Customer Reviews

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Cell Phone with 3G, 3.2 MP Camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, MicroSD - International Version with No Warranty (Black)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'll just list out the aspects of the phone. More convenient that way.

-Touchscreen: Not as responsive nor as user-friendly and intuitive as the iPhone, but definitely usable, stylus (which is provided), and finger-wise. Sharp, bright colors, with an auto-adjust function that works amazingly well, even in bright sunlight. Slightly recessed, so it does collect dust and other debris (which I found surprisingly annoying, since even lint easily picks up from my pocket), but overall, very attractive and usable.

-Windows Mobile 6.1: Though there are still some bugs, a marked improvement over the last version. The one really annoying aspect of the system is still the slow loading time, and the main nagging thing I noted is that there's a HUGE lag after text messaging, after the message informing you that the text was sent. The system freezes for a good 5-10 seconds, and won't let you do anything during that time frame. Mostly just annoying, though certainly not a detractor, especially if you don't text a whole lot.

-The keyboard: Spacious, despite the compactness, and slightly curved, with an assisted spring mechanism that feel very, very solid. The one qualm I have is that they keys are nearly flush with the tray, and the top row can be difficult to press, since it's nearly flush beneath the screen. Other than that, with some use, it's easy to get used to, and doesn't add bulk or awkward feeling to the phone, like some full QWERTY keyboards. The keys are also backlit, which is a nice touch, especially in shadowed or darkened areas.

-The keys: There's plenty of softkeys and shortcuts available, and they're very well-suited for the phone. There's an optical joystick (passing your finger over the surface allows you to scroll without physically pressing the top/bottom keys, or the screen), which also serves as an "OK" key. I really liked that addition to the phone, since I'm not a big trackball fan, and the sensitivity is customizable, since a too sensitive setting can sometimes lead to wrong commands. There's a dedicated panel key, which is somewhat like a home-screen key, since it takes you to the main panel selection every time. There are also dedicated phone keys, a toggle on the side for volume, and a power/sleep button on the top. They don't detract from the phone, and the only sticking point is that they're sometimes a bit stiff to press. Other than that, it's a nice, somewhat comforting feeling to have dedicated keys available, unlike the iPhone.

-The panels: These have been touted as, and are, really, the main attraction of the phone. They're are an interesting, very positive feature, since they're customizable (you can even move them around, though this has to be done through choosing a panel and editing it, instead of just dragging it across the screen, which would have been much more intuitive), and varied, and give the Windows system a more personal feel. They can be a bit laggy, but they're fun and functional (the fish panel is just amusing, with the ability of the fish to change color, follow the touch, or swim away if pressed), though I've yet to find a use for the Google page, since it always defaults to Internet Explorer, which I don't utilize.

-Internet browsing: Pretty snappy and speedy, even on the Edge network. The area in which I live doesn't support the 3G bands on this particular phone (I have the overseas Xi, while the U.S. will ship the Xia), though bigger cities with the 1900mHz towers do. I don't use Internet Explorer, since it's still one of the most useless and dated mobile browsers out there. The phone is shipped with Opera Mobile 9.5 installed, which works similarly to Safari on the iPhone, though thankfully the cut and paste options are available, unlike the iPhone. (Trust me, after you've given up that option, and then come back to it, you'll really notice the difference. Why Apple hasn't picked up on that yet, I'll never know...) There is also the option of downloading Skyfire, which works very well, sometimes faster than Opera. Both platforms support Flash, and display the full-page layout, like you'd see on your PC. Either way, pretty enjoyable experience there.

-Text/Multimedia Messaging: Windows finally incorporated the threaded conversation for text messaging, much like the iPhone did, creating a more "IM" feel to conversations, and making it much easier to keep track of specific conversations. It lags a bit, as mentioned prior, but a great improvement, without a doubt. It also does Multimedia messaging, and for that alone, in some ways, it is worth more than the iPhone, since Apple still refuses to include that basic function.

-Camera/Video/Music: The camera is 3.2 MP, a very decent camera, especially considering the phone size. It includes a flash, and can be adjusted for various speeds, colors, effects, etc. There is also a video-camera, which records up to 30fps, though only 24fps, I believe, for the American version. Why the difference, I couldn't say. The music player is easy to access (it has it's own panel), and there is also a Sony FM radio included, which is a nice touch, and easy to use, though only with the headphones included, since they act as an antennae, apparently. Still, very decent media package.

