What's good
- Attractive design
- Good battery life
- Versatile connectivity (including NFC)
What's bad
- Weak display
- No LTE support
- 1GB RAM
The Sony Xperia M is an entry level handset that features a 4-inch, 854 x 480 resolution display, a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage - expandable up to 32GB. It’s bundled with Android Jellybean 4.1 operating system and has Sony’s custom user interface overlaid.
One differentiator from other phones in its class is the Adrenos 305 GPU processor, which aids in its ability to render graphics. “Owing to the midrange Adreno 305 GPU, demanding games are no problem for the Xperia M,” says Notebookcheck.
Rounding out the primary feature set, the phone has a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 0.3 front-facing camera. The camera has an HDR mode, which “works quite well and is particularly useful for objects with varying light exposures,” according to Notebookcheck. "The camera is quite useful for the occasional snapshot in good light in practical use, but it cannot replace a compact camera". The removable battery is rated at around 9-10 hours of talk time.
The front of the phone has no physical buttons, which means the small, 4 inch display loses some real estate due to the virtual buttons that Sony uses instead. However, the small screen helps make the most of the 480 x 854 pixel resolution. According to Trusted Reviews, the 245 ppi pixel density means "it's never going to give you Retina like clarity, but for reading web pages, text is nice and clear."
Overall, reviewers give the Xperia M average overall marks as an entry level device. Phonearena sums up by saying that its "a phone with good looks, streamlined user interface that we actually like, and a powerful chip for its class."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Matt Egan, TechWorldThe Sony Xperia M is a bulky but stylish budget Android phone.
- Michael Passingham, Expert ReviewsThe Xperia M takes its design cues from Sony’s upper tier Xperia Z devices while attempting to keep costs down to cater for buyers on a budget.
- Jonathan Bray, PC ProThis can't rescue what is a disappointing handset from Sony. It looks and feels cheap, the display is underwhelming, and the camera is awful. It's a good performer for the price, but that's its only redeeming feature.
- Jon Mundy, TechRadarYou have to feel a little sorry for Sony. It produces a perfectly solid Android smartphone with a handful of neat features, all for a low price tag, only to see it completely undermined by the Moto G.Even taking such an exceptional competitor out of the reckoning, though, the Xperia M finds itself f...
- TT Gadget Editor, TelecomTigerThe Sony Xperia M is a good phone in this price range and offers good exciting features. The 4 inch screen display is good but screen resolution is bit low, the battery life is good and the features embedded are better and abundant. But there are few options that this phone is missing such as: HD vi...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia M user manual here.
Sony backs up the Xperia M with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Xperia M 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 M Manual (PDF)
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