Sony to launch new flagship Xperia handset to fight iPhone
updated 08:40 am EST, Fri November 16, 2012
Public reveal expected in early 2013
Sony is going to launch a new smartphone, aimed at toppling the market dominance of both Samsung and Apple's offerings. The new flagship handset is rumored to be the rumored Sony Yuga or an Xperia-branded offering, an Android 4.1 smartphone with IP57-certified water and dust resistance, as well as a number of features seen on current flagship phones.
Speaking to Financial Times Deutschland, Dennis van Schie, CVP of Sales and Marketing, said the company "will create in the near future a flagship model that can compete with Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S III." Current suggestions for specifications include a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a rear-facing 12-megapixel camera. Such a handset would likely be revealed at CES in January or Mobile World Congress in February, unless Sony follows Samsung and Apple's lead in holding a standalone launch event.
Schie also mentioned that competition in the tablet market is making it difficult for companies to make a profit, though the company will continue to release more in the future. "We will bring in addition to the existing Xperia Tablet other Android tablets to the market, but not many."
