world’s thinnest smartphone by NEC

Verizon’s wireless network may soon play host to the world’s thinnest smartphone, the NEC Medias N-04C. The Android-powered phone first debuted in Japan this spring, and it’s an incredibly slim 7.7MM. That’s about 17% thinner than an iPhone 4. The Medias also has an edge in weight, tipping the scales (barely) at just 105 grams — less than four ounces — making it 30 grams lighter than the iPhone.

That’s a sharp contrast to some of the brutish 4-inch+ Android phones we’ve seen in the past couple years, and its sleek profile will no doubt be an attractive feature to potential U.S. buyers. The Medias N-04C has enjoyed a good deal of success in Japan, where it’s sold more than half a million units.It’s expected that the Medias will receive a spec bump prior to its Stateside launch. The original Japanese version featured an 800MHz processor, a 480×854 FWVGA display covered with a sturdy slab of GorillaGlass, a 5.1MP rear-facing camera with LED flash, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Android 2.2. 

At the very least, the processor would likely be updated to something at or above the 1GHz mark and Android 2.3 Gingerbread flashed before making its debut on Verizon — where the N-04C is expected to launch because of NEC-Casio’s previous dealings.The Japanese version also includes a TV tuner, e-wallet functionality, and an infrared port. Don’t count on those additional features making the trip — they might be staples in Asia, but they’re not commonly found on U.S. phones.

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