First test in Russia: super-protected Sony Ericsson Xperia active smartphone. Full review of Sony Ericsson Xperia active: active and durable Sony Ericsson Xperia active specifications

The emergence of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active has created a new segment in the communicator market in Russia - the segment of waterproof and dustproof devices. The IP67 protection class, to which the new product belongs, until recently had only one model with a modern OS on board - Motorola Defy, but it was not officially supplied and is not supplied to Russia, moreover, it has completely different characteristics.

The segment of phones with increased protection from adverse external influences has never been extensive. Of the popular models of the past, only the line of M series devices from Siemens comes to mind. Unfortunately, they are already irretrievably outdated, although, undoubtedly, many of them still serve their owners well.

Taking into account the low popularity and narrow specialization of “protected” smartphone models, it is not surprising that few of the current mobile computer manufacturers wanted to spend the effort to produce such devices. One of them was the company Sony Ericsson, which, by developing its line of communicators with the Android system, apparently decided to fill all the niches available on the market. We have already seen from this company smaller versions of “standard” models, smaller versions with a keyboard, and even a hybrid communicator - a pocket game console. It's time to get acquainted with the “off-road” communicator.

Scope of delivery and characteristics

There is little information about the device itself on the packaging. But they are listed in detail additional accessories and their images are shown, including: a case with a wrist strap, a rubber safety strap, a wired stereo headset, a USB cable, Charger, rechargeable battery, replaceable black and white back panels, spare headphone tips, documentation. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active has a decent package - it has almost everything for an active life with a communicator.

The characteristics of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) communicator are as follows.

• Scorpion processor 1 GHz, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset with Adreno 205 video core;
• operating room Android system 2.3.4 (Gingerbread);
• TFT display, 3-inch diagonal, 320×480 pixels, capacitive, multitouch, Sony Mobile Bravia Engine;
• RAM 512 MB, flash memory 1 GB (320 MB available);
• Communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE;
• Communications 3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 7.2 MB/s; HSUPA, 5.76 MB/s;
• Bluetooth v2.1;
• WiFi 802.11b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot;
• GPS, AGPS;
• Slot for microSDHC cards;
• FM radio;
• USB host;
• Position sensor in space;
• Light sensor;
• Magnetometer;
• Camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels and autofocus, 720p video recording;
• Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh;
• Dimensions 92x55x16.5 mm;
• Weight 110.8 g.

The hardware platform of the new product is identical to its brothers in the 2011 Xperia Mini line, for example, the recently tested Xperia Mini Pro. The communicator contains everything you need for work: calls, messaging, access to the Internet.

• Protection degree IP67;
• Double cover;
• Mineral glass with scratch protection;
• Capacitive display that recognizes the touch of wet fingers.

The IP67 degree of protection means that if handled correctly, the device is protected from dust, and when immersed in water one meter, the ingress of liquid will not cause harm. mobile computer within 30 minutes.

The communicator display is designed to be operated with wet fingers. This feature will undoubtedly be appreciated by many who have tried to use modern communicators whose capacitive screens have become wet in the rain.

Design and appearance

The new product is a candy bar communicator with a very unusual exterior. The first thing that catches your eye is the large metal eyelet that is used to attach the strap. In none of the previously tested communicators did this element of passive safety have such outstanding dimensions. The mount practically does not interfere with working with the communicator if you hold the device in your right hand. Lefties will have a more difficult time, but they will also be able to find a comfortable position for the mobile computer.

Like the previously reviewed Xperia Mini Pro, the new product is distinguished by its small dimensions in length and width, but the thickness is beyond the fashionable trend of thinning communicators. If the “fatness” of the Xperia Mini Pro was due to the presence of a slide-out keyboard, then the reason for the large thickness of the Xperia Active is its moisture- and dust-resistant body. The bulkiness of the communicator does not cause any difficulties when working; only outwardly it seems large and angular, but you quickly get used to it.

All edges of the new product’s body are rounded, sharp corners are absent - their presence would be dangerous both for the most “active” owner and for the device. The most vulnerable part of the communicator - the display - is enclosed in a frame made of durable metal: either aluminum or an alloy based on it. The only pity is that the screen is installed flush with the metal rim; it would be better if it were deeper. By sacrificing some convenience and aesthetics, it would be possible to achieve greater safety when the communicator falls flat on the display. Among other screen safety elements, it is worth noting the presence of a factory protective film.

The plastic body of the communicator is attached to the metal rim. Its upper outer part is made of orange material - the bright color attracts attention and is convenient when searching for a device on the ground. It also makes the device stand out among its peers - it’s not often that you see such a flashy shade in the design of a communicator.

The inner case is made of durable black plastic; the battery compartment cover is attached to it, over which an outer protective casing is placed. The lid fits tightly to the body and is pressed by the casing. The latter comes in different colors; the set includes black and white options: the black one has a soft-touch coating and feels like rubber to the touch.

Disassembling the communicator is a simple task. To detach the outer casing, there is a large gap under the nail on the eyelet of the lace fastening. With a little effort, the cover is removed from the latches, then the internal protection is detached without any problems. You can change the microSD card without disconnecting the battery.

Because various parts of your device need to be exposed to the environment, Xperia Active includes various features to protect them. The camera and flash are protected by plastic covers in the battery compartment cover. It also carries protection for an additional microphone and something resembling a pressure valve. On its inner side there are contacts for various antennas, which, in turn, are located on the outer side of the plastic part. The outer casing contains protection for the main speaker and rubber flaps for external connectors: microUSB and 3.5 mm audio jack for a headset. The telephone speaker and microphone are located on the front, and nothing definite can be said about their protection, since only small holes in the glass are provided for them, but, apparently, they are also protected by membranes.

In addition to the display, front panel The communicator contains three touch buttons, ambient light and proximity sensors, as well as an LED informing about the status of the device.

On the left side of the device there is a power control key. On the right: volume and camera control buttons. When examining them, gaps are noticeable between the surrounding case and the keys, but additional protection there is definitely something underneath them - otherwise moisture and dust would go straight to the board and display.

The lower end of the communicator's body, as already mentioned, is used to accommodate connectors and fasten the lanyard, while the upper end is not equipped with anything.