-Construction: I have the silver finish, which is really just stunning. It's very has a very durable, solid feel to it, though can be somewhat slippery, and feels very comfortable in the hand. The size in my opinion is perfect, compact and sleek, and though this means smaller screen size and somewhat cramped keys, it's really my favorite aspect of the phone. Has the old, comfortable handset feel of a Nokia candybar phone, actually. Sony really put a lot of thought and effort into it, and it shows.

-Other features: The 3.5mm headphone jack is WONDERFUL. I had a Sony a few years back, and the one sticking point that kept me from using it as a full-time MP3 player was the fact that I was supposed to use Sony's headphones. The fact that Sony has branched out, and incorporated the headphone jack, along with the capabilities for a Micro SD card slot (located on the side, when you remove the back cover), really shows that they're creating a platform which is more friendly to users who branch between companies. (Sony usually has their own M2 storage card, which is more pricey than the Micro SD.) Whether it lasts or not depends on their continued association with HTC, I suppose, who designed and helped create the physical phone. I suspect that if they next phone doesn't run Windows Mobile (which has been rumored), those features might disappear. Oh well. The fact that they're included on the Xperia is really a very nice, convenient touch. The phone also connected with the network very easily, loaded all the information, and formatted the phone, without any heavy programming from me, which was awesome.

Overall? Fantastic phone, with very reliable software, convenient system, sleek and sturdy construction, speedy network connections (even overseas), and plenty of opportunities for personal tweaks and modifications, given the open platform from Windows. I'd love to give it five stars, instead of the four, but the price was ridiculous, especially considering that it's really just another Windows Mobile smartphone, albeit better-looking and more personal than some others. Still, it's without a doubt my favorite phone to date, when combining the ease of use and construction appeal. Well worth buying, if you can burn the money.

First the disclaimer: I'm an avid Windows Mobile user so am familiar with the Windows Mobile interface.

I love the camera. Of course it doesn't compare with a point and shoot of course, but pictures are rather sharp. The shutter runs a little slow, so sometimes you might miss the action, but for quick snaps in bright light it is pretty good. The LED gives a little bit of light in low light situations. Auto focus is a very nice feature too.

The panels are an interesting concept. I've actually given up my mp3 player and am using the Sony Ericsson music player with an 8G SD card (a touch heavy for this, but not bad). Also the integrated FM radio panel is nice. I haven't found a use for the fish panel yet!

The curve of the sliding keyboard is pretty nice. I like how when you slide the keyboard there is a solid feel to it. Makes me think that Sony Ericsson paid attention to the design here.

Very stable. Doesn't crash.

I've dropped it a few times...ugh. Hasn't scratched or died (yet)

The device is responsive. a touch snappier would be nice, but definitely usable.

People definitely notice the phone - not that I pay attention to that anyway ;)


Cons:
A little heavy - just a little lighter and I'd be happy.
The keys on keyboard are a little too flush - sometimes hard to type, but now I've had a bit of experience
The panels are a little slow.
The speakerphone is a little quiet - I wish it were a little louder, but doable.
This could be a con if you don't like or haven't used Windows Mobile, but since it is Windows Mobile so it might take some getting used to.

Neutral:
The screen has a bezel, which flys in the face of recent "smartphones - iPhone etc. I don't mind it personally.
Like most Windows Mobile phones, the battery doesn't last as long as my old Nokia 3510. But hey, I'm using 10 times the features and it always lasts me more than a whole day from sun up to sun down.
I personally don't like the touch sensor to scroll - I like clicking through menu entries rather than swiping.

I won't begin to judge fellow reviewers and their knowledge of WinMo phones but will say that you simply cannot judge this or any current multi app piece of hardware by the same standards as other phones.

Nor can this be judged on how it performs 'out of the box'. Like a laptop, you can only cast an opinion when you've uploaded your favorite software, got it to run your prefered media player and tweaked the OS to your own personal specs. Judging something this high tech as it is, is like admiring your new plasma TV but not adjusting the contrast or brightness or tuning in any new channels; or to test driving a car on half a tank of petrol and then focusing your complaints only on the fact that it ran out of fuel. You got to fill it up to go the distance!

