In the new edition, they have remained in the same place, but have become more flexible in customization. Now you yourself determine which icons can be placed on the edges of the display, and, in addition, it became possible to combine icons into a group of up to 4. This means that when you click on the "folder", an enlarged semi-circular window opens with four hot icons.

Performance and autonomy

Another change in the new generation of Xperia mini was the hardware stuffing. Instead of budget processor Qualcomm MSM7227 with a clock frequency of 600 MHz, we received a Snapdragon chip - Qualcomm QSD8255 with a frequency of 1 GHz, in addition to which the Adreno 205 graphics accelerator is installed. The amount of RAM has increased four times at once: from 128 MB to 512 MB.

Of course, the use of more powerful hardware affected the performance of the smartphone. During testing, we never encountered lags, delays - both when using the standard interface, and additionally installed programs. By the way, the use of a larger resolution HVGA display eliminated some of the difficulties in the work of programs that were noticed earlier on a QVGA matrix.

The smartphone has a complete set of wireless modules: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth version 2.1 GPS. FROM mobile networks the connection is made according to the standards of the second (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) and third generations (HSDPA/HSUPA).

The capacity of the battery used is 1200 mAh. Again, this is noticeably more than the previous Xperia mini (950 mAh). The battery resource can be spent both in two days (in this case, the user will limit himself to data transfer, refuse to use 3G networks, reduce the use of media capabilities), and within one day (subject to the maximum use of wireless modules, for example, when working in mode mobile hotspot access). Thus, the autonomy of a smartphone primarily depends on the intensity of its use.

Competitors

HTC Wildfire S. The only thing Wildfire S beats Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini is user interface. However, if earlier it was possible to say with full confidence that there is nothing better than Sense, now there are many worthy alternatives. One of them is a shell Sony Ericsson. It is possible that someone will find it more convenient than HTC Sense.

The device is equipped with a 3-inch diagonal touch screen with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels and support for 16.7 million colors. Focusing on image quality, the manufacturer equipped the devices with Mobile Bravia Engine technology, which, when displaying an image, for example, when playing a movie, filters noise and improves color reproduction. In addition, the model is capable of shooting video in HD-format (720p).

MAIN SPECIFICATIONS

Food

Battery capacity: 1200 mAh Talk time: 4.3 hours Standby time: 340 hours Music time: 25 hours

Additional Information

Announce date: 2011-05-05 Sales start date: 2011-08-01

General characteristics

Type: smartphone Weight: 99 g Case material: plastic Operating system: Android 2.3 Case type: classic Number of SIM cards: 1 Dimensions (WxHxD): 52x88x16 mm SIM card type: regular

Screen

Screen type: color TFT, 16.78 million colors, touch screen Type of touch screen: multi-touch, capacitive Diagonal: 3 inch. Image size: 480x320 Pixels per inch (PPI): 192 Auto screen rotation: yes

Multimedia features

Camera: 5 megapixels, 2592x1944, LED flash Camera functions: autofocus, digital Zoom 8x Movie recording: yes Max. video resolution: 1280x720 Audio: MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio Headphone jack: 3.5 mm Recognition: faces, smiles Geo Tagging: yes

Connection

Interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, USB, ANT+ Standard: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G DLNA support: yes Satellite navigation: GPS A-GPS system: yes Use as a USB storage device: yes

Memory and processor

Processor: Qualcomm MSM 8255, 1000 MHz Number of processor cores: 1 Built-in memory: 320 MB RAM: 512 MB Video processor: Adreno 205 Memory card slot: yes, up to 32 GB

Other features

Control: voice dialing, voice control Sensors: light, proximity, compass Speakerphone(built-in speaker): yes Airplane mode: yes A2DP profile: yes : A couple of compact smartphones from Sony Ericsson were announced this summer. An interesting step is the filling from flagship Xperia Arc in a small package - was embodied in two smartphones. We have already talked about one (Xperia mini pro) and now it's time to get acquainted with Sony Ericsson Xperia mini.

Here is an updated interface, powerful hardware and an improved display compared to its predecessor. In addition, the camera module records HD videos, which makes it possible to have a pocket camcorder that does not take up much space.

Contents of delivery

• Telephone


• Battery


• stereo headset


• 2 GB microSD card


• micro USB cable


• Interchangeable panels in two colors

Appearance

For small touch phones sometimes you have to look with caution: what is it like in use, this small device. Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini turned out to be no less convenient than its older brother, which we talked about earlier.

If we recall the Sony Ericcson Xperia X10 mini model, which became the ancestor of a new class of mini-smartphones, then it becomes more difficult to draw parallels between both devices. The phone is no longer perceived as a toy device, as its ancestor seemed to be.

The dimensions of the case are 88x52x16 mm, weight 94 g, compared to its last year's counterpart, the device has become a little larger. However, this did not affect ergonomics, and the slightly curved back cover still fits perfectly into the curve of the palm.

There are two modifications to choose from. One is black and the other is white. In addition to the difference in the color of the front panel, the coating of the back panel also varies. In the first case, it will be a soft touch, and in the second, it will be a simple matte plastic. I had this option. In addition, two interchangeable panels are included. One is dark red, burgundy, and the second is dark blue. Both are glossy and look beautiful. The only problem associated with them is soiling, they need to be wiped regularly to eliminate touch marks.

At the top of the screen is a semicircular cutout, hidden in it speaker. Nearby is a proximity sensor that turns off the backlight of the screen during a call. This model does not have a camera for video calls.

Below the screen are three keys. Two of them are sensory. These are buttons located on the sides to return to the previous menu item and call the functional menu. It is convenient to use them, there is enough space for comfortable use. There is a mechanical button in the center, it allows you to return to the desktop, and also brings up a menu of recently launched applications.

If you look at the phone from the left side, you can see only a strip of silvery plastic and a small notch that helps to remove the back panel.

On the other hand, there is the same overlay, which is in harmony with the controls. This is a paired volume key, and below there is a camera launch key.