There are only two complaints about the design of the new product: the first is a large ear that could be made on top and then it would not interfere when working with the communicator; the second is the display, which is not recessed into the body. Otherwise, the Xperia Active is a well-built mobile computer with an adequate and convenient layout of control elements. You can get used to the unusual appearance and thickness of the device, as well as count on working in all declared extreme modes.

Software and Settings

The communicator runs the Android 2.3.4 operating system. For future owners of this mobile computer, as well as other Sony Ericsson devices released in 2011, the good news will be the company's announcement that it will prepare updated firmware for all these devices with Android 4.0 OS. Now it’s worth looking at what software the current firmware has.

The proprietary shell installed on top of the system uses a standard program for Sony Ericsson devices - Timescape UI. Despite the fact that it does not boast special effects like HTC Sense, it is ideal for communicators with a small display diagonal. In this shell, the most frequently used applications can be placed in four areas in the corners of the screen, which significantly speeds up work with the communicator and takes up very little of the precious display area.

Besides standard programs, such as: phone calls, address book, messages - several applications related to the active life of the communicator owner are grouped in one of the corners of the screen: iMapMyFITNESS+ and WalkMate. The first program takes into account the owner’s movements on foot, running or cycling using a GPS receiver, records tracks and counts calories burned. The second is a pedometer; steps are recorded using the acceleration sensor built into the communicator.

Travelers will also find a digital compass useful - it can be found among the pre-installed applications. Of course, it is easier and simpler to use one of the satellite navigation programs, but the GPS signal, as well as the cellular network, may disappear - then the old navigation device will come in handy. Flashlight is the simple name of another program that, without exaggeration, will be useful to both active owners of the communicator and all other users. The light source can be either the camera's LED flash or the main display.

Among the additional software in Xperia Active, it is worth noting: an application for accessing the social network Facebook, Adobe Reader- view PDF files, Office Suite - working with Microsoft documents Office, NeoReader - reading various barcodes. In addition, there are programs for downloading games and other applications, several help applications, a utility for counting traffic, media players and other standard programs.

Camera

The communicator is equipped with a photosensitive matrix with a resolution of 5 megapixels. The camera has an autofocus system, LED flash, and can recognize faces.

The camera is controlled using a separate button on the right side of the communicator body. As in the Xperia Mini Pro, the camera control program interface is organized on the principle of two panels. On the left and right of the display there are lists of settings and thumbnail images; they can be collapsed and released extra bed for framing. All settings are always at hand - you don’t need to go into the jungle of menus to change them.

The quality of the images is decent, their maximum resolution is 2592x1944 pixels. Video recording is carried out in MPEG-4/H.264 format with a resolution of 720p. You can see examples of videos and photographs.

In addition to regular shooting, with using Xperia Active you can get stereo photographs. To do this, the communicator must be moved horizontally while shooting, and very carefully, maintaining a constant speed and direction. As a result, the resulting image will be saved in MPO format and can be viewed on a device that supports stereo mode. On the device itself, the photo will look like a long panoramic shot.

Wireless interfaces, communications and GPS

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active will provide its owner with a full range of modern information exchange services. In addition to phone calls, the communicator, for example, will be able to transfer photographs received using the built-in camera to the user’s page on a social network. In comfortable conditions - with the help Wi-Fi networks, in the field - using one of the data transmission technologies cellular networks: HSPA or EDGE/GPRS.

Technologies supported by Xperia Active include USB host and DLNA. The USB host allows you to connect various equipment to the communicator: mouse, keyboard, external drives and USB flash drives. DLNA allows you to share multimedia data with other devices, such as computers or TVs, that are connected to the same network.

Built-in receiver satellite signal The GPS network will provide the owner of the communicator with precise positioning anywhere in the world, while AGPS technology will help determine the approximate location.

Athletes will be interested in ANT+ technology, which is supported by Xperia Active. The built-in chip of the same name allows you to connect various sensors for measuring speed, distance, and acceleration to a mobile computer. They can be equipped with various items of equipment and vehicles. Supported devices also include heart rate monitors and medical equipment.

All wireless communication modules remain operational under water, as evidenced by an experiment involving immersing the communicator to a depth of several tens of centimeters.

Display and sound

The main parameters of the Xperia Active display are standard for the mass line Xperia communicators in 2011. A resolution of 320x480 pixels is optimal for a 3-inch TFT matrix. The capacitive touch display is sensitive even to the touch of wet fingers and supports multiple touches. The backlight brightness is sufficient for most tasks and is adjusted automatically. The screen dims noticeably only in strong ambient light.

The speaker located on the back of the communicator case reproduces sounds even when underwater. Of course, thick water dampens the power of sound waves, but even if you drop the device into a small body of water, you can determine its location simply by calling the phone.

The volume of all speakers is more than sufficient for comfortable use of the device. Two microphones provide high quality communication with the interlocutor. The power of the entire sound system is adjusted using two keys.

Xperia Active also features proprietary Sony technology Ericsson to improve the performance of the display and speakers: Sony Mobile Bravia Engine and xLoud respectively.

The communicator is equipped with a standard wired Sony headset. The control module is equipped with a button and a microphone; headphones cannot be disconnected from it. The sound quality of the headset is good, and the kit includes interchangeable tips of various sizes.

When the headset is connected to the communicator, an FM radio becomes available. The receiver control interface is laconic and convenient; the program itself searches for radio stations and adds them to the list. RDS technology is supported, the signal reception quality is excellent.

Battery life and performance

In the short time that the communicator was in the editorial office, it was possible to conduct only basic tests of autonomy. Accumulator battery The Xperia Active has a capacity of 1200 mAh, a processor frequency of 1 GHz, and a screen diagonal of 3 inches. All together, this leads to the fact that when reading an e-book with a 50% backlight level, the communicator worked for 16.5 hours, playing music with the display turned off lasted for 20 hours, the minimum operating time of the device was 4 hours. This was achieved by setting the maximum backlight, turning on all wireless communication modules, and starting to play a movie.

In general, the Xperia Active's battery life is good. Setting an acceptable backlight level and disabling unnecessary communication modules can significantly extend the life of the device in mobile mode.

IN pivot table The results of testing the performance of the review hero and other communicators that visited the editorial office are presented.

