Sony Xperia X, which is the backbone of the new line-up is powered by a Snapdragon 650 CPU paired up with 3GB of RAM and comes at a price of Rs 48,990. Sony claims Xperia X is a high-end device but we feel the hardware doesn't support their claim. Also, the pricing for this Snapdragon 650 CPU and 3GB RAM device is a tad bit high. However, the company says that it is not in the numbers game with the Xperia X and the smartphone offers a true flagship experience.
We got our hands on the new Xperia X smartphone and here's our report.
Specifications:
Display: 5-inch Full HD (1920x100) displayOS: Android 6.0 MarshmallowCPU: 64-bit hexa-core Snapdragon 650 SoC, 3GBStorage: 32/64GB storage (microSD card support by up to 200GB)Came ras: 23MP rear camera with LED flash, 13MP front cameraConnectivity: Wi-Fi, 3G/4G/2G, GPS, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, NFCBattery: 2,620mAhDimensions: 143 x69x 7.7 mmWeight: 152 gramsPrice: Rs 48,990
Design
In design, Sony has followed its signature 'OmniBalance' design language, which comprises of clean lines and boasts of high quality material. Anyone who has used Xperia Z-series in the past will instantly relate with the Xperia X design. This can be a bit disappointing as the smartphone does not bring something new to the table in terms of look and feel.
But to differentiate from the previous Xperia Z series handsets, Sony has added some new elements. For instance, the front of the smartphone is now fitted with a 2.5D curved glass that beautifully merges with the edges, and the corners are more rounded which adds to the ergonomics.
Another notable change here is the position of the NFC detector that now sits at the top left corner of the front, adjacent to the camera. As per Sony, it makes the flow of content easier in everyday usage but from design point of view, it seems to be a bad decision due to the fact that it does not go in sync with the Xperia's symmetrical design philosophy.
A big power button is positioned in the middle of the right spine, which also serves as a fingerprint sensor to unlock the smartphone. Its ergonomic placement makes unlocking the handset effortless for right-handed users and it is extremely quick in unlocking the device.
The hybrid SIM tray is located on the left spine and can be used to hold a pair of nano-SIM cards or one microSD card and a nano SIM card. It is worth mentioning that you will not require any sharp tool to bring out the SIM tray as your fingernail can do the job.
The rear side of the smartphone is made of bru shed aluminium and does not feel as slippery as it does on previous Xperia Z smartphones. A 23MP camera sits at the top left along with an LED flash and the Xperia branding is embossed in the centre. The real panel looks quite minimal and appealing.
However, the best thing about the Xperia X is its compact form factor. The smartphone can be easily operated with one hand and will appeal to users who are not fond of big screen devices. iPhone users looking for an Android handset will love the Xperia X in terms of usability.
Hardware
Now, this is where things get a bit strange. The specifications that Sony Xperia X offers are not in-sync with the price-point it comes at. The smartphone is priced close to Rs 50,000 and ships with a 64-bit hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor paired up with 3GB of RAM. This is a mid range processor for this price.
Further, at this price-point you would expect a 2K display but the smartphone sports a 5-inch 1080p screen. For imaging, the Xperia X has a 23MP rear camera with 24mm wide Sony's G Lens and F2.0 aperture. In addition to this it is equipped with a 13MP wide angle front camera, which has a Sony Exmor RS sensor and low-light scene recognition.
The smartphone is powered by a 2,620mAH battery unit, which seems a bit underpowered.
Sony Xperia X also has a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, positioned on the right side of the smartphone.
As far as connectivity goes, Xperia X has dual-SIM 4G connectivity with a hybrid SIM slot. You also get the standard features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and micro USB port (no USB Type C port).
Xperia X does not qualify on waterproofing, which has been a long selling point of the Xperia line. The last handset from Sony- the Xperia Z5 -has the highest possible IP68 rating for water and dust resistance but the new Xperia X misses that design element.
Display
As we mentioned, a 2K display would have done more justice with the pricing, yet we are not complaining about Xperia X's display due to the immersive experience it offers in everyday usage.
Importantly, it's a 5-inch display and 1080p resolution is just sufficient to deliver a good viewing experience.
The LCD panel is backed by Sony's BRAVIA TRILUMINOS display technology that results in brighter content and natural colours when compared with smartphones with AMOLED displays such as Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7, the recent OnePlus 3, etc.
Besides, Sony has also added some useful tweaks to customise the colors as per your requirement. There is X-Reality mode to offer sharper images and a super-vivid mode that enhances the colours while watching videos or playing games. The text, icons and images look amazingly crisp and the display offers an immersive experience while watching videos or playing 3D games.
Performance
Sony has made a bit of a compromise with the innards of the Xperia X. Unlike the latest flagship devices from Samsung, LG, HTC, etc. the Xperia X runs on a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 SoC. The processor can deliver on day-to-day tasks but is not a true rival to the flagship Snapdragon 820 CPU. The 64-bit processor is paired up with 3GB of RAM and Adreno 510 GPU to handle graphics related tasks.
