Sony Ericsson doesn’t have too great a history of smartphones, preferring to deliver great features phones. However, with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 it has branched out into Google Android territory. Find out how we got on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 in our first look review…
One look at the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and you’ll see the company’s track record in feature phones on show. Not for Sony Ericsson the standard interface, as the UI of this handset is aimed at getting the most out of Facebook, YouTube and other social networking apps.
The 4-inch touchscreen display offers plenty of space to view webpages and get the most out of your images. With a resolution of 480 x 840 pixels it’s a pleasure to use and the use of capacitive technology meant that during the whole time we used it, we never dropped a letter when messaging.
What’s more, the big screen doesn’t really impact on the overall weight of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, which at 135g is reasonably light and easy to carry around in your pocket.
Connectivity features include HSDPA, Wi-Fi, A-GPS and Bluetooth. Then there is the 8.1-Megapixel camera, which is a great addition. The camera is easy to use and images make it the most rounded Android smartphone yet.
That said, it’s the bundled software that Sony Ericsson is hoping will make this a standout device. You’ll find all the standard Android apps, as well as Timescape for easy grabbing of contacts, and Mediascape for your music, movies, and images. We found that both work rather well, with Timescape working smoothly with Facebook, Twitter and email. However, getting them to respond quickly can be problematic, as they don’t feel as though they’ve been fine-tuned for the OS or screen.
When it comes to getting the most out of the device, you’ll find it can be a little laggy to respond as the processor isn’t as quick to respond as we’d like. There is also the fact the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 interface isn’t quite as intuitive as we’d like. To make matters worse, the UI currently only works with Google Android 1.6 and we’ll have to wait to see how responsive the update is when it works with Android 2.0.
Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is a likeable and appealing Google device but many of the features are better suited to the casual user, rather than the serious Android fan.
Best Features
Great for Social Networking
Big screen
Good camera
Not so good
Sluggish
Lack of memory
Closest Rivals
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The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is Nokia’s first touchscreen phone and is a fantastic all-round device. You can take great quality pictures with the 3.2-Megapixel camera or listen to your tunes on the built-in MP3 player
LG Arena KM900
Inside the LG Arena touchscreen phone is a powerful S-Class user interface that lets you control an array of apps with your fingertips. The 3-inch touchscreen is perfect for images, video and even web browsing
Samsung S8300 Tocco Ultra Edition
The Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition blends style, design and the latest in technology. With a full touchscreen and revolutionary 2.8-inch super bright AMOLED display and 8-Megapixel digital camera this is one knockout phone
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Sony Ericsson is doing that as well. And with plenty of time left between now and the first-quarter 2010 launch, we’re hoping Sony Ericsson is able to find a way to integrate Android 2.0 into the Xperia X10.