Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray. Smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray: review, specifications, reviews. Music and video

01 / 11 / 2011

A wonderful device that will no doubt be a bestseller for many weeks and even months. An ultra-compact smartphone equipped with virtually all the necessary applications, both for business and leisure. At the same time, the price of the device is quite adequate to the possibilities.

Assembly

The case is made of plastic of several options. Case frame - matte type of material. The battery pack cover and side panels are also matte.

The assembly of the case, however, turned out to be remarkable - the gaps between the assembly elements are not visible, no backlash or creaking of the case materials could be noticed.
In a word, we have before us a perfectly assembled, very compact block.

There are only three mechanical control buttons: a large HOME button, a paired volume control button and a device power on / off button. The implementation of all these elements is wonderful - there are no sticking, jamming and similar "disgrace" on a production scale, and during testing (one week) nothing appeared at all, although I had an engineering version of the device as a guest.

The cover of the accumulator block on the panel fastens remarkably - on time no more than a second or two. Just as quickly, the user can remove the cover from the panel. However, despite the ease of fastening, there is no backlash, even the minimum, between the battery pack cover and the case frame.

Design

The market will be released in four color modifications: black, red-pink, bronze, and white. Of course, all these colors are provided only for the covers of the battery pack, while the front panel remains invariably black.

Unfortunately, I was not able to see all the colors - the acquaintance took place only with a black smartphone. What can be said about this option? The device looks quite good - the black matte panel is nicely combined with the glossy one, and the small dimensions of the smartphone plus the same glossy inserts on the ends complete the style of a business smartphone for a wide range of everyday tasks.

It is compact, and therefore suitable for any hand, even for a teenager's hand. The weight of the device is only 100 grams, clearly distributed throughout the body - due to overweight in any of the parties there is no. The smartphone feels great in the user's hand - it sits very comfortably and does not move at all, even if you do not let go of the handset for several hours in a row.

On the side faces of the case, two metal inserts are implemented, with which the edges of the battery pack cover come into contact. These inserts are also of different colors - it depends on the color of the battery pack cover. Here, in my opinion, better for the manufacturer it would be better to make them in some independent body color, so that there is some clear separation from the color of the battery pack cover - it’s simply even more harmonious. Although the result turned out to be quite good in its own way.

Ergonomics of functional elements

The front panel is made on the same level - there are no separately raised keys above the display or indicator eyes - the panel is like a small skating rink - smooth and slippery.

Above the display, as well as slightly below it, there are two slightly different in shape, but stylistically identically made gaps in the form of semicircles.

The gap below the display is the so-called HOME button, while the gap above is a slot for a communication or, more simply, a speaker.

There are two touch keys to the right and left of the HOME button. On the left is the button to return to the previous menu sub-item, and on the right is the key for calling the context menu.

To the right of the communication speaker slot is the proximity sensor, to the left is the front camera for video calling or portrait shooting.

Several cuts have been made in the body of the back panel. The largest one is for the output of the built-in camera eye, then the slot for the output of the flash eye and the crescent-shaped slot for the speakerphone. In addition to these elements, the panel also has a logo of the device line and the emblem of the manufacturer drawn with special paints.

There are few functional elements on the side panels.

On the right is a key-rocker for volume control.

On the opposite side is a micro-USB port for connecting a cable charger or a sync cord with a computer / laptop.

The top end features a power on/off button for the device, as well as a 3.5 mm port for connecting traditional headphones. With the mentioned button, in addition to turning on / off the power of the device, the user can turn off the backlight of the display, thus blocking any control of the smartphone.

On the lower end there is a loop for attaching a safety cord, a gap with which the user can remove the battery pack cover and a small slot that "hides" the built-in microphone behind it.

Brief specifications

Display

Equipped with a 3.3-inch display. The latter is implemented on the basis of a capacitive matrix, which means that the touch display can be controlled only with a finger. It is possible, paying 10-14 dollars, to buy a special stylus for working with capacitive panels, however, personally, I don’t see any expediency in this.

Hardware display is covered with a scratch-resistant glossy coating. Traces of navigation on the panel remain quite large, but it is very easy to wipe the panel on the same floor of clothing - the display is not scratched at all. There is no detailed information regarding the display coating, it is only known that the material of manufacture is mineral glass.

The responsiveness of the display is remarkable - absolutely no delays were noticed, the icons react remarkably to touching them with a finger.

The system supports accelerometer and multitouch. The quality of development of both technologies raises no objections.

The diagonal of the display, as already noted, is 3.3 inches. The resolution, especially against the background of such a diagonal, is remarkable - 854x480 pixels, color reproduction of 16 million shades.

The display features Mobile BRAVIA Engine technology. According to the manufacturer, with the help of it, the system improves the viewing of videos and photos in low-light environments. Personally, in practice, I have confirmed the efficiency of this technology without any problems. It's easy to do this by comparing the color quality with Mobile BRAVIA Engine turned off and on. Both manipulations are available from the "Screen" subsection, which is located in the "Settings" submenu.

In the same submenu, the user can adjust the display backlight level, work with animation, and also define the display backlight timeout for the device in idle mode.

In terms of displaying colors in bright sunlight, the color reproduction of the display is all right. Of course, a slight fading of the data was noticed, but its degree is not so great as to speak of this as a minus of the display's elaboration.