	Sony Ericsson Xperia Active 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Samsung Galaxy S II 2×1.2 GHz (Android 2.3)	HTC Sensation 2×1.2 GHz (Android 2.3)	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.3)	Samsung Galaxy S 1 GHz (Android 2.1)
Graphics
Total graphics score	420.2186	487.65515	34.054173	63.32414	26.784534	30.028656	30.482296
Draw opacity bitmap (MPixels/sec)	139.31973	181.23894	11.17294	22.188517	8.943233	8.854302	9.3687105
Draw transparent bitmap (MPixels/sec)	117.70115	117.02857	9.655823	16.542812	7.4391575	9.512309	9.275363
CPU Whetstone
Total CPU score	2178.7073	2258.528	3261.4143	2500.6213	2228.1846	1571.6143	771.9937
MWIPS DP	145.13788	149.25372	181.4882	162.86644	145.56041	97.84736	57.636887
MWIPS SP	167.78525	175.4386	296.7359	190.4762	174.52007	108.813934	60.79027
MFLOPS DP	12.365972	13.428502	12.005697	26.03444	12.867661	6.510691	7.3144784
MFLOPS SP	15.663344	17.23695	34.02756	34.39461	17.652456	14.372471	8.3832655
VAX MIPS DP	130.0208	134.85927	156.00337	143.94771	132.27618	111.43894	39.92782
VAX MIPS SP	134.3838	137.31831	225.92809	137.0819	136.2276	97.69196	40.446907
Memory
Total memory score	625.6395	645.8333	782.7169	792.86743	702.7458	647.3529	600.7096
Copy memory (Mb/sec)	568.5048	586.85443	711.23755	720.4611	638.5696	588.2353	545.8515
Filesystem
Total file system score	194.14053	167.95865	325.3547	213.823	227.13245	74.25825	143.54076
Creating 1000 empty files (sec)	3.559	2.963	0.256	1.342	4.456	13.402	41.504
Deleting 1000 empty files (sec)	2.088	1.391	0.13	0.408	2.875	25.047	27.346
Write 1M into file (M/sec)	5.966587	4.5745654	99.0099	13.513514	2.4113817	37.037037	3.068426
Read 1M from file (M/sec)	384.6154	333.33334	555.55554	416.66666	454.54544	112.35955	285.7143
SD card performance
Creating 250 empty files (sec)	13.288	18.224	9.34	8.588	6.348	3.444	11.908
Deleting 250 empty files (sec)	43.392	56.308	12.42	4.772	5.904	3.0	13.684
Write 1M into file (M/sec)	32.258064	34.129692	23.364487	26.88172	44.052864	16.10306	20.833334
Read 1M from file (M/sec)	384.6154	400.0	312.5	357.14285	454.54544	344.82758	303.0303

Comparing the Xperia Active with the Xperia Mini Pro, you can see that the hero of the review performed worse than his brother in the product line. Considering the identical hardware components of both devices, the discrepancy in the tests can probably only be attributed to different Android version: 2.3.3 on Xperia Mini Pro and 2.3.4 on Xperia Active.

Both devices demonstrate exorbitant results in graphics subsystem tests, which, however, are easily explained by the low resolution of the communicators' displays. More expensive and powerful devices spend more time calculating the image of their multi-pixel matrices. This fact is confirmed by the Quadrant Standard test, in which the Xperia Active scored 1483 points.

In other respects, the Xperia Active, like the Xperia Mini Pro, lags behind top-end devices such as and. The similar processor frequency determines the coincidence of the results in processor performance tests for all Sony Ericsson devices presented in the table. The same applies to memory operations on communicators.

conclusions

With the advent of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active, those buyers who need an “all-weather” and “protected” communicator have the opportunity to choose. Although the range of devices is not very wide: Xperia Active and Motorola Defy are better than nothing. Despite the fact that the latter is not officially supplied to Russia, it can be easily purchased in one of the online stores.

The Xperia Active has its advantages in the form of productive hardware, a fresh version of the OS and a convenient shell, good time battery life. The only downside to the new product is its non-standard design.

Compared to “regular” communicators, such as the Xperia Mini, the Xperia Active looks decent, which is not surprising, given their identical hardware. There is a suspicion that Sony Ericsson deliberately gave the new product such an extravagant appearance, so that it does not create serious competition for its other devices.

It's unlikely that the Xperia Active will be the everyday phone of an office worker or anyone else who spends most of their time in comfortable conditions. However, it will become an indispensable assistant anyone who spends a significant amount of time in direct contact with environment, especially as changeable as in Russia, and must be constantly in touch. Xperia Active can also be an ideal second smartphone for all enthusiasts active rest, tourism and extreme entertainment. In the end, even if something happens to the communicator, its price will cause less worry than the demise of a much more expensive mobile computer.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	55 mm (millimeters) 5.5 cm (centimeters) 0.18 ft (feet) 2.17 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	92 mm (millimeters) 9.2 cm (centimeters) 0.3 ft (feet) 3.62 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	16.5 mm (millimeters) 1.65 cm (centimeters) 0.05 ft (feet) 0.65 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	110 g (grams) 0.24 lbs 3.91 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	83.49 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.07 in³ (cubic inches)
Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified.	IP67

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 MSM8255
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	45 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) Primary function of the processor (CPU) mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications.	Scorpion
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache memory is slower than L1, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing caching more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	384 kB (kilobytes) 0.375 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	1
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 205
Volume random access memory(RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	512 MB (megabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	500 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	LCD
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	3 in (inches) 76.2 mm (millimeters) 7.62 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	1.66 in (inches) 42.27 mm (millimeters) 4.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	2.5 in (inches) 63.4 mm (millimeters) 6.34 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.5:1 3:2
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	320 x 480 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. More high density Allows you to display information on the screen with clearer details.	192 ppi (pixels per inch) 75 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	53.13% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance
	LED-backlit Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	1200 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. Exist different types batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries most often used in mobile devices.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	4 hours 53 minutes 4.9 h (hours) 292.8 min (minutes) 0.2 days
2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	351 h (hours) 21060 min (minutes) 14.6 days
3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.	5 hours 31 minutes 5.5 h (hours) 331.2 min (minutes) 0.2 days
3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	335 h (hours) 20100 min (minutes) 14 days
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Removable

Today the market is chasing gigabytes and gigahertz, having forgotten about the consumer and his needs: it is much more prestigious today to make a thin phone with a bright screen, eclipsing its predecessor. But there are also those rare devices that are truly different from others. For example, sports smartphones: such as Sony Ericsson Xperia active.

