The first thing that strikes you when you look at the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro is its beautiful 3.7" LED multi-touch screen. But it gets better! Hiding behind all that glitter is a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. A real...honest-to-goodness physical keyboard which is still, for many, something no touchscreen can match.
One more nice thing about this phone's keyboard is what it does when you slide it out. For example, if your email is open, it tries to predict what you want to do and automatically gives you the options to reply to or forward a message. You can also type a message first, and then decide whether you want to send it as an email or an SMS. That's a clever bit of tech that we thought was pretty cool.
Another nice bit of UI is what Sony Ericsson is calling Timescape. This brings all of your communication streams like calls, text messages, Twitter updates and surprise...Facebook posts, into one scrollable set of tiles. Click on any one tile and Timescape will automatically bring up the appropriate app.
Although the camera button could have been kept in a more easily accessible place, the onboard 8 megapixel and its ability to record videos in HD can be appreciated. There is even a HDMI port to play videos back from the phone to a larger HD enabled display. (Sorry...no HDMI cable included). On the front is a secondary VGA camera that enables video chatting.
Other notable features include a standard 3.5mm headset jack, FM radio and support for both Microsoft Exchange and Gmail. An 8 GB microSD card is provided with the phone and the microSD slot can accommodate up to 32 GB.
Most importantly, the Xperia Pro comes with the latest Android OS which means you get access to the complete, and rapidly expanding catalog of free and paid Android apps and games.
Need to Know: Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
1. Slide-out QWERTY keyboard (The Good)
2. Sony Ericsson Timescape and deep integration with Facebook (The Good)
3. HDMI cable not included (The Bad)
4. Cheaper, plastic feel (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- GSMArena Team, GSMArenaSo, the company's squad of droid smartphones is now complete with a QWERTTY messenger. It's the kind of phone that can enjoy demand from both business users and social networking fans. The entire Xperia lineup was thoroughly refreshed and ready to offer the Android experience to users of all backgro...
- Dawid Lorenz, CoolsmartphoneThe Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro is a bit of an underrated handset. It seems to be hidden in the shadow of its smaller sibling, the Xperia mini Pro, on which the main marketing effort from Sony Ericsson itself and UK operators is focused. Nonetheless, it is still quite decent device. Perhaps it doesn’t...
- Chris, Tracy and MattOverall my time with the Xperia Pro was quite a good one, but for me the phone lacks a certain quality that would distinguish it in the mass market and for that reason I am not sure whether it can succeed as I don't think many people would choose this device over some other more attractive propositi...
- Daniel P., PhoneArenaThe Sony Ericsson Xperia pro is the rare sight of a good-looking Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone with a side-sliding physical keyboard, which is on top of that very comfortable to type on.
- Shayne Rana, tech2With a Price tag of Rs. 23,990 (MRP) on the Xperia Pro, it makes for a great feature rich handset. The tiny glitch with the sliver model’s keypad and backlighting can easily be overlooked when compared to the slew of features and the above average battery life the handset offers. It’s a great handse...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Sony's suggested retail price is $399.99. You can compare Ericsson Xperia Pro prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro user manual here.
Sony backs up the Ericsson Xperia Pro with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Ericsson Xperia Pro has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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