In the past 2 years, the Android smart phone players are getting obsessed with having the biggest screen, the most core processor and the thinnest dimensions. We are seeing more brands jumping onto the dual-core bandwagon with screens being upsized beyond the standard 4.3”, which was considered huge back then.

Sony which is formerly known as Sony Ericsson in particular hasn’t been keeping up with such trend with the former flagship the Xperia arc S running on a single core 1.4 Ghz processor and still having a moderate sized 4.2” display. Despite that, there’s still one thing that stands out from Sony, and it is the design of their phones.

Early this year, Sony has revealed its new Sony Xperia NXT series of handsets with the Xperia S. It was also the first Android smart phone under the new Sony Mobile branding, after Sony has acquired full ownership over Sony Ericsson. It is interesting to note that Sony retains its familiar “s & e” slimeball logo with the new brand.

After our early preview in Shanghai, we had the privilege of using the Sony Xperia S for a long term review. Read on to discover our findings.

Design

For the Sony Xperia NXT series, they have incorporated a clean boxy design for the Xperia S, P and U. Among the 3, the Xperia S is the flagship model with the biggest screen at 4.3” and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor. The front of the Xperia S is almost 90% glass which appears all black when the screen is off. The contrasting bottom stands out with its transparent bar and a body coloured piece with XPERIA inscripted on top.

This design approach is what Sony described as “Iconic Identity”, which is a simple and strong look that’s easily recognizable as a Sony Xperia. The design itself stands out from the usual rectangular design with rounded corners that’s too common these days. Even with its 4.3” screen, the Xperia S feels like a smaller 4.0” phone thanks to its thin bezel and flat edges.

In the hands, the Xperia S is nice to touch with its soft matte finish. While it is nice to hold, the body isn’t rugged enough to withstand drops or dents. In our review unit, we had a couple of minor “bruises” at the corners which is noticeable especially on the white version.

The Xperia S comes with a removable back which is rather unnecessary as it only gives you access to the the micro SIM slot. We felt that it could have been better if it had a unibody design with the micro SIM slot placed at the sides like its micro USB slot and a HDMI port with flush covers.

The metallic physical buttons on the Xperia S is rather nice to press and it matches the well designed 3.5mm audio jack with metallic ring finish. A little gripe is the volume rocker which is placed smack in the middle at the sides. The placement is a little awkward which we find it better placed higher towards the top for a comfortable reach.

The main highlight of the design is the transparent belt which doubles up as a component for antenna reception. It lights up for about 7 seconds whenever a button is pressed and it flashes during an incoming call. The transparent belt isn’t really a notification light and there’s no option to change colours or to adjust the duration of the light to stay on. It is worth pointing out that the Xperia U’s transparent belt comes with multiple LED colours that dynamically changes according to the dominant colour of the screen.

For notifications, there’s a multi colour LED at the top left which flashes in white, orange, red, green or blue. The only complaint is that the blue light illuminated for missed calls is hardly noticeable.

For the first timers, most people would expect the transparent bar to be touch sensitive as the standard Android buttons icons are printed inside. On the contrary, the capacitive buttons are located above the transparent belt which is indicated by 3 dots. However we noticed that the 3 dots aren’t really the sweet spot and getting the buttons to work is a rather hit and miss affair. Later, we discovered that the actual sensors are actually between the dots and the display itself. It was quite an annoying at first which we soon gotten used to eventually.

Display & Audio

The Xperia S features a 4.3” TFT Reality Display that pushes a high resolution of 1280×720. Despite not being a Super LCD or AMOLED variety, the display is undoubtedly sharp on the Xperia S, thanks to its rather high pixel density of 342ppi. As comparison, the iPhone 4/4S does 326ppi. Text appears sharp and it is readable even at full width view of web pages, albeit some squinting required.

Watching HD videos on the Xperia S is great as well with sharp details and vivid colour. While viewing photos and videos, the Xperia S also comes with Mobile Bravia Engine which is a post processing engine that enhances the colours and sharpness dynamically.

For audio, the Xperia S comes with X-Loud feature which boosts the loud speaker a notch higher. It increases the volume without cracking too much which is rather good for sharing videos among your friends in the outdoors. While it performs great as a media playback device, we noticed that the speakerphone is just too soft for phone calls. When mounted in the car, we can hardly hear the other person when making a call while driving. Hopefully this can be fixed with an software upgrade as the speaker is really capable in normal video playback.

For normal voice calls, the audio pick up is great and the secondary mic acts as an active noise cancellation mic to reduce excessive background noise from your conversation.

