First test in Russia: super-secure smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia active. Full review of Sony Ericsson Xperia active: active and hardy Sportish, practical, gut

The appearance 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 novelty 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, besides, it has completely different characteristics.

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 Unfortunately, they are already irretrievably outdated, although, undoubtedly, many of them still serve their owners regularly.

Given the low popularity and narrow focus of "secure" smartphone models, it's not surprising that few of today's mobile computer makers are willing to invest the effort into producing such devices. One of them was the company Sony Ericsson, which, 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 the "standard" models, smaller versions with a keyboard, and even a hybrid communicator - a pocket game console. It's time to get acquainted with the "SUV" communicator.

Delivery set and specifications

There is little information about the actual device on the packaging. But additional accessories are listed in detail and their images are shown, including: a case with a wrist strap, a rubber safety strap, a wired stereo headset, a USB cable, a charger, a rechargeable battery, interchangeable black and white back panels, spare eartips, documentation . The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active comes with a decent bundle - there is almost everything for an active life with a communicator.

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

Scorpion 1 GHz processor, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset with Adreno 205 video core;
Operating system Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread);
TFT-display, diagonal 3 inches, 320 × 480 pixels, capacitive, with multitouch, Sony Mobile Bravia Engine;
512MB RAM, 1GB Flash (320MB available);
Communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE;
Communication 3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 7.2 Mb/s; HSUPA, 5.76 MB/s;
Bluetooth v2.1;
WiFi 802.11b/g/n, DLNA, WiFi Hotspot;
GPS, AGPS;
Slot for microSDHC-cards;
FM radio;
USB host;
Position sensor in space;
Light sensor;
Magnetometer;
5 megapixel camera with auto focus, 720p video recording;
Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh;
Dimensions 92×55×16.5 mm;
Weight 110.8 g.

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

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

The IP67 rating means that if properly handled, the communicator is protected from dust ingress, and when immersed in water for one meter, the ingress of liquid will not harm the mobile computer for 30 minutes.

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

Design and appearance

The novelty is a monoblock communicator with a very unusual exterior. First of all, the eye stops at the large metal lug, which is used to fasten the strap. In none of the previously tested communicators, this element of passive safety had such outstanding dimensions. Mount practically does not interfere with the work with the communicator, if you hold the device in your right hand. Left-handers will have a harder time, but they will be able to find a comfortable position for the mobile computer.

Like the Xperia Mini Pro, which was previously in the editorial office, the novelty is distinguished by small dimensions in length and width, but the thickness is beyond the fashion trend of thinning communicators. If the “fatness” of the Xperia Mini Pro was due to the presence of a sliding keyboard, then the reason for the thick thickness of the Xperia Active is its moisture and dust resistance. The volume of the communicator does not cause any difficulties during operation, only outwardly it seems large and angular, but you quickly get used to it.

All edges of the body of the novelty are rounded, there are no sharp corners - 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 deepened. Sacrificing a share of convenience and aesthetics, it would be possible to achieve greater safety when the communicator falls flat on the display. Of the other security elements of the screen, it is worth noting the presence of a factory protective film.

The plastic housing of the communicator is attached to the metal rim. Its upper outer part is made of orange material - a bright color attracts attention and is convenient when searching for a device on the ground. It also distinguishes the device from its brothers - it is not often possible to find 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 the outer protective cover is put on. The lid fits snugly to the body and is pressed against the casing. The latter comes in different colors, there are black and white options in the kit: black 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. With a little effort, the cover is removed from the latches, then the internal protection is disconnected without any problems. You can change the microSD card without disconnecting the battery.

Because the various components of your device must be exposed to the environment, Xperia Active has various features to protect them. The camera and flash are protected by plastic covers in the battery cover. It also carries the protection of an additional microphone and something resembling a pressure valve. On its inner side there are contacts of various antennas, which, in turn, are placed on the outer side of the plastic part. The outer casing carries protection for the main speaker and rubber flaps for external connectors: microUSB and a 3.5 mm audio jack for a headset. The phone speaker and microphone are on the front, and it's impossible to say anything about their protection, since there are only small holes in the glass for them, but, apparently, they are also protected by membranes.

In addition to the display, on the front panel of the communicator there are 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 is the power button. On the right: volume and camera buttons. When examining them, gaps between the surrounding case and the keys are noticeable, but there is definitely additional protection under them - otherwise moisture and dust would get straight to the board and display.

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

There are only two claims to the design of the novelty: the first one is a large ear, which could be made from above and then it would not interfere when working with a communicator; the second is a display that is not recessed inside the case. The rest of the Xperia Active is a well-built mobile computer with an adequate and convenient arrangement of controls. 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 on 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 is the company's announcement that it will prepare firmware updates for all these devices running Android 4.0. Now it's worth looking at what kind of software stuffing the current firmware has.

