Plugged

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread means it’s fast, lets you do a few things at once and, of course, gives you access to 200,000 apps.
• 5.1 megapixel camera with flashlight for recording video.
• 4-inch screen and very responsive touchscreen keypad.
• Legit Playstation controller, including shoulder buttons and analog joystick.
• The Snapdragon graphics processor’s high-quality visuals, the stereo sound and added vibrations lend a thrill to racing and shooting games.
• Compatible with a handful of original Playstation games like Snowboarders 2 and MediEvil (Around B200 per game).
• Facebook addicts will like the fact that a one-time sign-in will let you share photos, music, likes and game scores between your phone and your FB profile.
• Front-facing VGA cam makes you video chat-ready.

Bugged

• Some might be a bit overwhelmed by just how many things this gadget does (phone, web stuff, multi-player gaming) to fully enjoy its capabilities.
• Some of the tiny buttons and icons on the touchscreen are difficult to select, especially if you have big fingers.
• The front-facing VGA cam is pretty disappointing compared to the one at the back.
• Some games take input from both the Playstation controller and the touchscreen, which can be confusing and annoying.

Verdict:

This is a geek’s phone, packed with tons of features, all of which work generally well. All the good games are in the B200 range though, so that might be a bit of a shock compared to 99 cent iPhone apps. If you’re a serious gamer, it’s worth switching over from Apple, but occasional gamers (yes, even Angry Bird addicts) will just find the phone a little bit clunky.
B17,990. www.sonyericsson.com/xperia