In the left corner of the upper end there is a round button that allows you to turn off the smartphone, it also locks the screen. Next to it is a light indicator that notifies you of various events, such as unread messages and letters, missed calls. It also lights up while the smartphone is charging. Closer to the right side there is a hole - this is one of the two microphones. The phone supports the HD-voice function, i.e. it improves the quality of voice transmission, the noise reduction system works. This is an operator service, so far it only works in the Moscow region with Megafon.

At the bottom there is a strap attachment. There is also a hole for the microphone. Nearby is a standard microUSB connector, it is used to connect the charger, as well as to synchronize data with a computer. In the center is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones or a headset.

The rear surface is completely covered with a removable panel.

In the corner is the lens of a 5-megapixel camera, slightly recessed into the body. Nearby is an LED flash. At the bottom, exactly in the center, there is a ringing speaker hole.

Under the plastic panel is the battery that covers the hole for the SIM card. On the side of the free access is a slot for microSD-drive.

Screen

The resolution of the TFT-display is 320x480 pixels, up to 16 million colors are displayed on a 3-inch screen. The display is covered with durable mineral glass, which reliably protects the screen from possible scratches.

Now there is no reason to criticize the smartphone for a too small screen, the change has benefited - it is quite enough for comfortable work with the phone. The display is capacitive, responds well to pressing, there is a multi-touch. In addition, as in older models, the development of the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine is used here. It works as a kind of "improver", making the image on the screen more attractive due to the saturation of colors. This option can be disabled if desired.

On the street, the screen behaves in the usual way. The information remains readable, but there is little margin for brightness. Compared to Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro, the difference is noticeable and the older model wins.

Platform

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini has Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread installed. The new smartphone uses a Qualcomm 8255 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, an Adreno 205 graphics accelerator. 512 MB of RAM is available, about 300 MB for user storage. A 2 GB memory card is included in the package. If this volume is not enough, you can install a drive up to 32 GB in size. Now you can’t even compare with any devices in terms of speed, there are simply no analogues with such a powerful filling, the smartphone reacts very quickly to actions.

Interface

At the top is a service line, which displays the time, battery charge, signal reception level indicator. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can learn more about what programs have been downloaded, what messages and letters have been received, or what files have been received via Bluetooth.

As a design element, it is possible to use both pre-installed images or wallpapers from Sony Ericsson, as well as your favorite pictures. A great option was the use of themes. 7 multi-colored shells allow you to diversify the appearance of the device, thanks to this built-in option.

Shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop. For the folder, you can choose one of eight design options, give it a name. Icons are added by dragging them from the phone menu directly into this area.

Application icons can be added to one of the four zones located at the corners of the display. Each area contains no more than four icons.

Of course, there are widgets here, they can also be added to the desktop. There can be 5 such screens. Given the size of the diagonal, it will be possible to place no more than three widgets on the screen, depending on their size. At the same time, in a certain zone, there is no space for additional icons in the corners of the screen if there is not enough space for a graphic element.

An interesting feature has been implemented: you can swipe with two fingers from diagonally opposite corners, all desktops will be reduced and displayed on one screen. At the same time, widgets seem to hover on the desktop, the action is supplemented with animation.

When the screen is locked, the display shows the date and time. To unlock the screen, you need to slide your finger along from left to right. If you do it the other way around, it turns on silent mode, as indicated by an additional icon. Movement between zones is fast, without any hint of sluggishness.

The application manager is activated by the Home button. It displays 8 programs and is essentially not your usual task manager. As you know, Android closes applications on its own, guided by the amount of free RAM.

The smartphone menu consists of several work areas, initially there are 4 of them. If you install additional applications, then over time there will be more such areas. The screen has 12 icons on a translucent background, under which you can see the wallpaper installed on the main screen. Icons can be arranged as it is convenient for the user. There is also sorting by several criteria: alphabetically, frequently used, recently installed.

Phone book

The smartphone has a handy assistant for importing contacts both from the SIM card and from accounts. Facebook posts and Google, they are displayed in a single list. Created backup copy list of numbers to the memory card, the data can be restored later.

When creating a new contact, a lot of fields are created - this is different types telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, means of quick communication, address of residence and others (nickname, note, Internet call). There is no sorting by last name, the list is sorted by first name only.

The smartphone has a list of alphabetic characters located on the right side of the screen. If you press your finger on this area and swipe up or down, then a letter pops up on the screen - a kind of quick search, which helps in cases where there are several hundred or even thousands of contacts on the phone. The search by the first letters of the contact name works for both language layouts. There is a menu of favorite numbers where you can add the most popular contacts.

There is a quick menu: you need to click on the place for the icon with the contact photo, after which you can call, send a message via SMS or e-mail, see the data in Facebook.

Call log

Directly from the phone book, you can access the call log - it is highlighted in a separate tab. There, a single list includes dialed numbers, received and missed calls, for clarity, they are marked with icons of different colors. By clicking on the line, you can remove the 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.

When viewing the call history, you can not only make a telephone conversation with the selected subscriber, but also send him an SMS or an e-mail from this list without going to another menu. Dialing a number is carried out using a convenient virtual keyboard. The smartphone does not know how to automatically substitute numbers based on the order of the entered numbers. During a call, the picture assigned to the user is stretched to full screen.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is a shared folder where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the SMS, you can automatically convert it to MMS. Messages are grouped by recipients in the conversation feed. When dialing a subscriber's number, the phone displays a list of matching numbers in alternating digits. 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 in the messages themselves, but you can also add it to a document or to an email). For navigation, a convenient cursor is used, which helps to correct typos, highlight the necessary sections of text.

The smartphone keyboard has changed. Now typing has become much more convenient. Previously, you had to be content with a layout that looked like a regular telephone. There, several characters were combined on one button, you had to press each one several times. In the novelty, the old way of typing has remained, but now it is supplemented with a QWERTY layout that works in landscape orientation.

