Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
Sony Xperia C
Sony Xperia C
Sony Xperia C
Sony Xperia C
...


8/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia C currently has an Informr score of 8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 2 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Excellent battery life
  • Decent day-to-day performance
  • Good build quality

What's bad

  • Low resolution display
  • Very limited onboard storage
  • Performance lag during multi-tasking

The Xperia C is Sony's attempt to gain back some of the mid-range market segment it has lost to other phone manufacturers. The lower cost of entry does mean that Sony had to forego many of the premium materials and specs that graced the Xperia Z flagship. Instead of incorporating metal into the chassis of the phone, the Xperia C is made entirely of soft touch plastic. It suffers from the same thick bezels as the Xperia Z, which makes it slightly on the large size at 5.6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches. Luckily, it was still comfortable for reviewers to use the phone for long periods of time.

The front of the Xperia C is dominated by the 5-inch, 540x960 qHD display, for an underwhelming pixel density of 220ppi. The lower resolution means that reviewers had some issues with aliasing around UI icons and reading smaller text on the web. Still, they go on to say that the resolution isn't terrible as images are still relatively sharp and the display itself has vibrant colors and good whites. They note though that viewing angles and deep blacks are not the Xperia C's strong points.

Although it doesn't have the latest Snapdragon chipset, the Xperia C does come with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It is, by no stretch of the imagination, what experts consider a gamer's rig but it performed without a hitch during basic tasks and casual games. Once they started multitasking, however, there was some noticeable choppiness and lag. The 4GB of internal storage will disappoint many serial app downloaders. There is an expandable microSD slow but it only allows up to 32GB. Perhaps the only impressive piece of hardware is the 2,330 mAh battery. Critics were able to get 2 days-worth of moderate usage and were able to extend it to three when just using it for basic tasks.

As with the rest of the phone, the 8MP camera isn't awful, but it isn't show stopping either. Reviewers were able to capture decent images with good color in decent lighting, but once they ventured into low light territory, images were blurry and grainy. They did appreciate the fast autofocus and LED flash but The Mobile Indian notes, "…there are many handsets below this price point that could deliver the same."

Overall, reviewers consider the Sony Xperia C a decent mid-range device though not as competitive as it could be. NDTV states, "The Sony Xperia comes with a decent 5-inch display, good build quality and decent battery backup…However, we cannot say that the Xperia C is expcetional…" Phone Arena says, "…we actually enjoyed fondling with the Sony Xperia C…Individual things…could have been better, yet at the end of the day, they felt perfectly adequate."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2390 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


NDTV
NDTV

The Sony Xperia C comes with a decent 5-inch display, good build quality and decent battery backup. In addition, Sony's Xperia UI skin on the Xperia C is not as radical as HTC's Sense UI or Samsung's TouchWiz UI, and is simple and easy to use - in this iteration, it is much closer to stock Android t...

- Ketan Pratap, NDTV


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


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


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


If your Xperia C 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 Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Sony Xperia C's screen size is 5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a MediaTek MT6589 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

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

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
4 GB

Internal memory is 4 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2390mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2390 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 25.2 days standby time, 603 minutes, 765 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia C Specs

Overview
Release Date October 3, 2013
Regions Available USA
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor MediaTek MT6589 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 4 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.54 W/kg
Body: 0.36 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM Yes
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, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Image stabilization, Night mode, Panorama, Scene mode, Exposure value, HDR, Metering
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 220 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, 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 2390 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 632 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 765 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 603 minutes
Standby Time Up to 25.2 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Purple
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 cm (5.6 x 2.9 x 0.4 in)
Weight 153 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 Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, MP4, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, WAV, M4A, SMAF, OGG, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM/RDS)
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Sony C2305, C2304
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia C Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia C
Suggest a correction