Update: We've now published our full Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review - check out the new Gingerbread mid-range marvel.

If you cast your minds back to the murky depth of Christmas, you'll recall TechRadar brought you word of two new phones on their way - the Sony Ericsson Anzu and Hallon.

The former has emerged as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, but the latter one was a mystery - only the fact it was a reboot of the Vivaz form factor was available as a clue to what it would be.

But you can rely on TechRadar to come up with the goods - and we've got you an early hands on Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review to take a look at.

The phone shares very few similarities with the original Vivaz - only the form factor and key arrangement remain to help you see any evolution in the line.

Unlike the Xperia Arc, the 'human curvature' form factor remains here - the back is rounded to make it easier to hold in the hand, although whether you'll agree remains to be seen.

The phone itself looks pretty good - it sits well in the hand, has a semi-anodised finish and the key arrangement at the front is easy to access with a single digit.

On the top we're treated to the usual gubbins - a proximity and light sensor, the ear piece and a whopping great front facing camera.

We weren't able to get the specs of this sensor, but in quick tests it seems to be better quality than the average VGA hardware bolted onto most phones these days.

The other phone furniture is nicely arranged too - the lock/power key is on the right-hand side and is within easy reach of your thumb, despite the large 4-inch screen.

Similarly, so is the volume key below it - we're talking a lot of length here, but it's still relatively easy to hit when holding it to your ear.

And we're glad Sony Ericsson is sticking to its roots with this one - a camera shutter key is provided for good measure. We were starting to worry this key was becoming extinct on Android phones.

Talking of the camera, it's an 8.1MP sensor on offer here, with a single LED flash. The latter hardware is bright and powerful, and the relatively central positioning of the camera sensor makes photo taking seem natural and easy, much like dedicated compacts.

Sony Ericsson's build quality has always been pretty standard, and that's the case again here, with the plastic and chrome-esque covering making a sturdy-feeling device. The top of the phone houses three ports: one for microUSB connection and charging, the large and well-placed 3.5mm headphone jack and the mini-HDMI out connection.

We're not sure if the latter port will come with a cable in the box, but we certainly hope so - it would be a real plus point if you were able to stream your HD movies straight to a TV.

Under the battery hood is a relatively straightforward affair: we're talking large battery (although the final size of this has yet to be confirmed) and a hot-swappable microSD card.

The width of the phone, with the bulging back, isn't too bad either - we measured it at around 11-12mm, and it didn't feel too thick in the hand, although phones like the Xperia Arc and the LG Optimus Black feel significantly thinner.