MWC 2012: Sony Unveils Dual-Core Xperia U and P - Orange Calls Dibs

Following Huawei's quad-core fiesta, Sony has taken a different tack, unveiling its own dual-core Xperia U and P smartphones.

At its first MWC as a standalone entity - having shed former partner Ericsson - Sony unveiled the Xperia P (formerly known as the Nyphon) and Xperia U (previously referred to as the Kumquat) smartphones.

From what we've seen, the two devices are smaller versions of the company's existing Xperia S. The Xperia P boasts a decent looking 4-inch 540 x 960 display, 8 mega-pixel camera capable of 1080p video recording and is powered by a dual-core NovaThor U8500 processor.

Setting it apart, the unit will be the first to include Sony's "White Magic" technology - which apparently helps photos to be much crisper and clearer, reducing the reliance on back-lighting while reducing overall power consumption of the display, making it easier to take photo's outdoors. Sony confirmed at its event that the unit will house NFC connectivity.

Below it, the Xperia U houses a smaller 3.5-inch 480 x 854 Reality display, a 5 MP camera with 720p video recording and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. Past its inclusion of Sony's xLOUD technology - tech that helps manage noise when using the device's speakers - the company has set the device apart by placing a transparent band that changes color at the bottom of the device.

The Xperia U will be available in a number of colours, though in the UK Orange has already issued a statement confirming the white version will be available exclusively on its network. The two are set for release in Q2 of 2012.