CES 2013: Sony Mobile announces Xperia Z flagship Android smartphone

Lots of new smartphones have been showcased at this year's Las Vegas-based Consumer Electronics Show, but it's Sony Mobile's Xperia Z that's caught our eye the most.

The Xperia Z, which is Sony Mobile's latest flagship Android smartphone, sports a 5-inch full HD "Reality Display" that's resistant to both water and dust.

The phone also packs two impressive cameras: a rear-facing 13-megapixel Fast Capture snapper (capable of capturing video at 1080p quality) and a front-facing 2.1-megapixel camera.

"With Xperia Z, we are bringing over half a century of innovation in TV, imaging, music, film, and gaming to create a superphone experience that truly stands out," Kuni Suzuki, Sony Mobile's president, said.

"With great specifications, Sony's media applications, One-touch functions and outstanding battery life, Xperia Z is well positioned for leadership in the smartphone market."

On the inside, the Xperia Z boasts a powerful 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and a whopping 2GB of RAM, as well as support for the increasingly popular 4G LTE standard.

Furthermore, the Xperia Z is powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has NFC support built in. NFC allows you to transfer photos and other media to a range of devices by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity.

Sony's new flagship smartphone will land in the UK in March. A similarly styled but smaller Xperia ZL will also be available sometime in Q1 2013.