Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V - Specifications. Review of the smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V: neo

The smartphone can still be found on sale, it remains an interesting option, since it has good design, functionality and price. All those qualities for which they love and choose new devices for themselves.

There are not so many changes compared to the previous solution. The first step is to take into account that the set includes a 2 GB card, not 8 GB as before. The camera has also changed: now it is 5 megapixels versus 8. The rest of the models are similar, the design remains intact, inside is the familiar proprietary shell. At the same time, there was an update to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, so you can take a look at the already updated interface.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• Stereo headset


• 2GB microSD card


• Charger


• HDMI Cable


• Instructions

Appearance

The dimensions of the case are as follows: 116x57x13 mm, weight 126 g. Among Android solutions, the device is not the largest, but not the smallest either. Although there are already enough thinner solutions on the market.

The design of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V has not undergone any changes, so you can easily confuse both versions of the Neo. The model has been on the market for almost a year, during which time it has remained the same original and easily recognizable. The smartphone is not like other devices, and its good looks will appeal to the majority.

The smooth lines of the body give the model a unique character. There are sloping transitions on the upper and lower ends, and inserts on the sides matching the style of silver color.

As before, the smartphone is available in several colors. Moreover, the range has expanded and now the following assortment is offered to choose from: blue, silver, white, red and gold. The coating is of high quality, it does not peel off over time, the smartphone will retain its original appearance for a long time.

On the upper end, which has a curved shape, there is a 3.5 mm jack in the very center. It is used to connect the bundled headset or any other headphones. To the left of it is a microUSB port. A cable is connected to it for synchronization and transfer of data to a computer. On the other hand, there is a connector for an HDMI cable. Both slots are covered with hinged plastic caps, reliably protected from possible dust ingress.

At the bottom, you can see the microphone hole and a notch that helps to remove the back cover.

There are no elements on the left side, there is a completely smooth silver plate.

On the right side, closer to the top, you can see a small round silver button. She is responsible for locking the screen. Below there is a large volume rocker. A two-position camera release button is located on a small ledge. It is also worth mentioning the presence of an indicator light, which is located on this part of the case. It signals missed calls, new messages, glows when charging - a very useful thing. It glows brightly and is hard to miss.

At the top, in a small oval hole, is the earpiece. Next to it is a camera for video calls and a proximity sensor.

There is a block of mechanical keys under the display. It is made in the form of a curved strip, which consists of three large silver buttons. The first button helps to return to the previous menu item, the central one directs you to the desktop. Also, if you hold it down for a few seconds, it activates the application manager. The last key brings up the context menu.

They do not have a backlight, but due to the large size, accidental clicks are excluded. The buttons are comfortable, they are pressed softly, the action is accompanied by a soft click.

The back of the smartphone is curved, comfortable and ergonomic. Painted in a metallic shade, looks beautiful.

Here you can see the ringer speaker, corporate logo and camera lens. It is easy to see the LED flash next to it.

The smartphone is assembled tightly, reliably, without backlash in the panels. Under the removable cover there is a compartment for a microSD memory card, to replace which you do not need to turn off the device. The SIM card slot is blocked by a battery.

Display

The diagonal of the display is 3.7 inches. It is made using Sony Mobile Bravia technology. Its feature is improved color reproduction - when this function is activated (it can be disabled in the menu), the contrast and sharpness of the image are increased, the picture is natural, natural, vivid. The resolution is 480x854 pixels, up to 16 million colors are displayed.

Of course, the screen is capacitive, 4-point multitouch is supported. He responds well to touch. The smartphone has an accelerometer, it allows you to change the picture, you just have to turn the phone. The proximity sensor turns off the screen when the phone comes close to your face during a call. There is no automatic brightness control sensor.

I would like to note the presence of a special coating for the display, which should provide protection from scratches. The screen coating is something between glass and plastic, and it can be found in many other modern solutions. A special film will initially be glued to the display, which will serve as additional protection. It is glued very neatly, it is difficult to notice it. If you do not know about its presence, then you may not even notice its existence.

The behavior in the sun is average, the data is not very visible in bright light. If you do not manually set the display brightness to the maximum value, then there may be problems with the readability of the data on the screen.

The screen is dim, which is easy to see when comparing the smartphone with its counterparts. For example, the margin for adjusting the backlight is significantly higher. Maybe for some it will be a plus, because in this mode the battery power is consumed more slowly. But at the same time, those who prefer bright, contrasting images will bypass this model.

Platform

The smartphone has a Qualcomm MSM8255 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, an Adreno 205 graphics chip. There is 512 MB of RAM, as well as about 300 MB for user needs. A 2 GB card will be included with the device. The performance is flawless, the smartphone is smart and does not slow down. All users can already upgrade to Android 4.0.3. Therefore, it was especially interesting to try the Xperia Neo V with the latest firmware version.

Menu

At the top of the screen there is a service line, which displays the time, battery charge, signal reception level indicator. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By pulling it down, you can find out in more detail what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received via Bluetooth. If music is playing, the control buttons will be displayed on a separate line. It is easy to delete unnecessary data, just swipe your finger along the line.

As a design element, it is possible to use both pre-installed images or branded wallpapers, and your favorite pictures. In addition, shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop.

Widgets are selected, they can also be added to the desktop. There can be 5 virtual screens, while an interesting function works: you can swipe with two fingers from diagonally opposite corners, all desktops will be reduced and displayed on one screen.

Of the additional customization options, we can highlight the presence of built-in themes of different shades.

The smartphone menu consists of several working areas. If you install additional applications, then over time there will be more such areas. There are 16 icons on the screen on a translucent background, under which you can see the wallpaper set on the main screen. The icons can be arranged in a way that is convenient for the user. There is also a sorting by several criteria: alphabetically, frequently used, recently installed.

When the screen is locked, the display shows the date and time. To unlock the screen, you need to swipe from left to right. If you do it the other way around, the camera is launched, as evidenced by an additional icon. If a player is playing in the background, the music control buttons are displayed here. Answering a call is also easy, just pull either the green or the red tag.

Phone book

The smartphone has a convenient assistant for importing contacts both from a SIM card and from Facebook and Google accounts, they are displayed in a single list. A backup copy of the list of numbers on the memory card is created, later the data can be restored.

