Sony Xperia go Pro Reviews

Generally available for less than £200 unlocked the Xperia Go is quite likely to be my next phone. It has power and storage aplenty, big enough cojones to handle 720p video and 3D games, impressive battery life, a screen that belies its on-paper specification and is built like a brick shithouse. I'd give it a higher rating if it weren't for the fact that it doesn’t ship with ICS yet. Still, my current contract has a few months yet to run so I can afford to wait for Sony to fulfil its ICS promise here.

Sony may've parted ways with Ericsson but they still seem to hang out at some of the places they used to go together. One thing's for sure, the Xperia go won't mind being around the Xperia active, even if it finds itself under the occasional meter of water. So, it's a phone that's supposed to make a living off the beaten track, but the Xperia go plays it safe by following closely in the Xperia active's footsteps. Sony have given it a bigger screen and two processor cores and that's as solid an upgrade as any. They've done well to change the styling too, in line with the new NXT series design language. The Xperia go feels less sporty and muscular than its predecessor but we think it's one of the better-looking durable phones you can get. The solid single-color-body with no flashy accents is perhaps a bit too conservative but we don't mind at all. The Xperia go belongs in a backpack but wouldn't be out of place in an office either.

The Android market is stuffed full of phones with plenty of options on offer. The Sony Xperia Go sits somewhere just below the mid range. The dual-core processor is welcomed, but the low screen resolution is somewhat prehistoric and limited RAM doesn't really help. It needs an update to Android to bring in the latest convenience features and Sony's OS isn't as refined as that from HTC or Samsung, but a dab of app magic here and there will make it do pretty much all you want. The unique selling point about the Go is its environmental protection. Sure, drop it face down and you still have an expanse of screen to smash, but if you spend your time outdoors, worried about the wet, but don't want a bulky phone, then the Xperia Go might just do that for you. The yellow version we reviewed was met equally with jubilation and disgust, but the practicalities of taking photos in the rain or just in the bath give this little phone some charm. It's tough, but not overtly so. It's capable, but not overly so. Ultimately, the Sony Xperia Go doesn't offer the best Android experience out there, but it serves up most of what you want to do, in whatever conditions, with little complaint.

The Sony Xperia go is an average device no matter how you look at it. It has a pretty good processor for its class, and we can live with the low-resolution screen, but the unpleasant plastic casing may ruin the experience for you. Still, it'll be best if you can try the phone out first prior to purchase, to see if you can live with it. Other than that, and its Gingerbread nature, the Xperia go is a pretty decent mid-range handset, which will come in handy for those who often have to use their mobile device in conditions that involve risks of water or dust contact. In those cases, the Xperia go will surely be appreciated.

The Xperia Go is a compact and robust smartphone perfect for those who need a phone capable of taking a battering. It doesn’t offer anything special in the way of hardware or software but a promised upgrade makes this a reasonable package for £250.