Not using a GL config chooser seems to be the way to go, really, and was the way we used before the EGL attempt.

Core/Config.cpp

@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ static int DefaultAndroidHwScale() {
 	int xres = System_GetPropertyInt(SYSPROP_DISPLAY_XRES);
 	int yres = System_GetPropertyInt(SYSPROP_DISPLAY_YRES);
 
-	if (xres < 960) {
+	if (xres <= 960) {
 		// Smaller than the PSP*2, let's go native.
 		return 0;
 	} else if (xres <= 480 * 3) {  // 720p xres

UI/GameSettingsScreen.cpp

@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ void GameSettingsScreen::CreateViews() {
 #ifdef ANDROID
 	static const char *deviceResolutions[] = { "Native device resolution", "Auto (same as Rendering)", "1x PSP", "2x PSP", "3x PSP", "4x PSP", "5x PSP" };
 	int max_res_temp = std::max(System_GetPropertyInt(SYSPROP_DISPLAY_XRES), System_GetPropertyInt(SYSPROP_DISPLAY_YRES)) / 480 + 2;
+	if (max_res_temp == 3)
+		max_res_temp = 4;  // At least allow 2x
 	int max_res = std::min(max_res_temp, (int)ARRAY_SIZE(deviceResolutions));
 	UI::PopupMultiChoice *hwscale = graphicsSettings->Add(new PopupMultiChoice(&g_Config.iAndroidHwScale, gr->T("Display Resolution (HW scaler)"), deviceResolutions, 0, max_res, gr->GetName(), screenManager()));
 	hwscale->OnChoice.Handle(this, &GameSettingsScreen::OnHwScaleChange);  // To refresh the display mode

android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/NativeActivity.java

@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ public class NativeActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
 		sz.y = NativeApp.getDesiredBackbufferHeight();
 	}
 
+    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
 	@Override
     public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
 		super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
@@ -452,13 +453,8 @@ public class NativeActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
 	        if (Build.MANUFACTURER == "OUYA") {
 	        	mGLSurfaceView.getHolder().setFormat(PixelFormat.RGBX_8888);
 	        	mGLSurfaceView.setEGLConfigChooser(new NativeEGLConfigChooser());
-	        } else {
-	        	// Many devices require that we set a config chooser, despite the documentation
-	        	// explicitly stating: "If no setEGLConfigChooser method is called, then by default the view will choose an RGB_888 surface with a depth buffer depth of at least 16 bits."
-	        	// On these devices, I get these crashes: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14167319/android-opengl-demo-no-config-chosen
-	        	// So let's try it...
-	        	mGLSurfaceView.setEGLConfigChooser(8, 8, 8, 8, 16, 8);
 	        }
+	        // Tried to mess around with config choosers here but fail completely on Xperia Play.
 
 	        mGLSurfaceView.setRenderer(nativeRenderer);
 			setContentView(mGLSurfaceView);

android/src/org/ppsspp/ppsspp/NativeEGLConfigChooser.java

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import javax.microedition.khronos.egl.EGL10;
 import javax.microedition.khronos.egl.EGLConfig;
 import javax.microedition.khronos.egl.EGLDisplay;
 
+import android.graphics.PixelFormat;
 import android.opengl.GLSurfaceView.EGLConfigChooser;
 import android.util.Log;
 
@@ -12,6 +13,9 @@ public class NativeEGLConfigChooser implements EGLConfigChooser {
 
 	private static final int EGL_OPENGL_ES2_BIT = 4;
 
+	NativeEGLConfigChooser() {
+	}
+
 	private class ConfigAttribs {
 		EGLConfig config;
 		public int red;
@@ -60,6 +64,7 @@ public class NativeEGLConfigChooser implements EGLConfigChooser {
 		return attr;
 	}
 
+	@Override
 	public EGLConfig chooseConfig(EGL10 egl, EGLDisplay display) {
 		// The absolute minimum. We will do our best to choose a better config though.
 		int[] configSpec = {
@@ -70,6 +75,7 @@ public class NativeEGLConfigChooser implements EGLConfigChooser {
 			EGL10.EGL_STENCIL_SIZE, 0,
 			EGL10.EGL_SURFACE_TYPE, EGL10.EGL_WINDOW_BIT,
 			EGL10.EGL_RENDERABLE_TYPE, EGL_OPENGL_ES2_BIT,
+			// EGL10.EGL_TRANSPARENT_TYPE, EGL10.EGL_NONE
 			EGL10.EGL_NONE
 		};
 
@@ -98,8 +104,10 @@ public class NativeEGLConfigChooser implements EGLConfigChooser {
 			configs[i].Log();
 		}
 
+
 		// We now ignore destination alpha as a workaround for the Mali issue
 		// where we get badly composited if we use it.
+		// Though, that may be possible to fix by using EGL10.EGL_TRANSPARENT_TYPE, EGL10.EGL_NONE.
 
 		// First, find our ideal configuration. Prefer depth.
 		for (int i = 0; i < configs.length; i++) {