Sony Xperia T Review
Positive:
HD Screen, 13 MP camera, NFC and expandable memory.Negative:
No jelly bean and only carry a dual core processor. The SIM card slot flap cover is a little flimsy and awkward placement of the power button.The ultimate HD experience. Watch, listen and create in HD with the Sony Xperia™ T. The James Bond Smart phone with 13 MP camera and Sony Bravia Engine.
There are now variety of smart phones to chose from as of recent months and they now all have their own unique selling points; the Xperia T was announced at the IFA and it is a contender when you start to compare the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the new iPhone 5. It comes loaded with Android OS, HD screen with Sony’s Mobile Bravia engine and its unique selling point is not just about the HD screen or the visual technology behind it but the whopping 13 megapixel camera included for photography enthusiasts especially with apps like Instagram at large.
Features
- The ultimate HD experience
- 4.6” HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
- 13 megapixel camera with Exmor R sensor and fast capture
- Super fast 1.5GHz dual-core processor
- 16GB internal memory and 50GB online storage with Box
- NFC compatible
Unboxing and First Look
Design and build
Before powering on the device, it is hard to see the bezel making it seem bigger than it is but once powered on you will see the 4.6 inch HD screen in all its glory. Holding the Xperia T portrait in side view you will notice the slight arched shape which resembles that of the Xperia Arc and the design does come in handy when holding it with one hand. As with any Sony Xperia handset, you will see the logo on the back and Sony also placed the flash underneath the 13 megapixel camera.The back also have a matte rubberised finishing making it very finger print unfriendly; below the Xperia branding is also the speaker which is fairly loud when playing HD movies.
The Xperia T is a uni-body smart phone meaning you will not be able to remove the battery however there is a little rubber flap that covers the SIM card slot and Micro SD card expansion slot. One thing we found a little awkward is where Sony has decided to place the power button, but with regular use got use it been there; if you had another device you will sometimes find it confusing as to where the buttons and how they are placed to closed together. Generally the design is great, the size is awesome for watching movies and the glossy finish on the screen also speaks luxury, and since it is the 007 phone of choice, it is built to be robust and withstand heavy use.
Once switched on, you can not help but bask in the glory of the 720p TFT display showing vibrant colours and easily seen from all angles, if you watch the video above you will see just what we are talking about here. with 323ppi, the HD quality is up to standards and can be placed up there with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3 or even its predecessor, the Xperia S which had 342 ppi. The glossy finish however means any bright light will reflect and can be annoying when trying to watch movies, again you can see that in the video above.
Performance
The Xperia T is loaded with a 1.5ghz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM, and you would expect it to be a little slow compared to the Galaxy S3, however it is quite quick with an optimized Ice Cream Sandwich software stripped down to Sony’s own taste and in the real world, you will not notice any lag in processing power unless you are a super user. If and when Sony releases Jelly bean for the Xperia T no doubt it would be even faster that it is. The processor handles all transitions very well and there are no lags when playing 3D graphics game or when watching HD movies whilst other apps are running also.
16GB internal memory is enough for the average user but if you wish, you have the option to expand with extra 32GB Micro SD card and also take advantage of the 50GB Dropbox cloud storage. The Xperia T comes with NFC and can be easily configured to perform various tasks and boost productivity.
Benchmark
When it comes to battery performance, it was incredible to see that it lasts a day and a half after heavy use of Tweeting, watching HD movies, Texting, Phone calls, Internet browsing and Instagramming; no doubt in terms of battery, it will surpass some of its competitors like the iPhone 5 which we also compared. When put through geekbench and other benchmark tools like quadrant benchmark tool, it stood tests and was up there with the HTC One X known for its high performance although not as good as the Galaxy Note 2 or Galaxy S3 in the charts.
Sony Xperia T Camera (Pictures and Videos)
Not only does the Xperia T boasts a whopping 13 MP Camera with Exmor R sensor is also comes with fast capture as we saw with the Xperia S and that comes in very handy for those snappy moments you do not want to miss; also with the 13MP aimed at enthusiasts, you get so many options to get the best out of your photography.
Some of the options available includes, sweep panorama, smile detection, quick launch, white balance settings, image stabilizer and when in video mode, you can chose what scene you are present in for example sports for best output. The 13 MP camera captured sharp images with accurate colours in day light but when put through tests in low lights, it suffered a little can not match the likes of the iPhone 5 or Galaxy S3.
Sample shot
Verdict
The Xperia T is an awesome smart phone that performs everything function its built for very well; it could do with an upgrade to Jelly bean as soon as possible because Jelly bean seems to be snappier and more fluid in usage compared to ICS Android OS version. The addition of NFC compatibility puts it above the iPhone 5 but when it comes to camera, this is no iPhone 5 and will certainly not be placed above the Galaxy S3 but for the price point, you can not deny it is well priced and offers a great Camera and HD screen which can be seen as its unique selling points more than anything else.
Thank you to Three Network for providing the review unit. It is available on 24 Months agreement from £27 a month £109 upfront cost and Pay As You Go for £399.99 when reviewed.
