Uae Mobiles

Let’s face it. The release of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 in the region hasn’t come at the best of times. With the global credit crisis, the Apple iPhone 3G currently dominating the touchphone market, as well as Blackberry keeping QWERTY keyboard users satisfied, there seems to be not a lot of room for Sony Ericsson’s first Windows Mobile smartphone (which offers a bit of both). But after trying it out, would I become a convert?

Looks-wise, the X1 is a very well built and designed device; much nicer looking than the iPhone and some Blackberry and Nokia models, so perfect for the average businessman. Its typical tablet size that’s not heavy or bulky slides aside to reveal a very attractive keyboard.

In terms of display, the resolution is probably the phone’s best feature (800×480), but the screen size will be disappointing for touchphone fans. At a mere three inches, you’ll be stuck with using the stylus to select items on the screen rather than your fingertips.

Needless to say, it’s much easier using the keyboard. Being a regular Blackberry user, the keys felt slightly weird at first and took some adjusting, but after a while, it was a breeze. The keyboard is bigger and clearer than most other phones, so e-mailing can be a little bit slower at the start compared to other QWERTY keyboards, but it won’t slow down your working day.

The X1 is based on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, which is a very powerful OS offering a plethora of applications, as well as access to a huge library of third-party software. From Microsoft Office software to fun games, the phone offers a little bit of everything and beats Blackberry when it comes to the built-in features and applications.

The device also fares well with audio and video. With 400MB of internal storage, as well as a microSD card slot for additional storage, you’ll never run out of space for pictures, music or short vids. The Windows Media Player Mobile, can play files as well as stream audio and video. As for the camera, the 3.0MP takes fairly decent photos, but nothing groundbreaking. It is also quite slow between takes.

All in all, although the X1 is nice-looking and packed with features, its assets simply do not justify its steep price.

Price: Dh2,999