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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 - The 2nd Xperience

By Seow Tein Hee - 10 Dec 2009

Conclusion

The Xperience

Sony Ericsson's first Windows Mobile device was the company's first foray into the smartphone saturated market (Windows Mobile based), and it was understandable that they would probably need a few more tries to nail a winning formula.

More than a year later, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 comes along to update its predecessor's flagship position in the company's line-up. But the question that comes to mind is - how much of a hardware upgrade are we looking at? A larger 3.2-inch screen and a bumped up camera sensor to 8.1 megapixels (versus the 3.0-inch screen and 5Mp sensor on the X1), are some of the changes that matters most for those seeking hardware upgrades.

Other than those mentioned above, the X2 sports the same processor speed and memory as its X1 predecessor. Manufacturers such as Samsung have moved on with their own improved 800MHz processors, while HTC is equipping their updated devices such as the HTC HD2 with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor. This is an indication that change is necessary to satisfy users' needs for a responsive smartphone that can take the modern rigors of daily multimedia needs. But considering the fact that Sony Ericsson is still relatively new in the Windows Mobile scene and with only two devices to date, we should consider a certain level of leniency towards the company for sticking to the tried and tested Qualcomm MSM 7200 528MHz processor. This however might be the reason for the slight unresponsiveness we've noticed occasionally in our usage.

The aesthetic changes for the X2 however, gave us mixed feelings. Its exclusive use of an optical trackpad without an optional five-way navigation pad and the lack of tactile feedback on its basic navigation buttons are one of our biggest grouses with the device. There are changes for the better and one of the upsides is the much improved QWERTY keyboard. We were pleased at how Sony Ericsson improved upon the slide-out keyboard by including extra keys such as the four-way navigation keys while improving the typing experience of the X1.

On the software aspect, Sony Ericsson has made it official that the X1 won't be having the Windows Mobile 6.5 update. As such, if you wish to move forth to the new OS, you have to opt for the X2, equipped with the updated Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5. XPERIA Panels are still the main flavor of the day, and more features such as the SlideView interface does add on to a greater user experience.

Now, if the X2 is looked upon as an all-in-one device, it would serve its purpose well. With a decent mileage of up to almost a day and a half, a decently sized 3.2-inch WVGA screen (some might arguably want a larger screen), and following the company's legacy of good audio delivery, the X2 is still up for consideration.

 According to Sony Ericsson, the X2 will see retail availability by January 2010, price at $1198 without contract.

But recent market trends have shown retail pricing for smarthpones to be quite competitive, and in the case of the X2, it hasn't exactly caught on, staying with the outdated S$1198 pricing from a few months back. Alternative, more powerful devices such as the HTC HD2 with the exact same retail pricing, or Samsung's Omnia II priced at least $300 cheaper will put the X2 at a disadvantage where the dollar sense is concerned. The X2 is a reasonable phone when considering all its capabilities as a whole, but it surely need a better price point to stay competitive.

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