Sony Xperia P Pro Reviews

A fantastic screen, high-resolution and high-class feel make this a great smartphone for media fans

The Xperia P is not a record-setting handset, though it’s WhiteMagic screen is certainly a winner in my book. The design is clean and the hardware is fast enough to satisfy most users. Assuming the update to Android 4.0 comes through for everyone with the P (some users have gotten it already), it could be a good option for those looking for a smaller handset. Phones keep getting larger and larger. It’s good to see a solid phone in a smaller size.

The Xperia P is a mixed bag and it’s really not an ideal phone for everyone. Consumers who insist on a fast processor and huge screen might want to look elsewhere. The Xperia P lacks muscle and battery life is unimpressive, so it's really not going after power users. However, this does not mean that it's a bad phone, far from it. What it lacks in sheer performance and bench figures, the Xperia P makes up in other departments. Basically if you think that good looks and a top notch camera are more important, then the Xperia P starts to make sense, a lot of sense. It features a great screen tucked away under an aluminium body, 16 gigs of storage and it has what it takes to unnerve the competition.

You have to admit the Sony Xperia P is a gorgeous smartphone. Flaunting a stunning design crafted from premium materials, it's a mobile device that has good looks to die for. Unfortunately its major weakness is an underpowered processor, which has serious repercussions. It doesn't have enough speed to run its aging Android 2.3 Gingerbread software, let alone Ice Cream Sandwich as does its higher-end sibling, the Xperia S. Frankly I wish Sony had spent the same effort in dropping a robust CPU into the phone as it did on its exterior. The Xperia P's uninspiring camera does pack a lot of features but also doesn't match the quality of competing devices, such as the HTC One X or even Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Its $479.99 unlocked price is high, but not as steep as the $559.99 Xperia S. I know the Xperia S has a higher rating since it lasts longer and comes with a slightly better processor, but honestly both phones are sluggish. If it came down to a choice between the two, I'd rather buy the less expensive Xperia P on style points alone, not to mention ease of use. Of course my current unlocked phone of choice remains the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, hopefully running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is just fast enough for me to forgive its 5-megapixel camera.

The Xperia P is a confident, middle-sized handset, but new smartphone shoppers may find it difficult to spend £340 (around $530; off-contract) on it. While the Xperia P has more design charm and better build quality, the Xperia S is already being substantially discounted in the UK, with a grander camera, larger screen and more capable processor. However, big phones aren't for everyone and the Xperia P's footprint lies closer to the iPhone than recent pocket-testing smartphones. It's not going to beat the competition on raw benchmark numbers, but nor did any lag or hiccups frustrate us during testing -- something that other Android phones are still capable of. Another concern is that if someone is looking to buy a small smartphone, they easily could go for the smaller-again Xperia U, which has its own (if slightly brash) design quirks. That shouldn't ruin what the P model can offer; a bright qHD screen that's a revelation in sunlight, with a stable -- but tired -- OS that's promised an ICS update soon. If Sony can follow up on that promise, then the Xperia P might avoid slide into obscurity that several of its phones have suffered from.

The Sony Xperia P is a solid mid-range smartphone, and were it endowed with Android 4.0, it would be a true competitor. Its obvious rivals are both the HTC One V and One S, along with LG's new L-Style L7. It outperforms the One V and L7 in day-to-day use and bests all three with its far superior screen and camera. However, the fact remains that the Xperia P is priced within striking distance of the One S. For around $100 more the One S delivers a tried-and-tested Ice Cream Sandwich experience as well as one of the best processors money can buy. If you don’t require the One S’ power and the promise of an upcoming update is enough for you, there's very little that would stop me recommending the Xperia P. Sony just has to keep the price down and put Android 4.0 on it, fast.

In a not-so-far-fetched scenario, the Sony Xperia P struggles to emerge from the shadow of the Xperia S flagship and sees its sales eaten into by its own more affordable siblings, the Xperia U and sola. Many phones in a similar position would find it hard to rise to the challenge. Not the Sony Xperia P. This metal-clad warrior wants to be the maker of its own future. But even if we look past the stylish aluminum unibody, the Xperia P still has a lot going for it. One is a good camera that can stand its own against pricier devices and will satisfy most people's need for still imaging and video capture. The screen is pretty good too - the colors get blown out if the brightness is set too high, but even at reduced brightness the sunlight legibility is good and so are the viewing angles.

A capable mid-range handset with few flaws, but the competition is strong at this price

Forget the flash über-phones, it’s in the Android mid-range where the real action is because, like the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, the Xperia P is affordable and all the phone most people will ever need. The screen is bright and crisp, it has a decent camera and a distinctive design. With the same chipset, there’s little difference in performance between the Xperia and the Galaxy Advance so it comes down to this: do you want a better camera and a certain ICS upgrade or a microSD card slot?

Overall the Sony Xperia P is something of a mixed bag. Our experience with the Xperia S tells us that the design will divide opinion. The core hardware means this is a reasonably powerful device and the way it handles everyday tasks is a testament to that, with no complaints in that respect. But there are some elements that just seem to get in the way. Launching on Gingerbread is a disappointment for Android fans and some of Sony's design choices when it comes to the user interface are a little disappointing. We don't mind manufacturers skinning Android, but when it makes something like the calendar more difficult to view, we have to question what benefit there is for the end user. Finally the battery life and a screen that doesn't look entirely natural leave us with a device that, despite exhibiting great build quality in that metal body, starts to feel decidedly average. An update to Android 4 here and the choice application of, erm, apps from Google Play and the Sony Xperia P starts to feel much more appealing. The Sony Xperia P is a phone that performs, but could be better.

A handset that will have owners planning for the future, the Sony Xperia P is packed with enough high-end specs to ensure it remains one of the most impressive devices within its price bracket for a long time to come, and will keep users appeased and free from handset envy for the foreseeable future. Add to this the inbuilt NFC capabilities - a feature that is to become increasingly prominent in the near future - and the Sony Xperia P quickly marks itself out as a standout performer that is bridging the expectations and blurring the boundaries of mid and high-end handsets.

The Sony Xperia P is only an inch away from being the ultimate mid-range Android smartphone – packed with cool features, yet relatively inexpensive considering what you're getting in exchange. And what you get is a great camera, pretty interface, snappy dual-core processor, and one of the brightest smartphone displays to date, all encased inside of a solid aluminum package. The only things that drag the smartphone down are its imperfect color representation and the aging Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sure, a promised software update will take care of the latter, yet the former is something we will have to settle down with. If you are determined on getting the Sony Xperia P anyway, chances are that your needs will be fulfilled, but we would advise you to check out a few alternatives first. For example, if you are more into AMOLED displays, the Samsung Galaxy S Advance is worth considering as it is another great Android mid-ranger that should bear a more affordable price tag. The HTC Sensation may be over a year old, but it does not lag behind in terms of specs and comes at an identical price point.

The Xperia P is a more user-friendly sized, better designed and more attractively priced version of the Xperia S. Although the specifications aren't astounding and the software is yet to be brought into 2012, we like the device. Highlights are the decent screen and excellent camera but if you have a bit more cash to spend, the HTC One S is a better option.