: To date, the only rugged smartphone that is officially sold on Russian market, is Sony Ericsson Xperia Active. This remarkable model guarantees its owner that nothing will happen to it as a result of active careless use.

The model is based on the filling from. In other words, the characteristics of the devices are the same. This is a 3-inch screen with a resolution of 320x480 pixels, a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, as well as a powerful 1-GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM.

The “active” costs more, but such protected devices from Sony Ericsson cost last years we have not seen. It's interesting to see how far the development of rugged smartphones has come.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• stereo headset


• 2 GB microSD card


• microUSB cable


• Additional replacement panel


• Strap


• Case

Just want to say about this accessory. A smartphone is placed in it, and so that the bottom end is at the top. Apparently, this is thought out so that you can connect headphones to your smartphone and listen to music while playing sports. Why this particular method? Because on the side you can see the symbol of the screen lock key, from which it is easy to conclude that the phone is in the correct position. The cover has a vertical valve that covers the device from above, protecting it from moisture or dust. In addition, it has a transparent window that allows you to monitor the screen of your phone. The cover also has a special pillow. It is made of a material that is somewhat reminiscent of foam rubber, but more elastic. It works as a shock absorber, eliminating the possible inconvenience that may arise, for example, when jogging.

Appearance

The body of the smartphone attracts attention primarily with its coloring. The bright combination of black, orange and silver makes the image of the device expressive. Do not forget that an additional replacement panel is included with the phone. It is white, so you can periodically vary a couple of interchangeable covers and thus update the exterior of the gadget.

By the way, the base black panel is made of soft-touch plastic, and the second one is made of a simpler, matte one. I liked the first one more, it feels more pleasant in the palm of your hand. A modification will also appear, where there will be not orange, but a calmer white edging.

The dimensions of the phone are 92x55x16.5 mm, weight 110 g. For comparison, the dimensions of Xperia mini: 88x52x16 mm, weight 94 g. As you can see, despite the increased protection, the parameters remained similar and increased insignificantly.

Attention is also drawn to the large fastening for the strap, which sticks out at the bottom. By the standards of mobile devices, it is simply huge, but for a phone with a sports bias, this is a necessary element. The complete strap is threaded through the eyelet and fixed with an additional silver clip. At the same time, the strap snaps tightly into the groove, it has a strong head. Taking into account the fact that the hole for the strap is made in the steel part that surrounds the entire phone in front, we can confidently say that it will not work just to drop the phone.

At the top of the screen is a small 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.

Under the screen are three touch keys. The first returns to the previous menu item, the second enters main screen, and the latter is responsible for additional functions. They are equipped with a backlight, and vibration feedback can also be triggered at the moment of touch. Below them is a microphone hole.

On the left is the screen lock key.

On the right side there is a volume control button. Below is a dedicated key for photography.

Upper end without any details.

At the bottom, in addition to the already mentioned “ear” for the strap, there is a pair of connectors. They are closed very securely, they are protected by separate plugs that are tightly fixed. Under one is a microUSB port, and the other hides a 3.5 mm output. If you open one of them, the phone will tell you with a special notification on the screen that you need to remember to close the compartment to avoid moisture.

The plump back panel combines the opening of a deeply recessed 5-megapixel camera lens and a LED flashlight located next to it. Nearby is an oval speaker hole.

A special recess will help remove the back panel. However, you will also need to remove the port covers that also hold the panel in place as an additional tool. After that, the cover can be removed and the inside of the smartphone will open up.

There is a special plastic lining here, which is held tightly in the grooves with the help of an elastic band. She sits very tightly, is removed only with effort. Inside is a battery that blocks the compartment for the SIM card. The other slot houses the microSD slot. It will not be possible to quickly change the card, but given design features model, I will not write it down as shortcomings.

Quality build and nice materials, as well as IP67 compliance are all nice features of the new sports smartphone from Sony Ericsson. By the way, the model is guaranteed to work under water at a depth of up to 1 meter, if it stays there for no more than 30 minutes.

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. Additionally, a factory film is carefully glued, which will not be superfluous, it almost does not catch the eye, it is not easy to notice it.

The screen 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.

Platform

The device has Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread installed. The new smartphone uses Qualcomm processor 8255 clocked at 1 GHz, Adreno 205 graphics accelerator. 512 MB of RAM 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.

