Sony unveils entry-level Xperia M2, powered by Snapdragon 400 CPU

Most Sony fans are probably caught up in the excitement surrounding the announcement of the Sony Xperia Z2 or the new Xperia tablet Z2, but these aren’t the only new mobile devices that Sony has in store for us.

At the MWC 2014 press event, Sony also unveiled the Xperia M2, the successor to the entry-level Xperia M.

Specs and features

While original Xperia M was a dual-core smartphone, the M2 features a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 CPU and upgrades from a 854×480 resolution display to a slightly improved qHD (960 x 540) display.

Here’s the Sony Xperia M2’s specs, based on what we currently know about the handset:

• 4.8-inch display with 960×540 resolution
• quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 CPU
• 1GB of RAM
• 8GB storage, microSD
• 8MP rear camera with ExmorRS, HDR and autoscene recognition
• 4G LTE support
• Color choices: black, white and purple
• 2300mAh battery with STAMINA Mode 3.0
• Dual-SIM support
• Unspecified version of Android, with Sony features on-top
• 139.6 x 71.1 x 8.6, 148g

As you can see, the Xperia M2 isn’t exactly a powerhouse, but its specs could still be more than good enough for those looking for Sony aesthetics and build quality in a more budget-friendly package.

The Sony Xperia M2 features quite a few Sony apps, including camera apps such as Social live, timeburst shift, Picture Effect and more. For those looking to enhance your camera experience, Sony is even working with 3rd party developers to create a growing list of optional apps that can be used (and installed) directly from the camera viewfinder. Some of these apps include Vine, V1 Sports and FX Guru.

New owners of the Sony Xperia M2 can also look forward to special offers such as the option to download 3 free digital downloads from Sony Pictures and 30 days of free Music Unlimited service.

Expected availability

The Xperia M2 is expected to globally launch in April. The exact price isn’t known just yet, but we do know the first-gen model landed in the U.S. not terribly long ago for $250.

With budget device competition starting to really heat up thanks to low-priced handsets like the Motorola Moto G and ASUS ZenFone series, here’s to hoping that the handset is priced to sell. What do you think, anyone interested in the Xperia M2 if the price is right?