Timescape UI, a standard program for Sony Ericsson devices, is used as a proprietary shell installed on top of the system. Despite the fact that it does not shine with 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 at the corners of the screen, which greatly speeds up the work with the communicator and takes up very little precious display area.

In addition to standard programs, such as: phone calls, address book, messages - in one of the corners of the screen there are several applications related to the active life of the owner of the communicator: 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 need a digital compass - it can be found among the pre-installed applications. Of course, it is easier and easier to use one of the satellite navigation programs, but the GPS signal, as well as the cellular network, can disappear - then the old navigation device will come in handy. Flashlight - this is the simple name of another program that, without exaggeration, will be useful both to active owners of the communicator and to all other users. Both the LED flash of the camera and the main display can act as a light source.

Of the additional software in Xperia Active, it is worth noting: an application for accessing the social network Facebook, Adobe Reader - viewing PDF files, Office Suite - working with Microsoft Office documents, NeoReader - reading various barcodes. In addition, there are programs for downloading games and other applications, several reference applications, a utility for calculating 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, can recognize faces.

The camera is controlled by a separate button on the right side of the communicator body. Like the Xperia Mini Pro, the camera control software's interface is organized into two panes. To the left and right of the display are settings lists and image thumbnails, which can be collapsed to provide additional cropping space. All settings are always at hand - you do not need to climb into the wilds of the menu to change them.

The quality of the pictures is decent, their maximum resolution is 2592×1944 pixels. Video is recorded in MPEG-4/H.264 format with a resolution of 720p. You can see examples of video and photos.

In addition to the usual shooting, using the Xperia Active, you can get stereo photos. To do this, the communicator during shooting must be moved in a horizontal plane, and very carefully, while maintaining a constant speed and direction. As a result, the resulting picture will be saved in MPO format, and it will be possible to view it on a device that supports stereo mode. On the communicator itself, the photo will look like a long panoramic shot.

Wireless interfaces, communication 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 photos received using the built-in camera to the user's page on a social network. In comfortable conditions - using a Wi-Fi network, in the field - using one of the data transfer technologies in 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 your communicator: mouse, keyboard, external drives and USB flash drives. DLNA allows you to share media with other devices, such as computers or TVs, that are connected to the same network.

The built-in receiver of the satellite signal of the GPS network will provide the owner of the communicator with accurate positioning anywhere in the world, while the 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, acceleration to a mobile computer. They can be equipped with various items of equipment, vehicles. Supported devices also include heart rate monitors and medical devices.

All wireless communication modules remain operational under water, as evidenced by an experiment with 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 of Xperia communicators in 2011. The resolution of 320×480 pixels is optimal for a 3-inch TFT matrix. The capacitive touch display is sensitive even to the touch of wet fingers, and multiple touches are supported. The backlight brightness is sufficient for most tasks and is adjusted automatically. The screen dims noticeably only in strong ambient light.

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

The volume of all speakers is more than sufficient for comfortable work with the device. Two microphones provide high quality communication with the interlocutor. The power of the entire sound system is regulated by two buttons.

The Xperia Active also features Sony Ericsson's proprietary technologies for display and speaker performance: the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine and xLoud, respectively.

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

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

Battery life and performance

During the short time that the communicator was in the editorial office, only basic tests for autonomy were carried out. The battery in Xperia Active has a capacity of 1200 mAh, a processor frequency of 1 GHz, a screen diagonal of 3 inches. Together, this leads to the fact that when reading an e-book with a 50% backlight level, the communicator worked for 16.5 hours, music playback with the display turned off lasted for 20 hours, the minimum device operation time was 4 hours. It was achieved by setting the maximum backlight, turning on all wireless communication modules, starting the movie playback.

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

The summary table presents the results of testing the performance of the hero of the review and other communicators that have been in the editorial office.

	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 Whitstone
Total CPU score	2178.7073	2258.528	3261.4143	2500.6213	2228.1846	1571.6143	771.9937
MWIPSDP	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. Given the identical hardware of both devices, the discrepancy in the tests can probably be attributed only to a different version of Android: 2.3.3 in the Xperia Mini Pro and 2.3.4 in the Xperia Active.

Both devices demonstrate outrageous results in the graphics subsystem tests, which, however, can be easily explained by the small resolution of the displays of communicators. More expensive and powerful devices spend more time calculating the image of their multi-pixel matrices. This circumstance 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. A similar processor frequency causes the same results in processor performance tests for all Sony Ericsson devices presented in the table. The same applies to memory operations of communicators.

conclusions

With the advent of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active, those buyers who need an "all-weather" and "protected" communicator have a choice. Although the range of devices is not very wide: Xperia Active and Motorola Defy are already 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.

