Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review: an accelerated flagship. SonyEricsson LT18i Xperia arc S - let's try to deal with the smartphone Sony Xperia arc s lt18i

The well-known company Sony Ericsson has long been entrenched in the niche of mobile devices. Phones from the company are famous for their stylish design and reliability. Moreover, the cost of the devices attracts the attention of buyers.

About phone

Sony Ericsson LT18i has become an improved copy of the previous model. The developers decided not to abandon the project, but added an overclocked processor to it and slightly changed the color. Users appreciated the modified Android device. Is this "Sony Erickson" really that good?

Contents of delivery

Acquaintance with any device begins with the packaging. The package has an image of the model and operating system features on the top. There is a sticker letting you know that the phone is running Android 4.0 (below - upgradeable). In fact, the system version is 2.3.4. Therefore, to get the updated version, you have to work on your own. This is the first drawback that can be attributed to the creators of Sony Ericsson LT18i. Not every user has the skills to get the coveted Android 4.0, and an experienced owner will not want to bother with an additional update.

The delivery set is standard. The box contains: USB-microUSB, power supply, headphones and HDMI cable. Thanks to the company for the latter. However, you can hardly watch movies on your TV via HDMI - maximum photos and videos.

Design

The appearance of Sony Ericsson LT8i is quite good - the company clearly employs excellent designers. The front side looks very stylish and elegant. The display takes up almost the entire surface, and has a white border around the edges. If we compare a mobile phone in appearance with its closest competitors, then it is clearly an order of magnitude better. The Sony Ericsson LT18i is made of good plastic. Of course, a pleasant design may hide weak hardware, but the first impression of the device is positive.

The back cover of Sony Ericsson LT18i is available in three colors: white, pink or black. Made of matte plastic. Fingerprints and scratches remain. On white, by the way, not so much. If the phone is squeezed in your hand, you hear a crunch.

The lid can be removed, which is less common today. Underneath is a removable battery. Slightly higher are the slots for micro-SD and micro-SIM. They can only be pulled out if the battery is not present.

Sensors and buttons

On the front of the phone are proximity and light sensors. Slightly to the right is the speaker. Here it is of high quality, you can hear the interlocutor well. Sony Ericsson Arc S is left without a front camera. To some, this will seem like a drawback, while others will take it calmly. In any case, she would not be superfluous. Apparently, the developers decided to save money by not adding a camera.

The lower part is occupied by mechanical buttons: "Back", "Home" and "Menu". At first, it is inconvenient to press the buttons - you need to get used to their location.

On the left side of the Sony Ericsson LT18i there is a standard headphone jack. On the right is the volume rocker. Above is a micro-USB connector and an indicator of missed events. Everyone knows about the company's demanding attitude to the quality of the cameras of its devices. In this Sony Erickson model, they even added a shortcut key to it. However, the location was not chosen the best, so using the button is not very convenient.

At the bottom there is a microphone and a shackle for attaching a strap. The on / off button is on the top. Here it is round and embedded in the body. I must say that the power button spoils the appearance of the device somewhat. Nearby is the HDMI socket, which is hidden by a plug.

On the back there is a camera peephole and an LED flash.

Display

Has a conventional LCD-matrix. The diagonal of the screen is 4.2 ". The resolution is 480x854 pixels. There is no air gap between the matrix and the glass, which is an additional advantage of Sony Ericsson LT18i. The display has high sensitivity. It has good natural colors. Not very high brightness, so it is difficult to see information on the screen in the sun Despite this, it can be noted that the display fades with rays an order of magnitude less than the popular SuperAMOLED.

Viewing angles are another drawback of the device. With a slight deviation of the phone to the side, color distortion occurs. This disadvantage cannot be called serious. Viewing angles are not very important for a smartphone, but a tablet is.

You can rate the screen on a solid four. If you forget about the corners, then you can put the five.

Battery

Sony Ericsson LT18i, which is flashed through a special program, received a regular lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh. The battery is relatively weak, but the smartphone holds a charge for a long time. With standard use (calls, SMS, surfing the Internet, launching some applications and games), the charging is enough for the whole day.

The developers claim to work in standby mode up to 460 hours. Talk time - up to seven and a half. You can listen to music on a single charge for up to 37 hours.

