Sony Ericsson XPERIA mini pro Review

The small screen of the Xperia Mini Pro is not the best to browse the Internet or watch videos on, but that aside, this is a fantastic little phone that packs a mighty punch and whose keyboard is a pleasure to use despite its dinky size. Wired weren't so happy about its poor battery life, though, but praised Sony Ericsson's user interface for making the most out of the tiny screen.

FiveFwd declared the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro to be a fantastic device for the more budget conscious. It not only has a very attractive compact form, but also a keyboard, which makes it more comfortable for typing longer emails and messages. One drawback of the smaller screen though is its reduced suitability for watching movies on.

T3 deem the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro a surprisingly powerful model in a pocket-sized package. Highlights include the manageable user interface and decent battery life. The main disadvantage to this model is the camera which is relatively low quality. On the whole, the Xperia Mini Pro is perfect for those who prefer smartphones with a physical keyboard.

Although Sony Ericsson devices are often hit or miss, IT Reviews was quite impressed by the Xperia Mini Pro. It is small, if not a bit bulky and while the slide-out keyboard functions better than the on-screen keyboard, it seems to be designed for those with smaller hands. The swift processor and user-friendly interface will win buyers over.

"Budget Buy"

The main appeal of the Sony Ericsson Mini Pro is its perfectly-sized keyboard which is incredibly user-friendly. Although screen resolution is low, images are clear and text is easy to read. Sadly, most of the pre-installed apps are useless. The reasonable price and decent camera did however earn the Expert Reviews 'Budget Buy' award.

Indeed, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro's QWERTY keyboard features decent functionality, however it's limited by its small size, says TechRadar, whose reviewers said that you'll end up using your fingernails to type on it. Fortunately, they were happy with its user interface and web browser, as well as its nicely integrated Facebook feature and Flash player support.

Value for money: "excellent" (6 out of 6 stars), "Recommended"

PC Pro considered the Xperia mini pro to be a great improvement over the already well liked X10, and yet Sony Ericsson have kept the price quite low. It is faster than the similarly priced HTC Wildfire S but also includes a very good qwerty keyboard and more up-to-date Android version. This superb little phone offers great performance, only the camera really lets it down.

Mobile Phones UK liked Sony's Xperia Mini Pro and considered the qwerty keyboard to be a convenient option. It is a powerful phone that will be well suited to using Facebook or sending messages when out and about, while still being smaller than most other smartphones. The battery life may hinder it though, and the weight may also be a deterrent for some people.

If you want an Android phone that sports small dimensions and the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard, then you'll be delighted by the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro, says Know Your Mobile. While they note that its size can make some tasks a bit trickier, it still provides top-notch performance and a keyboard that's surprisingly easy to use.

Pocket-lint were pleased to find that Sony Ericsson had put right a few wrongs with the Xperia Mini Pro. It's fun, affordable, and with the help of a great keyboard, they say it's one of the best small-size QWERTY handsets available. It did well with everyday Android tasks and the camera is impressive, but it's a bit chunky to be really mini and it'll be a bit too plasticky for some.

Considering the compact size of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro, Electric Pig thought it held an incredible amount of power. Gaming options are limited by the resolution, and this smartphone has a somewhat stumpy appearance, but it would still make a good alternative to the Blackberry devices for messaging, thanks to its superb keyboard.

If you don't mind the limitations that such a small screen entails, you could do much worse than the Xperia Mini Pro, reckon Mobile Choice. It's speedy, very well built and feels great in the hand if a bit chunky, while on the software front, Android 2.3 and Sony Ericsson's own 'hot corners' feature help create a fantastic user experience.

Going by first impressions, CNet think Sony Ericsson's Xperia Mini Pro might turn out to be a good option for those wanting a handset that's not too bulky but sports a slide-out keyboard. They were impressed by how small it was while still retaining a surprisingly roomy QWERTY keyboard and a fair-sized screen, although some may find it a tad too dinky. The software looks promising too.