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Sony Xperia SP review

7.7/10 AVG.
RATING
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Sony Xperia SP
Sony Xperia SP
Sony Xperia SP
Sony Xperia SP
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7.7/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia SP currently has an Informr score of 7.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 18 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.7 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.7 GHz
4.6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.6"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2370 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

The Sony Xperia SP is a fantastic phone. It has its flaws, but they’re not quite enough to stop it from being an outstanding mid-range handset. With all the speed and power of a high-end quad-core phone, it’s also brilliant value. It wins a Best Buy award.

- Katharine Byrne, Expert Reviews
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

The Sony Xperia SP has the spec and price of a mid-range Android smartphone, but when you actually get the device in your hands and start using it any ideas of it being mediocre go out of the window. It really is a class act, so if you're looking for a good phone to browse the web, perform tasks qui...

- David Court, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

The Sony Xperia SP has the spec and price of a mid-range Android smartphone, but when you actually get the device in your hands and start using it any ideas of it being mediocre go out of the window. It really is a class act, so if you're looking for a good phone to browse the web, perform tasks qui...

- David Court, Tech Advisor
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

The Sony Xperia SP is a reasonable Android smartphone boasting decent performance and battery life and all the inherent perks of its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mobile operating system. However, the phone's ability to shine is hampered by a slightly dull display, an ordinary camera, not much internal sto...

- Alastair Stevenson, The Inquirer
The Register
The Register

The Xperia SP suffers from some of the same failings as the Xperia Z but also benefits from many of the same strengths. The difference is that the failings are fewer, and, at the price, more forgivable. The strengths, again at the price, are more gratifying. The large screen, top-notch build quality...

- Alun Taylor, The Register


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Sony Xperia SP 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 $379.99. You can compare Xperia SP prices from around the web here on The Informr.


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


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


If your Xperia SP 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
4.6"

The Sony Xperia SP's screen size is 4.6 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.7 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8960Pro Dual core 1.7 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 4.3 Jelly Bean) operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

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

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

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2370mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2370 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 1133 minutes, 378 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia SP Specs

Overview
Release Date April 30, 2013
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 4.3 Jelly Bean)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8960Pro Dual core 1.7 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.63 W/kg
Body: 1.08 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
16x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Panorama, Red-eye reduction, HDR, Scene Recognition, Exposure value
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
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 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 319 pixels
Size 4.6 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, 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 2370 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 456 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 378 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1133 minutes
Standby Time Up to 30.6 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Red, White Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.1 x 6.7 x 1 cm (5.2 x 2.6 x 0.4 in)
Weight 155 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: AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, eAAC+, MIDI, MP3, OGG, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, AVI, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
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/RDS)
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Sony C5303
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia SP Reviews
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