Sony Xperia Neo L: The company’s first Android Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone and that is it!

Last month Sony showed off three Android smartphones at Mobile World Congress. All of them run version 2.3 of Google’s mobile OS, which is about 15 months old now. Sony says that those devices are going to get Ice Cream Sandwich, better known as Android 4.0, at some point in the future, but we know that’s just marketing talk for “you’ll get it when you get it, now leave us alone!” Today though, Sony has finally announced their first ICS device, the Xperia Neo L.

 Now before you leap out of your chair and jump for joy, you should brace yourself for an astonishing amount of disappointment. First, this thing was announced in China, which means it’ll probably never leave China. If it does, it’ll be months after it debuts in China or as knock off, which by the way Sony failed to say exactly when that’d happen. Second, the screen measures 4 inches across and does only 854 x 480 pixels, In terms of design the Xperia neo L looks uncannily similar to the Xperia PLAY minus the joypad. It has the same four hardware buttons of the Xperia PLAY, but they are a darker color (almost black).

 The dimensions (120.0 x 61.0 x 12.8 mm) are also nearly the same apart from the 3mm thinner chassis.  Forget the Neo L competing with the Android flagships from HTC and Samsung. Third, the processor inside has a single core and is clocked at just 1 GHz. Hey Sony, 2010 called, they want their spec sheet back!
The launch in China is such a big move for Sony if they want to that most coveted smartphone market share. I can confidently say that this is a an entry level phone if you are to think of its specs and the market penetration strategy that Sony so much needs as it comes back in the mobile phone industry. I do predict that this product might be meant for the Chinese, Indian and the Middle East and Africa markets and it will be such a hit! What is your view?