The keyboard is good considering the limited screen size. Predictive text input is available when word correction and auto-completion systems help you type text, allowing you not to waste time correcting errors. Possible options words are shown as a separate line above the keyboard. Copying and pasting fragments is supported.

Email

To work with e-mail starts auto tuning mailbox(unless it's Gmail, connecting immediately after the email address would have been entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports downloading attachments (you need to insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) of familiar formats.

When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device's memory to it. The text copy function works, and automatic check mailbox (interval is set manually). Works sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size.

Camera

A 5-megapixel autofocus camera is complemented by a flash. You can start shooting not only from the menu, but also by pressing the dedicated key to launch the application. By holding it 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. Liked high speed camera launch, and also very quick save pictures. The button is comfortable, large, on-off.

The interface works exclusively in landscape orientation. Help icons are displayed on the screen to help you set up shooting modes and conditions. 5 small icons are displayed on the side - the phone shows the latest received frames. Pulling the icons to the side opens a gallery of images taken.

Various options are available:

Image Capture Mode: Normal, Scene Detection, Smile Detection.

Photo size: 5M (2592x1944), 3M (2560x144), 2M (1632x1224 pixels).

Shooting Conditions: Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Beach & Snow, Sports, Party, Document.

Touch Capture: Enable, Disable (This function allows you to take a photo without pressing the camera key, just touch the screen).

Flash: auto, off, fill, red-eye reduction.

Timer: 2, 10 seconds.

Exposure.

Image stabilizer.

Geotags.

Shutter sound: There are 3 sounds to choose from, you can also turn it off.

White balance: auto, room lighting, fluorescent, daylight, cloudy.

Measurement: center, middle level, point.

Focus: Single AF, Multi-AF, Macro, Face Detection, Infinity, Touch Focus.

The quality of the images can be assessed by examples. The device is inferior to older models, for example.

To switch between photo and video recording, there are two icons at the bottom of the screen. Video recording is carried out in a maximum resolution of 1280x720 pixels, 30 frames per second. Video size: HD (1280x720), FWVGA (800x480), VGA (640x480), QVGA (320x240), multimedia message (320x240 pixels). Focusing: single autofocus, face detection, infinity. Backlight. Other settings are similar to those used when photographing. Gallery Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are shown here. The gallery works in both vertical and landscape orientations. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device. In the thumbnail folders smaller, thanks to which not 3, but 4 pictures are placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works with multitouch. 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. Rotation of images, reduction of their size is supported, as well as additional information about a specific file is displayed, the place where the picture was taken is also shown if geotagging is working. Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, section with photos), and ordered by date. Thanks to this, it is very convenient to view photos - several sections are obtained in the same folder. You can scroll through either using the strip displayed at the bottom of the screen, or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere in it. The video is played from the gallery, where a separate folder is allocated for the videos. Nothing special can be said about the phone here. There is no support for DivX and XviD codecs in the smartphone, so the ability to play video out of the box is 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, e-mail. Displayed data is configured, unnecessary can be hidden. The update is also installed: manually or automatically. Additional applications are installed from the market. So, 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 test of the message itself, as well as the source from where the message came from are written. The ability to customize the background has disappeared, now it is a permanent blue color. The list scrolls very quickly, without a hint of delay. In general, the thing is beautiful and interesting, the main drawback is associated with a not very beautiful design - if the author of the message has an avatar, then this image will be displayed stretched to the full width of the transparent panel. Player To listen to music, you can select tracks sorted 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 music list, 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 the music playback mode, the album cover is displayed (if it was assigned earlier), there are playback control buttons on the screen. If desired, the song is set as a ringtone. Equalizer settings available. These presets are: Normal, Classical, Dance, Flat, Folk, Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, Rock. Manual settings no. Mixing mode is provided. While listening to music, you can find Additional information about the artist using tools from Google. The xLOUD function allows you to get very loud sound from the speaker. It is easy to notice the difference, this option allows you to hear your phone in any, even a very noisy place. While listening to music, you can search for a video clip or learn more about a file using YouTube. The sound quality for the Android segment is very good. There is a sufficient volume margin, the mids are well developed, and the lower range is not bad either. Deep bass lovers 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 automatic search stations, you can switch input and manually. You can also save several dozen frequencies in the phone's memory. You can easily switch between your favorite stations by clicking on a small icon that will automatically move between saved waves. TrackID allows you to identify the sounding melody on the radio in 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, week or a specific day is configured. You can customize the type and alert tone for recorded events and appointments. There is a separation of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. While creating new record it is given a name, a period, a place. It is indicated with which of the calendars it will be synchronized, you can send invitations to contacts from notebook. The repeat period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the signal will work in advance. Alarm The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repetition is set both for 1 time and for every day, only on weekdays or weekly. You can also set specific days. The melody of the signal is set, you can add a vibrating alert to it and text file. Sets the period for the re-triggering of the signal. The phone screen can display the weather forecast, date and time in large characters. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation, there is a menu with additional functions. Android Market offers a convenient search function among thousands of applications. Programs are divided into categories, which makes browsing easier. You can see reviews, evaluate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application comes with brief description and pictures for more clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if it was purchased new phone, you can immediately install those programs that were previously purchased. The application, which is standard for most modern devices, allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. Weather forecast and news are useful every day. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices wirelessly. The Facebook application will allow you to communicate in the network of the same name directly from your mobile device. Moreover, in a smartphone, this function is implemented better than in other devices. So, you can mark your favorite song in the player while listening. Facebook albums are added to the gallery, and information about friends' birthdays is added to the calendar. Neo Reader will help you read information from barcodes. There is a counter of consumed traffic. Browser Used for internet surfing handy application. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages, there is a log of pages viewed. Multi-window support, search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing the brightness of the screen directly from the browser. Thanks to multi-touch, pages are easily scaled (work and virtual keys to resize the display). The font size changes, password saving works, flash is supported, the browser works quickly. GPS navigation Used for navigation Google Maps- standard software for all Android backgrounds. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, thus, the application has become full-featured and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function of determining the current location, calculating the route from the initial to end point, and the mode of transportation is set: by car, on foot or public transport. The route is laid on the map, while key places are indicated in the form of text messages that 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 lay a different path. Zooming works with multitouch or virtual buttons. Settings There is standard settings, which are present in any smartphone on Android. This section allows you to manage the capabilities of your smartphone in terms of modifying the interface, as well as changing various phone settings. The smartphone offers a convenient branded application that sets up all the key parameters. If you do not use it immediately after purchase, you can return to it later. 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 common profiles. WiFi operation b\g\n is implemented at the usual level. The smartphone remembers the entered passwords for networks, can automatically connect to them, being within their range. Using the microUSB connector allows you to connect your phone to a computer to synchronize and recharge the battery. Working hours The smartphone is equipped with a 1200 mAh battery. Stated up to 4 hours 40 minutes of talk time, up to 340 hours of standby time. In the music playback mode, the smartphone works up to 25 hours, while playing video - up to 6 hours. On average, it is worth focusing on a day of work when using various Google services, 30 minutes of calls, 2 hours of music. Conclusion The phone rings very loudly, this is the merit of the xLOUD option. The model can safely be called the most loud device among Android solutions on a par with Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro. The speaker is flawless, the voice quality and the sound margin are sufficient. The vibrating alert is average in strength. The model appeared on sale at a price of about 10-11 thousand rubles. There are a lot of Android smartphones in this category. The following models can be called the brightest and most popular representatives of this segment. This is , and , . Most of them have a larger screen size, which means that it is more convenient to type text, watch videos or surf the Internet. On the side of the compact novelty from Sony Ericsson is small size and actual stuffing. No competitors have such a processor; in terms of speed, the device is ahead of them. The model turned out to be of high quality, comfortable and pleasant. In the case when the screen size does not play a significant role, you should take a closer look at this smartphone. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test Lab Date of publication of the article - September 28, 2011