In practice: the phone worked in standby mode for a week, twenty hours of listening to music with headphones (at maximum volume), five hours of watching HD videos (with automatic screen brightness).

Communication capabilities

Sony Ericsson LT18i, the firmware for which is on the manufacturer's website, has received all the features popular today. You can access the Internet via 2G or 3G networks. There is Wi-Fi 802.11 standard. Thanks to this, the phone can be turned into an access point. There is Bluetooth for transferring media files. All functions can be customized to suit the user's personal needs.

Memory

The Sony Ericsson LT18i has 512 MB of RAM. This volume can be found in other models of the Xperia line. It may not be enough for some applications and games. The developers, apparently, saved by significantly cutting the RAM. If you like to play new games, it is better to take a closer look at devices with a large amount of RAM.

The internal memory is only 1 GB, with 300 MB free. This volume is not enough and the user will have to purchase a memory card. The device supports micro-SD up to 32 GB.

Camera

The device received only one 8 MP camera, there is an LED flash. Many people refuse to purchase the device due to the lack of a front camera. The photos are clear and rich. Not many other companies can boast of the same quality cameras. The video is also good. The sound deserves special attention, which has received an extensive stereo base.

The maximum image resolution is 3264x2448 pixels. There is digital zoom. The image can be stabilized using built-in functions. Photos can be taken in macro mode. The developers have not forgotten about such a popular feature as face and smile recognition.

Video can be recorded in HD, that is, at a maximum resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Recording can be done in a variety of formats. Immediately after shooting, you can view the material on your home TV, thanks to HDMI.

Performance

Finally we got to the fun part.

Sony Ericsson LT18i, the price of which is about ten thousand rubles, received a Qualcomm MSM8255 processor, operating at a clock frequency of 1 GHz. Interestingly, in the previous model, the developers installed a chipset with the "T" prefix, which was already at the factory with a frequency of 1.4 GHz. This device can also be overclocked, but you will have to do it manually. Not every user can do this (all the more correctly), so many will have to

Graphics accelerator - Adreno 205. The device works fast enough. There are no strong lags and brakes. It will not work to run demanding games on such hardware. Most of the popular apps are running fine.

In Quadrant Pro, the device showed 1289 points, which is much lower than that of the flagships. Antutu Benchmark gave an overall rating of 2844.

Software platform

A smartphone with the installed version of "Android" 2.3.4 is on sale. It is exclusive and installed on all devices in the line. It is possible to upgrade to version 4.0. Don't expect huge changes. Externally, only some of the icons will change, and new widgets will also appear.

The new version released by the manufacturer made it possible for the user to take screenshots using standard means. Now just press the power button and select the desired item. Also some system bugs have been fixed. The operating system has become more stable and faster. Any user of the device can upgrade to 4.0 today.

Device in operation

In everyday use, the smartphone showed its best side. There were bugs in programs from developers, but they are minor. Also worth mentioning about checkboxes. Sometimes they were not marked with a different color, and it was difficult to know if an item was selected or not. Interestingly, the company was slow to fix this minor flaw.

The device may lose Wi-Fi signal even when close to the source.

Otherwise, the device worked stably and quickly.

Conclusion

Sony Ericsson LT18i is not the best option for advanced users today. The device has a lot of disadvantages that can scare off a demanding buyer. The phone did not receive a front-facing camera, which every Chinese "craft" has today, and many people really need it, for example, for video calls.

The hardware, which has difficulty running some programs, is also not impressive. You will have to forget about popular games altogether. There is very little internal memory. You can find a cheaper model that boasts 4 GB or even 8 GB. The same problem with RAM. It is enough only for built-in applications, and only the smallest remain for downloaded ones. And if the built-in one can be expanded by means of memory cards, then what to do with the operational one?

The appearance of the device is good, but there are complaints about mechanical buttons. It is clear that the emphasis was on design, but they were made too small and inconvenient. You have to get used to it.

Apart from these shortcomings, we can say that the Sony Ericsson LT18i is not much worse than the more expensive brands. Design and completely bypasses many eminent companies and at the same time has an acceptable cost. If you're looking for a budget smartphone that's perfect for everyday use, the Sony Ericsson Arc S is a great option.

