MWC 2012: Sony announces Xperia P and Xperia U phones

Sony Mobile (formerly Sony Ericsson) has announced two all-new entries in its Xperia NXT line of smartphones at this year's Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona: the Xperia P and the Xperia U.

First up is the Xperia P, which packs a 1GHz dual-core processor and Sony's WhiteMagic display technology. This nifty piece of screen tech makes its smartphone debut on the Xperia P, and aims to deliver "the brightest viewing experience" available regardless of your location or surroundings.

The Xperia P also sports a 4-inch screen powered by Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine; contains 16GB of internal storage; boasts NFC capabilities; and rocks an 8-megapixel camera that can capture content in both 2D and 3D.

In terms of software, the Xperia P runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread (upgradable to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in Q2 2012), and includes an exclusive SmartDock feature, which turns the smartphone into an entertainment hub for your living room. This allows you to browse your phone's multimedia using a TV remote.

Like the Xperia P, the Xperia U boasts a 1GHz dual-core processor and Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but it packs a smaller 3.5-inch screen and a 5-megapixel snapper that can capture 2D and 3D content.

The Xperia U combines Sony's xLoud and 3D surround sound audio technology to produce "a crisp and loud sound experience". You can stream this to wireless speakers with one touch using DLNA.

Finally, the Xperia U can be personalised with exchangeable caps and themes so that you can customise your phone as you see fit.