When adding a new contact, many fields are created. This includes various types of phone numbers, email addresses, quick communication tools (AIM, ICQ, Gtalk, Skype, and others), residential addresses, and others (alias, note, internet call).

Your smartphone has a list of alphabetical letters located on the right side of the screen. If you press your finger on this line and move down or up, then a letter pops up on the screen - a kind of quick search that helps in cases when the phone has several hundred, or even thousands of contacts. The search works by the first letters of the contact name for both language layouts. There is a menu of favorites where you can add frequently used contacts.

Call log

You can access the call log directly from the phone book - it is highlighted in a separate tab. There are a single list of dialed numbers, received and missed calls, for clarity they are marked with icons of different colors. By clicking on a line, you can delete a number from the call log, add it to a contact, or perform some other actions. After selecting a number from the list, detailed information about the call will be displayed.

Viewing the call history, you can not only make a telephone conversation with the selected subscriber, but also send him an SMS or e-mail from this list without going to another menu. The number is dialed using a convenient virtual keyboard. Automatic search of numbers works, which highlights suitable numbers, where the order of the entered digits is the same.

Posts

For SMS and MMS, there is a shared folder where received messages go. When sending, adding various objects to the SMS, you can automatically convert it to MMS. Messages are grouped by addressee in the message feed. While typing, a small field will be displayed for characters. The longer the message, the more the space allocated for the character set increases. The device can copy, cut and paste text (and not only in the messages themselves, but you can also add it to a document or to an e-mail). A convenient cursor is used for navigation, which helps to correct typos, highlight the necessary sections of the text.

Predictive text input is available, when correction and word completion systems help you type text at a fast pace, so you don't waste time correcting mistakes. Possible word suggestions are shown on a separate line above the keyboard. There's Swype here, which makes chatting even faster by virtually eliminating typos.

Email

To work with e-mail, the automatic configuration of the mailbox is launched (if it is not Gmail, which connects immediately after the mail address was entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports downloading attachments in familiar formats.

When composing a letter, you can also attach various files from the device's memory to it. The function of copying text and automatic mailbox checking (the interval is set manually) is also working. Sorting of mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Camera

The smartphone uses a 5-megapixel module with autofocus and LED flash. A dedicated key on the side of the smartphone is used to launch the camera. By holding it down for a few seconds, the shooting mode starts, this can be done from any application, it is not necessary to go to the main menu.

Help icons are displayed on the screen to help you set up the modes and conditions of photography. 5 small icons are displayed on the side - the phone shows the last received frames. By pulling the icons to the side, a gallery of captured images opens.

Various options are available:

Image Capture Mode: Normal, Scene Recognition, Front Camera, Panoramic View, 3D View.

Flash: Auto, Off, Fill In, Red-eye Removal.

Photo resolution: 5M (2592x1944), 3M (2048x1536), 2M (1600x1200 pixels) 16: 9 or 4: 3.

Timer: 2, 10 seconds.

Smile recognition: large, medium, small.

Geotags.

Shooting method: On-screen button, touch shooting, key only.

I think that for clarity, it makes sense to show Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V next to Sony Xperia U, so that you can evaluate the quality of shooting both smartphones in automatic mode. The quality is good with sufficient lighting.

Left Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V, right Sony Xperia U:

