Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on)

July 18, 2012

Sony unveils refreshed Walkman range Android 40 F series and entrylevel E series eyeson

The Walkman F800 is Sony’s latest PMP; a 3.5-inch Android media player that replaces the company’s middling Z series. Perhaps the most intriguing point is that the new media player will arrive with Android 4.0 from the start, alongside the usual raft of WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options. Storage choices range from 8GB, through to 16GB and 32GB, with 4.5 hours of video playback apparently possible on the handhelds. It’s the new flagship media player for Sony, and will launch in Europe priced at around £210 ($279).

The noise-cancelling E series (and an even-more-bare-bones version) has also been refreshed. The hardware hasn’t changed that much, aside from a larger 2-inch LCD screen, but there’s a whole raft of new patterns and colors. The petit slabs will arrive alongside a new dock that will run off the PMP’s own battery, augmenting the existing built-in speaker. If you liked the E series, but need something a little more wireless, then the just-announced Bluetooth-toting Walkman S770BT may hit the spot. Aside from that addition, the device otherwise lists the same specifications as the E series. Sony tells us that all three Walkman families will be available in Europe starting today — and we managed to handle both the new noise-cancelling E474 (£80, or around $80) and the F800 last week. Unfortunately, we were only able feel around the device, as unfortunately neither were powered up. The F series feels a lot like a solidly-built smart phone, with a matte black finish — the device arrives in just the single color option. Meanwhile, the E series attacks the rainbow, with a range of patterns. These feel predictably lighter, and should slip into pockets very easily. Take a closer look at the PMP pair in the galleries below.

Gallery: Sony Walkman refresh 2012