Here at TechRadar Mansions, we're a jaded bunch, but there are some things we've always thought would be a good idea: jam and ham being sold together (possibly called Jham) and the PSP Phone. A PlayStation Portable with a phone inside it.And with the Xperia Play, we've got as close to that as we think we're ever going to get, as Sony's release of the NGP is the parent brand's attempt at a phone, with 3G connectivity built right in.
Finally getting to play with the PSP Phone
So, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has a lot of pressure on its shoulder buttons - does it live up to the hype? Thankfully, we managed to nab a unit to play with for a few hours, so check out our first impressions:
Early feelings are mixed - if you're going to have a phone with a slide-out gaming pad, then you'll need to temper your expectations of a slim device - the Xperia Play isn't the chunkiest phone in the world, but it's certainly noticeable in the pocket.
The 4-inch screen is a fine size, and if the rumours about it being powered by the same Bravia engine as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc (which were confirmed by our source) are indeed true, then this could be a really intriguing hybrid device.
The front of the phone is pretty sparse - we've got the same four hard keys controlling the Back, Home, Menu and Search functions as most Android phones - interesting to see the Search function pop up, as Sony Ericsson has jettisoned this key on its previous models, and the Xperia Arc too.
The charger port is still microUSB, although it's a slightly different variation with a more angular shape than others - our generic charger still worked fine though, so there's no need to worry on that front.
Of more concern (although that word may be a little too dramatic) is the power button - it's seemingly hidden by the slide-out keyboard, so a little work might need to be done to the final release model to raise this up - it's a constantly used area as it also serves as the lock switch, so making it fiddly won't be a good idea.
We've never been fans of the 3.5mm headphone port being located on the side of a phone, although it is near the top on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play - it gets in the way of the hand when trying to watch a movie.
Overall, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play fits well enough in the hand - it's a chunky beast, make no mistake, but not as bad you might think - we're glad that things have moved on to the point where all this technology doesn't need a spare bag to cart it around.
Read more on page 2
Early feelings are mixed - if you're going to have a phone with a slide-out gaming pad, then you'll need to temper your expectations of a slim device - the Xperia Play isn't the chunkiest phone in the world, but it's certainly noticeable in the pocket.
The 4-inch screen is a fine size, and if the rumours about it being powered by the same Bravia engine as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc (which were confirmed by our source) are indeed true, then this could be a really intriguing hybrid device.
The front of the phone is pretty sparse - we've got the same four hard keys controlling the Back, Home, Menu and Search functions as most Android phones - interesting to see the Search function pop up, as Sony Ericsson has jettisoned this key on its previous models, and the Xperia Arc too.
The charger port is still microUSB, although it's a slightly different variation with a more angular shape than others - our generic charger still worked fine though, so there's no need to worry on that front.
Of more concern (although that word may be a little too dramatic) is the power button - it's seemingly hidden by the slide-out keyboard, so a little work might need to be done to the final release model to raise this up - it's a constantly used area as it also serves as the lock switch, so making it fiddly won't be a good idea.
We've never been fans of the 3.5mm headphone port being located on the side of a phone, although it is near the top on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play - it gets in the way of the hand when trying to watch a movie.
Overall, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play fits well enough in the hand - it's a chunky beast, make no mistake, but not as bad you might think - we're glad that things have moved on to the point where all this technology doesn't need a spare bag to cart it around.
Read more on page 2
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