In the new edition, they have remained in the same place, but have become more flexible in customization. Now you yourself determine which icons can be placed on the edges of the display, and, in addition, it became possible to combine icons into a group of up to 4. This means that when you click on the "folder", an enlarged semi-circular window opens with four hot icons.

Performance and autonomy

Another change in the new generation of Xperia mini was the hardware stuffing. Instead of the budget Qualcomm processor MSM7227 with a clock frequency of 600 MHz, we received a Snapdragon chip - Qualcomm QSD8255 with a frequency of 1 GHz, in addition to which the Adreno 205 graphics accelerator is installed. The amount of RAM has increased four times at once: from 128 MB to 512 MB.

Of course, the use of more powerful hardware affected the performance of the smartphone. During testing, we never encountered lags, delays - both when using the standard interface and additionally installed programs. By the way, the use of a larger resolution HVGA display eliminated some of the difficulties in the work of programs that were noticed earlier on a QVGA matrix.

The smartphone has a complete set of wireless modules: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth version 2.1, GPS. With mobile networks, the connection takes place according to the standards of the second (GSM / GPRS / EDGE) and third generations (HSDPA / HSUPA).

The capacity of the battery used is 1200 mAh. Again, this is noticeably more than the previous Xperia mini (950 mAh). The battery resource can be spent both in two days (in this case, the user will limit himself to data transfer, refuse to use 3rd generation networks, reduce the use of media capabilities), and within one day (subject to the maximum use of wireless modules, for example, when working in mobile hotspot mode). Thus, the autonomy of a smartphone primarily depends on the intensity of its use.

Competitors

HTC Wildfire S. The only thing the Wildfire S outperforms the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini is the user interface. However, if earlier it was possible to say with full confidence that there is nothing better than Sense, now there are many worthy alternatives. One of them is a shell from Sony Ericsson. It is possible that someone will find it more convenient than HTC Sense.

Tiny communicator with a full-sized keyboard and unusual proportions

The competition between communicator manufacturers has been going on for a long time: the achieved results are amazing and raise questions - is it possible to further increase the display diagonal, reduce the case thickness, add cores to the processor and increase the frequency? Will all this lead to the fact that communicators of the upper price range will turn into huge devices with a voracious filling, the needs of which can only be met by a spare battery?

Time will tell what curve the evolution of mobile computers with the module will make once again. cellular communication. Once it already seemed that everything was invented and implemented, and there was nowhere for something new to appear, and then it was iPhone presentation and the subsequent boom in the production of communicators: the old champions left the scene, the newcomers joined in a fierce battle.

The hero of this review, however, was not the "most-most" communicator, but a peculiar one and occupying its own niche mobile computer- Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro. A year ago, Sony Ericsson was one of the first to understand that many users cannot afford, literally and figuratively, large and expensive communicators. On the contrary, they need small and inexpensive models, but not significantly inferior to the flagships in their capabilities. This is how the family was born. Xperia devices X10 mini, which consisted of two models: a monoblock body and a horizontal slider with a full QWERTY keyboard.

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro - direct successor Sony models Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro is a slider equipped with a keyboard. In the new line of 2011 models, the company has abandoned numerical indices, so you should be careful when buying - communicators are similar in appearance and name, but the new product is much more powerful than its predecessor and is equipped with a more recent version operating system.

The "pro" suffix in the communicator's name indicates not only the presence of a QWERTY keyboard, but also the positioning of the device for business users who need to quickly respond to messages. However, a full-fledged (by mobile standards) keyboard will be useful to all other fans of online communication.

Delivery set and specifications

The packaging of the communicator is a small cardboard box with the name of the device, image and main characteristics printed on it. Inside it are: communicator, battery, Charger With USB compatible connector, microUSB cable, wired stereo headset and documentation. As you can see, the set of additional accessories includes the most necessary, but it also has a nice little thing - a protective film on the screen, which is proposed to stick on your own.