Speakers

The speakers in the smartphone are wonderful.

The communication sound is quite enough to hear the subscriber perfectly at the level of one third of the maximum volume, even being on a loud avenue or the same market, shopping center - in a word, any "loud" place of this format. The volume is excellent, there is no distortion. By the way, the absence of the latter is true, even if the user turns up the maximum volume level.

For a non-music lover, the capabilities of the speakerphone will probably be quite enough, even to listen to audio in a room where, in addition to the sound of music, there will be minor third-party noises. The quality is good, without squeaks, "groans" and other industrial "disgrace", and the volume is quite comparable with the volume of speakers in good multimedia laptops.

Memory

The amount of built-in memory in - 1 GB. True, there is a “but” - only about 320 MB is available to the user - the system selects the rest for its needs.

This 320 MB is allowed to install various software, while user photos, audio, video and data in other formats can be stored in the removable storage memory. Although the Xperia ray engineering model was tested, but after a few minutes of WEB surfing, I managed to find out that a 4 GB drive is provided as standard equipment. Thus, even at first, the user will be where to "accelerate" in terms of content storage. The maximum amount of external storage to work in Xperia ray is 32 GB. Standard traditional - MicroSD.

Access to the slot is provided if the user first de-energizes the smartphone, removes the battery pack cover and removes the fuel cell itself. As you can see, there is no such similarity of “hot” replacement in this case, but on the other hand, since all the content is still stored on a removable drive, it is not worth talking about the expediency of implementing “hot” replacement in this device.

Battery

Removable battery capacity - 1500 mAh. One 100% charge is enough for two days of smartphone operation at loads up to 2 hours of talk time, as well as no more than an hour, maximum one and a half hours, of using other functions and applications in the system.

In the smartphone menu, there is a sub-item "Saving Mode". It can be activated by the user in case of a critical state of charge of the battery. In this case, the display backlight level is automatically reduced by several times, many modules and applications are turned off, which, of course, saves battery power.

The operation of the application is very simple - you just need to activate it, and then press one touch button labeled "Turn on energy saving mode." As for me - this application is very useful for such "gluttonous" devices as smartphones.

Equipment

Runs on Android 2.3 operating system. The Qualcomm MSM8255 processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz is implemented. "On board" there is 512 MB of RAM, as well as 320 MB of "regular" memory for the user. I already mentioned this above.

WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G

The Wi-Fi module presented in the smartphone supports the 802.11 b/g/n profile. The menu interface is designed very simply, and therefore the user will understand the settings and features of the work very quickly. Searching, detecting and informing the smartphone user about the availability of an open point, the ability to assign an IP address, as well as working with the security policy and the rules for switching the module to the so-called sleep mode - all this and a lot offers a Wi-Fi module.

Built in Bluetooth 3.0. The main difference between the third edition of Bluetooth and the previous ones is well known - this is the data transfer rate. The module supports the EDR profile, as well as many others.

Browser and email

The smartphone in question has a "regular" Internet browser application and the Opera mini browser.

But I will not dwell on the latter, since the browser is a priori simple and there is nothing in it, if I may say so, to “catch”.

Concerning the first of the mentioned applications, here the situation is as follows. The browser itself is very nimble - loading is fast, scaling is simple and very easy, flash is supported, and the corresponding "pictures" are loaded very, very quickly.

In addition to standard browsing, the browser menu provides options for creating and managing bookmarks, working in multiple windows, searching a page, selecting text, viewing page information, downloading data, and more. There are no complaints about the browser - everything is balanced and without "blunders" at the software level.

The smartphone has a "regular" Gmail client, as well as an application on the basis of which the user can create multiple email client accounts. Creation and, subsequently, management is very simple, of course, not the last measure thanks to the setup wizard account. It is gratifying that the user can create several accounts and receive mail from several addresses in one box. Of course, you can receive and send emails with attachments and much more.

Store and Update Center

An application, or rather a client named Store in , as in a number of other smartphones Sony Ericsson, is a kind of application and content store.

As for the Update Center, through this application, the user can update the current release of the software installed in the smartphone. It is very easy to do this, in just a couple of clicks, but if an update is not required, the system will prompt the user about it.

Music and video

With the launch of the "MP3 player" application, the system "transfers" the user immediately to the track playback submenu. It displays a large picture of the CD theme and virtual playback buttons. If the theme is not provided, a large animated picture is displayed instead.

In the very bottom corner of this window, there is an icon with a treble clef drawn on it. By clicking on it, the user will go to the track sorting submenu. Sorting is provided by artists, albums and more.

But by clicking on the button located at the very bottom right, the user enters the play-list submenu, which contains the songs currently being played.

The implemented xLOUD technology is responsible for sound settings.

I found the Music and Video app interesting. With it, you can track content posted on Facebook by the user's friends.

Standard applications / managers You Tube, as well as TrackID also could not do without. There is nothing to stop them, I'm sure.

A separate video player in the Store menu, and videos can be played directly from the Gallery submenu. The player works smoothly without blunders.

"FM-receiver" is quite simple. Previously, of course, in order for the receiver to work, the user will have to connect a headset. Available settings include manual and automatic search and much more.

Wisepilot and other apps GPS

Wisepilot is a navigation complex application developed by Sony Ericsson. The key highlight is color 3D maps. Of course, it cannot be said that Wisepilot is better against the background of other navigation kits, thanks to these maps, but as an option within the framework of the smartphone itself, it is quite good.