First test in Russia: super-protected Sony Ericsson Xperia active smartphone

History and philosophy

Extreme sports and lovers of an active lifestyle have always been something that is not very profitable and, accordingly, unpopular with manufacturers. This is understandable - the segment is narrow, few changes can be introduced.

Sony Ericsson Xperia active

Old-timers will probably remember telephones or: the shock-resistant and dust- and water-proof cases of these truly legendary devices were recognized by many in their time. Today, producing such devices is much less profitable than before, and the situation is especially bad with shock resistance. Due to the fact that the most trendy keyboardless smartphones today are much more difficult to protect from the aggressive influence of the external environment, the production of protected models has practically come to naught.

Metal edging gives the body strength and rigidity

Today, such devices are allocated to a separate niche along with “military” laptops - for example, only rugged phones are produced under the Sonim brand, and they cost as much as good smartphone premium segment with a large screen.

However, not everyone is ready to fork out for such a miracle of technology as Sonim. Now all lovers of an active lifestyle have the opportunity to buy a modern smartphone on the fashionable Android platform. Sony Ericsson Xperia active is a mid-budget smartphone that is protected from water and dust, and is also equipped with sports functions and is preloaded with a whole range of sports applications.

But first things first.

Don't hurt kids

Clad in a special case, reliably protected from dust and moisture, in addition, it was equipped with sports accessories.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia active display is not afraid of water and perfectly recognizes touches in any conditions

But at the same time it is compact. Its screen diagonal is 3 inches and dimensions are 92x55x16.5 mm.

This thickness is largely due to the solution to protect against water ingress. In this case, we are talking about a double back cover: that is, if you want to insert a SIM card, you must first remove the main colored cover, then the additional one, which is not specially attached, but fits tightly due to the rubber gasket along the edges; then you need to remove the battery and insert the SIM card into the deep groove under it. There is also a slot for a micro-SD card.

Double Sony cover Ericsson Xperia active protects against water penetration

The outer cover has quite durable three-layer plugs for the micro-USB and mini-Jack slots, and if these plugs do not fit tightly enough to the body, a warning appears on the screen that in this case water may enter. A very good and thoughtful solution that allows you to avoid unpleasant incidents.

True, you won’t be able to listen to music in the pool - the headphone slot is not waterproof, so it’s better not to experiment.

Oh my screen...

Another manifestation of water resistance is the screen, which can be operated with wet fingers. Say, in the pool or while surfing or kiting.

A large selection of sports applications will allow you to monitor your condition

As we wrote earlier, the diagonal of the Xperia active display is three inches. Display resolution 320x480 pixels. A larger screen would be more difficult to protect, so in this case the SE made a compromise by creating, on the one hand, a protected, but on the other hand, still quite advanced (for rugged smartphones) display.

The smartphone display cannot be called the brightest even with the maximum backlight level

Training with a smartphone reaches a new level of quality

A subjective disadvantage can be considered the location of the buttons under the screen. There are three buttons, as is done in the latest fashion – “Return”, “Home” and “Options”. But “Home” is located exactly under the screen at such a distance that when calling top menu(when the user swipes from top to bottom) it is very difficult not to touch this button and not bring up the menu again. Involuntarily, I remember a more successful solution, as we can now see, when the “Home” button was not touch sensitive and was located at the bottom of the screen, although such a comparison is not correct, because devices belong to different categories.

Everything has its good sides

The smartphone's equipment is very rich, for which it gets the maximum rating. In addition to the “body” itself and a 1200 mAh battery, the kit includes a black case with a wrist strap, a durable rubber cord, replaceable back panel covers (black and white, which, together with the orange edging, create a very pleasant color scheme for the smartphone), and Also vacuum headphones with clip-on ear hooks. The last one was especially surprising, but for sports phone- just right. You run and don’t worry that your headphones will fall out of your ears. Also, this case will not sink even with the phone if it is dropped into water.

Camera settings lack variety

Separate mention must be made about the wrist case. It is quite dense, and, apparently, is intended to be an additional protective element. Through its transparent plastic window you can even try to control the device, which is very difficult, but possible (this is partly implied by the icon on the case itself in the area of ​​the phone's power button; the case itself is not designed to control a smartphone). The cover is attached to the arm using Velcro and is quite difficult to tear off. And there is a softening pad between the hand and the phone. In general, a competent and thoughtful solution: runners, cyclists and swimmers will find it very useful.

Or, for example, you can say good things about the location of the control elements on the body. They are all located on the sides, right under the fingers, if you take it in your left hand. Under the thumb there will be a power button on the left side, under the middle and index fingers there will be a volume control, and the little finger will have the camera power button.

At the bottom there are slots covered with dense three-layer plugs, which we wrote about above, as well as a very powerful eyelet for the cord. We note, however, that shock resistance would actually not hurt, since the plastic case is quite slippery and tends to slip out of your hands.

Software

B installed operating system Android 2.3.4 with a proprietary four-corners shell and the Timescape application. The traditional 4 shortcuts at the bottom are located in the corners of the screen, and they are not only present on each of the five desktops, but they can also be replaced with application icons - if you do not have enough screen space.

The menu contains a standard set of applications

These labels themselves are also not entirely ordinary - more precisely, one of them, the top right one. It serves as a “home” for four applications at once: iMapMyFitness+, WalkMate, music player and Android Guide links, which lead to the Sony Ericsson website, which presents useful applications and games, according to Sony Ericsson. Applications can be changed.

The most interesting one is the first one - iMapMyFitness+, which comes from the AppStore and allows you to keep track of the distance you have run, walked or biked using GPS. You can communicate with other athletes, and the language of the program is partly English, partly Russian. The second application, Walkmate, is a hardware-software pedometer that measures how many steps you have taken today. The required healthy minimum, the program believes, is 10 thousand steps a day.

How many steps are there from work to home? A pedometer will give you the answer.

The music player is quite standard and the only thing I would like to note is the xLoud function for artificially increasing the volume. Other applications may already be familiar to users of the Swedish-Japanese duo's products - TrackID for song recognition; the game Quadrapop, a kind of Tetris; Wisepilot, simple navigation program; NeoReader for reading QR codes and OfficeSuite - an office suite.

I was very pleased that the phone natively supports Swype typing technology using strokes.