The characteristics of the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro (SK17i) communicator are as follows.

• Scorpion 1 GHz processor, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset with Adreno 205 video core;
• operating room android system 2.3.3 (Gingerbread);
• TFT-display, diagonal 3 inches, 320 × 480 pixels, capacitive, with multitouch, Sony Mobile Bravia Engine;
• 512MB RAM, 400MB Flash (320MB available);
• Communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE;
• Communication 3G UMTS 850/1900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps;
• Bluetooth v2.1;
• WiFi 802.11b/g/n, DLNA, WiFi Hotspot;
• GPS, AGPS;
• Slot for microSDHC-cards;
• FM radio;
• Position sensor in space;
• Light sensor;
• Magnetometer;
• 5 megapixel camera with auto focus, 720p video recording;
• QWERTY keyboard;
• Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh;
• Dimensions 92×53×18 mm;
• Weight 136 grams.

So, a device with an average price of 10 thousand rubles from a well-known manufacturer in 2011 can already please customers with a 1 GHz processor, a QWERTY keyboard, and basic communication modules. Random access memory more than enough is installed in the communicator - 512 MB, but there is frankly little flash memory - only 400 MB, and this despite the fact that many applications require installation in order to work. internal memory communicator.

Design and appearance

In comparison with monoblock communicators of the highest and middle price range, the hero of the review looks like a baby. The small screen is surrounded by a small strip of plastic around the perimeter, thickening only in the area of ​​the keys and speaker.

But the impression of miniature communicator disappears when it is in the hand. Xperia mini pro turned out to be "fat". At a time when mobile computer manufacturers are racing for the thinnest body and achieving outstanding results, Sony Ericsson engineers have released a communicator that is almost twice as thin as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, Samsung Galaxy S II and other mobile computers. On the other hand, they can be understood: they were faced with the task of accommodating all the hardware stuffing, a keyboard, a battery and a mechanism for shifting the halves of the communicator in a small case. The task is very difficult, and they coped with it as best they could.

If you hold a communicator with a large display in the palm of your hand, it can be compared to a heavy notepad (reaching diagonally with your thumb from one corner of the display to the other is an almost impossible task), while the hero of the review is more like a weighty pack of cigarettes (the finger covers the entire area of ​​the display without special problems). During the testing of numerous communicators, refined in the literal sense of the word, the hand has lost the habit of such a layout of a mobile computer, although earlier communicators were both thick and wide at the same time. I had to get used to the Xperia mini pro again, but it will be easier for newcomers to the world of communicators - they have nothing to compare with.

Various types of plastic served as the body material: black lacquered, metallic silver, black matte and soft touch plastic for the battery cover. In addition to the strict black range, there are variants of the communicator in white, turquoise and pink colors. The last two somehow do not fit in with the image of a business communicator.

There are no complaints about the design and materials of the communicator case. Despite the prefabricated layout, nothing creaks or staggers in the Xperia mini pro (except that it should stagger by default). Of all the gaps between the panels, the main dust collector will be the gap between the keyboard and the silver plastic bezel.

So, the hero of the review is a somewhat unusual representative of the genus of Android communicators, a subspecies of horizontal sliders. Due to the thickness of the body, Xperia mini pro is easy to hold in the palm of your hand. You can extend or remove the keyboard with one easy movement of your fingers - the closer takes over all the main work of moving the planes. But the easiest way to carry out this operation is left-handed.

The keyboard on the bottom half of the communicator is not big, like everything in this device. However, the keys themselves in size and the distance between them are more than acceptable for typing. Cyrillicization of the keyboard is made on the four: the point had to be removed for the absence of the letter "Ё" in the set. Yes, the importance and meaning of this letter in the Russian alphabet are the cause of controversy, but so far no one has ruled it out. Therefore, the choice of this letter when printing should be simple. However, which is more convenient: keep the key with the letter “E” pressed to make “Yo” appear, or perform a combination of a special button and one of the keys to dial letters such as “X”, “Ъ”, “Ж”, “Yu” - question is moot. In general, typing (especially in Latin) using the keyboard is very fast and convenient. All keys are illuminated from the inside, have a convex shape and a clear stroke.

The top half of the communicator is used to house the display, hardware keys, speaker and sensors. All this is located on the front side of the mobile computer. When developing the Xperia mini pro, Sony Ericsson engineers decided to change their tradition and leave only one, the central key "in plastic". The other two buttons are made touch. To further confuse the user (at least for those who have been using various Android devices for a long time), the menu and return to the previous window buttons have been swapped. With a “full hand”, such an arrangement of keys only causes irritation, while beginners who have begun their acquaintance with the world of Android communicators with Xperia mini pro will not notice anything.

The back panel of the communicator consists entirely of the battery cover. Holes are provided for the camera lens, speaker and flash, otherwise, with the exception of the logo (protruding above the plane and worn out from time to time), it is smooth. The SIM card and memory card can be accessed by detaching the panel, the latter can be replaced without disconnecting the battery.

On the left side of the mobile computer case there is only a recess for detaching the battery cover. To the right of the review hero are the camera and volume control keys.

The top end of the communicator is equipped with several connectors: 3.5 mm for headphones, micro-USB for recharging and data transfer. For some reason, the latter is closed with a rubber plug, its presence only raises questions and interferes every time the cable is connected. In addition to the above, the Xperia mini pro has a power button and an additional microphone on top. The main microphone, as well as the opening for attaching the cord, is located on the lower end of the device.

Impressions from appearance and the ergonomics of the communicator remained mixed: on the one hand, everything is thought out and weighed in it, on the other hand, there are many points that raise questions, for example, swapping the touch keys. All these subjective impressions also turn out to be spoiled by the disproportion between the dimensions of the communicator in length with width and overall thickness, although all this can be explained by the established habit of working with extremely thin, but wide-screen mobile computers. There are no complaints about the operation of the keyboard, its format and size. Perhaps white or some other body color will suit Xperia mini pro more, and then this communicator will not look so unusual next to its brothers.