Gallery Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are shown here. The gallery works both vertically and horizontally. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, previews of images are generated without much delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device. In folders, thumbnails are smaller, so that not 3, but 4 images are placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works with the help of multitouch. Files can be sent by email, Bluetooth, SMS or posted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign to a contact. Rotation of images, reduction of their size is supported, as well as additional information about a specific file is displayed, the place where the picture was taken is also shown if geotagging is working. Images are shown as folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section), and sorted by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - in the same folder you get several sections. You can scroll using the strip displayed at the bottom of the screen, or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere. There is also a second version of the gallery, which is available in any device on Android ICS. It works faster, I like its design better. The functionality of the applications is similar, but the second is equipped with a built-in photo editor that allows you to apply various effects. The video is played from the gallery, where there is a separate folder for videos. Nothing special can be said about the phone here. There is no support for DivX and XviD codecs in the smartphone, so the possibilities for playing video out of the box are rather modest. You won't be able to see almost anything without an additional player, so it's worth visiting the app store. Timescape Timescape combines tabs that combine posts from various social networks: Facebook, Twitter. In addition, there is data on phone calls, SMS and MMS, e-mail. The output data is configured, unnecessary data can be hidden. An update is also installed: manually or automatically. Messages are presented in the form of translucent panels on which the name of the sender, the text of the message itself, as well as the source where the message came from is written. Gone is the ability to customize the background, now it's the same blue color. The list scrolls very quickly, without a hint of delays. In general, the thing is beautiful and interesting, the main drawback is related to the not very beautiful design - if the author of the post has an avatar, then this image will be displayed stretched across the entire width of the transparent panel. Player To listen to music, you can select tracks sorted into several categories: artist, album, tracks, lists. In the latter case, there are automatic playlists (recently added, popular tracks never played), and manual listening lists are also created. From the list with music, you can add songs to the playlist or send them via MMS, Bluetooth or e-mail. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. In the music playback mode, a large album cover is displayed (if it was assigned earlier), there are playback control buttons on the screen. Optionally, the song is set as a ringtone. Equalizer settings are also available. These are the following presets: normal sound, classical, dance, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock. There are no manual settings. While listening to music, you can find information about the artist - a list of videos available for viewing on YouTube is displayed, learn about him, see the lyrics. The sound quality for the Android segment is very good. There is a sufficient headroom in terms of loudness, the middle frequencies are well worked out, and the lower range is also quite good. Lovers of deep bass can try to play with the equalizer, which will help change the sound image, albeit not without some distortion. It can also be noted that a widget has been added for controlling music when the screen is locked, which was previously lacking. Radio The smartphone has a radio that has an automatic station search function. You can also save dozens of frequencies in the phone's memory. It is permissible to easily switch between your favorite stations by clicking on a small icon, which will automatically move between saved waves. TrackID allows you to identify the melody sounding on the radio in your smartphone or somewhere nearby. Not only the song title will be displayed, but also the album title, artist name, and cover art. Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style, the display of information for a whole month, week or a specific day is configured. You can customize the type and tone of alerts for recorded events and appointments. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. When a new record is created, a name is assigned to it, a period and a place are set. It is indicated with which of the calendars it will be synchronized, you can send invitations to contacts from the notebook. A snooze period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording, the signal will be triggered in advance. Alarm The smartphone allows you to store multiple alarms in memory. The repeat is set both for 1 time and for every day, only for working days or weekly. You can also set specific days. The alarm melody is set, you can add a vibration alert and a text file to it. The period of repeated signal triggering is set. The phone screen can display the weather forecast, date and time in large symbols. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation. It has an additional menu. The smartphone works with Google search, which searches both among the contents of the device and through the browser. Recent requests that were entered on the computer may also be displayed, the phone will use the account. Among the rich assortment of Google Play, a customer can evaluate thousands of applications and choose the necessary set of applications for themselves. There is a convenient search function, as well as dividing programs into categories, which greatly simplifies browsing. You can look at the reviews, rate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is provided with a short description and images for better clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if a new phone was purchased, you can immediately install those applications that were previously purchased. YouTube is a standard application for most modern devices that allows you to watch videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. The Facebook application will allow you to communicate on the network of the same name directly from your mobile device. Google Talk chat is working. The file browser is useful for various operations with data in the smartphone's memory. News and weather are displayed. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices wirelessly. The Office Suite application is built-in, which shows files of "office" formats, but is deprived of the ability to edit them. You can buy the full version if needed. Browser A convenient application is used for surfing the Internet. The navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages, there is a log of the pages viewed. Several windows open, search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function of changing the screen brightness directly from the browser work. Thanks to multitouch, pages are easily scaled (virtual keys also work to change the size of the displayed one). Font size changes, password saving works, flash is supported. For zealous users, there is Opera Mini, which is economical in using traffic, at the same time speeding up the download of data. GPS navigation Google Maps is used for navigation - the standard software for all Android backgrounds. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, thus, the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function of determining the current location, calculating the route from the start to the end point, and the way of movement is set: by car, on foot or by public transport. The route is laid on the map, while key places are indicated in the form of text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and pave another path. Scaling works with multitouch or virtual buttons. Settings There are standard settings that are found in any Android smartphone. This section allows you to control the capabilities of the smartphone in terms of modifying the interface, as well as change various parameters of the phone. The smartphone offers to use a convenient proprietary application that will configure all the key parameters. If you do not use it immediately after purchase, then you can return to it later. Connections The smartphone operates in the ranges GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 900/1700/2100. There is Bluetooth 2.1 with support for EDR and A2DP, not counting support for other generally accepted profiles. Wi-Fi b / g / n works at the usual level. The smartphone remembers the entered passwords for networks, is able to automatically connect to them, being within their range. Modem and access point mode is provided. MicroHDMI allows you to connect your smartphone to various external sources (TV or monitor) and broadcast media content to them using the supplied cable. Working hours Used lithium polymer battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh. Official data on the operating time are as follows: up to 7 hours of talk time, up to 430 hours of battery life in standby mode, up to 31 hours of listening to music. On average, the phone works for a day, sometimes a day and a half with a small load. With 20-30 minutes of conversations a day, 20-30 photos, 2 hours of listening to the player, 30-60 minutes of using network applications (browser, twitter), as well as using continuous synchronization with Google services, by the evening there were about 15-20% of a fully charged battery in the morning. In this case, the brightness of the screen was set to the maximum value. In continuous movie playback mode with the following settings: maximum display backlight level, synchronization is on, Wi-Fi is on, the smartphone lasted 9 hours and 15 minutes. An excellent result, but it is worth remembering that the screen is far from being as bright as that of its counterparts. Accordingly, it helps him to work longer, all other things being equal. Conclusion The speaker is good, there are no problems with the volume, there is enough headroom for various conditions. The vibrating alert is rather weak, it is not always possible to feel it. But it is compensated by sonorous melodies that the phone notifies the owner with. Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V is slightly different from. Among Sony products, it occupies a middle position: somewhat more expensive than the popular one, but at the same time cheaper than the recently presented new products in the Xperia line. In this case, it turns out to be a direct rivalry with the Xperia U. Which of the smartphones is more interesting? In terms of design, I like the Xperia U better, but it also wins in terms of screen quality. She has a modified player, and there will be an update to Android 4 version. But at the same time, the main problem of the device is the small amount of internal memory. The Xperia Neo V has no problems with this, it will not be difficult to install a card of the required size. The devices are similar in terms of speed and functionality. The cameras are also of a fairly close level, you can safely put an equal sign between them. They ask about 10,500-11,000 rubles for the device, which is quite adequate, based on the qualities of a smartphone. Users can upgrade to the new version of Android, Sony keep promises and release fresh versions of firmware. In the arsenal of Sony there is also a smartphone with a memory card, this is a new one, which costs about 14,000 rubles. This is already a full-fledged replacement for Neo and Neo V, so that buyers have a fairly large choice between the company's models. The Neo V is for those who want it all at the lowest price, the Xperia U with a focus on design and the Xperia Sola that offers both the style and features of the 2012 line. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Date of article publication - July 19, 2012

Built on Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). This is a phone, one might say, with a difficult fate. It was presented in February at Mobile World Congress 2011 and was supposed to go on sale in the spring along with the Xperia Arc and Xperia Play, but the earthquake in Japan disrupted the plans of the Japanese-Swedish manufacturer, as a result of which the debut of the Xperia Neo in key markets took place only in the middle summer. The device appeared in Russia on July 7. The manufacturer's recommended price is 17,490 rubles.

