[XPERIA X10 General] xdadevelopers1222:
Most consumer electronics have their 'make or break' window of opportunity during their launch period. That's when the marketing groups of the various companies start their advertising push and review units are sent out. If the reviews aren't good, people simply won't care about the product. Then as time goes on, no amount of additional advertising will prevent it from being forgotten about.

The X10 is a decent little smart phone. When it came out, it had some very competitive top-of-the-line features (1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 4" screen, good quality camera hardware, etc.). SE also touted its own UI and its custom applications (Timescape and Mediascape). Unfortunately, it was developed when Android 1.6 was around, and by the time it was released the competition was already moving forward with 2.1. The X10 simply could not compete when its software heart was a generation behind.

So most of the reviews tended to view the X10 as an average or mediocre smart phone. And with that, people didn't care about it.

But for those of us who thought the X10 had potential, I think we've all been rewarded for our faith. It's gone from a sluggish Android 1.6 device to a late but decent 2.1 workhorse and now to a winning 2.3 performer. Sony Ericsson listened to its customer base, and even though there were times it seemed like they would abandon the X10 and simply think of it as a 'learning experience,' they did the right thing and gave it just enough support to allow its former flagship to be sent off on a high note.

I bought my AT&T-branded X10a in the United States a few months after my girlfriend got the Sprint-branded HTC EVO 4G (HTC Supersonic elsewhere in the world). At the time, the EVO 4G got rave reviews and was considered by critics to be one of the very best. My X10 seemed to pale in comparison especially in performance. But with each SE update for the X10, things improved. Now with Android 2.3, the stock generic X10 build actually outperforms the latest stock Sprint-released HTC 2.3 update for the EVO 4G. For example, in Quadrant (if you care about such benchmarks) the X10 now consistently scores around the 1200 mark. Stock EVO 4Gs used to get scores like that when it was launched and when it ran 2.2 Froyo. But lately I've been reading a lot (and even tested my girlfriend's EVO to confirm) that the HTC 2.3 update has caused drops in benchmark performance where scores in the 900 to 1000 range are not uncommon.

The EVO 4G also has a 1GHz CPU, the Andreno 200 GPU, and a 8MP rear camera. I used to be jealous of its performance when I compared it to my X10. But now - with the exception of the EVO's 4G capabilities and front-facing camera - I think the X10 is better. We may not get multi-touch, or 16-million colors, or no FPS cap, but with our stock build, SE has given us useful features such as fully working and non-carrier-locked USB tethering and WiFi hotspot, streamlined custom user interface, and minimal bloatware. The phone may not be perfect, but given what the X10 is SE has, in essence, transformed the phone from an awkward ugly duckling to a capable graceful swan.

I look forward to using my X10 for quite a long time to come.