Sony Ericsson outs Xperia X10 mini and Xperia X10 mini pro

We'd heard a few whispers of Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 mini, but frankly, the X10 mini pro here comes as a bit of a surprise. The sets are nearly identical with the exception of launch colors -- the mini will ship in black, pearl white, lime, pink, red and silver, while the mini pro features just black and red -- a minuscule size difference, and the pro packing a QWERTY keyboard. The X10 twins run Android 1.6 (though with the time to market gap we've come to expect from SE this could change) on a 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 and will ship in both North American and global 3G variants with quad-band EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a pack-in 2GB microSD card. As far as OS tweaks are concerned, Sony Ericsson's Timescape is being touted as a major feature that enables all your communications with contacts to be accessed in one place making it simple to access to call history, Facebook, Twitter, messaging, and the like. Four-corner control also gets a mention and is basically user-customizable shortcut icons placed -- not surprisingly -- in each corner of the device's 2.5-inch QVGA touchscreen display. Both phones' launch dates are set for sometime in Q2 this year.

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Get Compact and Clever with Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini and Xperia™ X10 mini pro

• Sony Ericsson grows its family of Communication Entertainment phones with compact versions of Xperia™ X10 for the first half of 2010
• Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro define a new user experience - ultra-compact - whilst still offering best-in-class communication entertainment performance
• Smaller than a credit card, smart and unique with Sony Ericsson Timescape™ application and an intuitive 4 corner touch screen user interface

February 14, 2010 - Barcelona – Today sees the announcement of Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro, compact versions of Xperia™ X10, which will deliver powerful and application packed mobile phones into the industry. By introducing mobile phones that are both compact and clever, Sony Ericsson is challenging the norm and defining a brand new offering that combines high specification features with a version of Sony Ericsson's powerful UX platform specifically designed for smaller devices.

Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro with slide out QWERTY keyboard offer an open and intuitive communication entertainment experience and build on the human curvature design philosophy debuted by the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10. Combining the Android platform with signature applications and a customisable UX platform, communication truly becomes entertainment with these new mobile phones. To enhance the experience, pick and choose from a multitude of applications at Android Market™ and co-create a mobile phone experience that is entirely unique. Users can go one step further and customise the home screen's four corners and widgets to access the most needed applications for limitless possibilities.

The two sister mobile phones incorporate the signature application Sony Ericsson Timescape™ which brings all communication together in one place so users can see at a glance text messages, missed calls, and Facebook™ and Twitter updates, without having to open lots of different applications. The interactive music player also uses the "infinite button" to pull together all music content from the music store and YouTube™ – a smart way to search for new tracks from a favourite artist.

"There has been an enormous buzz around Xperia™ X10 so it is really exciting to be already unveiling compact versions of this powerful proposition." Said Rikko Sakaguchi, EVP and Chief Creation Officer, Sony Ericsson. "With the X10 mini and X10 mini pro we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with smaller devices and are giving consumers exactly what they want; two high performance mobile phones with a fully customisable user experience platform and a stunning ultra-compact design."
Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro

• Sony Ericsson Timescape™ - brings together all communication in one place
• Four corner control – applications, calls, web, the consumer decides. Four customisable icons for ultimate control
• 5 megapixel camera and video - share creations via the web
• Music player links to music stores and YouTube™ - access the world of music
• Android platform - with Google™ services and Android Market™
• QWERTY keyboard - slide and text for quick and easy messaging (Xperia™ X10 mini pro only)

X10 mini and X10 mini pro supports HSPA 900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA 850/1900/2100 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.

The X10 mini will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Pearl White, Black, Pink, Lime, Red and Silver
The X10 mini pro will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Black and Red.

Sony Ericsson is also introducing the Portable Stereo Speakers MS450, to deliver rich on-the-go sound and the Hi-Fi Headset MH810 with remote with superior audio and remote media and call handling.

Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro

Camera
5 megapixel camera
Auto focus
Geo tagging
Photo and video light
Sony Ericsson Album application
Video recording

Music
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music player
PlayNow™
TrackID™

Web
Bookmarks
Pan and zoom
WebKit web browser

Communication
Sony Ericsson Timescape™ with...
- Facebook™ status updates, friend's photo, inbox messages and friend requests
- tweets, replies and direct messages from people you follow on Twitter™
- incoming text and picture messages
- missed calls

Messaging
Email
Instant messaging
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®
Picture messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Text messaging (SMS)

Design
Auto rotate
Full slide out keyboard (X10 mini pro only)
Picture wallpaper
Touchscreen

