Sony Xperia smartphones look so good on paper. So why is it that we don't recommend them? Here's our answer to that and a brief 2023 review of the Sony Xperia 1 IV.
Sony Xperia smartphones look so good on paper. So why is it that we don't recommend them? Here's our answer to that and a brief 2023 review of the Sony Xperia 1 IV.
I probably would consider them, but their phones tend to have lackluster US carrier/band support and lack of security updates. Coupling that with the high price tag, no go.
Shit updates, expensive, terrible marketing (since ever). I used to buy Xperia phones exclusively, the compact ones to be precise, then Sony decided that compact phones and affordable phones had to go, I bought an Xperia 10 (I or II, can't remember) and it absolutely sucked. When it broke I bought a random Chinese phone from the store, ended up with a Realme. Works better, with worse battery life tho.
No entry level options, relatively lower specs for the price asked, mediocre software support. That being said, they are one of the few OEMs in their price segment to still offer headphone jacks.
Poor updates (policy), overpriced for the specs. I mean, 400-500 for a phone with a SD695 and 60hrz? Come on... Such a shame, because they are the only ones with a screen without a punchhole/camera cutout...
I got a 1ii and though LineageOS works great compared to stock, it still has its downsides - on the top of my head screen mirroring is lost and since LOS21 can't make Magisk w/ zigisk work.
I got an Xperia 5 IV very recently when my Galaxy S7 died. Been happy with it. Smallest phone I could find with an SD card slot, and while it's still larger than my old phone, the screen is the same width, just taller. Overpriced? Probably a bit. In the end though, I like it.
The size is why I keep them in the back of my head. Because when my Pixel 4a dies I'm kinda screwed with how humongous (what?) all those phones nowadays are.
It isn't much better either. HTG went from a great site publishing tech articles to riddled with paywalls(you will encounter sign in screens if you read multiple articles quickly), Premium options, ad affiliated newsletter links and just constant churning of low quality filler mostly.
I used to have an Xperia pro, the one with the physical keyboard. It was my last keyboard phone. I absolutely loved it.
Flashed a different OS, cyanogenmod I believe, which broke the governor chip (irreparable; known issue but super buried, would have done the same with any OS of that version number, including stock) so it would read as a dead battery if not on the charger.
Never touched Sony phones again. Don’t trust them at all.