Specifications Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo (MT15i):

• Network: GSM / GRPS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS / HSPA (900/2100 MHz)
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• Display: touchscreen, capacitive, 3.7 ", 854 x 480 pixels, 16 million colors, TFT, Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine technology
• Camera: 8 MP, autofocus, flash, geotagging, Exmor R matrix, HD video recording (720p)
• Front camera: 0.3MP
• Processor: 1 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255
• Internal memory: 320 MB
• Memory card: microSD (up to 32 GB)
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 3.5mm jack
• microUSB 2.0
• HDMI out
• Talk time: up to 7 hours on 2G networks, up to 7 hours on 3G networks
• Standby time: up to 430 hours on 2G networks, up to 400 hours on 3G networks
• Operating time in MP3-player mode: up to 31 hours
• Working time in video player mode: up to 7 hours 25 minutes
• Dimensions: 116 x 57 x 13mm
• Weight: 126g
• Form factor: touchscreen candy bar
• Type: Smartphone
• Package contents: 8 GB memory card, battery, charger, microUSB cable, stereo headset, documentation, HDMI cable
• Colors: blue, red, silver
• Date of announcement: February 13, 2011
• Release date: July 2011 (in Russia)

Design and construction:

Android manufacturers have to differentiate themselves in a variety of ways - some focus on design, others copy popular devices, and others focus on the user interface. The strength of the latest Sony Ericsson models is the design. The Xperia Neo smartphone is the ideological successor to Vivaz and in many ways resembles it.

The back cover, as well as the top and bottom ends are rounded. Below the display are the traditional Android keys - "back", "home" and "menu". Above the touchscreen, there was a place for the manufacturer's logo, speech dynamics, light sensor, front camera with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels and two proximity sensors. The left side is free of buttons, while the right side contains the lock key, LED indicator, volume control buttons and a camera button. The main microphone is at the bottom, an additional one is at the back. The back has a speaker and an HD camera with LED flash. At the top there is a microUSB port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an HDMI output. The microSD card and SIM card can be accessed by removing the battery.

The device looks stylish without exaggeration (in this case, a red model is considered). The look is spoiled a bit by a number of holes for sensors and an additional camera, but you quickly get used to them. The design of the Xperia Neo is well-designed, the phone fits comfortably in the hand, and all the controls are well located - the buttons are easy to press for both right-handed and left-handed people. But the camera power button could be more responsive. If the phone is lying on a hard surface, for example, a table, then the speaker is perfectly audible, but if you put it on a case or any other soft surface, the speaker is blocked, and an incoming call or alarm clock is easy to miss. It is easy to notice the poor location of the speaker in horizontally oriented games, when the fingers of the right hand (when turning the phone 90 degrees to the left) completely block it.

The plastic is of high quality, but glossy, which makes it so easily soiled. The plugs of the connectors are held by elastic bands, which look flimsy, but in fact they do their job with a bang. The monoblock feels monolithic, but the decorative insert on the left, in the case of our specimen, sometimes creaks at the bottom (it was experimentally established that this depends on how the back cover is laid down). Compared to the squeaky Xperia X10, the Xperia Neo is a cut taller.

In Russia, the Xperia Neo comes with a charger, a USB cable, an 8 GB memory card, a wired stereo headset, documentation, a battery and an HDMI cable (we have a European phone, so there is no HDMI cable in the photo).

Software:

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo is built on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). At the time of this writing, the OS version is Android 2.3.3, and Android 2.3.4 will be released by October. One game is preinstalled on the phone (in our case it's Let’s Golf!), Standard Android applications and services (Android Market, Gmail, Google Search, Google Talk, Maps, etc.). The proprietary function Timescape collects in one place the latest events (calls, messages, changing the status of friends on Facebook and Twitter), presenting them in a single feed on the main screen. The TrackID function helps to find out the performer of the currently playing song (it identifies known bands without problems, it is even able to identify little-known performers). Fortunately, Mediascape is a thing of the past, and access to multimedia content is implemented in the traditional way.

There are many standard widgets, some duplicate each other, but most of them are useful. The missing ones can be downloaded in no time from the Android Market (I recommend Tiny Flashlight +, Advanced Task Killer, Yandex.Pogoda, Backgrounds). You can also place shortcuts and folders on the five desktops. Unwanted items are removed by simply holding and dropping them into the cart. Live wallpapers are supported (you can put it if you don't mind the battery).

I was sincerely pleased with the huge selection of standard melodies for incoming calls. There are seven dozen of them and they represent different genres - from some completely simple trills for fans of minimalism to guitar tunes and traditional melodies for those who like to stand out from the crowd. But there are not many melodies for the alarm clock and they are all kind of calm and soothing - it is not recommended to set them to wake up in the morning (easy to miss, checked).

The speaker on the Xperia Neo is loud and the sound quality is much better than on the Xperia X10. This is especially easy to check on standard melodies - the old model has a "flat" sound with a noticeable predominance of the top.

Of course, it should be noted that the Xperia Neo is one of the few Google phones that currently support two-way video calling via Skype.

Overall, the Xperia Neo is a typical Android OS with its own strengths and weaknesses. But, I will note that the smartphone is "smart".

Camera:

The device got an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, geotagging, LED flash and HD-video recording function (1280x720 pixels). When taking photos, you can change the capture mode, resolution, control the flash, change the exposure value, set the white balance, metering and activate digital image stabilization. During video recording, the options are roughly the same.

The camera does not shoot downright badly, it just does not shoot as well as I hoped after seeing the mention of Exmor R.

In most of the shots, the Xperia Neo (left) outperforms the iPhone 4's 5MP camera (right), but not always. For example, in the 5D sign, the Apple phone flipped the colors and made it blue, although it is purple (ignore the backlighting on the right and left, it changes). There is often a lot of noise in the iPhone 4 photos, which is not observed in the Xperia Neo. In general, a smartphone can shoot better indoors than outdoors:

If we compare the cameras Xperia Neo (left) and Xperia X10 (right), then the "old man" is not much ahead:

With video filming, too, no revelations. No better and no worse than competitors. True, it is noticeable that he is inclined to "under-convey" juicy shades.

Experience of use:

The buttons on the Xperia Neo are positioned correctly - exactly where you would expect them to be. The capacitive display with a diagonal of 3.7 "works at a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The dimensions of the phone depend on the size of the screen, and in this case the smartphone is not perceived as a "shovel" like the Xperia Arc, Galaxy S 2 or the vast majority of HTC products. The shape of the case also contributes to this.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor is single-core and operates at 1 GHz. Coupled with 512 MB of RAM and an Adreno 205 graphics chip, the Xperia Neo is fast enough and can barely slow down when scrolling through desktops overloaded with online widgets. The list of contacts with a good hundred entries is scrolled smoothly and without hesitation, which some advertised flagship Google phones cannot boast of (I will not point my finger, it is ugly).

