Sony’s sequence of Xperia gadgets is considerably of an oddity within the smartphone world. Ten years in the past this was removed from the case: due to a stellar sequence of Xperia smartphones, Sony was an enormous participant within the Android sector. That each one fell aside within the late 2010s resulting from complicated branding and the corporate pumping out too many smartphones in brief succession, and it has been trying to regain that spark ever since.
Whereas we don’t see many Sony smartphone customers within the wild, right here at What Hello-FI? we’ve been persistently impressed by the relaunch of Xperia gadgets that started with the Xperia 1 in 2019. Sony has come a good distance since then, now on its fifth era of Xperia smartphones consisting of three fashions; the flagship Xperia 1, the mid-range Xperia 5 and the entry-level Xperia 10 – the one we’re right here to speak about in the present day.
Final yr’s Xperia 10 IV completely impressed us, providing virtually unmatched AV efficiency on the worth. It even took residence an Award for its stellar efficiency. Now a yr on, we have now the Xperia 10 V, a modest improve over final yr’s mannequin, however an improve nonetheless. Does it reside as much as its predecessor? And might it as soon as once more ship transportable music and film excellence at a fraction of the value of its larger and way more costly sibling, the Xperia 1 V?
Value
At £349, the Xperia 10 V is in some way even cheaper than its predecessor, which launched at £429. There’s one slight subject, nonetheless, and that’s relating to availability. Very like the ten IV, this new mannequin is as soon as once more not formally launching within the US or Australia, so we’ll should approximate costs at roughly $430 / AU$670.
The Xperia 10 V remains to be a less expensive possibility than the Xperia 1 V although, with that flagship mannequin retailing for £1299 / $1399. That being mentioned, the ten V is certainly not as premium in terms of construct and options, as we will see.
Construct
Not a lot has modified since final yr in terms of the Xperia 10 V’s construct. It’s nonetheless 100 per cent plastic, which is predicted at this worth level. As plastic telephones go, the Sony is a very good one to carry, with clean edges and backing that make it snug and simple to grip. It’s additionally astonishingly mild at simply 159g, making comparative gadgets really feel like lead weight with their aluminium and glass enclosures.
It’s accessible in 4 finishes; Black, White, Lavender and Sage Inexperienced, with the final two color choices providing a extra vibrant pastel end – one thing to contemplate for those who desire to steer clear of conventional monochromatic mobiles.
Sony Xperia 10 V tech specs
Display measurement 6.1 inches
Display kind OLED
Display decision 1080 x 2520 (449 ppi)
Finishes x 4 (Black, White, Sage Inexperienced, Lavender)
Working system Android 13
Storage 128GB
RAM 6GB
The Xperia 10 V is IP68 mud and water-resistant, which suggests it ought to survive a fast splash in a pool, and is technically rated to last as long as half-hour in a metre of water – though as ever it’s as much as you whether or not you determine to take it swimming or not. A nifty design characteristic on the Sony telephones that doesn’t get sufficient love is its SIM tray. It may be ejected by simply utilizing the thumbnail port and doesn’t require a type of pesky (and simply misplaced) SIM ejector instruments.
Up entrance is a 6.1-inch show in Sony’s trademark 21:9 facet ratio. We’ll discuss the advantages this brings for watching motion pictures momentarily, however first let’s give attention to usability. It’s a double-edged sword to be truthful, as whereas the skinnier show is simpler and extra snug to carry and use with one hand on the horizontal axis, it’s a bit trickier to perform vertical swipes from the highest of the show.
Again to the rear of the gadget, you’ll discover a triple digicam tucked neatly into one nook with a small flash unit on the again. Shifting round to the perimeters of the cellphone we have now a mix energy and fingerprint sensor button, quantity controls, a USB-C port for charging and information, and a 3.5mm headphone jack – bravo to Sony for holding this alive on its telephones.
One facet of the cellphone’s construct that we have now to complain about is haptics. Because of the light-weight plastic construct, all the cellphone rattles and buzzes every time it makes an attempt haptic suggestions, making typing a considerably jarring expertise. Interactive haptics may be disabled within the menu, however there isn’t any choice to as a substitute scale back the power, which might be extra appreciated.
Options
Internally the Xperia 10 V is similar to its predecessor. It’s utilizing the very same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chip as final yr’s cellphone, with the identical 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There does seem like an upgraded mannequin with 8GB of RAM in some areas, though the UK doesn’t seem like included. If 128GB of storage isn’t sufficient, you possibly can improve storage by way of the Micro SD slot as much as 1TB if you want.
Day-to-day efficiency on the Sony is suitable, it’s actually not as responsive because the Xperia 1, however at this worth, we would not count on it to be. It’s operating Android 13 presently, though we anticipate an replace to Android 14 might be coming quickly. Whereas there’s no discernible stuttering inside the working system and apps usually load rapidly, we do have considerations in regards to the longevity of the gadget contemplating it’s utilizing an ageing processor.
