Sony Yuga 5-inch 1080p smartphone gets early preview
updated 05:35 am EST, Tue December 18, 2012
Next Sony flagship handset prototype surfaces on Russian site
More specific details about the rumored Sony Yuga have leaked courtesy of Russian site Mobile-Review, which has snared a prototype of the device ahead of its expected debut at CES 2013 next month. The new flagship device appears to be the first Sony Xperia smartphone capable of matching the very latest Android superphones on the market. Its headlining features include a 1080p-capable 5-inch display, while a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz powers it.
Sony have chosen to use the onscreen software based navigational buttons, taking advantage of the large screen real-estate and also helping create a more seamless design. The device combines an LED flash on the rear with a 12-megapixel camera, while is also packing the latest in connectivity including Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11n and 4G LTE support. The device will ship with Android 4.2 ‘Jelly Bean,’ although it will include Sony’s custom, but light, UI.
Samsung’s Android devices have overshadowed Sony, like many fellow Android competitors. However, Sony is of the view that it will be the first of its handsets to pose a genuine threat to both the iPhone and the Galaxy S III. Speaking to Financial Times Deutschland in November, 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." Its spec sheet suggests that van Schie’s comments may prove accurate.