Out of the box, on UK Vodafone, this is as chunky a brick as ever was produced. The keyboard is gorgeous, a tactile joy and a beautiful piece of kit but the rest is slow and unresponsive. The Windows Mobile system (WM6) is cumbersome for a phone OS, the touchscreen is slow with a noticable delay between press and reaction. The panel system, although novel and full of possibilities has been woefully under supported by Sony Ericsson (The X1 is very obviously a test bed for future X-series handsets!)

And this isn't my first touchscreen, HTC or Windows Mobile handset, so i'm not comng down hard on the Xperia through inexperience...

However...

I've had my X1 for a little over a month. The Vodafone ROM has gone. The OS is tweaked and touchscreen responsiveness is immaculate. Screen pop-ups, information messages, unwanted screen closings etc. are gone. IE has been swapped for Opera. WM6 has gone in favor of the touch friendly WM6.5. Youtube works, Synching doesn't need Outlook, video playback is faultless and (the high point for me) the infinitely adaptable customisation that Windows Mobile supports means the handset is tailored exactly how i want it.

Yes, i had to do some research; downloading, resetting and repeating on occasion. With previous generation handsets that kind of effort for a mobile could simply have been dismissed as pimping my ride; chintz and bling, but for this kind of device it's more the equivalent of putting enough fuel in the tank and getting your driving position right.

You HAVE to put the time in to get the most out of it.

This is the best phone i've owned. It's not as innovative as the iPhone and it doesn't yet have the apps support, but Sony Ericsson have created, after a bit of personal tweaks, a wonderfully intuitive, highly adaptable, beautiful piece of kit. It works fine as a phone, an email client and media player tho it is lacking in games. The 3.2MP camera has a great flash and gives excellent results for a mobile camera. And for internet use the X1 is incomparable. Turn it to landscape and the touchscreen coupled with the motion sensitive touch pad make browsing a joy.

True, the $600.00+ price tag is steep but you are paying as much for the potential of the hardware as you are for the hardwear itself. Just remember you have to use that potential or what's the point?!? I think it's a bargain and don't see myself changing handsets for at least a couple of years.

I bought the X1 after extensively using the iPhone (I still have), G1 and the touch pro (both returned)

First to clarify, yes this phone would not have 3G data on T-mobile. You can still make calls and use EDGE but that defies the purpose and the price. For that matter G1 would not work with ATT 3G, this is true for most phones. And if you need to blame someone, its T-moble. They have weird freq for their 3G which nobody else use.

Next, the Xi (the one sold here) has only 1900 freq but ATT uses both 850 and 1900 for voice so you should be good and most places have both the freq (I have never been to a place where my iPhone has better signal) but theoretically 850 is better.

This was one point I was worried, but believe me I don't see a difference. I lived in Atlanta (where 3G is great) and in Denver (where 3G is sketchy at best) and I don't see a difference. In general I drop more calls with my iPhone and I get better signal in places where my wife's phone(which has both 1900/850) doesn't have any.

So the choice is simple, if you live in US and don't mind the silver shell (I hate it) then go for X1a. If you even like the black a little better, get the x1i.

Now comparing to other phone and OS. I'll get this out of the way. right now, the x1 is the best windows mobile out there. Only the Blackstone (HTC touch HD) is comparable but that has no 3G in US (ATT and T-Mobile). So that leaves the Touch pro and Diamond. Touch pro looks great but the body feels cheap and i felt the phone will be in two pieces by the end of the week. Diamond is good but no GSM carrier. And at full price (to use it with ATT) its not all that cheaper to X1.

So I see the iPhone and G1 as its close competitors, G1 is great but the looks will def put people off and the OS feels like its still in beta. the iPhone is amazing (I use it in the weekends because I would want to find restaurants and movie theaters on the go and its so easy to use while driving) but you def don't get the unique feel, as 8 out of 10 people have it. So I take it that unique is what you are looking for if you are even considering buying this for double the price of a iPhone.

