I’ve had just over a week to test out the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, one of the new “social phones” launching soon on Rogers.
It’s amazing how much phones can do nowadays, so I will try to cover some of the most important functions. They really are becoming mini-computers in our pockets.
GUI:
The X10 is Sony Ericsson’s first smartphone to run Android, the sleek operating system developed by Google. The graphical user interface is smooth, and visually stunning. Menus and functions are laid out clearly and beautifully and the fonts are very crisp. It’s a step up from the look of the iPhone menus. Users are treated to a large 4” touch screen with deep, rich colours and crisp images. Phone wallpapers are excellent, and the ringtones and alerts are unique and sound great. Typing is done on the touch screen and seemed to work well once I got used to it.
Design:
The exterior of the phone is slickly designed, in glossy white or black. There are three metallic buttons across the bottom of the phone, and the camera on the back. It weighs 135g and fits nicely in a front pocket. It is slightly thicker than an iPhone but not by much. It feels well-made, although with any of these touch screen phones, you wouldn’t want to drop it, especially screen-side down.
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Camera:
One of the best features of this phone is the 8.1MP camera. Yes, you read that correctly. The X10’s camera has as many megapixels as most people's point-and-shoot cameras. It takes great photos and the video function works surprisingly well in low light. You can store all of this content on the included 16GB microSD card.
E-mail:
Adding webmail accounts such as GMail or Hotmail is quick and easy and built right into the phone.
Web browsing:
Setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts on the X10 was super easy. The Facebook interface was optimized for the touch screen and made posting comments and photos quick and easy. This was where the X10 really shined. Rogers calls the X10 a “social view” phone because of the Timescape feature which puts all of your messages, Facebook and Twitter updates in one place. It’s beautifully organized, updates automatically, and was my “go to screen” while using the phone. Web browsing on the X10 was quick and handled most web sites very well, even ones that were not specifically designed for mobile viewing. Like most phones, the X10 doesn’t have Flash support, but you can still watch videos on YouTube. But if you wanted to watch a show on GlobalTV.com for example, you’re out of luck.
GPS/maps:
The map and GPS functions worked well, but I found myself wishing that the GPS “talked,” so it could be used for directions when driving without having to look at the phone. Yes, I realize this illegal in B.C., however, it would be nice to be able to set it up in advance, leave it on the passenger seat and have it read out directions to you.
Android Apps:
The Android app store is great and rivals the iPhone app store in the number and availability of downloads. There is something for everyone, including lots of free apps.
Battery:
Battery life was good, but not overwhelming. I found I was charging the phone every two days, although it was getting fairly heavy use. Thankfully, the X10 has a battery usage feature which shows you what features are using the most battery power and how you can save battery power.
Price:
The phone retails for $149.99 on a three-year contract with Rogers, or $549.99 in Canada without a contract. The price includes a 16GB microSD memory card.
Overall, I think the X10 is a strong release from Sony Ericsson in the touch screen smartphone category. It is beautiful, functional and fun. Highlights are the 8.1 MP camera, timescape feature and the superior look and feel of the phone.
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