Reservations

[rec]

I currently have a HTC Desire and am considering upgrading to an Xperia Arc S. I've read as many reviews and threads as I can and there are a number of things that are putting me off. If anyone could comment I would be very welcome

• Cracks in the case. I know this is an issue with the Arc but does the Arc S also suffer from this?
• Auto-brightness. Is it true that no auto-brightness settings exist with the stock ROM? I would miss this feature.
• Awkward camera shutter and power buttons. Do people find this to be much on an issue?
• Screen scratching easily? One review I read today claimed the screen scratches easily. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[roomaroo]

I've ordered an Xperia Arc S - it'll arrive on Monday so I might be able to give more help then.

I'll be interested in the auto-brightness issue. Maybe the setting is buried somewhere where the reviewers haven't found it, or maybe the phone just doesn't have a light sensor.

As for the camera button - a small awkward button is probably still better than no button, and the touchscreen can be used to take pictures if it's too bad. And the screen is Gorilla Glass, so will be pretty scratchproof.

 

[peterb23]

• Cracks in the case. I know this is an issue with the Arc but does the Arc S also suffer from this?
• Auto-brightness. Is it true that no auto-brightness settings exist with the stock ROM? I would miss this feature.
• Awkward camera shutter and power buttons. Do people find this to be much on an issue?
• Screen scratching easily? One review I read today claimed the screen scratches easily. Can anyone confirm this?

Only had the phone for a couple of days so it's probably too early to see any problems with cracks in the case or scratches on the screen. But I have ordered a case mate - barely there cover and some screen protectors.

Can't see a auto-brightness option in the settings but coming from a phone that didn't have this I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

Power and camera buttons are a little fiddly but only because they don't stick out too much. The power is almost flush with the case. After two days I'm having no trouble using the camera button or the volume buttons.

Overall I'm really liking the phone although I do have one issue - on my old HTC, when dialling, possible matches where displayed as I started typing in the number or name. I can't see a way to do this here. I have to go into the contact book.

 

[Sak01]

Overall I'm really liking the phone although I do have one issue - on my old HTC, when dialling, possible matches where displayed as I started typing in the number or name. I can't see a way to do this here. I have to go into the contact book.

You could download a different dialler like Touchpal Dialler or Go Contacts Ex. They both have that feature.

 

[peterb23]

You could download a different dialler like Touchpal Dialler or Go Contacts Ex. They both have that feature.

thanks. I actually downloaded a few dialers from the market just after posting my original message. Go Contacts EX works best for me.

 

[Sak01]

thanks. I actually downloaded a few dialers from the market just after posting my original message. Go dialer EX works best for me.

Good stuff. So how are you liking your phone now? Any pros/cons?

I should be able to get hold of 2 of these in a few days and I'm wondering whether to sell them both on or keep one and get rid of my Desire.

 

[peterb23]

Haven't come across anything I don't like yet

Coming from a HTC Hero where the camera was like something from Victorian days - "...just stay still while I take a photo..." - I can't get over the quality of the images.

I haven't tried the HDMI out yet but I'm loving the DNLA link up. My videos and photos beam straight onto my TV.

The only issue I have had is that sometimes when I click back to the home screen after playing a game it takes a millisecond for some of the icons to show. It's nothing major but something I haven't seen before.

I chose this phone over the Galaxy S2 and Sensation and I glad that I did. The design of the phone gives it a bit of personality that the others lack IMO. It's not trying to pretend it's an iPhone.

Overall, I'm very happy with it and if I get ICS on it before I upgrade in 12months then I'll be even happier

 

[Sak01]

The Desire camera is rubbish so that should be a big step up. But I don't take many pictures so I'll have to weigh that up.

Btw, you can get ICS earlier if you're rootin' and tootin' and you want it that badly

 

[josephniet]

It feels a little cheap to be honest, although that may just be due to my aversion to glossy black plastic It's not very ergonomic, feeling ever so slighty sharp in ones hand, though I'm sure this would be easily remedied by some sort of gel case.
The power button is indeed a little awkward to press, and the camera button, although easy to click down once to focus, requires quite a firm press to actually take the photo - not a huge deal as you can still tap the screen to take the photo.