The Xperia 10 IV is Sony’s most recent mid-range phone, but like so many other Xperia models, there are concerns over whether it will live up to its high price. A deceptively large battery can fit inside the thin and light frame, and UI elements like side sense make multitasking simple. However, there are some rough edges due to sluggish cameras and staticky audio. also, you can check our article on Sony Xperia 10 IV review. With regard to the design of its mid-range smartphone, Sony is not following the herd. The 6-inch phone’s screen corners are relatively thick, and unlike several competitors in its price range, it lacks a curved display. There is a matte plastic coating that covers the bezel in place of the glass back. Due to its light rubber coating, it provides exceptional grip, feels high-quality, and has the appearance of a protective cover. The colour options for the smartphone include lavender, mint, black, and white.
Design
With its tall and lean 21:9 display aspect ratio, the Xperia 10 IV unmistakably resembles a Sony smartphone. However, the Xperia 10 IV is significantly smaller than almost every other phone available today at 6 inches. Because of this, the Sony phone seems much smaller in your hand than the majority of current smartphones, even the 6.1-inch Pixel 6a. Additionally, the Xperia 10 IV weighs only 163g (5.75 oz). The new Xperia, according to Sony, is the world’s lightest 5G phone due to its dimensions. Without a doubt, this is a candidate for a spot in our list of the best tiny phones. The only similarly diminutive phone is the iPhone SE, but Apple’s device has even more retro design cues including a physical home button and a small display surrounded by thick bezels. The 5.9-inch Asus Zenfone 9 is another option, but it is £280 more expensive than the Xperia 10 IV. The Zenfone 9 is a good option if you want the greatest tiny phone currently on the market, but it’s not the ideal choice if you’re on a tight budget. The Xperia 10 IV has a very understated appearance overall, with just a slight camera bump on the back. The simple black hue you can see in the photographs and the drab plastic body also don’t help much. The Xperia 10 IV is also available in more striking hues like White, Mint, and Lavender. On closer inspection, though, you’ll see that Sony made several intriguing design decisions that you won’t find on other contemporary phones. With just a finger, you can pop in and out of the simple-to-remove SIM/microSD card tray and switch to a different number or a brand-new SD card for additional images.
Sony Xperia 10 IV review: Display
The Xperia 10 IV’s display is rather bright, and it also has really high color accuracy, which is fantastic news. Our test supports Sony’s claim that the new model has 15% greater brightness. There are no camera cutouts or notches, which is typical of Sony, and the 6-inch OLED screen is simply stunning to look at. The framerate rate is firmly set at 60Hz, which is bad news. The fact that many midrange phones in the same price range now provide 90Hz (or even 120Hz) refresh rates may not be a deal-breaker. Therefore, the display is in perfect condition and is perfect for watching movies and videos. The resolution is the same as the previous model’s FullHD+ (1080 x 2520 and 479 PPI), which results in a clear and vibrant image. There are two colour modes—original and standard—in relation to vivid. While the second delivers the most accurate colour reproduction, the first one somewhat intensifies the hues. Additionally, you can change the white balance to your preferred setting in order to make the display warmer or colder.
Software
As you explore the Xperia 10 IV, you’ll see a lot of native Android 12 features, which we don’t mind at all. Every choice is where you would expect it to be, and the distinctive additions, such Window Manager, are useful ones. It looks beautiful too. There are many pre-installed apps from Sony, including some less surprising ones like the PlayStation App and Sony Headphones as well as third-party programmes like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Booking.com. you can read our article on Sony Xperia 10 IV review. If you purchase this phone, you may need to spend some time uninstalling apps or organizing them into folders in order to customize your home screens. You’ll receive two more years of Android updates from Sony in the future. That was the standard for Android phones, but now that Google and Samsung are delivering three and four years of updates, respectively, Sony is beginning to appear stingy.
