Via Tomshardware.com - Sony has unveiled a new budget handset in the Xperia E, which will ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The smartphone, scheduled for a release during Q1 2013, sports a 3.5-inch HVGA 480x320 pixel resolution LCD, which should deliver a pixel density of about 165 pixels-per-inch.

Powering the device is a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A single-core processor, alongside 512MB of RAM and an Adreno 200 graphics processing unit. As well as the the re-branded TimeScape UI, now known as the Sony UI, and 4GB of internal storage space with a microSD expansion slot, the Xperia E features a rear-facing 3.2-megapixel camera.

Sony has particularly singled out the device's xLOUD audio technology and 3D surround sound support, accompanied by HD voice and noise cancellation. A 1,530mAh battery pack delivers up to 530 hours on standby or six hours of talk-time, Sony said. The smartphone itself will be available in black, white and pink.

Sony, who is aiming for 50 million Xperia sales in 2013 with devices such as the rumored Odin and Yuga, climbed to third place in global smartphone sales during the third quarter. [IS]