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 design elements, you can use both pre-installed images or wallpapers from Sony Ericsson, as well as your favorite pictures. There are now seven colorful menu themes available. In addition, 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.

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. Adding them is easy: just drag and drop from the application menu to the home screen.

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, then the silent mode is turned on, as evidenced 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 Facebook and Google accounts, they are displayed in a single list. A backup copy of the list of numbers is created on a memory card, later the data can be restored.

When you create a new contact, a lot of fields are created. it 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.

If you press your finger on the area on the right side of the screen 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 a contact photo, after which you can make a call, send a message via SMS or e-mail, view data on 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 by 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 word options are shown as a separate line above the keyboard. Copying and pasting fragments is supported.

Email

To work with e-mail, automatic mailbox setup is launched (if it is not Gmail, connecting immediately after the mail address is 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

The Sony Ericsson Xperia active has a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with 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 in landscape or portrait 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 (2560x1440), 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.

Capturing 3D panoramas is working.

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 folders, the thumbnails of the pictures are 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 pictures, 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 works. 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 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 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 melody sounding 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, a 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 the 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 and a text file to it. 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 is provided with a brief description and images for greater clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if a new phone was purchased, you can immediately install the 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. Built-in pedometer Walkmate allows you to track the average daily distance traveled. There is a program for counting traffic. A compass works, which allows you to create geotags. The flash can act as a flashlight, there are several modes of operation. There is an application for sports. Good for viewing documents Office program suite. The Quadro Pop game develops the ideas of Tetris and invites you to line up sports accessories. Browser For Internet surfing, a convenient application is used. 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 For navigation, Google Maps is used - the standard software for all android phones. 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. Scaling works using multitouch or virtual buttons. Another application for calculating routes could be Wisepilot. She can calculate the route, display weather data. It also requires an active network connection. 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. Wi-Fi 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. There is a function of work as an access point. Using the microUSB connector allows you to connect your phone to a computer for synchronization and battery charging. Working hours The smartphone is equipped with a 1200 mAh battery. Declared up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 351 hours of standby time. In the music playback mode, the smartphone works up to 25 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. In the continuous video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and working Wi-Fi, the phone worked for 6 hours and 15 minutes. Conclusion The phone rings very loudly, this is the merit of the xLOUD option, the call is heard perfectly. The speaker is no complaints, except that it is a little deaf, but apparently this is caused by a special protective membrane that closes it. But there are no complaints about the volume, it's nice to talk on the phone. The vibrating alert is weak, it is not always felt. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active model will be a successful addition to the company's lineup. Protecting your smartphone allows it to withstand swimming in water, as well as working in conditions of high humidity. Frequently click on touch screens uncomfortable, they do not respond well to wet fingers. In this device, thanks to a special screen coating, there will be no such problem. The gadget is good because it offers a modern filling, which is enclosed in a solid frame. I cannot attribute the device to those that tourists take with them. This is where the time limit comes into play. It’s easier to take a simpler device from the Philips Xenium line or a model like that by placing it in a sealed bag (there are such things for travelers). However, for those who love sports and related paraphernalia, this model will be a godsend, because our competitor is not officially for sale, but the new rugged smartphone from Samsung ( Galaxy model Xcover) is not yet available for sale. Surcharge for a new product in the amount of 2000-3000 rubles compared to the Xperia mini looks reasonable and justified. Here the equipment is better, the phone itself is more durable and looks more spectacular. It can be safely advised for purchase to all those who are looking for a smartphone with an increased margin of safety. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test Lab Date of publication of the article - October 26, 2011

Contents of delivery:

• Telephone
• Battery
• Charger
• USB cable
• Wired stereo headset
• Additional socket
• Special case
• Headphone holders
• Hand strap
• Warranty card and user manual

Positioning

Sony Ericsson has released an original smartphone for lovers of an active lifestyle. Hence the name of the device "Active", which is translated from English as "active", "energetic" or "live". Key features This model includes a dust- and moisture-proof body, as well as a scratch-resistant screen covered with mineral glass.

As it was mentioned in the "Delivery Kit", the phone comes with a large number of accessories. From the pre-installed software - special applications for sports: "WalkMate" (step counter) and "iMapMyFITNESS +" (tracks the path on the map, records the distance and speed of your movement). Otherwise, it's a typical "android" Sony Ericsson of 2011: a single-core "GHz" processor, 512 MB of RAM, a camera with the ability to record HD videos.

