GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.5m
109k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena team, 19 December 2011

Five to go


Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V review: Five to go

  • Comments (103)
  • User reviews
  • Xperia neo V

3. User interface, benchmarks
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree spin, design and build quality
  3. 3. User interface, benchmarks
  4. 4. Phonebook, telephony, messaging, text input
  5. 5. Gallery, video and music players
  6. 6. FM radio, audio quality, camera, video recording
  7. 7. Connectivity, web browser, organizer
  8. 8. Navigation, Market, conclusion
  9.  
  10. Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V specification
  11. User opinions and reviews
  12. Review comments (103)

Sony Ericsson Android Touch UI

Android 2.3.4 lands on the Neo

The Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V runs the latest Gingerbread version 2.3.4 of Android. It is already available for the entire Xperia 2011 lineup, including the first Neo - or what's left of it in stores. Let's once again go over the new stuff in the latest Gingerbread release:

  • Sony 3D sweep panos: panorama shots that can be rendered on compatible 3D TVs
  • Screen capture - grab a screenshot anywhere on your Xperia
  • Enhanced Facebook integration
  • Swipe text input - works just like the popular Swype, but it's T9 Trace
  • USB on-the-go functionality (requires Sony Ericsson LiveDock)

We have a video demo of the user interface too.

As usual the Xperia neo V has a five pane homescreen (you can't add or delete panes), with four docked shortcuts (two on either side of the launcher shortcut). Those are visible on all five homescreen panes and are user configurable: they can be either single icons or folders with multiple items in them.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V
The Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V UI

The homescreen also does a neat trick called Overview mode. Pinch to zoom out on any of the 5 homescreen panes and a new screen opens up with a cool transition. All your widgets gather there and you can click the one you want and go to its screen.

In terms of functionality, it’s similar to the HTC Leap view or what Samsung do in TouchWiz. However widgets here are not crammed in small hard-to-read screens. Instead, they’re all shuffled on a single screen, so they can better use the space and remain as big as possible.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V
The Overview mode helps you find the widget you are looking for

The Xperia neo V has some custom-made Sony Ericsson widgets in addition to the standard set. Those include the Timescape widget (there's a dedicated app too) and a Mediascape-like widget for photos and videos (the actual app isn't there anymore, the standard gallery is back).

The app launcher puts shortcuts in the bottom corners. They let you sort your icons within the grid. You can either go for the automatic options (alphabetical, most used or recently installed) or you can manually shuffle the icons.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V
The app drawer

Creating folders is simple, using the iOS logic (and visual layout). You drag one icon over another and a pop-up prompts you to select an icon and a name for the folder you’re about to set up.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V
Creating folders is possible too

The lockscreen is standard Xperia fare. Which means you get notifications for Facebook events too. The standard notification area and task switcher are of course present and accounted for.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
The lockscreen features Facebook integration • The standard notification area and task switcher

There is one more thing worth mentioning - the Take Screenshot shortcut. It's found in the power settings and you need to press and hold on the Power/Lock key to access it. It would have been better if Sony Ericsson has made it with a combination of two keys (like the iOS's Home+Lock combo) rather than a virtual shortcut, but at least it's there.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V
The Take a screenshot shortcut

Synthetic benchmarks

The Snapdragon chipset has been around for a while and we know what to expect from it in terms of performance.

Sony Ericsson already used this chipset in most of its latest smartphones. As we suspected the Xperia neo V showed similar results on the synthetic benchmarks as the Xperia ray and lower than the Sensation XL's results.

 Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
 Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
 Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
 Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V

Next Page » 4. Phonebook, telephony, messaging, text input
3. User interface, benchmarks
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree spin, design and build quality
  3. 3. User interface, benchmarks
  4. 4. Phonebook, telephony, messaging, text input
  5. 5. Gallery, video and music players
  6. 6. FM radio, audio quality, camera, video recording
  7. 7. Connectivity, web browser, organizer
  8. 8. Navigation, Market, conclusion
  9.  
  10. Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V specification
  11. User opinions and reviews
  12. Review comments (103)

Reviews Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V reviewPage 3
  • Comments (103)
  • User reviews
  • Xperia neo V

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • Doogee
  • Blackview
  • BLU
  • Panasonic
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Flashback: Sony Ericsson P910 used an odd flavor of touch Symbian and wanted to do it all
  • Flashback video: the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and how it bet on the wrong OS
  • Flashback: Sony Ericsson Satio and a look at how far camera phones have come in the last decade
  • Flashback: the Sony Ericsson K800 was as versatile as James Bond and the first Cyber-shot phone
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Tesla Model S tops 29 car-strong winter range test Tesla Model S tops 29 car-strong winter range test Nissan Qashqai e-Power real life test yields disappointing resultsTesla Model Y is now eligible for $7,500 IRA tax credit in the US
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2023 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data