Other apps in this plan are the Google Maps package. As you know, this package is different good cards and fast operation of the system as a whole, however, in order for the complex to work, the user will need a permanent network connection.

Built-in camera and 3D camera

The smartphone has two cameras - a front one designed for video communication, as well as a camera based on an 8.1 MP sensor. Let's dwell on the last of them.

So, in a load of 8.1 MP, the matrix is ​​given an LED flash, as well as an autofocus system.

By itself, the menu interface of settings and shooting modes supports both sweeps - horizontal and vertical. All possible auxiliary settings buttons are implemented.

Among the shooting opportunities, in particular, I would like to highlight the modes: recognition of shooting conditions, recognition of a smile, and so on.

In video mode, the camera can record videos with HD quality (720p). Resolution formats 800x480, 640x480, etc. Other settings in the photo below.

Also test video.

Of course, we are not talking about shooting in 3D mode - everything is much simpler. Using the application of the same name, the user can conduct panoramic 3D shooting, that is, coverage of the object by 180 degrees, and up to 270.

Results. Alternative

An excellent device in all respects, no doubt worth the declared money. The handset's trump cards are compactness, excellent display, good equipment, many potentially interesting applications, as well as a priori high-quality performance of the device from a hardware point of view.

Already available on the market. At least there are smartphones in online stores. The price is at the end of the article.

Among the potential devices in terms of alternatives, three smartphones from various companies can be noted: LG Optimus Black P970, HTC Desire S, Nokia N8.

Sony Ericsson was once the leader in the mobile device market. But the unsuccessful release of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 smartphone somewhat shook the position of this manufacturer in the market. Nevertheless, the brand continues to search for its niche in the Android device market. Several models have already been released, which, although they pleased the fans of this manufacturer, were somewhat behind the flagship models of other companies. In the summer of 2011, Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray was presented to the buyers. This is a pretty nice device in a high-quality case. Its main advantages are powerful multimedia capabilities, as well as a relatively low price.

Main characteristics

If you are interested in the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray smartphone, the specifications will give you more full information. So, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• operating system - Android 2.3.3;
• screen with a diagonal of 3.3 inches;
• 8 MP main camera;
• capacitive screen technology;
• RAM - 512 MB;
• built-in memory - 1 GB (only 300 MB is available to the user);
• there is a slot for a memory card up to 32 GB (there is a 4 GB flash card in the kit);
• battery capacity - 1500 mAh.

Appearance

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray has a specific design. Of course, for its year of manufacture, it is quite acceptable, but today it may seem cumbersome and comical. But connoisseurs of this brand unanimously claim that the appearance of the smartphone was a success. Everything has a signature style, which makes this smartphone unlike other modern gadgets.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is available in 4 colors. Fans of laconic and stylish solutions will appreciate white and black colors, and those who want something original can pay attention to pink and coffee-colored devices. Regardless of which shade you choose, they are all quite calm and do not hurt the eyes.

Materials and assembly

Housing smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is made of glossy plastic. There are small metal inserts on the side ribs. The quality of the materials is so high that even if the device is used without a case for a month, no scratches or scuffs will appear on it. Despite the fact that the case is glossy, it practically does not collect fingerprints (and if they do appear, they are completely invisible). The black model has a smooth matte finish. The materials, of course, do not have any outstanding characteristics, but corporate design compensates for this deficiency. Cell Phones of this line are assembled qualitatively. The only complaint is the gap between the case itself and the left side of the back cover.

The size

Sony Ericsson Ray cell phones are compact in size. With a weight of 100 grams, they are characterized by dimensions of 111x 53 x 9.4 mm. Such parameters will delight active people and lovers of practical solutions. The smartphone easily fits into the pocket of your trousers, jacket or jacket. And even in the breast pocket of a shirt, it is quite convenient to carry it. During operation and conversation, it is practically not felt in the hand, and therefore at first it is slightly unusual to use it. In general, users note the convenience of working with the phone.

Control elements

Sony Ericsson Ray cell phones are confidently beginning to abandon the block of hardware keys under the screen, which may not be to the liking of all users. So, the "Back" and "Menu" buttons have already become touch-sensitive. But the "Home" button with an interesting design and a characteristic drawing of a house remains mechanical. Also, this key performs the function of unlocking the screen, which eliminates the need to reach for the button located on the top panel.

Interestingly, the "Home" key has a semicircular shape and is located at the very bottom of the case. In addition, it is equipped with a luminous edging, which has several colors. So, if the device is dead or connected to a PC, the ring lights up in red. A fully charged battery is indicated in green. In the active mode, the button is illuminated with white diodes. And if you missed a call, SMS or other events, a green flashlight will flash. Many users found the location inconvenient indicator light at the bottom. But he, as many believe, has more decorative than practical function.

On the front face of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray ST18i is a speaker. Above the screen is the peephole of the front camera, as well as proximity and light sensors. But this does not mean at all that you will be able to use the automatic brightness control function, because in this model it is not involved.

