Now we move on to the Sony Xperia Ion:
Notable specs: 4.6-inch HD (1280×720) screen; dual-core CPU; 720p front-facing camera, 1080p rear-facing camera; Android 2.3.
Availability: “In the second quarter,” says AT&T.
Price: Unknown, but I’d guess around $200 on contract; $250 if Sony wants to shoot itself in the foot; $300 if it’s lost all concept of reality.
Other notes: It’s the “first smartphone to be sold under the Sony brand in the U.S.,” says AT&T, and it should have a dynamite rear-facing camera: It’s 12 megapixels and can go from standby to capturing a shot in 1.5 seconds, according to Sony. It’s also a PlayStation-certified phone, which means it should have access to some pretty good games.
And rounding out the Android phones is the impressive Samsung Galaxy Note:
Notable specs: 5.3-inch 1280×800-resolution screen (not a typo); dual-core CPU; stylus for handwritten notes; Exchange ActiveSync; VPN; Android 2.3.
Availability: “In the coming weeks,” says AT&T.
Price: Unknown, but I’d guess $300 or more on contract.
Other notes: This thing looks like a beast – in a good way. It’s being positioned as combining “the best features of a smartphone with the larger viewing screen of a tablet and the convenience of a notepad,” says AT&T. The corporate bells and whistles like ActiveSync and VPN might help you talk your IT department into ordering you one.
Shifting gears to the Windows Phone platform, here’s the HTC Titan II:
Notable specs: 4.7-inch 480×800 screen; 16-megapixel camera (not a typo); 1.5 GHz single-core CPU; Windows Phone Mango 7.5.
Availability: “In the coming months,” says AT&T.
Price: Unknown. Maybe $200 on contract, but hopefully cheaper – $150 seems reasonable; $100 would be better.
Other notes: The 16-megapixel camera is insane in a good way, but the huge 4.7-inch screen is hobbled by a low-ish 480×800 resolution and the single-core processor isn’t helping either.
And finally, there’s the Nokia Lumia 900:
Notable specs: 4.3-inch 800×480 screen; 1.4 Ghz single-core processor; front- and rear-facing cameras; exclusive ESPN sports hub; exclusive EA games; Windows Phone Mango 7.5.
Availability: “In the coming months,” says AT&T.
Price: Unknown. Maybe $200 on contract, but hopefully cheaper – $150 seems reasonable; $100 would be better.
Other notes: The Lumia 900 appears similar to the 3G Lumia 800, except that the Lumia 800 has a smaller 3.7-inch screen and, of course, the slower 3G chip. It’s a solid addition to the Windows Phone lineup, though its overall specs – like most Windows Phone handsets – feel about a half-generation behind.
(MORE: Check out Techland’s coverage of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show)