Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V Review: Affordable Android Performance

Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V (MT11i): A 2011 Mid-Range Android Workhorse

The Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V (model MT11i) is a mid-range Android smartphone announced in August 2011 and released in October 2011. It is a cost – optimized variant of the original Xperia neo (MT15i), mainly differing in its camera specification—downgraded from 8.1MP to 5MP to hit a more affordable price point while retaining core multimedia and performance features of its predecessor. It was part of Sony Ericsson’s early Xperia lineup that targeted users seeking a balance of style, performance, and affordability in the pre – flagship – dominated Android era.

1. Core Overview & Key Identifiers

Item	Details
Brand & Model	Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V (MT11i)
Launch Timeline	Announced: August 25, 2011; Released: October 2011; Discontinued: 2012
Positioning	Mid – range Android smartphone (cost – reduced variant of Xperia neo)
Successors	Sony Xperia neo L, Sony Xperia sola
Original Price	Approximately 150 EUR (launch)
Color Options	White, Blue Gradient, Silver

2. Technical Specifications

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread); officially upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
CPU	1GHz single – core Scorpion
GPU	Adreno 205
Memory (RAM)	512MB LPDDR2 RAM
Storage	1GB internal (320MB user – available); microSDHC expandable up to 32GB (2GB card included in some regions)
Display	3.7 – inch LED – backlit LCD; FWVGA (480×854); 265 ppi; scratch – resistant glass; 16M colors
Dimensions & Weight	116×57×13 mm; 126g

Camera System

Component	Details
Rear Camera	5MP (down from Xperia neo’s 8.1MP); LED flash; autofocus; 720p video recording at 30fps; 16× digital zoom
Front Camera	0.3MP VGA (for video calls)
Camera Features	Geo – tagging, image stabilization, touch focus

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	1500mAh removable Li – Po; Talk time: up to 6.9 h (3G)/10 h (2G); Standby time: up to 430 h (3G)/400 h (2G)
Network	2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900); 3G (HSDPA 900/2100; HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps)
Connectivity	Wi – Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Micro HDMI (Type D); 3.5mm audio jack; GPS/GLONASS; ANT +
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass

Multimedia & Extras

Audio: MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC + player; TrackID music recognition; FM radio with RDS
Video: MP4/H.264/WMV player; HDMI output for 720p playback
Software Extras: Sony Ericsson UI overlay; Organizer; Document viewer; Voice memo/dial/commands

3. Core Innovations & Market Role

Cost – Effective Scaling: By reducing the rear camera resolution from 8.1MP to 5MP, Sony Ericsson offered a more affordable option while keeping key features like 720p video, the same display, and performance specs as the Xperia neo, making Android accessible to budget – conscious users.
Multimedia Focus: It retained the Xperia neo’s strong multimedia capabilities, such as HDMI output for HD video playback and TrackID music recognition, which were popular among media – focused users in 2011.
Early Android Affordability: Released when Android was still expanding its market share, the neo V provided a reliable mid – range alternative to higher – priced flagships, helping drive Android’s global adoption.

4. Legacy & Reception

The Xperia neo V was well – received for its balanced specs and competitive price. It served as a practical entry point into the Xperia ecosystem for users who didn’t need the flagship – level camera of the original Xperia neo. Its upgrade to Android 4.0 extended its usability, though its single – core processor and 512MB RAM became outdated quickly as Android advanced. Today, it is remembered as a representative mid – range Android device from the early 2010s, showcasing Sony Ericsson’s strategy of segmenting its Xperia lineup to cover different price tiers.