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Sony Xperia P review

7.6/10 AVG.
RATING
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Sony Xperia P
Sony Xperia P
Sony Xperia P
Sony Xperia P
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7.6/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia P currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 17 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Sony Xperia P is a fashion-forward device that's sure to turn heads with its large, high-resolution touchscreen display and metallic finish.

It uses a 4-inch qHD (540x960 pixels) touchscreen panel and features a whole host of high-end niceties which include a powerful 1GHz processor, an ample amount of RAM (16GB), an 8-megapixel camera, and a unibody construction. The design is one of Sony’s more beautiful efforts, and it really stands out in a crowd of similar-looking Android-powered bricks.

The downsides of this phone are its outdated Android software (Gingerbread) and poor battery life.

An upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich might save it, but for now it’s more like the little smartphone that could. Could be improved, that is.

Need to Know: Sony Xperia P

1. Large, 4-inch qHD touchscreen display. (The Good)

2. Fast processor, plenty of RAM and onboard storage. (The Good)

3. No microSD card slot. (The Bad)

4. Default software is a dated version of Android. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
1305 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TelecomTiger
TelecomTiger

The Xperia P from Sony is a great phone in Xperia series and will satisfy one with its features, technicalities and pre installed applications. This is a one of the good mid range smartphone of these days. The only major drawback with this device is its no space for memory card and average battery....

- TT Gadget editor, TelecomTiger
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

The Xperia P comes with 16GB of storage and provides up to 13GB for users, but you can’t expand storage with a microSD card, which puts the Xperia P at a disadvantage to phones such as the Galaxy Ace 2. The Galaxy Ace 2 is like a nicer phone to hold (the Xperia P is so smooth it almost feels as if y...

- Andrew Unsworth, Expert Reviews
Digital Trends
Digital Trends

The Xperia P is not a record-setting handset, though it’s WhiteMagic screen is certainly a winner in my book. The design is clean and the hardware is fast enough to satisfy most users. Assuming the update to Android 4.0 comes through for everyone with the P (some users have gotten it already), it co...

- Jeffrey Van Camp, Digital Trends
Cnet
Cnet

You have to admit the Sony Xperia P is a gorgeous smartphone. Flaunting a stunning design crafted from premium materials, it's a mobile device that has good looks to die for. Unfortunately its major weakness is an underpowered processor, which has serious repercussions. It doesn't have enough speed...

- Brian Bennett, Cnet
Fone Arena
Fone Arena

The Xperia P is a great phone held back by its lack of Android 4.0. Its mid range rivals, the HTC One V , One S are both running Android 4.0. The fantastic screen, camera and overall performance on the other hand go in the Sony’s favor.If Sony sticks to its Android 4.0 rollout timeline, this could v...

- Dhruv Bhutani, Fone Arena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Sony Xperia P prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Sony's suggested retail price is $349.99. You can compare Xperia P prices from around the web here on The Informr.


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


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


If your Xperia P 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"

The Sony Xperia P's screen size is 4 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-Core 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
1305mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1305 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 19.8 days standby time, 420 minutes, 239 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia P Specs

Overview
Release Date May 28, 2012
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-Core 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.18 W/kg
Body: 0.84 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
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 No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Image stabilization, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ 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 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1305 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 270 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 239 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 420 minutes
Standby Time Up to 19.8 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Silver, Red, Pink
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.2 x 5.8 x 1.0 cm (4.8 x 2.3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 120 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, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: 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: MIDI, MP3, MP4, AMR-WB, WAV, M4A, OGG, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM/RDS)
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types:
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Sony LT22i, Sony Nypon
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia P Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia P
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