While not quite as flashy as some of the other flagship Android phones running around at the moment, the Sony Xperia S is still a drool-worthy device – and those of us in the Americas are drooling all the more because we can’t have it yet. But if you happen to live above the 49th parallel, you won’t have to wait much longer: Sony’s bringing the Xperia S to Canada on April 17th (next Tuesday). There’s a catch, though: you won’t find it on any of Canada’s cell phone providers, not even the previously rumored Rogers. You’ll only be able to pick it up from Sony’s website or an official Sony Store.
According to the official Sony listing, the phone will be “compatible with the Rogers network”, which means that it should work on all the major players in Canada. Don’t expect LTE speeds, though: all the versions of the Xperia S will be HSPA+ only, unlike the modified Xperia Ion on AT&T. Sony doesn’t actually say that the phone is unlocked, but it’s hard to imagine them selling a full-priced phone locked to a single carrier without any kind of subsidy.
Sony also failed to mention a price. Given what the phone is going for unlocked in Europe and importers, something between $600 and $650 seems likely – that’s about the going rate for flagships. Not that the Xperia S doesn’t warrant it – check out our hands-on here to see why. While the screen isn’t the largest at 4.3 inches, its 720p IPS panel makes it the sharpest on the market, and that’s only complimented by a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, impressive 12MP camera, and an interesting if understated design. Sadly the phone is still running Gingerbread, but Sony’s Ice Cream Sandwich beta program has already begun for several other phones – it can’t be too long before it’s available.
[via Talk Android]
