Neo is the One

Most people are looking at Android as the ultimate contender for iOS. Samsung got real close with Galaxy S but it just isn't good looking enough while its successor S2 is too big for many people's liking. I keep looking at Sony Ericsson Neo. It is not a flagship but consider this. It's about the same size as the iPhone 4 but with a slightly bigger screen. That's a Bravia powered 3.7" screen to match iPhone 3.5" Retina display. On top of that , it's a really good looking phone too.
Android Gingerbread, and looking good

Sony Ericsson's current range of Xperia is built on two selling points. The aforementioned Bravia and also the Exmor R backlit camera. Both of these features are imported from Sony's range of LCD TV and digital camera. The latter promises better low light photography and with the Neo, we got it in a pleasing 8MP resolution. An upcoming update will also enable the camera to shoot in 3D panorama which is brilliant when you think of the mechanism to make that possible.

As with high-end Android, the Neo again better the iPhone with Flash support and a wider range of connectivity. With its graphic assisted 1GHz processor, everything runs smoothly on the Neo with fluidity comparable to the iPhone 4. In fact, the isn't any one major aspect I can think of that the iPhone 4 can claim to be significantly better than the Neo. Hardware wise, it pretty much do everything an iPhone can, plus the Android advantage of things the iPhone can't.

This would be my choice of the iPhone alternate but for one problem - it's not officially available in Malaysia. Production of this phone was disrupted by the double disaster in Japan and Malaysia is one of the country that won't get it. That is pretty much confirmed with the already availability of the much newer Ray in the local market (Why, Sony?). But all is not lost and this post is not a waste of time after all as Sony already planned to release the Xperia Neo V which is basically the same phone but with a lower 5MP camera (and hopefully lower price). That sounded like a downgrade until you see how gorgeous it looks in white, which isn't available for the original Neo.
Gorgeous in white

The Neo is desirable, something many other high performance smart phone is not able to achieve. If you really must have it and don't mind the risk of purchasing an AP unit, you can get it at around RM1100. Otherwise, just wait for the Neo V.