On the side of the Xperia Active, its advantages are in the form of a productive hardware stuffing, a fresh version of the OS and a convenient shell, good battery life. The negative side of the novelty can only be attributed to non-standard design.

Compared to "ordinary" communicators, such as Xperia Mini, Xperia Active looks decent, which is not surprising, given their identical filling. 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 is unlikely that the Xperia Active will be the everyday phone of an office worker or anyone else who spends most of the time in comfortable conditions. However, it will become an indispensable assistant for anyone who spends a lot of time in direct contact with the environment, especially such a changeable one as in Russia, and must be constantly in touch. Xperia Active can also be an ideal second communicator for all lovers of outdoor activities, tourism and extreme entertainment. In the end, even if something happens to the communicator, its price will cause less worries than the death of a much more expensive mobile computer.

Contents of delivery:

Telephone
Battery
Charger
USB cable
Wired stereo headset
Additional socket
Special case
Headphone holders
Hand strap
Warranty card and user manual

Positioning

Sony Ericsson has released an original smartphone for lovers of an active lifestyle. Hence the name of the device "Active", which is translated from English as "active", "energetic" or "live". The key features of this model are dust- and moisture-proof housing, as well as a scratch-resistant screen covered with mineral glass.

As it was mentioned in the "Delivery Kit", the phone comes with a large number of accessories. From the pre-installed software - special applications for sports: "WalkMate" (step counter) and "iMapMyFITNESS +" (tracks the path on the map, records the distance and speed of your movement). Otherwise, it's a typical "android" Sony Ericsson of 2011: a single-core "GHz" processor, 512 MB of RAM, a camera with the ability to record HD videos.

Design, dimensions, controls

Smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Active has a small size (92 x 55 x 16.5 mm), comparable to the Xperia Mini (88 x 52 x 16 mm). The weight is 110 grams, i.e. 11 grams more than the ST15i. The edge along the perimeter is made of metal (aluminum), the side faces are made of orange-colored plastic, the back surface (depending on the removable panel) can be black (“soft-touch”) or white (porous, matte plastic).

The degree of protection of this device is IP67, which means:

Complete dust protection.
With short-term immersion up to 1 meter, water does not enter in quantities that disrupt the operation of the device. Permanent work in immersed mode is not expected.

In order to prevent moisture and dust from getting inside the phone, under the back panel there is another cover with rubberized edges that is hermetically inserted into the grooves. The connectors are also protected, on which the plugs located on the cover are tightly put on. After removing the USB cable or headphones from the connectors, a warning message will appear on the screen: "To ensure water resistance, close the outer caps of the connectors." Therefore, if suddenly, as an experiment, you decide to “drown” the Xperia Active, then before you do this, you need to close them.

In general, the case looks solid, but you should not get carried away with crash tests, in particular, dropping the device: it does not have an impact resistance classification.

Thanks to the streamlined shape, the device fits well in the hand, and it is easy to fit in the pocket of a shirt or jeans. On the bottom edge there is a large bow for attaching the strap.

There is a speaker on the front panel. Its volume is high, there is a margin, intelligibility is not bad. Nearby is a light and proximity sensor, as well as a very tiny LED indicator. It flashes blue during an incoming call, but does not signal a missed call. But when SMS is skipped, it flashes green, when connected to a PC or the battery is charging, it is constantly lit in red. Below are three touch buttons: call the context menu, exit to the main screen and "back". They are illuminated with white LEDs. The brightness is weak, but in the evening it does not blind the eyes, but during the day it is quite noticeable. Just below the back key is the main microphone.

On the left side there is an on/off button that is almost sunk into the case, it also acts as a display lock. Its stroke is large, the pressure is soft. On the right is the “rocker” for adjusting the volume and activating the camera. The move is small, but the pressure is soft. There are no connectors on the top end, and microUSB and a 3.5 mm audio output (under the plugs) on the bottom.

The second microphone, speaker, LED flash and camera eye are located on the back of the surface.

Under the protective cover at the bottom is a slot where a memory card is installed.

SE Xperia active (left), Samsung Wave Y, Samsung Wave M, HTC Mozart, HTC Radar, SE Play (right):

Display

It has exactly the same parameters as the Xperia Mini: diagonal - 3″ (physical size 64x43 mm), resolution 320x480 pixels (192 pixels per inch), the matrix is made using TFT-LCD technology with backlighting, displays 16.7 million shades of color, touch layer - capacitive, with support for up to four simultaneous touches. The sensitivity is high.

There is also a proprietary software image processing - Mobile Bravia Engine, borrowed from Sony TVs. Viewing angles are good, but the brightness drops slightly when tilted. There is a proximity sensor. Reacts quickly, no complaints. The brightness of the display backlight is regulated by a light sensor, and you can manually set its upper threshold. Almost does not fade in the sun. Xperia active has built-in accelerometer, compass, linear acceleration sensor and G-sensor.