Design, dimensions, controls

Smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Active has a small size (92 x 55 x 16.5 mm), comparable to the Xperia Mini (88 x 52 x 16 mm). The weight is 110 grams, i.e. 11 grams more than the ST15i. The edge along the perimeter is made of metal (aluminum), the side faces are made of orange-colored plastic, the back surface (depending on the removable panel) can be black (“soft-touch”) or white (porous, matte plastic).

The degree of protection of this device is IP67, which means:

1. Complete dust protection.
2. With short-term immersion up to 1 meter, water does not enter in quantities that disrupt the operation of the device. Permanent work in immersed mode is not expected.

In order to prevent moisture and dust from getting inside the phone, under the back panel there is another cover with rubberized edges that is hermetically inserted into the grooves. The connectors are also protected, on which the plugs located on the cover are tightly put on. After removing the USB cable or headphones from the connectors, a warning message will appear on the screen: "To ensure water resistance, close the outer caps of the connectors." Therefore, if suddenly, as an experiment, you decide to “drown” the Xperia Active, then before you do this, you need to close them.

In general, the case looks solid, but you should not get carried away with crash tests, in particular, dropping the device: it does not have an impact resistance classification.

Thanks to the streamlined shape, the device fits well in the hand, and it is easy to fit in the pocket of a shirt or jeans. On the bottom edge there is a large bow for attaching the strap.

There is a speaker on the front panel. Its volume is high, there is a margin, intelligibility is not bad. Nearby is a light and proximity sensor, as well as a very tiny LED indicator. It flashes blue during an incoming call, but does not signal a missed call. But when SMS is skipped, it flashes green, when connected to a PC or the battery is charging, it is constantly lit in red. Below are three touch buttons: challenge context menu, exit to the main screen and "back". They are illuminated with white LEDs. The brightness is weak, but in the evening it does not blind the eyes, but during the day it is quite noticeable. Just below the back key is the main microphone.

On the left side there is an on/off button that is almost sunk into the case, it also acts as a display lock. Its stroke is large, the pressure is soft. On the right is the “rocker” for adjusting the volume and activating the camera. The move is small, but the pressure is soft. There are no connectors on the top end, and microUSB and a 3.5 mm audio output (under the plugs) on the bottom.

The second microphone, speaker, LED flash and camera eye are located on the back of the surface.

Under the protective cover at the bottom is a slot where a memory card is installed.

SE Xperia active (left), Samsung Wave Y, Samsung Wave M, HTC Mozart, HTC Radar, SE Play (right):

Display

It has exactly the same parameters as the Xperia Mini: diagonal - 3″ (physical size 64x43 mm), resolution 320x480 pixels (192 pixels per inch), the matrix is ​​​​made using TFT-LCD technology with backlighting, displays 16.7 million shades of color, touch layer - capacitive, with support for up to four simultaneous touches. The sensitivity is high.

There is also a proprietary software image processing - Mobile Bravia Engine, borrowed from Sony TVs. Viewing angles are good, but the brightness drops slightly when tilted. There is a proximity sensor. Reacts quickly, no complaints. The brightness of the display backlight is regulated by a light sensor, and you can manually set its upper threshold. Almost does not fade in the sun. Xperia active has built-in accelerometer, compass, linear acceleration sensor and G-sensor.

Below is a comparison of the screens of Sony Ericsson ST17i and Samsung Wave Y (as the most similar diagonals):

Battery

Active uses a lithium-polymer (Li-Polymer) battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh, 3.7V, 4.5 Wh. Model - EP500 (suitable for Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, X8, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro). According to the manufacturer, full charge The battery should last almost 5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours (15 days) of standby time.

During testing, the following figures were obtained: in standby mode, the smartphone worked for about a week, up to 15 hours when playing music at maximum volume (in headphones) and up to four hours when playing HD video at automatic backlight brightness.

On average, with 15-20 minutes of calls per day, one hour of shooting photos and videos, the same amount of listening to music, four hours of Wi-Fi (Twitter, Skype, surfing the Internet) and two hours of watching movies, the battery was discharged in 11-12 hours. Approximately the same "lives" and Xperia Mini.

USB recharges the battery in two hours network adapter- in an hour.