Ok here are the plus and minus of this phone
Great:-
1. Crystal clear display (480 by 800). The best so far
2. The finish (though some have complained about cracked body) is great in mine, I actually returned the first X1 (though it was the fault/inadequacy of the ATT support staff) but both x1 were great.
3. Def has a 'exclusive' feel
4. Great hardware, has everything in the market. Speed test shows the x1 for most part is faster than the Omnia (o, i hate that phone)

Good:-
1. I like the keyboard, though not as great as touch pro
2. Loads of physical button, though some may find it cramped.
3. Amazing forum, you can do virtually anything in the software side. They have already ported TF3D and other goodies from touch HD. But HTC (made and sold) devices like touch pro and HD have a bigger following.
4. This is more like 3a. You will def have 6.5 and even 7 ported to this phone (Not officially though)
5. Even though the OS is not touch optimized, it still feels like you can do anything with it. I love it (this is my 6th WinMo device)

Bad:-
1. No Captive touch screen, meaning you still need a stylus most of the time. But the TF3D and Panels make life a little better.
2. OS is like a siss army knife, Most would be overwhelmed if this is their 1st smart phone
3. Doesn't have accelerometer (the one which turns you screen landscape when you turn your mobile)
4. Comparing it with touch pro, touch pro has impressive list of sensors. For example it know when the stylus is in or out. Big deal? yes. For example you can auto launch notepad when in call and you pull the stylus out. You can do million things with these sensors. I had the pro pick my call automatically as i pick the phone from my desk. The x1 has none of these sensors.

Bottom line is if you are a vivid WinMo user and like spending hours setting up your phone and then flash it again and start all over. This one is for you.

Others try the G1 or the iPhone or wait for WinMo 7

PS:- If you do get this phone, the first thing you need to do is flash it with a custom ROM. Just google it

This is by far the best cell phone out there currently. I bought this phone about a week ago and was waiting for it for some time, but the wait was worth it.

The phone has many excellent features, such as:
o Multi band covering the whole world
o Full communication suite (BT, wireless, push email, Internet...) that is easy to setup
o Nice touch screen and nice panels, which can be developed by a normal user
o Office tools and applications
o and many more

Its features are better than many cell phones such as the HTC diamond, which is comparable to it, and is always said that this is an imitation of it. Moreover, it runs great and flawlessly.

The couple of things that I would like to be better are the speaker phone function, it just needs to be a little bit louder, and the multimedia player that comes with it, but again you can always buy third party applications that can cover all types of audio and video.

I'm extremely happy with the phone and recommend it to anybody and everybody.

This is the only cell phone I ever bought that just worked right out of the box without a thousand questions. It connedted to the web, found new panals, downloaded my mp3 files and assorted and assembled all my music and video files. It is like haveing a real computer in the cell phone.

Voice was very clear and easy to understand. The speaker phone isn't bad but I keep blocking it with my finger. The position of the speaker phone not very good.

It is well build and solid as a rock. Most people are saying that it is too thick. It fits in my pocket just fine and I like the extra size and weight.

The slide out keyboard is real neat. I popped in a 8gb chip and it transfers fast and acurately.

Like everyone else the price is a bit steep but then you really get what you pay for these days.

Good: It really works with little effort
Mobile 6.1 is teriffic. Quite an improvement over the old one.
Screen Gorgeous
Slide out keyboard is a blessing

Bad: None (unless you think it is too expensive)


Conclusion

If you can afford it buy it. Great Phone.

Had this thing for a few weeks now. First impressions weren't great but they've improved.

The hardware is nearly beyond reproach. Slick piece of gear that feels of good quality. I might wish the screen were a bit larger, but the extra resolution is great. Sunlight readability is at least as good as the iPhone I have. After several weeks, it pains me to stare at the iPhone screen again, the resolution is too low.. The keyboard works fine for my fingers and I vastly prefer it to the iPhone virtual keyboard. No complaints about calls really. Touch screen is okay.
GPS works and the geo-tagging of the camera is a nice touch (available on the latest ROM's soon or a separate software download already). The camera is nothing to write home about though, but decent enough.

