Sony launches quad-core Xperia C3, claims it is world's best 'selfie' smartphone

Sony Mobile Communications has further expanded its Xperia range of smartphones with the launch of a new device called Xperia C3. According to the company, it is the world's best selfie smartphone thanks to Sony's digital imaging technology and interactive camera apps.

"The rise of selfies shows no signs of abating. Its usage has increased by 17,000 per cent since 2012 with the word officially being added to the Oxford English dictionary in 2013. We are excited to offer Sony's first 'PROselfie Smartphone' and play a part in this global phenomenon," said Calum MacDougall, director of Xperia marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

What's new?

The smartphone has a 5 megapixel wide-angle front camera (25mm with 80 degree field of view) that allows users to capture more in the frame. It also comes with a soft flash to enable clicking of photos day or night by simply double tapping the back cover or using 'Smile Shutter'. The front camera's auto mode automatically adjusts pictures for suitable lighting conditions and the auto scene recognition function works together with HDR and LED flash, ensuring you can capture the best selfies and selfie videos in any light.

Here is a look at the specifications of the device.

The smartphone sports a 5.5 inch HD IPS touchscreen display (1280x720 pixels resolution) and runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and has 1GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 8GB, which can be further expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card.

It has an 8MP autofocus rear camera (featuring an Exmor RS for mobile image sensor) with pulsed LED Flash that can record full HD videos (1080p) at 30 frames per second, and a 5MP front-facing camera with Flash that can also record HD videos (720p). On the connectivity front, it has Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G LTE, as well as a microSD card slot and a microUSB port.

The dimensions of the device are 56mm x 78.5mm x 7.6 mm and its weight is 150 gm. Sony has provided a 2500 mAh battery in the device that it claims will provide up to 24 hours of talk time, 93 hours of music playback and 1,071 hours of standby time. It comes with dual-SIM capability and GPS (with A-GPS support).

Available in black, white and mint colours, it will launch globally from August 2014 starting with China. Exact pricing and launch date for India is not available as of now, but looking at its specifications, we expect it to lie in the Rs 15,000 to 20,000 range.

Here is an introductory video of the device.

Xperia C3 also comes loaded with a number of selfie camera apps that include:

Superior Auto: Provided on both rear and front cameras, Superior Auto recognises four scene types on C3's front camera and up to 36 scenes by the main camera and adjusts the settings automatically- to help you get the best photos anywhere, in any light. As the default camera mode, Superior Auto turns High Dynamic Range (HDR) on or off depending on your scene.

Portrait retouch v.2: Ensures you are captured looking your best with features including real-time makeover, DECO frame options and magic eye beam (light reflection) effects. Portrait Retouch offers a choice of 10 different beauty styles and the ability to retouch portraits of up to two people per image.

Timeshift burst: Captures 31 frames in just 2 seconds. Consumers can then scroll back and forth amongst the 31 frames to select the perfect image, or keep them all.

Movie Creator: The new movie creator application allows you to trim and crop your videos so that you can easily edit what you want to share. Insert dramatic slowdown effects at one or more places on the timeline of the video so that you can preview your movie before you save and share.

Social live: Lets you broadcast every moment as it happens live via social networking site Facebook. Get your friend's response right on the screen and keep the conversation going, all in real-time.Sony launches quad-core Xperia C3, claims it is world's best 'selfie' smartphone.