Earlier this month, Sony bought Ericsson's share in the joint smartphone venture. The new company is now known as simply as Sony Mobile. On the heels of that name change, two smartphones have been announced: the Xperia P and Xperia U. These join the Xperia S in the Xperia NXT series, which is analogous to Samsung's Galaxy series. The difference is that Sony is focusing on the total connectivity experience between multiple devices. The Tablet S is a great example of how Sony can excel, as it offers DLNA and a built in IR remote.
The Xperia S, P, and U don't come with those two premium features, but they do come with the ability to access the Sony Entertainment Network. This allows you to share watch movies or listen to music from a single media network. Plus, Sony has always done a great job customizing the Android UI. In addition, the P and U employ Reality Display, which the company is marketing for its purported proprietary display technology. These smartphones are powered by Mobile BRAVIA, which has been a trusted brand in the high end HDTV market.
| Hierarchy (top to bottom) | Market |
|---|---|
| Xperia S | High End |
| Xperia P | Mainstream |
| Xperia U | Budget |
The Xperia P specifically is a partially pared down version of the S, sporting a full aluminum unibody design and WhiteMagic display technology. This feature reduces glare and makes the viewing experience great whether you're out on a sunny or overcast day.
Key features for Xperia P
- 4" Reality Display with powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine.
- WhiteMagic display technology for an ultra-bright and power efficient viewing experience.
- 1 GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance with 16GB flash storage.
- 8MP camera with unique fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images.
- Easy HDMI and DLNA connectivity to share content on any screen.
- NFC (Near Field Communications) enabled to access a growing range of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags.
- Available in a choice of silver, black and red, all with an aluminum unibody.
- Launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.
Key features for Xperia U
- 3.5" Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine.
- 1 GHz dual-core processor for super fast performance.
- 5MP camera with unique fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images.
- Crisp and loud listening with xLoud and 3D surround sound audio technology.
- Available in a choice of white or black, with pink and yellow exchangeable caps for the base of the smartphone in the box.
- Launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.
