Sony announces the Xperia L and Xperia SP with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

JAPANESE PHONE MAKER Sony added two more handsets to its Android smartphone lineup today, the Xperia L and Xperia SP.

Clearly waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S4 hype to die down, Sony announced the two new handsets on Monday, which look to challenge Samsung's latest Android flagship smartphone.

The Sony Xperia SP is the more exciting of the two and looks to offer a downsized alternative to Sony's Xperia Z smartphone.

It features a 4.6in HD 720p Reality display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor and Google's Android 4.1 mobile operating system.

There's also an 8MP camera with Exmor RS sensor, battery ‘stamina' mode for prolonged battery life, integrated NFC, 8GB of internal expandable storage and support for 4G LTE. When released later this year the Sony Xperia SP will be available in white, red and black.

The Sony Xperia L is likely to be cheaper, featuring a smaller 4.3in FWVGA screen and a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1GHz processor. There's also an 8MP rear-facing camera, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mobile operating system and models in white, red and black.

Calum MacDougall, director of Xperia marketing at Sony Mobile said, "Xperia SP and Xperia L are ideally suited for those seeking stylish class-leading smartphones that don't compromise on features.

"Both of our new models benefit from Sony's proven innovation and engineering expertise - whether you want to enjoy premium HD quality entertainment over 4G LTE on our mid-range Xperia SP or capture every moment in perfect detail with our more affordable Xperia L."

Sony said that both the Xperia SP and Xperia L will be available in the UK from the second quarter, although there's no word on release dates or pricing yet. µ