Now this is a popular method, manufacturers save money, they do not have to develop a new design, everything is limited to the color scheme and some small changes to the exterior. For example, these are devices from Apple (and, and), Samsung (and).
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S stands in model range slightly higher than the usual “arch”, but it will not be easy to determine which model is newer. It can only be calculated by appearance. The latest generation will receive black, pink or white cases. This is where all external differences end.
The device's hardware has become more powerful. Now this is a 1.4 GHz processor, volume random access memory has not changed, still the same 512 MB. The media component includes an 8.1-megapixel camera, 720p video recording, and a large 4.2-inch screen.
Contents of delivery
- Telephone
- Battery 1500 mAh
- 8 GB memory card class 2
- Charger
- USB cable
- Instructions
- Warranty card
Appearance
The appearance of the device completely coincides with that of the . The company has created a model in a nice case that combines both straight and rounded lines. The side edges are slightly beveled, and the top and bottom ends are slightly curved. If you look at the device from the side, the concave shape of the rear panel will surprise you even more.
Previously, the expression “human curvature” implied high ergonomics and comfort when using a mobile device, but the devices had a convex shape. This design has been implemented in many models. But now, using the example of the Xperia Arc (and some other models too, for example), you can see a completely different type of back cover - it is concave. Unusual, but also convenient.
The dimensions of the smartphone are 125x63x8.7 mm, weight 117 g. The device is thin, it can easily fit into trousers or a jacket pocket. For a top-segment phone, a stylish design combined with reasonable dimensions is always a positive factor.
There are several additional shades available for this model, in addition to the already available blue and silver. Now available in white, black and pink. We ended up with a snow-white sample, the phone looks very beautiful in this color, I liked the combination of shapes and such elegant plastic. The coating is glossy, but there is no need to complain about soiling; prints are hardly noticeable.
Along the sides there is a silver stripe, which with its thin profile emphasizes the small thickness of the case. The bottom end of the smartphone is slightly beveled, and the same can be said about the side planes.
On the black plastic cover at the top of the front panel there is a semicircular cutout for the earpiece. On the left are light and proximity sensors.
Under the large screen, which occupies almost the entire surface, there is a strip of three keys that almost merge into one. The buttons resemble metal in color, but in reality they are plastic. The button travel is small and distinct, pressing is pleasant. There are two bright LEDs here. They do not carry any functional load. They just glow.
The first key returns to the previous menu item, the second helps to return to the desktop, and also activates the running application manager (you need to hold this button for a few seconds), the last one calls up the functional menu.
At the top end there is a micro-HDMI port closed with a silver cap that matches the color of the body edging. There is a small round key in the corner that locks the screen. It is inconvenient: small, made flush with the body, due to the lack of a relief profile, it is uncomfortable to use. At the same time, it is necessary to mention the tight movement of the button.
There is a strap mount on the bottom end, and there is also a small notch that helps you remove the back panel.
On right side There is a microUSB port. It is used both to connect a charger and to synchronize with a computer. Next to it there is an LED that lights up when charging and notifies of missed events. The location is not the best; you need to remember which side the phone is facing so as not to lose sight of the indicator.
Just below you can see a small paired volume button made of silver plastic. It feels good, the clicks are clear, and it’s comfortable to use.
Almost in the very corner there is a two-position camera button. The implementation of this key is not entirely successful: its travel is too tight, and when taking a photo you have to press it hard.
On the left side, in the very corner, there is a hole for connecting headphones with a 3.5 mm jack. This is not a very convenient implementation, because if you do not use the included headset, choosing another means for listening to music will not be so easy.
Several elements were placed on the original view of the rear plane. At the top there is a round cutout of the camera lens, next to it is an LED flash. Below you can see the hole for the phone's speaker.
Under the plastic curved panel is the SIM card slot. Next to it is a compartment for a microSD card. Both are battery locked. It is not possible to quickly replace the card.
Screen
The display diagonal is 4.2 inches, displays up to 16 million colors at a resolution of 480x854 pixels. The response is excellent, thanks to the large diagonal, it is convenient to operate the device, the clicks are error-free. The proximity sensor turns off the screen when the phone comes close to your face during a call.
Thanks to the built-in accelerometer, when you turn the phone on its side, the image on the screen changes orientation from vertical to horizontal. There is no automatic brightness control feature. The backlight level is set manually. However, if you set the brightness to half or less, you will notice that the brightness of the screen varies as lighting conditions change. This is an unexpected fact.
The Xperia Arc S uses Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine feature, familiar from the company's TVs. Its peculiarity is that when this function is activated (it can be disabled in the menu), the contrast and sharpness of the image increases. The picture is bright, the colors are rich and natural.
The smartphone does not have an air gap between the glass and the matrix (the “No Air Gap” function, like Sony Bravia Monolith TVs). The advantage is that the overall thickness of the case is reduced due to the compact screen. In addition, the brightness of the screen increases. The technology used to make the display is called Reality Display, this is a significant step forward compared to , the difference with the previous generation is very noticeable. The ideology of the Japanese world is such that priority is given to natural, natural colors, in contrast to Korean companies, which are dominated by an overly bright, but at the same time unnatural image.
The display is covered with fiberglass; it should serve as reliable protection against scratches and abrasions. Also initially pasted on the screen protective film, it is practically invisible and can serve as an additional means for preserving its original appearance.
Behavior in the sun is no different from other smartphones. It is better to set the brightness to the maximum value, otherwise the information will be unreadable. A easily soiled front surface is found in all such devices.
It's interesting that in Sony Ericsson The Xperia Arc S has a brighter display than the Xperia Arc. In direct comparison with there is no significant difference in this parameter. Additionally, I provide pictures next to. The only complaints are about the viewing angles of the new product; here Sony Ericson is unable to compete with Korean flagship, where colors are practically not distorted. Up Samsung Galaxy S II, then HTC Titan, then Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S.