On the right edge of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray ST18i is the volume rocker. It is worth noting that it is not very comfortable due to the small size. The stroke of pressing is almost not felt. In addition, it is quite difficult for people with large fingers to get to the desired area (especially during a conversation). On the left side is a micro-USB connector, which does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

The top end is occupied by the audio output and the power button (many users also find its location inconvenient). At the bottom is a microphone hole, as well as a keychain or strap mount. Despite the fact that this element is absent on most modern devices, it has not lost its relevance. For this, the manufacturer can put a "plus".

under cover

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray phone has a removable cover, which can be called an indisputable advantage, given that most modern smartphones have monolithic bodies. After removing the back panel, you will see the battery, above which are slots for a SIM card and a memory card. However, they cannot be installed without first removing the battery.

Smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray: screen

The device is equipped with an LCD display made using capacitive technology. Diagonal 3.3 inches determines the compact dimensions of the device. With a resolution of 845 by 480 pixels, the screen shows 16 million colors. On visual inspection, you can see that the screen is very narrow and stretched upwards. Small physical dimensions and high resolution result in a clear and juicy picture that pleases the eye.

Users note that the screen has an insufficient supply of brightness (at an average level). Nevertheless, even in bright sunny weather, the picture is well perceived. I am glad that the colors transmitted by the display look very natural. You can judge the quality of an image by the purity of black and white colors. But the viewing angles somewhat spoil the overall picture. Even with a slight deviation, the image begins to fade.

This phone model claims to have proprietary technology called Mobile BRAVIA Engine. However, with the naked eye, you will not be able to tell the difference between the image being turned on and off. We can conclude that it is better to work in normal mode in order to save battery power.

The screen of the device is covered with a protective film. But to be honest, wearing it makes little sense. The fact is that the display is equipped with tempered glass, which is designed to prevent scratches. And the film only interferes, distorting the image quality.

Is it convenient to work with the device?

Users say that if you are used to actively using your smartphone, this model will seem uncomfortable to you. This manifests itself in the following points:

• difficult to type in portrait orientation (especially if you have big fingers);
• in landscape orientation, there are an order of magnitude fewer misses on the keys, but the fingers get very tired when typing a long message;
• it is inconvenient to read information from Internet sites, and especially when it comes to news feeds (this is if you previously had a smartphone with a larger screen);
• there are some difficulties with navigating the Internet (it is extremely difficult to select small fragments of text or controls, and therefore you constantly have to zoom in).

A little about the camera

For a modern person, the telephone has long ceased to be just a means of communication. So, for many people, an important indicator is the camera. The main one has 8 megapixels. It is equipped with autofocus, as well as high-quality LED flash. Users may not like that it cannot be used as a flashlight (at least not by standard means).

The camera app is pretty self-explanatory. In shooting mode, you can see the number of photos that the available memory allows you to take. If you go to the video recording function, you will be able to estimate the number of minutes of the video that will fit on the flash card. There's also a settings icon that, when clicked, brings up a handy pop-up menu.

You can adjust the white balance, as well as select a variety of scene modes. There is an image stabilizer, but the naked eye can't see any improvement in the quality of pictures taken with the feature turned on. The presence of several focus modes is also pleasing, which allows you to focus on the most important details of the picture.

The camera works well in macro mode. From a distance of 7-8 cm, objects are displayed quite clearly. 9 out of 10 frames with text turned out to be successful. In general, this device can compete with some Samsung and HTC models in terms of image quality.

The camera of this smartphone is excellent. From the moment you click the icon to the launch of the application, no more than one and a half seconds pass. And the shooting operation itself takes place instantly. But not without a fly in the ointment. So, users note an acute shortage of a hardware shooting key.

Battery Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

This smartphone has a modest 1500 mAh battery. The manufacturer promises about 7 hours of talk time, about 36 hours of listening to music, and 430 hours of standby time (which is equal to 18 days).

In practice, everything looks a little more modest. A full battery charge was enough for 1 hour of calls, sending 10 SMS, as well as a couple of hours of mobile Internet. However, if you want to extend the battery life of your Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, the firmware allows you to do so. There is an extreme power saving mode that disables some wireless interfaces, reduces screen brightness and makes other changes to the device.

Interface Features

The device is running Android 2.3 with a proprietary interface that combines the features of proprietary shells HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz. Of course, the firmware is far from ideal. So, for example, there is no smart dialing function. There is a strange message widget from social networks, which looks ridiculous on a small screen. But users will be pleased with a good branded player for listening to tracks.

Positive reviews

Many users have already appreciated the benefits of using the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray smartphone. Reviews about this device contain such positive comments:

• the sensor quickly responds to touch;
• good quality of shooting photos and videos;
• quite an interesting design;
• the small device is very comfortable in the hand and fits in any pocket;
• With one gesture, you can switch your smartphone to silent mode and back;
• many options for customizing the desktop, which allows you to quickly access the main functions;
• a 4 GB flash card is included in the kit;
• there are metal fragments in the case, and the plastic is of excellent quality;
• it is possible to upgrade the device to a later version of the operating system;
• the camera is equipped with a face and smile recognition function;
• it is possible to record video in HD format;
• when photographing text, an excellent readable picture is obtained;
• there is an indicator of missed events;
• recently the price of this model the smartphone has fallen a lot, and therefore you can buy a decent gadget inexpensively;
• good screen resolution gives a bright and realistic picture;
• great loud speaker that will not let you miss an important call.