Software and settings

Sony Ericsson installs an additional shell in all its Android communicators - UX, which is designed to provide better manageability and enhance the convenience of working with a mobile computer. Introduced in the Sony Ericsson X10, it has undergone significant changes over the past few years. In fact, in "large" communicators, for example, in Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, its presence ceased to be felt - it simply fell apart into several separate widgets: Timescape and the Media Library (which replaced the Mediascape program). The owners of Xperia devices did not experience much grief about this, since the programs previously included in it did not work very quickly.

With small communicators, it was not so easy to do so, and the shell functions remained in place. Of course, the speed of all parts of the program is now acceptable and does not cause any complaints.

The reason the developers left the UX (or Timescape UI as it's now called) untouched is simple - this app really makes it easy to work with devices that come with a small display.

If in the communicators of the upper segment of the UX line, it added very little in comparison with the standard interface of the operating system, then in small devices, along with it, the developers brought several convenient tools. If you look at the main screen of the communicator, it immediately becomes clear what is at stake. In different corners of the display there are several icons of the most used programs: calls, messages, contacts and various players with a gallery. They can be shuffled as you like: removing some programs and adding others. Using these shortcuts makes it much easier to work with a mobile computer, since usually in Android all the icons are located at the bottom of the display or scattered across numerous tabs. In the case of a small screen diagonal, this would lead to a decrease in the size of the icons, their excessive accuracy and inconvenience when choosing. The developers even provided for automatic hiding of icons when there is not enough work space, for example, if there is a large widget on the screen - in general, you can’t imagine better for a small display.

There are five tabs on the main screen of the communicator; as usual, you can place widgets and application shortcuts on them, which did not have enough space in the corner groups. The standard set of widgets includes: clock, Google search, tips, Wi-Fi and speaker switches, mail client Moxier combined with McAfee antivirus, gallery, audio player and, most importantly, the weather forecast.

Unfortunately, neither the unlock screen nor the message bar received any additional features, such as those on HTC and Samsung devices. But from the application menu, you can uninstall any program with two touches, just like in iOS.

At first glance at the launcher along with the communicator McAfee antivirus Only one thought comes to mind: is it really so bad with malicious applications on the Android platform? Yes, unlike most other modern operating systems, this system allows you to install programs from unverified sources at your own risk, in addition, Trojans sometimes come across in the Android Market. But enabling the default antivirus in standard set software- this is too much: either everything is rapidly moving towards a rampage of malware, similar to the Windows desktop platform, or antivirus software developers need to explore a new area of ​​\u200b\u200bpotential earnings.

The list of additional software continues client Facebook networks - not the most popular in Russia. Next after it in the list of programs installed by the manufacturer is the utility for synchronizing personal data with the Sony Ericsson server. TrackID- a well-known program for determining the name of the composition and its artist using the microphone of the communicator. The name of the program News and Weather speaks for itself. They are followed by: Adobe Reader- viewer app PDF documents, Data Tracking- a traffic accounting utility, - a program for downloading and installing even more programs, UEFA.com- not the most convenient client for accessing the website of the organization of the same name (registration is required with a large amount of personal data). Next on the list: Xperia Hot Shots- "interesting" program for tennis fans, allows you to track the life and fate of six tennis players, PlayNow- a client for downloading and purchasing various media content and games. Connected- it is under this mysterious name that Xperia mini pro has an application for accessing data, as well as broadcasting them using DLNA.

Next on the list installed applications go: WaveSecure and VirusScan- two programs-parts of McAffee antivirus, Popcap Games- program for fast loading games from the respective developer, Search for extensions- search for extensions for Timescape, Opera Mini- a browser that needs no introduction, Wisepilot- paid satellite navigation system, NeoReader- QR and barcode reader, touch note- a program for sending photos as postcards, - an analogue of the application, but focused on games.

Complete an extensive list additional applications: office suite- a program for viewing documents in the format Microsoft Office, Moxier Pro- client mail server Microsoft Exchange (nothing stands out against the background of similar built-in Android functionality), Update Center- a utility for updating the firmware of the communicator, LiveWare Manager- a kind of application for controlling smart accessories.

The list of additional software in Xperia mini pro is not just large, but very large. You can get rid of the vast majority of built-in applications without much regret, since most of them (even antivirus) can be removed. On the other hand, the manufacturer's concern for inexperienced communicator users is understandable.

Display and sound subsystem

Despite the small diagonal size - 3 inches, the TFT LCD-matrix in Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro has a resolution of 320×480 pixels. The company has made a small step in increasing the resolution compared to the previous model of the communicator, where it was completely archaic - 240×320 pixels. Of course, both values ​​cannot be compared with the resolution of the iPod Touch: 960 × 640 pixels with a 3.5-inch matrix. But, to be honest, for such a small screen, the resolution is not so important. After all, in order to see individual pixels, you need to peer very closely, and this activity cannot be called useful. For everyday work and entertainment with a communicator, which has a three-inch display, the existing resolution is enough.

LEDs are used to illuminate the display, their brightness level is sufficient for most cases. The screen fades noticeably in strong ambient light. There are communicators with more powerful backlighting, contrast, sharpness, but all this is important when comparing top models of communicators, where not only different manufacturers devices, but also display manufacturing technologies - which of them is the winner is still not clear.

Several sensors on the communicator are responsible for controlling the display. The gravity sensor allows you to automatically change the screen orientation. The proximity sensor disables the capacitive touch display during telephone conversation. The ambient light sensor adjusts the brightness of the backlight depending on the power of external light sources. There was one problem with adjusting the backlight level of the display - a switch for this function was not found anywhere.