Automatic smiles

The five-megapixel camera takes decent pictures both indoors and outdoors. “Passable” does not mean “good”: when zooming in, a strong “oversharpening”, artifacts and a generally dim color scheme are noticeable.

The built-in camera cannot compete in quality with top smartphones

As for the shooting options, there are: scene selection, timer, flash, geotagging, shutter sound selection and the ability to shoot with a touch. The maximum resolution is five megapixels for shooting in 4:3 format and 3 megapixels for 16:9. Actually, that's all: no additional features Xperia active does not offer during normal photography.

Video shooting is much richer in possibilities: there is a choice of white balance, a focus mode, a choice of exposure, and even a stabilizer is offered. It's a shame that there's nothing like that in photo mode. In addition, we note that the camera shoots video in HD standard and can even record underwater.

Test shots of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

It is impossible not to note the so-called. “3D shooting” capability: this is the name given to the improved interface for shooting panoramas, allowing you to view them from several points using special equipment. It is improved in the sense that a bar is shown on the screen to help you hold the camera and guide it in the exact direction.

And finally I’ll write

Technical parameters of the smartphone include a single-chip gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 512 MB of RAM. Taking into account the small screen and low resolution, this combination is quite justified and sufficient. The battery is 1200 mAh, and it is not enough, since the smartphone can hardly work for a day in active mode. The internal memory of the phone is 1 GB (320 MB available for the user), but memory cards save the day (up to 32 GB is supported)

The proprietary SE shell will facilitate access to the main functions of the smartphone

Among the interesting possibilities we can note wireless connection using ANT+ technology to “a wide range of health products.” Unfortunately, we did not have such goods in stock, so we were unable to verify this statement. The next interesting thing is the built-in noise reduction technology during conversations.

Support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA and GPS with aGPS is also announced. Particularly pleasant is the fact that the phone can operate in Wi-Fi router and provide Internet access to an “adult” computer as a modem for a mobile network.

Sportish, practical, gut

The overall impression of the phone is positive. Of course, there are two minuses - a small screen without automatic control brightness, as well as a low-capacity battery, do not allow you to admire this phone and not pay attention to its shortcomings. But it can be given good marks for its rich software content: good apps and a good addition of 4 corners. The packaging and replaceable back panel are also a plus. We can also say that the main function is a smartphone for athletes - Sony Ericsson Xperia active

Android 2.3 - Android 2.3 Qualcomm Snapdragon1000 MHz - 800 MHz 320 MB microSD (Transflash) microSD (TransFlash) 512 MB RAM; 150 MB microSD 3" 480x320 2" 240x320 3.7" 480x320 (HVGA) WiFi; Bluetooth; Email; GPRS WAP 2.0; Bluetooth 2.1; GPRS; MMS WiFi; Bluetooth; Email; WAP; GPRS; MMS WxHxD 5.5x9.2x1.65 cm; Weight 111 gr. WxHxD 6x12.6x2.5 cm; Weight 185 gr. WxHxD 6.6x12.2x1.2 cm; Weight 116 g 14,000 rubles 19,000 rubles n/a

The official cost of Xperia is 13,990 rubles. This is an adequate price for this set of functions, but those who do not play sports should be warned against purchasing this gadget. For the majority of users, a weak screen and short operating time on a single charge can serve as significant disadvantages that will cause disappointment in this good, in general, but niche device.

: Today, the only rugged smartphone officially sold on the Russian market is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active. This remarkable model guarantees its owner that nothing will happen to it as a result of active careless use.

The model is based on the filling from . In other words, the characteristics of the devices are the same. This is a 3-inch screen with a resolution of 320x480 pixels, a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, as well as a powerful 1-GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM.

The “active” one is more expensive, but we haven’t seen such secure devices from Sony Ericsson in recent years. It's interesting to see how far developments have come in the field of rugged smartphones.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• Stereo headset


• 2GB microSD memory card


• microUSB cable


• Optional replacement panel


• Strap


• Case

I would like to immediately say something about this accessory. A smartphone is placed in it, and so that the bottom end is at the top. Apparently, this was designed so that you can connect headphones to your smartphone and listen to music while playing sports. Why this particular method? Because on the side you can see the screen lock key symbol, from which it is easy to conclude that the phone is in the correct position. The case has a vertical flap that covers the device from above, protecting it from moisture or dust. Additionally, it has a transparent window that allows you to keep an eye on your phone screen. The cover also has a special pillow. It is made of a material somewhat reminiscent of foam rubber, but more elastic. It works as a shock absorber, eliminating possible inconveniences that may arise, for example, when running.

Appearance

The body of the smartphone attracts attention primarily with its colors. The bright combination of black, orange and silver makes the device's image expressive. Don't forget that the phone comes with an additional replacement panel. She white, so you can periodically vary a couple of replacement covers and thus update the exterior of the gadget.

By the way, the basic black panel is made of soft-touch plastic, and the second replaceable one is made of a simpler, matte one. I liked the first one more, it feels more pleasant in the palm. There will also be a modification with not an orange, but a calmer white edging.

The dimensions of the phone are 92x55x16.5 mm, weight 110 g. For comparison, the dimensions of the Xperia mini: 88x52x16 mm, weight 94 g. As you can see, despite the increased protection, the parameters remained similar and increased insignificantly.

Attention is also drawn to the large strap mount that protrudes at the bottom. By the standards of mobile devices, it is simply huge, but for a phone with a sports bent, this is a necessary element. The included strap is threaded through the ear hook and secured with an additional silver clip. In this case, the strap snaps tightly into the groove and has a strong head. Considering that the hole for the strap is made in the steel part that surrounds the entire phone at the front, we can confidently say that you won’t be able to simply drop the phone.

There is a small cutout at the top of the screen; the speaker is hidden in it. Nearby there is a proximity sensor that turns off the screen backlight during a call. This model does not have a camera for video calls.

Below the screen there are three touch keys. The first returns to the previous menu item, the second enters main screen, and the latter is responsible for additional functions. They are equipped with backlighting, and vibration feedback can also be triggered at the moment of touch. Below them is a microphone hole.

On the left is the screen lock key.

On the right side there is a volume control button. Below is a dedicated key for taking photos.

The upper end without any details.

At the bottom, in addition to the already mentioned “ear” for the strap, there is a pair of connectors. They are closed very securely, they are protected by separate plugs that are tightly fixed. Under one there is a microUSB port, and the other hides the 3.5 mm output. If you open one of them, the phone will tell you special notice on the screen that you need to remember to close the compartment to avoid moisture.

