An intriguing new Sony smartphone appears to be in the pipeline with the model D2403. Details of a 4.4-inch, quad-core Android 4.4.2 device have surfaced and given those specs alone they fit right in with the Motorola G which took the market by storm last November. The Motorola G you may remember is a 4.5-inch, quad-core handset running on 4.4.2 too. What really sold the device was it’s very cheap price for those specs. It reshaped the mid-range market as those specs were previously found closer to a premium price. Motorola (owned by Motorola, then Google, now Lenovo) commented that it was their “most successful, highest-selling smartphone in Motorola history”.

Regarding Sony, we were left wondering how committed they were to the mid-range devices now since they seem to be targeting the premium segment more and considering that the update to the 2013 mid-ranger Xperia M (somewhat merged with the L?) was a much larger, more impressive M2. But this new D2403 that seems to be in development will presumably be below the M2 in specs and price – targeting the Moto G. If you thought you were happy with your current budget or mid-range Sony Xperia smartphone, prepare to be teased!

What’s Sony putting in this handset to take out the Moto G?

The image is of a benchmark of a device in testing. With benchmarks, there is the occasional prank but on the whole they are pretty reliable leaks of devices yet to be revealed. The release of this ‘D2403 smartphone’ can’t be far off it’s in benchmark testing. Along with the Xperia ZL2, heading for a summer launch?

Summed up, here are the specs:

• 4.4-inch screen
• 540 x 960 resolution
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8923 1.2GHz CPU
• Adreno 305 GPU
• 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage
• 7 (likely 8) MP rear camera, VGA front camera

Comparing this with the Moto G, the G has a higher resolution with a barely larger screen of 4.5-inches at 720 x 1280 resolution. The G has a better front camera at 1.3MP but this D2403 beats it with an 8MP vs 5MP main camera. Otherwise the specs seem to be the same. Two more key areas this D2403 needs to address: the Moto G has an IPS screen which is very popular. Some recent Sony smartphones including the Z1 were criticised for having ‘washed out screens’. IPS doesn’t do this, it’s supposed to produce better colours while using less energy. Also, the G has a 2070 mAh battery so that’s where Sony needs to target.

You can take a closer look at the benchmark image:

Discuss:

Would you get this device instead of the M2? What smartphone would you upgrade from? The M, L or even the E1?