Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

“We can’t help but like the Sony Ericsson Xperia active, given the multitude of accessories you get out of the box, not to mention the weatherproofing and pre-installed fitness apps. We even grew to like the protruding bottom as it houses the lanyard which we found ourselves using all the time. Unfortunately however, nothing saves the Xperia active’s call in-call speaker. It really is a shame and weighs heavily on our rating. If you intend to use a Bluetooth headset or the bundled headphones when making calls, you can buy the handset with confidence, if not however, bear in mind this is a great phone with a big niggle.”

“The Xperia Active is an interesting phone. We took too it pretty quickly, and while it isn't the sort of phone that we would probably buy, if you want something tough, water resistant and designed for workouts, then this is really an ideal phone. It's a little bit too expensive to replace an MP3 player, but if you take exercise seriously, it's the same price as a Motorola ACTV, for example, and offers you a full mobile phone too boot. So perhaps it could be a second phone for people who like specific tools for specific jobs. Do bear in mind though, that there is nothing here that you couldn't get on ANY android handset. The fitness app is free to all, via the market - although support for heart rate monitors is a nice extra, and one you don't get on many phones. Of course, monitoring your heart rate is singificantly less important to most people than tracking how much exercise they have done. Judging this phone as a phone though, and we're very happy with it. The battery is good enough, especially if you're a light user and the rugged design is good for those who are accident-prone. We just can't help but like it, to be honest.”

“The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is clearly pitched at sporty types looking for a phone that also makes a good running companion (the phone even comes packaged with an arm strap that contains a clear plastic wallet for the handset). If this is what you're after, it's a brilliant device. We submerged the phone completely in water, made calls on it, took pictures and recorded video, we really did give it every excuse to break down. If all you need it for is the occasional jog in the rain, go for it.”

“As the name suggests, this phone is part of Sony Ericsson's burgeoning Android line-up. It boasts Android 2.3 and the company's custom-made Timescape user interface, which not only gives it a unique look but also allows you to aggregate all of your social networking activity in one handy location. The software isn't the most interesting element here, though - what's more noteworthy is the super-resilient case design.”