Camera
The snapper here is a 5MP number that shoots reasonable pictures in non-challenging situations. It’s backed up by an LED flash and neat extras including image stabilization, touch-to-focus and geo-tagging. Video recording can’t stretch to HD but quality is acceptable for occasional use, and there’s a front-facing VGA camera for video calls.
Build quality
Sony Ericsson’s trademark glossy black casing and gleaming chrome buttons look as good as ever, but there’s something plasticky about the back, which creaks as though it’s doomed to a short life, And the side volume button is too sensitive-it shoots from full volume to silent in a fraction of a second,
Power
The combination of a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon ‘Scorpion’ processor and a graphics processing unit is sufficient to make games fly along, and also provides a number of benefits in general use. True, other smartphones may outgun the Xperia Play’s specs, but for now the phone has more | than enough oomph and you’re never kept waiting in any normal usage scenario.
Extras
The Timescape interface, familiar from other Xperia handsets, is here too, so you can see friends’ tweets and Facebook updates as a rapidly updated column of tiles. The text is backed by the user’s profile pic; cool, but it often makes if tricky to read.
Four Games to Put the Play through Its Paces
Crash Bandicoot (pre-installed)
Ah, those jaunty jumps and wild spins – it’s good to see Crash again. This is the full original PS One game, so it’s a good long play, but on the small screen details – such as, urn, where Crash is – can be hard to pick out.
I Must Run! 1.05
Sure, it’s just another running-along-rooftopsgame, and it lacks the graphical beauty of the iPhone classic Conabalt, but pressing real buttons to punch, jump and slide your way along adds to the fun.
Star Battalion (pre-in stalled)
You’re a hotshot spaceship pilot and you have to blow everything up. Get to grips with the analogue touchpads for spectacularly good navigation and control. It’s fast, exciting and enormously enjoyable,
Asphalt 6 Adrenaline HD
Free
Xperia Play-ers gets a free download of the latest Asphalt racer courtesy of Gameloft. With crazy shortcuts and gorgeous cars, it’s a great use of data. The Play’s touchpads take time to master, though.
Verdict:
A great phone and brilliant gamer, but those controls mean trouser-straining bulk
