Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini review: Shrink to fit Tweet

Gsmarena have posted their review of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini. Here are the phone's key features, main disadvantages and their final impression.

Key features:
* Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
* 3G with HSPA
* Customized Android OS v1.6 with Timescape UI
* Ultra compact body
* 2.55" capacitive touchscreen of QVGA resolution
* Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz CPU
* 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and VGA video recording
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
* Built-in GPS receiver and digital compass
* Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
* Standard miniUSB port for charging and data
* Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
* microSD card slot with support for up to 8GB cards (2GB card included)
* 3.5mm-compatible audio jack
* Direct access to the official Android repository

Main disadvantages:
* QVGA resolution doesn’t do Android graphics justice and limits the number of compatible apps
* Non-removable battery
* Limited Android homescreen functionality
* No smart dialing
* No virtual on-screen QWERTY keyboard
* No Bluetooth file transfers
* No Flash support for the web browser
* Very basic camera interface

Small phones are special, no doubt about that. The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 might just be too special to have mass appeal but we don’t think it’s what this phone is trying to do. The X10 mini is an experiment, which works out well.

It’s hard not to like the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini. It’s equally hard we think to not notice its limitations. But we should make it clear: it delivers on the main promise it made when it first appeared in public – it’s a capable smartphone that every pocket can take. Better yet, it isn’t outrageously expensive either.

The user-interface has been well optimized for the little (in touchscreen terms that is) display and while this has involved some functionality sacrifices, they aren’t too bad. Granted, you won’t be able to edit documents or read maps as comfortably as on the full-size XPERIA X10 but the mini is by no means a poor relation.

No review can help you make up your mind about a phone like this one – if you haven’t already. You might think it’s a cool and cute li’l droid – or see no point in it whatsoever. After all, there’s plenty of smartphones out there that will do the same things (and better) within the same budget.

Anyway, to put things into perspective, let’s check some of the potential challengers in the lightweight division.

If you can do without smartphone capabilities you might want to check out the Samsung M5650 Lindy and the LG GD880 Mini. Both are lookers (we do admit though to a particularly soft spot for the LG mini) and offer plenty of connectivity in compact form factor. They certainly aren’t as small as the XPERIA X10 mini but will perhaps cost substantially less.

If smartphone is a must, but it doesn’t have to be Android, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic is another affordable handset that will easily slip in any pocket. Again, the size comparison is undoubtedly in the X10 mini’s favor and the Nokia 5530 skimps on 3G but essentially it’s a compact smartphone that will save you a good deal of cash.

If you would like to stick around in droid land, you have the HTC Tattoo to check out. It gives similar performance but comes in a larger body and trades the Timescape UI for Sense.

You can always go for some QWERTY-ness with the XPERIA X10 Mini Pro or the Nokia N97 Mini. Because, let’s face it – text input is not among the X10 Mini’s strengths.

Well it does look like there is plenty of choice in the compact class, but not a single one goes quite as far as the XPERIA X10 mini. If size really matters this is the ONE real mini, and basically your best option.

Reading your mail, browsing the web or watching video will be better on almost any other touch phone out there. But the X10 mini doesn’t want you to be sensible and practical. It hopes you’ll appreciate the idea behind it. Getting smaller and better – isn’t this the life story of mobile phones.

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