Oleg 1372

Surely everyone knows that the world's most famous company Sony Ericsson has ceased to exist: Sony Corporation bought out Ericsson's share and now manufactures products under its own brand. Some of the most successful smartphones produced by Sony Ericsson are the Xperia Arc LT15I and the Xperia Arc S LT18I. These two models of smartphones practically do not differ from each other: the only exception is the processor of the devices, as well as their colors. What can Sony Ericsson smartphones boast of?

Design, body materials and device dimensions

We have to admit that smartphones from Sony Ericsson turned out to be quite good, which can be evidenced not only by the impressive characteristics of the devices, but also by their graceful and graceful appearance. The only visual difference between Arc and Arc S is their color scheme. For example, Arc is available in navy blue and silver, while Arc S is available in black, pink and white.

Many people love these two smartphones from Sony Ericsson for their appearance. The highlight of the devices is the curved back cover. Despite the fact that the bend is minimal, it was he who allowed smartphones to become one of the thinnest - the thickness of the devices is only 0.87 cm! At the ends, the thickness of the phones reaches 1.08 cm.

Smartphones turned out to be quite compact for devices with a large screen: this is evidenced by a length of 12.5 cm, as well as a thickness of 6.3 cm. Arc, like Arc S, can easily fit into a pocket of trousers, as well as a jacket. In addition, it is very convenient to hold each of the two presented devices in the hand, and they are almost imperceptible due to their low weight of 117 grams.

The main material of the device body is high-quality plastic. Its important advantage is that it does not leave fingerprints. However, they are visible on the display. To eliminate them, you can wipe the screen with special napkins.

A few words about the smartphone display fromSonyEricsson

Here we are smoothly and moved to the device screen. The Arc, just like the Arc S, has an excellent 4.2-inch display. Interestingly, its physical dimensions are 9.3 x 5.2 cm. Its resolution is 854 by 480 pixels, while the density is 233 dots per inch.

One of the advantages of the display is the increased sensitivity of the sensor. The color reproduction in smartphones from Sony Ericsson is excellent and rich. In the light, the display remains readable. This is all possible thanks in large part to the Mobile BRAVIA Engine. However, it must be admitted that the viewing angles are not too large, and at a certain angle the image may lose contrast a little.

Prices in online stores:
shop.megafon.ru 15 990 RUB

The 8 MP camera is one of the significant advantages of the device

The greatest advantage of the devices that Sony Ericsson worked on are excellent cameras. Such models of smartphones of the company as Arc and Arc S were no exception. These two devices have an excellent 8 MP camera. Still pictures can be taken in a resolution of no more than 3264 x 2448 pixels, while video can be recorded at a slightly lower resolution - 1920 x 1080 pixels. The camera is equipped with automatic focusing and also has an LED flash. It should be noted that the text is always shot perfectly.

Specifications, communications and ports

As mentioned at the very beginning of the review, Arc and Arc S have 2 different processors from Qualcomm. If, in the first case, the clock speed of the processor of the smartphone from SE is 1 GHz, then in the second case it is almost one and a half times higher - 1.4 GHz. Adreno 205 acts as a graphics adapter in the above two devices.

As for the amount of RAM in smartphones, it does not exceed 512 MB. Each user of Sony Ericsson devices is provided with 320 MB to store their own data. If this amount of memory is suddenly not enough, you can use a microSDHC card, the capacity of which should not exceed 32 GB.

It is noteworthy that the Arc and Arc S have a microHDMI connector, with which the user can see the contents of their own smartphone on a large monitor. In addition, the phones are equipped with a standard 3.5mm jack designed specifically for headphones. The devices have EDGE, HSUPA, GPRS and, of course, HSDPA. A Wi-Fi module is required for wireless Internet access, and Bluetooth 2.1 is used for data transfer. An excellent addition to SE devices is FM radio.

Operating system, battery and battery life of smartphones

Initially Arc and Arc S were shipped on Android 2.3.4 OS from the famous Internet corporation Google. Now smartphones operate on a different version of the popular OS - 4.0.

The devices use an excellent lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh as a battery. The smartphone can last: in standby mode - no more than 460 hours, talk time - about 7.5 hours, and music playback - about 37 hours.

