Sony has launched a new mid-range smartphone called the Sony Xperia E1, which it claims will be “the best in its class”.
Aiming to complement the high-end Sony Xperia Z1, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Xperia E1 smartphone focuses on its Sony Walkman heritage as it offers a 100dB speaker and 30 days free access to the Sony Entertainment network.
“Xperia E1 combines the best of Sony’s audio technologies with a premium design and great hardware to create a smartphone for people who want to express them out loud,” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Sony Xperia Marketing. “It’s a new, music focused player in our Xperia line-up that is underpinned by the best of Sony’s design, display and content offers.”
Sony Xperia E1 Features
The Sony Xperia E1 features a 4-inch 800 x 480p HD resolution display running Google’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS.
It has a 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8210 dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage boosted by a microSD slot supporting cards up to 32GB.
In the rear is a 3-megapixel camera, offering 720p HD video recording and a 4x “smooth zoom”. It seems to lack a front-facing camera for any kind of video calling or selfie action.
The Xperia E1 brings back the dedicated Walkman button, shake to shuffle controls and you’ll get access to a free 30 day pass for Sony’s Entertainment Network music streaming service. It also comes pre-installed with the Sony Walkman app.
Weighing only 120g, the Xperia E1 has 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Sony Xperia E1 Release Date and Price
Sony says the handset will retail for €175 (£145), and will be released around the end of MWC 2014 in February. It will be available in black, white and purple.
Read more: Sony Xperia Z1 vs iPhone 5S
