Most mid-tier Android smartphones don’t have any real distinguishing characteristics. As a result, the market may look like it’s filled with endless copies of the exact same handset wearing a slightly different outfit. This is fortunately not the case with the Sony Xperia sola, which apart from carrying standard mid-range Android features, also boasts one curious bit of display wizardry: floating touch technology. It enables users to manipulate elements on the touchscreen display without even touching the screen itself. It’s either the future or a lousy gimmick. Either way, it’s nice.
The sola is equipped with a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM. Its spec sheet says it has 8GB of internal storage space but in reality only 5GB of it is available for use. There is however a microSD slot that takes cards up to 32GB. The sola also has several other noteworthy hardware features which include a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash, stereo speakers, HSUPA data, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, NFC, and microUSB connectivity. It also offers up to 5 hours of talk time in 3G and about 40 hours of non-stop music playback.
It’s clear that the sola has a well-rounded smartphone feature-set. The thing is, most reviews indicate that it might have been a better overall performer if the default operating system had been Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Gingerbread. With that said, it’s still not a bad choice if what you’re after is getting bang for your buck.
Need to Know: Sony Xperia sola
1. Equipped with speedy dual-core processor. (The Good)
2. Boasts a unique new feature called floating touch technology. (The Good)
3. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is the default OS instead of a later version of Android. (The Bad)
4. Comes with a limited amount of on-board RAM and internal storage space. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Gaurav Shukla, NDTVSony had some nice mid-rangers last year and Xperia sola isn't different. The Japanese manufacturer has continued to impress us with a stable and value for money Xperia sola. However, it is important to point out that absence of ICS and front camera surely goes against the smartphone. An Xperia sola...
- GSMArena team, GSMArenaThe Sony Xperia sola strives to give you a feature-rich experience to set itself apart from the crowd of midrange droids.
- Joseph Hanlon, CnetSony's Xperia Sola is a respectable mid-tier phone, with a good smattering of features and decent performance. Some that will argue that its 3.7-inch screen is too small for various smartphone tasks and the colour banding issues we've encountered may be a deal-breaker for others. Both impact on mult...
- Tan Ming Sin, Mobile88The Xperia Sola does not offer high-end specs, however you sure can look forward to its floating technology. What we can say is that the Xperia Sola is still not at its best. Nonetheless, you can consider it pretty good value for money.
- Nick T., PhoneArenaAfter putting it through its paces, we can conclude that the Sony Xperia sola is a well-made Android smartphone. If you are looking for a decent mid-range offering that gets you a good amount of bang for the buck, do not hesitate to check it out! We would definitely recommend it over smartphones lik...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia sola user manual here.
Sony backs up the Xperia sola with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Xperia sola 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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Sony Xperia sola Manual (PDF)
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