Usability & UI

With a 720p HD screen, Sony has gone and extra mile to bring out the best out of it. The core built-in app icons such as browser, camera, email & music have been redesigned with more depth and detail. It is very noticeable when compared side by side with your standard Android app icons. If you haven’t, you can check out our Xperia S UI overview video.

Out of the box, the Xperia S runs on Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread with its own custom skin. While the Android 4.0 ICS upgrade is on the way, we have nothing to complain about the existing OS. It feels snappy and it just works without any problems to report. Just like other devices, Sony included some nicely design widgets that compliments its well designed home screen such as weather, social feeds via Timescape & quick settings. This goes to show that it really isn’t a bad thing if the phone is not the latest but having said that, Sony should be proactive in bringing its current line up to the latest Android version.

Like most new smart phones, the Xperia S comes with NFC capability which is accessible through its Tags app. Unlike the Galaxy Nexus with its ICS Android Beam, the Xperia S requires you to define tags before sharing. With Android Beam, NFC sharing is more seamless by just tap and hold to push contents/links to the next phone. Hopefully Sony will offer Android Beam when it rolls out ICS update for the Xperia S.

Unfortunately we didn’t manage to try out the SmartTags as it didn’t come with our loaner unit. What SmartTag does is it allows you to switch your phone profile with a simple NFC tap, for example car mode in the car or meeting mode in the office.

GPS Navigation

Included with the Xperia S is Wisepilot, which is a pretty good navigation software that works in Malaysia. It even came with lane assist which is rather useful especially on roads with confusing exits. Unfortunately we can’t seem to get the usual GPS lady voice to talk but this could be a limitation for the trial period.

Camera

One of the biggest highlight is the 12MP camera. With its Fast Capture feature, it allows you to take a photo instantly from sleep mode in just 1.5 seconds. All you need to do is just press and hold the dedicated shutter button while the screen is off. Strangely though, Fast Capture doesn’t work when the phone is active and long pressing the button only launches the camera app without snapping any pictures. With an active screen, it is faster to launch the camera by tapping the camera icon.

The image quality is rather good but there’s still some visible noise which is still within acceptable levels. The colours and contrast are top notch and this probably is the best camera you can get on an Android right now. The camera UI is straight forward and it comes with extra bells and whistles like smile detection that automatically snaps a picture according to the “intensity” of your smile.

Earlier on during our unboxing, we reported that there was a rendering issue with the default Android Gallery. When we previewed our photos, it looked very clear but upon tapping to zoom, the photo turned out pixilated very badly. After a software update over the air (OTA), this bug was resolved and the photos still turn out clear when zooming in. For full photo rendering, you can install the QuickPic app which lets you view photos at 100% crop.

The only complaint if we’re forced to pick would be the placement of the microphone. In landscape mode, the dedicated button is located at the top right which makes it natural to hold the Xperia S like a regular point and shoot camera. However if you’re shooting a video in this position, you would actually block the mic which results low or no audio recording at all. The Xperia S has 2 microphones, the primary at the bottom of the transparent belt and a secondary mic at the back. Initially we figured probably there’s an option to switch recording microphone but unfortunately there’s no way to do so. So if you’re shooting a video, do take note of this and we recommend holding it by the corners instead.

Sample photos and videos below:

Battery Life & Reception

Coming out from basements or from lifts, we noticed that the Xperia S took longer than usual to switch from EDGE to HSDPA. We suspect this could be done intentionally to reduce erratic switching between 2G to 3G networks for the battery savings but it can be annoying at times when you need faster internet immediately. The battery on the Xperia S is non user removable but the 1,750mAh battery is rather sufficient with up to 12-13 hours of average usage.

Conclusion

The Xperia S isn’t the fastest phone on paper, neither does it have the biggest screen size in the market. However in the sea of smart phones shouting latest specs, the Xperia S performed up to expectation while being a good looker at the same time.

If you plan to get one, we strongly advise you to get a case as soon as possible. The Xperia S body and its matte finish looks elegant but any minor dings and dents would be very obvious especially with the white version. Should you get one? If you’re looking for something different, this is definitely a phone to get with its iconic and recognisable transparent belt. It’s hard to not notice especially at night.

The camera is a fast performer from sleep mode but obviously isn’t as snappy as the recent HTC One X. Our initial impression is while the One X is a fast snapper, the Xperia S is likely to produce better quality but we will reserve our comments for our full shoot out coming out soon.

At RM1,899, the Xperia S is reasonably priced and it is available for purchase on contract with all major telcos in Malaysia. With new quad core rivals like the HTC One X and upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III, the Xperia S will have an uphill battle in the next few months. As the first Android smart phone model to launch  in 2012, things are looking good for Sony and the Xperia S is currently one of our top smart phone picks. We can’t wait to see what Sony will unveil next.