The plump rear panel combines the hole of a deeply recessed lens of a 5-megapixel camera and a LED flash-flash located next to it. Nearby is an oval speaker hole.

A special recess will help you remove the back panel. However, you will also need to remove the port covers, which also hold the panel in place. additional means. After this, the cover can be removed and the inside of the smartphone will be revealed.

There is a special plastic cover here, which is held tightly in the grooves with the help of an elastic band. It fits very tightly and can only be removed with force. Inside there is a battery that blocks the compartment for the SIM card. The other connector houses a microSD slot. You won’t be able to change the card quickly, but considering design features model, I won’t write this down as a disadvantage.

High-quality assembly and pleasant materials, as well as compliance with the IP67 standard, are all pleasant features of the new smartphone for active sports from Sony Ericsson. By the way, the model is guaranteed to work underwater at a depth of up to 1 meter if it stays there for no more than 30 minutes.

Screen

The resolution of the TFT display is 320x480 pixels; up to 16 million colors are displayed on the 3-inch screen. The display is covered with durable mineral glass, which reliably protects the screen from possible scratches. Additionally, the factory film is neatly pasted, which will not be superfluous; it hardly catches the eye and is not easy to notice.

The screen is capacitive, responds well to pressing, and has multi-touch. In addition, as in older models, the development of Sony Mobile Bravia Engine is used here. It works as a kind of “enhancer”, making the image on the screen more attractive due to color saturation. This option can be disabled if desired.

On the street the screen behaves as usual. The information remains readable, but there is little margin for brightness.

Platform

The device has Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread installed. The new smartphone uses a Qualcomm 8255 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, an Adreno 205 graphics accelerator. 512 MB of RAM is available, about 300 MB for user data storage. A 2 GB memory card is included in the package. If this volume is not enough, you can install a drive up to 32 GB.

Interface

At the top there is a service line where the time, battery charge, and signal reception level indicator are displayed. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail about what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received via Bluetooth.

As design elements, it is possible to use both preinstalled images or wallpapers from Sony Ericsson, and your favorite pictures. There are now seven multi-colored menu themes available. In addition, shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop. For the folder, you can choose one of eight design options and assign it a name. Icons are added by dragging them from the phone menu directly into this area.

Shortcuts and folders are placed on the desktop. For the folder, you can choose one of eight design options and assign it a name. Icons are added by dragging them from the phone menu directly into this area.

Application icons can be added to one of four zones located at the corners of the display. Each area contains no more than four icons. Adding them is easy: you just need to drag them from the application menu to the main screen.

Of course, there are widgets here too, you can also add them to your desktop. There can be 5 such screens. Considering the diagonal size, you can place no more than three widgets on the screen, depending on their size. At the same time, in a certain area there is no space for additional icons in the corners of the screen if there is not enough space for a graphic element.

Implemented interesting feature: You can swipe two fingers from diagonally opposite corners, all desktops will be reduced and displayed on one screen. At the same time, widgets seem to float on the desktop, the action is complemented by animation.

When the screen is locked, the display shows the date and time. To unlock the screen, you need to swipe your finger along from left to right. If you do it the other way around, it turns on silent mode, as indicated by the additional icon. Movement between zones is fast, without any hint of slowness.

The Application Manager is activated by the Home button. It displays 8 programs and is essentially not a traditional task manager. As you know, Android closes applications on its own, based on the amount of free RAM.

The smartphone menu consists of several work areas, initially there are 4 of them. If you install additional applications, then over time there will be more such areas. There are 12 icons on the screen on a translucent background, under which you can see the wallpaper installed on the main screen. Icons can be arranged in a way that is convenient for the user. There is also sorting by several criteria: alphabetically, frequently used, recently installed.

Phone book

The smartphone has a convenient assistant for importing contacts both from a SIM card and from Facebook and Google accounts; they are displayed in a single list. Created backup copy list of numbers onto a memory card, the data can later be restored.

When you create a new contact, many fields are created. This Various types telephone numbers, email addresses, means of quick communication, residential address and others (nickname, note, Internet call). There is no sorting by last name, the list is ordered by first name only.

If you press your finger on the area on the right side of the screen and swipe down or up, a letter will pop up on the screen - a kind of quick search, which helps in cases where the phone has several hundred, or even thousands of contacts. The search works by the first letters of the contact name for both language layouts. There is a menu of favorite numbers where you can add the most popular contacts.

There is a quick menu: you need to click on the icon with a contact photo, after which you can call, send a message via SMS or e-mail, see data on Facebook.

Call log

Straight from phone book You can access the call log - it is highlighted in a separate tab. There, a single list contains dialed numbers, received and missed calls; for clarity, they are marked with icons of different colors. By clicking on a line, you can delete a number from the call log, add it to a contact, or perform some other actions. Selecting a number from the list will display detailed information about the call.

By viewing your call history, you can not only make phone conversation with the selected subscriber, but also send him an SMS or email from this list, without going to another menu. Dialing is carried out using a convenient virtual keyboard. The smartphone cannot automatically substitute numbers based on the order of the entered numbers. During a call, the picture assigned to the user stretches to fill the entire screen.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is a common folder where received messages go. When sending, adding various objects to the SMS can automatically convert it into an MMS. Messages are grouped by recipient into a correspondence feed. When dialing a subscriber's number, the phone displays a list of matching numbers in alternating numbers.

While typing, a small field reserved for characters will be displayed. The longer the message, the more the space allocated for the character set increases. The device can copy, cut and paste text (and not only into the messages themselves, but you can also add it to a document or to email). A convenient cursor is used for navigation, which helps to correct typos and highlight the necessary sections of text.

The keyboard on the smartphone has changed. Now typing has become noticeably more convenient. Previously, you had to be content with a layout that looked like a regular telephone one. There, several symbols were combined on one button, and you had to click on each one several times. In the new product, the previous method of typing remains, but now it is supplemented with a QWERTY layout that works in landscape orientation.

The keyboard is good considering the limited screen diagonal size. Intellectual text input is available, when word correction and auto-completion systems help you type text, allowing you to avoid wasting time correcting errors. Possible word options are shown in a separate line above the keyboard. Copying and pasting of fragments is supported.

