Which Sony Ericsson Android phone had slide-out PlayStation-style controls?

The Sony Ericsson Android phone with slide-out PlayStation-style controls was the Xperia Play. Released in 2011, it was designed to combine a conventional touchscreen smartphone with a handheld gaming system. Sliding the display upward revealed a dedicated controller with a directional pad, PlayStation symbol buttons, shoulder buttons, and two touch-sensitive analog controls.

The Xperia Play ran Android 2.3 Gingerbread and became the first device in Sony’s PlayStation Certified program. That certification connected the phone to specially supported games and PlayStation titles, while compatible Android games could use its physical controls instead of relying entirely on touchscreen buttons. The design echoed Sony’s PSP Go, but the Xperia Play also functioned as a full Android phone.

A common mix-up is the Xperia Arc, which was later granted PlayStation certification but did not have the distinctive built-in sliding gamepad. Xperia Z and Xperia X10 were standard Xperia smartphones without this controller mechanism. The Xperia Play’s unusual hardware made it memorable, although limited game support and aging phone specifications kept the concept from becoming a lasting mainstream product category.