Xperia PLAY, the PlayStation Phone Review. Why Should you Buy It?
by Antonio Wells
Jun 13, 2011 8:00 AM –
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY, the first “PlayStation phone” running Google’s Android mobile operating system. The power of a full PlayStation console controller and downloadble PlayStation or Android games, a smartphone capable of Google services such as Gmail, Calendar and Google Maps, access to hundreds of thousands of Android apps, and ultimately a cell phone exclusive to Verizon. Lets go through an in-depth practical review of the Xperia Play; features, services, value and why you should or should not buy it.
Price: $199.99 w/ 2 yr contract
Carrier: Verizon (Exclusive)
Buy on eBay
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Power of an Android smartphone meets PlayStation gaming
- Comes with good set of preloaded compatible games, more can be purchased and downloaded
- A good implementation of PlayStation gaming controller tucked away in the slider
- To the contrary, good battery life
- Front camera for video chat plus rear cameras
Cons
- Single-core processor, which has minor lag moments but will stand the test of time as games require faster phones.
- The cameras do not produce photos of the superior quality
- The analog joysticks replacement touchpads are poorly responsive
- No dedicated camera shutter button, neither of the gaming L/R buttons are configured to act as such
- No HDMI-out for mirroring game play & showing media on the big screen or DLNA for wireless media sharing
- As a phone it is bulky
Who Should Buy This Phone?
The target demographic are those with affinity towards gaming consoles. Typically a younger audience from teen through adolescence and mostly male.
Design:
As a phone it is bulky, but understandable since it houses a controller under the hood. As mentioned, there is a full PlayStation 3 controller with the exception of L2 & R2 buttons on the top. So it does include; directional pad, touchpads, Menu, Select, Start, L1 & R1, plus action buttons. The touchpads (similar to those on Sony’s Google TV box) which were meant to replace the analog joysticks do not respond well, I simply did not use them as some games require more control.
Overall the style of the design is signature of Sony Ericsson with bold curves, and the mixture of materials such as glass, reflective and metal. It does feel solid, of quality materials which adds weight to it. Its other phone-centric features include standard micro USB for charging & data transfer, 3.5mm audio jack for music listening, and volume rocker. Although the volume rocker sits at an inconvenient location between the L/R buttons. Finally there is the LED Notification blinker light mixed with the Power On/Off button, I’m a big fan of LED notifications… limited color options, but it does the job.
Camera specs are 5 megapixels on the rear with an LED flash with 1.3 megapixel camera on the front; both can record video as well. The cameras do not produce photos of the superior quality, or boast-worthy like Samsung Android phones, but get the job done. The Xperia Play also lacks a dedicated camera button, this surprises me, as it can take advantage of being able to configure either L & R buttons as a camera shutter button versus having to press the on-screen camera shutter button.
Due to the curvature of the phone’s design the Power On/Off button, which can be used to wake the phone and houses the LED notification blinker light, is in an awkward position. Both for notify you and holding in the hand; not to mention how close to flush. A better design recommendation would have been to raise it slightly so tackle memory feel can discover it. Good thing the “Home” button on the front can alternatively use to wake the phone.
Features:
The Xperia Play has all the bells and whistles you can expect of an Android powered smartphone; Google services, access to Android apps, plus PlayStation games and VCast apps. Even better, it ships with the latest version of Android operating system specific to phones code-named Gingerbread. This means features like improved keyboard, better power management, overall intuitive navigation, and more sensors for gaming; which have been evident in this phone. Also to note, it is stock Android 2.3, versus a custom branded user experience many device makers tend to differentiate themselves with. Why is this good… it helps to receive software updates faster.
Xperia Play Quadrant Benchmark Test
In the season of dual-core processors, Sony Ericsson decided to debut the Xperia Play with a single-core processor, in our evaluation of the phone there was some noticeable lag in some minor areas. However, we’re looking down the road with this evaluation- as more high end games come out the Play will not be able to keep up and labeled “slow”.
Xperia Play Speed Test on Verizon 3G
Another perk the Xperia Play is missing that makes its release seem a bit behind the curve is that face that it’s not using Verizon’s 4GLTE network, but their 3G network. Which I might add is not slow at all. In my average speed tests I received typical speeds of between 1-2MB download and just under 1MB upload. Additionally, there is no HDMI-out for mirroring game play & showing media on the big screen or DLNA for wireless media sharing.
Call quality was as expected, it’s Verizon. Personally, in Chicago I rarely have trouble with any of the four major telecom carriers. 
As you may be aware, since this is a Verizon phone is it only compatible in the U.S. Also, since it is a 3G phone, you cannot receive concurrent data and voice communication such as email or browsing the web simultaneously during a phone call. 
Noting how Samsung gives generous internal memory space for installing Android apps, I was very disappointed to see Sony Ericsson shipping the Xperia Play with only 256MB of internal memory storage; meaning far less room for installing apps and games. To its defense, many apps and games can be moved to the SD card, the phone comes with an 8GB SD card which can be expanded up to 40GB.
Some call it carrier “bloatware”, but in this case there was a sweet set of pre-installed VCast Android apps from Verizon’s store. Those to note are; obviously the host of Xperia Play games, which house most of the games capable of taking advantage of the controller buttons. Backup Assistant for backing up contacts. Finally, My Verizon Mobile is a great pre-installed app to have for getting a quick glance at your cellular account plus other Verizon services. See details of minutes, text messages and data used/left.
Performance and Battery Life:
I must say, knowing the history of Android phones exhibiting poor battery life; added to the ability to play process intensive games with a full controller, the Xperia PLAY surprised me with how well it sustained battery life. Battery life is excellent for an average user; average 11-16 hours between charges. Battery life is decent for a heavy user; average 9-12 hours between charges.
PlayStation Games, Android Apps & Android Games
Pre-installed games:
Xperia PLAY Games
More Xperia PLAY Games:
- Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock Mobile
- Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave
- Age of Zombies
- Assassin’s Creed HD
- Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus HD
- Hockey Nations 2011
- Let’s Golf 2 HD
- Guns’n'Glory
- HOMERUN BATTLE 3D
- ZENONIA 2
- Brother In Arms 2: Global Front HD
- Aporkalypse
- BATTLE BEARS-1
- infeCCt
- Tower Bloxx: My City
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- Armageddon Squadron
- Avatar HD
- Guerrilla Bob
- PAC-MAN
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction HD
- Spider-Man: Total Mayhem HD
- UNO HD
- Millionaire City
- ZENONIA
- I Must Run!
- Family Guy: Time Warped
- Farm Story
- Ground Effect Pro XHD
- Raving Babies
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Photos of Xperia PLAY:
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Tags:
Android 2.3,
Gingerbread,
PlayStation,
PlayStation Phone,
Sony Ericsson,
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play,
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Android Apps,
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Apps,
Xperia PLAY,
Xperia PLAY Android Apps,
Xperia PLAY Apps,
Xperia PLAY Review
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