Announced just under a year ago at CES 2011, Sony Ericsson is now refreshing the Xperia arc. The Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S, as the model will be known, is quite similar in design to its predecessor. Underneath the hood is a different question. The Xperia arc S is now stepping into the 1GHz+ category with a single core 1.4GHz chipset (MSM8255T), 512MB RAM and the Adreno 205 GPU. This new combination is said to result in a 25% faster camera and 20% faster web rendering when compared to the Xperia arc.

Launching this October, the Xperia arc S will also get a improved 8.1 megapixel camera with an Exmor R sensor. 3D sweep panorama mode is also added, though it will be taking 2D pictures and converting them to 3D, instead of native 3D. Coming in the same 4.2-inch multitouch display as the Xperia arc, this Android  2.3.4 phone will be available in Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, and Sakura Pink. No word yet on pricing or carrier availability. After the jump, a video preview, additional pictures (including the other colors)and a press release awaits you.

 

Sony Ericsson unveils its fastest entertainment experiences to date with Xperia™ arc S
31 August 2011

Xperia™ arc S has a powerful 1.4 Ghz processor delivering up to 25% faster entertainment compared to Xperia arc ™
Winner of the EISA award “European Camera Phone 2011-2012″*

31st August 2011, Berlin, Germany – Sony Ericsson today unveiled Xperia™ arc S at Sony’s press conference in conjunction with IFA in Berlin. Taking the award-winning sleek design from Xperia arc*,the latest addition to the Xperia™ family has a processor upgraded to 1.4Ghz, Sony 3D sweep panorama technology and access to the Sony Entertainment Network services – “Music Unlimited” and “Video Unlimited”**. Xperia™ arc S features 25% faster camera start up and media conversion , along with 20% faster web page rendering compared to Xperia™ arc***.

Consumers with a 2011 Xperia™ smartphone are now able to enjoy “Music Unlimited” and “Video Unlimited” subject to market availability**:

“Music Unlimited” has a global catalogue of over 10 million unique songs**** with access to your personal music library and ad free radio channels across multiple devices.
“Video Unlimited” (currently exclusive to Sony Ericsson Xperia™) is the ultimate source for the latest Hollywood blockbusters, all-time classics, and TV shows from all major studios.

Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson said: “Xperia™ arc S is the fastest and most entertaining Xperia™ to date and it clearly demonstrates how the Xperia™ family are the best smartphones to experience great entertainment services such as Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.”

In addition to these services, Xperia™ arc S includes best-in-class Sony technology such as 3D sweep panorama. 3D sweep panorama images can be captured and then viewed by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output.

Xperia™ arc S also has a visually brilliant 4.2″ Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine, an 8.1mp camera with HD video capability and Sony’s award winning Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor that enhances still images and videos even in low light conditions.

Consumers also have access to a uniquely social entertainment experience of sharing and discovery with Facebook inside Xperia™, plus the extensive world of Android with over 250,000 applications.

Xperia™ arc S at a glance:

Super fast 1.4 GHz processor
3D and 2D sweep panorama photography
8.1 MP camera with Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
4.2″ Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Latest Android™ platform Gingerbread 2.3

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc S will be available globally in selected markets from Q4 2011.
For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/

* Xperia™arc S and Xperia™ arc are winners of the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) award for European Camera Phone 2011-2012. Xperia™ arc is also the winner of the prestigious red dot Product Design Award 2011

** Availability of Sony Entertainment Network services:

“Music Unlimited” and “Video Unlimited” are expected to become available on Xperia™ arc S and launch timing will vary by region. Customers will be notified when services are available.
Markets for Video Unlimited: USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Australia, Canada and Japan
Markets for Music Unlimited: USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand

*** Based on internal tests.
**** The number of songs available from this catalogue varies by region

Colour

Pure White
Midnight Blue
Misty Silver
Gloss Black
Sakura Pink

Facts 1)2)

Size: 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm
Weight: 117 grams
Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)
Processor: 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255

Camera

3D sweep panorama
8.1 megapixel camera
16x smart zoom
Aperture f/2.4
Auto focus
Face detection
Face recognition
Flash/LED
Geo tagging
HD video recording (720p)
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene detection
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Sony Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
Sweep panorama
Touch capture
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Video stabiliser

Music

Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service
Sony Ericsson Music Player
TrackID™ music recognition
xLOUD™ Loudness Enhancement Technology

Internet

Android Market™
Bookmarks
Google™ search
Google Voice™ Search
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit)

Communication

Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application
Facebook inside Xperia™ 2.0
Google Talk™
Noise Shield
Polyphonic ringtones
Sony Ericsson Timescape™
Speakerphone
Twitter™ (Timescape™integration)*
Vibrating alert

Messaging

Conversations
Email
Google Mail™
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)

Design

Auto rotation
Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
Live wallpaper
Picture wallpaper
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Screenshot capturing
Swipe to write
Touch screen

Entertainment

* This service may not be available in every market

3D games
Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
Media browser
Motion gaming
Video Unlimited
Music Unlimited
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Video streaming
YouTube™*

Organiser

Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document readers
E-Manual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D
Infinite button
Phonebook
Setup guide
Widget manager

Connectivity

3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ with Street View
HDMI support
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Modem
Native USB tethering
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via Google Sync™
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
Synchronisation via Exchange ActiveSync®
USB mass storage
USB High speed 2.0 support
USB OTG
Wi-Fi®
Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality

Display

16,777,216 colour TFT
Capacitive multi-touch
4.2 inches
854 x 480 pixels (FWVGA)
Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant mineral glass

Memory

Phone memory (user-free): Up to 320MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB

Networks

UMTS HSPA 900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

Battery life

Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 7 hrs 25 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 460 hrs*

Talk time UMTS: Up to 7 hrs 35 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 460 hrs*

Music listening time: Up to 37 hrs*
Video playback time: Up to 6 hrs 25 min*

In the kit

Xperia™ arc S
Removable battery
Stereo portable handsfree
8GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
Micro USB cable for charging
Synchronisation and file transfer
User documentation

*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage

Legal
1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.