Entertainment
Infinite button
Quadrapop game
Sony Ericsson FM radio
Video player
Video streaming

Organiser
Calendar
Flight mode
Phone book with dialer
Sony Ericsson Home with widget
Tasks

Location-based services
A-GPS
Google Maps™
Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation* (free trial version)

Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack
Bluetooth™ technology
Micro USB connector
NeoReader® barcode scanning app
Sony Ericsson Sync
USB mass storage support
USB support
Wi-Fi™
Google™ Services
Android Market™
Gmail™
Google Maps™ with Street View
Google Search Widget
Google Talk™
Google Voice Search™**** The Google Voice Search service is not available in all markets
YouTube™

Screen
16,777,216 colour TFT touchscreen
2.55 inches
240 x 320 pixels (QVGA)
Scratch-resistant

Accessories
In-Box:

• Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini/ Xperia™ X10 mini pro with battery
• Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer
• Stereo portable handsfree
• 2GB microSD™ memory card
• User documentation

Optional:

• Portable Stereo Speakers MS450
• Hi-Fi Headset with Remote MH810

Facts
Xperia™ X10 mini:
Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
Weight: 88 grams
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
Memory card included: 2GB
Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
Size: 90 x 52 x 17 mm
Weight: 120 grams
Phone memory: Up to 128MB
Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
Memory card included: 2GB
Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs
Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs
Availability and versions
Networks

UMTS HSPA 900/2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
Available in selected markets in Q2 2010

Colour
Xperia™ X10 mini:
Black
Pearl White
Lime
Pink
Red
Silver
Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
Black
Red

[jdmbo1 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:06PM]

Knowing Sony, Q2 2010 will end up being Q2 2012

[BGates Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:22PM]

@jdmbo1
unfortunately...

[MrPotK Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:40PM]

@jdmbo1 They said their phone are make-believe.

[Brent1700 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:55PM]

@MrPotK lol. No seriously, I laughed out loud

[maryannewhalers Posted Feb 17th 2010 11:46AM]

@jdmbo1 The X10 mini pro’s keyboard is certainly compact, but Sony Ericsson have sensibly avoided cluttering it up with extraneous button rows and so it’s actually pretty reasonable for thumbing out text messages and emails.

Text entry on the keyboardless X10 mini is a little less slick, with Sony Ericsson’s concession to display size being a T9-style layout rather than a full on-screen QWERTY. More: http://bit.ly/sony-ericsson--xperia-x10mini-mini-pro-view

[huh Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:08PM]

Nice. Too bad about QVGA though, and the processor is going to be a bit feeble for some uses.

[coolius Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:12PM]

@huh
Agreed, QVGA means its a no-no for me, after having my WVGA X1 for a year there is no going back!

[JRKScope Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:43PM]

@coolius
Cant imagine WVGA on such a tiny screen. I think the NHD res (640 * 360) might have been better

[jmposvip Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:34PM]

@huh it's gonna be cheap so you can't expect a HD display

[jmposvip Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:38PM]

@coolius your a X1 user so this phone is not for you,go and buy a X2 or wait for the X3

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:10PM]

I don't care what she says, size matters.

[Fubukiii Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:11PM]

I want the mini with the keybord ... And i want to know the prices :/

[Brent1700 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:11PM]

Well hello my next phone if WM7 turns out to be shit :)

[Kirtay Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:28PM]

@Brent1700

*WP7S

[RockNStuff Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:11PM]

Finally, we get keychain phones!

[TheLostSwede Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:13PM]

Can we please stop with QVGA screens already?

[dansus Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:17PM]

Too little to late for me to get interested but this will no doubt sell well in Asia.

[JONNNathannn Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:17PM]

I want this.

In lime.

NOW.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:20PM]

From the PC:
"Another good question regarding Google's direct retailing of devices. Bert says that Google approached them about the idea of selling a device through its store, but they declined because 'we're not an ODM.' "

Oh, Sony and your over-inflated self-opinion...

More than likely Google said they'd have to ship with the latest version of Android without Rachael on top and Sony shat all over that notion.

[Ryan1000000 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:23PM]

so, no vivaz mini? vivaz pro? X10 pro?

[Ryan1000000 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:24PM]

sry they did release a vivaz pro. meant to say vivaz mini pro.

[blogwhitesitescom Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:26PM]

2.5" Screen?
I hope this isn't Sony's Answer to the HD2

[jmposvip Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:46PM]

@blogwhitesitescom obviously not,these phones are for the low-middle class market (teenagers),that's why they will be available in so many colors,X10 is the answer for the HD2

[Kirtay Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:27PM]

Has anyone discerned the thickness of the normal and the Pro?
Can't seem to find it.

