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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I had a Sony phone once. It was shite. Couldn’t remember the date and time on a reboot.
It was crap in other ways too but that was the one that annoyed me the most. Obviously the majority of the price went on the name and not the phone. Shame really, Sony used to be a name that meant quality, now they’re just another bunch of MBA-led enshittifiers.
Yes you can unlock the bootloader (not supported on the Japanese model and there is no US model this time), I’m not sure how well the camera system works on a gsi. On previous models they had to use proprietary blobs to get it to work properly
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.
Flashing Lineage on the 1 II is trivial now compared to a few years ago.
The stock ROM is loaded with shitware in II III and V.
The shape is great not too big for the hand.
The camera is decent, surely better in VI. No stupid AI color boost and faking pictures.
The price is steep as you know.
The screens feel like they could have been brighter.
3.5mm AUX, MicroSD as you know.
Sony ASOP is about the only thing keeping me interested in their lineups.
Better than Sam or Apple. But to be honest all cellphones are trash, satellite StarLink phone and others can’t happen soon enough or a decent Linux phone.
I just bought a new phone. I went with a Galaxy again. I really wanted the Sony because it has a great feature set. However, I was not confident in long term support, which Sony has said will be much shorter than competitors. And it also cost about 30% more than the other flagship phones. I can’t justify spending more money for a phone that will last me half as long.
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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.
because they are fucking expensive
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
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.
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.
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.
I loved my Xperia XA2, but when the next android update came down the pipe I literally lost features.
My favorite phone was a Sony Xperia Compact. If they still have SD Card slots my next phone will be Sony.
Their phones are far too expensive and their software support is horrible.
I had a Sony phone once. It was shite. Couldn’t remember the date and time on a reboot.
It was crap in other ways too but that was the one that annoyed me the most. Obviously the majority of the price went on the name and not the phone. Shame really, Sony used to be a name that meant quality, now they’re just another bunch of MBA-led enshittifiers.
Stubborn ideologies, slow to changes, devices get abandoned after 2 years.
Used to be a big fan of Xperia phones up until the Xperia 5.
I loved my XZ premium . Would still use it if it hadn’t come down with an unfixable charging issue.
I was planning on getting an Xperia 1 VI.
Gonna flash LineageOS on it.
I have the 1 VI, it’s great. No lineage available yet, might take a while
Is it bootloader unlockable?
If it is, try checking treble compatibilty.
If passed, Lineage may be supported.
Yes you can unlock the bootloader (not supported on the Japanese model and there is no US model this time), I’m not sure how well the camera system works on a gsi. On previous models they had to use proprietary blobs to get it to work properly
1 II had somebody repack the official camera app on lineage, I’m curious maybe the newers 1 lineups ones got repacked too
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.
Flashing Lineage on the 1 II is trivial now compared to a few years ago.
The stock ROM is loaded with shitware in II III and V.
The shape is great not too big for the hand.
The camera is decent, surely better in VI. No stupid AI color boost and faking pictures.
The price is steep as you know.
The screens feel like they could have been brighter.
3.5mm AUX, MicroSD as you know.
Sony ASOP is about the only thing keeping me interested in their lineups.
Better than Sam or Apple. But to be honest all cellphones are trash, satellite StarLink phone and others can’t happen soon enough or a decent Linux phone.
Its a solid plan.
Do you recommend an Xperia from an S10e user?
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 just bought a new phone. I went with a Galaxy again. I really wanted the Sony because it has a great feature set. However, I was not confident in long term support, which Sony has said will be much shorter than competitors. And it also cost about 30% more than the other flagship phones. I can’t justify spending more money for a phone that will last me half as long.