The Sony Xperia S is the latest in the rather comprehensive Xperia range, and the first to remove the 'Ericsson' branding of previous handsets. Recently released, it is already turning a lot of heads in the smartphone world. This is thanks to a combination of appealing styling and a hi-tech list of features.

In this article I will look at some of the key features which make this such an appealing handset.

Aesthetics
Previous releases from the Xperia range like the Xperia Arc S and Xperia Ray have been arguably among the best looking smartphones to be released in recent months. The Xperia S continues this trend. The handset oozes class; it has the classic 'candy bar' form factor with a somewhat minimalist style. The screen merges seamlessly with the black edges of the phone, so when the phone is turned off or the screen is locked it is hard to separate the screen from the rest of the phone. If you are looking for an elegantly styled smartphone, the Sony Xperia S is definitely worthy of a place on your shortlist of potential handsets.

Camera
One of the most publicized features of this device is the built-in digital camera. It is the first smartphone since the Nokia N8 to boast a camera resolution of 12 megapixels. Therefore, you can expect still images with quality which can be matched by very few other smartphones currently available. Of course, with such a high pixel resolution comes the ability to capture video footage in 1080p which is full high-definition. The camera goes beyond the standard functions of simply shooting videos and taking photos; there is a panoramic shot feature which replicates the effect of using a wide-angle lens on a professional quality camera. As you would probably expect the camera also has the standard package of features which make life that little bit easier when trying to take quality photos. Autofocus, image stabilization and face & smile detection can all be set to automatic so you are likely to achieve the desired results first time. As a camera phone, the Sony Xperia S is among the best. If this is an important feature for you, then this handset is likely to be an ideal choice.

Screen
The all around quality of the spec list lasts with the screen. The LED backlit LCD capacitive screen is similar to that of the iPhone 4S with its retina display in terms of the technology used. However there is a major difference between these two phones and this is in its pixel resolution. The Sony Xperia S can claim to be one of the few smartphones with a higher resolution than that of the popular Apple device and its retina display. At 720x 1280, the resolution of the screen makes everything on the screen appear in ultra high quality; ideal for playing games downloaded from the Android Market or watching high-definition movies, the screen usually makes more mundane tasks enjoyable, like composing text or email messages or browsing the web.

The device currently runs the Gingerbread version of the Android operating system but it has been confirmed that the phone will support an upgrade to the Ice Cream Sandwich version upon its imminent release. Therefore, you can expect the ultimate smartphone experience thanks to the most up to date version of the popular platform along with some of the most impressive hardware currently available on any smartphone.