Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini

Editor's Review of the XPERIA X10 Mini

During the first quarter of 2010, Sony Ericsson did a rare thing by launching two new Android mobile phones, the Xperia X10 and the Xperia X10 Mini. While the Xperia X10 is a whopping handset with a 4 inch display, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini has been intentionally scaled down, both in physical size and features.

With measurements of just 83 x 50 x 16 mm, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini does what it says on the tin, and is one of the smallest handsets the manufacturer has release.

Barring any comparison, the Xperia X10 Mini might look small, but it is packed with features that anybody would want in a smart phone. For one, it features a 2.55 inch, 240 x320 pixels capacitive touch screen that is very responsive even to the slightest tap. Not only that, it has an accelerometer sensor that allows automatically rotating the user interface.

The handset comes equipped with Android 1.6 as its operating system, ensuring a fast user experience. You can dock your favourite applications on the four corners of your home screen ensuring fast access to these anytime. Couple the Android OS with a 600 megahertz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, and you are sure of respectable speed no matter what you do.

The Android OS practically ensures smooth operations for all Google applications like search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and in some areas, the new Google Voice Search. The Xperia X10 Mini allows you to get on the Internet via GPRS and EDGE. Wireless LAN connectivity is possible and high speed Internet is available via HSDPA and HSUPA networks. You can also connect your handset with your PC or laptop with its microUSB port. Lastly, you can connect with other Bluetooth capable devices.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini comes with an internal memory of 128 megabytes allowing you to have virtually unlimited phone book entries and unlimited call records. This is easily expandable up to 16 gigabytes with a microSD card. And you will certainly need all that extra storage not just for the pictures you are going to take with the Xperia X10 Mini, but for all the other multimedia files you want. This handset can play back MP4, H.264, H.263 and WMV video files and MP3, WMA, eAAC+, and WAV music files.

Like the bigger SE Xperia X10, the Mini version can display your SMS messages, calls and Facebook alerts all in one place with the Timescape user interface.

Other notable perks you can get with your Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini includes the fact that you can customise your handset according to whim. This handset is available in six different colours for its back panel: red, silver, lime, pink, black, and white. Further, the screen is readable even under direct sunlight.

Overall, however, the Sony Xperia X10 Mini may pale in comparison to its full-sized brother, but it carries its own weight. It will appeal to those who are looking for a handier smart phone and those who are not willing to pay for Xperia X10's higher price.