Opening hours are the scourge of all Googlephones. With heavy use, the Xperia Neo will need to be charged every day. Charging time at the initial stage of the phone's life from 1-3% to 100% was about 3.5-4 hours.

A small test was carried out to check the manufacturer's declared operating time in video playback mode (7 hours 25 minutes). For this, a two-hour HD-movie Silent Hill in MP4 format was taken. The brightness and volume are turned to maximum, the Mobile BRAVIA Engine function is on, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G are also active.

After two hours, the Xperia Neo and iPhone 4 each had 72% charge. After another two hours, the Sony Ericsson smartphone had 40% of the charge, and the Apple device - 33%. Obviously, the phone could play the movie at least one more time. Thus, I believe that with the communications turned off, the headphones connected and with a moderate brightness, the phone could hold out for the declared time or a time close to it (7 hours). The Xperia Neo heats up moderately, but not as much as the Xperia X10 and even more so the iPhone 4.

The touchscreen of the Xperia Neo is much more responsive than the screen of the Xperia X10, it fades in the sun more than the displays of the opponents in question, but you can easily read the names in the notebook or the names of folders. It is not easy to assess the brightness of the device due to the fact that the phone now and then strives to set it automatically:

A few words about the Mobile BRAVIA Engine technology. It is very difficult to fix the difference in the picture with and without it with a camera, it is also not always possible to see the difference with a glance, but according to purely subjective sensations, it is better with it. It seems to make the picture richer and more natural.

Outcome:

It often happens that the first joy from owning a new device quickly disappears and disappointment comes in its place - you don't like it, it jars and generally there is an unpleasant feeling of wasted money. But in the case of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, there was no mood change and I even thought for some time to give up the Apple iPhone 4 in favor of it and Android (plus a customizable interface), but my girlfriend, after seeing the red Xperia Neo and holding it for a while hands, did not leave me a chance - the phone was given to her. Of course, at first you will have to teach how to use Android and some tricky tricks (this is Android), but I am calm about the fate of the device.

The upper end of the device bears all the communication load, there are MicroUSB and HDMI ports, as well as a 3.5 mm headset jack. On the bottom, in turn, there is a microphone hole and an eyelet for a wrist strap.

The dimensions of the device are consistent with the modern idea of ​​what should be a touchscreen candy bar. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo fits well in the hand, it also feels good in the pocket. This, however, has already been said. And in general, this device can be given the highest marks for its external design and ergonomics. The glossy finish spoils the overall impression a little, but such a stylish appearance is achieved largely thanks to it. The matte finish would definitely make the smartphone less attractive. So you have to come to terms.

Iron, camera, battery life

The heart of the smartphone is a Qualcomm MSM8255 single-core processor with a clock speed of 1 GHz. By the way, the same hardware base is used in the flagship Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, and in many competing smartphones, for example, in the HTC Desire S.

As you well know, this is not the height of technological excellence; Dual-core mobile processors are in vogue. And yet, Qualcomm's single-core processor provides sufficient performance for basic tasks. It is helped in this by the graphics core Adreno 205, which takes over video decoding, processing clips from the built-in camera and graphics in three-dimensional games. If we compare the performance of the Xperia Neo with the performance of dual-core smartphones in synthetic tests, then the difference is, of course, obvious. However, no brakes are observed in operation. The Xperia Neo is great for displaying heavy websites, PDF documents, WVGA movies and HD movies from the built-in camera.

The amount of RAM in the smartphone is not as large as we would like - 512 MB, but the same amount, for example, is installed in the iPhone 4. So the amount of RAM in this case will not become a factor limiting performance. By the way, half a gigabyte is the ceiling for Sony Ericsson devices, the same amount of memory is for the flagship Xperia Arc.

For data storage, only 320 MB of memory is provided, but the emphasis here is not at all on it, but on the slot for microSDHC cards, which allows you to use cards with a capacity of up to 32 GB. In the box with the device you will find an 8 GB card, which you can easily do without.

In terms of communications, everything is standard. There is a Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n module with the ability to organize a mobile access point, Bluetooth 2.1. As for the wired connection, it is provided by the micro-USB and HDMI ports. The latter is used to connect external screens, but, as practice shows, connecting monitors or televisions to mobile phones is used extremely rarely. There is also navigation provided by the GPS module, which supports the Assisted GPS (A-GPS) receiver cold start acceleration technology and, of course, is based on Google Maps.

Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, offered colors, certificates.

SIM card

A SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile technology and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) integrates all the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that can be recognized by the mobile device.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of different designs - pop-up camera, PTZ camera, notch or hole in the display, camera under the display.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Locating

Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a technology that enables wireless communication for transferring data over short distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio / video interface that replaces older analog audio / video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge required for their function.

That is, not very expensive, but at the same time with good processors, cameras and screens. Yes, they appear, but this is due to the fact that top-class devices go on sale, which replace the previous flagships. Accordingly, expensive devices are becoming more affordable.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo initially targets the middle class - with all its advantages, it can become one of the most popular solutions in the segment. The model received the same hardware as the flagship, which means that the smartphone has all the usual attributes of a modern Android solution, including a strong 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and support for HD video recording (720p).

Contents of delivery

• Telephone


• Battery


• Stereo headset


• 8GB microSD card


• Charger


• Cable


• HDMI cable


• Instructions

Appearance

I think that many people remember last year's models from Sony Ericsson based on Symbian platform. These were smartphones and. The devices had an unusual case design, where the curved ends were striking, as well as the characteristic convex rear panels.

When creating a new device, designers undoubtedly looked back at previously created products. The original human curvature concept is embodied in the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo body.

The phone is medium-sized, 116x57x13 mm and weighs 126 g. Among Android solutions, the device is not the largest, but not the smallest either.

Optimal dimensions, in my opinion. I like mid-size phones like the hero of the review or, it is worth mentioning both, and. They all have fairly similar dimensions, which are due to the display diagonal. For these models, it ranges from 3.5 to 3.7 inches.

Among the segment of "googlephones" the phone looks fresh, maybe even unusual, which is associated with the smooth, curved lines of the body. If the bulk of smartphones of this level are similar to black angular blocks, then the forms of Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo immediately allow you to stand out from their background. It is easy to distinguish it from other models.

The phone will be available in several color versions. You can choose from three types of housing. They are dark blue, red (like in the photos) and silver. All colors are good, someone can immediately refer to the red color as "feminine", but it is rather a burgundy shade. Not a flashy bright color, but a completely noble color that will not be alien to the male audience. In general, the company did not limit itself to one modification, as it often happens, but provided several options to choose from at once.

A new type of painting is applied. Now the composition and the method of its application are used, which contribute to the durability of the coating. This means that over time, the paint will not peel off, will not fade. However, this does not save the case from minor scratches - they appear, but are hardly noticeable.

At the top, in a small oval hole, is the earpiece. Next to it is a camera for video calls and a proximity sensor.

There is a block of mechanical keys under the display. It is made in the form of a curved strip, which consists of three large silver buttons. Due to it, the effect of metal parts is created. The first button helps to return to the previous menu item, the central one directs you to the desktop. Also, if you hold it down for a few seconds, it activates the application manager. The last key brings up the context menu. The logo of the Xperia line is applied under them.

They do not have a backlight, but due to the large size, accidental clicks are excluded. You can notice the presence of a pair of diodes that do not carry out any functional load. The buttons are comfortable, they are pressed softly, the action is accompanied by a soft click.

On the right side, closer to the top, you can see a small round silver button. She is responsible for locking the screen. Below there is a large volume rocker.

A two-position camera release button is located on a small ledge. It is also worth mentioning the presence of an indicator light, which is located on this part of the case. It signals missed calls, new messages, glows when charging - a very useful thing. It glows brightly and is hard to miss.

There are no elements on the left side, there is a completely smooth silver plate.

On the upper end, which has a curved shape, there is a 3.5 mm jack in the very center. It is used to connect the bundled headset or any other headphones. To the left of it is a microUSB port. A cable is connected to it for synchronization and transfer of data to a computer. On the other hand, there is a connector for an HDMI cable. Both slots are covered with hinged plastic caps, reliably protected from possible dust ingress.

At the bottom, you can see the microphone hole and a notch that helps to remove the back cover.

The back of the smartphone is curved, comfortable and ergonomic. Painted in a metallic shade, looks beautiful.

There is a place for the corporate logo on the removable part of the case, below there is a small slot, from under it you can hear the sounds of the speaker. Closer to the center is a camera lens slightly recessed into the body, which is edged with a chrome bezel. Next to it is an LED flash.

The smartphone is assembled tightly, reliably, without backlash in the panels. Under the removable cover there is a compartment for a microSD memory card, to replace which you do not need to turn off the device. The SIM card slot is blocked by a battery.

Display

The diagonal of the display is 3.7 inches. It is made using Sony Mobile Bravia technology. Its feature is improved color reproduction - when this function is activated (it can be disabled in the menu), the contrast and sharpness of the image are increased, the picture is natural, natural, vivid. The resolution is 480x854 pixels, up to 16 million colors are displayed.

Of course, the screen is capacitive, multitouch is supported. He responds well to touch. The smartphone has an accelerometer, it allows you to change the picture, you just have to turn the phone. The proximity sensor turns off the screen when the phone comes close to your face during a call. There is no automatic brightness control sensor, as in the flagship model.

I would like to note the presence of a special coating for the display, which should provide protection from scratches. The screen coating is something between glass and plastic, and it can be found in many other modern solutions. A special film will initially be glued to the display, which will serve as additional protection. It is glued very neatly, it is difficult to notice it. If you do not know about its presence, then you may not even notice its existence.

The diagonal of the screen is well matched. In my opinion, the optimal size for a mobile device is 3.5-3.7 inches. In this case, the smartphone retains a moderate size and is convenient in everyday use. The behavior in the sun is average, the data is not very visible in bright light. If you do not manually set the display brightness to the maximum value, then there may be problems with the readability of the data on the screen.

For comparison, I'll put the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo next to it. It's very easy to feel the difference. A colossal margin of brightness at the SuperAMOLED screen is immediately striking.

Platform

The smartphone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, Qualcomm MSM8255 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. There is 512 MB of RAM, as well as about 300 MB for the needs of the user. An 8 GB card will be included with the device.

Menu

The company has abandoned the Mediascape app, which has received controversial user reviews. But there is Timescape and a new proprietary shell. At the top of the screen there is a service line showing the time, battery charge, signal reception level indicator. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on the line, you can find out in more detail what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received via Bluetooth.

As a design element, it is possible to use both pre-installed images from Sony Ericsson and your favorite pictures. In addition, shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop. For a folder, you can choose one of eight design options, give it a name. Icons are added by dragging them from the phone menu directly to this area.

Of course, there are also widgets, you can also add them to the desktop. There can be 5 such screens, while an interesting function works: you can swipe with two fingers from diagonally opposite corners, all desktops will be reduced and displayed on one screen.

When the screen is locked, the display shows the date and time. To unlock the screen, you need to slide your finger along from left to right. If you do it the other way around, then the silent mode is turned on, as evidenced by an additional icon. Moving between zones is fast, without any hint of lethargy. There are 5 icons at the bottom of the screen. These are multimedia, messages, menu entry, contacts and dialing. If you click on the media, an additional menu will pop up with those applications that are in this category.

The Application Manager is activated by the Home button. It displays 8 programs and, in essence, is not your usual task manager. As you know, Android closes applications on its own, guided by the amount of free RAM.

The smartphone menu consists of several working areas, initially there are three of them. If you install additional applications, then over time there will be more such areas. There are 16 icons on the screen on a translucent background, under which you can see the wallpaper set on the main screen. The icons can be arranged in a way that is convenient for the user. There is also a sorting by several criteria: alphabetically, frequently used, recently installed. Other application menus are made in blue tones, here you can see the similarities with other Sony Ericsson models.

Phone book

The smartphone has a convenient assistant for importing contacts both from a SIM card and from Facebook and Google accounts, they are displayed in a single list. A backup copy of the list of numbers on the memory card is created, later the data can be restored.

When creating a new contact, a lot of fields are created - these are various types of phone numbers, e-mail addresses, means of quick communication (AIM, ICQ, Gtalk, Skype and others), residence addresses and others (alias, note, Internet call).

Your smartphone has a list of alphabetical letters located on the right side of the screen. If you press your finger on this line and move down or up, then a letter pops up on the screen - a kind of quick search that helps in cases when the phone has several hundred, or even thousands of contacts. The search works by the first letters of the contact name for both language layouts.

There is a menu of favorites where you can add the most requested contacts.

There is a quick menu: you need to click on the place for the icon with the contact's photo, after which you can call, send a message by SMS or e-mail, see the data on Facebook.

Call log

You can access the call log directly from the phone book - it is highlighted in a separate tab. There are a single list of dialed numbers, received and missed calls, for clarity they are marked with icons of different colors. By clicking on a line, you can delete a number from the call log, add it to a contact, or perform some other actions. After selecting a number from the list, detailed information about the call will be displayed.

Viewing the call history, you can not only make a telephone conversation with the selected subscriber, but also send him an SMS or e-mail from this list without going to another menu. The number is dialed using a convenient virtual keyboard. The smartphone cannot automatically substitute numbers based on the order of the entered digits. During a call, the picture assigned to the user is stretched to fill the entire screen.

Posts

For SMS and MMS, there is a shared folder where received messages go. When sending, adding various objects to the SMS, you can automatically convert it to MMS. Messages are grouped by addressee in the message feed. By dialing the subscriber's number, the phone displays a list of suitable numbers by alternating digits. While typing, a small field will be displayed for characters. The longer the message, the more the space allocated for the character set increases. The device can copy, cut and paste text (and not only in the messages themselves, but you can also add it to a document or to an e-mail). A convenient cursor is used for navigation, which helps to correct typos, highlight the necessary sections of the text.

The smartphone allows you to use several types of keyboards. This is a mini-QWERTY keyboard, and a full-size one, available in horizontal screen orientation.

Predictive text input is available, when word correction and auto-completion systems help you type text at a fast pace, so you don't waste time correcting mistakes. Possible word suggestions are shown on a separate line above the keyboard. Copying and pasting of fragments is supported.

Email

To work with e-mail, automatic configuration of the mailbox is launched (if it is not Gmail, which connects immediately after the mail address was entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports downloading attachments (you need to insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) formats familiar to it.

When composing a letter, you can also attach various files from the device's memory to it. The function of copying text and automatic mailbox checking (the interval is set manually) is also working. The device runs two applications simultaneously - Gmail and Email. The only difference is that in the first, mail comes only from the gmail.com server, while the second application works with any mail storages. You can create multiple email accounts, each with a different color. This is convenient because you can view mail for each mailbox separately, or display messages from all accounts into one. Sorting of mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Camera

The smartphone uses an 8-megapixel module with autofocus and LED flash. In the segment of Android devices, the situation with full-fledged multimedia solutions is not very smooth, good cameras are rare and Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo has the opportunity to stand out from its classmates.

A dedicated key on the side of the smartphone is used to launch the camera. By holding it down for a few seconds, the shooting mode starts, this can be done from any application, it is not necessary to go to the main menu. The shape of the button is unfortunate, it is too small and tight. I liked the fast launch speed of the camera, as well as the very fast saving of pictures.

The interface works exclusively in landscape orientation. Help icons are displayed on the screen to help you set up the modes and conditions of photography. 5 small icons are displayed on the side - the phone shows the last received frames. By pulling the icons to the side, a gallery of captured images opens.

Various options are available:

Image Capture Mode: Normal, Scene Detection, Smile Detection.

Photo size: 8 MP, 6 MP, 2 MP (4: 3 or 16: 9).

Shooting Conditions: Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Beach & Snow, Sports, Party, Document.

Touch capture: enable, disable (this function allows you to take a picture without pressing the camera key, just touch the screen).

Flash: Auto, Off, Fill In, Red-eye Removal.

Timer: 2, 10 seconds.

Exposure number.

Image stabilizer.

Geotags.

Shutter sound: there are 3 sounds to choose from, you can also turn it off.

White balance: auto, indoor lighting, fluorescent, daylight, cloudy.

Measurement: center, middle level, point.

Focusing: single autofocus, multi-autofocus, macro, face detection, infinity, touch focus.

The photo quality is good, here the model performed better than the flagship Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, which was tested earlier. There is no annoying overexposure, adequate color rendition is observed. Considering the very fast speed of the camera, a well-designed menu with many settings, as well as a dedicated key for shooting. For its segment, the photo quality is very good.