Platform
The smartphone is running operating system Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, Qualcomm MSM8255 processor with a frequency of 1.4 GHz is installed. There is 512 MB of RAM, as well as about 300 MB for user needs. It is stated that processing media data takes 25% less time, and web pages load 20% faster. The Xperia Arc S has a slot for microSD memory cards. The device comes with an 8 GB card.
Menu
The company abandoned the Mediascape application, which received mixed reviews from users. But there is Timescape and a new proprietary shell. At the top of the screen there is a service line, which displays the time, battery charge, and signal reception level indicator. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received via Bluetooth.
As a design element, it is possible to use both preinstalled images or wallpapers from Sony Ericsson, and your favorite pictures. There are now seven multi-colored menu themes available. In addition, shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop. For the folder, you can choose one of eight design options and assign it a name. Icons are added by dragging them from the phone menu directly into this area.
Of course, there are widgets here too, you can also add them to your desktop. There can be five such screens, their number does not change. It works interesting feature: You can swipe two fingers from diagonally opposite corners, all desktops will be reduced and displayed on one screen. Themes are available that change the color scheme of the menu.
Movement between zones is fast, without any hint of slowness. There are 5 icons at the bottom of the screen. These are multimedia, messages, menu entry, contacts and dialing. If you click on media, an additional menu will pop up with those applications that are in this category.
The Application Manager is activated by the Home button. It displays 8 programs and in essence it is not a traditional task manager. As you know, Android closes applications on its own, based on the amount of free RAM.
When the screen is locked, the display shows the date and time. To unlock the screen, you need to swipe your finger along from left to right. If you do it the other way around, it turns on silent mode, as indicated by the additional icon.
The smartphone menu consists of several work zones, initially there are three. If you install additional applications, then over time there will be more such areas. There are 16 icons on the screen translucent background, under which you can see the wallpaper installed on the main screen. Icons can be arranged in a way that is convenient for the user. There is also sorting by several criteria: alphabetically, frequently used, recently installed. Other application menus are designed in blue tones, which are similar to other Sony Ericsson models.
Phone book
The smartphone has a convenient assistant for importing contacts both from a SIM card and from Facebook and Google accounts; they are displayed in a single list. Created backup copy list of numbers onto a memory card, the data can later be restored. The order in which data is displayed cannot be changed. First name comes first, then last name.
When you create a new contact, many fields are created. This Various types telephone numbers, email addresses, means of quick communication (AIM, ICQ, Gtalk, Skype and others), residential addresses and others (nickname, note, Internet call).
The smartphone has a list of letters of the alphabet located on the right side of the screen. If you press your finger on this line and move it down or up, a letter pops up on the screen - a kind of quick search, which helps in cases where the phone has several hundred, or even thousands of contacts. The search works by the first letters of the contact name for both language layouts.
There is a menu of favorite numbers where you can add the most popular contacts. A quick menu is available: you need to click on the icon with a contact photo, after which you can call, send a message via SMS or e-mail, see data on Facebook.
Call log
You can access the call log directly from the phone book; it is highlighted in a separate tab. There, a single list contains dialed numbers, received and missed calls; for clarity, they are marked with icons of different colors. By clicking on a line, you can delete a number from the call log, add it to a contact, or perform some other actions. Selecting a number from the list will display detailed information about the call.
By viewing your call history, you can not only make phone conversation with the selected subscriber, but also send him an SMS or email from this list, without going to another menu. Dialing is carried out using a convenient virtual keyboard. The smartphone cannot automatically substitute numbers based on the order of the entered numbers. During a call, the picture assigned to the user stretches to fill the entire screen.
Messages
For SMS and MMS there is a common folder where received messages go. When sending, adding various objects to the SMS can automatically convert it into an MMS. Messages are grouped by recipient into a correspondence feed. When dialing a subscriber's number, the phone displays a list of matching numbers in alternating numbers.
While typing, a small field reserved for characters will be displayed. The longer the message, the more the space allocated for the character set increases. The device can copy, cut and paste text (and not only into the messages themselves, but you can also add it to a document or to email). A convenient cursor is used for navigation, which helps to correct typos and highlight the necessary sections of text. In addition, you can use arrow buttons.
Intellectual text input is available, when word correction and auto-completion systems help you type text, allowing you to avoid wasting time correcting errors. Possible word options are shown in a separate line above the keyboard. Copying and pasting of fragments is supported.
To work with email, automatic setup starts mailbox(unless it is Gmail, which connects immediately after the email address is entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports loading attachments (you must insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) in familiar formats.
When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device memory. The function of copying text and automatically checking the mailbox works (the interval is set manually). The device simultaneously runs two applications – Gmail and E-mail. The only difference is that in the first, mail comes only from the gmail.com server, while the second application works with any mail storage. You can create multiple email accounts, each with its own color. This is convenient because you can view mail for each mailbox separately, and display messages from all accounts in one. Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.
Camera
The smartphone uses an 8-megapixel module with autofocus and LED flash.
To launch the camera, use a dedicated key on the side of the smartphone. By holding it down for a few seconds, the shooting mode starts; this can be done from any application; it is not necessary to go to the main menu. I liked the high launch speed of the camera, as well as the very fast saving of pictures.
The interface is designed not only for landscape, but also for portrait mode. The screen displays auxiliary icons that make it easier to set up photography modes and conditions. 5 small icons are displayed on the side - the phone shows the last received frames. Pulling the icons to the side opens a gallery of captured images.
Various options are available:
Image capture mode: normal, scene detection, smile detection, panorama, 3D panorama.
Photo size: 8M (3264x2448), 6M (3264x1836), 2M 4:3 (1632x1224) or 16:9 (1920x1080 pixels).
Shooting conditions: normal, portrait, landscape, night photography, night portrait, beach and snow, sports, party, document.
Touch shooting: turn on, turn off (this function allows you to take a photo without pressing the camera button, just touch the screen).
Flash: auto, off, fill, red-eye reduction.
Timer: 2.10 seconds.
Exposure number.
Image stabilizer.
Geotags.
Shutter sound: There are 3 sounds to choose from, you can also turn it off.
White balance: auto, indoor lighting, fluorescent, daylight, cloudy.
