Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 - user opinions and reviews
- Anonymous
- BNW
Design
Smartphones with slide-out keyboards tend to be large and bulky, but this isn't the case with the Xperia X1. Measuring 52.6mm wide by 110.5mm deep by 17mm high and weighing 158g, the X1 is compact and has a nice, solid construction. The phone is available in two colours: silver or black. We reviewed the silver model, which has an attractive steel finish and feels cool in the hand. The X1 definitely has 'wow' factor and Sony Ericsson has done a nice job on the hardware.
For a device that has a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is quite a compact handset.
The Xperia X1 features a 3in. touch-screen that displays 65,536 colours at 800-by-480-pixel resolution. With such a sharp resolution, it's no surprise that images and text look crisp and colours are vibrant. However, the highlight of the X1 is its interactive panel interface, which Sony Ericsson created to give users one-touch access to their required features and the ability to customise the device.
You can choose from nine panels and, depending on whether you're at work or at play, you can pick whichever one fits your needs and make that your Today screen for the day. Seven panels come preloaded: Microsoft Today, Sony Ericsson (two variations), Google, 3D Fish, Xperia Radio and Media Xperience. Most are self-explanatory, but if you're curious about the 3D Fish, it's all spelled out in the quick guides — but good luck remembering what everything means. You can also customise what type of information is displayed on the Today screen and add widgets to the Sony Ericsson panel, including web feeds, plus clocks and weathers for different cities.
The Xperia X1 allows you to customise your smartphone with nine interactive panels.
In addition to the standard seven panels, you'll be able to download more panels from other developers via Sony Ericsson's download site. While the X1 panel interface is a cool concept and we love the customisation, in reality, we only used about three of the panels. It's rare that we wanted multimedia or the radio to be at the forefront. Of course, this is a personal choice, and we do appreciate the customisation option.
Below the display, there is a navigation array that consists of two soft keys, Talk and End buttons, an X1 panel key, an OK button and an optical joystick/directional keypad with a centre select button. We're not huge fans of any of these controls, as they're small and stiff to press — particularly the two sliver-like soft keys. We missed having a Home key. The optical joystick operates in a similar way to the optical mouse on the Samsung Omnia, but as with Samsung's device, the trackpad is somewhat small, limiting how much you can move around on a page. Alternatively, you can press the outer edges of the trackpad (up, down, left, right), so it acts more like a traditional navigation toggle.
Below the touch screen you'll find a navigation array, which includes the X1 panel key, but we found these buttons small and stiff to press.
To access the keyboard, you just slide the screen to the right. The sliding mechanism is smooth and feels strong enough to endure multiple openings and closings. In its open state, you'll notice there's a slight arc to the phone. Sony Ericsson did this to provide a better ergonomic experience when using the keyboard, and we think it succeeds. The slight curve makes it comfortable to hold the phone when typing messages, and it also props the screen at a nice angle for better viewing. The screen orientation will also automatically switch from portrait to landscape mode when you open the phone. The keyboard itself is pretty good: the buttons are slightly on the small side, but there's enough spacing between them so it shouldn't give most people problems. We were able to compose messages and enter text without too many errors, although the number keys are a bit hard to find at first.
The X1's full QWERTY keyboard is spacious and easy to use.
On the left spine, you'll find a mini-USB port, while the right side holds a volume rocker and a camera activation/capture button. The latter two controls are rather tiny, so they're not the easiest to press; the volume rocker was particularly tricky, as it was hard to accurately press up or down while on a phone call. There's a 3.5mm headphone jack and a power button on top of the handset. The camera is located on the back, and there is a microSD expansion slot, but you have to remove the back cover to access it, which is an inconvenience. Also, a minor issue but worth mentioning: there's no release button or switch for the battery cover; you only get two little indentations on either side of the device where you can pull it off with your fingernail, which wasn't always the easiest thing to do.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 comes with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a 2GB microSD card, a wired headset, a software CD and reference material.
- Anonymous
- BNW
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 with windows mobile voice command 1.6
watch video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xperia+voice+command&search_type=&aq=o
- Anonymous
- Bw@
The original Vodafone firmware was awful, hence poor wifi and other small niggles. A generic xperia has the best wi-fi range of any mobile phone (as reported in tracy & matts blog.) Peeling paint? that's news to me!