Shifting onto the show, the Xperia makes use of an OLED panel with a 1080p decision, a pixel density of 449, and a 60Hz refresh charge. It helps HDR and reaches a most of 624 nits peak brightness. For the cash, that is an admirably specced display, and it is specifically spectacular that it is an OLED.
Sound options are additionally plentiful on the Xperia, with loads of performance for wired and wi-fi audio. Excessive decision audio is supported by means of the three.5mm headphone jack and wirelessly by means of the LDAC Bluetooth codec, in addition to assist for Sony’s 360 Actuality Audio immersive format and Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec. One of many largest upgrades for the Xperia 10 this yr is the introduction of stereo loudspeakers, straight addressing certainly one of our few qualms with the prior era. The Mark V makes use of a front-facing stereo pair, with a mix loudspeaker and earpiece association that’s way more highly effective than final yr’s measly mono speaker. The one draw back is that this extra energy does outcome within the chassis of the Xperia vibrating when the quantity is cranked up.
Digicam efficiency additionally will get fairly a noticeable increase this yr, with a 48MP principal sensor changing the 12MP one on the ten IV. The telephoto and ultrawide lenses stay at 8MP. In follow, the photographs that the ten V captures aren’t something notably nice, with a particular lack of element and depth, and hues are likely to look a bit washed out, however it will get the job finished in a pinch. The front-facing 8MP digicam is equally flat and noticeably grainy, making this a tough cross total for budding smartphone photographers.
Lastly, the cellphone makes use of the identical 5000mAh cell as its predecessor which, when mixed with the pretty low power processor, 60Hz display and 1080p decision, gives simply a full day of use. It additionally helps 5G for quicker cell information speeds which makes it best for streaming music and films if in case you have an acceptable information plan.
Image
We’ve but to come back throughout an Xperia cellphone that doesn’t impress within the image division, and the Xperia 10 V isn’t any exception. Very like its predecessor, the Sony presents ludicrous image efficiency for the value, making it probably the most cinematic cellphone we’ve seen for the cash.
Beginning with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney Plus, the Sony’s OLED panel instantly reveals its strengths, providing convincing, deep blacks mixed with glorious distinction that creates a shocking show of house permeated with loads of pinpoint stars. The gleaming planet within the distance of the shot seems stable and there’s a welcome sense of three-dimensionality to the picture regardless of it being a reasonably easy shot.
As Director Krennic’s shuttle enters the environment of the planet, we’re launched to a stunningly brilliant and punchy vista, because the solar gleams on the crashing waves. There’s delicate variation within the blue of the sky that’s captured properly on the Xperia. In reality, colors basically are a key power of the ten V. There’s a heat to the beige tones inside the Verso household homestead and pores and skin tones profit from this too, with a richness that doesn’t prolong to ruddy or overdone.
Element-wise, the Xperia 10 V continues to impress, because the finer wrinkles on Galen Erso’s face are properly outlined, in addition to the folds on the villainous Krennic’s cape. As Krennic enters the foreground of the scene, we as soon as once more get to understand how stable the picture is, and the way three-dimensional it feels. Outlines of characters are clear with out wanting unnaturally sharp, which helps to create this depth impact.
Shifting onto Avatar: The Means of Wateradditionally on Disney Plus, the extraordinary battle sequence in direction of the tip of the movie gives us with an opportunity to review movement on this gadget. Regardless of the hectic digicam actions and many fast-moving topics on display, the Xperia refrains from stuttering and movement stays clean and cinematic. This movie additionally affirms a lot of what we felt from Rogue Onetogether with the colourful colors and glorious readability.
General, the Sony Xperia 10 V excels within the image division, making it difficult to think about something across the similar worth that may rival its efficiency.
Sound
Sonically, the Xperia 10 V sounds higher in some regards, and far the identical as its predecessor in others. The large distinction is the ten V’s speaker efficiency, which is closely improved over final yr. As we’ve already established, Sony has upgraded the funds Xperia to incorporate a stereo speaker set-up like its costlier siblings, and it is a worthy improve.
Whereas it gained’t be the easiest way to take heed to music, watching a bit of Avatar utilizing the built-in audio system proves greater than acceptable, with clear dialogue and a a lot fuller and richer sound in comparison with final yr’s 10 IV. Bassier sound results comparable to explosions are much more impactful and current, and the Xperia 10 V can now higher steadiness quantity with out sounding distorted, skinny and harsh.
Shifting onto headphone audio, it’s an identical story to final yr. Listening to James Blake’s Restrict To Your Love utilizing the three.5mm wired audio enter, we’re handled to a wealthy, detailed and dynamic efficiency that betters most Android telephones that value triple its worth. It presents a spacious and heat sound that retains Blake’s vocal pure and emotive whereas giving it loads of room to breathe amongst the piano and subsequent bass results.
Verdict
Sony has delivered yet one more compelling funds Android cellphone with the Xperia 10 V. Its image and sound efficiency are onerous to consider after we keep in mind how little it prices and, whereas it might not provide cutting-edge inner specs and the digicam is hardly class-leading, it is comfortably the perfect funds cellphone in the marketplace for motion pictures and music.
SCORES
- Image 5
- Sound 5
- Options 3
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