Gadget Row

Likely to appeal to gadget lovers with an eye for detail, the Xperia Ray has many compelling features. Whilst Sony Ericsson’s latest is smaller than the recent Xperia Play and Xperia Neo, its 3.3” screen is a decent size for most applications, but by no means the biggest display on the market. The display is powered by their established Bravia engine and offers the crisp results you’d expect. With an 854×480 pixel count, the resolution is only 26ppi less than the iPhone 4.

The camera is the same 8.1MP as found on the well-received Xperia Arc, and offers a single LED flash and quick shutter speed. Featuring Sony’s patented Exmor system, it lets you capture high-quality, bright pictures and videos in poor light conditions. This is a facility which modern handsets often lack, and a real boon for those who want an adaptable camera phone. HD video recording is also available at 720p with a simple button touch.

Users are encouraged to login to Facebook as soon as the phone boots up, and the integration with the social networking site is impressive. Albums pop up in your phone’s gallery, you can comment directly on the pictures and share recommendations and likes from the music player. Notable Facebook events are all automatically visible in your calendar, so you’re unlikely to miss a vital engagement.
Other applications include the Sony Ericsson Music Player which supports shuffle and smart playlists, the music mood mapping application SensMe, TrackID music recognition and expanded sound with Sony’s xLOUD engine. Motion gaming, and FM radio and integrated YouTube should eat up any free time you may have and the mobile phone has all the traditional messaging and connectivity options you’d expect in a modern handset.

The Xperia Ray offers high-specification technology for a relatively cheap deal and is a good option for sociable tech-heads on a budget. Visit www.phones4u.co.uk/ for more choices on the best contract phones.