Conclusion

In general, smartphones from SE leave only the most pleasant impressions: unsurpassed design, good performance, an excellent camera and a relatively low price - all this will certainly appeal to those who decide to purchase Arc or Arc S.

tell friends

The phone is certified by Rostest, has a Russified keyboard, menus, and a User Guide.


Equipment:

- Sony Ericsson Arc S phone
- Battery
- Charger
- Wired stereo headset
- USB cable for PC connection
- HDMI cable
- microSD card 16Gb
- Instruction
- Warranty card


Warranty: Sony Ericsson Official 1 Year Warranty.

Fun at exhilarating speed

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc S is a gadget with especially powerful 1.4 GHz processor, who with the speed of lightning copes with all the tasks assigned to him. You can take quality photos and save them instantly.

Also, the entertainment offered by this device includes the ability to quickly download games and play them, surf the Internet, and watch video files. The characteristics of the new model also allow for very fast loading of any applications.

Reality Display and 3D
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S model display has diagonal of 4.2 inches and implemented using LCD technology.It features excellent contrast, wide color gamut and minimal image noise. We advise you to buy this gadget for a real Reality Display that supports mobile BRAVIA® Engine technology, which guarantees, in turn, a bright and clear image, which remains so even outdoors due to a special coating.

Continuing the review of this gadget, we note that the f otographs can be displayed in 3D volumetric imageright on your screen, and later can be viewed using a 3D TV. Thus, the most gorgeous, one might say live, pictures are waiting for you. To do this, you just need to select from the menu 3D Sweep Panorama function.

Great picture even in the dark
The picture quality on the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc S display is not limited to what is described above. Even in dusk or dim artificial light, Exmor R ™ technology for CMOS sensors in cellular gadgets delivers beautiful, bright images. It is especially pleasant to hold this device in your hands, because its thickness is only 8.7 mm, so the smartphone received the best reviews from experts as a compact, thin and light smartphone.

Facebook inside the Xperia
Sony Erickson Xperia Ark S supports the social network Facebook, where you can perform all the same actions as from a computer. And since the price of a new smartphone promises to be acceptable, you can always be in touch in this social resource and know what is happening in the lives of your friends. Use Android Market actively, download applications that interest you and personalize your smartphone for the most convenient work.

Concluding the review of the gadget, we note the presence of a built-in aGPS systems, Wi-Fi wireless module support, the ability to go to the social network Twitter at any time, as well as the presence of FM radio - a real paradise for music lovers. The price of the model in our online store will pleasantly surprise you and will not allow you to postpone such an important purchase for an indefinite period.

Video Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc S


We sell only original products and are ready to honestly talk about all the features of each model. You can buy Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S (LT18i) Black 0.512Gb for 12850 rubles. Delivery, extended warranty, wide range of accessories.

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. Materials used, offered colors, certificates.

Width

Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

63 mm (millimeters)
6.3 cm (centimeters)
0.21 ft (feet)
2.48 in (inches)
Height

Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

125 mm (millimeters)
12.5 cm (centimeters)
0.41 ft (feet)
4.92 in (inches)
Thickness

Information about the thickness of the device in different units.

8.7 mm (millimeters)
0.87 cm (centimeters)
0.03 ft (feet)
0.34 in (inches)
Weight

Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.

117 g (grams)
0.26 lbs (pounds)
4.13 oz (ounces)
Volume

The approximate volume of the device, based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

68.51 cm³ (cubic centimeters)
4.16 in³ (cubic inches)

SIM card

The 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 technologies and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data 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 a Chip)

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

SoC (System on a Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software required for their operation.

Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 MSM8255
Technological process

Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor.

45 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU)

The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.

Scorpion
Bit processor

The capacity (bits) of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and data buses. 64-bit processors offer better performance than 32-bit processors, which are more efficient than 16-bit processors.

32 bit
Instruction set architecture

Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.

ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1)

The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and is much faster than both system memory and other levels of cache. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.

32 KB + 32 KB (kilobytes)
L2 cache

L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory.

384 KB (kilobytes)
0.375 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores

The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel.

1
CPU clock speed

The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

1400 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics processing unit (GPU)

A graphics processing unit (GPU) handles computation for a variety of 2D / 3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most commonly used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, and more.

Qualcomm Adreno 205
The amount of random access memory (RAM)

Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.

512 MB (megabytes)
Memory type (RAM)

Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.

LPDDR2
Number of RAM channels

Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates.

Dual channel
RAM frequency

The frequency of the RAM determines its speed of operation, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data.

500 MHz (megahertz)

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.

Type / technology

One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.

LCD
Diagonal

On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.

4.2 in (inches)
106.68 mm (millimeters)
10.67 cm (centimeters)
Width

Approximate screen width

2.06 in (inches)
52.27 mm (millimeters)
5.23 cm (centimeters)
Height

Approximate screen height

3.66 in (inches)
93 mm (millimeters)
9.3 cm (centimeters)
Aspect ratio

The aspect ratio of the long side of the screen to its short side

1.779:1
Resolution

Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.

480 x 854 pixels
Pixel density

Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.

233 ppi (pixels per inch)
91 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth

Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.

24 bit
16777216 flowers
Screen area

The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device.

61.93% (percent)
Other characteristics

Information about other functions and features of the screen.

Capacitive
Multitouch
Scratch resistant
LED-backlit
Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that the mobile device recognizes.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Flash type

The most common types of flashes in mobile cameras are LED and Xenon flashes. LED flashes give softer light and, unlike brighter xenon ones, are also used for video filming.

LED
Image Resolution

One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically in an image.

3264 x 2448 pixels
7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video Resolution

Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by the device.

1280 x 720 pixels
0.92 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate / frames per second.

Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video capture and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.

30 frames / sec (frames per second)

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 various 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.

Capacity

The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliampere-hours.

1500 mAh (milliampere-hours)
A type

The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with the most common mobile devices using lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries.

Li-polymer
Talk time 2G

2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during continuous 2G talk.

7 hours 25 minutes
7.4 h (hours)
445.2 minutes (minutes)
0.3 days
Standby time 2G

Standby time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.

460 h (hours)
27600 min (minutes)
19.2 days
Talk time 3G

Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.

7 hours 35 minutes
7.6 h (hours)
454.8 minutes (minutes)
0.3 days
3G standby time

Standby time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery is fully discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.

460 h (hours)
27600 min (minutes)
19.2 days
Specifications

Information about some additional characteristics of the device battery.

Removable

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S (LT18i) smartphone - overview

I have long wanted to study modern android smartphones from Sony Ericsson. And then in the advanced category, Samsung now dominates with its Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, meanwhile I have not really seen any interesting alternatives. Previously, HTC was on the horse, but it was definitely blown away - the flagship HTC One X disappointed me greatly. And Sony Ericsson has always produced interesting phones, and the Xperia series was kind of praised, so it was interesting to see what these phones are like. a model Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S came to me, thanks to the Yulmart online supermarket, well, now we will enjoy it. Or let us turn away. Or indifferent - how it goes.


Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Specifications Operating system: Android 2.3
Display: 4,2 ", 854х480, capacitive sensor, multitouch
CPU: Qualcomm MSM 8255, 1400 MHz
RAM: 512 MB
Flash memory: 1 GB (320 MB available)
Memory cards: microSD (TransFlash), up to 32 GB
Network: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G
SIM card: miniSIM
Wireless connection: WiFi a / b / g / n, Bluetooth
NFC: no
Camera: 8 MP, LED flash, 720p video resolution
Front-camera: no
Ports: microUSB (MHL), headphone output 3.5 mm
GPS: aGPS
Additionally: proximity sensor, light sensor
Battery: Li-ion 1500 mAh, removable
Dimensions: 63x125x8.7 mm
Weight: 117 g Some parameters in the technical characteristics, frankly speaking, are perplexing. Firstly, it is still sold with Android 2.3 - this is at a time when space smartphones are surfing the open spaces of version 4.1.1. However, you can, of course, put a four here, but this is done not via Wi-Fi, but only through special software (PC Companion) installed on the computer. Secondly, there is practically no built-in flash memory. From the wretched gig in which the system and applications are located, you only have 320 MB - what can you install there? True, memory cards are supported here and the kit includes a 16 GB card as compensation, but this is a solution worthy of cheap Chinese phones, I can tell you with all revolutionary directness. Because it's not at all the same as a normal phone and has 16GB of internal flash memory and supports memory cards. You don't have to give us a 16 GB memory card, dear Sony! Moreover, you can buy it for 650 rubles. You make us an internal memory for 16 GB, and we will somehow buy an additional memory card for 32 GB ourselves! What else is interesting there? Little RAM (normal phones have long been installed with a gig, and some are already installing two), a very mediocre processor, a frail battery. In general, it pleases from all sides. Contents of delivery It comes in a box like this with two psychedelic labels. The first inscription is "Sony Ericsson. Pretend". This, apparently, they are hinting that they are pretending to be a normal phone. The second inscription is in large letters - "Android 4". And already very small, as in enslaving contracts, "The possibility of renewal." That is, we are selling you, dear comrades, a phone with Android 2.3. And whether you can dance with a tambourine to put a four, or not - this is already unknown to marketers. The main thing is to write Android 4.0 big.
Delivery set: phone, USB-microUSB cable, power adapter, headphones, HDMI cable. Thanks for the HDMI cable, of course, but somehow I don't really understand who might really need it. Play High Definition movies from this phone on an LCD panel? Do not make me laugh. Well, it's true, maybe you want to show photos or home videos - then this cable will really come in handy.
Appearance and management Outwardly, the phone looks very decent - the designers at Sony work well. From the front side, the smartphone looks elegant and stylish - the screen occupies almost the entire surface, the edging made of white plastic with beveled corners goes to the ends of silver plastic, which are not visible from above.

In general, compared to the same Galaxy S III, which with all due respect looks somewhat rustic, the Xperia looks like an aristocratic metropolitan gadget.
Yes, we know that a fiery engine can be hidden behind a rustic facade, and a complete degeneration behind an aristocratic appearance, but purely outwardly, this is exactly the impression. The back cover is matte white plastic. The cover is removable, under it is a removable battery, a slot for microSD and for microSIM. By the way, not only the SIM-card, but also the microSD card can be pulled out only with the battery removed. The upper end is a power button and a microHDMI output with a cap.
The power button is GORGEOUS. I haven't seen this for a long time. A tiny round hairpin that practically does not crawl out beyond the level of the butt - what idiot came up with that? Why hasn't he been lynched yet? Or did they not chop off his finger every time when pressed this button does not work, because it must be pressed with a fingernail? I understand that this was done on purpose. The engineer argued with his colleagues that he would make the most horrible power button ever without being killed. Probably cut a lot of money. But now how fun it is for the people who bought it ... The right side - microUSB, volume rocker, below - the camera call button. By the way, in my opinion, this camera call button is very, very necessary. And I'm sorry that most other manufacturers have given up on this button.
The volume rocker, by the way, is very, very inconvenient: too small, poorly and indistinctly pressed. At the bottom end there is only a microphone, at the left end there is a headphone jack.
All three lower control buttons on the front are non-touch sensitive. I might have welcomed this, but here, unfortunately, convenience is sacrificed to design: the buttons look very stylish, but pressing them is particularly inconvenient, especially the side ones.
In general, from the point of view of control keys, Sony engineers are a three with a big minus. Ergonomics here - zero point zero. But yes, design, my ass! It seems that I will soon come to the conclusion that this phone can be bought only to put it on the shelf and admire it. Display Conventional LCD-matrix. Pleasant natural colors, good contrast. The brightness margin is very small, but in purely practical terms, the display is even more convenient than SuperAMOLED and its modifications: unlike SuperAMOLED, this display fades in the sun by an order of magnitude less. As you know, SuperAMOLED has this sore spot - it goes blind to the point of complete indecency. And this phone can be used safely in the sun - this is a clear plus. Viewing angles here are not a fountain: when the display is tilted up and down and left and right, the contrast drops and the image becomes slightly whitish. However, for a phone, viewing angles are usually completely insignificant, unlike a tablet, so I don't consider this a serious disadvantage. Another interesting point: the no air gap technology is used here - this is the absence of an air gap between the matrix and the protective screen. This makes the screen more sensitive to pressure: it is, I got the impression that the display is more responsive than usual. In general, the display is a four. But for behavior in the sun - clearly a five. (Against SuperAMOLED's deuce.) Device operation As I said, the phone ships with Android 2.3. It is impossible to update it to a four via Wi-Fi - you need to install a special PC Companion program and update through it. Theoretically, the phone itself can install this program when connected via USB (the question is asked), but I could not do this on two computers. But if you download PC Companion yourself and connect the phone to the computer via USB, you can install Android 4.0.4.