Negative Feedback

Users of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray smartphone face some problems and shortcomings. Does not turn on or, for example, slows down. Many negative points are reflected in the negative user reviews:

• a confusing menu that can take at least a week to learn;
• the user manual is absolutely uninformative, and therefore you will have to deal with all the intricacies of working with a smartphone on your own;
• the battery is discharged very quickly if you use at least some additional functions in addition to the telephone part;
• if you use the phone for more than 5 minutes, the case starts to get very hot;
• at the slightest blow back cover and the battery fly off;
• when listening to music, you have to unlock the screen to switch the track;
• hard to find a case for a smartphone;
• too narrow screen, which is inconvenient to control if a person has large fingers (there is a high probability of accidental pressing);
• after about a year of regular use, the device starts to hang a little;
• too weak vibrating alert;
• the front camera has only 0.3 megapixels, and therefore you should not count on high-quality selfies;
• it is inconvenient that the power button is located on top;
• it is difficult to find a replacement battery for this model if the "native" has become unusable;
• some users experience fluctuations in the operation of the mobile network;
• standard headphones do not fit (you have to use branded ones or buy a special adapter).

Conclusion

In the year the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray smartphone was released, its price was almost 16,000 rubles. Today it costs less than 13,000 rubles. Users have no complaints about the quality of communication, and the loudness of the device cannot but rejoice. This is a great option for those who like compact devices and don't have big software requirements. We can say that this is a good "dialer" with good sound quality.

After the not-so-successful Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, the company slowly but surely found its niche in the Android market: this is the first Xperia mini/mini pro line that stood out from the rest, and then the calm X8 and Neo. Both smartphones lacked stars from the sky, but in terms of the combination of characteristics, design and price, they turned out to be attractive. And, more importantly, both devices at the start of sales had relatively stable software. With the flagship, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, the company was a bit late, the model entered the market at a time when all other major players were already selling top-end smartphones. But the next announcement showed that when SE wants, she knows how to choose the right directions. Introduced in the summer of 2011, Sony Ericsson Ray and the renewal of the Xperia mini line are exactly what the Swedish-Japanese brand needs now.

In this article I want to talk about the Sony Ericsson Ray smartphone - the younger version of Arc, so to speak. A beautiful and pleasant device in a compact body with good multimedia capabilities and at an adequate price.

Design, colors

Sony Ericsson knows how to make beautiful things. And although there will certainly be those to whom the design of Ray for some reason will seem wrong, ugly or something like that, in my opinion, the device succeeded. Firstly, the SE signature style is guessed in Ray, and secondly, the smartphone turned out to be unlike most of the “robots” produced today.

The device comes on the market in four color options: white, pink, coffee and black. All colors are in a muted and unobtrusive range, that is, the pink device is not bright pink, but rather neutral pink, the rest of the options are even calmer. In my opinion, the selection of colors and their tone in SE Ray is successful, there are no flashy colors here.

Body materials, build quality

The device is made of glossy plastic (we are talking about a smartphone in white, pink or coffee color). There are thin metal inserts on the left and right ribs. For a month of using SE Ray, it has not changed in any way in appearance, I did not notice that scuffs or any marks or scratches appeared on the case. Although I carried the device both in my jeans pocket and just in a backpack, sometimes I threw it along with other phones. The body coating is non-marking, traces and prints on the white model, if they remain, are completely invisible. The black device is made of matte plastic with soft-touch coating.

There are almost no complaints about the build quality, except for one thing: in my sample there was a small gap between the case and the lower left part of the battery cover. As for the body materials, of course, one can grumble that SE almost never use metal in their models or just materials more interesting than glossy plastic, like HTC, for example. But if you compare SE Ray in design with most similarly priced offers from Samsung, LG and HTC, then you can accept the use of simple plastic as a regularity, SE smartphones have their own interesting design, and with this the company compensates for the simplicity of case materials.

Dimensions

In terms of dimensions, Sony Ericsson Ray belongs to the "kids". The smartphone is thin and very narrow, so even its height seems noticeable, although in practice the SE Ray is compact in this parameter.

• Sony Ericsson Ray– 111 x 53 x 9.4 mm, 100 g
• HTC Desire S- 115 x 59.8 x 11.6mm, 130g
• samsung galaxy S2- 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5mm, 116g
• Apple iPhone 4- 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3mm, 127g

You can carry the device in any pocket, including a pocket in a jacket or a chest pocket on a shirt (I note that in South Korea I saw how people calmly carry even SGS II in their chest pockets). The device is almost not felt in the hands during a conversation, if you have used something relatively large before, it is light and compact. At first it is even unusual, but then you get used to it, and it becomes comfortable.

Controls

In SE, they are gradually starting to abandon the completely hardware block of keys under the screen, in my opinion, this is a bad trend, but it can be traced. In SE Ray, two keys under the screen are touch-sensitive ("Back" and "Menu") and one hardware - "House". The advantage is that by clicking on the "House" you can activate the screen, which is convenient - you do not need to reach for the power button, which is located on the upper end, every time, which owners of HTC smartphones, for example, are forced to do.

Around the “House” key, a backlight strip passes in a semicircle (hereinafter I will call it a ring for convenience), it lights up red when connected to a PC or charging and lights up green when the smartphone is fully charged. If the device is active and you are working with it, the ring is highlighted in white. If there are missed events, it flashes green. The location of the light indicator (ring), in my opinion, is unfortunate, although its location in the lower part of the case is already better than on the side on the SE Arc. The feeling that the SE developers used this element primarily for beauty and a little wow effect, forgetting about its original purpose. Finding the indicator at the top of the device would be more convenient.