[xim Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:39PM]

@Kirtay
From the press release:
Xperia™ X10 mini:
Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
Size: 90 x 52 x 17 mm

[Abhi9 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:41PM]

With others moving towards larger screens, it might be a good tactic to provide a smaller version of smartphone to avoid competition and lure users coming from Non-Smartphone background who don't want geeky-looking handsets.

SE needs to hit the nail in the head by keeping the pricing low and sticking to their promised launch schedule.

[Mustafa Posted Feb 14th 2010 4:45PM]

@Abhi9
Seeing some preview videos the X10mini IS small. I really hope this works for them because the concept of small is actually quite nice and seeing they're the only ones doing this let's hope they start a successful trend.

[felixf Posted Feb 15th 2010 2:22PM]

@Mustafa agreed!

[pika2000 Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:44PM]

Heh, okay, whatever SE, just make sure you ship in in time, not next year (or whenever Duke Nukem Forever is released). Seems to be a good competitor for the Cliq, and hopefully SE sells these for cheap.

[marmota Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:45PM]

Sarah Jones is hot.

[ngko Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:49PM]

Don't really like Android but the one with Qwerty may put me in the game.

[Santos Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:51PM]

I have played around with a Mini, it is a real cool phone and fast ass hell!
I will probably buy one because of the size... Nice one SE

[mnotme Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:53PM]

Pre-order price (unlocked) in Sweden: X10 mini 319€, X10 mini pro 349€.

[mnotme Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:57PM]

@mnotme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7XLvXKtsoM

[mnotme Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:41PM]

@mnotme

Hands on video...looks quite nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I3AORUOZlk

[Khattab Posted Feb 14th 2010 2:57PM]

Video-time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7XLvXKtsoM&feature=youtu.be&a

Both look hot and fast. If Android 2.1 finds its way on both, we could have a winning combination (QVGA doesn't really suck at this size)

[Appl Posted Feb 14th 2010 5:12PM]

@Khattab Ok, that wasn't what I was expecting at all. Props to SE.

[pika2000 Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:00PM]

Wait a minute. Only 128MB of RAM? That's even less than the myTouch 3G. Even the Cliq has 256MB RAM. WTF SE? Fail. *sigh I guess I'll wait for the HTC Legend then.

[ChazClout Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:22PM]

@pika2000
I think the 128MB is what is currently used for app storage and not system RAM.

At least I hope so!

[Mustafa Posted Feb 14th 2010 4:49PM]

@pika2000
No, I believe that is built in storage. SE have never really caught the multi GB built in memory bug unfortunately.

[jcroscigno Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:01PM]

They finally realized that the Sony Mylo would make a great phone given the right feature set - and thus they x10 mini pro.

[dcoke Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:18PM]

did I read that correctly? did it say micro sd, none of that stupid proprietary bullshit? Oh thank god I think sony is finally going to put their over priced memory card to rest, Here's hoping. I feel really good now about the second gneration of the PSP (PSP2).

[Luxury Guy Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:47PM]

@dcoke That is old old news man. The Sony Xperia series has been coming with microSD slots since the X1 announced like a year and a half ago.

[Law Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:33PM]

This thing is Going to Kill it. They will be everywhere.

[TareG Posted Feb 14th 2010 3:39PM]

Hopefully my grandchildren will get this in their lifetime.

On the other hand, why make a qwerty version of the lo-end version, as opposed to an Xperia X10 pro? It would have been THE perfect Android for me.

[Xstream Posted Feb 14th 2010 4:34PM]

@TareG yes, let's hope there will be a x10 pro

[x15 Posted Feb 14th 2010 4:00PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I3AORUOZlk

[Luxury Guy Posted Feb 14th 2010 4:05PM]

Wow, these are cool and FAST, and if they are marketed cheaply enough, they'll be stealing away a lot of the dumb-phone crowd. But I still want my real X10 that's been "in development" or in-holding... with Sony, who knows.

[corduroy Posted Feb 14th 2010 5:01PM]

so i really like this, especially since this is a smaller smartphone. Bigger screens are nice and all, but I don't want to feel like I'm carrying around a brick (reason why I haven't purchased an N900 unfortunately).

However, QVGA? I thought Android was limited to 480x320. Besides Android, it doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to move from my N85...

[Patlex Posted Feb 14th 2010 5:13PM]

After using the "spacious" 3.2in screen on my Eris, 2.4in screen on my Treo 700w look cramped a bit, heck even the 2.8in screen on my Samsung i760 looks a bit cramped also.

Sony should have at least gone with HVGA res, because if they are gonna go QVGA they should at least price it closer to the resistive screen HTC Tattoo.