Below is a comparison of the screens of Sony Ericsson ST17i and Samsung Wave Y (as the most similar diagonals):

Battery

Active uses a lithium-polymer (Li-Polymer) battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh, 3.7V, 4.5 Wh. Model - EP500 (suitable for Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, X8, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro). According to the manufacturer, a full charge of the battery should last almost 5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours (15 days) of standby time.

During testing, the following figures were obtained: in standby mode, the smartphone worked for about a week, up to 15 hours when playing music at maximum volume (in headphones) and up to four hours when playing HD video at automatic backlight brightness.

On average, with 15-20 minutes of calls per day, one hour of shooting photos and videos, the same amount of listening to music, four hours of Wi-Fi (Twitter, Skype, surfing the Internet) and two hours of watching movies, the battery was discharged in 11-12 hours. Approximately the same "lives" and Xperia Mini.

From USB the battery is charged within two hours, from the network adapter - for an hour.

Communication options

The smartphone works in 2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) and 3G networks (HSDPA 900/2100; 1900/800). Speed GPRS - up to 86 Kbps, EDGE - up to 237 Kbps, HSDPA and HSUPA - up to 7.2 Mbps and 5.8 Mbps, respectively.

There is Wi-Fi standard 802.11 b/g/n. To distribute the Internet, it can be used as an access point. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is supported - a standard that allows compatible devices to transmit and receive various media content (image, music, video) over a home network, as well as display it in real time.

Memory, memory card

As with the entire Xperia lineup, the SE Active comes with 512MB of RAM. For most tasks, this volume is more than enough. Internal memory - about 320 MB, and free 270 MB. The kit comes with a 2 GB card, so if you wish, you can "throw" all applications on it.

The speed of USB 2.0 when writing to a complete memory card is about 10 MB / s, reading - up to 21 MB / s.

The maximum supported microSD card capacity is up to 32 GB.

Camera

The Xperia active has a 5-megapixel camera module with autofocus and LED-backlight (single-section, LED). The maximum photo resolution is 2592x1944 pixels, videos are recorded at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels at 30 frames per second. The flash shines about 1.5 - 2 meters.

The photo quality is much worse than on the Xperia Mini: the color reproduction is not very good, the clarity is mediocre. A possible reason is a low-quality protective glass. The videos also don't look the best, but the stereo base is excellent (you can clearly hear where the left channel is and where the right one is). The front camera of the smartphone ST17i is missing.

To activate the camera, you need to press the button on the side of the device. It has two positions: focus (press halfway) and get a frame (squeeze). There is also touch focus.

Photo mode interface: left - image capture mode (normal, condition detection, smile detection), resolution (2MP, 3MP and 5MP), touch focus (on or off), shooting conditions (portrait, landscape, sports, etc.) and flash; on the right is the gallery, and in the center is switching from photo to video mode.

Photo mode settings:

Timer, stabilizer (on/off)
Focus mode (single, multi, macro, face detection, infinity, touch focus)
white balance
Geotagging
shutter sound
Measurement (center, middle level, point).

Video mode interface: left - shooting conditions (portrait, night mode, sports, landscape, etc.), video size (MMS, QVGA, VGA, FWVGA, HD720p), exposure, focus mode (single, face detection, infinity), backlight ( on off.).

Video mode settings:

exposition
white balance
Measurement (center, mid-level, point)
Timer
Stabilizer (on/off)
Microphone
shutter sound

Gallery:

Video file characteristic:

Format: MP4
Video: AVC, 6000 Kbps
Resolution: 1280 x 720, 30 fps
Audio: AAC, 128 kbps
Channels: 2 channels, 48.0 kHz

Photo examples:

Performance

Xperia Active has the same Snapdragon chipset and Qualcomm MSM8255 (Scorpion) processor with a clock frequency of 1000 MHz, as well as Sony Ericsson Arc, Ray, Mini Pro. Codename - Snapdragon S2, architecture - ARMv7, CMOS technology, manufacturing process - 45 nm. Adreno 205 is responsible for the graphics part with support for OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenGL ES 1.1, OpenVG 1.1, EGL 1.3, Direct3D Mobile, SVGT 1.2, Direct Draw and GDI.

During the testing of the device, I did not have any serious questions about performance: it works quickly, there were no “glitches” and slowdowns. It is understandable, since its "brothers" with the same processor have a higher screen resolution.

