Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is a compact mainstream smartphone with many good features. We liked the bright IPS display with the HD resolution as well as the color presentation and the good system performance. Other positive aspects are the voice quality and the decent camera modules, at least under good lighting conditions. The well-built chassis has a nice design, but is susceptible to scratches and dirt at the plastic back, but it is at least easy to remove dirt thanks to the IP65/68 certification (waterproof and dust-resistant). The features with LTE Cat. 4, dual-band WiFi with a good range and Android Lollipop 5.0 are good. The internal storage is too small at just 3 GB, but can be expanded up to 128 GB via microSD card and the majority of apps can be transferred to it. Thanks to the decent battery runtimes, the device easily manages a whole day without a socket, but the charging time of the integrated battery is unfortunately painfully long. You might still accept that Sony installs quiet a lot of bloat ware and that the display could be better in respect of the contrast and black value, but the temperature development under maximum load can be pretty inconvenient.”
“the Xperia M4 Aqua is a good phone or even the best Sony mid-ranger we have seen recently. And for under €300 (pre-order price), it's a pretty good deal as well. We definitely have to give Sony credit for what it has achieved with the M4 Aqua and even though we singled a few possible competitors, it's really hard to find a 2015 phone from a major brand that would surpass what it offers for this budget - with waterproofing definitely standing out as a key differentiating feature.”
“The mid-range smartphone market is always tricky, especially with budget devices getting so good. If you are looking for something around this price, the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is a solid choice although the Honor 6 is worth a look for extra features. It offers flagship-like design, a great camera and a user-friendly Android Lollipop.”
“The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua features one of our favorite designs for an affordable phone: it’s slim and stylish, and while it’s all plastic, it has the looks and feel of a more expensive gadget. This, however, would not mean much if the phone could not perform well. Luckily, that’s not the case, and the device handles the daily Android grind quickly and mostly stutter-free.The two big downsides of the Xperia M4 Aqua are in the camera department and the limited amount of built-in storage. The 8GB of storage issue can be fixed simply by getting a microSD card, but the slow-to-start and focus camera with middling quality are there to stay. Ultimately, the M4 Aqua is not a bad device, but it’s hard to give it a heart-felt recommendation with those two issues.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
With waterproofing, the familiar omnibalance design and a quad-core processor, Sony is looking to make a splash in the mid-range market with the Xperia M4 Aqua. While it might not be a flagship device, the spec list looks quite nice. But how does it perform when put to the test? Let’s dig into the reviews.
If there was one thing that reviews were on the fence about with the new handset, it would be the materials used to make the phone. While it keeps the omnibalance design, with stereo speakers and the aluminum power button in the center of the phone’s edge, it swaps the glass and metal construction of the Z series with a plastic shell and polycarbonate chassis with a nylon scuff-resistance coating. Trusted Reviews handled the device and found, “There was no undue bend or flex in the body and construction felt strong.” However, all reviews agreed that the phone felt cheaper than many competitors in its price range.
Housed within the shell is a 5-inch 720p IPS display. In a market where 4K phones are looming on the horizon, this resolution is certainly behind many of the competitors. However, thanks to some tweaks from Sony’s Bravia Engine, the reviews of the display are decent. Digital Trends noted that it “looks better than it sounds.” One area of concern many reviews noted was with text clarity. Otherwise, color, contrast and brightness were all applauded.
To keep performance snappy, the phone includes a octa-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM. While the RAM might limit multitasking abilities with heavy apps or games, reviews found no issues with general performance, launching apps or playing the latest games. Trusted Reviews called the M4 Aqua “a strong device at a wallet-friendly price.” It ships with the latest version of Android (Lollipop 5.0) with minimal changes from Sony.
The processor also touts improvements in battery efficiency, which will be important with a 2400mAh non-removable battery. Sony claims that a single charge will net two days of mixed usage and that their STAMINA power saving mode can power the phone with basic functionality for up to five days.
The only area where reviews indicated that performance lagged was taking pictures. Which is a shame, as reviews of the camera are generally positive otherwise. TechRadar said the handset “doesn’t seem up to the task of taking photos at full speed.” As long as you’re not taking quick action shots or catching spur-of-the-moment memories, the 13MP rear-facing camera performs well, even in low-light. If you’re a fan of selfies, the 5MP front-facing camera includes a wide-angle lens to make it easy to cram you and your friends into the shot.
Lastly, the phone includes 8GB of internal storage with roughly 4GB available after Android and pre-loaded apps are installed. Fortunately, it also supports microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity. If you plan to download many games or store music or video on your M4 Aqua, you’ll probably want to invest in a microSD card to add a little more freedom in how you use your phone.
In all, the mid-tier handset receives outstanding reviews. Digital Trends declared that it offers a “level of quality and a lack of compromise that’s rare in this category.” Summing up the reviews well, iDigitalTimes states, “While the plastic build does make the device feel cheap, the trade off of a good camera, battery, display and snappy performance, at a great price point is more than worth it.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua released?
The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua was released on June 12, 2015.
How long does the battery last on the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua?
The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua has a 2,400 mAh battery.
Does the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua have NFC?
Yes, the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua?
Visit Sony's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua manual?
You can view and download the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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I found an answer to black screen video playback although had sound. It was Vodaphone http://deviceguides.vodafone.ie/web/sony-xperia-m4-aqua/explore/camera-pictures-and-video-clips/use-video-recorder. I followed every step and it worked great. I'm not very tech savvy but very happy I solved it. I originally pressed buttons and changed settings not realising what I was doing as new phone. I hope it helps.