XPERIA X1 vs. Touch Pro: Comparing Keyboards

[Brandon Miniman]

Next up in our comparison series of the Touch Pro and XPERIA X1 is a look at the keyboards. We'll focus on layout and key offering, feel, and overall experience.

We'll start with layout. The X1 has a 4-row keyboard with an oversized spacebar. To access the numbers, you must hold down the blue button in the bottom left corner. In terms of shortcuts, you get a Start menu button, a shortcut for symbols, and an "OK". If we look at the Touch Pro, it has a 5-row keyboard with a dedicated number row, which is a rare and welcomed addition. It doesn't have a Start menu or "OK" key, but does have shorcuts for Outlook Mobile, Opera Mobile, Communications Manager, and SMS/MMS. It also includes a CTRL key that you can use for shortcuts like CTRL+X, C, B, I, A, and P to do cut, copy, bold, italics, select all, and paste, respectively (the X1 lacks a CTRL key). Finally, the Touch Pro keyboard has indicator lights for CAPS and FN, while the X1 does not. It terms of layout and key offering, the Touch Pro beats the X1.

"Feel" is very important, and of course, it's a bit subjective. A good-feeling keyboard can increase your typing speed and decrease errors. That said, I find that the keys on the X1 are too flat and spaced apart, making it difficult to feel for the next key. The Touch Pro's isn't perfect either on this front - the keys are smaller than they are on the X1, and have less than a millimeter of space between them. Also, I find the spacebar on the Touch Pro to be way undersized - which is a big deal considering how often it gets used. But, if I had to choose the better feeling keyboard, it would be the Touch Pro - the keys seem to require a lighter touch, which makes me type faster.

And finally, let's talk about experience. A good keyboard experience is one where the keyboard enthusiastically slides out with just the right amount of spring assist; the keys on the keyboard exude enough of a "click" sound to be satisfying and to let you know that you've hit a key, but not loud enough to annoy people around you; and lastly, the keyboard must be aesthetically pleasing if you're going to be looking at it many times per day. Which brings the best experience? The X1. The arc slider actions feels smoother than the slider of the Touch Pro, the keys make a more pronounced "click" when you press them, and the keyboard has a unique and modern design.

In summary, if you want the most robust keyboard - the Touch Pro beats the heck out of the X1. The number of keys and shortcuts is pretty staggering. But, if you want the best overall keyboard experience, the X1 wins.

Be sure to check out XPERIA X1 vs. Touch Pro: Comparing Screens.

[Candy_girl2008]

Good compare.Both of them are great phone.But to me,i like TP.X1 have a great screen,it win because Sony have a lot of experience (about PC,TV,Game,Camera...).HTC just a master of Window Mobile Phone.TP and X1 have the same Window Mobile by HTC,that why they have same application and difference because X1 have a panel,may be it look beautiful more than TouchFlo 3D,but it have alot of steps.TouchFlo 3D very simlpe and faster,that why it very easy to use.A lot of people try to hack it and use it on their phone.
One more thing about X1 win TP because Sony delay X1 to long (1 year),the first X1 very slow,that why they make it better before it coming out.Think about if HTC do the same thing like Sony,may be TP will not lose X1.

I really would like to know which one of those 2 devices are faster.
Tim

[Brandon Miniman]

Originally Posted by TIM

I really would like to know which one of those 2 devices are faster.
Tim

Speed comparison is coming up soon =D.

[bluetoof]

Originally Posted by Brandon Miniman

Speed comparison is coming up soon =D.

I have a feeling I know which one it is...

Perhaps some of these comparisons could also be done by other staffers since Brandon's bias is so obvious, with some good reasons, but perhaps too convinced of his preferences.

From the keyboard operation i understand that both devices got a point, right?
I like the Touch Pro plus the keyboard and the Touch Flow 3D very much BUT the screen is too smal. So i might change to the xperia (subject the feeling of the screen is much bigger and have the same speed) and install the Touch Flow 3 D programm on it, or might wait for the HTC HD Pro (a model which is only a rumour till now).

[BTM84]

I have to echo Unregistered's comments. These comparisons seem awfully tilted. And that's not necessarily a bad thing - you like what you like - but every other write-up I've read pegs the X1's keyboard as its weakness. The way you conclude this entry implies that the keyboard issue is a wash and that conflicts with every other report I've read.

I think both phones are cool!
But in terms of usage I think X1 rox!