Measurement: center, middle level, point.
Focusing: single autofocus, multi-autofocus, macro photography, face detection, infinity, touch focusing.
The quality of the images remained at the same level. You can see the same need for manual exposure correction, eliminating the phone's tendency to create overly bright shots.
 Gallery Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. The gallery works in both vertical and horizontal orientation. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Preview images are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device.
The preview folders contain smaller pictures, so that not 3, but 4 pictures can be placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS or hosted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact. It supports rotating pictures, reducing their size, and also displays additional information about a specific file, and also shows the place where the picture was taken if geotagging is working.
Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section) and ordered by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - there are several sections in the same folder. You can scroll either using the bar displayed at the bottom of the screen or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere on it.
The video is played from the gallery, where a separate folder is allocated for the videos. There's nothing special to say about the phone here. The smartphone does not support DivX and XviD codecs; accordingly, the capabilities for playing video out of the box are quite modest. Timescape Timescape combines tabs that combine messages from various social networks: Facebook, Twitter, VKontakte. In addition, there is data on phone calls, SMS and MMS, and email. The displayed data can be customized, and unnecessary data can be hidden. The update is also installed: manually or automatically. Additional Applications installed from the market. For example, you can supplement the set with the Foursquare program.
Messages are presented in the form of translucent panels on which the name of the sender, the message test itself, and the source from which the message came are written. The ability to customize the background has disappeared; now it is a constant blue color. The list scrolls very quickly, without a hint of delay. In general, the thing is beautiful and interesting, the main drawback is related to the not very beautiful design- if the author of the message has an avatar, then this image will be displayed stretched across the entire width of the transparent panel.
Player To listen to music, you can select tracks organized into several categories: artist, album, tracks, lists. In the latter case, there are automatic playlists (recently added, popular tracks, never played), and manual listening lists are also created.
From the list with music, you can add songs to a playlist or send them via MMS, Bluetooth or email. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. In music playback mode, the album cover is displayed (if it was assigned previously), and there are playback control buttons on the screen. If desired, the song is set as a ringtone. You can also tag and post your favorite song on Facebook.
Equalizer settings available. These are the following presets: normal sound, classical, dance, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock. Manual settings No. A mixing mode is provided. While listening to music you can find Additional information about the artist using Google tools. The xLOUD function allows you to get very loud sound from the speaker. It’s not difficult to notice the difference; this option allows you to hear your phone in any, even very noisy, place.
The sound quality is very good for the Android segment. There is sufficient volume reserve, the mid frequencies are well developed, and the lower range is also quite good. Fans of deep bass can try playing with the equalizer, which will help change the sound image, albeit not without some distortion.
Radio The smartphone has a radio receiver that has the function of automatically searching for stations; you can also switch inputs manually. You can also save several dozen frequencies in the phone's memory. You can easily switch between your favorite stations by clicking on the small icon, which will automatically move between the saved waves. While listening to the radio, you can record a snippet of a song, identify track information using Track ID, and post the information to Facebook.
TrackID allows you to identify the melody playing on the radio on your smartphone or somewhere nearby. Not only the song title will be displayed, but also the album title, artist name and cover art.
Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style; the display of information for a whole month, a week or a specific day can be configured. You can set the alert type and tone for recorded events and meetings. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label.
Creating new entry, it is given a name, a period and a place are specified. You can specify which calendar it will be synchronized with, and you can send invitations to contacts from your address book. The repetition period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the alarm will go off in advance.
Alarm The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repeat can be set either once or every day, only on weekdays or weekly. You can also set specific days. The signal melody is set, you can add a vibration alert to it and text file. Sets the period for the signal to be triggered again.
The phone screen can display the weather forecast, date and time in large characters. Subsequently, the screensaver mode is activated.
The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation.
Android Market will be a useful source for installing new applications. There is a convenient search function, as well as dividing programs into categories, which greatly simplifies browsing. You can look at the reviews, evaluate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is equipped brief description and images for greater clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if you purchased a new phone, you can immediately install those programs that were previously purchased.
The application, standard for most modern devices, allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode.
Built-in Office version Suite can work with Word files, Excel, PDF, Power Point. At the same time, it includes the ability not only to view, but also to edit documents of these types.
Weather forecast and news are useful every day.
The Facebook application will allow you to communicate on the network of the same name directly with mobile device.
Let's golf is a beautiful game from Gameloft.
Traffic consumption can not only be controlled, but also limited by a separate application.
Works Google search not only among the data in the device itself, but also through the worldwide search network.
Browser Used for internet surfing convenient application. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, and to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages and has a log of pages viewed.
Multi-window support, word search on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing screen brightness directly from the browser. Thanks to multi-touch, pages can be easily scaled (virtual keys also work to change the size of what is displayed).
The font size changes, password saving works, flash is supported. Excellent scrolling speed allows you to comfortably use your smartphone to view WEB pages.
GPS navigation Used for navigation Google Maps– standard software for all Android phones. There is also a Wisepilot app. The only drawback is that both programs require constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, so the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners.
There is a function for determining the current location, calculating the route from the starting point to end point, and the method of transportation is specified: by car, on foot or public transport. The route is laid out on the map, with key places as text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and plot another path. Scaling works using multi-touch or virtual buttons.
Connections The smartphone operates in the GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 900/1700/2100 bands. There is Bluetooth 2.1 with support for EDR and A2DP, in addition to support for other generally accepted profiles. Wi-Fi operation b\g\n is implemented at the usual level. The smartphone remembers entered passwords for networks and can automatically connect to them while within their range. The device can work as an access point and serve as a source for accessing the Internet for other devices.
