Sony's Xperia ST21i Tapioca gets prematurely previewed
Budget ICS device hits web ahead of any official announcement
Published: 14 May, 2012
READ MORE: US | Sony Corp | Handset | Android
It appeared in a leak at the end of April and now more details and a few images have emerged of Sony's yet to be announced Xperia ST21i Tapioca. The previous information to hit the web indicated that the device is going to be a low-end affair, a fact which has now been confirmed by Mobile Review. Low-end might not sound promising but throw in a price-tag to match its specs and a promise of Ice Cream Sandwich straight out of the box and it starts to sound like Sony may have a winner on its hands.
The first thing which is striking about the handset is that it marks a departure in design from the other Xperia devices announced this year. It has a more rounded look compared to its higher-end brethren but is none the less a good looking smartphone, even if it doesn't appear quite as well made as the other Xperias.
Underneath a 3.2" display it's said to be packing an 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 3GB of internal storage. These features are joined by an Adreno 200 GPU, a 3mp rear-facing camera and a 1450mAh battery. The specs are certainly mediocre at best but its main saving grace is the fact that it comes with ICS installed. It may be an unlikely assortment of hardware to run Android 4.0 but the site claims that the OS runs on it "acceptably".
When it's released the phone is expected to cost around €200 which seems fairly high for what it offers though will still be cheap for a handset running Ice Cream Sandwich. Initial impressions seem to be positive though and the reviewer expects it to be this year's equivalent to the likes of the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro.
There's no word yet on when it will be released but it's likely to be soon, meaning an official announcement shouldn't be far off.
More US News
More SONY CORP News
More HANDSET News
COMMENTS
BYOD: Market Analysis and Forecasts
An in-depth insight into the rise of BYOD policies within the enterprise and analysis of the impact the trend will have on IT departments,...
Voice Command, Control and Search on Mobile Phones: Market Analysis & Forecasts
This report provides a comprehensive insight into the growing importance of voice command, control and search on handsets, analysing...
Data Centre Network Equipment: Market Analysis and Forecasts
This report provides a global assessment of the data centre network equipment market. Besides assessing the key market trends, sub-markets...
HetNet Market Summary & Forecasts: Macro Cells, Small Cells & Wi-Fi Offload
Carriers are struggling to cope with the explosion of data traffic on their networks, and the additional deployment of LTE and legacy...
Over-the-Top Communications: Threats & Opportunities for Mobile Operators
This report examines the implications of widespread adoption of mobile over-the-top IP communications for mobile operators, handset...
Portable Gaming Consoles: Market Analysis and Forecasts
This report provides a global assessment of the PGC market. In addition to assessing the key market drivers, market barriers, vendor...
Satellite Phones: Will Dual Mode Help the Phoenix Rise from the Ashes?
Satellite phones have followed an arduous path since their much-hyped launch more than a decade ago. The hype was followed by an e...