Email

To work with e-mail it starts automatic setting mailbox(unless it is Gmail, which connects immediately after the email address is entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports loading attachments (you must insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) in familiar formats.

When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device memory. Both the text copy function and automatic check mailbox (the interval is set manually). Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Camera

The Sony Ericsson Xperia active has a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a flash. You can start shooting not only from the menu, but also by pressing the dedicated key to launch the application. By holding it down for a few seconds, the shooting mode starts; this can be done from any application; it is not necessary to go to the main menu. I liked the high launch speed of the camera, as well as the very fast saving of pictures. The button is convenient, large, two-position.

The interface works in landscape or portrait orientation. The screen displays auxiliary icons that make it easier to set up photography modes and conditions. 5 small icons are displayed on the side - the phone shows the last received frames. Pulling the icons to the side opens a gallery of captured images.

Various options are available:

Image capture mode: normal, scene detection, smile detection.

Photo size: 5M (2592x1944), 3M (2560x1440), 2M (1632x1224 pixels).

Shooting conditions: normal, portrait, landscape, night photography, night portrait, beach and snow, sports, party, document.

Touch shooting: turn on, turn off (this function allows you to take a photo without pressing the camera button, just touch the screen).

Flash: auto, off, fill, red-eye reduction.

Timer: 2.10 seconds.

Exposition.

Image stabilizer.

Geotags.

Shutter sound: There are 3 sounds to choose from, you can also turn it off.

White Balance: Auto, Indoor Light, Fluorescent, daylight, cloudy.

Measurement: center, middle level, point.

Focusing: single autofocus, multi-autofocus, macro photography, face detection, infinity, touch focusing.

Shooting 3D panoramas works.

To switch between photo and video shooting, there are two icons at the bottom of the screen. Video recording is carried out in a maximum resolution of 1280x720 pixels, 30 frames per second. Video size: HD (1280x720), FWVGA (800x480), VGA (640x480), QVGA (320x240), multimedia message (320x240 pixels). Focusing: single autofocus, face detection, infinity. Backlight. Other settings are similar to those used when taking photographs. Gallery Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. The gallery works in both vertical and horizontal orientation. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device. Preview pictures in folders smaller size, thanks to which not 3, but 4 pictures are placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS or hosted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact. It supports rotating pictures, reducing their size, and also displays additional information about a specific file, and also shows the place where the picture was taken if geotagging is working. Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section) and ordered by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - there are several sections in the same folder. You can scroll either using the bar displayed at the bottom of the screen or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere on it. The video is played from the gallery, where videos are allocated separate folder. There's nothing special to say about the phone here. There is no support for the DivX and XviD codecs in the smartphone, so the capabilities for playing video out of the box are quite modest. Timescape Timescape combines tabs that combine messages from different social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte. In addition, there is data on phone calls, SMS and MMS, and email. The displayed data can be customized, and unnecessary data can be hidden. The update is also installed: manually or automatically. Additional Applications installed from the market. For example, you can supplement the set with the Foursquare program. Messages are presented in the form of translucent panels on which the name of the sender, the message test itself, and the source from which the message came are written. The ability to customize the background has disappeared; now it is a constant blue color. The list scrolls very quickly, without a hint of delay. In general, the thing is beautiful and interesting, the main drawback is related to the not very beautiful design- if the author of the message has an avatar, then this image will be displayed stretched across the entire width of the transparent panel. Player To listen to music, you can select tracks organized into several categories: artist, album, tracks, lists. In the latter case, there are automatic playlists (recently added, popular tracks, never played), and manual listening lists are also created. From the list with music, you can add songs to a playlist or send them via MMS, Bluetooth or email. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. In music playback mode, the album cover is displayed (if it was assigned previously), and there are playback control buttons on the screen. If desired, the song is set as a ringtone. Equalizer settings available. These are the following presets: normal sound, classical, dance, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock. There are no manual settings. A mixing mode is provided. While listening to music you can find Additional information about the artist using Google tools. The xLOUD function allows you to get very loud sound from the speaker. It’s not difficult to notice the difference; this option allows you to hear your phone in any, even very noisy, place. While listening to music, you can find a video clip or find out more information about the file using YouTube. The sound quality is very good for the Android segment. There is sufficient volume reserve, the mid frequencies are well developed, and the lower range is also quite good. Fans of deep bass can try playing with the equalizer, which will help change the sound image, albeit not without some distortion. Radio The smartphone has a radio receiver that has the function automatic search stations. You can also save several dozen frequencies in the phone's memory. You can easily switch between your favorite stations by clicking on the small icon, which will automatically move between the saved waves. TrackID allows you to identify a melody playing on the radio on your smartphone or somewhere nearby. Not only the song title will be displayed, but also the album title, artist name and cover art. Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style; the display of information for a whole month, a week or a specific day can be configured. You can set the alert type and tone for recorded events and meetings. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. While creating new entry it is given a name, a period and a place. You can specify which calendar it will be synchronized with, you can send invitations to contacts from notebook. The repetition period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the alarm will go off in advance. Alarm The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repeat can be set either once or every day, only on weekdays or weekly. You can also set specific days. The signal melody is set, you can add a vibration alert to it and text file. Sets the period for the signal to be triggered again. The phone screen can display the weather forecast, date and time in large characters. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation, and there is a menu with additional functions. Android Market offers a convenient search function among thousands of applications. Programs are divided into categories to make browsing easier. You can see reviews, evaluate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is equipped brief description and images for greater clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if purchased new phone, you can immediately install those programs that you previously purchased. Standard for most modern devices The application allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. Weather forecast and news are useful every day. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices in wireless mode. The Facebook application will allow you to communicate on the network of the same name directly from your mobile device. Moreover, this function is implemented better in a smartphone than in other devices. So, you can mark your favorite song in the player while listening. Facebook albums are added to the gallery, and friends' birthdays are added to the calendar. Neo Reader will help you read information from barcodes. Walkmate's built-in pedometer allows you to track your average daily distance traveled. There is a program for counting traffic. There is a compass that allows you to create geotags. The flash can act as a flashlight and has several operating modes. There is an application for sports activities. Suitable for viewing documents Office program Suite. The game Quadro Pop develops the ideas of Tetris and invites you to chain together sports accessories. Browser Used for internet surfing convenient application. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, and to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages and has a log of pages viewed. Multi-window support, word search on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing screen brightness directly from the browser. Thanks to multi-touch, pages can be easily scaled (virtual keys also work to change the size of what is displayed). The font size changes, password saving works, flash is supported, the browser works quickly. GPS navigation For navigation, Google Maps is used - standard software for all Android phones. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, so the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function for determining the current location, calculating the route from the starting point to the ending point, and specifying the method of movement: by car, on foot or public transport. The route is laid out on the map, and key places are indicated in the form of text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column; you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and plot another path. Scaling works using multi-touch or virtual buttons. Another application for calculating routes can be the Wisepilot program. She can calculate the route and display weather data. It also requires an active network connection. Connections The smartphone operates in the GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 900/1700/2100 bands. There is Bluetooth 2.1 with support for EDR and A2DP, in addition to support for other generally accepted profiles. Wi-Fi operation b\g\n is implemented at the usual level. The smartphone remembers entered passwords for networks and can automatically connect to them while within their range. There is a function to work as an access point. Using a microUSB connector allows you to connect your phone to a computer for synchronization and charging the battery. Working hours The smartphone is equipped with a 1200 mAh battery. Claimed to be up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 351 hours of standby time. The smartphone can play music for up to 25 hours. On average, it is worth focusing on a day of work when using various Google services, 30 minutes of calls, 2 hours of listening to music. In continuous video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and running Wi-Fi phone worked 6 hours 15 minutes. Conclusion The phone rings very loudly, this is thanks to the xLOUD option, the call can be heard perfectly. The speaker has no complaints, except that it is a little muffled, but apparently this is caused by a special protective membrane that covers it. But there are no complaints about the volume; talking on the phone is pleasant. The vibration alert is rather weak and is not always felt. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active model will be a successful addition to model range companies. The protection of the smartphone allows it to withstand swimming in water, as well as working in conditions of high humidity. Press frequently touch screens uncomfortable, they react poorly to wet fingers. This device, thanks to the special screen coating, will not have such a problem. The good thing about the gadget is that it offers modern hardware, which is enclosed in a durable frame. I cannot classify the device as one that tourists take with them. The limitation here is operating time. It’s easier to take with you a simpler device from the Philips Xenium line or a model like , placing it in a sealed bag (there are such things for travelers). However, for those who love sports and related paraphernalia, this model will be a godsend, because our competitor is not officially sold, but a new rugged smartphone from Samsung (model Galaxy Xcover) has not yet appeared on sale. An additional payment for a new product in the amount of 2000-3000 rubles compared to the Xperia mini looks reasonable and justified. The equipment here is better, the phone itself is more durable and looks more impressive in appearance. It can be safely recommended for purchase to all those who are looking for a smartphone with an increased safety margin. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Article publication date: October 26, 2011

