Sony Ericsson's original Xperia X10 was a brave first go at an Android phone, offering a large screen, a collection of social media enhancements and a stylised version of Google's rapidly growing mobile operating system.
However, the X10 was hindered by delays, held back by glitchy software and arrived running the already ageing Android 1.6 – and only received an update to 2.1 recently. It was, to put it mildly, a bit of a mess.
You can check out our Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc video review:
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc obliterates all of those awkward memories in a flash. It's running the very latest Android 2.3.2 version of the OS. It's arrived on time. It's fast, and it's very, very stylish indeed.
And it's not that expensive for a single-core Android phone in 2011 at £430 SIM free or £30 per month on contract – can Sony Ericsson's Reality Display, Bravia Engine and Exmor R buzzwords win pocket space in today's extremely crowded Android marketplace?
First impressions are that the Xperia Arc is unbelievably, impossibly thin. It's also flared slightly around the back, giving the rear of the phone a slightly fatter top and bottom. And it's light, too – a mere 117g. The rival Google Nexus S weighs in at 129g. How it has all been squeezed in is a mystery.
The solid-feeling 4.2-inch screen fills much of the front of the phone, with only a few millimetres of bezel to the left and right. The handset itself is only marginally longer than the old HTC Desire – and is significantly slimmer. In fact, you get an HTC Desire HD-sized screen in the body of a much smaller, slimmer phone.
But you only get Sony Ericsson's standard selection of three physical buttons – Back, Home and Menu – in reverse order to how they featured in the X10. That will mess with the minds of upgraders. The buttons are solid silvery plastic, plus there's a piercing white LED light shining through the gaps between them to help guide your thumbs in the dark.
The top of the phone features an HDMI output hidden behind a little dust stopper, plus a tiny power button. The power button is recessed to stop accidental presses – but so tiny it can be a little hard to find. It's a fingernail job and a bit of a pain. There's also a proximity sensor, which shuts off the screen when it's pressed to your ear.
The left edge features the 3.5mm headphone jack, while the right-hand edge houses the micro-USB, a small volume up/down rocker and a physical camera button near the bottom.
The back of the Xperia Arc is simple, with its curved case lending it quite an air of style. We've been using this one for over a week, and still keep picking it up to marvel at how thin it is.
Turn the screen on and it's bright and sharp. Icons are clear and well defined thanks to Sony Ericsson's Reality Display technology, whatever that may be, with nothing in the way of pixilation on show.
It's not quite as sharp as the superb display of the iPhone 4, but is easily on a par with the sharp output of the Samsung Galaxy S' gorgeous Super AMOLED screen.
The screen is very usable outdoors in direct light – you don't even have to max the brightness to read text while outside. It's a lovely piece of hardware to have.
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Your comments (14) Click to add a new comment
mrcacrl
14 hours ago
14. Actually. To create a thumbnail shortcut to a photo and put it on the home screen in a folder, what you do is: Long Press > Shortcut > "File Manager App" - in my case ASTRO > Browse to the relevant item > It appears on your home screen > You drag it to whatever folder you want.
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johnmiles66
August 12th
13. hi guys i am wondering if i should get a sony ericsson play or a sony ericsson ark which one do u thinks better? thanks in advanced
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hughm
August 10th
12. So can you explain why we have a samsung galaxy 2 video in the midst of the xperia arc review? Just obsession with this phone perhaps?
I have heard boot-up time on the xperia takes ages (i.e.several minutes). There seems to be no comment in the review on this at all. Can anyone confirm this is so?
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gumbung
July 20th
11. you may need a high speed sd card for android to run apps faster. that's way to upgrade the faster sd card, you need to know how to change it.
instructions :
1. make sure your new sd card already in the format
2. turn off the Xperia Arc, change the old sd card, install the new one.
3. turn on the Xperia Arc
4. then to the setting - privacy - factory format sd card.
you just have to copy the old files it needs from your Xperia Arc. you may see another tips at hp-gsm.blogspot.com
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robjs
June 24th
10. Regarding you comment:
"Zoom into a page using multi-touch and it doesn't reflow – but double-tap on the screen and you get a full zoom with text shuffled about to fit the window size."
I recently found out that in order to get the text to reflow, you first pinch to zoom and then quickly afterwards double click on the screen and it should reflow.
