Sony Ericsson XPERIA Pureness review: I see through you Tweet

Gsmarena have posted their review of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Pureness. Here are the phone's key features, main disadvantages and their final impression.

Key features:

* Quad-band GSM support
* 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA support
* One-of-a-kind transparent greyscale display (1.8", 240 x 320 pixels), scratch-resistant surface
* Very lightweight, only 70 grams
* FM radio with RDS and TrackID
* Bluetooth with A2DP and USB (Fast Port connector)
* 2 GB internal memory
* Smart dialing
* Excellent audio quality

Main disadvantages:

* Small screen is poor on legibility
* Looks cheap and poorly built
* Fast Port instead of 3.5 mm audio jack means limited use as a music player
* Fast 3G connectivity with HSDPA/HSUPA is only usable for tethering
* No camera
* Non-removable battery
* Internal memory not expandable

The XPERIA Pureness is one of the lightest and smallest handsets ever made with a unique design and unparalleled transparent display. It is what Sony Ericsson meant it to be: the simplest of phones, impossible to match. By the sound of it, they can charge whatever they want on something like that.

The Pureness is a premium handset and premium handsets are known to get away with just about anything. We’re in no mood anyway to go on and on about what it can’t do. It’s a phone like no other: the point of its screen is to be transparent, not legible. There’s no camera on it – and some would argue that’s almost as good as having a 2-megapixel fixed focus snapper.

Still, we think there’s something wrong with the XPERIA Pureness. First time we saw pictures of it, we thought it was brilliant. The very concept of a pure, simple, minimalist handset with a translucent screen is perhaps worth a million bucks. Sadly, the reality is pretty underwhelming. The phone doesn’t look its 600 euro price tag. And if we can say that about a phone with an unmatched transparent screen, something’s very wrong.

OK, the premium segment has a different standard of right and wrong. To the extent that poor build quality may pass as a charming eccentricity. Not to say that a certain class of customers will buy just anything as long as it comes bundled with a fat price tag and a concierge service subscription.

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