Using a microUSB connector allows you to connect your phone to a computer for synchronization and charging the battery. The presence of a microHDMI slot allows you to connect your smartphone to various external sources (TV or monitor) and broadcast media content from the device to them. Working hours A lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh is installed. Official operating time data is as follows: up to 7.25 hours talk time, up to 460 hours battery life standby time, up to 37 hours listening to music. In continuous video playback mode at maximum brightness, the device worked for 4 hours 40 minutes. Conclusion There can be no complaints about the volume dynamics, as in many other models of the company, the xLOUD option works here. With its help, the call can be heard perfectly. The vibration signal is average and is not always felt. It's nice to talk on the phone, there's enough stock. As can be seen from the description, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is actually a complete copy of the model from six months ago. Changes in processor frequency are not noticeable in practice. The phone works quickly, although it cannot compete with the dual-core Samsung i9100 Galaxy S II, which is still the leader in its class. I liked that they changed the screen, now there are no problems with the brightness reserve; in the first generation it was not particularly rich in colors. Alas, the quality of the photo has not improved; during this time it would be possible to change at least something. Ultimately, it turns out that the company has slightly updated its flagship model. Although this is not a total improvement, there are still some positive changes. The model costs a little more. The recommended retail price is 22,000 rubles, while the Xperia Arc costs a couple of thousand less. “Gray” models are even more attractive and noticeably more affordable. Competitors can also be considered, which offer similar screen diagonals and are similar in function. The Sony Ericsson smartphone impresses primarily with its design. It stands out, looks great, I really liked the white version. It is pleasant to consider it as a kind of fashion device, but with good functionality.
© Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory |
What I didn't like
Little built-in memory (critical for navigation and additional service programs)
- the lower part of the sensor glitches when charging from a 220V network (not when charging in a car)
- glossy back cover (slipped out of wet hands a couple of times)
What I liked
Light and thin - quite compact - stylish - does not glitch
What I didn't like
I didn't find any serious ones.
What I liked
Appearance...and a lot of stuff inside) + good processor speed.
What I didn't like
weak battery, poor display locking and any touching of the keys will prolong the time the display turns off.
What I liked
Nice design, good to hold in hand, great camera, high quality display
What I didn't like
You can’t make a call, it doesn’t detect your SIM card, so no one can get through to you either, hold from above, sometimes you can’t get wi-fi
What I liked
nice screen etc etc
What I didn't like
The display and case are very dirty. The case of especially branded ones is black, everything is very noticeable. The quality of the video shot by the camera, unlike the photo, is average, with high compression and in a resolution of 1280x720. Although the display has good color rendition, upon closer inspection vertical lines of pixels are visible. In general, when purchasing, you need to turn on the phone and bring the screen to your eyes, you will understand everything - it looks kind of cheap. The processor is weak, it will soon be felt. The standard player only plays mp4, up to 1280x720 inclusive. Ruth is very difficult to get! Even the official bootloader unlock does not work on all devices.
What I liked
Design, definitely. Stylish, slightly curved body. The camera, when taking photos, takes very high-quality pictures, and it itself recognizes the shooting mode: cloudy, document, landscape, etc. Good color rendering screen.
What I didn't like
Not enough memory, internal and RAM, old processor, microphone is not conveniently located, in order to hear well you have to press the phone to your ear.
What I liked
Build quality, responsive screen, camera, fits comfortably in the hand, android 4
What I didn't like
After all, this is Android and it can’t do without brakes - sometimes it gets dull and sometimes it can reboot itself.
- Heated up a couple of times during a conversation.
- It’s big, but light, thin and slippery - it’s just going to slip out.
- The lock button is really not very convenient, but you get used to it.
*- And perhaps the most significant disadvantage (for me personally) is that if you put the phone “on its back” with the screen facing up, there is a chance that you will not hear the ringing or, even worse, the alarm clock - because speaker on back wall It's pinched at the bottom.
What I liked
A phone is like a phone, it can’t do anything supernatural))) It doesn’t take you into space)) It rings, yes, the sound is excellent, yes. And you will instruct yourself on everything else - a bunch of all sorts of programs, system decorations and all sorts of applications. Maybe a lot, smart. The camera is good, but for me (I almost never use a camera on my phone) I don’t need one in my phone - it’s an extra gadget to increase the cost). But the case is very flimsy - you drop it and that’s it, collect it bit by bit. So whoever wants from him will get it.
What I didn't like
There are probably a tiny number of them (I don’t think the camera button is such a big deal)
What I liked
What I didn't like
What I liked
What I didn't like
The camera button is a bit stiff, but I’m still grateful that it’s there. It is thin and tends to slip out, but this is a matter of habit and individual handling.
What I liked
Stylish, individual, beautiful. I really like this model because... from my point of view, it stands out from the mass of genderless blades
What I didn't like
Not enough built-in memory
What I liked
Screen Camera Processor Speaker
What I didn't like
When updating the firmware, the keyboard layout is only English and Chinese. When changing the phone language and the phone keyboard language, it does not help to return the settings. everything happened after updating the firmware and then resetting it to factory settings. Firmware defects!!!
What I liked
written by others
What I didn't like
buggy and slow (when an incoming call the screen does not light up immediately, poor reception, etc.
What I liked
beautiful, loud speaker, rich colors,
What I didn't like
But of course, over time, you find shortcomings. Sometimes there are serious glitches.
- Often crashes from applications. But this is most likely the fault of the applications themselves; VKontakte is known for its crashes and unstable operation.
- The screen is easily soiled.
- Over time, scratches appear and the paint wears off from the back panel. Unfortunately, I didn't find the cover.
- When fancy new products come out, you really want to return this phone to the store and buy something else.
There are problems with the network.
- Memory.
What I liked
Screen. Big, bright, beautiful. - Ease of use. It fits comfortably in the hand, fits into all pockets, and has a fairly simple interface. - Gorgeous camera. - Good speakers. - Good sensor. - Price. - Some kind of exclusive, I’ve never seen anything like this from anyone except me. I don't like it when everyone has the same phone number. - During the first months of use it seems ideal...
What I didn't like
Very weak battery, very weak Wifi, processor, can’t handle almost any games (it gets hot and goes into overload, even 4 photos 1 word hangs sometimes), the network disappears. As a result, I bought a tablet, and this one is used for calls, SMS or occasional Internet surfing. The battery drops to 15% after 4-5 hours of inactive use (music, browsing email)
What I liked
Does not slow down during default use, comfortable, fits well in the hand, excellent sound and video quality
As for shooting video, almost the same settings are available here as in photo mode. The maximum resolution for videos is 1280x720 at 30 frames per second. In addition to it, you can set 854x480, 640x480, 320x240 or 320x240.
