Sony has today announced a new addition to its Xperia smartphone family, this time targeting the entry-level end of the market. It’s called the Xperia M and it offers a 4-inch FWVGA display with a 854×480 resolution, a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, and a 5-megapixel Exmor RS rear-facing camera.

The handset also offers 1GB if RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot that’ll take up to 32GB, and NFC connectivity.

The Xperia M comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean pre-installed — with Sony’s custom skin over the top — and a number of Sony software tweaks, including the same “STAMINA” feature seen on the flagship Xperia Z, which promises to improve battery life.

While we’re on the subject of battery life, Sony promises up to 550 hours of standby time with the Xperia M, or around 10 hours of talk time. It’s unclear just how big the handset’s battery is, however.

You’ll be able to buy the Xperia M in both single and dual-SIM variants when it launches globally during the third quarter of 2013. The former will be available in black, purple, and white — like the Xperia Z — while the latter will also be available in yellow.

Sony hasn’t yet confirmed the Xperia M’s price tag.

• SourceSony