Sony Xperia SP Update Release Date: New Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Firmware Receives Certification

Good and bad news Sony Xperia SP owners: it looks like a new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean for the popular handset has just been certified, but that also means it probably won't land on handsets for another week or two.

Sony seems to have gotten a new firmware 12.1.A.0.256 certified over at PTCRB, meaning that the Japanese electronics manufacturer has been hard at work on updating the Xperia SP. The build applies to Xperia SP models C5302, C5303, and C5306.

This isn't the first Xperia SP Android 4.3 Jelly Bean build that Sony has gotten certification, however. It wasn't too long ago that firmware 12.1.A.0.253 (another Android 4.3 Jelly Bean build for the Xperia SP) received certification — the new, higher build indicates that Sony has been ironing out some bugs and helps explain why an official Android 4.3 Xperia SP update hasn't already been pushed out.

Despite the wishy-washy nature of the Xperia SP's update cycle, many signs have pointed to Android 4.3 being ready to roll out. A beta tester from Hungary recently revealed that he was running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on his Xperia SP without too many issues, leading many to believe that a release was just around the corner. Still, PTCRB is where firmwares go for official certification, and if build 12.1.A.0.256 doesn't contain too many bugs, expect the new Android to roll out by February.

Sony has also confirmed that the Xperia SP will receive Android 4.4 KitKat, although no release time frame has been given.

Check back with The Latino Post for more information on Sony Xperia SP updates as it becomes available.