Electronics manufacturer Sony ended a relatively quiet period today by announcing a new Xperia M smartphone. Judging from its dual-core processor and 5MP camera, clearly the Xperia M is a midrange Android handset and not in the same class as the company’s Xperia Z flagship device.
That said, Sony seems to have crafted the Xperia M with a similar amount of care and an eye for style. The Xperia M, if the official photos of the gadget do it justice, seems to be quite a looker. Thin and trim with angled edges, the phone sports many of the industrial design language that set the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL apart. You’ll even find the familiar sliver of an LED notification light below the Xperia M’s 4-inch (854×480 pixels) LCD screen. It pulsates in different colors depending on the alert it is communicating.
Of course the display can’t hold a candle to the massive and bright 5-inch full HD (1,920×1,080 pixels) screen that both the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL flaunt. Even so, a smaller viewing area likely translates into a more compact and pocket-friendly chassis. And like the Xperia ZL, the Xperia M appears to lack the Xperia Z’s fancy glass back siding and splash/dust resistant body.
There’s no word on pricing yet, nor is availability for the Xperia M is set for a specific date, beyond Q3 2013. I’m guessing chances are slim that it will reach U.S. shores, since the GSM phone lacks support for 4G LTE. For more info, take a look at our partner site CNET UK’s take on the Sony Xperia M.