Related Links
Unboxed: Sony Xperia S
Sony Xperia S UI Overview
Sony Xperia NXT Series Compared
Sony Xperia S First Impressions
Sony offers to rectify Xperia S yellow tint issue

Photo Gallery

The Xperia S comes with a special anti-stain coating which repels dirt and makes cleaning easier. This helps especially for the white version that’s usually perceived to be prone to dirt and smudges.

A while back, we saw an Xperia S being cleaned after it was scribbled with a pen. Of course it wasn’t surprising considering ball pen ink can be rubbed off with a little friction and heat.

Here’s another video putting the Xperia S anti-stain coating to the test and this time with marker pens. From the video, it appears to be much more difficult to remove but with constant rubbing with eraser, they have managed to remove the stains completely. Scribbling with marker pen is overly excessive and the extreme rubbing might just wear off the anti-stain coating completely.

[ SOURCE ]

We’re treating the review of the Sony Xperia S like a work in progress so expect more videos to come soon but in the meantime, have a look at this video where we talked briefly about the tweaks and enhancements Sony has made to the UX skin on the Xperia S. We also highlighted some minor gripes that we have with the device.

Despite that and despite the fact that we’ve only had a couple of days with the device, the Xperia S is potentially one of the best smartphone Sony (Ericsson) has ever produced. Stay tuned for our full review.

Related post:
Unboxed: Sony Xperia S

With a 12.1MP camera, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 32GB of on board storage, the Sony Xperia S created quite a buzz when it was first officially unveiled at CES in January. We were pretty excited about the device too when we got our first hands-on at the Xperia S Asian launch in Shanghai.

In just over a month, the Xperia S is already here in Malaysia. The unit that we have is the same version that you will get in stores when the Xperia S goes on sale here and right out of the box, we noticed improvements from the early prototype units that we tested in Shanghai.

The camera performance is much better now but we will need more time to see how good the 12MP shooter on the Xperia S is. We will also compare the Xperia S with the Nokia N8 to see which 12MP shooter is the best — that’s going to be interesting.

Aside from the camera, where the Xperia S impressed us the most is in its the built quality and display. Sony really knows how to make a quality device and Xperia S feels like a million bucks with quality construction and utilising plastics that really feel premium to the touch.

The 4.3-inch screen on the Xperia S is currently the highest density screen you can get in the market, combine that with Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine image enhancement software and you get a truly mesmerizing display. Colours on the Xperia S are true-to-life vibrant, details are pin-sharp and the contrast really gives your great depth. We’ve only used the Xperia S for a few hours but we’re very inclined to say that the Xperia S has the best display you can get on an Android device. It’s something you must experience yourself to see what we mean.

Speaking of which, the Xperia S will be launching in Malaysia really soon. Sony is still tight-lipped on when exactly the launch will happen but we have a feeling the Xperia S will go on sale here sometime in early March. As always you can expect local operators to offer plans for the device as well. Question is of course, which operator will offer plans for the Xperia S. Right now, we don’t have enough info to tell you for sure.

So that’s pretty much it. Head on over to after the break for part two of the Xperia S unboxing video. As always, drop your questions in the comment section and we’ll try our best to answer them.

The Sony Xperia S body comes with a nice matte finish that doesn’t leave any fingerprint smudges all over. In addition, the Xperia S also comes with a special dirt repellent coating to keep its surface clean. So what happens if you scribble a pen on that nice white Xperia S back cover? Watch the video to find out.

Jump right into 0:30 to see it in action. The hands-on video was recorded by Mobile Review and it’s in Russian.

[ SOURCE ]

We’re bringing this topic back because we felt there’s something not quite right with the sample shots we took from the Xperia S at the APAC launch in Shanghai earlier this month.

In our previous post we commented:

With the 12MP Exmor R camera, you’d expect the Xperia S to decimate the competition but once again pixel count is by no means a measurement of how good a camera is. Truth be told, we’re kind of disappointed with the picture quality coming from Xperia S, even in conditions where there’s ample light to produce a good shot you can see a large amount of noise and loss of detail.

We’re perplexed. This is not like the Xperias that we know. The arc, arc S and ray all have decent shooters and naturally we’d assume that the Xperia S will continue where the older Xperias left off. Turns out, this is not the case. Having said that, we only had limited time with the Xperia S at the launch, we’ll test the camera again once we get a review unit.

While we await the availability of a retail unit for review, we scoured the web for other sample shots taken using the Xperia S. We found a few both from CES and Shanghai and have compiled a selection here for you to view for yourselves.

