Sony Ericsson Xperia pro Pro Reviews

The thing about Android, is how manufacturers like Sony Ericsson can go full steam ahead with customizations. And that holds true for the Xperia Pro. Besides the usual Sony Ericsson user interface customization, the most identifiable being the Timescape widget, we also saw the use of a split-pane design for its email app. Though it isn’t the first to implement a folder-for-apps concept, it’s good to see that the option exists to house more app shortcuts on the home page. Admittedly, the Xperia Pro is no head-turner with its thick profile. Its QWERTY keyboard did not do any favors for us with its less than optimal typing experience. The irregular placement of its power and camera buttons, coupled with how flushed the said buttons are to the body, are the most likely deal breakers. But if you are able to live with the awkward camera button, you’ll find its 8-megapixel camera returning decent images thanks to its Exmor sensor. Its 3.7-inch display is a good fit for swiping, and when it comes to watching videos on the unit, it doesn’t fare too badly either, with or without its Mobile Bravia Display activated. Battery stamina isn’t a huge concern, given that our battery tests gave a score of 351 minutes of continuous video playback and the usual one-day running time for usual smartphone activities.

If you’re shopping for a QWERTY messenger, Sony Ericsson have the most recent models. The competition seems less interested in this form factor. And the different styling tells a lot about a changing market. Old school is cool: the metal-clad messengers of the older generation are solid and physical, more grown-up. But strictly business will no longer do. The Xperia Pro has the business acumen but it’s not the nine-to-five type.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia pro is the rare sight of a good-looking Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone with a side-sliding physical keyboard, which is on top of that very comfortable to type on. It pays to optimize your handsets for a specific chipset, too, and the 1GHz Snapdragon S2 processor that runs the Xperia line proves again that it is more than enough to run the pretty Timescape UI flawlessly. We also have a very snappy browser navigation that is usually reserved for dual-core chipsets, and a potent loudspeaker. Out of the smaller gripes we have with the phone, we’d point out the tiny and uncomfortable buttons all around the handset – the power/lock key, the volume rocker and the shutter key are too small and fidgety to press. Another small issue is the subpar viewing angles of the screen. Still, the more important parameters like outside visibility and pixel density are above average for the mid-range category. There are many physical keyboard aficionados out there, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia pro seems poised to fill a gaping hole in their heart, having one of the most comfortable and beautifully backlit keyboards on an Android device. It is also very capable in most other characteristics, and its price fits right into the mid-range category, not aspiring for something it is not. Of the few alternatives in the US we would mention the Samsung Stratosphere, which also runs Gingerbread, and has a slightly larger 4” screen, but a 5MP camera. The Motorola DROID 3 adds a fifth row to the keyboard, and sports a dual-core processor. In Europe the golden oldie HTC Desire Z, Motorola MILESTONE 2 and the Nokia E7 are the natural alternatives, although the latter runs Symbian.