EXIF data reveals mid-range Sony C530X HuaShan smartphone

It appears that Sony will be releasing a slew of handsets next year and from the EXIF data found on Picasa, another handset has just been revealed – it goes by the model number C530X.

According to a related report by XperiaBlog, this handset with the model number C5303 has been revealed through Picasa and it is codenamed HuaShan. The handset is believed to be launched globally and will feature different model numbers such as C5302, C5303 and C5306.

Model number seen here

From the EXIF data, we can see that the handset features a new firmware version 12.0.A.0.273, which is eDream 12. This handset is believed to be a mid-range model as opposed to the upcoming Sony Yuga and Odin flagship handsets of 2013. The report details that eDream 10 firmware had earlier appeared on the Sony C650X ‘Odin’.

In related Sony news, the latest info about the upcoming Sony flagship smartphone, the C6603 Yuga, is that it is widely expected to feature glass panels on the front and back. If this handset does come with a glass rear panel, then it will follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 4/4S and the Google flagship smartphone, the Nexus 4.

The advantage of having a glass back is that it makes the design of the smartphone really good. However, there are many disadvantages that can outweigh that sole feature. Having a glass panel at the back makes the handset susceptible to cracks and damages. One will need to be extremely careful while handling this device.

A strange issue that had been noted some time ago was that the rear glass panel of the LG Nexus 4 cracked when the temperature suddenly changed. According to a report by Droid Life, one of the authors had experienced a rather weird situation. He says, “Both the Optimus G and Nexus 4 cracked in my possession without ever dropping them. You know what did it? Setting them down gently onto my room temperature stone countertop. That’s it. The temperature change after it went from my warm hand to a room temperature countertop was apparently enough to split both devices’ glass backs almost directly down the middle. To think, that deciding whether or not my device is going to crack just by laying it down gently, is something my mind doesn’t even want to entertain. But that’s where I’ll be should I decide that I want a Nexus 4 that no longer looks this way.”

An earlier report claimed that the Sony C6603 Yuga will come equipped with features such as a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. The camera used here is 12MP, while the display is 5 inches with a resolution of 1080p. The report also stated, “The handset design looks elegant with a boxy shape (no arc or NXT features here) and a very thin bezel either side of the display. It has a striking chrome power button on the right side with volume rocker in the middle. A dedicated camera button is also present where you’d expect it to be.”

As for the software running on this handset, the report states that it is a prototype running Android v4.1.1, a new kernel version (3.4) as well as 10.1.A.0.XXX firmware, which is Jelly Bean.