducing the AT&T-bound Xperia ion, Sony is back with yet another Android-based smartphone, the Xperia S. Although the Japanese handset maker did not reveal the exact release date of the phone, Xperia S is expected to hit shelves in Q1 2012.
The phone will be available in both black and white color schemes in select markets. The Xperia S price tag will be announced closer to the launch date.
Sony Xperia S will be delivered with Android 2.3 Gingerbread at launch but an Ice Cream Sandwich update will be pushed soon after. According to Sony, the Android 4.0 for Xperia S will be deployed in Q2 2012.
Furthermore, the Xperia S features PlayStation certification and Near Field Communications (NFC) support that allows users to pair other compatible device and read NFC tags with a single tap.
Just like the AT&T Xperia ion, the Xperia S is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core processor, but sports a slightly smaller 4.3-inch capacitive display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, which is based on Sony's Reality Display technology.
Another strong point of the smartphone is the impressive 12-megapixel rear camera with Exmor R backlit sensor, which features LED flash, autofocus and full HD (1080p) video recording. There's also a secondary 1.3-megapixel camera for self-portraits and high-quality video calls.
Sony Xperia S measures 128 x 64x 10.6mm and weighs 144g (battery included). It also packs a 1,750mAh battery that has yet to be rated by the manufacturer.
No word on the amount of memory, but this one should pack 1GB of RAM and microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB). Xperia S lacks LTE support, and is probably only compatible with microSIM cards.
On a side note, the Xperia S has been leaked long ago, but under a different codename – Sony Ericsson Nozomi.
UPDATE: The Xperia S white paper confirms that the smartphone packs 32GB flash memory, 1 to 1.5GB of internal memory and 1GB of RAM. There is no mention of a microSD card slot for memory expansion. Also, the battery is non-removable and should provide up to 450 hours of standby time or up to 8 hours of talk time.