Performance, autonomy, software
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is based on a Qualcomm QSD8255 processor operating at 1 GHz, as well as a 512 MB RAM array. A nice addition to the powerful hardware is the use of the latest version of Android - 2.3 Gingerbread. All pages in the browser (with Flash support, of course) open quickly, and navigation through them occurs without delay. Compatibility with the entire range of applications from the Android Market is guaranteed.
One of the strengths of the model was the extended multimedia capabilities- this is especially true for the Android platform, which is often characterized by insufficient support for media functionality. Arc has one of the best photo modules, which has already been mentioned, as well as a microHDMI connector responsible for transmitting images to external media. In addition, the manufacturer has provided a proprietary software shell that hides the classic Android interface. It is built on a combination of two applications: Timescape and Mediascape. The first collects information about activity in connected social networking accounts - Facebook, Twitter. Information about calls and SMS has also been added to the general feed. Thus, the entire history of any “social” changes or actions is collected on the screen, which is very convenient. It was disappointing that Timescape's functionality is noticeably inferior to dedicated clients for working with social networks; in fact, you can only read a new message. To view a photo or web page, you do not use this interface, but a standard browser.
Mediascape offers an alternative interface for viewing your gallery and music library. Suggested by Sony Ericsson interface almost in no way inferior HTC Sense, which has already become the standard for Android add-ons. The latter only looks prettier, especially his latest version. However, from the point of view of customization and customization of the shell, we see complete parity. By the way, specialists from Sony Ericsson have adapted their interface to low-resolution screens in a very interesting way, namely, to the Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro smartphones. However, we will talk about them in a separate article.
conclusions
In general, despite the fact that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is no longer hot new product, he is very good and interesting. Some might argue that it does not have a dual-core processor, unlike flagship solutions from other manufacturers. This is true. But essentially, what does this change? There are still very few applications that take advantage of the potential of two cores. The available performance is enough for any task. The design is beautiful and unusual. Sony Ericsson cares about the appearance of its devices like no other. In principle, there can be no comparison with similar bars from Samsung or LG. The camera is objectively one of the best in the Android environment. Well, the price has already dropped a little. For example,
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S (LT18i) smartphone - review
I have long wanted to study modern Android smartphones from Sony Ericsson. Otherwise, the advanced category is now mainly dominated by Samsung with its Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, meanwhile I haven’t really seen any interesting alternatives yet. Previously, HTC was on the horse, but it was completely blown away - the flagship HTC One X greatly disappointed me. And Sony Ericsson has always released interesting phones, and the Xperia series seemed to be praised, so it was interesting to see what these phones are like. First to review The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S model arrived to me, thanks to the Yulmart online supermarket, well, we’ll enjoy it now. Or we'll turn away. Or we’ll be indifferent - as it turns out.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Display: 4.2", 854x480, capacitive sensor, multi-touch
CPU: Qualcomm MSM 8255, 1400 MHz
RAM: 512 MB
Flash memory: 1 GB (320 MB available)
Memory cards: microSD (TransFlash), up to 32 GB
Net: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G
SIM card: miniSIM
Wireless connection: WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth
NFC: No
Camera: 8 megapixels, LED flash, 720p video resolution
Front-camera: No
Ports: microUSB (MHL), 3.5 mm headphone output
GPS: aGPS
Additionally: proximity sensor, light sensor
Battery: Li-ion 1500 mAh, removable
Dimensions: 63x125x8.7 mm
Weight: 117 g Some parameters in technical specifications, frankly speaking, lead to bewilderment. Firstly, it is still sold with Android 2.3 - this is at a time when space smartphones are surfing the expanses of version 4.1.1. However, four can, of course, be installed here, but this is not done via Wi-Fi, but only through special software (PC Companion) installed on the computer. Secondly, there is practically no built-in flash memory. From the miserable gig in which the system and applications are located, you only have 320 MB left - what can you install there? True, memory cards are supported here and the kit includes a 16 GB card as compensation, but this is a solution worthy of cheap Chinese phones, I will tell you with all revolutionary directness. Because this is not at all the same when a normal phone has 16 GB of built-in flash memory and supports memory cards. There is no need to give us a 16 GB memory card, dear Sony! Moreover, it can be bought for 650 rubles. Make us a built-in memory of 16 GB, and we’ll somehow buy an additional memory card of 32 GB ourselves! What else interesting do we have there? Little RAM (normal phones have long been equipped with gigabyte memory, and some already have two installed), a very mediocre processor, and a weak battery. In general, it pleases from all sides. Contents of delivery It comes in this box with two psychedelic inscriptions. The first inscription is "Sony Ericsson. Pretend." Apparently, they are hinting that they are pretending to be a normal phone. The second inscription in large letters is “Android 4”. And already very small, as in enslaving contracts, “Possibility of renewal.” That is, we are selling you, dear comrades, a phone with Android 2.3. And whether you can dance with a tambourine to get a “four” or not is something marketers don’t know. The main thing is to write Android 4.0 large.
Contents: phone, USB-microUSB cable, power adapter, headphones, hdmi cable. Thanks for the HDMI cable, of course, but I somehow don’t really understand who might actually need it. Drive movies High Definition from this phone on the LCD panel? Do not make me laugh. Well, really, maybe some photos or home video If you want to show it, then this cable will really come in handy. 
Appearance and Controls
Externally, the phone looks very decent - the designers at Sony work well. From the front side, the smartphone looks elegant and stylish - the screen occupies almost the entire surface, the white plastic edging with beveled corners goes to the silver plastic ends, which are not visible from above. 
In general, compared to the Galaxy S III, which, with all due respect, looks somewhat rustic, the Xperia looks like an aristocratic metropolitan thing. 
