Sony Ericsson has introduced me to its latest Smartphopne released on the market, and this one is unlike any phone that has come before. The Xperia play not only has all the specs and features of a high-end smartphone like the iPhone 4, but also has the added bonus of sporting gaming facilities similar to Sony’s best-selling PSP device. This should see this phone appeal to a whole new market and ultimately push Sony Ericsson along with HTC and Apple as heavy hitters in the smartphone world.
Also known as the PlayStation Phone thanks to its gaming capabilities, it’s easy to overlook the fact that as a standalone mobile phone, this device is one of the best available. The Xperia Play uses the ever-popular Android operating system, and it’s nice to see that the phone is running the latest version 2.3. Affectionately known as Gingerbread, this system offers improved intuitive text input and an improved user interface. The platform also includes improved power management, which means a positive result in battery life. However, the most attractive aspect for many users is that the wide variety of downloads available in the market are available from the start. This operating system offers flash support for web browsing, providing a satisfying online experience much like what you’d expect to find on a home PC or laptop. This is also helped by the fact that Xperia play has great connectivity options including Wi-Fi when you have access to a network or 3G when you’re on the go. All modern phones have a camera, and this one is no different. On the back of the device you will find a 5 megapixel camera capable of capturing a good level of image.
In terms of design, at first glance the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play looks like other smartphones with a large screen dominating the front and the four familiar Android keys located below. Size-wise, this phone was never going to be the smallest thanks to the slider design that houses the game controls, but in reality, when it’s in the palm of your hand, it’s relatively compact. The Play sports a 4-inch screen that displays a 480 x 854 resolution, dwarfing the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S and putting it almost on par with the iPhone 4 in terms of quality. The aspect that makes this phone stand out from its competitors is its slide-out control panel, which resembles a PS3 controller with a D pad, four buttons, and a play and select key. Analog sticks have even been incorporated, but in the form of two circular touch-sensitive panels.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play looks set to take the mobile world by storm by offering a great phone with unrivaled gaming functionality.
