I traded my iPhone 4 for this phone, looking for something know. Worst mistake I have ever made. It seems cool at first, and the gaming is fun, but it leaves much to be desired. It is very heavy and bulky, making it VERY uncomfortable to keep in your pocket. I've read everywhere that it has had great battery life, but for me that was the worst part. Replaced the battery, and it still wouldn't come close to lasting throughout the day, even after underclocking the CPU. The UI is very laggy. Call quality is very poor, and there is an annoying sidetone when you are on the phone with a half-second echo.
Build Quality: Very tough phone, friend accidently kicked the phone 8 feet in the air and landed face first on concrete and only received a minor bump.
Reception: I sometimes don't receive calls from my friends. My friend tried calling me 3 times before the call was picked up by my phone
Call Quality: Call quality is decent, but when my neighbor calls me, I can hear him fine but he can't hear me( this has happened numerous times)
Internet: crashes numerous times daily, force closes to much, freezes, takes minutes to load pages (I use my Wi-Fi and have tested its speed on my phone i get 11 mb up and 5 down)
Multimedia: The phone came with 7 pre-installed apps optimized for the Game Pad including Madden 11, Asphalt, Crash bandicoot and more. The Android market has a big selection of Free apps and games and paid apps and games. Access to V cast (if you don't want to use credit card, this adds to your bill)
Camera: the camera doesn't take HD videos, Horrible low-Light photos, Slow censor
UI speed: constant lag when switching through home screens, crashes a lot
Everyday usage: You can make a call and send texts and Emails, will lag a lot and freeze and crash so that's a downside
Text input: Takes forever to open up messaging, stock keyboard is horrible, takes forever to send messages
Display: the display is fairly bright even under sunlight
Battery Life: can get 1 to 1 1/2 days on heavy usage
Gaming: the game pad is good but the games aren't any different. If you are expecting amazing game quality, you're going to be dissapointed
Edit: I have since downloaded Maxthon Browser which is much better than the stock one and i have also downloaded GO Keyboard which is free and much better than the stock one. Also the RAM on this phone is insufficient because you can't download a lot of big file games which is what this phone is meant for.
I have been using this phone for some time cause one of my best friend have it.. and recently i made the leap back to Verizon, and got 2 of these babies in my account.. All i can say, this phone is just too awesome..
PS.. No idea why the first Review is only a 4.. Crazy IMO,, this phone is too good for what it is and most smarphone users will find this handset more useful then expected, not to mention, the Gaming part is Just too cool..
FINALLY!!! I got me the Perfect Smartphone with the "BEST" Wireless Provider in the area. “Verizon” for my kids.
I tend to change wireless companies veeeeery often, in fact I have a reputation about it already.. LOL.. But after going to one company and then the next. I finally stop worrying about getting more for the money in regards to unlimited everything like I was getting with Sprint, or Like I was just getting with ATT’s rollover minutes and all, and Finally made the leap back to VERIZON. Verizon by far may be the most expensive, but,, with the combination of an Outstanding Network and My new Awesome Phones Including these 2 Very Cool Sony PLAY Smartphone/PlayStation Phones, I cannot be any happier right at this moment.
We are always looking for the most unique/cool type of phones, or at least I am, and these by far have a huge WOOW factor. Initially I might had been a bit concern during the first hour or so while we were getting familiar with the phones, but once the phones went thru their first 2 major updates, the phones were working GREAT…
These phones are very easy to use and customize, not to mention that using them for the Gaming part, there isn’t many products currently out there that beats them. Extremely easy to use, great feel in your hands and the quality built for a phone that has slider system like this phone does, feels just perfect..
Reception so far has been outstanding. That could be mainly due to the fact that is under VERIZON’s network, but I know that Sony usually produces great products, so the combination am sure just makes things betters..
It’s now been a full week, and for a heavy Smartphone user like me, and the use my kids have gave these phones, I’m convinced that I made a great choice.
This phone handles games perfectly! Not one lag or slowdown on any games and most emulators work flawlessly. Its everything an android gamer could ask for. AND THE BATTERY NEVER DIES!!!! However, the phone part of the Xperia Play isn't quite as good. It has some lags and although i find it more than sufficient for everyday tasks, its not the fastest phone. Get it if you want a decent phone and GREAT games
The phone is a good entry level smartphone. For a phone marketed for gaming some games aren't beter than other phones. The phone doesn't come with a lot of storage. The processor is outdated and can be slow at some points. The keyboard also isn't that good. The display is good even under sunlight. The battery life is great can get through a day and some with heavy usage. Overall the phone is good but if you want a high end phone this isn't it.
This phone is AWESOME!!!!.....Battery life is FREAKISHLY long! At work with no signal and always searching for one....Battery last 16hrs....At home will last 24hrs or more. Where else can you find a gingerbread phone that does that. I would recommend this phone just on the battery life, even if your not a gamer, it does everything any other Android phone does....GET IT, GET IT, GET IT!!!!!
I bought this phone because I was bored of my old phone, the droid incredible. I figured this seemed cool, a way to play games for when I am bored. This phone, IS HORRIBLE. It is slow, it constantly crashes, the internet doesn't work half the time, the App's i download constantly don't run (the same apps that I used to run flawlessly on my incredible).. I MISS my old phone, Sadly I gave it to my sister, so I am stuck with this phone until something better comes out (which is basically anything right now, but I want to wait for something new) DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE!