Sony debuts pair of durable, water-resistant Xperia smartphones
Due later this year, the Xperia Go and Xperia Acro S are equal parts durable and sleek.
Sony has introduced a pair of new Xperia smartphones, which combine the familiar sleek design cues with durability and water resistance. Expected in the third quarter of the year, the Xperia Go and Xperia Acro S are proof that rugged smartphones don't have to be ugly and underpowered.
Based on hardware alone, the Xperia Go would fit nicely with today's midrange Android handsets. Available in black, white, and yellow, the Go's features include a dual-core 1GHz processor, a 3.5-inch Reality Display, and a 5-megapixel camera. To keep things protected, the screen features scratch-resistant mineral glass and wet finger tracking, while the IP67 ratings provide for dust and water resistance
Although the Xperia Go launches with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Sony is quick to promise an Ice Cream Sandwich update. Staying with software, the handset includes Sony's Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited apps and services. According to Sony, the Xperia Go will be launch in the United States under the name "Xperia Advance," quite possibly for AT&T.
On the upper echelon, the Acro S not only features bigger and badder hardware, but adds durability and a more robust software experience. The 4.3-inch screen is the largest 720p Reality Display yet, but it has scratch-resistant glass and wet finger tracking. Powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Acro S also boasts a 12-megapixel camera with full 1080p HD video capture and playback. On the software front, Sony says that the handset is PlayStation certified and will have access to the growing library of classic games.
Look for pricing and carrier details for both the Xperia Go and Xperia Acro S in the coming months.