(Update: now shipping) Xperia C4 brings the same great selfie camera, upgraded specs

Update, June 5: Sony announced that the “PROSelfie” Xperia C4 is now shipping in the first markets. Initially, the device will go on sale in countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with more countries to follow over the next weeks. Details on price and availability will be announced by local operators.

Original post, May 6: Sony announced the successor to the “world’s best selfie smartphone,” last year’s Xperia C3. Featuring the same great 5MP frontal camera, the Xperia C4 offers upgrades across the board.

Like the C3 before it, the Xperia C4 comes with a 5.5-inch LCD screen that uses Sony’s well-known display technologies, including Bravia Engine 2 and super-vivid mode. However, the C4 is 1080p, for an excellent 400 ppi pixel density, compared to 720p on the previous generation.

The Xperia C4 is powered by a 64-bit octo-core processor from MediaTek (MT6752), 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, with a card slot allowing the addition of an extra 128GB. The rear camera is a respectable 13MP, while the battery capacity received a 100 mAh bump up to 2,600 mAh. This 147 grams device has a plastic body that resembles the C3 very closely, and is available in white, black, and teal.

Of course, the big fuss about the C4 is its front camera, which features a 5MP Sony Exmor R sensor, a 25mm wide-angle lens, LED flash, HDR, SteadyShot software stabilization, and Sony’s Superior Auto mode that adapts image settings based on the scene. The differences don’t seem to be too big compared to the C3, though Sony added a few bells and whistles to the camera app.

Overall, the C4 is definitely a nice upgrade, and, if the price is right, a potentially compelling option for the mid-range crowd.

The Xperia C4 will be available in single and dual-SIM variants starting in June 2015. Sony has not revealed any details on the Xperia C4’s price and availability by market.