Sony Xperia 10 IV review: Hardware and performance
The Sony Xperia 10 IV has internal specifications that are solidly in the mid-range, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of on-board storage (which you can expand with a memory card if you need to). If you can connect to a next-generation network wherever you live, this phone is totally 5G ready. Overall, performance was speedy and fluid, but we occasionally noticed the phone lagging when dealing with extremely difficult tasks, such quickly moving between complex apps. But it’s not a big deal; most apps and games function without any problems. The performance level you’re receiving here is lower mid-range, as seen by the phone’s Geekbench scores of 660 (single core), 1819 (multi core), and 1353 (OpenCL). In contrast, the Google Pixel 6a achieved a multi-core score of 2837, which is closer to what you would find in high-end premium smartphones. The single speaker on this phone is very weak; it doesn’t have much of a punch, even at maximum volume, and you won’t be counting on it for high-fidelity music playback if you’re planning to watch a lot of movies or listen to podcasts on it. The lone speaker performs a passable job, but nothing more. A different story is the headphone jack, which works with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and DSEE Ultimate standards and lets you adjust these features using the phone’s software.
Camera
A 12MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP telephoto lens with f/2.2 aperture, and an 8MP ultrawide lens with f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree lens make up the triple camera configuration on the rear. To put this camera system in a few words, the Xperia 10 IV has an adaptable camera system that performs well in most situations. Up front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. From the primary rear camera, details are clear, and colour science provides a pleasingly balanced image. These features, along with an expressive contrast, give each shot a punchy quality under most lighting conditions. Although the main lens’ optical image stabilisation (OIS) does some heavy lifting for low-light shooting, it is unable to compensate for the somewhat smaller images, which results in noisy, lacklustre images. Ultra-wide photos have substantially poorer image quality since the light balance can be quite difficult to achieve and the edges of the image can start to seem a touch fuzzy. Photos taken at night are incredibly grainy without the use of OIS. You may also see the same thing clearly using a telephoto lens, which produces mulch-like results similarly. But the cameras and software in particular are the biggest issue we have with it. You see, quick focus is necessary for those fleeting moments in smartphone photography. The process of watching the phone concentrate and store the image after pressing the shutter button lasts for roughly 2-3 seconds. Additionally, We are given a fuzzy mess if we are impatient and put the phone in our pocket right after pushing the shutter button. Therefore, you’re still waiting while others have taken the picture and moved on—not ideal! Thankfully, the front-facing camera produces clear, vibrant images without any AI enhancement tools. It generates authentic images from start to finish, which is uncommon among many Android phones at this price range. In terms of video, you can only capture up to 1080p at 60 frames per second (no 4K), which results in the expectedly unimpressive and slowly focusing images. Overall, this camera system is unsatisfactory because it does the necessary function but makes your life difficult. also, you can learn our article on Sony Xperia 10 IV review.
Sony Xperia 10 IV review: Battery life
Nobody will bemoan the Sony Xperia 10 IV’s short battery life. It has one of the best battery lives of any phones we’ve used in the past year or so, which more than makes up for the various drawbacks we’ve already discussed in this review. The Sony Xperia 10 IV might very well survive the better part of two days between charges if you fit the profile of the individual to whom we would genuinely recommend the device—someone who doesn’t want to play heavy games or stream a lot of video. On a few occasions, by the time we went to bed, the change was virtually completely gone. It’s impressive to see this kind of endurance in a phone that’s so small and light. Both the Pixel 6a and OnePlus Nord 2T, two smartphones that outperform the Sony in terms of camera image quality and performance, will be easily outlasted by the Sony Xperia 10 IV. However, issues do arise even in this area of the Sony Xperia 10 IV, which is its strongest. There is no charger included, and while using a high-power USB-PD adapter, the charging speed was low. While it can support charging rates of up to 20W, the majority of the charge is completed with 10W or less. You can expect a charge to take about 2.5 hours, and if the battery level rises above 50%, the charge rate almost disappears while the screen is on.
Price and availability
Although it isn’t formally available in Australia, the Sony Xperia 10 IV has a retail price of $449 / £429, which converts to approximately AU$650. Of course, depending on your location, you might find variants on it as well as particular discounts. The phone has been on sale in the markets where it is offered since June 2022. You can tell from the price where this phone falls: in the lower mid-range, just above the least budget phones available. It truly offers a fair amount of value for your money if you adjust your expectations in accordance with that price.
Conclusion
The Sony cheap phone performs admirably in key areas. Sony has instead thought about how to condense the essence of the Xperia series without sacrificing essential performance, in contrast to many affordable Android phones that only achieve affordability by making significant compromises. The Xperia 10 IV may not be flawless, but for those looking for an entry-level Android that also serves as a portable movie watching companion, it delivers outstanding value thanks to a screen that impresses for the price and satisfying headphone audio.
