Mobile phones > Sony > Xperia SP

Design
Model	Sony Xperia SP
Form factor	Block
Weight	155 gram
Dimensions (HxWxD)	130.6 x 67 x 9.98mm
Operating System	Android 4.2
Communication
Networks	2G - 850/900/1800/1900 3G - 850/900/1700/1900/2100
HSCSD
GPRS/EDGE	/
UMTS
HSPA/HSPA+	/
WiMAX
LTE (4G light)
WLAN / Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi Direct
SMS/MMS/Email	//
Connectivity
HDMI out
USB port
MHL
Bluetooth
Bluetooth version	4.0
DLNA
GPS/Glonass	/
ANT+
IrDA
NFC
Camera
3.5 mm audio connector
Camera	Example photos
Camera resolution	8 megapixel, autofocus, geo tagging
Image Stabilization
BSI sensor
Camera Flash/Light
Flash type	Pulsed LED
Video recording
Video capture resolution	1080p
Display
Second Camera	VGA (640 x 480)
Display size	4.6 inches
Touchscreen
Colour display
Number of colours	16,777,216
Display resolution (WxH)	720 x 1280 pixels
PPI	319
Second Display	NA
Hardware
CPU	1.7 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 Pro
GPU	Adreno 320
Memory	1 GB RAM. 8 GB internal storage. Expandable with additional 32 GB using microSD card
Micro SIM
Dual SIM
Multimedia
MP3
Ringtones / Music file format	MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
Java
Games	Yes, downloadable
FM Radio
Power management
Battery	2300 mAh
Standby time (h)	697
Talktime (m)	NA
Features
Wireless Charging
Browser	644
Calendar
Voicedialing
IP Code	NA
Predictive text
RSS reader
Voicememo
PC Synchronization
SyncML
Website	Website

NA = Not Applicable. No data available

Great Mid-range Smartphone

Pros
Superb camera, outstanding screen picture quality, loud ringtones, fast internet speeds, great build quality, now upgraded to Android 4.3

Cons
Not the design enthusiasts phone it is advertised as, average battery life, side-mounted buttons are awkward to use, constantly removing fingerprints from screen will drive you mad, slightly laggy.

Conclusion
I like this phone and would recommend it to anyone wanting a mid-range priced phone that behaves like a higher end phone. This is NOT a phone for design enthusiastiasts like the advertising says :-( The placement of the buttons is awkward for right-handed owners and the whole phone is lacking the thoughful little touches that show input from a talented designer, unlike my former Xperia X10. The bottom mounted lightbar is a gimmick that I wanted to like but really has little purpose after the first few days, especially after I bought a third-party wallet style case for it which prevents view of the lightbar for notifications. I was disappointed to find that the leather cover that came with the X10 doesn't come with the SP. This is something I think Sony should remedy as the faux-leather wallet/case accessory I ended up buying is absolutely outstanding in it's design and usability and helps give the phone a specialness it is sadly lacking on it's own.

The combination of Mobile Bravia 2 screen and Exmor R camera is simply breathtaking, I kid you not. Photos taken on this phone in 5MP 16:9 aspect are simply jaw-dropping in their picture quality and EVERBODY who sees them says so. My partner's iPhone 4S photos look laughably bad by comparison. Having a link in the camera app to the photo editor app is a nice and convenient touch and it's amazing how well you can improve a shot that was compromised by poor lighting. This camera truly creates DSLR type results.

The screen is FANTASTIC for viewing anything - photos, videos, webpages and even copes with outdoor use okay but shows up fingerprints like you wouldn't believe.

I work in an often noisy environment and I find that due to the VERY LOUD sound this phone can produce I miss fewer calls than any other smartphone I've ever owned. I have had comments from callers saying the in-call volume is not so loud though.The SP came with Android 4.1 which was well laid out and logical, if a little buggy and laggy in Sony's version. The smoothness of the UI has improved with the update to Android 4.3 but some of the ease of use has been lost in a drive to simplify functions by hiding some options. Most notably, the photo editor has taken a turn for the worst and I now seldom use it. The pre-loaded themes are very cool and these have been enhanced with the 4.3 update.

This phone works great for keeping track of messages and for social media. I use Facebook but not twitter and I find posting status updates and photos to be a breeze. The email client is good but I feel managing multiple gmail accounts could be slightly better.

The battery life is only average, even moderate use requires everyday charging but stamina mode can improve things markedly, especially turning down the very bright screen settings.

Overall I like this phone, I feel it is well made and will last a long time with features like LTE, dual-core processor and Android 4.3 update that will keep it relevant for sometime yet. Recommended.

Verdict
4 (out of 5)

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