On the right edge of the device there is a volume control button, for me this key turned out to be uncomfortable: small, thin, short and with a barely perceptible stroke. It is difficult to use it during a conversation, especially when you consider that a right-handed person has just a thumb on this small button. On the top left edge is a microUSB connector for charging and connecting to a PC.

At the top end there is the already mentioned power button and a 3.5 mm headphone or headset jack. Below is a microphone hole and an eyelet for attaching a lace or strap to your hand, in new smartphones it is becoming less and less common, although it has not lost its relevance for some users over the years.

On the front side of the smartphone, above the screen, there is a speaker, a front VGA camera lens, as well as a proximity sensor and a light sensor. The latter is not used in the device, at least in my sample with firmware 4.0.A.2.368 (official, PCT) it was impossible to set automatic adjustment of the screen brightness level, only manually.

The mount for the SIM card and memory card is located above the battery, so that neither the SIM card nor the memory card can be removed without first removing the battery. For me personally, the lack of a hot-swap memory card is a drawback, I'm used to using a card reader. For those who use a cable to transfer information from a PC to a smartphone and vice versa, this moment will go unnoticed.

Screen

The Sony Ericsson Ray uses a capacitive LCD touch screen. The diagonal of the screen is 3.3”, the resolution is 854x480 pixels (FWVGA), the display shows up to 16 million colors. The physical dimensions of the screen are only 74x41 mm, the screen is elongated and very narrow. Due to the combination of small physical dimensions and high resolution, the SE Ray display has an impressive ppi value (dots per inch) - 297. For comparison, ppi in HTC Desire S is 252, HTC Sensation - 256, Apple iPhone 4 - 330.

The screen has an average margin of brightness, but it still behaves well in the sun, the picture remains readable. In terms of color reproduction, the display is good, the colors on it are close to natural, white looks like white, and black looks very black (sorry for the tautology), and not dark gray or something else. This is a plus of the screen in front of some competitors. Minus - like the SE Arc, there are not maximum viewing angles, when the screen is tilted, the picture on it starts to fade slightly.

As in the flagship, it uses proprietary technology Mobile BRAVIA Engine. As with Arc, I did not notice any difference in the picture on the screen with the option turned on and off, neither when simply working with a smartphone, nor when viewing photos or videos.

The screen of Sony Ericsson Ray is covered with a protective film, as in Arc. In my opinion, there is no point in wearing a device with a film - the screen is well protected by the tempered glass that is used here, and the film just gets in the way: it leaves a lot of marks, small scratches and abrasions literally in a matter of days after you start using your smartphone.

Ease of use with a smartphone

The SE Ray display is small, and this imposes its limitations on the usability of the device. To put it differently, how a smartphone with all the capabilities of SE Ray looks weak precisely because of the small physical size of the screen. It is expressed in the following things.

First, type in portrait orientation using the standard on-screen keyboard very difficult. Constant misses, hard to hit the thin keys. In landscape orientation, everything is better, but it was difficult for me personally in this mode, I could literally type one message and then “cool down” and calm my nerve endings, because after typing the text message, I wanted to throw Ray against the wall. The situation improves if you put an alternative keyboard, such as HTC IME MOD. Then typing becomes easier, especially in landscape orientation. But still, in terms of the convenience of typing, the smartphone does not even reach state employees with HVGA screens, but with more comfortable screen sizes and the usual aspect ratio.

Secondly, on the small screen of SE Ray it is not so convenient to read information from websites, news feeds, and so on. It's just that the font sizes on the screen are so small that any user who has moved to Ray from something with a larger screen will have a hard time at first. Here I want to clarify that if a person was not a user before choosing SE Ray, say, HTC HD2, then he is unlikely to experience the discomfort when reading information from the screen that I am talking about. So this point is subjective.

And finally, sometimes when browsing sites, there are difficulties with navigation, it is difficult to target the smallest menu items or controls, and zooming in as close as possible each time to navigate within the site is tiring. A simple conclusion follows from this shortcoming - if you are used to “sit” on different sites often and a lot on your smartphone and generally use it to access the network, then SE Ray will hardly be a reasonable choice for you.

Camera

The smartphone has an 8 MP camera with autofocus and flash, exactly the same as in the flagship - SE Arc. The camera eye is located in the upper part of the rear side of the case, it is slightly recessed inside the surface of the cover. Below the camera module is an LED flash, it cannot be used as a flashlight by standard means.

In the viewfinder mode, the display shows all the basic information, for photos this is the number of possible shots, as well as settings icons, for videos - the possible recording time and also settings icons. When you select one of the icons, a pop-up menu opens from which you select the desired setting. It is pleasant to use the camera, the interface is simple and clear.

The following resolutions are available for photos:

• 8 M - 3264x2448
• 6 M - 3264x1836
• 2 M - 1632x1224
• 2 M (Wide)–1920x1080

You can adjust the white balance, shooting mode (landscape, night portrait and others), change the exposure value, select the shutter sound or just turn it off. There is an image stabilizer, but I did not notice a difference between the quality of shots with the stabilizer on and off. You can also enable geotagging of photos. The focus mode is selected from six available: spot focus, macro, infinity, face detection, focus by touching the screen and by multiple points.

