Sony Xperia S

$395 - $581 Compare Prices

7/10

720 x 1280 display
Android
World Phone
Touchscreen
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Speakerphone
GPS
Memory slot
FM Radio
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There’s no other way to describe the Sony Xperia S other than a very capable multimedia device that’s filled to the brim with top-of-the-line hardware and software features. Currently, it is Sony’s flagship Android smartphone and is considered by many as one of the most handsome phones available on the mobile phone shelves.

Sony smartphones—and yes, that includes the ones that were released under the Sony Ericsson brand back when it was still alive—have always been characterized as having excellent built-in cameras. The Sony Xperia S is of course no exception. It boasts a built-in 12-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, plus it comes with several nice extras such as touch focus, face and smile detection, 3D sweep panorama, image stabilization, and geo-tagging capabilities. The rest of the phone just further emphasizes Sony’s focus on multimedia for the Xperia S. The display is an LED-backlit LCD touchscreen that supports multi-touch and measures 4.3-inches diagonally. It offers a native resolution of 720x1280 and is able to display images with rich color and textures with the help of the proprietary Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine. A front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera makes taking portrait photos easier. There’s also an excellent built-in loudspeaker that can be used not only with the music player but also with the built-in FM radio.

With all of that said, the Sony Xperia S is also one of the most powerful smartphones that you can get in its price range. It runs on a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, has 1GB of RAM, and comes with 32GB of internal storage. It also has a whole host of wireless features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSDPA data, GPS, and even NFC. All of these come in extra handy when trying to make the most out of the built-in software as part of the default operating system, which is Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

All in all, the Sony Xperia is kind of like a smartphone that’s in a league of its own. If the world famous branding or the striking good looks don’t get you, perhaps the hardware and software features will.

Need to Know: Sony Xperia S

1. Default operating system can be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the 4th quarter of 2012. (The Good)

2. Makes use of cutting-edge technology such as NFC capability to let on-the-go users enjoy unique features such as SmartTags. (The Good)

3. Although made mostly out of plastic materials, it still ends up feeling quite heavy in the hand. (The Bad)

4. Having a large screen makes it less ergonomic than many other phones on the market. (The Bad)

Prices (Where To Buy)

Sony Xperia S Lt26i-wh Unlocked Phone With 12 Mp Camera, Android 2.3 Os, Dual-core Processor, And 4.3-inch Touchscreen--u.s. Warranty (white) from Amazon Merchant

•Condition: New
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No

$394.99

Sony Ericsson ER-LT26I Unlocked Cellphone, US Warranty (White) from Amazon Merchant

•Condition: New
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No

$456.00

Sony LT26I-BK Xperia S NXT Series Unlocked GSM Android Smartphone from Amazon Merchant

•Condition: New
•Availability: In Stock
•Contract: No

$581.01

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Latest Reviews

A powerful phone with superb functions

Telecom Tiger Team from TelecomTiger (4 months ago)

8/10

Multimedia lovers will like it for its excellent camera and screen, standard micro HDMI port, Great audio quality and huge storage. NFC technology inbuilt with1750 mAh strong battery life Xperia S lives up to the expectations. But its rectangular, sharp body does not fit into hands easily. On all other... More

Flaunts an eye-catching design, Android 4.0, and a connection to Sony's large movie and music library

Brian Bennett from Cnet (10 months ago)

6/10

I have to say I had high hopes for the Sony Xperia S. Its aggressive futuristic style will certainly turn heads, something few smartphones are capable of. There are risks to pushing the design envelope, however, and the Xperia S stumbles in places. Its capacitive buttons are tricky to operate and the... More

The execution just wasn't there to give the Xperia S an edge over its competitors

Michael Oryl from MobileBurn (about 1 year ago)

The Sony Xperia S is a device I expected more from. I liked the look of it from the very start, but found that the fit and finish, and the display, just come up lacking. There was potential, as Sony showed with its fine software, but in the end the execution just wasn't there to give the Xperia S an... More

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