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.
how much of that is due to people actually being able to actually buy a s24, or because that just what happens to be their phone carrier’s option? when selling phone it’s extremely important distinction, most people can get their phones “significantly cheaper” so to speak, via their carrier.
As an ex cellphone salesman I have never seen any carriers here in canada selling phones in like, pretty much the last decade almost now. Canadian here. Rodgers, Bell, Koodo, Fido, off the top of my head, none sell sony phones.
Now I did often try to sell cellphones to folk out right since IMO it’s far better to own the device and pay for a cheap plan, but to do that, phones need to actually be affordable.
Yeah and you can read 2 pages of an ebook on the same screen, they fit one on top of the other lengthwise. A win-win situation! Definitely worth the premium price now that you said it. Anyway, good luck reaching the top part of the screen with your stubby thumb without using the other hand on that land strip type of a form factor.
It’s not about the size of the hands that matter but how you use them. ;) Hands size shaming must come to an end. But yeah I can pretty much grab a basket ball single handedly and throw it accurately, no problem.
There you have it folks. Its expensive and you pay upfront. Most people don’t have $1500 laying around to wing at a phone yet alone a $500 emergency budget sadly. Especially these days.
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.
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.
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.
When you go to Samsung or Moto/Lenovo support, they would give you a loaner phone when yours was in for repairs. Repair centers accepted wherever they were located.
Sony would tell a 1500USD phone customer to F*CK OFF if they asked for a loaner phone during repairs. You have to go to the Sony Mobile repair center to get any kind of help. There are tons of dealers and TV / audio / other Sony repair and none of those have any kind words or help for customers.
I have xperia 1 III and will use it until it dies, but there is very little chance that I’m buying xperia next, mainly because the camera is so shit. I don’t really care for the camera that much, but the picture quality is only comparable to xiaomi <200€ phones, that is way to shit compared to the price I’m paying.
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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.
I miss my Xperia Play, that thing was the bee’s knees.
I’m gonna be real, I thought Sony stopped making these 5 years ago. Probably because I haven’t looked into buying a phone since that long ago
They used to do great phones though. The Xperia Play (and its slimmer Arc cousin) and the Walkman feature phone are still personal favorites of mine.
Marketing and availablity. Unless you watch Phonereviews you probably have no idea these phones exist.
because they are fucking expensive
S24 Ultra isn’t any cheaper and it’s selling well.
how much of that is due to people actually being able to actually buy a s24, or because that just what happens to be their phone carrier’s option? when selling phone it’s extremely important distinction, most people can get their phones “significantly cheaper” so to speak, via their carrier.
As an ex cellphone salesman I have never seen any carriers here in canada selling phones in like, pretty much the last decade almost now. Canadian here. Rodgers, Bell, Koodo, Fido, off the top of my head, none sell sony phones.
Now I did often try to sell cellphones to folk out right since IMO it’s far better to own the device and pay for a cheap plan, but to do that, phones need to actually be affordable.
And they have a remote control like shape factor
What, because you can use them with one hand? As opposed to all the fat bricks out there?
Yeah and you can read 2 pages of an ebook on the same screen, they fit one on top of the other lengthwise. A win-win situation! Definitely worth the premium price now that you said it. Anyway, good luck reaching the top part of the screen with your stubby thumb without using the other hand on that land strip type of a form factor.
What kind of sasquatch ass hands do you have where you can reach the top of any phone?
I miss my Xperia 5iii, but those screens are too expensive to justify replacing when I get a brand new device for the same cost.
It’s not about the size of the hands that matter but how you use them. ;) Hands size shaming must come to an end. But yeah I can pretty much grab a basket ball single handedly and throw it accurately, no problem.
Yikes. lol
There you have it folks. Its expensive and you pay upfront. Most people don’t have $1500 laying around to wing at a phone yet alone a $500 emergency budget sadly. Especially these days.
Does Sony still make phones ? … The last time I saw someone using a Sony phone was probably 8 years ago
Probably because you buy them upfront and online mostly and not from the service providers.
Indeed I have never bought something online
I loved my Xperia XA2, but when the next android update came down the pipe I literally lost features.
Posted from my Xperia 5.
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.
They’re also comparatively “small” in this world of bricks.
Yeah headphone jack is a nice bonus, my only method of playing audio from my phone in the car is the aux cable
Me too. I bought a ugreen Bluetooth to aux adapter. Just a USB stick with wire an 3,5mm headphone jack on. Works great and I payed 20€.
Pixel OS. It’s the best out of the box experience for most users.
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.
I upgraded from an S7 in the past year… I ended up going with a Samsung XCover 6 Pro since Sony doesn’t sell their flagship phones in Canada…
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.
Right, like people want to develop wrist pain over a damn phone. 5&6" is hard to come by.
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.
Sony Support SUX.
When you go to Samsung or Moto/Lenovo support, they would give you a loaner phone when yours was in for repairs. Repair centers accepted wherever they were located.
Sony would tell a 1500USD phone customer to F*CK OFF if they asked for a loaner phone during repairs. You have to go to the Sony Mobile repair center to get any kind of help. There are tons of dealers and TV / audio / other Sony repair and none of those have any kind words or help for customers.
Sony Support is DOGSHIT GARBAGE.
Sony phones are great for custom firmware support
I have xperia 1 III and will use it until it dies, but there is very little chance that I’m buying xperia next, mainly because the camera is so shit. I don’t really care for the camera that much, but the picture quality is only comparable to xiaomi <200€ phones, that is way to shit compared to the price I’m paying.