In the macro focus mode, you can shoot close-up objects from a distance of 7-8 cm or more. The quality of these pictures, in my opinion, is good.

The text is removed successfully almost always, out of ten frames with blurred text, I got only one.

The smile recognition function works every other time: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Like the SE Arc, the Ray's camera is amazingly fast. According to this parameter, the smartphone leaves behind even the top models from Samsung and HTC. We are talking about both the camera startup speed (the time between pressing an icon or a key and the appearance of an interface with an image is about one and a half seconds, In HTC Sensation - about 3-4 seconds), and about the shooting speed and the time of subsequent saving, on SE Ray these operations happen almost instantly.

The downside in terms of ease of use is that the smartphone does not have a hardware shooting key, which was in the SE Arc.

You can evaluate the quality of the photo yourself using the examples of pictures below. In my opinion, among Android-smartphones Sony Ericsson Ray and Arc now retain one of the leading positions. And if Samsung and HTC have flagships that shoot well, then SE has practically a budget device with a flagship photo component.

Video

Video is recorded in mpeg4 or 3gp format (mp4v or h.264 codec) at an average of 30 frames per second. Audio is recorded using the aac codec.

The following resolutions are available for video:

• HP 720p - 1280x720 pixels
• FWVGA - 854x480 dots
• VGA-640x480
• QVGA - 320x240
• MMS - 320x240

The settings in video mode are the same as those in photo mode. Of the features, I note the inclusion / disabling of sound recording and the inclusion / disabling of the flash during recording.

You cannot change the focus manually during video recording, but it automatically adjusts to the picture and changes. I note that autofocus during video shooting in SE Ray is slow. For example, if I shoot a subject in the distance and the camera is focused on it, and then move the lens to a subject near, the camera needs an average of 4-6 seconds to refocus, and in some situations the camera does not change the focus point at all. You cannot scale the image during recording.

Offline work

The Sony Ericsson Ray uses a 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery. The manufacturer provides the following data on the operating time of the smartphone:

• Talk time (2G): 6 hours 50 minutes
• Standby (2G)" 430 hours (18 days)
• Music playback mode: 36 hours

My scenario for using the device looked like this: 40-60 minutes of calls per day, sending 10-15 text messages, configured Gmail and MS Exchange accounts with push-mail enabled, 1-2 hours of Internet via Wi-Fi or 2G / 3G. In this mode, Ray worked on average for about a day, that is, I removed the device from charging at 9 am and calmly used it until late at night, 23-24 hours. If you listen to music, the operating time is reduced and the device is discharged by about 19-20 hours.

The operating time indicators are typical for an Android device, they do not amaze the imagination, but they are not as mediocre as in some smartphones from HTC in the first half of the year, for example.

The smartphone has a power saving utility, it works according to the already familiar principle, as in models from Samsung and HTC: you can select different modules (wireless interfaces, types of notifications, screen brightness, etc.) that the program will turn off when the battery level is low battery to conserve it.

Performance

The smartphone is built on the Qualcomm QSD8255 (Snapdragon) platform with a 1 GHz processor. The device has 512 MB of RAM and 300 MB for storing data, programs and everything else. In terms of its platform and memory capacity, the smartphone is a complete copy of the SE Arc. The lack of internal memory for storing user data can be compensated by installing "heavy" programs on a memory card. The device comes with a 4 GB microSD card.

The phone is not equipped with additional codecs for video playback, therefore, to play video recorded in divx / xvid or in the mkv container, you need to install third-party video players. By default, playing video files is limited by the capabilities of the Android platform: wmv, mp4 and 3gp. On a smartphone, you can easily watch videos in 480 and 720p resolutions, videos for screen resolution also run smoothly. Moreover, if you download 1080p video in the correct format (wmv is best) and quality, your smartphone will play it without problems. However, here the question arises - what is the point of playing video in 1080p and even 720p quality on a small 3.3 '' screen?

The overall speed of the SE Ray is excellent, there are no delays or slowdowns, the smartphone does not hesitate, even if you have a dozen or more programs open.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and UMTS (900/2100) networks. Both high-speed data transfer standards, EDGE and HSDPA, are supported. Enabling and disabling wireless interfaces can be done in the settings menu, using the standard Android 2.3 interface widget or from a proprietary widget. Like in SE Arc, the sizes of widgets for managing interfaces are simply gigantic, but if it looked wild in Arc, then in Ray, because of its small screen, such widgets are quite useful.

For synchronization with a PC and data transfer, the included microUSB cable is used. USB 2.0 interface. When connected to a computer, you can turn on the data transfer mode (the memory of the microSD card is visible). Embedded module Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for all major profiles, including A2DP. Sound quality when listening to music through wireless headphones not bad.

WiFi (802.11b/g/n). The work of the Wi-Fi module did not cause any complaints. On your smartphone, you can configure Wi-Fi sleep rules, use only a static IP address when connecting, and add security certificates. At Wi-Fi operation the smartphone heats up slightly.

Like any other device based on Android 2.2 and above, SE Ray can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. The smartphone also supports the DLNA wireless device communication standard.

