After parting ways with Ericcson, Japanese manufacturer Sony hit it big with its Xperia line of phones. The range of smarthphones top-billed by the Xperia S has a sibling for the lower end, the Xperia U. The phone features a dual core that is perfect for its segment.

Hardware

When you open the box, you will have the earphones, USB cable, charger, and the of course the Xperia U. The phone measures 4.4×2.1×0.5 inches and tips the scale at 110 grams. This Android device aimed to compete with other midrange phones has a very elegant design. The designers gave the matte plastic casing with a rubberised feel. It also feels good on the grip with its curved back.

The Xperia U has a dual core 1GHz CPU linked with a 400MP GPU. At the back, you have a 5MP camera while the front has a VGA. The phone has a 4 gigabyte storage. It depends on a 1320mAh battery. The smartphone has a good set of features but its non-expandable storage is one of its big thumbs downs. It does not even have a slot for a microSD.

The phone has a 3.5-inch LCD display with 480×854 pixels and a 280 ppi. The viewing angles are quite limited but the display is quite sharp and bright.

Performance

Sony equips the Experia U with its own user interface atop the Gingerbread. Overall, the designers did well in terms of putting some eye candy into the equation without compromising the phone’s performance.

The reception is strong most of the time and the quality of calls are very good.

The refreshed music player of Sony has a very nice layout. It offers some options for its settings and equalizer. The phone supports AVI, 3GP, and MP4. The Bravia Engine specifically for the mobile platform improves the quality of picture. Clearly, this phone is built for watching your favorite movies.