A new archetype in smartphones with two displays, YotaPhone is an Android-based phone. It is the first time a smartphone integrates a full-color LCD on one side and an electronic paper display (EPD) on the other side. The two displays are linked together to open a new world of unlimited user experiences.

The EPD is the user’s personal space for receiving notifications, linking to social media, reading news as it happens or simply displaying favorite pictures. The LCD and EPD are both 4.3 inches.

“This will be the first time that people will be able to personalize the information they want to receive on their phones in an effortless way,” says Yota Devices CEO Vlad Martynov. “You tell YotaPhone what information you want and when you want it. It becomes your personal assistant reminding you of what’s important to you.”

“Today if you want to check your email, calendar or social media page, you have to pick up your phone, turn it on, open the application and only then can you receive the information. With YotaPhone, this information will appear on the electronic paper display effortlessly, continuously and updated in real time,” Martynov explains.

Sony hopes for smartphone success in 2013 as it launches the Xperia Z at CES 2013, a premium-looking device with non-shatter tempered glass construction. 

While sleek (just 7.9mm thick) and non-rubberised, the Xperia Z has an unlikely claim to fame-- it meets military specifications IP55 and IP57, meaning it is dust resistant and survives under 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. 

A 5-inch TFT Reality display handles 1920 x 1080 resolution (at 443 dpi) while a quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 graphics and 2GB RAM power the device. An improved Bravia Mobile Engine 2 augments colours and contrast on videos and images. 

The device is also the first to carry Sony's own Exmor RS sensor, allowing it to capture HDR video via 13MP rear-facing camera. 

The OS of choice is Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) although a 4.2 upgrade is in the works. 

Completing the package is NFC connectivity, allowing users to connect the device with NFC-enabled Sony speakers, headsets and TVs. 

Also announced for "select markets" is a smaller (but identical internally) variant of the Xperia Z-- the Xperia ZL. Sony gives no mention which markets these are, but Europe does show preference for smaller devices than beyond the pond...

Both Xperia Z and ZL will be available from Q1 2013. 

Go Sony Xperia Z

Huawei debuts its first Windows 8 smartphone at CES 2013-- the Ascend W1, a 4-inch handset with a 480 x 800 resolution IPS LCD display and OGS technology. 

A Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.2GHz processor and an Adreno 305 GPU power the device, together with a 1950mAh battery promising up to 9 days of standby time. 

Built-in storage totals just 4GB, but is expandable via microSD slot to 32GB. 

The Ascend W1 should be available in European markets from Q1 2013 in either blue or ruby-pink. 

Go Huawei Showcases First Windows 8 Phone

Galaxy Note too big? Galaxy S III Mini too small? Samsung hopes it has all customer preferences covered with yet another smartphone size-- the 5-inch Galaxy Grand.

The Grand's TFT LCD touchscreen might be (err) grand in size, but it does not impress-- not 800 x 480 resolution. In comparison both Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II display resolutions clock at 1280x720.

Mind, this mid-range smartphone does have a few interesting features. Running on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), the Galaxy Grand comes with either 1 or 2 SIM-card slots, handles GSM and HSP+ networks and carries a decent 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and 8GB internal storage (expandable to 64GB via microSD card).

Cameras are identical to those in the Galaxy S III and Note II-- 8MP rear-, 2MP front-facing.

Go Samsung Unveiled Galaxy Grand