Technical specifications:

Below are the performance tests of Active (left), Mini, Ray (right):

Quadrant Standart

Antutu Benchmark

Performance test Active (top), Mini, Ray (bottom):

Active performance test:

Software platform

The Xperia ST17i smartphone runs on the Google Android operating system version 2.3.4. It is current at the moment. A long-awaited update for the Xperia line will be available in the coming weeks. Namely, for the following models: Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro and Xperia Active, Xperia pro, Xperia ray, Xperia neo V, Xperia arc S and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman. The update can be done both using a PC and over the air.

Navigation

The Snapdragon S2 chipset includes a GPS module based on gpsOne Gen8. Time of "cold" start - up to one minute, "hot" - less than 10 seconds. Maps are used for navigation.

Shell and menu

To unlock the screen, you must press the power button or the "home" button and then swipe your finger from left to right over the square with the lock pattern. The home screen is represented by the “four corners” interface already familiar to the Xperia line: up to four shortcuts can be placed on each of them. They are dragged from the menu or the desktop. To delete a specific label, move it to the trash. There are 5 virtual desktops in total. Cannot be expanded.

The menu is represented by 12 shortcuts on one screen in a 4x3 grid. At the bottom right there is a button, when pressed, the labels begin to “float”. In this mode, they can be transferred from one place to another, or by clicking on the cross, you can delete the application. The rest of the interface is similar to previous models. Sorting is carried out: alphabetically, according to frequently used programs, according to recently installed or at your own discretion.

Challenges

By clicking on the "phone" icon, the dialer is called up. It is large, comfortable, but when you enter a number, saved contacts with these numbers are not displayed. When there is an incoming call, the photo and name of the subscriber is displayed on the screen. During a call, you can turn on the speakerphone. From the "dialer" it is easy to switch to "contacts". To add a new contact, you must click on the icon on the top right. The following information applies to each subscriber:

Surname
Telephone
Email
Call signal
Other

The "calls" section displays the name of the subscriber, phone number, date and type of call (incoming, outgoing, missed).

Messages

To enter text, a standard Android keyboard is used, which in this model is called "international". Two types of keyboard are also available: full-size and standard (telephone). However, the user has the right to install any other from the Market.

Applications

There is a standard set of programs for most SE-smartphones:

Alarm.

The calendar.

Cards.

Google Talk.

Navigation.

Addresses.

Locator.

Calculator.

Track ID. Determination of the artist and the name of the song by its small excerpt.

Youtube.

News and weather.

Adobe Reader.

Quadrapop. Tetris style game.

Data Tracking. The program controls the data transfer between the phone and the GPRS/3G network.

3D camera. A new application that appeared in Android 2.3.4 firmware. Photos can only be viewed on a Sony Bravia 3D TV.

Xperia Hot Shots. A special application that tracks the game of six famous tennis players who will later become the heroines of a reality show.

Connected devices. This application plays photo or video content on BRAVIA TVs or Sony PlayStation 3.

Clock.

Wisepilot. Navigation app.

3D album.

NeoReader. It is a universal application barcode scanner that turns the camera on your mobile phone into a barcode scanner and allows you to access mobile content via the web.

Music and video. Allows you to access the music and video compositions of your Facebook friends.

WalkMate. The program is a step counter. The easy-to-use Walk Mate app stays active throughout the day. It keeps track of the number of steps you have taken and the steps remaining until you reach your daily health goal.

office suite. It is a document viewer app for Android. Allows you to open DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPSX and PDF files.

UEFA. The official application that allows you to follow the main football tournament in Europe.

update center. Software update application.

games and applications.

Flash. The application allows you to turn on the LED flash or screen. Depending on the option selected, they may flash.

Liveware Manager. Allows you to launch an application when you connect a headset, headphones, or power cable.

Compass.

iMapMyFITNESS. The app tracks your route, speed, travel time, and heart rate with ANT+ technology.

Web browser

Standard browser installed. Works fast, supports flash-animation (Flash 11) and multi-touch. However, on a small screen with a small resolution, surfing is inconvenient.

Multimedia

Music player

After launch, the screen displays: a large album cover, three player control keys (“forward”, “backward” and “play/pause”), transition to the list of songs. In the settings of 10 equalizer presets (normal sound, classical, dance music, flat sound, folk, heavy metal, hip-hip, jazz, pop and rock).

The loudspeaker volume is high (actually, as in all the latest Sony Ericsson models), the sound is very clear and pleasant. There is an xLOUD parameter in the general sound settings. It allows you to increase the volume up to 20-30%. After “bathing” the device in water, the speaker may wheeze a little. However, after drying, everything becomes normal.

The sound quality in the headphones is excellent, however, the high frequencies are somewhat raised, and there are not very many low frequencies. Complete "ears" are not as hopeless as it might seem: music lovers, of course, will replace them with others, but I do not recommend them to others. On the headset, the call answer button can switch tracks or pause them.

