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Sony Xperia ion review

6.7/10 AVG.
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Sony Xperia ion
Sony Xperia ion
Sony Xperia ion
Sony Xperia ion
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6.7/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia ion currently has an Informr score of 6.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 21 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Sony Xperia ion is one of the most powerful Android smartphones available in its price range. The only problem with it is that it is driving an older version of the Android software, one that is more than one clean step behind the latest flavor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. As it is seemingly stuck with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, is the Sony Xperia ion still worth a look?

There are many so-called high-end smartphones available in the market today with Google’s open-source Android operating system. However, most of these are really fairly disappointing upon closer inspection. But not the Sony Xperia ion. Even though it comes with rather dated software pre-installed, the included hardware features will definitely not let you down.

First of all, the handset comes with a 4.5-inch HD color touchscreen display. It also boasts a 12-megapixel main camera with LED flash and 16x digital zoom, which with Sony optics makes it one of the absolute best cameraphones in its class. It even has several special camera features like face detection and panorama mode, to boot.

The ion comes wrapped in a case that has a 10mm thin profile. In such a sleek body, it manages to pack in Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, support for HDMI, microUSB, and microSD cards, and a powerful 1900 mAh battery. All of these hardware features are handled smoothly by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 processor and 1GB of RAM. Storage-wise, there’s 16GB of user available space.

This really is one impressive piece of plastic, glass and metal from a hardware standpoint. However, it’s the use of dated software that kills it. Unless you’re a loyal Sony fan or someone who wants the quality usually associated with the Sony brand, it would be best to wait out for the software updates that would give the Xperia ion the latest version of the Android software.

Need To Know: Sony Xperia ion

1. Powerful hardware features all around, including a high-speed mobile processor, ample RAM, and a sizable amount of internal storage space. (The Good)

2. Built-in camera and flash combination makes the Sony Xperia ion one of the better cameraphones available on the market today. (The Good)

3. Uses an older version of the Android software in Android 2.3 Gingerbread. (The Bad)

4. Does not come with built-in NFC. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.5"
12+ MP
Camera
Camera
12+ MP
1900 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TelecomTiger
TelecomTiger

Xperia ion is a super phone which meets all the aspirations of youth. At this price range phones, it is a good buy.

- Telecom Tiger Team, TelecomTiger
Mobile88
Mobile88

SONY's flagship phone is nice in many ways. It has a pretty design with a great screen and build to match. It can also be hooked up to a HDTV which is great for sharing pictures and videos taken using the phone. The processor isn't the best by today's standards but it is still good enough to run An...

- Chong Jinn Xiung, Mobile88
Fone Arena
Fone Arena

It is difficult to fault the Xperia Ion in terms of its build quality or looks and there are no glaring omissions in the phone. What is missing is an extra layer of polish in the software which would have helped evade the fairly common lockups and forced closes. Add to it the astonishing price and...

- Dhruv Bhutani, Fone Arena
Androinica
Androinica

The Sony Xperia ion is a great smartphone on AT&T for those who need to capture some great photos and videos, watch tons of videos, and play games on a speedy phone. The Xperia ion is a quality smartphone available for $99 with AT&T on a two year contract.My only complaints include the fact that its...

- Natesh Sood, Androinica
Android and Me
Android and Me

The Sony Xperia ion was one of the best devices we saw at CES. It had an inspired design, amazing display and a camera which was ahead of its competition. The big issues we have with the Xperia ion don’t really have anything to do with the device, but with the amount of time it took Sony and A...

- Nick Gray, Android and Me


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


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


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


If your Xperia ion 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
4.5"

The Sony Xperia ion's screen size is 4.5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8260 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 12+ MP camera.

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

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1900mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1900 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 0.5 days standby time, 600 minutes, 356 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia ion Specs

Overview
Release Date June 24, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8260 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.05 W/kg
Body: 0.57 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
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
12+ Megapixels
Zoom
16x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Image stabilization, Night mode, Panorama
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ 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 Unknown
Size 4.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1900 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 363 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 356 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 600 minutes
Standby Time Up to 0.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.2 x 6.9 x 1.0 cm (5.2 x 2.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 144 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, IM
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Wallpapers
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: 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
TV Out Info: HDMI
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, MP4, eAAC+, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
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)
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types: DOC, PDF, PPT, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Sony LT28at

ANT+ technology
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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