Small Handset Packing Huge Punch

Small & Mighty: The XPERIA Mini is a compact but powerful smartphone

Despite measuring just 52 by 88 by 16mm, the suitably-named XPERIA Mini offers a range of high-end smartphone features including a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen, high-definition video recording function and a robust 1GHz processor. At just over the £200 mark on the typical pay-as-you-go deal, the Mini could be destined for greatness when it hits shop shelves for general release later this year. So far, the only concern we have is that the phone may be too small for some, although its undeniable charm and intuitive Android software should be enough to combat this.

What We Like

Possibly the most impressive thing about the Mini is the 3-inch capacitive display that it boasts. It may not sound extraordinary by today’s standards, but when you consider the miniscule build of this Sony Ericsson device then 3-inches really is quite an achievement. Equally surprising considering the Mini’s compact build is the 1GHz Scorpion processor buried under the hood. For a phone that’s priced at little over £200, the Mini is incredibly slick and smooth-running, which is only helped further by the intuitive Android OS it runs on.

Indeed, the Mini runs on the latest version of Google’s phone platform, 2.3 Gingerbread. The user interface is rapid and intuitive, with a handful of custom apps and the usual classic favourites such as Facebook and Twitter making welcome appearances here. The Android Market shop shelves are also well-stocked, with the improved screen resolution of the Mini giving the user more scope to try out a wider variety of compatible applications.

We were also impressed by the camera and video recording facilities aboard this new Sony Ericsson release. The 5-megapixel camera comes with an LED Flash that makes for bright, crisp shots, whilst the HD video recording faculty is of a similarly high-standard at 720p. It has to be said, these are very advanced specs on such a small, reasonably priced handset, and Sony Ericsson deserve great credit for managing to cram such modern features into the Mini’s tiny frame.

What We Don't Like

Although its compact build will appeal to most, the tiny nature of the Mini may be a cause for concern in the eyes of some – especially to those with chubbier fingers who may have trouble typing on the device’s cute but cramped virtual QWERTY. Likewise, there may be the odd couple of complaints about the handset’s battery life, which is likely to be short when you consider the abundance of smartphone features found here. Still, this is only to be expected from a phone offering 3G, Wi-Fi, HD recording capabilities and much, much more.

Conclusion

We’re really excited about the impending release of the XPERIA Mini, and with excellent connectivity options, great multimedia offerings and a slick Android OS all to be found here, it’s not difficult to guess why. Conceded, the compact build of this Sony Ericsson number won’t be for everyone, but for those who aren’t overly concerned by the phone’s size, the Mini could prove to be a very shrewd purchase indeed.