QUICK LOOK

• The very first PlayStation-enabled phone
• Runs on latest Android operating system (Gingerbread)
• 5MP camera
• Slide out phone with PlayStation controller

When reviewing the Xperia PLAY, I found it difficult to be impartial. Having been a happy iPhone owner for nearly a year, I was biased, assuming that there was no phone that could measure up to my beloved Apple. Yet, the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY surprised me. 

At first glance, it looks very similar to the other phones in the current Xperia range of smartphones. It is beautifully crafted, offering an aesthetically pleasing shell that belies the fun inside. The phone is available in black and white, and both colours show off its stylish design. The slide out ‘keyboard’ was quite a delight. As an owner of a Sony PSP, I was happy to see the correlation between the gaming console and this phone. With a D pad, two thumbsticks and shoulder buttons on either side of the keyboard (or should that be console board?), this phone is true to its claim of being the first PlayStation phone.

After tearing my eyes away from the impressive design, I made time in my busy schedule (of PC and Wii gaming) to really get to know the PLAY intimately. And I was not disappointed. Of course, my first point of call was the games, and I found that some of favourites were installed, such as Crash Bandicoot and the Sims 3.

Though Crash Bandicoot had the same platforming functionality I remember, the Sims 3 was a little disappointing because of the limited gameplay offered on the phone. However, I also had my choice of games to download from the Android app store (a big winner for me). Instantly I saw myself sitting in doctor’s offices or waiting in queues at the bank, playing my PLAY games... I was also impressed by the high quality graphics, something I really hadn’t expected on first contact with the phone.

There really are 1000s of cool games available for download on Android market but quite a few of these titles (over 100 and more to come) have specially optimised for the Xperia PLAY.

As for the other elements of the phone, I was pretty impressed by the functionality. It is a phone that is intuitive and easy to use, and sports a 5 megapixel camera, social media connections and all of the other apps I have come to expect from the Xperia range of phones (this being the third Xperia I have had the chance to play with, pardon the pun). 

What I really liked were the customisable corners, which allow you to select and move the apps you use most to the four corners of the screen, allowing you easy and instant access to them. Read more about the other features of this smartphone here.

When considering whether or not I would actually buy this phone, I had to weigh it up against my iPhone. Sadly for the PLAY, I found that I could get just as many games, with exceptional graphics and great sound on my iPhone. Even though the iPhone is not a slide out device, it adapts itself to the game I’m playing.

Of course, the target audiences for these two phones are not the same and while the iPhone may suit those with a lot of bucks to blow, the PLAY comes in at a cost that is relatively affordable for the average Jane on the street. The Xperia PLAY also has exclusive PlayStation titles and when backed by superb stereo sound and multi-player support, it becomes a must for gaming girls.

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The Xperia PLAY is a smart and small phone that offers you a gaming console, social media hub and communication device all in one. All in all, a very good buy.

Turn ons

• It’s a phone, it’s a gaming console – what’s not to love?
• Great graphics and sound
• Lots of games available, for free or low cost, from the Android Market
• Stylish, sleek, light and easy to fit into your pocket or handbag
• Relatively low cost

Turn offs

• Though the cost isn’t too high, it’s not so low that the younger market, which typically plays console games, could afford it
• You cannot add apps into folders, so as you download more and more, you have to scroll through many pages to get to them
• Some of the games available are VERY expensive, and not worth the download 

Price: R3599.99