Communication options

The smartphone works in 2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) and 3G networks (HSDPA 900/2100; 1900/800). Speed ​​GPRS - up to 86 Kbps, EDGE - up to 237 Kbps, HSDPA and HSUPA - up to 7.2 Mbps and 5.8 Mbps, respectively.

There is WiFi standard 802.11b/g/n. To distribute the Internet, it can be used as an access point. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is supported - a standard that allows compatible devices to transmit and receive various media content (image, music, video) over a home network, as well as display it in real time.

Memory, memory card

As with the entire Xperia lineup, the SE Active comes with 512MB of RAM. For most tasks, this volume is more than enough. Internal memory - about 320 MB, and free 270 MB. The kit comes with a 2 GB card, so if you wish, you can "throw" all applications on it.

USB speed 2.0 when writing to a complete memory card is about 10 MB / s, reading - up to 21 MB / s.

The maximum supported microSD card capacity is up to 32 GB.

Camera

The Xperia active has a 5-megapixel camera module with autofocus and LED-backlight (single-section, LED). The maximum photo resolution is 2592x1944 pixels, videos are recorded at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels at 30 frames per second. The flash shines about 1.5 - 2 meters.

The photo quality is much worse than on the Xperia Mini: the color reproduction is not very good, the clarity is mediocre. A possible reason is a low-quality protective glass. The videos also don't look the best, but the stereo base is excellent (you can clearly hear where the left channel is and where the right one is). The front camera of the smartphone ST17i is missing.

To activate the camera, you need to press the button on the side of the device. It has two positions: focus (press halfway) and get a frame (squeeze). There is also touch focus.

Photo mode interface: left - image capture mode (normal, condition detection, smile detection), resolution (2MP, 3MP and 5MP), touch focus (on or off), shooting conditions (portrait, landscape, sports, etc.) and flash; on the right is the gallery, and in the center is switching from photo to video mode.

Photo mode settings:

• Timer, stabilizer (on/off)
• Focus mode (single, multi, macro, face detection, infinity, touch focus)
• white balance
• Geotagging
• shutter sound
• Measurement (center, middle level, point).

Video mode interface: left - shooting conditions (portrait, night mode, sports, landscape, etc.), video size (MMS, QVGA, VGA, FWVGA, HD720p), exposure, focus mode (single, face detection, infinity), backlight ( on off.).

Video mode settings:

• exposition
• white balance
• Measurement (center, mid-level, point)
• Timer
• Stabilizer (on/off)
• Microphone
• shutter sound

Gallery:

Video file characteristic:

• Format: MP4
• Video: AVC, 6000 Kbps
• Resolution: 1280 x 720, 30 fps
• Audio: AAC, 128 kbps
• Channels: 2 channels, 48.0 kHz

Photo examples:

Performance

Xperia Active uses the same Snapdragon chipset and Qualcomm MSM8255 (Scorpion) processor at 1000 MHz as Sony Ericsson Arc, Ray, Mini Pro. Codename - Snapdragon S2, architecture - ARMv7, CMOS technology, manufacturing process - 45 nm. Adreno 205 is responsible for the graphics part with support for OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenGL ES 1.1, OpenVG 1.1, EGL 1.3, Direct3D Mobile, SVGT 1.2, Direct Draw and GDI.

During the testing of the device, I did not have any serious questions about performance: it works quickly, there were no “glitches” and slowdowns. It is understandable, since its "brothers" with the same processor have a higher screen resolution.

Technical specifications:

Below are the performance tests of Active (left), Mini, Ray (right):

Quadrant Standart

Antutu Benchmark

Performance test Active (top), Mini, Ray (bottom):

Active performance test:

Software platform

The Xperia ST17i smartphone is running an operating system Google Android version 2.3.4. On the this moment it is up to date. A long-awaited update for the Xperia line will be available in the coming weeks. Namely, for the following models: Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro and Xperia Active, Xperia pro, Xperia ray, Xperia neo V, Xperia arc S and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman. The update can be done both using a PC and over the air.

Navigation

The Snapdragon S2 chipset includes a GPS module based on gpsOne Gen8. Time of "cold" start - up to one minute, "hot" - less than 10 seconds. Maps are used for navigation.

Shell and menu

To unlock the screen, you must press the power button or the "home" button and then swipe your finger from left to right over the square with the lock pattern. The home screen is represented by the “four corners” interface already familiar to the Xperia line: up to four shortcuts can be placed on each of them. They are dragged from the menu or the desktop. To delete a specific label, move it to the trash. There are 5 virtual desktops in total. Cannot be expanded.

