Verizon’s Pantech Perception Spotted in FCC Photos

Verizon may be launching an Android smartphone in the form of the Pantech Perception in the future as filings with the FCC regulatory agency may serve as an indicator. The Pantech Perception may be Verizon’s answer to the Pantech Discover, which was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year for rival AT&T’s 4G LTE network. The Discover boasts high-end specs and an affordable mid-range price tag, making it quite the bargain for many shoppers in the market for a well-rounded performance phone.

At this point, it’s unclear if Verizon Wireless and Pantech will both be pricing the Perception at a similar mid-range budget while delivering high-end specs. The strategy may help Pantech gain market traction in the U.S. where brands like Apple, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung dominate the market.

Though the FCC files did not reveal much by way of specs for the Perception, the device is shown with a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera. It is rumored that the Perception will have a 720p HD display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and a 4.8-inch display. This would put the device in roughly the same league as the Samsung Galaxy S3 on specs alone.

The device was shown with Verizon’s 4G LTE branding on the rear battery cover. According to Unwired View, it is expected to launch in stores sometime next month.

We’ll have to wait til Verizon formally announces the device to know accurately the specs, availability, and pricing. $50 for a two-year contract for the Pantech Discover is quite the bargain on AT&T and it’s anticipated that pricing for the Perception will be similar on Verizon’s network in the U.S.