Sony announces Xperia E - budget phone for Europe with dual-SIM option

Sony Mobile's not depleted the alphabet just yet, so here's another mid-to-low-end Xperia phone, the Xperia E. A 3.5-incher aimed at the budget-conscious, the Xperia E packs a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, a 1GHz Qualcomm CPU and a 3.2MP rear camera, so it's a no frills Android experience on offer.

The regular version of the Xperia E will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean -- perhaps the first Sony phone to do so -- while a dual-SIM variant will be offered running ICS out of the box, but with an upgrade promised. Other notables include a 1500mAh battery, fairly sizeable for a device of this kind, and HD Voice support for improved call quality on supporting networks.

The Xperia E will launch in single and dual-SIM flavors Europe in Q1 2013. The single-SIM version will be available in black, white and pink, while the dual-SIM model will come in black and gold.

More info in the presser after the break.

Sony introduces Xperia™ E – An affordable smartphone with HD Voice, data usage monitoring and battery power management

Outstanding call quality through HD Voice and noise cancellation for crystal clear calls in any environment
Easy cost control with data usage monitoring and battery power management extending standby up to 4 times
- Dual SIM version – Xperia E dual – also available

5th December 2012, London, United Kingdom – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today announced a new affordable addition to its Xperia smartphone range, Xperia E. Sony’s latest Android smartphone will be available in both single and dual SIM versions from Q1 2013.

Xperia E is a compact and competitively priced smartphone that is engineered for simplicity. Available in black, white and pink, Xperia E boasts outstanding HD Voice quality that makes phone calls clearer than ever before. It also features noise cancellation that filters out background noise so consumers can hold crystal clear conversations in any environment.

Xperia E has also been designed to let consumers stay on top of cost and power consumption. The data usage application monitors how much is being spent and the extended standby mode increases the standby time up to 4 times. When the screen has been in sleep mode for a few minutes, Wi-Fi and data traffic will be disabled and most applications will be inactive to save battery life. However, calling and messaging will continue to work as normal. Once you touch the screen to wake the device up from standby, all functions are back to normal.

It will also be available in a dual SIM version – Xperia E dual – so that consumers can easily switch between tariffs with just one touch to stay on the most cost effective plan.

“Consumers looking to take their first steps into the world of Xperia smartphones would be well advised to look at Xperia E or Xperia E dual. They are perfect for those seeking affordable access to the quality and functionality more traditionally associated with high-end Android smartphones,” said Calum MacDougall, Director Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

Xperia E comes equipped with superior sound quality with the in-built “WALKMAN®” application that includes xLOUD™ audio technology, 3D surround sound and a manual equalizer. With access to millions of music tracks1 from the cloud based streaming service, Music Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network2, consumers can also easily view and share their content on TV, tablet and PC with DLNA wireless connectivity.

Xperia E will launch on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) for the latest Android user experience3.

Key features for Xperia E

Crystal clear calls thanks to HD Voice and noise cancellation
Easy data and battery power management
Long-lasting 1500 mAh removable battery
3.5” HVGA display for great browsing and entertainment experiences
Walkman music experience with xLOUD and 3D surround sound
Wireless DLNA connectivity to easily share and view content like photos and videos on a TV, tablet and PC
Powered by a 1 GHz processor
Xperia E will be available in black, white and pink and Xperia E dual in black and gold