Review: Sony Xperia S

The Xperia S is Sony's flagship device, and is also part of the first range of phones released after Sony's split from Ericsson. The Xperia S has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a fantastic 12MP camera, giving it the potential to compete with top-end smartphones.

The Xperia S is a hefty device, weighing in at 144g. It's pretty bulky, too, and certainly didn't sit very comfortably in my hands. The boxy design didn't score the Xperia S any points, either. Of course, the 4.3-inch screen is largely responsible for the phone's bulky dimensions, and many users will be happy to forgo a petite phone in favour of a larger screen.

What is nice about the phone is its large, glossy display. The back cover also slides off with one movement, but didn't come off by itself. This is a welcome change, as many phone covers make me feel like I'll snap them in half when I take them off. Inputs and outputs are neatly placed on the sides of the device.

There are also three touch-sensitive keys below the screen that function as return and home keys, with the key on the right allowing users to customise the interface. There is a transparent band just below these keys, which lights up when the phone is in use. It looks snazzy - or kitsch - in the dark, depending, I guess, on the user's inclination.

The Xperia S runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), but users can upgrade the device to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

The Android operating system is incredibly user-friendly, letting users browse through applications without the need for endless menu scrolling.

The Xperia S provides great call quality and I didn't experience any connectivity issues with the phone itself.

The Xperia's screen is magnificent. It has a 4.3-inch high-definition display, boasting 1280x720 pixels. According to Sony, the screen displays a whopping 16 777 216 colours. I found the display was crisp and clear with brilliant colours and sharp edges.

The display is great for viewing videos and browsing images. The extensive colour range means users get a fairly accurate idea of how their photos will be printed.

The Xperia S is Bluetooth-, WiFi- and near-field communications-enabled. It also has HDMI and micro-USB support.

The native browser is easy to use, allowing users to set bookmarks. It also saves the browsing history and keeps a record of the most visited sites.

The Xperia's 12MP camera is fantastic and was definitely my favourite feature. With 12MP, users can print out fairly large prints of photos taken with the Xperia. The camera also has a host of features, such as auto-focus and face detection, to ensure said photos are worth printing.

Users can also take photos on the go, with a dedicated button on the side providing quick access to the camera. In normal mode, users can set the camera's exposure and select flash settings. To make it even easier, Sony has thrown in “scenes” with pre-configured settings for landscapes, portraits, night scenes, and beach and snow scenes.

There is also a 3D sweep panorama feature, which lets users take photos from wide viewing angles (up to 180 degrees). This function is pretty cool, even if the use of '3' in the title is misleading.

Unfortunately, even though Instagram is available on Android, the Xperia S is currently not compatible with Instagram.

The phone also has an MP3 player and a radio.

The Xperia S comes with most of the essential apps preloaded. I say 'most' because I had to download Twitter and Whatsapp myself (which are both available free from the Play Store). However, Facebook, Gmail, Maps and Places come preloaded.

The Xperia also comes with Timescape, which aggregates updates from a user's social media accounts and message inputs.

The Xperia S has some great music apps, including Track ID, which lets users identify music according to track title and artist. If users sign into the Music and Videos app with their Facebook accounts, the app collates music and videos that their friends have shared. Finally, provided there is a WiFi network available, users can access media from other devices on their Xperias.

For business users, the Xperia comes with a Microsoft Office Suite app, which lets users view Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files on the phone.

The Xperia S lasts a good day with standard usage. I found the battery lasted less than a day when I used the camera extensively, but given that the camera was fantastic - and I couldn't stop myself from using it a lot - I've decided to overlook this.

The Xperia S charges from flat in about an hour-and-a-half, and, provided users start the day on a full charge, it should make it to the end of the day.

In fairness, while battery life is my main gripe with smartphones, after losing my phone on holiday, I've come to prioritise functionality over battery life. I spent a week without needing to charge my mum's spare phone, but it felt as if I had travelled back in time to an era of dismal communication - all I could do was call and SMS.

Given that the phone has a 12MP camera and runs on Android, it really is a great smartphone with cutting-edge technology, like NFC. However, the design gives the phone a dated feel.

Of course, it has a big and brilliant display, so users who demand high-level audiovisual performance won't overlook the Xperia S. Furthermore, at R5 999, I'm guessing the Xperia S will attract users who want cutting-edge technology but don't want it at the cost of some of the pricier smartphones on the market. In terms of price, I think the Xperia S is well worth every cent.