Here is the Sony Ericsson VAIO phone that never was

Do you remember EngadgetThe 2010 rumor that Sony Ericsson was working on a VAIO branded Android phone that never hit the market? Turns out this was real – and we’re taking a look at the handset a lot better now. XDA received high quality photos of the Sony VAIO prototype that both confirm its existence and show what you might have experienced if the phone had hit store shelves.

According to reports, the VAIO phone has a tall 5.5-inch screen (unusual for the time) with a folding, pull-out QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the HTC Swift. It has the Android navigation buttons you would expect on a phone from this era, but it clearly should be used more like a laptop – hence the VAIO branding. Sony’s prototype phone is reportedly a joy to tap between “comfortable distance” and “great travel”, not to mention the Android buttons on the lower left.

There is also a single rear camera (this wasn’t intended for an era of video meetings). The device shown here is running Android 2.1 Eclair.

Connected: Are there still phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard?

It’s not certain why Sony discontinued the device, although it may have fallen victim to factors that punted niche devices like the Xperia Play. Most importantly, it may have been premature – mobile computing power and the Android platform were nowhere near as powerful in 2010, which limited the appeal of a laptop replacement. If you’re really determined, it is now relatively easy to do PC-like tasks using a phone or tablet.

Sony is unlikely to return to this form factor. The company dumped its VAIO division years later, and Sony’s mobile unit is no longer as powerful as it used to be, even with powerful phones like the Xperia 5 II in the range. But do not despair. Companies like Fxtec and Planet Computers offer laptops if you’re still inclined to do so, and they’re more capable than Sony’s canceled product could ever have been.