Hello,
Today i would like to show you how to understand Sony Xperia Android firmware file name and recognize Android version without flashing your phone. Typical Sony Xperia Android firmware contains two files: APPSW and FSP, but also exists ELABEL and CDF files.
1. APPSW - the main part of firmware, should always be flashed as a first.
2. FSP - file system part, should always be flashed as a second.
3. ELABEL - electronic label file, exists only in case of Sony Xperia 2013, 2014 and newer phones. Can be skipped, phone should work without it.
4. CDF - additional customization data, contains images, sounds, pictures, videos, wallpapers, applications etc. Also can be skipped, phone will work without it.
Of course, flashtool .ftf firmware files should contain all this parts in one file. Ok, let's say we've found on the internet an unknown Sony Xperia firmware:
1. 14_4_A_0_108.APP_SW_Honami_EURO_1274_8313_S1_SW_LIVE_6732_PID1_0005_MMC
2. 14_4_A_0_108.FSP_Honami_EURO_LTE_1276_4318_S1_SW_LIVE_6732_PID1_0005_MMC.R1C
3. 14_4_A_0_108.ELABEL_Honami_elabel_c6903_row.201401221511_1
4. R3A.MS_CDF_1277_3123
How to know for what phone model will it work and what's the Android version? Let's take a closer look on that.
Firmware.jpg 73.29K
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I have marked the most important parts of Sony Xperia Android firmware file name with different colors:
Firmware2.jpg 81.34K
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1. 14_4_A_0_108 - build number. Usually higher or longer build number = newer firmware. For example build number 14_4_A_0_108 will be newer than 13_1_A_0_108, but older than 14_4_A_1_0_108.
2. File type - this part of firmware name tell us what part of firmware it is. Remember to flash firmware in exact order: 1. APPSW, 2. FSP, 3. ELABEL, 4. CDF.
3. Codename - each Sony and Sony Ericsson product has a different codename. That's how we can easly identify phone model. In FAQ section you can find a thread with all Sony and Sony Ericsson codenames: http://sony.yt/topic...sson-codenames/ . Now we know, that this firmware we've found is for Honami = Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone.
4. Customization region - this information tell us if the firmware is GENERIC (clean Sony firmware), generic made for Europe (EURO) or branded with operator stuff (for example ORANGE, VODAFONE etc.). Also ELABEL file show us the correct phone model, in this case it's C6903.
5. Customization number - very important number. Each firmware file has it's own customization number. In each Sony Xperia forum you can find a pinned thread with customizations. Read that topic carefully: http://sony.yt/topic...peria-z1-c6903/ , search for specific FSP customization number (in this case it's 1276_4318) and you will get the answer:
76 "C6903 Customized CE1 1276-4318" "1276-1809 C6903/Mobile Phone/MH1cBlack/Customized CE1 (Centr" for 35828905 TAC is specific for Telestra,35809105,35965205
"FSP_Honami_EURO_LTE_1276_4318_S1_SW_LIVE_6732_PID1_0005_MMC.R1B_14_2_A_0_290.SIN_FILE_SET"
"MS_CDF_1277_3123.R3A.SIN_FILE_SET"
"ELABEL_Honami_elabel_c6903_row.201310221100_1_14_2_A_0_290.SIN_FILE_SET"
"APP_SW_Honami_EURO_1274_8313_S1_SW_LIVE_6732_PID1_0005_MMC.14_2_A_0_290.SIN_FILE_SET"
It's a Sony Xperia Z1 C6903 firmware, generic Central Europe 1 customization 
Ok, we know the phone model, customization but how to know what Android version is inside that firmware?
1. Using winrar please unpack systemXXXXXX.sin file.
Firmware3.jpg 171.47K
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2. Open it using WinHex or any other hexadecimal editor. Search for:
ro.build.fingerprint=
Firmware4.jpg 351.51K
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3. Now you have the answer:
Firmware5.jpg 119.54K
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It's a Sony Xperia C6903 firmware, Android Kit Kat 4.4.4.
If winhex is too complicated for you, you can use this simple program: 
Sony & Samsung Firmware Info.zip 4.57K
38 downloads which works for Sony and Samsung smartphones. Run program, add systemXXXXXXX.sin file and you will get the answer:
Firmware6.jpg 56.38K
2 downloads
That's it. Now you know all about Sony Xperia Android firmware description and have a knowledge how to check firmware Android version without flashing it.
Best regards,
Jurij
Tutorial written for Sony.yt - copying is prohibited.