Problem solved

Advantages: 1. Dust/moisture protection, factory film. 2. Rich equipment (spare black soft-touch cover, strap, wrist belt) in addition to the mandatory ones - a headset and charging data cable) 3. Works quickly. 4. availability of all current protocols wireless communication(wi-fi, gps, bluetooth, 3g.) as well as various light and proximity sensors. I was especially pleased with the charging/events indicator - a tiny multi-colored LED. For me it is convenient and compact, despite the large palm. I consider shovels like SGS 3, and similar over-telephones and under-tablets to be extremely inconvenient devices - like a telephone - and a large one, but smaller than a tablet. Disadvantages: 1. I would like to express my dissatisfaction with the assembly...namely, that it was not done properly. The lid comes off in the lower left corner, where the plugs are, and when pressed it creaks like a button. there is a gap between the orange part of the case and the aluminum frame on the left side, there is no gap in the corners, it fits tightly, but the part from the top left to the bottom left moves away, the bend of the orange part of the case is visible, on the other side, too, not everything fits tightly.. with The spare cover is the same. 4 points, well, it’s a stretch, if it weren’t for the last such device in the store, I would have asked to find the same one but without this drawback. 2. The 1200mA battery is clearly rather weak... but this can be solved by updating the axis to 4.0 and reducing the brightness of the display. (Having downloaded the battery info app from the market, I found a lot of interesting information. Over time, the battery life...increases! Firstly for a week it showed 9 min\% battery, now it’s already 24 min\% battery record - 4 days without charging, I didn’t touch it at all, now on average it’s enough for 2-2.5 days, for such a battery this is very good 3. you could do it if you wanted. 2 SIM, as in confirmation of the name “active”. Moreover, one operator has cheap calls, while the other has profitable ones. unlimited Internet. Sometimes I even envy 2-SIM cheap Chinese displays. But maybe the dimensions don’t allow... 4. the price could have been lower. I bought it for 9k + 3 year warranty and case. I paid 10k for everything. It seems to me that stores are speculating a little on prices, adding extra profit to themselves. 5. A remarkable glitch was noticed. One day, out of the blue, the back button... began to be pressed without touching a finger. It reacted when the finger was 1-1.5 mm from the button, leaving the finger above the button, it began to react and be pressed very often, it was practically held, the vibration was almost continuous. The display sensor went crazy, performed completely random commands (clicked on the calendar - opened the update center) was noticed 2 times. one of them when he connected the phone to the phone. Comment: I bought it wireless headset, much more convenient than headphones when playing sports. The camera suits me. Before that there was an SE J10i2 elm - absolutely the same, but there was no stabilization, and the video was 720p. And according to reviews of the elm camera - well, it’s just chic, mirror cameras smoke on the sidelines. what's in this 5MP what's in this 5MP... The network is stable, living in the suburbs, many people know what a dead zone at home is, so they come to the window, I had such a problem with the w610i, and se elm. In my room in the back (center) of the house, all phones have poor reception. Old phones, for example my old Siemens cx75, with an open antenna, receive excellent reception. the rest are 1-2 sticks, and after midnight there are only emergency ones... there are no problems with active. 3-4 sticks always. For accuracy, you can look in the information about the phone, the specific power is indicated there, for those who understand. Of course, the flickering of the display sometimes bothers me... I don’t know what this is connected with... I haven’t heard any comments from the developers either. To be honest, Wi-Fi is rather weak...after 3 brick walls it breaks within a radius of 5m from the router, the connection in the toilet is unstable)...the old se elm caught the network at 15m, through the same 3 brick walls...perhaps the refrigerator is in the way now..