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)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Telecom Tiger Team, TelecomTigerXperia ion is a super phone which meets all the aspirations of youth. At this price range phones, it is a good buy.
- Chong Jinn Xiung, Mobile88SONY'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...
- Dhruv Bhutani, Fone ArenaIt 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...
- Natesh Sood, AndroinicaThe 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...
- Nick Gray, Android and MeThe 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...
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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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Sony Xperia ion Manual (PDF)
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