Gallery Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are shown here. The gallery works both vertically and horizontally. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, previews of images are generated without delays. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device. In folders, thumbnails are smaller, so that not 3, but 4 images are placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works with the help of multitouch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS, or posted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign to a contact. Rotation of images, reduction of their size is supported, as well as additional information about a specific file is displayed, the place where the picture was taken is also shown if geotagging is working. Images are shown as folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section), and sorted by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - several sections are obtained in the same folder. You can scroll using the strip displayed at the bottom of the screen, or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere. The video is played from the gallery, where there is a separate folder for videos. Nothing special can be said about the phone here. There is no support for DivX and XviD codecs in the smartphone, so the possibilities for playing video out of the box are rather modest. Timescape Timescape combines tabs that combine posts from various social networks: Facebook, Twitter. In addition, there is data on phone calls, SMS and MMS, e-mail. The output data is configured, unnecessary data can be hidden. An update is also installed: manually or automatically. Messages are presented in the form of translucent panels on which the name of the sender, the test message itself, and also the source where the message came from are written. Gone is the ability to customize the background, now it's the same blue color. The list scrolls very quickly, without a hint of delays. In general, the thing is beautiful and interesting, the main drawback is related to the not very beautiful design - if the author of the post has an avatar, then this image will be displayed stretched across the entire width of the transparent panel. Player To listen to music, you can select tracks sorted into several categories: artist, album, tracks, lists. In the latter case, there are automatic playlists (recently added, popular tracks never played), and manual listening lists are also created. From the list with music, you can add songs to the playlist or send them via MMS, Bluetooth or e-mail. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. In the music playback mode, a large album cover is displayed (if it was assigned earlier), there are playback control buttons on the screen. Optionally, the song is set as a ringtone. Equalizer settings are also available. These are the following presets: normal sound, classical, dance, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock. There are no manual settings. Stirring mode provided When the screen is locked, additional music control buttons are not displayed, this is inconvenient, you have to make unnecessary actions every time to switch to another song. Other manufacturers (for example, Samsung and HTC) have a more thoughtful approach. In Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, only a widget on the desktop is available, which to some extent smoothes this moment. While listening to music, you can find information about the artist - a list of videos available for viewing on YouTube is displayed. The sound quality for the Android segment is very good. There is a sufficient headroom in terms of loudness, the middle frequencies are well worked out, and the lower range is also quite good. Lovers of deep bass can try to play with the equalizer, which will help change the sound image, albeit not without some distortion. Radio The smartphone has a radio that has an automatic station search function, you can also switch the input manually. You can also save dozens of frequencies in the phone's memory. You can easily switch between your favorite stations by clicking on the small icon, which will automatically move between the saved waves. TrackID allows you to identify the melody sounding on the radio in your smartphone or somewhere nearby. Not only the song title will be displayed, but also the album title, artist name, and cover art. Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style, the display of information for a whole month, week or a specific day is configured. You can customize the type and tone of alerts for recorded events and appointments. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. When creating a new record, a name is assigned to it, a period and a place are set. It is indicated with which of the calendars it will be synchronized, you can send invitations to contacts from the notebook. A snooze period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the signal will be triggered in advance. Alarm The smartphone allows you to store multiple alarms in memory. The repeat is set both for 1 time and for every day, only for working days or weekly. You can also set specific days. The alarm melody is set, you can add a vibration alert and a text file to it. The period of repeated signal triggering is set. The phone screen can display the weather forecast, date and time in large symbols. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation. The smartphone works with Google search, which searches both among the contents of the device and through the browser. Recent requests that were entered on the computer may also be displayed, the phone will use the account. Android Market is essential for every device of this class - there the user can evaluate thousands of applications and choose the necessary set of applications for himself. There is a convenient search function, as well as dividing programs into categories, which greatly simplifies browsing. You can look at the reviews, rate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is provided with a short description and images for better clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if a new phone was purchased, you can immediately install those applications that were previously purchased. The application, standard for most modern devices, allows you to view videos, search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. Working with office documents is limited by the capabilities of the preinstalled software - Office Suite allows you to view Word, Excel, PDF, Power Point files, but the ability to edit them is not provided. It is necessary to purchase the full version of the application, where a wider range of possibilities are available. Weather forecast and news are useful every day. Media server DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices wirelessly. The Facebook application will allow you to communicate on the network of the same name directly from your mobile device. Let’s golf is a beautiful game from Gameloft. Browser A convenient application is used for surfing the Internet. The navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages, there is a log of the pages viewed. Multiple windows are supported, search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function of changing the screen brightness directly from the browser. Thanks to multitouch, the pages are easily scaled (virtual keys also work to change the size of the displayed one). Font size changes, password saving works, flash is supported. Excellent speed and large screen allow you to comfortably use your smartphone to view WEB-pages. GPS navigation Google Maps is used for navigation - the standard software for all android phones. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, thus, the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function of determining the current location, calculating the route from the start to the end point, and the way of movement is set: by car, on foot or by public transport. The route is laid on the map, while key places are indicated in the form of text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and pave another path. Scaling works with multitouch or virtual buttons. Settings There are standard settings that are found in any Android smartphone. This section allows you to control the capabilities of the smartphone in terms of modifying the interface, as well as change various parameters of the phone. The smartphone offers to use a convenient proprietary application that will configure all the key parameters. If you do not use it immediately after purchase, then you can return to it later. Connections The smartphone operates in the ranges GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 900/1700/2100. There is Bluetooth 2.1 with support for EDR and A2DP, not counting support for other generally accepted profiles. Wi-Fi b \ g \ n work is implemented at the usual level. The smartphone remembers the entered passwords for networks, is able to automatically connect to them, being within their range. Using a microUSB connector allows you to connect your phone to a computer for synchronization and battery recharging. The presence of a miniHDMI slot allows you to connect your smartphone to various external sources (TV or monitor) and broadcast media content from the device to them. Working hours Used lithium polymer battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh. Official data on the operating time are as follows: up to 7 hours of talk time, up to 430 hours of battery life in standby mode, up to 31 hours of listening to music. On average, the phone works for a day, sometimes for one and a half or two days. With 20-30 minutes of conversations a day, 20-30 photos, 2 hours of listening to the player, 30-60 minutes of using network applications (browser, twitter), as well as using continuous synchronization with Google services, by the evening there were about 20-30% of a fully charged battery in the morning. In this case, the brightness of the screen was set to the maximum value. It should be noted that the work of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the background, though not very strong, still affects the operating time, it is better to turn them off. In general, the phone looks attractive in terms of autonomy. In continuous movie playback mode with the following settings: maximum display backlight level, synchronization is on, Wi-Fi is working - the smartphone lasted 6 hours and 45 minutes. This should be considered a very good indicator. Conclusion The speaker is excellent, there are no problems with the volume, there is enough headroom for various conditions. The vibrating alert is rather weak, it is not always possible to feel it. In my opinion, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo is a balanced model. The device will go on sale at a price of about 19,000 rubles approximately in July-August (the company officially announces the 3rd quarter), and this will be an interesting offer for those who want to purchase a functional device on Android for less than 20 thousand rubles. Of the shortcomings, it is worth mentioning the screen, which is noticeably inferior in terms of brightness to other models. At the same time, one should not confuse brightness and color rendering - the phone displays natural shades close to natural ones. There are no built-in video codecs here either, however, this is solved by installing third-party programs. But there are much more positive moments here. It is a compact, ergonomic body with conveniently located elements. The camera for Android class is good, for that kind of money you can't find a better offer. Very good sound in headphones also deserves praise, here the smartphone is among the leaders in its segment, even if it is inferior to Symbian devices, as well as Apple iPhone 4. The filling of the phone copies the flagship Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. At a noticeably lower cost, the buyer gets a fast and convenient interface, as well as enviable functionality. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo has every chance of making it onto the Android bestseller lists, especially if the price of the model drops slightly over time. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Date of article publication - May 24, 2011