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kiransamy
June 7th
9. I wholehearted agree with some people here. Specs doesn't tell the whole picture! For example, more megapixels does not mean superior sharper photos! I have seen some phone cameras with 5mP beating higher boasting mP for clarity and colors. This is like comparing a good point and shoot autofocus camera to spec phone camera. Most of the time the former will win for clarity. Marketing gizmos aside, I already liked what I seen of this new Sony Arc and the deals available!
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arthur3000
May 29th
8. the-video-review-is-bizz-are
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spicoli
May 8th
7. I just got one and it is a fantastic bit of kit. The camera is amazing and when you use the hdmi lead to see your pics / vids on a 50 inch tv you iphone mates go very quiet. It works very quick online too. I would recommend this to anybody.
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sxxychocolate
May 1st
6. I have officially taken myself out of the processor race....considering I, er hardly use my phone even for what one would call "normal" usage, dual core is not an issue for me at this stage.
I have finally overcome my obsession with spec and come to my senses...this phone is the ideal replacement for my poor old Samsung i8910. I got nothing against Sammy as they make some class hardware, but I did say after my experience with the i8910 I would never touch a Sammy phone again.....that nearly ended when I nearly got the Galaxy S2 in Phones4u on Thursday on an Orange upgrade. (Orange themselves are due to have the phone in June).
The shame of nearly giving into my addiction with spec...
Instead I took a step back, took a deep breath and ran out of the shop screaming!!!....I feel alot better now, thank you.
I've been researching phones for awhile....went to the London HTC show to see the Sensation (already own a Desire), been looking at the Atrix, LG 2xx, SGs2 and Desire HD.
So after much deliberation, eating, drinking and chastising myself...I decided on the following:
1) Leave dual core to the early adopters, let them pave the way for the next gen of dual core phones....that's when I'll join the party. I don't jailbreak, use custom roms etc even though new mobile phone tech excites me ever so slighty *ahem* in a non filthy way.....Although SE announcing that they are going to be opening the bootloaders has got me going a bit wibbly :O)
2) Get a great "sounding" phone which has been recieved relatively well by the industry.
3) Upgrade through Orange.
So, I ordered my Arc last Friday on the following plan:
18 Month Contact (Rac****) - Upgrade to a new (dual core) phone next August. Orange allow you to upgrade 90 days before the end of your contract :)
400 Cross Network Minutes
Free Landline Calls
Unlimited Txt
30 free picture msgs
500mb data
Free Orange Insurance
All this for £25 per month....Yes, I paid £70 for the handset, which I have never had to do before, BUT my old phone is worth £74 to recycle :):), Kerrrching!!!
So, I've reduced my usual contract length from 24 months to 18 months. Reduced the cost of my monthly call plan and have the added benefits of data, pic msgs and insurance. I didn't have these bits before....
I think we've all become just a little addicted to the numbers......
Everyone take a deep breath, relax and get the phone that suits your actual requirements, who cares who it's manufactered by, as long it brings joy and happiness into your lives...;O)
Happy Shopping Everyone...
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simonset
April 11th
5. It's still the SGS 2 for me!
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paul43524
April 5th
4. @Techradar - why on earth would you want more than 5 homescreens? I think more than 5 would be a severe usability disadvantage. It's hard enough to remember what you've put on 3 homescreeens, never mind expanding it to more than 5!
(otherwise nice review)
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cuttingt
April 5th
3. Instead of using 'Sony Ericsson PC Companion connectivity and backup suite', could you try using 'Media Go' and reviewing how well the phone works with that. Its a program made by Sony Network Entertainement which imports all your songs from itunes, converts video files and downloads games from the PlayStation Store for your Sony and Sony Ericsson media devices. (Third party devices work unnoficially, while for obvious reasons Playstation Games downloaded from the PSN will only work on the PSP (and hopefully sometime in the future via PLaystation Suite when it launches on Android Phones)).
Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_go
If you could update your review to reflect how this program compliments the user experience I would be very gratefull, thank you.
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bobsm
April 4th
2. So, where does this slot in on your "Constantly Updated" list of Top 20 phones?
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khsbenny
April 4th
1. Looks like a great phone! Mines being delivered tomorrow :)
One slight niggle with the review, the Galaxy S screen really isn't that sharp, hopefully this is sharper being LCD rather than SAMOLED.
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