Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

A handsome Android that is too flimsy for its premium positioning

When I saw the Arc at CES, I wanted to lay my hands on it. And now, it is finally here. It is slim (8.7 mm) and has a big 4.3 inch display—proportions that could put any supermodel to shame.

Among Android phones, it is the fastest phone today and also has the largest display. However, the phone takes forever to boot up. You have enough time to wonder what might be slowing it down: could it be Android 2.3? Perhaps something is wrong with the latest 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. But once the phone boots, it is a breeze.

The display has been enriched with Sony’s Bravia Engine, which improves the display of videos and images. The built-in Exmor R Engine—from Sony’s camcorders—enables better night shots with its 8 megapixel camera. You can also connect it to a TV or projector with the built-in HDMI port (cable not provided).

There are only three physical buttons on the front of the phone, giving maximum space to its multi-touch screen. The USB ports and 3.5 mm jacks are on its side.
The material used in this phone could have been better. The price of this phone puts it in competition with mobiles that come with glitzy metal bodies.

I wonder why Sony chose such a flimsy design and materials for this phone. Sony’s user interface works fine on Android. But hardcore Android users might end up removing it as it is too resource intensive. The added graphic processor allows the phone to render graphics quickly, but only after it is tweaked appropriately.

So what is my verdict? At Rs 32,000, it competes with the iPhone 4. If you want an Android  phone that has brilliant display, looks good and works well—faster than most Androids—here is a great device. Else, I’d go for the iPhone.

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