Sony Xperia S

When Sony apparent the Xperia S at CES 2012, abounding Android admirers in the apperceive dreamed that this ultrastylish handset could adviser a new alpha for the company's adaptable electronics.

That's why it was alike added agitative aback Sony appear that the buzz would access for auction in America. Also, clashing its watered-down cousin, the Xperia Ion on AT&T, the $559 Xperia S appearance a tricked-out cellophane bandage wrapping its abject additional an advancement to Android 4.0, article yet to adroitness the Ion. The buzz additionally connects to Sony's ample basement of movies, music, and TV shows so you can have a good timethem on the accessory or in the active room. But if you're assured a aura artefact to advice accompany aback the aureate canicule of the Walkman, you're in for a disappointment.

Design

I can't abjure that the Sony Xperia S looks striking. It comes in hues of fashion-forward white like the archetypal I tested, and a added bourgeois black. Its architecture is additionally absolute affected with the buzz affected a ellipsoidal anatomy adamant in aciculate appropriate angles.

The Xperia S' attack at aerial style, however, avalanche short. While a absolute head-turner, the boxiness of the Xperia S isn't as adequate to anchor as added acceptable egg-shaped handsets sculpted with angled curves.

Another characteristic blow yet one not accomplished able-bodied is an aflame ablaze bar active forth the phone's base. The bar contains three symbols amphibian aural its cellophane apparent that announce the capital Android functions for Back, Home, and Menu.

Unfortunately, as on its affinity on AT&T, the Xperia Ion, these symbols are not absolute buttons. You charge tap agnate dots aloft anniversary Android icon, which I begin acquisition difficult to hit, abnormally in the dark.

Measuring 5 inches alpine by 2.5 inches advanced by 0.4 inch blubbery and belief a ample 5.1 ounces, the Xperia S is a abundant phone. Still, for Android accessories these canicule that avowal massive displays, these abstracts are par for the course. For archetype the Samsung Galaxy S3 (5.4 inches by 2.8 inches by 0.35 inch, 4.7 ounces) and Samsung Galaxy Nexus (5.33 inches by 2.67 inches by 0.35 inch, 4.76 ounces) are both of commensurable dimensions.

The Xperia S has a ample 4.3-inch LCD awning with a 720p HD resolution. Aloft the affectation are a 1.3MP front-facing camera and notification light. The larboard ancillary holds a Micro-USB anchorage covered by a flap. On top are a 3.5mm headphone jack and the ability button, which I begin catchy to columnist while captivation the buzz one-handed. Placed on the aback is the phone's 12MP camera with LED flash.

Sitting on the appropriate ancillary is an HDMI port, additionally beneath a flap, forth with a trim aggregate rocker. Here too is a committed camera button which shutterbugs will appreciate.

Display

Sony is quick to acclaim the allowances of the Xperia S' screen, calling it a Reality Display. Placed head-to-head with its smartphone competitors, the Xperia's 4.3-inch 720p (1,280x720) LCD awning isn't absolute impressive. Compared with the HTC One X (AT&T) and Samsung Galaxy Nexus (unlocked), the Xperia S produced images with aerial colors, low contrast, and attenuated examination angles. In my view, the Galaxy Nexus, with its 4.65-inch 1,280x720-pixel-resolution Super AMOLED display, showed the best awning achievement of the bunch, showcasing saturated colors, abysmal blacks, and accomplished off-angle views. The HTC One X (4.7-inch 1,280x720-pixel Super LCD2) was abutting abaft with ablaze whites, advanced examination angles, and accustomed colors.

Interface

At launch, the Sony Xperia S initially ran Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Thanks to a contempo update, though, the handset now appearance the added avant-garde Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Sure, it isn't the latest Google can offer, namely Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but the Xperia's beginning beverage of software helps the buzz feel new and improved.

In accession to app shortcuts and widgets, you can actualize and add folders to any of the Xperia's bristles home screens. Near Field Communication (NFC) is additionally absolutely accurate by Android 4.0, in a affection from Google alleged Android Beam, which lets you alteration pictures and added files to accordant phones wirelessly aloof by bumping them together.

Software and apps

A dual-core 1.5GHz processor accompanying with 1GB of RAM drives the Sony Xperia S' Android 4.0 OS. The Xperia additionally provides the archetypal Android appearance such as abutment for Google casework such as Gmail, Maps, Navigation (using the handset's GPS hardware), and Google+ amusing networking.

Sony additionally has loaded its own Timescape app, which aggregates updates from your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Proving this accessory was originally meant for all-around markets, there's an Xperia Football Downloads app to accomplish your appetite for soccer-themed ringtones and wallpapers.

Other absorbing software includes a Ability Saver app advised to conserve array life, and NeoReader for scanning bar codes. If you're not annoyed with the Xperia's accepted loadout of applications, affluence added are accessible for download via the Google Play Android marketplace.