The menu is represented by 12 shortcuts on one screen in a 4x3 grid. At the bottom right there is a button, when pressed, the labels begin to “float”. In this mode, they can be transferred from one place to another, or by clicking on the cross, you can delete the application. The rest of the interface is similar to previous models. Sorting is carried out: alphabetically, according to frequently used programs, according to recently installed or at your own discretion.

Challenges

By clicking on the "phone" icon, the dialer is called up. It is large, comfortable, but when you enter a number, saved contacts with these numbers are not displayed. At incoming call the photo and name of the subscriber is displayed on the screen. During a call, you can turn on the speakerphone. From the "dialer" it is easy to switch to "contacts". To add a new contact, you must click on the icon on the top right. The following information applies to each subscriber:

• Surname
• Telephone
• Email
• Call signal
• Other

The "calls" section displays the name of the subscriber, phone number, date and type of call (incoming, outgoing, missed).

Messages

To enter text, a standard Android keyboard is used, which in this model is called "international". Two types of keyboard are also available: full-size and standard (telephone). However, the user has the right to install any other from the Market.

Applications

There is a standard set of programs for most SE-smartphones:

Alarm.

Calendar.

Cards.

Google Talk.

Navigation.

Addresses.

Locator.

Calculator.

Track ID. Determination of the artist and the name of the song by its small excerpt.

Youtube.

News and weather.

Adobe Reader.

Quadrapop. Tetris style game.

Data Tracking. The program controls the data transfer between the phone and the GPRS/3G network.

3D camera. A new application that appeared in Android firmware 2.3.4. Photos can only be viewed on a Sony Bravia 3D TV.

Xperia Hot Shots. A special application that tracks the game of six famous tennis players who will later become the heroines of a reality show.

Connected devices. This application plays photo or video content on BRAVIA TVs or Sony PlayStation 3.

Watch.

Wisepilot. Navigation app.

3D album.

NeoReader. It is a universal application barcode scanner that turns the camera on your mobile phone into a barcode scanner and allows you to access mobile content on the web.

Music and video. Allows you to access the music and video compositions of your Facebook friends.

WalkMate. The program is a step counter. The easy-to-use Walk Mate app stays active throughout the day. It keeps track of the number of steps you have taken and the steps remaining until you reach your daily health goal.

office suite. It is a document viewer app for Android. Allows you to open DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX and PDF files.

UEFA. Official app, allowing you to follow the main football tournament in Europe.

update center. Software update application.

games and apps.

Flash. The application allows you to turn on the LED flash or screen. Depending on the option selected, they may flash.

Liveware Manager. Allows you to launch an application when you connect a headset, headphones, or power cable.

Compass.

iMapMyFITNESS. The app tracks your route, speed, travel time, and heart rate with ANT+ technology.

Web browser

Standard browser installed. Works fast, supports flash-animation (Flash 11) and multi-touch. However, on a small screen with a small resolution, surfing is inconvenient.

Multimedia

Music player

After launch, the screen displays: a large album cover, three player control keys (“forward”, “backward” and “play/pause”), transition to the list of songs. There are 10 equalizer presets in the settings (normal sound, classical, dance music, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hip, jazz, pop and rock).

The loudspeaker volume is high (actually, as in all the latest Sony Ericsson models), the sound is very clear and pleasant. AT general settings sound parameter xLOUD is present. It allows you to increase the volume up to 20-30%. After “bathing” the device in water, the speaker may wheeze a little. However, after drying, everything becomes normal.

The sound quality in the headphones is excellent, however, the high frequencies are somewhat raised, and there are not very many low frequencies. Complete "ears" are not as hopeless as it might seem: music lovers, of course, will replace them with others, but I do not recommend them to others. On the headset, the call answer button can switch tracks or pause them.

FM radio

Operates in the range of 85 - 108 MHz. Supports RDS. From the settings - only the output of music to the speaker and the search for radio stations. The sensitivity of the receiver is good, the volume in the headphones is high, as well as when outputting to the speaker.

Video player

By default, the player can play MP4 and 3GP files. When installing, for example, a Dice player, the number of supported codecs and file types expands to MKV and AVI recorded in H264, DivX and XViD. The maximum resolution is up to 720p.