With the exception of the one mentioned, no other display problems have been noticed in the Xperia mini pro. Responses to single and multiple touches are adequate and fast. The presence of Mobile Bravia Engine technology undoubtedly pleases this communicator, although the meaning of its work is not clear. In general, the picture quality on the communicator's display is subjectively very good for such an inexpensive device.

In addition to the commitment to the symbiosis of a camera and a phone in one device, Sony Ericsson has always been famous for its player phones. The presence in the portfolio of one of the progenitors of the joint company of such a brand as Walkman obliged to maintain a high level of sounding music in all devices that bore this name, Walkman phones were no exception. In addition, the company has always tried to complete devices quality headphones, which is often forgotten by manufacturers of more expensive and popular communicators.

The volume of both speakers of the communicator is good. It is regulated both programmatically and using two keys on the side panel of the device. Of the "improvers" of the sound of the speakers, it is worth noting the xLOUD technology, which is designed to increase their volume. Despite the incomprehensibility of the technology, it is better to leave it activated in the settings, as it is done by default.

In general, a good headset that comes with the communicator has only a few drawbacks: it is non-separable, that is, the headphones are not disconnected from the control module, the module itself is equipped only with a call answer button and a microphone - the volume control and buttons for switching tracks (radio stations) are missing.

The FM radio in the Xperia mini pro has a good level of station signal recognition, but it did not support reading RDS information. The receiver control program looks both stylish and concise. She can automatically scan the radio band in search of available stations. The most interesting of them can be transferred to the category of favorites and quickly switch through the list. The speaker of the communicator can be used to listen to the radio signal, but you will have to connect a headset or headphones - they are still used as an antenna.

Wireless interfaces

As it should be for a business communicator (and indeed a communicator in 2011), the hero of the review is equipped with all the communication modules that are widely used in everyday life.

The cellular communication module ensures the operation of the communicator in networks of the second and third generations with the possibility of data transmission using EDGE/HSPA technologies. At the same time, the maximum possible information exchange rate is 7.2 megabits per second. There is a noticeable lack of support for both HDPA + and any fourth generation network. However, to expect support for these technologies in a medium-sized device price segment prematurely.

IEEE 802.11 wireless communication, otherwise Wi-Fi, is carried out in accordance with the b/g/n specifications. Thus, Xperia mini pro supports the most fast standard WiFi. The communicator can act as an access point and share internet traffic with multiple connected devices. In addition, the mobile computer supports DLNA technology to access various media resources.

The Bluetooth module is not presented in its most recent version, only version 2.1. Various work profiles are supported, including the connection of wireless stereo headphones.

While GLONASS network support in various mobile devices is gaining momentum, and its appearance in new iPhone after the visit of the President of Russia to the headquarters of Apple, it is not surprising that the hero of the review is equipped only with a receiver of the American competitor of the domestic network - GPS. However, its capabilities are enough for a qualitative determination of the coordinates of the communicator. If the satellite signal is not available, the approximate location of the device and its user can be determined using A-GPS technology, which is also supported by Xperia mini pro.

Cameras

Sony Ericsson mobile devices have always been distinguished by a high level of photo and video recording. The company was one of the first to start selling "cameraphones" - regular phones with advanced video recording and snapshot capabilities. Over time, the camera has become a familiar element of almost any mobile phone and a communicator, although in many models (if not in most) it is listed "for show" and cannot please at least some quality of the resulting photo and video materials.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro has a 5-megapixel sensor, which allows you to take pictures with a size of 2592×1944 pixels. Video recording is carried out with a maximum resolution of 720p. The camera is equipped with autofocus, stabilization, face recognition systems and is complemented by an LED flash. You can attach coordinates obtained using a GPS receiver to photos.

Shooting can be controlled in special program, or using a separate key. After pressing the button, the camera is activated in a few seconds. The response time of autofocus is average, but acceptable, taking a picture is almost instantaneous. In one of the modes of operation of the autofocus system, the focus area can be indicated by touching your finger on the communicator screen.

The settings and camera controls are arranged on the screen in a somewhat unusual way. On the right side of the display are thumbnails of the photos you have just taken. By pulling this panel, you can open a window with a full gallery of images. On the other side of the screen are icons for the most commonly used settings: image capture mode (for example, smile detection), snapshot resolution, switching between main and additional cameras, shooting conditions (landscape, portrait, night shooting, sports, and so on), flash mode. Similarly, by pulling the panel, you can open a window with the rest of the camera settings. Among them are: white balance, timer, focus mode, exposure compensation, image stabilization, touch shooting and others.

The sample photos taken show that the Xperia mini pro's shots are of average quality. Of course, in any case, you need to make allowances for the non-core of this work for a mobile computer, as well as the small physical dimensions of both the matrix and the lens. It is also worth noting that the Xperia mini pro has a second camera on the front panel, which is designed for video calls, but can also be used to take photos and videos. Its matrix resolution is VGA (640×480 pixels). An MP4 sample video is also available for download and viewing.

Battery life and performance

When testing the communicator in various modes operation to check the battery power consumption, unexpected difficulties occurred. The display of the communicator did not want to switch to a permanent mode of operation, turning off every half an hour (the maximum interval that can be set in the settings). Even the inclusion of forced work in the FBReader program did not help, which usually happens with other communicators. In addition, there is no switch anywhere in the communicator settings automatic mode brightness control. There is a backlight power control itself, it can be moved, the backlight changes, but it is not known whether the backlight level changes completely or only the maximum one.

For the above reasons, two time tests battery life communicator have only an approximate result. The first one is reading e-book, discharged the battery in 7 hours. The result is unimportant in comparison with other communicators, but again, you need to make allowances for a not entirely clean experiment. With another test - for the maximum load and, consequently, the minimum battery life, everything turned out exactly the opposite: the communicator showed an excellent result, having worked for almost 7 hours with activated communication modules, running a video and "maximum" backlight brightness. Was this backlight the most powerful? Hardly, given the missing display setting and the very long time of the communicator - other devices show results for 3-4 hours.

