Without much in the way of fanfare, Sony Mobile has announced new mid-range and entry-level Android handsets, the Xperia SP and Xperia L. The subjects of many pre-release leaks, these new Xperias were expected to make an appearance at Mobile World Congress, but were no-where to be found on the show floor.
As rumored, the Xperia SP is a 4.6-inch, 720p-screened device with an aluminum trim that incorporates elements of both the Xperia Z and Xperia U. Like the former, it's uses on-screen keys and has big, stylized metal power button; like the latter, it's got a customizable light bar down below that can tie into certain apps like the music player. It's also Sony's first mid-range phone with 4G LTE support. On the inside, the SP is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, so there’s plenty of horsepower to go around.
The Xperia L is Sony’s new leading entry-level device for 2013, and the manufacturer’s highlighting its 8-megapixel Exmor RS camera, a component it shares with the Xperia SP. The L is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU and packs a 4.3-inch FWVGA (854x480) display. Visually, it’s a close match for last year’s Xperia T, with a chunky convex chassis.
Both phones run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, and are due for release during the second quarter in red, white and black color options. We’ve got spec lists and a couple of videos after the break.
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Xperia SP
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Xperia L
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Colours
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White
Red
Black
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White
Red
Black
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Facts
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Size
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130.6 x 67.1 x 9.98 mm
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128.7 x 65 x 9.7 mm
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Weight
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155 grams
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137 grams
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Operating System
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Google™ Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
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Google™ Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
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Processor
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1.7 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960Pro Dual Core
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1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8230 dual-core
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Camera
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8 megapixel camera
16x digital zoom
Auto focus
Face detection
Fast capture
Flash/Pulsed LED
Flash/Photo light
Front-facing camera (VGA)
Geotagging
HD video recording (1080p)
HDR for picture
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene recognition
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Superior auto
Sony’s “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor
for mobile image sensor
Sweep Panorama
Touch focus
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8 megapixel camera
4x digital zoom
Auto focus
Face detection
Fast capture
Flash/Photo flash
Front-facing camera (VGA)
Geotagging
HDR for both picture and movie
Image stabilizer
Quick Launch
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Sony’s “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor
Image sensor
Video stabilizer
Red-eye reduction
Sweep Panorama
Touch capture
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording (HD 720p)
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Music
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3D Surround Sound (VPT)
Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Clear bass
Clear Phase™
Clear stereo
Dynamic normalizer
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service*
TrackID™ music recognition*
“WALKMAN” application
xLoud™ Experience
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Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
ClearAudio+ mode
Clear bass
Clear Phase™
Clear stereo
Dynamic normalizer
Manual equalizer
PlayNow™ service*
TrackID™ music recognition*
“WALKMAN” application
xLoud™ Experience
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Internet
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Google Chrome™*
Google Play™
Google™ search*
Google Voice™ Search*
Google Maps™ for Mobile with
Street view and Latitude™*
NeoReader™ barcode scanner
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit™)
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Bookmarks
Google Chrome™
Google Play™
Google™ search*
Google Voice™ Search*
Google Maps™ for Mobile with
Street view and Latitude™*
NeoReader™ barcode scanner
Web browser (WebKit™)
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Communication
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Call list
Facebook™ application*
Google Talk™ application*
HD Voice
Noise suppression
Polyphonic ringtones
Xperia™ Socialife™*
Speakerphone
Twitter™*
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Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application*
Friends application
Google Talk™ application*
Google Talk™ video chat*
Multiple IM
Speakerphone
Twitter™*
Video chat ready
Xperia™ with Facebook™
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Messaging
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Conversations
Email
Google Mail™*
Handwriting recognition
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)
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Conversations
Email
Google mail™*
Handwriting recognition
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Text messaging (SMS)
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Design
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Auto rotation
Battery standby mode
Gesture input
Glove mode
Light effects
On-screen QWERTY keyboard
Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2
Screenshot capturing
Throw
Touch screen
Transparent element /Aluminium frame
Wallpapers
Voice input
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Auto rotation
Gesture input
Illumination effect
On-screen 12-key keyboard
On-screen QWERTY keyboard
Picture wallpaper
Screen capturing
Touch screen
Voice input
Wallpaper animation
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Entertainment
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3D games
Media browser
Motion gaming
PlayStation® Certified*
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Sony Entertainment Network*
TV launcher
Video streaming
YouTube™*
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3D games
Media browser
Motion gaming
PlayStation® Certified*
PlayMemories*
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Sony Entertainment Network*
Video streaming
YouTube™*
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Organiser
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Airplane mode
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Contacts
eCompass™
Notes
Setup guide
Stopwatch
Tasks
Timer
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Airplane mode
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Contacts
Document readers
eCompass™
Infinite button
Notes
Setup guide
Stopwatch
Timer
World clock
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Connectivity
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3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
aGPS*
Bluetooth™ 4.0 wireless
technology
DLNA Certified®
GLONASS*
MHL support
Media Go™
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Native USB tethering
NFC
PC Companion
Screen mirroring
Sony Bridge for Mac
Synchronisation via Microsoft®
Exchange® ActiveSync®
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via Google™
Synchronisation via SyncML™
USB charging
USB High speed 2.0 support
Xperia Link™
Wi-Fi®
Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality
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3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
aGPS*
Bluetooth™ 4.0 wireless technology
DLNA Certified®
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Native USB tethering
Media Go™*
NFC
PC Companion
Play Anywhere
Screen mirroring
Smart Connect
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via SyncML™
Synchronisation via Google™
Synchronisation with computer
Synchronisation via Microsoft®
Exchange ActiveSync®
USB High speed 2.0 support
USB mass storage
Xperia Link™
Wi-Fi®
Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality
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Display
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4.6”
1280x720 pixels
16,777,216 colour TFT with durable tempered glass
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4.3”
854x480 pixels
16,777,216 colour TFT
Scratch-resistant touch panel cover glass (Schott 2nd source)
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Memory
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Internal phone storage
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8 GB (up to 5.8 GB user-accessible memory)**
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8 GB (up to 5.8 GB user-accessible memory)**
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Expansion slot
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microSD™ card, up to 32 GB
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microSD™ card, up to 32 GB
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Networks
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UMTS HSPA+ 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I) MHz
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
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C2105
UMTS HSPA+ 900 (Band VIII), 2100 (Band I) MHz
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
C2104
UMTS HSPA+ 850 (Band V), 1900 (Band II), 1700 (Band IV),
2100 (Band I) MHz
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
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Battery life
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Battery embedded
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2370 mAh typical
2300 mAh minimum
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1750 mAh, typical
1700 mAh, minimum
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Talk time GSM
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Talk time GSM: Up to 10 hours and 25 Mins***
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Up to 8 hours 30 min***
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Standby time GSM
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Up to 635 hours***
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Up to 498 hours***
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Talk time UMTS
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Up to 18 hours and 53 Mins***
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Up to 9 hours 6 min***
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Standby time UMTS
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Up to 734 hours***
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Up to 454 hours***
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Standby time LTE
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Up to 709 hours***
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N/A
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Music listening time
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Up to 39 hours***
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Up to 43 hours 12 min***
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Video playback time
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Up to 7 hours and 36 Mins***
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Up to 7 hours 30 min***
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In the kit
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Xperia™ SP, battery, charger, micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer, and user documentation.
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Xperia™ L, battery, charger, micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer, and user documentation.
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