The chubby, soapy-shaped Xperia won’t be winning any design contests this season, but it feels solid and sturdy in the hand. It is quite thick and light, which, coupled with the soft-touch plastic on the back, makes it easy to grab and hold, though the 10.8mm chassis girth might be a turnoff.
The back panel, which encompasses the sides of the phone, is removable, but the battery is, sadly, non-replaceable.
The power/lock key, and the volume rocker on the right, offer deep tactile feedback, but the power key feels a bit wobbly under your thumb when you play around with it, as it’s actually a part of the removable rear casing.