Sony Ericsson refreshes Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro
The handset maker announces the next generation of its tiny yet powerful smartphones.
Sony Ericsson unveiled the follow-up models to last year's Xperia X10 Mini and Xperia X10 Mini Pro today, refreshing the pair with Gingerbread and improved specifications.
Due later this year, both handsets feature a 3-inch touch display, 5-megapixel camera, and 1GHz Snapdragon processor. As was the case with the first generation of these Xperia phones, the primary difference between the two is that the Mini Pro features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, whereas the Mini is touch only. Additionally, the Mini Pro adds a front-facing VGA camera and a pair of business-minded apps: Office Suite and McAfee Antivirus.
At first glance, these new handsets look nearly identical to their predecessors, but there are plenty of subtle differences. The screen size has been bumped up ever so slightly from 2.55 inches to 3 inches, adding Sony's Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine for good measure.
Further, the 5-megapixel camera is now capable of recording 720p HD video, a point Sony is quick to promote. As it stands today, the Xperia Mini is the smallest Android phone in the world able to record video in high definition.
Sony Ericsson has also revised the user experience for both phones, allowing for up to 16 app shortcuts on their home screens. What's more, a new application, Facebook inside Xperia, provides quick access to sharing, liking, and commenting from various places within the phone. The battery has been improved for the Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro, adding upwards of 30 percent more life. While I don't anticipate gamers and heavy users to flock to either of these phones, there's nothing wrong with a little extra juice at the end of the day.
Both phones are expected to debut in the Q3 of 2011 across various global markets. Look for pricing to be unveiled later this summer as select carriers are announced.