Sony Xperia Mint LT30 camera samples leak; shines in macro mode

Sony’s new flagship Xperia is just around the corner and just like any smartphone approaching its launch date, specifications and spy shots always seem to precede it. Today we have a few camera samples thanks to Nixanbal.com (Bulgarian site) of the Sony Xperia LT30 or Mint as it’s codenamed. The outdoor shots show the 13MP camera in action showcasing the really great macro shots that are possible with the new sensor. Just like the Xperia S, the LT30 appears to have a very capable sensor onboard, however, we are more curious to see  its indoor shots since the Xperia S fell a bit short in that department.

Not bad at all

Sometime last week, we managed to get some preliminary specifications of the LT30 thanks to Bluetooth.org. Starting with the screen, we have a 4.6-inch display with a 720p resolution, which is somewhat similar to the Galaxy Nexus and will also be getting Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA treatment. The second prominent feature is going to be the design. It seems that Sony will be borrowing a few design ideas from the Xperia arc as the LT30 will also feature a similar 'arc' design for the rear of the phone. Sony is ditching the plastic body and going with a metal chassis this time for increased durability. Despite this, the weight is said to be around 140g, which is quite light. It’s also quite a slim phone at just 9mm thick. Finally, the third important addition is a 13MP Exmor R camera sensor for super high quality photos and video. If it’s anything like the sensor on the Xperia S, we can expect really good macro shots along with a speedy response time. The LT30 should also launch with Ice Cream Sandwich as Sony has no reason to stick to Gingerbread now. Asking for Jelly Bean out-of-the-box might be pushing it a little, but if the LT30 does launch later rather than sooner, it could happen. The processor hasn’t been confirmed yet, although if it’s going to be anything like the Xperia GX, then we can expect a Qualcomm dual-core S4 SoC on board. It’s also said to have 16GB of internal memory as well as a microSD card slot for expansion. We have to hand it to Sony for not falling victim to the whole quad-core hype and sticking to the more efficient-yet-powerful dual-core chipset.

The Sony LT30 is shaping up to be one hell of a device and might well be the next-gen Xperia arc. There’s no doubt that if the phone looks anything like the GX Sony has launched in Japan, it’s going to be an instant hit. As far as pricing is concerned, we estimate a launch price of roughly Rs.35,000 given the specifications.