Yes, we know that behind the rustic facade there can be a fiery engine, and behind the aristocratic appearance there can be complete degeneration, but purely externally the impression is exactly that. The back cover is white matte plastic. 
The cover is removable, underneath there is a removable battery, a slot for microSD and microSIM. By the way, not only the SIM card, but also the microSD can only be removed when the battery is removed. 
The top end has a power button and a microHDMI output with a plug. 
The power button is DISGUSTING. I haven't seen this for a long time. A tiny round pin that barely protrudes beyond the level of the end - what idiot came up with that? Why hasn't he been lynched yet? Or didn’t they chop off his finger for every time when this button does not work when pressed, because it must be pressed with a fingernail? I understand that this was done on purpose. The engineer bet with his colleagues that he could make the most terrible power button in the world without getting killed. Probably made a lot of money. But now how much fun it is for the people who bought it... The right side has a microUSB, volume rocker, and at the bottom there is a camera call button. By the way, in my opinion, this camera call button is very, very necessary. And I’m sorry that most other manufacturers have abandoned this button. 
The volume rocker, by the way, is very, very inconvenient: too small, hard and unclear to press. On the bottom end there is only a microphone, on the left end there is a headphone output. 
All three lower control buttons on the front part are non-touch. I might welcome this, but here, unfortunately, convenience is sacrificed for design: the buttons look very stylish, but pressing them is particularly inconvenient, especially the side ones. 
In general, from the point of view of control keys, Sony engineers get a C with a big minus. Ergonomics here are zero point zero. But yes, design, my ass! It seems that I will soon come to the conclusion that you can buy this phone only to put it on a shelf and admire it. Display
Regular LCD matrix. Nice natural colors, good contrast. The brightness margin is very small, but in purely practical terms, the display is even more convenient than SuperAMOLED and its modifications: unlike SuperAMOLED, this display is an order of magnitude less blinding in the sun. SuperAMOLED, as you know, has this sore spot - it goes blind to the point of complete obscenity. And you can use this phone calmly in the sun - this is a clear plus. The viewing angles here are not a fountain: when the display is tilted up and down and left and right, the contrast drops and the image becomes slightly whitish. However, for a phone, viewing angles are usually completely insignificant, unlike a tablet, so I don’t consider this a serious disadvantage. Another interesting point: it uses no air gap technology - this is the absence of an air gap between the matrix and protective screen. At the same time, the screen becomes more sensitive to pressure: it is true, I got the impression that the display is more responsive than usual. In general, the display is a four-star. But for behavior in the sun - clearly an A. (Versus SuperAMOLED's two.) Device operation
As I said, the phone comes with Android 2.3. You can’t update it to four via Wi-Fi - you need to install special program PC Companion and update through it. Theoretically, the phone itself can install this program when connected via USB (the question is asked), but I couldn’t do this on two computers. But if you download PC Companion yourself and connect the phone to the computer via USB, you can install Android 4.0.4.
Firmware update
But this action is not so simple for an unprepared user (it’s like pressing the “Update” button on a phone connected to Wi-Fi). In addition, purely externally for the user, the fourth Android is not too different from 2.3. Therefore, in the review we will first look at how it all looks out of the box, and then we will note some differences between the four. Moreover, almost all the main applications on 2.3 and 4.0 look almost the same. So, the desktop of the loaded phone is on Android 2.3. Just five desktops, scroll left and right, but scrolling is not end-to-end (which is a pity).
Central desktop
Second desktop
First desktop
On the fourth desktop from the bottom there is a widget for a store for purchasing all kinds of multimedia.
Fourth desktop
Fifth desktop
The shell supports the creation of folders, which can also be placed in the dock: from there is the "Multimedia" folder.
In the notification area there is no panel at all with all sorts of settings, like most other smartphones. That is, turning on and off Wi-Fi, GPS, BT, mobile data, and so on - only through the application with settings or through widgets. This is bad. Applications installed on the system. By the way, there is also no end-to-end scrolling here, which is completely inconvenient.
The lock window allows you to simply unlock your phone or switch to an application - for example, the camera or sound settings. Notifications are displayed on the blocking window, but direct movement to the corresponding application (for example, SMS, phone, Facebook) is not provided.
Searching results.
Editing a contact. By the way, there is a very convenient option “Route calls to voicemail"I've never seen anything like this anywhere else.
Call functions.
And here are extensions for Timescape.
This is what updates from Facebook and Twitter look like in the widget.
You can post on Facebook and Twitter directly from this application.
And this is how the update feed goes in the application itself.
These are RSS feed updates.
The application is beautiful, but, in my opinion, stupid. It is easier to have separate clients for the corresponding networks and RSS feeds - they are much more flexibly configured. Keyboard The default keyboard is comfortable and supports swype input mode (gesture input by swiping the letters of the word you are typing without lifting your finger from the screen).
The system also has Opera browser Mini. Gallery Almost a standard Android application. Except that it additionally supports a specific thing - 3D panoramas, which this phone can do. (More about them later.)
Processing a specific image.
Images from connected social networks are also supported.
Specific settings from Sony Ericsson.
Call options. By the way, there is a built-in SIP client, so if you create an account in any IP telephony service using this protocol, you can make calls via the Internet directly from a regular telephone application. It's comfortable.
Sound settings.
There is an equalizer with various preset settings.
Various types of composition selection.
Main desktop.
Applications installed on the system.
Settings.
There was no shooting button here; you could set the shooting mode by touching the screen with your finger or the shooting mode with the “Camera” button, which worked somewhat strangely. Settings.
In the fourth version of Android, the camera began to look noticeably more decent - a large shooting button appeared, which is convenient. 
One of the features of this particular camera is that it can shoot panoramas, and also in 3D. In the phone itself, such panoramas look like ordinary ones, composed of several horizontal frames, but if this panorama is displayed on a 3D TV via HDMI, it is quite possible that they will also be in 3D. I couldn’t check this; I don’t really need a 3D TV. 