Impression

Call quality is at a high level and comparable to other phones in the Xperia line. The vibrating alert is average in strength, but it feels good in a jacket or jacket pocket.

The direct competitor of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is Xperia mini. The difference in cost is almost 4,000 rubles. This is an overpayment for a dust- and waterproof case and a richer set of accessories.

For about 12,000 - 13,000 rubles, you can try to find last year's Motorola Defy model. She has a larger screen and resolution, but the processor frequency is weaker, and he can not write video in HD. The rest of the parameters are identical. Despite the fact that Motorola's mobile division does not operate in Russia, the company guarantees service for already sold phones. At the end of September, Defy + was released, but it is sold only in Europe and Latin America for $350.

Another similar smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy X cover. Unlike the SE ST17i, it has a large 3.65″ screen. The camera is only 3 megapixels, and the processor frequency is 800 MHz. The exact cost is not known, and when it will appear is also unclear.

So it turns out that at the moment the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is the most affordable "Google phone" with a dust and moisture-proof housing.

Characteristics:

• Class: smartphone
• Form factor: monoblock
• Housing materials: plastic, screen coating - mineral glass, protection class IP67
• Operating system: Google Android 2.3.4
• Network: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100
• Processor: single core, 1000 MHz, Qualcomm MSM8255
• RAM: 512 MB
• Storage Memory: 320 MB and 2 GB memory card
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b / g / n /), Bluetooth 2.1 (A2DP), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset
• Screen: capacitive, TFT-LCD 3″ with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
• Camera: 5 MP autofocus, 720p video recording, LED flash
• Navigation: GPS (gpsOne Gen8)
• Optional: accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM radio
• Battery: Removable Lithium Polymer (Li-Polymer) 1200 mAh
• Dimensions: 92 x 55 x 16.5mm
• Weight: 110 grams

Roman Belykh (

Familiar to many readers of this blog and sites about mobile gadgets Sony Ericsson Xperia Active already sold with might and main, but in my hands for full review hit just recently. I will tell about the results of the weekly operation of this gadget in this review. But first, two words about what it is.

Sony Ericsson Xperia active, one of the last representatives of the Xperia line introduced this year, has opened the niche for Sony Ericsson of smartphones for an active lifestyle or simply ruggedized smartphones. Compact, waterproof and dustproof, with a powerful processor and Android 2.3.4. Shockproof and unsinkable phones are a rarity, among Androids on our market it’s completely “he’s the only one.” Xperia active is not the case when “it’s not a pity to gouge”, but rather, “it’s not easy to gouge.” Extreme in my everyday life small, and therefore, having received it for a test, I took it to the dacha in a well to drown and chop with an ax.

Main performance characteristics of the model:

Weight and dimensions: monobloc 55x92 mm and 17 mm thick, 110 g weight
Screen: 3 inches, 320x480 pixels, capacitive, multi-touch, auto-rotate
Battery: lithium-ion, 1200 mAh capacity
Memory: 320 MB built-in, 2 GB microSD card included, up to 32 GB supported
Camera: 5 megapixels, with autofocus, flash and digital 8x zoom, panorama function and 3D panoramas
Video: up to 720p (1280x800), 30 fps

It is easy to see that in terms of screen characteristics and in general appearance, the phone resembles the popular Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro (the one with the keyboard). The same 3" screen, the weight is exactly in the middle (a little heavier than mini and a little lighter than mini pro). The engineers' idea is clear: a phone for jogging or going out of town should be compact.

Equipment

The Active surprised me: in a seemingly ordinary box, almost cubic in shape, there was hidden the richest set of additional equipment of all Sony Ericsson that I have visited over the past year.

The complete list is:

• phone itself, battery and MicroSD memory card 2 GB
• headphones with a regular 3 mm plug, a clip for attaching the wire to clothes and temples (special rubber temples for attaching headphones - in them, ordinary earbuds sit firmly on the ear like a good headset)
• case for carrying on the shoulder or wrist
• clip strap
• interchangeable white cap

Armor

Sony Ericsson Xperia active is a bright phone in every sense. First, it's orange. Secondly, it has an original silhouette - due to the hypertrophied "ear" for attaching the strap. It's hard not to notice and hard not to recognize. At the same time, the image turned out to be solid and harmonious. With a replaceable white cap, it looks no less interesting:

But the most important thing in its design is functionality.

