Review: Sony Xperia SP

Sony’s flagship Android smartphones have been a bit of a disappointment to me. But if the Xperia S and Xperia T didn’t quite cut the Colman’s, the cheaper follow-ups, the Xperias P and V, were more convincing. Sony, it seems, is better in the middle than at the top. Now the new Xperia Z - another high-end Sony that didn't …

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: issues...

"And the battery lasts for 2 days. Not too shabby I think."

Looks like you got lucky then. Mine hardly lasts a day and I usually don't make phone calls or text, all I normally do is reading a PDF on auto-brightness on the train (2x15min) and during the daily fag breaks (perhaps 5x6min). In fairness I'm too lazy to switch Wifi/3G off while I don't need it so I could perhaps stretch it to a full day with Wifi off.

I RMA-ed the phone because it had rubbish reception on GiffGaff (=O2) compared to my previous phone (a £100 Huawei Ascend G300) and the replacement is no better with respect to either issue.

Since I've now got two chargers until I send the first phone back (they allow you 21 days), one at work and one at home, I have only charged the newer phone with the official chargers which is what they recommend since it apparently optimises battery function. Alas, I don't see any improvement whatsoever.

[CaptJ]

Looks good but why compare it against a Lumia 720?

This certainly looks to be a well-judged phone and I'd certainly consider buying it. At £300 you can't compare it against a Lumia 720 which is a far cheaper phone. Compare it against a Lumia 820 that's a fair comparison and one I'd like to see.

I note that it has a large battery which cerainly sells it to me. I'm fed up with poor battery life. Interestingly that is the one facet on which the Lumia 720 compares well to any phone. It has a good battery life.

[Al Taylor]

Re: Looks good but why compare it against a Lumia 720?

The cheapest I've found the Nokia 720 unlocked for is £300. As for PAYG the best high street price I can find is £299 from O2 making it £50 more expensive than the SP on Orange PAYG.

I'm not sure the 820 would do that much better in comparison - it's more powerful than the 720 granted but it's more expensive than the SP (£325 unlocked) and it only has a 480 x 800 pixel, 4.3 inch screen.

[S.G.]

Camera quality

The review states that the quality of the camera is "meh".

I have a Xperia Pro from 2011 which has a camera that I think is good quality.

Anyone here compared the camera of a Z/ZL/SP with a 2011 model?

[Bodhi]

Re: Camera quality

Can't compare it directly to a 2011 model but I have gone from an X10 -> Xperia S -> Xperia Z and there has been a step up in quality each time. Only negative I can think of on the Z's camera is the lack of dedicated camera key, but this is to be expected with the efforts taken to waterproof the phone.

Can't say I agree with the reviewer's assertion the Z was nothing to write home about, I've had one for 3 months now and it has been absolutely bloody superb. The screen may not be the brightest, but it is the sharpest, and the lack of AMOLED means colours actually look like they were supposed to. I've spent some time setting up a colleague's Sammy S4, and was thoroughly whelmed by the experience. Sure the screen is bright but Touchwiz looks like it was designed by a 3 year old who's just been bought a Crayola selection.

Beer, becuase it never gets boring dunking your mobile in it and watching people's faces.