However, it is worth mentioning that the hexa-core Snapdragon 650 CPU is a better performer than the last year's Snapdragon 808 SoC. During my week's usage, the smartphone did not hang even once while performing basic tasks and I could easily play high-end games such as Asphalt 8 and Marvel contest of champions.
The navigation is smooth and the application loading is spontaneous. However, the smartphone is a victim of heating issues, especially when you are operating the 23MP rear camera to record 1080p videos. The rear panel heats up after six or seven minutes of continuous vid eo recording.
On the brighter side, the audio performance is impressive and matches the previous Sony handsets. You can enjoy a movie or YouTube videos even if you are not carrying the earphones with you. Besides, I did not face any issues with the call quality either.
Overall, Xperia X is a snappy handset and can get through with most of the tasks easily but you have to bear the heating issues if you are pushing the handset to its limits.
Software
Sony Xperia X runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Sony's set of customisations thrown in to enhance the user experience. Swiping down anywhere on the homescreen will give you the search bar to look for any application online and offline. The 'What's New' widget on homescreen, which looks like a stripped down version of the Google Play store and lets you find new games, apps, theme, music and much more. At any point of time, you can tap on the 'Get to know Xperia' widget and check for Xperia services, transfer co ntent from your previous handset to Xperia X, have a tour of how the software works on the handset and check recommended apps.
However, Sony has kept the settings menu, app drawer and notification tray pretty much stock Android. In everyday usage, the Android on Xperia X ran swiftly enough and the user experience was devoid of any lags and glitches.
Camera
Sony Xperia X sports a 23MP rear camera and the front is equipped with a 13MP shooter. Both utilise the Sony's Exmor RS sensors and can record 1080p videos. Sadly, 4K video recording is not included that will come as a disappointment to camera enthusiasts.
The 23MP rear camera is capable enough to deliver amazing shots and comes loaded with a number of modes and features. There is 'Superior Auto Mode' that senses the surroundings and does a decent job most of the times.
You can also switch to Manual mode and tweak the exposure, ISO, etc. or choose from the pre-set modes such as Landscape, HDR, Night portrait and others. However, if you are shooting in 23MP in the Manual mode, the camera app does not let you select the above mentioned pre-set modes. Moreover, the camera is devoid of Optical Image Stablisation and all you get is the 'Steady Shot Mode', which fails to do justice with the images or videos you are shooting.
To compensate, Sony has added the predictive hybrid autofocus, which is an interesting addition to the package. It intelligently tracks the movement of the object while you take a shot.
Besides, you get Sony's usual camera modes to play with such as AR effect, Sound photo, Style portrait, creative effect, etc. My personal favourite is the Background defocus, which can offer some amazing shots if it applies successfully on the scene you are shooting.
The images shot by the rear camera have amazing detailing and the colours also look quite vivid. But sometimes the c amera algorithm aggressively over-saturates the colours and the outcome fails to offer a realistic shot.
The rear camera also does a great job in low-light conditions. The images come out to be less noisy and have ample details. Talking about the 13MP front camera, the sefies come out to be much better than the images shot by most of the smartphone's rear cameras.
On the whole, the imaging performance on the Xperia X is good. The smartphone offers a ton of modes to play with and can deliver some amazing results, but then it is restricted in its own ways and the heating affects it causes to the handset cannot be ignored.
Here are some camera sample shots
Battery
I managed to get a day's back up with a mix u sage (with the Stamina or Ultra-Stamina mode turned off). However, the camera usage really takes a toll on the battery life, especially if you are recording videos in 1080p format. I noticed sharp battery drops while recording videos or playing with different camera modes, which can be a problem as camera is the highlight of the smartphone.
With Stamina mode turned on, Xperia x can last for a day, however make sure you have a charger or a power bank handy with you if you are always hooked to your smartphone. The smartphone also supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology (and as per Sony) that can offer up to 5.5 hours of power with 10 minutes of charging. However you would need Sony's UCH10 charger for that and sadly Sony Xperia X does not include that in package.
Likes
Sony Xperia X offers an old but tried-and-tested design, which is ergonomic and looks every bit of premium. The 5-inch 1080p display is crisp, bright and offers realistic colours.
Besides , the camera can offer some amazing shots and the smartphone also delivers an acceptable multitasking and computing performance.
Dislikes
Sony Xperia X is marred by heating issues and is a victim of high pricing. The camera usage takes a toll on battery backup and at a price point close to Rs 50,000; a Snapdragon 820 SoC would have made more sense.
Verdict
Sony Xperia X has fair challenges to overcome as a flagship smartphone due to its sub-par specifications and high price. The steep pricing will push consumers to opt for other alternatives that offer a better value for money deal.
Minus the pricing, Xperia X is a promising Android smartphone from the house of Sony. The smartphone's centerpiece is its 23MP rear camera that does a decent job. The design is premium, fingerprint sensor works really well and the overall performance is also good.
If Sony had launched the Xperia X Performance that comes with the Snapdragon 820 and IP68 rating at this p rice-point, the company would have made a name for itself in the flagship category. But sadly, Sony Xperia X has to bear the effects of flawed pricing.
Source: Sony Xperia X (Dual SIM): TechRadar India review
No comments:
Post a Comment