Entry-Level Sony Xperia Tapioca (ST21i) Photos and Specs Leak

We have new info on Sony’s Android roadmap for 2012. We already know that the Japanese company plans to release several Android smartphones by the end of the year, along with at least a few carrier-bounded variants of these devices.

Leaked back in January, Sony’s roadmap includes names such as Xperia S, Kumquat, Nypon, Pepper, Hayabusa, Tapioca and others. Some of these smartphone have already been announced and released on the market, but most of them are expected to arrive in Q2/Q3 2012.

We already reported today on the recently leaked Sony LT29i Hayabusa, which is slated for a June release. Apparently, this will be Sony’s new Android flagship smartphone and will feature a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and a 13-megapixel rear camera.

However, we’ve just received new info on another device that’s been part of Sony’s roadmap for this year, the ST21 Tapioca.

Opposite to Sony LT29i Hayabusa, Tapioca is one of the company’s low-end Android smartphones, so don’t expect anything outstanding from this one, except maybe the price tag (hopefully).

There is some good news though, as Sony ST21i Tapioca is said to be powered by Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Obviously, it will also provide users access to more than half a million apps and games via Google Play store, formerly known as Android Market.

Even though the smartphone is codenamed Tapioca, it’s likely to be launched under a different name. According to TechBlog, the smartphone features a decent 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports 320 x 480 pixels resolution.

On the inside, Sony ST29i will be equipped with an 800 MHz single-core processor, which will be complemented by an Adreno 200 graphics processing unit and 512MB of RAM. In addition, the handset is said to pack a 3-megapixel rear camera and a 1460 mAh Li-Ion battery.

There are no details on the phone’s price and availability, but rumor has it the Tapioca might be launched on the market as early as July.

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