Updating the firmware

But this action for an unprepared user is not so simple (whether it's on a phone connected to Wi-Fi, press the "Refresh" button). In addition, purely outwardly for the user, the fourth Android is not too different from 2.3. Therefore, in the review, we will first look at how it all looks out of the box, and then note some of the differences between the four. Moreover, almost all main applications on 2.3 and 4.0 look almost the same. So, the desktop of a loaded phone on Android 2.3. There are only five desktops, scrolling left and right, but scrolling is not continuous (which is a pity).


Central desktop


Second desktop


First desktop

On the fourth desktop from the bottom there is a widget for a store for buying all kinds of multimedia.


Fourth desktop


Fifth desktop

The shell supports the creation of folders, which can also be placed in the dock: from there, the "Multimedia" folder.

In the notification area, there is no panel with all sorts of settings at all, like most other smartphones. That is, turning on and off Wi-Fi, GPS, BT, mobile data, and so on - only through the application with settings or through widgets. This is bad. Applications installed on the system. By the way, there is no end-to-end scrolling here either, which is completely inconvenient.

The lock window allows you to simply unlock your phone or switch to some application - for example, a camera or sound settings. Notifications are displayed on the blocking window, but there is no direct navigation to the corresponding application (for example, SMS, phone, Facebook).

TelephoneThe phone app is pretty handy. When you go to contacts, the search bar appears immediately. (Not all phones have this, as I noticed.)

Searching results.

Editing a contact. By the way, there is a very convenient option "Forward calls to voicemail" - I have never seen this anywhere else.

Functions when calling.

SMSThe SMS / MMS transfer application is beautiful and also quite convenient.

TimescapeA dedicated application with a widget that is located on the main desktop by default: it integrates various social networks and news channels. Here's what you can connect.

And here are the extensions for Timescape.

This is how updates from Facebook and Twitter look like in the widget.

On Facebook and Twitter, you can post directly from this application.

And this is how the update feed goes in the application itself.

These are RSS feed updates.

The app is beautiful, but, in my opinion, goofy. It is easier to have separate clients for the respective networks and RSS feeds — they are much more flexible. Keyboard The default keyboard is comfortable and supports the swype input mode (gesture input, swiping over the letters of the typed word without lifting your finger from the screen).

Browser A regular android browser.

The system also has the Opera Mini browser. GalleryAlmost a standard Android application. Unless a specific feature is additionally supported - 3D panoramas, which this phone can do. (More about them later.)

Processing a specific image.

Images from connected social networks are also supported.

SettingsCommon and specific settings.

Specific settings from Sony Ericsson.

Call parameters. By the way, there is a built-in SIP client, so if you create an account with any IP telephony service on this protocol, you can make calls over the Internet directly from a regular telephone application. It's comfortable.

Sound settings.

MusicNot a bad app for listening to audio.

There is an equalizer with various preset settings.

Various types of composition selection.

Alarm clockA typical alarm clock app is very primitive.

The calendarThe app with a calendar and a diary is quite descriptive.

mail

TrackIDInteresting application: you can record music from some external source, after which this application can identify the artist and the composition.

ASTRONot a bad file manager.

Tracking dataIn Android 4, data tracking is already carried out at the system level; version 2.3 has its own application that does this.

StoreRecommended games, apps, music.

Connected devicesA special application for exchanging media data with various devices over a wireless network.

FM radioFM radio. It looks decent, but the functionality is almost nil.

ClockTimer with all sorts of additional functions.

LiveWare ManagerA handy application that allows you to launch the required applications at certain events (connecting a headset, headphones, charger).

Features of the fourth Android I installed Android 4.0.4. In fact, very little has changed. Several widgets have disappeared from the desktops, several icons have changed in the list of applications (but the applications themselves have remained practically the same), the settings have changed and some basic applications have slightly changed (cosmetically). Here are screenshots. Lock window.

The main desktop.

Applications installed on the system.

Settings.

Camera Under version 2.3, the camera looked like this.