Now about the camera's performance. I liked the way it functions. Focuses normally, and with first time, color rendition is good, the white balance rarely misses - in general, it is suitable for reportage photography without any comments. Here are examples of photos taken in various conditions, without processing (clickable). Moreover, unlike the Galaxy S III, where I usually make at least three copies of each frame, there is no need for this here - no defocusing, no movement. 
Well, an example of shooting a video. Performance
The phone works, let's say, at normal speed. It doesn't give the impression of being particularly fast, but it doesn't slow down either. Quadrant Pro gives it the lowest parrots, but in practical terms I didn’t notice much of a difference with the HTC One X, for which Quadrant gives it the tallest parrots.
Well, I didn’t like the job Wi-Fi adapter. In conditions not too good signal he often lost this signal when Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II he was held ironically. Price In Moscow, this smartphone now costs about 14 thousand rubles, that is, $453 or 350 €. The Samsung Galaxy S III costs on average 22 thousand, that is, $712 or 550 €. This is a noticeable difference. conclusions I can't say that I'm delighted with this phone. The hardware characteristics are quite modest, there is practically no built-in memory, the buttons are uncomfortable, there are all sorts of complaints about the software. However, when you look at the price, which is 1.6 times less than the Galaxy S III, you understand that this phone still has its own positive sides. Indeed, a lot depends on the price! If a person cannot buy a phone for $712, but is willing to spend $450 on a decent smartphone - Sony Xperia Arc S is just such a quite decent (for the money) option. If it were sold at a price comparable to the Galaxy S III, I would say that there is nothing to even think about, because the Galaxy S III is noticeably better. However, when this phone is clearly cheaper, but at the same time has a really good design, good hardware and in operation has demonstrated itself to be, in general, a decent device - this shows that it completely occupies its niche. Moreover, some software shortcomings can be solved by installing other applications - tea, Android after all, not iOS - and, as practice shows, many people get used to crooked buttons.
For some reason, powerful dual-core smartphones from LG and Motorola evoked less emotion than the seemingly standard Xperia arc. Remembering the end of 2009, when the first Android smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was introduced, the situation was completely opposite. The Motorola Milestone (Droid), announced at the same time, attracted all the attention, later Google Nexus One appeared, and the X10, released with a long delay, did not become an event on the market. Excellent design and hardware were not enough; the outdated software platform (Android 1.6) and the associated number of limitations (lack of multi-touch as an example) were significant disadvantages.
Xperia X10 was first Android from Sony Ericsson, pioneers are often far from the concept of a finished product. The situation with the release of updates (Android 2.1 appeared 8 months after the start of sales) showed this. Based on these facts, Sony Ericsson promises that all subsequent products will be based on the latest versions of the OS. We'll see if we can keep our promise, but the first example is indicative. Exactly Xperiaarc was the only one onCES 2011 smartphone running versionAndroid 2.3Gingerbread. Flagship smartphones from other companies (Samsung, Motorola, LG, as well as tablets from Acer, Dell) all, without exception, ran on version 2.2 of Froyo. At the same time, Xperia arc has its own shell; it is not a slightly modified version of Android, like its competitors. In general, it's a good call, let's hope that the software support for the device will remain at this level.
Hardware platform
There are fewer questions about the Xperia arc hardware than about the software. The smartphone is based on the Qualcomm QDS8255 platform with a frequency of 1 GHz, this is the second generation of Snapdragon chips. Theoretically, the difference is described by lower power consumption, better optimization, but in practice everything is exactly the same as in the first generation (QDS8250). Energy consumption Android smartphones- a sore subject, and with increasing characteristics everything only gets worse. For example, HTC Desire HD, running on the same chip, cannot even withstand daylight hours under normal loads. I will have to find out how the Xperia arc will work with more intensive use; I will not give facts that do not correspond to reality.
So, the platform is a single-core Qualcomm chipset. At the same time, dual-core smartphones Motorola Atrix and LG Optimus 2X, based on the Nvidia Tegra 2 platform, were announced at the exhibition. A very powerful, promising platform, there is no point in arguing here. But how effective are two cores in smartphones? Nvidia promises reduced power consumption due to this architecture, but other increased indicators (screen resolution, 1080p video recording and playback) offset this advantage. Total: Tegra 2 smartphones work exactly the same as their single-core predecessors, during daylight hours.
The real advantage of the platform is fromNvidia is all about recording and playbackFullHD video (1920x1080 pixels), high speed of all other graphics-related actions, gameplay. Qualcomm Snapdragon cannot provide this to the same extent. On the other hand, all existing Android games do not require dual-core processors; today this seems to be more of a marketing advantage than a real one. It is beneficial for the manufacturer to point out the advantage of the hardware platform, but so far it is only possible to demonstrate this advantage using a couple of examples related to video.
I really hope that there will be no delays in the release of dual-core smartphones (LG promises to release Optimus 2X only by the summer, Samsung will show the first prototypes only at MWC 2011), but for the first half of this year the characteristics of the Qualcomm platform are the maximum for smartphones.
The performance of SE Xperia arc is at an excellent level, the interface is smooth, there are no delays. 8-megapixel photos are saved quickly, animation effects in the menu, applications, and gallery are also at an excellent level. Compared to the X10, the advantage is very noticeable, although the processor frequency is identical. All this is thanks to the separate Adreno 205 graphics accelerator.
The memory capacity is 512 MB (built-in), of which a little more than 300 MB is free, 512 MB RAM, the figures are average. If there is enough RAM, then an array of built-in memory would not hurt. Android versions 2.2 and higher allows you to install applications on the memory card, so it’s not about the applications, but rather about the general lack of memory. Smartphones from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung - all have a built-in array of 8-16 GB, to which Sony Ericsson responds with a 16 GB memory card included, so we get parity. This volume is sufficient in most situations.
Also, within the framework of the hardware platform, I would like to touch upon the issue of working with video. DisplayXperiaarc has technologySonymobileBRAVIAengine (used in parent company TVs) for signal pre-processing, as a result, the quality of video and images when viewed is significantly improved. Together with the Live Color filter, the picture on the smartphone screen is clearer, more contrasty and more realistic. This is what other modern smartphones with large screens oriented towards working with graphics and video. This feature is software, not hardware, and can be turned on and off in the screen settings.