We found that there seems to be a telling pattern with the test shots. Pictures taken using Xperia S units at Shanghai seem to display much more noise and detail loss than pictures taken using Xperia S units at CES. The CES units displayed much better picture quality and detail, something more consistent of what we expect from a Sony (Ericsson) device.

Our theory behind this is that there were possibly not enough production Xperia S units available to go around and the best examples where sent to CES while the units that we tested in Shanghai could very likely be pre-production prototypes or perhaps even earlier versions. This explains the major disparity in picture quality between the two samples.

So what conclusion can we draw from this? Judging by the samples taken from the CES units, the 12MP camera on the Xperia S holds promise but we’re not going to conclude anything until we have a final production unit to thoroughly test. What is apparent is that the units we got our hands on are very likely not the final units that will go to store shelves.

Pictures taken using Xperia S at Shanghai [via]

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Pictures taken using Xperia S at CES [via]

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UPDATE: Added more 1080p sample videos.

Here are video samples taken using the 1.3MP front camera and 12MP rear camera on the Xperia S, and like the sample pictures we’ve posted up earlier, we’re left underwhelmed at the imaging performance of the Xperia S. We’ve seen Sony do better with the Xperia arc, arc S and ray.

The videos are really nothing to shout about and the 720p sample from the front camera is particularly inferior. For comparison, take a look at this 720p video we took using the 1.3MP front camera on the Motorola RAZR.

Also do take a look at our iPhone 4S v Samsung Galaxy Note v Samsung Galaxy Note SII v Motorola RAZR v Nokia N8 v Sony Ericsson Xperia ray camera megatest, it’s not a direct comparison but it gives you some indication as towhat the current crop of 8MP shooters in the market are capable of.

Keep in mind, the Xperia S units that we used to take these videos are most probably pre-production units with a few bugs still in them that needs sorting out. Let’s hope that the final retail units can muster up much better pictures and videos.

Video samples after the jump.

1080p sample using 12MP rear camera

720p sample using the 1.3MP front camera

Related posts: Everything you need to know about the Xperia S
First Impressions: Sony Xperia S
Sample Pictures: Sony Xperia S
Sony brings three new accessories to complement the Xperia S
Sony Xperia S trumps iPhone 4S in screen pixel density
Sony unveils the Xperia S

UPDATE: Check out our full Xperia S review.

The Sony Xperia S is finally revealed in Asia at their Shanghai event. Previously known as the Sony Ericsson Nozomi, the Xperia S is the first device from its Sony Xperia NXT (Next Generation smart phone) line up. It also marks the first ever Xperia Smart Phone from Sony however at present time, the name change is still subject to regulatory approval.

In terms of specification, Sony Ericsson has finally jumped onto the dual-core bandwagon as the Xperia S is running on a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor. It has 1GB of RAM and generous 32GB of internal storage. The Xperia S will be available in 2 colours – black & white.

A key highlight is the 4.3″ TFT Reality Display which pushes a high resolution of 1280×720 pixels. While 720p HD display isn’t exactly new for Android smart phones, the screen size of 4.3″ means higher screen pixel density at 338ppi. As comparison, the 3.5″ iPhone 4/4S has a density of 326ppi while the 4.65″ Galaxy Nexus is at 316ppi.

So how’s the Xperia S? Head after the break for our first impressions and hands-on video.

In terms of design, the Xperia S went for a simplicity route. Sony describes their design approach as “Iconic Identity” where it has a simple strong look that’s easily recognisable. With so many Android devices out there which looked roughly the same, Sony has added more emphasis on design in order to stand out.

In the hands, the Xperia S feels great and the soft matte finish gives it a premium feel. One benefit for going matte is that it doesn’t leave fingerprint smudges, a common problem with glossy surfaces. The build quality on the Xperia S feels much more studier than the Xperia arc. Despite not having ultra slim profile as the Xperia arc, the Xperia S has a unique curved back that’s comfortable to hold.

The “transparent belt” located at the footer gives it a unique look and it illuminates when a button is pressed. However it not just for good looks as it’s also an integral component for antenna reception. Initially we expected the translucent icons on the transparent belt to be touch sensitive but we later discovered that the capacitive buttons are actually located right below the screen that are marked with 3 dots.

The screen appears to be crisp and clear thanks to its high resolution display. On full websites, the 720p display becomes more apparent where text are still readable even without zooming in too much. We didn’t managed to evaluate the screen extensively and hopefully we can compare this once we get our hands on a long term review unit.

