It’s only been a short while since we last saw Sony Ericsson Rachel heading our news column. Online retailer Expansys has just published the specs of the device and revealed the name XPERIA X3.

Following their unusual marketing strategy, Expansys have yet again published an unannounced handset making the news and gaining popularity by spilling the beans on information they obviously have straight from the manufacturer.

You probably remember X3 (Rachael) from its previous public appearances in black and white.

Unlike its predecessor(s), the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 (codenamed Rachael) will run Android OS but the proprietary 3D panel user interface, the X1 was known for, will still be there.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 will feature a 4-inch touchscreen display with the unusual resolution of 852 x 480 pixels. The 800 x 400 pixel resolution reported by Expansys is more likely a mistake as the screen aspect ratio is different. The 852 x 480 pixel one sounds more probable as confirmed by a leaked portrait video that we've reported on before.

The XPERIA X3 also has an 8 megapixel autofocus snapper with LED flashlight and capability of shooting VGA videos at 30 fps. VGA video recording may not sound like much these days, but it will definitely be a first for an Android smartphone.

And the specs list goes on, of course. The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 should also pack HSDPA, Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth support and a GPS receiver. On board is also a 3.5mm audio jack and a miniUSB port.