Camera, Music, Battery, Conclusion


Camera

Sony Ericsson's Xperia PLAY is equipped with a five megapixel camera on the dorsum, consummate with flash and autofocus. The user interface of the camera app is very sparse and not as intuitive as the ones plant on about HTC and Samsung phones. Pressing on the on-screen shutter push will cause the camera to focus, and lifting your finger off information technology will snap a photo. Yous can pre-focus the lens by property down the shutter button and letting the lens focus, then sliding your finger off the push if the lens does not achieve focus.

The unmarried-LED flash is very powerful, though the camera often had trouble metering properly with the wink. Some shots would be very bright and overblown, while others would exist dark and underexposed.

The video camera does not tape in HD resolution, but maxes out at 480p resolution (640 x 480 pixels). This is a bit disappointing for a $200 telephone released half-way through 2011, though it is not out of the ordinary for stock Android devices. The forepart-facing photographic camera is a VGA-resolution unit of measurement, and is useful for the occasional self-portrait. It was not very sensitive in depression-lite, though, and since the Xperia PLAY does not accept a video chat app out of the box, you lot are forced to head to the Android Market to get more use out of the front camera.


Music

The Xperia PLAY does not have a custom music app from Sony Ericsson, but relies on the stock one provided with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The histrion is pretty basic, though at that place is a home screen widget available and playlist command. While you can freely download the new Google Music app from the Android Marketplace, which provides a much cooler experience, y'all nonetheless need an invitation to use Google's deject Music service.

There are no streaming music services provided on the PLAY out of the box, though there are many options available to users in the Android Market. Music can exist listened to with standard iii.5mm headphones or wireless Bluetooth headphones, but Sony Ericsson does non provide either with the PLAY.


Bombardment

The Xperia PLAY has a 1500mAh battery that Sony Ericsson claims is skilful for almost 8 hours of talk time or almost 17 days of standby. The company also gives a quote of 5 hours and 35 minutes of game play time with the bombardment. For the most part, the Xperia PLAY lived upwardly to those bombardment claims during my review menstruum. I was able to get a full day of employ (viii to 10 hours) on a unmarried bombardment charge with my standard set of multiple email and social networking accounts, and using the phone for web browsing, text messaging and a few phone calls through out the twenty-four hours.

As expected, extended gaming on the phone will deplete the battery quicker than normal, as both the screen and processor are taxed heavily when playing games. Y'all might want to consider a second battery if you program on beating Crash Bandicoot on the subway ride, as you might non have plenty juice to make a telephone call by the terminate of the solar day.


Final Thoughts

The Xperia PLAY is a solid Android smartphone that offers some unique gaming features, fifty-fifty if it doesn't execute fully on them. The basic version of Android ii.three Gingerbread works well enough and is free of the cruft of manufacturer customizations that plague other handsets. Unfortunately, the build of the PLAY is non of the same quality equally other phones in its toll range, and the gaming features are not so well executed that it is worth the extra money.

The lack of game titles available is a bit surprising as well, every bit I would have expected Sony Ericsson to provide many more exclusives for the PLAY that would make the handset more desirable. The hardcore gamer might be happy with the PLAY for at present, but the residual of us should probably wait for version 2 or opt for a different phone that does other things ameliorate (remember, y'all can play games on pretty much any smartphone available today).

Hopefully Sony Ericsson will correct some of the bugs with the gamepad and refine the system every bit a whole. The Xperia PLAY is available now through Verizon Wireless for $199.99 on a new 2-year agreement.

Pros:
  • Stock version of Android 2.iii Gingerbread
  • Fast processor
  • Gamepad
 Cons:
  • Thick and clunky
  • Inexpensive build quality
  • Lack of gaming titles available

Dan Seifert is a contributing editor at MobileBurn.com.MobileBurn focuses on cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and related hardware. Republished with permission.