LAS VEGAS: Sony aims to get back on track in the mobile market with the launch of the Xperia S handset, a high-end device running the Android Gingerbread OS.

Sony has chosen a simple design, with the only distinguishing feature being a transparent stripe that runs along the bottom of the device. Three touch-sensitive buttons sit directly above this LED illuminated strip and, although it looks nice, we had to resist the urge to keep prodding it.

The standout feature on the handset is the 4.3in HD screen that boasts a 1280x720 resolution. It looks impressive and when we flicked through pictures and watched a HD video, the colour reproduction and playback were excellent.

The device is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 processor, with 1GB of RAM. We found responsiveness to be smooth, but the overlay that Sony has used could bring some lag with it during everyday use.

Other key features include a 12-megapixel, auto-focus camera with an Exmor sensor and 1080p video recording capabilities. Users are also able to take pictures directly from standby mode with a long press of the camera button.

The handset packs a 1,750mAh battery, but it remains to be seen if this is enough to provide reasonable uptime. Connectivity comes in the form of aGPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. The device is also NFC-enabled, which will come into its own when the infrastructure is in place.

We were disappointed that the device will ship with Android Gingerbread, but Sony confirmed that an update to Ice Cream Sandwich is expected in the first quarter.

It remains to be seen whether the device will carry the Sony branding or will be shipped with the Sony Ericsson moniker. The name change is subject to legal paperwork and it is likely that it will carry the current branding. There is no word yet on pricing either, but it is expected to be the same price as other high-end Android handsets.

BERLIN: V3 got some hands-on time with Sony's forthcoming Android tablets at the IFA show ahead of their launch in September.

Sony has been very secretive about the specifications, and this marks the first time that tablets running the Android Honeycomb operating system have been previewed. First up was iPad 2 rival the Sony Tablet S, which we were very impressed with.

The Tablet S comes with Android Honeycomb, so navigation was very familiar. The Apps menu is noticeably different from other Android devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but Sony hasn't overdone the customisation, which is good.

The Tablet S is a thing of beauty, but we were unsure about the asymmetric design when looking at the tablet from afar. However, any fears were allayed when we picked it up.

It is very comfortable to hold and, at 598g, it's one of the lightest tablets on the market considering the large screen size. We also liked the handy cover for the SD card and micro USB connections.

Some of the unique features include infra-red connectivity and the ability to 'throw' content onto other Sony devices. So you can simply swipe a finger up and throw a video onto a connected TV or transfer music to wireless speakers, for example. This worked really well during our hands-on and allows Sony to offer a connected ecosystem.

The 1GHz processor made browsing and general responsiveness comparable to the Motorola Xoom. On the basis of our first impressions, the Tablet S looks like a solid effort from Sony. The only stumbling block so far appears to be the £499 price tag.

Our impressions of the Tablet P were not as favourable. It has similar specifications to the Tablet S, but the dual screen is not to our liking. The form factor also felt rather bulky, although it weighs just 372g and outdoes its sister in terms of portability.

Web browsing was a rather fragmented experience and we see the Tablet P functioning primarily as a PSP-style device.

However, the price is going to put many potential buyers off. The Tablet P could come to market at over £500 and, from what we've seen so far, Sony could find it difficult to shift a significant number of units if this is not reduced.