By the way, the capacity of the standard battery in the Xperia mini pro is 1200 mAh. The value is below average, many communicators are equipped with batteries of 1500-1700 mAh, but with the hero of the review, you need to make allowances for its small dimensions.

Finally, last test Xperia mini pro for battery life - play music with the display turned off. There were no problems with it, the communicator worked for 18 hours - more than a worthy result. Charging the battery takes up to four hours.

As a result, it turns out that Xperia mini pro in one test out of three, which can be trusted, showed excellent results, in the second it was also wonderful, but you can’t trust them, and in the third it became an outsider, but this test is not trustworthy. It is impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions on all three tests, but subjectively the communicator deserves a high rating for autonomy, because in normal mode usage: several calls, Internet, messages, he was in touch for more than two days in a row.

The communicator performance test results are shown in the following table. The scores obtained by other mobile computers are also presented there.

	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	LG Optimus Black 1 GHz (Android 2.2)	Samsung Galaxy S II 2×1.2 GHz (Android 2.3)	HTC sensation 2×1.2 GHz (Android 2.3)	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.1)
Graphics
total graphics score	487.65515	30.533382	34.054173	63.32414	26.784534	30.028656	30.482296
Draw opacity bitmap (MPixels/sec)	181.23894	9.241878	11.17294	22.188517	8.943233	8.854302	9.3687105
Draw transparent bitmap (MPixels/sec)	117.02857	9.433441	9.655823	16.542812	7.4391575	9.512309	9.275363
CPU Whitstone
Total CPU score	2258.528	1800.9023	3261.4143	2500.6213	2228.1846	1571.6143	771.9937
MWIPSDP	149.25372	109.89011	181.4882	162.86644	145.56041	97.84736	57.636887
MWIPS SP	175.4386	136.61201	296.7359	190.4762	174.52007	108.813934	60.79027
MFLOPS DP	13.428502	11.17996	12.005697	26.03444	12.867661	6.510691	7.3144784
MFLOPS SP	17.23695	21.909225	34.02756	34.39461	17.652456	14.372471	8.3832655
VAX MIPS DP	134.85927	105.70493	156.00337	143.94771	132.27618	111.43894	39.92782
VAX MIPS SP	137.31831	115.08711	225.92809	137.0819	136.2276	97.69196	40.446907
Memory
total memory score	645.8333	451.7652	782.7169	792.86743	702.7458	647.3529	600.7096
Copy memory (Mb/sec)	586.85443	410.50903	711.23755	720.4611	638.5696	588.2353	545.8515
Filesystem
Total file system score	167.95865	164.50977	325.3547	213.823	227.13245	74.25825	143.54076
Creating 1000 empty files (sec)	2.963	0.66	0.256	1.342	4.456	13.402	41.504
Deleting 1000 empty files (sec)	1.391	0.868	0.13	0.408	2.875	25.047	27.346
Write 1M into file (M/sec)	4.5745654	53.19149	99.0099	13.513514	2.4113817	37.037037	3.068426
Read 1M from file (M/sec)	333.33334	277.77777	555.55554	416.66666	454.54544	112.35955	285.7143
SD card performance
Creating 250 empty files (sec)	18.224	56.276	9.34	8.588	6.348	3.444	11.908
Deleting 250 empty files (sec)	56.308	48.116	12.42	4.772	5.904	3.0	13.684
Write 1M into file (M/sec)	34.129692	10.3092785	23.364487	26.88172	44.052864	16.10306	20.833334
Read 1M from file (M/sec)	400.0	114.94253	312.5	357.14285	454.54544	344.82758	303.0303

The high marks of the communicator's graphics subsystem are striking. The main merit in obtaining them is not at all from the graphics accelerator (although it is quite powerful in itself), but from the display: the matrix resolution of the Xperia mini pro is much lower than that of other presented communicators. And since the size of the processed image is smaller, the speed of operations is also higher - mobile computers with matrices of 800 × 480 pixels and more lose in this indicator to the hero of the review, whose display has a resolution of 320 × 480 pixels.

In terms of other indicators, the Xperia mini pro took places corresponding to the capabilities of the hardware. The identical hardware stuffing of the Xperia mini pro and Xperia Arc led to the coincidence of their scores in terms of processor performance. Both communicators lag behind models with powerful dual-core processors, but are ahead of LG Optimus Black, which has a Texas Instruments OMAP 3630 processor.

In general, the possibilities hardware more than enough to comfortably work with Xperia mini pro. This processor and memory successfully handled tasks on the Xperia Arc with a display of 854 × 480 pixels, and for the hero of the review, their parameters are even redundant. Subjectively, no delays in the work of programs or the operating system, as well as during video playback, were not noticed. It is also worth noting that in the Quadrant Standard test, the Xperia mini pro communicator received a score of 1535 points.

conclusions

Evaluating a novelty and drawing conclusions is very simple. Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro is a communicator for those users who need a small handy mobile computer with the ability to quickly type large amounts of text. Despite the "business" orientation of the novelty, it, especially in colors other than black, may appeal to anyone who does not want to overpay for large displays and wants to get a hardware keyboard in the communicator. With all this, the buyer of Xperia mini pro will not have to make any sacrifices in terms of hardware or software limitations.

The hero of the review has few subjective shortcomings: increased thickness of the case, swapped touch keys, low screen resolution. For the most part, they are a continuation of its own advantages: compactness and the presence of a QWERY keyboard. The cost of the communicator is very attractive, considering its filling and brand. It is difficult to list who it can compete with - there are not many sliders on the market with a full-fledged keyboard of this size. Perhaps only the predecessor comes to mind - the Xperia X10 mini pro, which is significantly inferior to the new product.

As a result, Xperia mini pro fits perfectly into its niche in the market: the area of ​​inexpensive compact functional QWERTY sliders. How big it is and how popular devices of this type are probably known in Sony Ericsson. If they were not needed, it is unlikely that the company would update the whole the lineup communicators.