"Small" is the first thing that comes to mind when holding the X10 Mini. At 3.3 inches long by 2 inches wide by 0.6 inch deep, its size is more akin to a prepaid handset than a feature-packed Android smartphone. It's so small that it fits squarely in your hand and it could even get lost in a large bag. What's more, at 3.1 ounces, you might even forget that it's in your pocket.
Of course, the small body means that the display is equally minute. Though it has a rich resolution (16.7 million colors; 320x240 pixels), it measures just 2.5 inches. On a standard phone that's fine, but it's another story on a touch-screen handset where the display is the primary interface. It's convenient for scrolling through the menus and most basic features, but you use an alphanumeric keypad for dialing numbers and typing messages. We also found that other features like the Facebook app and the Timescape feature don't look their best on such a tiny display.
To be fair, we get what Sony Ericsson is trying to do here, and we respect its efforts to offer customers an Android handset that won't weigh them down. On the upside, the touch interface is quick and responsive, and Sony Ericsson manages to surface a lot of options up front. After several hours of use, however, we grew tired of pecking away at something smaller than a credit card. Also, because the accelerometer only works in select applications (mostly the media options), we weren't able to use the landscape orientation to its full advantage. We realize that you may feel differently, but the X10 Mini is just too small for us.
Below the display are physical controls for accessing the main menu, the home screen menu, and moving backward through a menu. On the right spine you'll find a volume rocker, and a camera shutter. They're a little thin for our tastes, but you can find the rocker when you're on a call. The power control sits on the top of the phone and the 3.5mm headset jack and Micro-USB charger port rest on the bottom. We thank Sony Ericsson for ditching its proprietary connections.
On the back of the phone are the camera lens and flash. They're in a convenient place as long as you remember to keep your fingers out of the way when snapping a photo. The microSD card slot is stashed behind the battery cover, but we realize that Sony Ericsson had few alternatives on such a small phone.
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10/4505-6452_7-33975959.html?tag=mncol;txt#reviewPage1