The possibility of panoramic shooting appeared in latest firmware. You need to select the shooting direction (left to right, right to left, top to bottom or bottom to top), then follow the instructions on the screen.

Panoramic photos are saved in the usual .JPG resolution, 3D panoramas also save a file with .MPO resolution, in which, presumably, everything is 3D.

Summary

On the rating scale, I decided to note the features of the Xperia active, omitting the characteristics inherent in other Xperias (such as a powerful processor, etc.). So:

Dimensions and weight
Rich equipment
ANT+ chip
Moisture and dust resistance

Standard battery size
Extravagant appearance

The creators of Sony Ericsson Xperia active positions the device as a model for surfers, snowboarders, and other extreme comrades. Indeed, it's great for jet skiing in the summer or boarding in the winter and still staying connected and in control of your body - right down to your heart rate and calories burned. This is a phone that should not be left on the shore.

The Xperia active is one of the latest smartphones from the defunct Sony Ericsson. Now only the Japanese manufacturer is responsible for the development and production of such devices, which bought out a 50% share of the joint venture from the Swedish partner. Nevertheless, despite the financial failures of Sony Ericsson, last year the company managed to release several memorable models, which include the Xperia active.

The smartphone is aimed at people who are fond of active sports. This is indicated by the "sporty" coloring of the body, and the accessories included in the kit, and design features, and a set of special applications. In addition, the Xperia active case protects the device from dust and moisture. Let's see what features are implemented in one of the most non-standard Android-smartphone Sony Ericsson.

Appearance, controls

We rarely talk about a set of smartphones, because in most cases the box contains a standard set: the device itself, a USB cable, a charger and headphones, sometimes a memory card. However, from time to time, manufacturers supplement the kit with other accessories. As an example, you can remember. And while the Sony Ericsson Xperia active doesn't have a key fob or docking station with built-in speakers, there's something interesting to be found here as well.

So, in addition to the smartphone itself, an additional white cover, a strap for carrying the device on the arm, and a case that can be attached to the shoulder were put in the box. The last accessory will be appreciated by those who are used to jogging: the cover is firmly fixed, does not interfere during runs, protects the device from precipitation and allows you to see the screen through a transparent window.

The Xperia active smartphone should not be taken as a model protected from any adverse effects. The case of the device is not shockproof, and you should be more careful with water procedures. Although the device is positioned as waterproof, the manufacturer warns against prolonged "bathing" Xperia active. The model simply offers additional protection in case of emergency - the phone's performance will remain in the rain, after falling into a puddle or mud.

We did not stress test the apparatus, but simply held it under a stream of cold water. Quite expectedly, the device withstood this simple experiment without visible consequences.

Against the background of most modern smartphones, the Xperia active model looks very compact, although its thickness is rather big - 16.5 mm. Thanks to the rounded ends, the device fits comfortably in the hand, the large thickness does not affect its ergonomics.

Almost the entire body of the Xperia active is made of fingerprint-resistant plastic. A silver edging is made of metal, turning into an unusually large loop on the bottom of the device. The same cord mentioned above for carrying the phone on the hand is threaded into the hole.

The smartphone has few hardware controls: on the left side there is a power button, on the right side there is a volume rocker and a camera activation button. It is convenient to use the buttons, they protrude from the case by 1-2 mm and are characterized by clear pressing.

The audio jack and microUSB port are located on the bottom edge and are covered with sealed rubber plugs. Above the display is a speaker, proximity and light sensors, as well as an LED indicator. Contrary to first impression, Xperia active does not have front camera, instead Sony Ericsson built in a second proximity sensor. Under the screen are three familiar backlit touch buttons: "Back", "Home" and "Menu", even lower - a barely noticeable microphone hole.

The most interesting part of the Xperia active, apart from the hole for the strap, is the front panel. By default, the smartphone has a black cover with a softtouch coating. If desired, it can be replaced with a white matte panel. Both the first and second options give a spectacular combination with an orange stripe running along the perimeter of the device.

On the back, a 5-megapixel camera eye, an LED flash, an additional microphone for noise reduction and a speaker are noticeable. Having removed the cover, we will see a small surprise - another rubberized panel that fits snugly to the body and reliably protects the battery, SIM compartment and memory card slot from moisture.