FM radio

Operates in the range of 85 - 108 MHz. Supports RDS. From the settings - only the output of music to the speaker and the search for radio stations. The sensitivity of the receiver is good, the volume in the headphones is high, as well as when outputting to the speaker.

Video player

By default, the player can play MP4 and 3GP files. When installing, for example, a Dice player, the number of supported codecs and file types expands to MKV and AVI recorded in H264, DivX and XViD. The maximum resolution is up to 720p.

Impressions

Call quality is at a high level and comparable to other phones in the Xperia line. The vibrating alert is average in strength, but it feels good in a jacket or jacket pocket.

The direct competitor of Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is Xperia mini. The difference in cost is almost 4,000 rubles. This is an overpayment for a dust- and waterproof case and a richer set of accessories.

For about 12,000 - 13,000 rubles, you can try to find last year's Motorola Defy model. She has a larger screen and resolution, but the processor frequency is weaker, and he can not write video in HD. The rest of the parameters are identical. Despite the fact that Motorola's mobile division does not operate in Russia, the company guarantees service for already sold phones. At the end of September, Defy + was released, but it is sold only in Europe and Latin America for $350.

Another similar smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy Xcover. Unlike the SE ST17i, it has a large 3.65″ screen. The camera is only 3 megapixels, and the processor frequency is 800 MHz. The exact cost is not known, and when it will appear is also unclear.

So it turns out that at the moment the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is the most affordable "Google phone" with a dust and moisture-proof housing.

Specifications:

Class: smartphone
Form factor: monoblock
Housing materials: plastic, screen coating - mineral glass, protection class IP67
Operating system: Google Android 2.3.4
Network: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100
Processor: single core, 1000 MHz, Qualcomm MSM8255
RAM: 512 MB
Storage Memory: 320 MB and 2 GB memory card
Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b / g / n /), Bluetooth 2.1 (A2DP), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset
Screen: capacitive, TFT-LCD 3″ with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
Camera: 5 MP autofocus, 720p video recording, LED flash
Navigation: GPS (gpsOne Gen8)
Optional: accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM radio
Battery: Removable Lithium Polymer (Li-Polymer) 1200 mAh
Dimensions: 92 x 55 x 16.5mm
Weight: 110 grams

Roman Belykh (

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 those rare devices that are really different from others. For example, sports smartphones: such as the Sony Ericsson Xperia active.

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

History and philosophy

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

Sony Ericsson Xperia active

Old-timers will surely remember phones or: shock-resistant and dust-proof cases of these truly legendary devices found recognition among many at one time. Today, the production of such devices is much less profitable than before, and the situation is especially bad with shock protection. Due to the fact that today's most trendy keyboardless smartphones are much more difficult to protect from the aggressive influence of the external environment, the release of protected models has practically come to naught.

Metal edging gives the case strength and rigidity

Today, such devices are singled out in a separate niche on a par with "army" laptops - for example, only rugged phones are produced under the Sonim brand, and they cost like a good premium segment smartphone 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-range smartphone that is water and dust resistant, sports features and preloaded with a range of sports apps.

But first things first.

Don't offend kids

It is dressed 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 water-resistant and perfectly recognizes touches in any conditions

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

This thickness is given to it to a large extent by the solution for protection 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 fastened with anything, but fits snugly 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 micro-SD card slot.

Sony Ericsson Xperia active double cover protects against water penetration

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

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 moisture resistance is the screen, which can be controlled with wet fingers. For example, in the pool or while surfing, kiting.

A large set 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 harder to protect, so in this case, the SE compromised by creating a protected display on the one hand, but still quite advanced (for protected smartphones) on the other.

Smartphone display cannot be called the brightest even at the maximum backlight level

Smartphone training reaches a new level of quality

A subjective minus can be considered the location of the buttons under the screen. Buttons, as done in the latest fashion, three pieces - "Return", "Home" and "Settings". But "Home" is located exactly below the screen at such a distance that when you call the top menu (when the user swipes down from top to bottom), it is very difficult not to hit this button and not call the menu again. Involuntarily, a more successful solution is recalled, as it is now clear, 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 fall into different categories.

Everything has its good sides

The package bundle of the smartphone is very rich, for which it is given the maximum rating. In addition to the “body” itself and a 1200 mAh battery, the kit includes a black case with a hand-clip, a durable rubber cord, interchangeable back covers (black and white, which, together with the orange edging, create a very pleasant color scheme for a smartphone), and also vacuum headphones with clip-on earhooks. The latter was especially surprising, but for a sports phone - just right. You run and do not strain that the 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 do not shine with variety

About the wrist cover it is necessary to say separately. It is quite dense, and, apparently, is intended to be an additional protective element. Through its transparent plastic window, you can even make attempts to control the device, which is very difficult, but possible (this is partly implied by the icon on the case itself near the phone's power button, the case itself is not designed to control a smartphone). The cover is fastened to the arm with a Velcro fastener and is quite difficult to tear off. And between the hand and the phone there is a softening pad. In general, a competent and thoughtful decision: runners, cyclists and swimmers will be very useful.

