The XPERIA X1's slide-out QWERTY keyboard offers a sturdy grip.

Unboxing the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 smartphone from telecom provider Claro, the first noticeable quality was the phone’s heaviness Weighing 5.6 ounces while measuring 4.4 inches tall by 2.1 inches wide and 0.7 inch deep, the X1 is a bulky phone to carry around, especially nowadays, when slimmer phones are the norm.

On the other hand, this same heaviness helps when using the slide-out QWERTY keyboard because it allows a firm grip while typing on the small and closely-spaced keys. This QWERTY keyboard‘s top row was difficult to type with, since it is so close to the top cover.

The phone has the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, but it takes at least three minutes to completely load the home screen. Once loaded, the response time is still a bit faulty; Windows’ characteristic screen freezing now comes on a smaller scale in this mobile operating system.

Living on a bilingual island, being able to change the language of the cell phone’s operating system is essential. While attempting to switch the default Spanish to English, the unit did not allow the language switch. To make the change, users have to go to Claro and ask them to make the switch.

This smartphone also boasts a touch screen. The “touch screen” designation was invented for a phone with a tactile functioning interface, but this unit’s touch response leaves a lot to be desired. It does have a stylus to better operate the screen options, especially since the screen options are either too small or at the corners of the screen, which makes them incredibly frustrating to get to with a finger.

The phone has some good features. Call quality is very good, even through the speakerphone, and the phone can expand its memory through a microSD card. That helps because the 3.2 megapixel camera takes good quality pictures that a user would want to store. Also, the expandable memory
can store music since the phone has an integrated music player and with the standard 3.5 headphone jack, this phone is ready to bop along to the beat.

All in all, the phone has its pros and cons. If users don’t mind waiting for programs to open or dealing with a non-touch touch screen and love a good quality camera phone, then the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 fits the bill. The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 is offered exclusively by Claro in Puerto Rico. For more information, visit: www.sonyericsson.com
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— Stefanie Marie Rivera