Several smartphones are marketed as being designed with gamers in mind, but the simple truth is that these claims are heavily exaggerated. While many phones allow for gaming in some capacity, they just don't cater to the specific needs of gamers. In fact, it would be accurate to say that there's only one smartphone on the market right now that truly puts gamers first. If you haven't already picked up a Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY 4G, here are ten reasons you'll want to.

10. Social Networking

Let's face it. Social networking has become a huge part of everyday life. We want to stay connected with the people we care about, and social networks allow us to do that. The Xperia™ PLAY 4G from AT&T keeps its users in the loop even on the go with Facebook Inside Xperia, a suite of Facebook functions integrated into various applications, such as a "like" button in the music player and photo tags in the media gallery. There's also Twitter support, as well as support for several other social networking sites via Android Market. You won't be left in the dark with the Xperia™ PLAY 4G.

9. Design

The Xperia™ PLAY 4G is no slouch in the looks department. At first glance, it's definitely on par with traditional smartphones. And at just the slide of the screen, it quickly transforms into a slick handheld gaming device.

Borrowing from the PSPGo, the Xperia™ PLAY will fit comfortably in your hands. The biggest difference between the layouts of the PSPGo and Xperia™ PLAY are the thumb pads in the middle, which operate as control sticks for the best FPS experience you could ask for on a phone.

The button layout should be instantly familiar for PSPGo users and PS3 users alike, so holding this phone is simply second nature for PlayStation fans. There's no learning curve with this control scheme; the only curves on this phone are a part of the elegant design of the device itself.

8. Price

Smartphones can be expensive. And with so many coming out with new models every year, some even being discontinued shortly after they launch, trying to choose the right one can be daunting. But the Xperia™ PLAY 4G should make that decision a bit easier. At the time of this writing, you can snag one from AT&T for about $50 (if you sign up for a two-year contract). Seriously, how many bad games have you bought that cost more than that?

7. Long Battery Life

Gaming on a mobile device can take a serious toll on the battery. So when a phone is designed for gamers first, it needs a long battery life. The Xperia™ PLAY gives you up to five and a half hours of game time on a charge, which outshines several other mobile devices on the market right now. (Battery consumption depends on which games are being played, of course.) And in the heat of an online battle, the last thing you want is to have to take a break to charge your smartphone.

6. Gingerbread

Android Market is full of great apps, allowing you to do everything from getting directions to making music to getting notifications when your favorite stores are having sales. And did I mention the games? Android Market has thousands.

Xperia™ PLAY 4G comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the most functional and easy-to-use version of Android yet, featuring greatly improved text functionality—which includes better cut and paste features—and better app management. More importantly, though, it promises better Android gaming performance and is less demanding on the battery.