Fujitsu-Toshiba announced an Android 2.3 smartphone for Japan's KDDI network that features IPX5/8 waterproofing, an ultra-thin 6.7mm (0.26 inch) profile, and a low, 3.7-ounce weight. Built around on a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the Fujitsu Arrows-ES IS12F offers a five-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, infrared, NFC, and even a TV tuner.

There may well be thinner and lighter smartphones around, but if so we haven't heard of them. The Fujitsu Arrows-ES appears to be the new leader on both counts, at least among high-end Android phones.

The Motorola Droid Razr, for example, which Verizon is hyping as "the world's thinnest 4G LTE smartphone," measures 0.28 inches (7.1mm) thick and weighs 4.5 ounces (127 grams). By contrast, the Fujitsu Arrows-ES measures 0.26 inches (6.7mm) thick and weighs just 3.7 ounces (105 grams), according to KDDI.

Arrows-ES

The Arrows-ES also edges out NEC's Medias N-04C , which was touted as the world's thinnest 3G smartphone when it was unveiled in Japan by NTT DoCoMo in February. The Medias N-04C measures just 0.30 inches (7.7mm) and weighs the same as the Arrows-ES.

KDDI plans to start selling the Arrows-ES IS12F in Japanese stores in January. There was no word about a planned release outside Japan, although the phone does offer a menu system available in both Japanese and English.

In August, the company tipped a 10.1-inch Arrows Tab LTE F-01D Android tablet on NTT DoCoMo, and launched it in October. Whereas the Arrows Tab LTE F-01D was touted for being water-resistant — compliant with IPX5/7 standards — the Arrows-ES is said to be waterproof, moving to IPX5/8 compliance.

More views of the Arrows-ES
(Click to enlarge)

Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 processor clocked to 1.4Ghz, the Arrows-ES offers 512MB of RAM, 1GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot, according to KDDI. The four-inch screen offers fairly pedestrian 800 x 480 pixel resolution, but it does provide "New AMOLED" technology for greater readability and color saturation, as well as Corning Gorilla glass for durability.

The Arrows-ES is further equipped with a five-megapixel camera, and no front-facing cam. This is still pretty typical in the U.S., but could be considered slumming it in a Japanese market where eight-, 12- and even 14-megapixel cameras are commonplace on big-screen phones.

The Arrow-ES offers a wide range of wireless features, including 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS, and a version of EV-DO Rev.A cellular service called "Win High Speed," which offers 9.2Mbps downlink and 5.5Mbps uplink speeds, according to KDDI. Both an infrared transmitter and NFC (near field communication) short-range wireless radio are available along with e-wallet functionality, according to the carrier.

The Arrows-ES is said to offer a micro-USB port, motion sensors, DLNA support, and a digital TV tuner. Available in Ruby Red and Gloss Black, the phone offers about 400 minutes of talk time and 330 hours of standby, says the company.

Availability

The Fujitsu-Toshiba Arrows-ES IS12F will be available in January on KDDI's network at an undisclosed price. More information may be found on this translated KDDI Arrows-ES page.

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