Screen
The screen is very good, the difference with the X10 is noticeable immediately. And it's not about technologySonyBRAVIA, it is used only when watching videos and working with graphics. It’s just that the screen itself has become better, it displays up to 16 million colors, the brightness and viewing angles have increased significantly. Technology – LCD, size – 4.2 inches, there is a full multi-touch (including when typing). Comparing the screen with HTC Desire HD, there is an advantage of Xperia arc, Super LCD screen Desire is dimmer, color reproduction is less natural, and viewing angles were especially disappointing. Remains the leader iPhone screen 4, the resolution and naturalness of colors are maximum, but the difference is minimal. However, look at the photos.
An important point is technologyNoairgap, that is, the absence of an air gap between the matrix and protective glass . There is nothing new in this; similar technology is used in the manufacture Super AMOLED screens of the same Samsung Galaxy S. In fact, no air gap is a very big plus of the devices, thanks to this the thickness of the screen (and ultimately the entire device) is reduced, due to the absence of air between the layers, brightness increases, reflective properties are improved when standing on Sun. When turned off, the screen borders are not visible, which is an aesthetic plus.
In general, Reality Display (as they call Xperia screen arc in the company) is a big step forward compared to its predecessor. The resolution (854x480 pixels), size, technologies used, and the overall impression of quality are excellent. I would put the display on par with the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S in many respects, especially when playing video. The only exception is viewing angles, which are lower.
The screen is protected by tempered glass and is scratch-resistant.
Design and dimensions
Appearance is the first parameter for which Sony Ericsson Xperia arc is loved by almost everyone. Arc means “arch” and the name emphasizes the curved appearance of the back surface. If in the previous generation of devices the back surface was slightly convex, then in the new product it is slightly concave. The bending is minimal, but it made it possible to achieve a record thickness of the device - only 8.7 mm. At the ends the thickness reaches 10.8 mm. The parameters are excellent, due to such thinness the phone can be put in any pocket, like iPhone owner 4 minimal subtlety is very important to me.
There are two color options: silver and gradient black and blue. The latter looks much richer, the first is more practical, fingerprints are not visible on it. The case, as in the case of the X10, is completely plastic, there are no metal elements. The side ends are chrome-plated (in the X10 the coating was very durable, there were no complaints about peeling), so there is no need to worry about its safety. The back cover is painted with metallic paint using vacuum technology, but this does not stop it from being plastic. Albeit a very good looking one. Due to all this, the weight of the device is minimal, 117 grams.
The dimensions of the Xperia arc are 125 x 62.5 x 8.7 mm. The size of the display has increased noticeably compared to the X10, while the overall dimensions of the body, on the contrary, have decreased. The small width is especially pleasing; the smartphone fits perfectly in the hand compared to the overly wide “shoulders” of the HTC Desire HD and Samsung Galaxy S. For a 4.2-inch screen, the dimensions of the Xperia arc are minimal, this is one of the reasons why I really liked the device itself.
Below the screen there are three buttons familiar from the X10; there is no separate search button, which in my opinion is a plus. The button is exactly the same as in the X10, in shape, size and stroke. Above the screen is the same set of elements: earpiece, light and proximity sensors. Front camera For some reason there is no video calling, this is a minus of the device compared to its competitors.
At the top end there is a power button, a micro-HDMI connector under a plug (this connector is needed to connect to a TV for video playback). On the right side there is a micro-USB, volume control and camera/shooting keys. Standard set. It's a pity that the 3.5 mm mini-jack was moved to the side, now it's on the left side. Connecting headphones has become less convenient. You'll have to look for headsets with angled connectors, because the included earbuds aren't suitable for everyone.
Camera
Here is another nod to the developers, good cameras(and especially good video and sound recording) forAndroid smartphones are an utter rarity. More precisely, there are simply no devices with normal video on the market. Sound recording on all modern Android flagships is terrible, loud sounds turn into wheezing and clanging, you shouldn’t even think about recording at concerts and parties. In X10 the situation was not bad, but 720p recording was added only 8 months after release, with an update to Android 2.1.
Sony Ericsson Xperia arc initially comes with 720p video recording (this is quite common for all modern smartphones, even inexpensive ones like the Nokia C6-01), but at the same time - with two microphones for sound recording. Current prototypes may not have stereo recording, but final samples will have it. Now the company already has special videos for demonstrating stereo sound when recording videos. The system is similar to Nokia N8, currently the unattainable leader in this area. The second microphone is located on the back of the smartphone. And if in X10 there was good sound, superior to the competition on Android, then the two microphones in the Xperia arc will improve the situation even further. Video recording is in MP4 at 30 fps, examples will come later, when detailed testing, now the camera is not final. I’ll definitely go to some music concert with the device to show you the videos.
Camera interface:
The 8.1-megapixel camera sensor itself is Sony Exmor R. This sensor with back-illumination technology provides better pictures and video recording in conditions poor lighting. The predecessor, X10, had perhaps the best 8.1 MP camera of all devices ( cm.), in Xperia arc with an Exmor sensor the quality will be higher, I think. We have not yet allowed to make examples from the prototype, but they will arrive in the near future. For now, in theory, I’ll note that in terms of camera, the Xperiaarc will be much more interesting than any other Android smartphones, especially the “anti-leaders” in quality - Motorola and HTC.
Android 2.3
Sony Ericsson Xperia arc from the start of sales will work under the control of the new version OS, Android 2.3.1 Gingerbread. On top standard Android It has its own interface, as well as a proprietary Timescape application, just like the Xperia X10. I won’t talk about them now; you can read the basics in the X10 review. The widgets have changed, I liked the gallery widget in the form of a thumbnail wheel, it is convenient to view images and videos directly in standby mode.
The company abandoned Mediascape, and it will not be available in commercial smartphones. That is, the gallery is standard for Android 2.3, as is the player, although the Infinity button remains, the functionality of which I also described in the X10 review. By the way, the player has equalizers, exactly 10 of them.