subject: The New Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini [print this page] Sony Ericsson have jumped onto the bandwagon and joined the host of manufacturers currently producing a "mini" handset. But rather than shave a few millimetres off here and there, Sony Ericssons X10 Mini is a total revamp of the original design, and a considerably smaller one at that.
With a name like the X10 Mini the obvious attention is going to be drawn to the size of the unit. Measuring just 83 x 50 x 16 mm and weighing in at 86 grammes, the handset is probably the most impressive attempt at a compact handset as we have encountered. The obvious drawback to such reductions in size is a scaling down of the screen size. The 2.55" screen is indeed smaller than most smartphones, but that is the general idea. Its superb 16 million colour reproduction and capacitive touch make it a very impressive screen. QVGA resolution can be displayed, a generally images look crisp and vivid. Located beneath the screen are the three main function button and that is all, from the front the Mini is a very neat, plain and attractive affair. A glance around the sides of the unit and this minimalist approach is continued with just two further buttons on one side of the phone and the other completely clear.
The Camera facility built into the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini is fairly satisfactory considering the units size. Capable of recording shots with a 5 mega pixel resolution, the result are pleasing, but this is Sony Ericsson, a brand renowned for their camera phones. An LED flash is incorporated, meaning shots in darker places are now clearer, and auto focus helps maintain this clarity in all lighting conditions. These are the main feature you could really require from a phone snapper, however the likes of geo-tagging and various preset scene modes make the package seem all the more attractive. Video footage can also be shot, and a handy video light is also included. Sony Ericsson have added a microSD card slot onto the unit, meaning the memory can be expanded to upto 16GB.
In terms of multimedia usage, the X10 Mini is well catered for. Although the in built music player is fairly basic, some nice touches make it stand out from the crowd. Holding your finger on a specific song for example will instantly look up that track on YouTube or via a Google Search. 3 neat playlist options are also included which are the fairly standard most played and new added alongside the clever "never played" list, if you are tired of listening to the same songs.
The Sony Xperia X10 Mini is a very small phone, but none the less one that is packed with feature. The handset will appeal to people wanting smartphone functionality, but in an all together more manageable and compact chasis.