In terms of imaging, the Xperia S has a 12MP camera with Sony’s Exmor R and claims to have fast response time of just 1.5 seconds from standby. This is probably the fastest, beating previous camera phone speed claims. We tried it ourselves by pressing and holding the dedicated camera button while the screen was off and it was able to switch on and take the shot almost immediately. You can watch this in action in our hands-on video below.

The main camera is assisted with an LED flash light and is capable of shooting HD 1080p videos. Over at the front, there’s a 1.3MP camera which is capable of doing HD 720p videos. As mentioned in our photo sample post, it wasn’t as good as we expected. It could be due to unfinalised software but we will revisit this again once it is officially released in Malaysia.

The Xperia S has a removable back cover but unfortunately it only houses a micro-SIM slot. The 1,750mAh battery is non-removable and there’s no micro-SD slot. The rest of the expansion ports – micro USB and HDMI are located at the sides with flush designed covers. It is surprising that the Xperia S didn’t go for a uni-body design since they could have place the micro-SIM slot at the sides.

At present time, it runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with upgradability to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in Q2 2012. Despite not running on the latest OS, the Xperia S just works well and we can’t find anything to fault in our short hands-on. Also new on the Xperia S is its NFC support where contacts, photos and files can be shared by tapping 2 devices together.

So far Sony Ericsson hasn’t release any availability dates but it is expected to hit majority of global markets within Q1 this year. As the first smart phone under the Sony’s branding, the Xperia S is a testament that they are striving to make a difference in 2012. Their design centric approach sets them apart from typical Android trend of boasting mere specs numbers. This year is going to be an exciting year and Sony is definitely a brand to watch out for.

Hands-on Video

Hands-on Photo Gallery

UPDATE: Check out our first impressions of the Sony Xperia S here.

UPDATE 2:Check out the Xperia S 1080p sample videos.

UPDATE 3:Check out more picture samples from the Xperia S this time from different units here.

We’re fresh off the Asian launch of the Sony Xperia S. While we’re still sorting out the hands-on review, take a look at some sample shots we’ve taken using the device.

With the 12MP Exmor R camera, you’d expect the Xperia S to decimate the competition but once again pixel count is by no means a measurement of how good a camera is. Truth be told, we’re kind of disappointed with the picture quality coming from Xperia S, even in conditions where there’s ample light to produce a good shot you can see a large amount of noise and loss of detail.

We’re perplexed. This is not like the Xperias that we know. The arc, arc S and ray all have decent shooters and naturally we’d assume that the Xperia S will continue where the older Xperias left off. Turns out, this is not the case. Having said that, we only had limited time with the Xperia S at the launch, we’ll test the camera again once we get a review unit.

On another note, we’re uploading video samples for both the front and rear camera of the Xperia S at the moment, that’s taking longer than expected, so check back here again later to see how the Xperia S does videos. Also, lookout for our hands on report coming soon.

In the meantime, check out more sample shots after the jump.

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Panoramic Sweep

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Ladies and gentlemen this is the Sony Xperia S (previously known as the Nozomi or the Xperia HD), the first smartphone from Sony’s Xperia NXT (next generation smartphones from Sony) series of devices.

Sony says:

Xperia S showcases a new design approach referred to as “Iconic Identity”. The design will be replicated across the Xperia NXT series and creates a simple strong look that is instantly recognizable. The transparent element at the base creates an iconic silhouette where the display is emphasized and underlined. In addition, it provides illumination effects and integrates the antenna components.

The user Interface has been redesigned to match the minimalistic design of the hardware. The home screen has a new colorful flow background making full usage of HD Reality Display and dual-core processing power.

Vital specs for the Xperia S include a 4.3-inch 1280x720p HD Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260 processor and 32GB of on board storage. Additional connectivity includes DLNA, HDMI and BRAVIA Sync as well as NFC. Power is courtesy of a 1,750mAh battery pack.

Apart from the brilliant display, the other highlight of the Xperia S is the 12MP f/2.4 Exmor R camera with 1080p video capability. In addition to the 12MP rear camera the Xperia S features a 1.3Mp front camera that’s capable of shooting 720p videos. Like the Xperia ion, the camera on Xperia S also comes with Sony’s Fast Capture technology enabling the camera to go from standby mode to first shot in 1.5 seconds.

Knowing Sony Ericsson’s established reputation of making fine cameras on their mobile phones, we’re not expecting the Xperia S to disappoint. In fact we’ll go so far as to say that the Xperia S has all the makings of one of best camera phones for 2012. We can’t wait to get our hands on one.

The Sony Xperia S will be available to consumers globally from the first quarter 2012. At launch the Xperia S will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sony says users can expect an Ice Cream Sandwich update within the second quarter of 2012.

More pictures and videos right after the jump.

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