Or, for example, you can say good things about the location of the control elements on the case. They are all located on the sides, exactly under the fingers, if taken in the left hand. Under the thumb will be the power button on the left side, under the middle and index fingers - the volume control, and the little finger will get the camera power button.

At the bottom there are slots closed with dense three-layer plugs, which we wrote about above, as well as a very powerful eye for the cord. We note, however, that impact resistance would really not hurt, since the plastic case is rather slippery, and strives to slip out of hands.

Software

The Android 2.3.4 operating system is installed with a proprietary four-corner shell and the Timescape application. The traditional 4 shortcuts from the bottom are spaced 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 space on the screen.

The menu is waiting for a standard set of applications

These labels themselves are also not quite common - more precisely, one of them, the upper right one. It's home to four apps at once: iMapMyFitness+, WalkMate, a music player, and an Android Guide link that takes you to Sony Ericsson's site for useful apps and games according to Sony Ericsson. Applications can be changed.

Of greatest interest 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 software and hardware pedometer that measures how many steps you have taken today. The necessary healthy minimum, the program suggests, is 10,000 steps a day.

How many steps from work to home? The pedometer will give you the answer.

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

I was very pleased that the phone initially has support for Swype typing technology using strokes.

Automatic smiles

The 5-megapixel camera shoots tolerably well, both indoors and out. “Tolerable” does not mean “good”: with an increase, a strong “oversharp”, artifacts and a dull color scheme in principle are noticeable.

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

In terms of shooting options, there are: scene selection, timer, flash, geotagging, shutter sound selection, and the ability to shoot by touch. The maximum resolution is five megapixels for shooting in 4:3 format and 3 MP for 16:9. Actually, that's all: Xperia active does not offer any additional features for normal photography.

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

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active test shots

It should be noted the so-called. the possibility of "3D-shooting": this is how they called the improved interface for shooting panoramas, which allows them to be viewed from several points using special equipment. It has been improved in that it shows a bar on the screen to help you hold the camera and guide it in the exact direction.

And finally I will write

The technical parameters of the smartphone include a Qualcomm Snapdragon single-chip GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. Given 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 in active mode is hardly able to work through the day. The internal memory of the phone is 1 GB (320 MB is available for the user), but memory cards save the matter (up to 32 GB is supported)

Branded shell SE will facilitate access to the main functions of the smartphone

Interesting features include ANT+ wireless connectivity to "a wide range of health products." Unfortunately, we did not have such goods in stock, so we could not verify this statement. The next interesting thing is the built-in noise reduction technology during a conversation.

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

Sportish, practical, gut

The overall impression of the phone tends to be positive. Of course, two drawbacks - a small screen without automatic brightness control, as well as a low-capacity battery - do not allow you to admire this phone and not pay attention to shortcomings. But he can put good marks for the rich software stuffing: good applications and a good add-on 4 corners. Complete set and interchangeable back panel is 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 Snapdragon1000MHz - 800 MHz 320 MB microSD (Transflash) microSD (TransFlash) 512 MB RAM; 150 MB microSD 3" 480x320 2" 240x320 3.7" 480x320 (HVGA) WiFi; bluetooth; E-mail; GPRS WAP 2.0; Bluetooth 2.1; GPRS; MMS WiFi; bluetooth; E-mail; 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 gr 14 000 rubles 19 000 rubles n/a

The official cost of Xperia a is 13,990 rubles. This is an adequate price for this set of functions, but it is worth warning against buying this gadget for those who do not play sports. For the majority of users, a weak screen and a short battery life can serve as significant disadvantages that will cause disappointment in this good, in general, but niche device.

2 years ago

compact, waterproof, fell a couple of times on the asphalt-strong!

2 years ago

Size - Ease of use - Price and quality

2 years ago

Waterproof (two protective back panels) - Shock resistance - The kit includes a wonderful strong film (already pasted) that has not allowed my phone's screen to break or scratch for 4 years :) - Compact, comfortable to hold in your hand - Excellent camera (however, there is no front camera)

2 years ago

really indestructible!! I dropped it from the third floor onto concrete (not on purpose, of course) and dived in the Red Sea to a depth of 10 meters - it takes great pictures, BUT the video does not record underwater, apparently because of the warm sea there, the sensor thinks that they are turning off ... and the screen is blocked ( (It's a pity, I wanted to take off the beauty of the underwater.

2 years ago

security (did not check it yet, pleases its presence), powerful loop on the case, small size, fits comfortably in the hand

2 years ago

little. fast. beautiful. waterproof. shockproof.

