Sony Mobile may be planning to launch a 5-inch entry-level handset during the third quarter utilising the MediaTek quad-core MT6589 system-on-chip. This news follows previous rumours that Sony will launch new handsets using MediaTek chips. Digitimes is reporting that ODM Arima will manufacture the handset.
Arima has also been contracted to manufacture Sony’s current budget offering, the Xperia E (C160X). Sony has also signed up other ODMs such as Compal Communications who is manufacturing the upcoming Xperia L (C210X). Digitimes says that Arima, Compal and Foxconn combined plan to ship around 8 to 10 million smartphones to Sony during this year.