With a slide-out game pad, 5.1-megapixel camera, 4-inch touchscreen and Android 2.3 Gingerbread running the show, the Play is a kingly device on paper.
But, in practice, it's a jack of all trades, and master of none. It's not as slick as rival smart phones, nor as engaging and usable as a portable console. Hampered by confusing software, it's hard to recommend the Play over its more competent rivals.
The Play will be available on a contract from about £30 per month when it hits shop shelves in April. It's also available SIM-free now for between £375 and £500.
Come out and Play
The Play's headline feature is its slide-out game pad. It slips out from beneath the screen just like the Qwerty keyboard on plenty of other smart phones.
There are direction buttons on the left of the game pad, while the four iconic PlayStation buttons -- square, triangle, circle and cross -- sit on the right-hand side. Two touch-sensitive pads reside in the centre, and there's a couple of shoulder buttons on the back of the phone as well, which your fingers can rest on during gaming sessions. Start and select keys complete the line-up.
