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Sony Xperia T3 review

7/10 AVG.
RATING
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Sony Xperia T3
Sony Xperia T3
Sony Xperia T3
Sony Xperia T3
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7/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia T3 currently has an Informr score of 7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 18 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Incredibly thin and light
  • Fairly sharp screen with good color reproduction
  • Long battery life

What's bad

  • Slow performance when using more intensive apps
  • Poor viewing angles on screen
  • A bit too tall for easy one-handed use

The Xperia T3 is Sony's answer to the booming mid-range smartphone market. While it doesn't share the high end specs of the Xperia Z2 flagship, it is incredibly thin at 0.3 inches and weighs a scant 148 grams. While slim, it unfortunately veers into the "too tall" category at 5.9 inches, most of which is due to very large top and bottom bezel around the display. While reviewers describe the phone as easy to grip, they add that the added height makes it difficult to use one-handed.

Taking up most of the 5.9 inches is the T3's 5.3-inch display. It offers a 720p resolution and a pixel density of 277ppi. While it might not qualify as retina, experts describe it as "adequately sharp" without any noticeable pixilation. As well, they praise the overall color reproduction though the Times of India states, "colors tend to be warmer than they actually are." Viewing angles, unfortunately, are not the T3's strong suit as critics discovered that colors quickly appear washed out.

In order to minimize the phone costs, Sony has opted for lower end specs for the T3. While the 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM were generally zippy enough for experts during normal use, they ran into latency issues when trying to use more processor-intensive apps like 3D games. However, they add that it is powerful enough to easily playback 1080p videos and more casual games. Internal storage is limited to 8GB though it can be expanded to up to 32GB via the microSD slot. The one standout piece of hardware is the T3's battery. At 2,500mAh the battery might not be that large, but due to the lower end display and processor it was able to provide reviewers with up to 11 hours of very heavy use and over a day of moderate use.

Photo quality with the 8MP rear camera didn't wow critics but it didn't necessarily disappoint either. Indian Express states, "The 8MP camera is good, but there is no way you can compare it with the Z2." Others add that the low light pictures were very blurry as the camera couldn't focus properly.

In comparison to other smartphones in the same market, reviewers have a hard time recommending the Xperia T3. NDTV says, "The two things going for the Sony Xperia T3 are its great battery lie and decent camera…but…it just isn't compelling enough for us to recommend."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.4 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.4 GHz
5.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.3"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2500 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

One area where Sony fails miserably is with the pricing of the Xperia T3. At Rs. 27,990, even the limited period offer of a bundled SmartBand and premium case is not enticing enough. The two things going for the Sony Xperia T3 are its great battery life and decent camera performance, but nothing els...

- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360
Beta News
Beta News

Sony's handsets always seem to be a bit chalk and cheese. If you are a fan of the whole Sony ecosystem then the range of apps dedicated to the company's wares will have clear appeal. For those not so loyal, there are still goodies to be had, but the array of apps seems to lack cohesion. Elsewhere, S...

- Sandra Vogel, Beta News
The Lowdown
The Lowdown

The Huawei P8 might not be as sexy as Samsung or some of the other premier smartphones, but having spent some time with it, we don’t think it’s too far behind the big boys. It’s got some really imaginative features (some almost too imaginative, maybe), and both the front and rear c...

- The Lowdown Team, The Lowdown
Digital Versus
Digital Versus

Looking at specs only, the Sony Xperia T3 is too expensive for a low-cost phone. All the same, it would be a shame not to give it a chance, because it has a lot going for it, and not a lot going against it. Between its quality display, great camera (for stills), overall speedy navigation and thin bo...

- Sofian Nouira, Digital Versus
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

There are several points that make Sony's Xperia T3 Style appealing. Firstly, we very much liked the screen with its exemplary brightness. Then, the smartphone scored with its build, including the metal bezel. The operating speed and gaming performance also proved good, and the message LED in the re...

- Andre Reinhardt, Notebookcheck


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Sony Xperia T3 prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Sony's suggested retail price is $399.99. You can compare Xperia T3 prices from around the web here on The Informr.


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia T3 user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia T3 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia T3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5.3"

The Sony Xperia T3's screen size is 5.3 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.4 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8228 Quad core 1.4 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2500mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2500 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 887 minutes, 333 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia T3 Specs

Overview
Release Date August 2, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8228 Quad core 1.4 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.479 W/kg
Body: 0.966 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, DUN, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Panorama, Burst mode, HDR, Scene recognition
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, XviD, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 277 pixels
Size 5.3 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2500 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 494 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 333 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 887 minutes
Standby Time Up to 28.7 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Purple
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 cm (5.9 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 148 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony Xperia Style, D5102, D5103, D5106

D5103/D5106 model has Qualcomm MSM8928-2 Quad core 1.4 GHz processor

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia T3 Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia T3
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