- dolps
- PG}
xperia is a nice phone... nice wifi just install a 3rd party app (forgot the name)
lots of useful apps
bad thing about xperia is the external speakers. and paint wears off fast.
- Anonymous
- j{k
yeah right xperia is crap,it turns itself of coz it cant handle BLOATED windows crap os i had 1 n its crap,wifi dosnt work n reception is sh!t n the case is made realy cheap n thats why it cracks n the paint comes off no wonder networks r givin it free coz its crap
- Anonymous
- M@T
All new high tech devices have some software glitches. Nokia's, HTC's, Samsung and so on. It has to be said, the X1 has very few, especially for a WinMo unit. @ Mstl I'm afraid your posts lack credibility because A) you repeat the same thing time and time again and b) You only ever mention the negatives experienced by the minority of x1 owners.
- Anonymous
- mst
Anonymous, 12 Jan 2009I'd have thought it was obvious why SE aren't pairing up with HTC again. The Xperia X1 could h... moreWhere did you get your info?
:))))
X1 profit? what profit?
HTC makes it - extra cost
almost immediately it was available for FREE wit ha cheap contract
sold in very low quantity
You have an idea how much ... provider pays for the X1 if they can give it away for free?
with an 18 mo cheap contract
200-300 USD?
Yes, may be you are correct; all the quality problems, software bugs, cracked cases, etc. got nothing to do with HTC and SE divorce.
- Anonymous
- kBq
Anonymous, 12 Jan 2009GSMArena News: ˝The next Sony Ericsson XPERIA won’t be made by HTC˝ I wonder w... moreI'd have thought it was obvious why SE aren't pairing up with HTC again. The Xperia X1 could have been released immediately after the touch pro but HTC demanded it was held back. HTC eat in to xperia profits...i'm sure HTC didn't appreciate seeing SE do a superior job on the software either! Xperia X1 ROCKS.
- Anonymous
- NP8
to megadeath
copy and paste the song from sd card or phone into ringtones folder, it will appear in your notifications/sounds where the pre-loaded ringtones are.
- Anonymous
- mst
GSMArena News:
˝The next Sony Ericsson XPERIA won’t be made by HTC˝
I wonder why?
Can you think of any reasons?
:)))))
(Yeah, it was really smart decision.)
- Anonymous
- mst
ard, 11 Jan 2009in uk even the phone shops theselves told me that it has software problems, i never liked the ... moreYes, I agree!
Some people just can not take the facts, or other people´s opinion.
I guess it is hard to comprehend:
˝Post your opinion about Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1˝
I respect other´s view :)
If you like it (X1) no argument here :)
Enjoy your phone and I encourage you to buy many - a whole box! ;)
Nice present to everyone.
)-(although anybody can get it for free with a cheap contract)
I am also disappointed with the performance.
It is much worst than other phones with Winmo, I guess some engineering bug was overlooked.
It was nice to remind me :)
Yes, the Wifi reception also poor.
I understand some people just not looking for reliable, and decent performance.
X1 may be for you.
It never hurts to try it and if you do not like it you can take it back (without restocking or other fees).
Any news about X5?
- hoi
- n%b
"how are you going do with it?"
if you cant speak english, "Why bother with it?"
and maybe where to set another ringtone is like harder to find then the music player for example (and it should).
- your mother
- tV1
Megadeth86, you bought a smart phone and doesn't know how to change a ring tone? Why bother with it? if you don't even know how to change a simple ring tone, what about other functions in the phone, how are you going do with it?
- Megadeth86
- M{3
Does anyone know how to put customisable ringtones in the Xperia, or do i have to keep the horrible ones that are pre loaded, I am talking MP3's as ringtones? Please help
- Anonymous
- SY0
@uSMm - I agree with you. I just got my XPERIA a week ago and I was really amazed of its capability. I have not encountered any problems up to now whatsoever. It works just fine. This is the best WinMo I've ever had and SE is just wonderful. I have downloaded all the extra XPanel and really gorgeous. Internet is really fast, Opera 9.5 browser is also fantastic. SEXPERIA X1 is selling like hotcake in the Middle East especially in Saudi Arabia. When I bought my unit, we are 9 who bought XPERIA at the same time and all of us has preferred the black one looks really sexy.
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