2 years ago

not afraid of anything, dropped it, drowned it involuntarily, I am both a fisherman and a hunter. and a hiker, he went through everything with me, the verdict is not to kill! brings only joy.

2 years ago

1) Rich equipment; 2) Android OS on board; 3) Excellent work speed; 4) Bright design and pleasant to the touch materials. In general, I am satisfied with the phone. Bright individual design stands out from the crowd and attracts attention. Good protective properties will help you not to get upset if the phone falls into a puddle on the street. Sufficiently convenient access to the Internet and work with applications now allow you to turn on your desktop PC less often than usual (access to social networks and lj for reading and commenting). It remains to test it in sports and with a successful result, a favorable impression will be complete.

2 years ago

Everything, as indicated in the kit on the manufacturer's website. Bag fits comfortably on the arm. The strap is rubber, in my opinion completely useless. Headphones are normal. The phone is pleasant to hold in hand, it gives the impression of being rubberized, although in fact it is ordinary plastic. 2 rear panels - white and black. The assembly, without a doubt, is externally of high quality - the presence of water resistance obliges. I dived in the bathroom - the phone turned out to be great)). Tomorrow I will arrange a swim in the pool, although the instructions say not to use it in ocean (nothing is said about the sea) water and in the pool ... but you need to check it)). Android looks a little different than in my former X8 - nicer and faster. Lots of apps I don't need. The camera is adequate for 5 pixels, the flash is present. Pleased with the presence of a flashlight

2 years ago

in fact, he is not afraid of water. tested on himself by accidentally forgetting the phone in the pocket of a sports jacket, the jacket was successfully washed in the washing machine in everyday mode (30 minutes) - the phone remained in working condition, I will not repeat the experiment again)))) with battery life was enough for 2-3 days with average use (always on Wi-Fi, GPS is disabled)

2 years ago

1 communication is constantly cut off during a conversation !!! infuriates
2 batteries

2 years ago

It's been 3 years since I've been using this phone, and I wouldn't change it if apps didn't weigh so much now! Not enough memory for anything!

2 years ago

There have been jamming since the time of purchase
- Low performance
- The protective caps for the USB connector and the headphone input came off and were lost on both the original and the replacement back cover.

2 years ago

It doesn’t hold enough with active use, GPS + Internet, + AutoCAD (I constantly use this program for work) + conversations .. enough for daylight hours in fact.

2 years ago

phantom vibrations before reboot, slows down even on CM10

2 years ago

the battery needs to be pumped, then it will last 3-4 days
There is only one minus, the microphone is not located in the center and from the front, you have to talk to the right and not leaning the microphone against your cheek.

2 years ago

the battery runs out quickly. that's all the cons

2 years ago

1) Weak battery.

2 years ago

I won’t say anything about the hardware, in other models (Mini and Mini Pro) it is similar. Android 2.3.4, so don't get your hopes up for a newer version.

2 years ago

this model has already been discontinued with all the consequences ...

Classic monoblock with original design. Differs in high quality of production. Can be used with gentle handling for a long period of time. When creating, high-quality plastic with a solid margin of safety is used. To date, the best value for money. Mobile phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) The best option for lovers of an active lifestyle. The device has a compact size and low weight. It can be used without the participation of a second hand. There is a thin metal edging around the perimeter of the device.The mobile phone case provides effective protection against dust particles. Able to dive into water to a depth of 1 meter. His performance is not affected. For dust and moisture protection touch phone Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) has a protective cover under the back cover. It covers the elements that are important for its work. All connectors in the model are reliably protected by special plugs. The body is solid and looks one hundred percent.

On the front panel you can see the speaker responsible for the sound output. Next to it is a proximity and light sensor. They are closely related to the operation of the display of a mobile touch phone. Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i). On the left side of the model, you can see the on/off button. On the right side is the volume control key of the mobile device. Next to it, you can see the camera activation key. At the bottom of the phone there is a connector for connecting usb and a headphone output. All of them are closed with strong plugs.On the back of the mobile phone is a second microphone, speaker, flash and camera eye. Under the battery cover, you can find a slot for installing a memory card. The screen of the device has a diagonal of 3 inches. The resolution is 320 by 480 pixels. The matrix supports the display of 16.7 million colors. The screen is touch sensitive and can support up to 4 simultaneous clicks. Its sensitivity is high. It is very convenient to use.

On a mobile device Sony Ericsson Xperia Active St17i lithium polymer battery is used. It can hold a charge for about 2-3 days with an average intensity of using the device. The phone charges on average for about two hours. Your mobile device uses memory cards. Due to them, you can significantly increase its functionality. The gadget menu is easy to learn and does not require special knowledge. It can be sorted out very quickly.

You can buy a Sony Ericsson Xperia active (St17i) phone at a low price on our website.