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The model on display at CeBIT is only an engineering sample, meaning that switching it on simply brings up a pretty screen full of icons, which don't do anything. According to Meizu the sample is intended to give a feel for the device before its release in September.

That seems difficult to believe given the state we saw it in, but Meizu claims that the hardware - most of which was scattered on the table - is ready to go and that it is just waiting to finish tweaking the Windows Mobile 6 operating system it will run on.

The device feels good in the hand, and features the same black and silver casing and smooth edges of its illustrious rival, though it does at first glance appear slightly smaller.

According to the mini one brochure the smartphone will feature quad-band GSM, Edge, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 3.4in 720x480 touchscreen. It will also

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have a three megapixel camera and come with either 4GB or 8GB of Flash storage.

The company is staying tight-lipped on pricing, but maintains that it'll be on sale in China come September and available worldwide within the following two months.

Xperia X1

We also got our hands on Sony Ericsson's first Windows Mobile based smartphone, the Xperia X1, which is as pretty as a picture and, at the moment, just as lifeless.

As with the mini one, the model on display at CeBIT is an engineering sample, merely giving a feel to how the device is going to look. The X1 fits snugly into the palm of the hand - which does mean the keys are tiny and may prove difficult to use.

A Sony Ericsson spokesperson poured scorn on rumours the smartphone was being delayed until 2009, though he couldn't confirm which regions will get the handset this year.

Click here for full coverage of CeBIT 2008.

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