Sony Ericsson Xperia active Pro Reviews

The Xperia Active is an interesting phone. We took too it pretty quickly, and while it isn't the sort of phone that we would probably buy, if you want something tough, water resistant and designed for workouts, then this is really an ideal phone. It's a little bit too expensive to replace an MP3 player, but if you take exercise seriously, it's the same price as a Motorola ACTV, for example, and offers you a full mobile phone too boot. So perhaps it could be a second phone for people who like specific tools for specific jobs.

We liked the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active for its solid build quality and unique design. The dual back covers protects the phone's internals from water and dust, making it a perfect choice for those who use their phones outside. The preloaded fitness apps such as iMapMyFitness is a bonus for fitness enthusiasts who want a no-frills device to bring for their workouts. Its good battery performance is another brownie point. We disliked the small screen size although it has to be sacrificed for making the phone as compact as possible. It makes touch typing a pain, especially for those with bigger fingers. Although it is not meant to compete with the rest in terms of specs, it could have been better if Sony Ericsson equips it with better hardware. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is available at a recommended retail price of $498 (inclusive of GST) without a line contract. Compared to its immediate rival, the Motorola Defy ($528), the Xperia active is a better alternative for its overall better performance. However, with the Motorola Defy spending a significant amount of time in the market, you can expect a reduced price point from retailers if you look hard enough. Taking that into consideration, the Defy is a better choice for those on a budget, but we'd still say that Sony Ericsson's offering is still more enticing.

We think the compact size is quite an advantage for the Xperia active. If nothing else, it sets the phone apart from the competition. And the whole package is built on a concept that’s proven to work. In the entire Xperia lineup, the mini is the right one to have a rugged version of. Compromises are inevitable in the ultra-compact class. Screen size is among the few the Xperia active makes. This rugged droid is genuinely trying not to take too much space. And it doesn’t mind living on the edge.

It's another good performer from Sony Ericsson. The Xperia Active is little more than the company's Xperia Mini in a chunky, water-resistant case, but if that's what you want... this is it. We're used to 'outdoor' mobile phones coming in awful shells and lacking features, but that's not the case here. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is a fast, usable, modern smartphone, that just so happens to be a bit better sealed off from rain and coffee than most. The only possible competition for the Xperia Active comes from Motorola's Defy and the newer Defy+, which, with their huge screens and extra-bulky builds, are aimed at completely different people. If you want a perfectly capable, cute, light and small phone that's waterproof and doesn't compromise on performance, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active's a fine choice. Your only choice, but still a perfectly good one.

After a number of years in the wilderness, Sony Ericsson (soon just Sony) is finding its feet again. The Xperia Active is a well-made, carefully thought out, specialist smartphone for those who love the outdoors. It is rugged, portable, comes with an excellent bundle including a runner's armband and has snappy performance which belies its run-of-the-mill specifications. Pricing is also very competitive with only the sizeable caveats of call quality and battery life dragging down an otherwise excellent smartphone. The green shoots of recovery continue.

We can’t help but like the Sony Ericsson Xperia active, given the multitude of accessories you get out of the box, not to mention the weatherproofing and pre-installed fitness apps. We even grew to like the protruding bottom as it houses the lanyard which we found ourselves using all the time. Unfortunately however, nothing saves the Xperia active’s call in-call speaker. It really is a shame and weighs heavily on our rating. If you intend to use a Bluetooth headset or the bundled headphones when making calls, you can buy the handset with confidence, if not however, bear in mind this is a great phone with a big niggle.