Despite a slick design and good video, this is underwhelming for the price
Sony unveiled three smartphones at the Mobile World Congress in February, with the Xperia 1 as the flagship. While that device isn’t due for release in the UK until the summer, another – the Xperia 10 – has already hit the market. Although Sony was, not so long ago, one of the big names in the smartphone space, the consumer electronics giant has felt the effect of the onslaught from Chinese smartphone competitors in recent times. However, the Xperia 10 does not seem like the device that will see it sailing back into the limelight. Coming in at just under £300, the Xperia 10 is firmly a mid-ranger- and taking into account that it’s only fair to judge it as such, there were nevertheless a few causes for concern.
While the design of the Xperia 10 is slick, the phone itself feels a bit
clunky and is rather tall. Pretty tame battery life also does little to help the device, especially when compared with other mid-rangers such as the Moto G7 Plus, which is £30 cheaper and delivers a bigger battery.
That said, watching videos using a pre-installed Netflix app on the
21:9 display impresses, helping Sony show off its capabilities.
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Processor: Snapdragon 630
Screen: 6 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2520 pixels
Memory: 3GB
Internal storage: 64GB
External memory: 512GB
Water resistance: n/a
Rear camera: 13MP and 5MP
Front camera: 8MP
Video: 1080p@30fps
Battery: 2,700mAh
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0,
NFC, USB-C
Cellular Speed: 2Mbps download
Dimensions: 156 x 68 x 8.4 mm
Weight: 162g
The screen is the key talking point on the Sony Xperia 10 and Sony says
that users will see more with a longer screen.
Introducing the 21:9 Experience with the Xperia 10’s 21:9 Wide display. Multi-task with ease and watch films in the aspect ratio of the cinema. Capture, record and watch back videos and images in 21:9 in design that’s made to fit your hand.
Go deeper into everything you watch with the Xperia 10’s 21:9 Wide display. That’s the same aspect ratio your favourite movies are recorded in. Complemented by a wide screen with a borderless design, you can enjoy films on your smartphone the way they were meant to be seen.
Get artistic with a dual-camera system with the 13MP and 5MP cameras, to create photos with artistic Bokeh effect. With a high 2870mAh capacity, the Xperia 10’s battery gives you the power you can rely on. Smart Stamina predicts how long your power will last and adapts your energy usage to keep you going for longer.
The Xperia 10 uses Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 for toughness and durability, while a sleek metallic finish complements its beautiful form.
Although it is a mid-ranger and it would have been unfair to expect the Xperia 10 to be a leader on the smartphone technology front, this doesn’t excuse the phone from criticism.
On the surface, the thin and tall device has an intriguing design, but looking deeper there are a few notable issues. The dual-camera set-up feels outdated, with photos appearing pixellated before even zooming in. This seems even more frustrating given that watching videos on YouTube and
Netflix holds up well and feels almost cinematic.
Another qualm is that the fingerprint sensor is very temperamental, seeming to only work when it feels like it. That said, the location of the sensor on the side of the phone is something that Sony
should persist with.
On the plus side and unlike a lot of smartphones on the market, the headphone jack remains – ensuring a great option for those who don’t want to use a dongle or wireless headphones.
However, for an outlay of £299.99, it’s an underwhelming smartphone and Sony will certainly face stiff competition from Motorola with its strong position in the midrange sector.
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