Navigation

The Sony Ericsson Ray uses the gpsOne chip based on the Qualcomm platform. A cold start takes about 30 seconds, then it takes about 5-15 seconds to search for satellites (testing was carried out using the GPS Status program available in the Market).

For navigation, the device has Google Maps and Google Navigation programs. With the help of the first one, you can get directions, search for addresses by street names or places. With the help of the second - use navigation with route guidance and voice prompts.

Entering text

The SE Ray uses a proprietary keyboard. In terms of capabilities, it resembles the standard for Android. Switching the language is done by pressing one key. If you need to hide the keyboard, just hold the left key under the screen for a couple of seconds. We talked about the convenience of typing above.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.

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 technologies and data rates

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

Operating system

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

SoC (System on a Chip)

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

Built-in memory

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

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.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.

rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.

Radio

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

Location determination

Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

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

USB

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

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is 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 the device.

Browser

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

Video file formats/codecs

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

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.

2 years ago 0

Execution quality

2 years ago 0

Design Battery (for smartphone) Screen, Assembly Good quality camera

2 years ago 0

Everyone has already written.

2 years ago 0

The biggest plus is its stylish modern design. small dimensions, good camera, easy to set up for yourself.

2 years ago 0

I have been using it for more than 2.5 years, I see only one advantage in it 1) The fact that it serves so much is already a huge plus 2) The display for those times (and even still) is of very good quality 3) I did not use any films from the very beginning of the purchase, there are almost no scratches, only small ones 4) The quality of the camera is simply amazing, even when compared with current models 5) The camera shoots widescreen video, and for a camera on a phone, very, and even I would say VERY VERY good quality 6) When used correctly, i.e. e. these are calls, access to the Internet only when needed, then turn it off, the battery lasts even after 2.5 years of use for 4-5 days 7) In addition, it can be upgraded to version 4 of android, which is very good in terms of functionality 8) About standard headphones,

2 years ago 0

Thin display, cute model, super camera, many different applications and files for free download, convenient menu

2 years ago 0

Compact size. The quality of shooting photos / videos. Gorgeous screen.

2 years ago 0

Design Size (very compact and thin) 8MP camera daytime color reproduction is beyond praise Powerful: all the games played by GTA3, N.O.V.A 3, Max Payne, NFS HP, BACKSTAB HD, Battlefield run without brakes. display: pixels are unrealistic to see. Stability: did not update the firmware 2.3.4 does not hang at all. All functions work well and do not cause any complaints. Holds a charge for a long time, if you use it as a phone, then 3 days is calm. If you play 3D games and surf the internet, it heats up and drains the battery pretty quickly, but it's logical ... Proximity sensor - you don't press the touch buttons during a call. The front camera, if you want to communicate by video call .. I did not notice the brakes. Everything works well and quickly..

2 years ago 0

Good sound, good sensor

2 years ago 0

Stylish design, fits comfortably in the hand, Android software, good multimedia, screen responds well to touch

2 years ago 0

It is very difficult for me to identify the shortcomings of this smartphone, because they are simply not there. Let me just point out the little things:
1. Rare freezes. I've had my Xperia Ray for almost a year now. During this time, it hung 5 times, no more. But it was difficult to get him out of this state - he didn’t want to reboot anyway and in the end he had to just barbarously remove the battery.
2. At night, a great camera turns into shit. Everything is noisy, blurry, colors are not natural...
3. Touch control keys are not backlit. It's bad in the beginning. But then you get used to it.
4. The on / off / lock button is very soft - sometimes you don’t even notice how you pressed it ...
5. Well, the front camera is terrible :) But its presence is already a huge plus! Skype will do.

2 years ago 0

1-when it is charging, the screen is very slow to think: either it doesn’t work the first time or when you press one, it gives out something completely different.
2-constantly opens an application that I don’t even go into out of interest (such as facebook, maps, weather, etc. I turn them off, and after a while they are turned on again.
it seems that all possible functions related to the Internet have been disabled, but still some applications open.

2 years ago 0

Small screen. Weak stuffing.

2 years ago 0

Androyd 4 can slow down a little, it’s not critical, but everything doesn’t always work smoothly on it, in general, as on a computer, we will consider this just a feature, not a drawback.
GPS is something stupid for me and catches badly.
The sticks of the network sometimes show that it does not catch very well, but so far I have called me too.

2 years ago 0

After 4 months, a factory marriage made itself felt. The phone, after blocking, does not show anything, only the screen barely glows. Although it receives calls. Well, at least a year warranty.

2 years ago 0

quickly discharged, terrible headphones, well, in principle, you can get used to everything.

2 years ago 0

The only drawback is only a small amount of my memory, and I only recently encountered its drawback, because. all applications installed on the phone can be stored on a flash drive, with the exception of standard applications and a small percentage of each installed application.

2 years ago 0

the camera is certainly good, but when you open the photo, the image is first smeared, but then it sharply becomes of high quality (not particularly important).
The sound is not acti of course, but I do not complain too much.

2 years ago 0

Insufficient amount of internal memory, and indeed outdated hardware by modern standards.
Involuntary pressing.
Pretty fragile. It is advisable to purchase a "bumper" if you doubt that you can protect it from falling.
Typical smartphone operating time.

2 years ago 0

Small display, but here you need to choose either compact or large display.
The 4GB card included, of course, is too small, I bought it for 16GB...
nothing else pops into my head...