There was no shooting button here, you could set the shooting mode by touching the screen with your finger or the shooting mode with the "Camera" button, which worked somewhat strangely. Settings.

In the fourth version of Android, the camera looks noticeably more decent - a large shooting button has appeared, which is convenient.

One of the features of this particular camera is that it can shoot panoramas, moreover, in 3D. In the phone itself, such panoramas look like ordinary ones, composed of several horizontal frames, but if this panorama is displayed on a 3D TV via HDMI, it is quite possible that they will also be in 3D. I couldn’t check it, I don’t need a 3D TV.
Now about the camera. I liked the way it functions. It focuses normally, and the first time, the color rendition is good, the white balance rarely misses - in general, it is suitable for reportage photography without any comments. Here are examples of photos taken in different conditions, without processing (clickable). And unlike the Galaxy S III, where I usually make at least three copies of each frame, this is not necessary here - neither you defocus, nor shake.



















Well, an example of shooting a video. Speed The phone works, let's say, at normal speed. It does not give the impression of being particularly fast, but it does not slow down either. The Quadrant Pro gives it the lowest parrots, but in practice I did not notice much difference here with the HTC One X, to which the Quadrant gives the tallest parrots.

Battery life The battery here is relatively weak, but purely practically, the smartphone holds the charge more or less decently - with standard active use (calls, reading, some video, some Internet, some applications), the battery generally draws out a working day. Feels like the same HTC One X discharges faster - all other things being equal. Apparently, the fact that the Xperia Arc S has a simpler display with a lower resolution, and other characteristics of the iron are much more modest, is triggered. However, field tests of specific modes showed a rather modest battery life. In all cases, the comfortable screen brightness was set to 60% (without auto adjustment). the Internet - Wi-Fi is turned on, the page is reloaded on the browser screen once a minute. 6 hours (8 hours for HTC One X and 9 hours for Galaxy S III). Video - wireless networks are turned off, a regular TV series is played. 5 hours 45 minutes (8 hours for the HTC One X and 9 hours 45 minutes for the S III). Book reading - 6 hours 45 minutes (8 hours 30 minutes for HTC One X, S III - almost 10.) Navigation - Wi-Fi off, BT on - 4 hours. (5 hours for One X, for S III - 6 hours.) In general, you can live, but in specific modes it shows very modest results. Observations during operation In general, there seemed to be no special remarks. There were some specific minor inconveniences in the Sony software itself. Not that it was very significant, but annoying compared to software from other manufacturers. Besides, as in the case of engineering solutions with keys, similar problems arose with software. For example, purely visually checked and unchecked checkboxes on the screen look almost the same. It is not so noticeable in the screenshot, but in the process of work - honestly, I could never understand whether the checkbox was checked or not. It seems to be an elementary thing that should have been noticed and done something about it, but not a damn thing! They liked that everything looked the same. Let the user not be able to tell if the jackdaw is light gray or dark gray! But it looks stylish! I would kill ...

Well, I didn't like the work of the Wi-Fi adapter. In conditions of a not very good signal, he often lost this signal when the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II held him ironically. Price In Moscow, this smartphone now costs about 14 thousand rubles, that is, $ 453 or 350 €. Samsung Galaxy S III costs on average 22 thousand, that is, $ 712 or 550 €. This is a noticeable difference. conclusions I will not say that I am delighted with this phone. The characteristics of the hardware are rather modest, the built-in memory is practically absent, the buttons are inconvenient, there are all sorts of complaints about the software. Nevertheless, when you look at the price, which is 1.6 times less than the Galaxy S III, you understand that this phone still has its own positive sides. Indeed, a lot depends on the price! If a person does not have the opportunity to buy a phone for $ 712, but is ready to spend on a decent smartphone $ 450 - Sony Xperia Arc S is just such a pretty decent (for that kind of money) option. If it was sold at a price comparable to the Galaxy S III - I I would say that there is even nothing to think about, because the Galaxy S III is noticeably better. However, when this phone is obviously cheaper, but at the same time has a really good design, good filling and has demonstrated itself as a decent device in general, it shows that it occupies its own niche. Moreover, some software shortcomings can be solved by installing other applications - tea, Android after all, not iOS - and, as practice shows, many get used to crooked buttons.