The assembly of Xperia active is of high quality, without backlash. Despite the thickness of 16.5 mm, due to the small length, width and weight, the smartphone will fit in almost any pocket. Appearance and materials of which the device is made also leave positive impressions. At least the device is not like most other smartphones and attracts attention.

Display

Xperia model active is equipped with a 3-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. Since the screen diagonal is small, it is difficult to notice individual pixels in the image. The picture quality can be assessed as good, especially if you turn on the Bravia Engine function - it makes the colors more saturated.

You can see the image in the sun, but still I would like to add brightness. But the viewing angles of the display are good both horizontally and vertically. In general, we have an ordinary mid-level screen, without any special advantages and disadvantages.

As befits a protected device, its display is resistant to scratches. In addition, the manufacturer pasted a barely noticeable film over the screen.

Interface, functionality

The smartphone runs on Android 2.3 and is equipped with a proprietary interface, familiar to those who have experience with Sony Ericsson smart phones. To unlock the screen, swipe your finger across the virtual slider from left to right. If you do this from right to left, the silent mode will turn on.

The user has access to five desktops, where you can place application shortcuts, widgets and folders. Browse mode displays the contents of all desktops on one screen.

The most popular programs can be fixed in one of the four corner zones. Each of them contains four icons. Thus, you can provide quick access from any desktop to 16 applications. Programs can also be viewed from the main menu. There you can sort applications alphabetically, by frequency of use and installation date, you can also organize your own list.

Many additional programs are installed in the firmware. There is, for example, in addition to the standard also a catalog of applications from Sony Ericsson. The TrackID program can determine the name of the track from a short passage, WalkMate counts the number of steps taken, and iMapMyFitness + takes into account the route traveled and supports GPS and ANT +, which can be used to connect to a heart rate sensor and other specialized devices.

The Timescape program, which aggregates messages from popular social networks, mail and SMS, has not gone anywhere. In addition, there is a flashlight, a QR code reader, Wisepilot navigation service, an office suite, and the ability to play photos or videos on Sony TVs and consoles.

The musical component of the smartphone deserves special mention. And the point is not so much in the audio player, but in high-quality sound - it is loud, rich and "bass". Model Xperia active may well be used as a replacement for the player. In addition, the kit turned out to be unexpected good headphones, which is not typical for most other phones. Perhaps, in terms of the quality of music reproduction, the device may well compete with more expensive HTC smartphones that come with the Beats Audio headset.

Camera

The Xperia active is equipped with a 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording. In terms of image quality, it is not inferior to photomodules with the same resolution installed in the Samsung Galaxy model. In low light conditions, noise and problems with sharpness are noticeable, but in general, the photos are not bad for a mobile device.

Classic monoblock with original design. Differs in high quality of production. Can be used with gentle handling for a long period of time. When creating, high-quality plastic with a solid margin of safety is used. To date, the best value for money. Mobile phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) The best option for lovers of an active lifestyle. The device has a compact size and low weight. It can be used without the participation of a second hand. There is a thin metal edging around the perimeter of the device.The mobile phone case provides effective protection from dust particles. Able to dive into water to a depth of 1 meter. His performance is not affected. For dust and moisture protection touch phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) has a protective cover under the back cover. It covers the elements that are important for its work. All connectors in the model are reliably protected by special plugs. The body is solid and looks one hundred percent.

On the front panel you can see the speaker responsible for the sound output. Next to it is a proximity and light sensor. They are closely related to the operation of the display of a mobile touch phone. Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i). On the left side of the model, you can see the on/off button. On the right side is the volume control key of the mobile device. Next to it, you can see the camera activation key. At the bottom of the phone there is a connector for connecting usb and a headphone output. All of them are closed with strong plugs.On the back of the mobile phone is a second microphone, speaker, flash and camera eye. Under the battery cover, you can find a slot for installing a memory card. The screen of the device has a diagonal of 3 inches. The resolution is 320 by 480 pixels. The matrix supports the display of 16.7 million colors. The screen is touch sensitive and can support up to 4 simultaneous clicks. Its sensitivity is high. It is very convenient to use.

On a mobile device Sony Ericsson Xperia Active St17i lithium polymer battery is used. It can hold a charge for about 2-3 days with an average intensity of using the device. The phone charges on average for about two hours. Your mobile device uses memory cards. Due to them, you can significantly increase its functionality. The gadget menu is easy to learn and does not require special knowledge. It can be sorted out very quickly.

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