My first Windows Mobile device ever. And it's a piece of s**t compared to other cell phone OS. Sony Ericsson has (like other manufacturers) tried to hide it behind their own interface, and it works to some degree. So, to make this a loveable phone, here's my tips:

- Use the Sony Xperia panels and CUSTOMIZE it! Put all your most use functions right on this screen. Users have complained about "lags" from touches, but I've found that's only when you switch Panels. If you just stick with the one panel, everything works fine. I used the iPhone layout as a guideline.
- Download the latest patches, especially the geo-tagging for the camera and other fixes. With this, despite the resistive touch screen, browsing is almost as slick as the iPhone OS.
- Download the YouTube panel
- Download the Xperia Tweak software to get rid of some WinMo annoyances.

It should work nice out of the box. Unfortunately it doesn't, and that's a shame because it's a nice piece of hardware, let down by the crappy OS. It is nice to see that SE is still supporting and upgrading firmware/features. With a bit of tweaking, the phone works just fine.

Not sure if it is worth the full MSRP of $799, but if you can pick it up for $500-600, you might have a reasonable deal. This is a good alternative for those who NEED a real keyboard in their "smartphone".
I didn't pick it up for the full price, and after a few weeks, I am happy enough with my purchase. I a preferring it over the iPhone and all signs point to new updates/fixes by SE to making it even better.

Definitely Sony Ericsson did it right. The Xperia X1 is not only a very good mobile phone but also a great windows based portable device. Maybe the only improvement I would request is it's battery performance specially if you are a Wi-Fi or internet applications fan. Yes the price is high but I still believe it worth it. Also I would like to have more panels online to load and use them as user interfaces for frequent aplications but I think it's a matter of time.
If you are a windows mobile adict and want to integrate it to your mobile phone The Xperia it's your choice.

Got this unit on time and found there was something wrong with the unit after open the box. The maunal was non English, and key board was even with funny keys and definitely not English key board at all. AC adapter was also not US type and no way to plug in outlet for sure. Return the units after few days due to not used to use non English Keyboard. Bottom line, X1 is a good PDA with perfect Specification except No Voice Dial basic Cell phone function. Amazon was provided perfect service on RMA and credit / refund process. Great service, I rateed 5 star for this particular service.

Friend of mine order the same product from Amnzon and got an English version of Manual, Keyboard, and US type AC adapter, Friend encouraged me buy another one, may be Amazon currently carried units are from same batch as he bought and could be English version, Gave the try and cross the finger and hope the unit will be English version. The unit has scheduled deliver next Mnday.Looking forward to see the unit.

Sugget Amazon should do the Quality Inspection after International Version Cell Phone received and before ship to US customers which could definitely save RMA process cost.

Like many tech fanatics, I eagerly looked forward to the release of this phone over a year ago when it was first announced. But after all that wait, I must say that I am a little disappointed with the final product. Sony definitely delivered a great looking and solidly built cellphone. However, the choice of using Windows Mobile on the Xperia X1 is the real failure of this phone.

If you have used the iPhone (OS X) or the HTC G1 (Android) and then you used a Windows Mobile phone such as the Xperia X1, you will be blown away by how poor an operating system Windows Mobile is. It is slow, buggy (even after its been out for ages), prone to crashes and restarts and not designed for finger touch.

The panel interface does little to mask the ugliness and user unfriendliness of Windows Mobile. With the exception of the sbp panel and the Sony designed media player panel, most of the other panels that are available at this writing are nothing to write home about. At the end of the day, the panels are just eye candy and are not enough to improve the user experience significantly.

That said, the phone is well appointed with GPS, a beautiful screen (800x480) resolution, nice keyboard, FM radio and a very handsome design. The screen clarity will impress you. I was able to watch a Divx encoded movie on the Xperia X1 and I was thoroughly impress with its clarity.

In my opinion, this phone would be better served if it ran Android (Google OS) instead of the crappy windows mobile operating system.

Pros:
1. Great design.
2. Very stylish and will grab positive attention.
3. Excellent screen. High resolution (800x480) Crystal clear, excellent for movies.
4. GPS, WIFI (802.11b/g), bluetooth.
5. Very good battery life.

Cons: (all the negatives are due to windows mobile)
1. Sometimes slow and buggy.
2. Archaic user interface.
3. Poor finger touch implementation (forces you to use stylus).