Introduction
As its name suggests it, the Xperia T is an Android smartphone used by Daniel Craig in the James Bond film "Skyfall." On the menu: dual processor heart, 720p HD screen and onboard memory 16GB smartphone is it full of gadgets? What is the T Xperia compete? This is what we see at the end of this test!
Design and components back to overview
The smartphone sports a unique design. Concave rear hull rowing against the current competition which opts instead for back sections. The upper and lower allowances will appeal not maybe not everyone. Fortunately, taking hands remain comfortable, and the thickness (9.35 mm) is controlled. The slightly porous surface that prevents slipping of the mobile hands is not unpleasant, but this material is relatively messy. Wherever possible, prefer the black version. Significant point: the terminal gives an impression of lightness (139 grams). The front end is dominated by a large screen HD with a definition of 1280 x 720 pixels. The viewing angle is excellent, but automatic brightness with backlight at 50%, the colors are a bit of punch. The graphics engine catches up without Bravia Engine when displaying an image, a movie or a game
The mobile is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait SoC MSM8260-A double heart 1.5GHz. We do not complain: it is a chip that offers the best compromise between power and autonomy. However, compared to its counterpart MSM8960 which equips the Lumia 820, we still regret the lack of support for 4G. For 500 Euros without subscription, Sony could avoid deadlock on mobile broadband. RAM is capped at 1 GB, and 16 GB are available for internal storage. Good point: Sony can expand this volume with a micro SD slot (up to 32GB). This delicate attention is increasingly rare - including Android - deserves to be highlighted. However, we would appreciate to have Jelly Bean out of the box. For the latest update system, it was not until the first quarter of 2013.
Sony Interface
Side interface, in addition to the three touch buttons on the screen clean system Android (4.0 and above) along with key "Power" and "Volume", Sony makes an effort to add a dedicated button on the camera. A Dell A2990667 second excellent initiative that is appreciated at its true value. A word about the connectors: the micro USB compatible MHL. In other words, through the use of an adapter (count twenty Euros), the mobile can be connected via HDMI to a TV (or other compatible device). On wireless interfaces, the usual range Wi-Fi (i802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.1, GPS is complemented by a circuit NFC.
James Bond gadgets back to overview
No, the Xperia T is unfortunately not equipped with a communication jammer accompanied by an infrared camera and whatnot gender. This section reports on the additions to the software and hardware features that characterize this Xperia T. Firstly, the TimeScape overlay offers some features related to Facebook and Twitter. For example, RSS Timescape aggregates all posts published on these community sites. Note that many other plug-ins can be downloaded via the Play Store in submitting the query "Timescape".
Timescape Timescape and plug-ins
NFC Smart Tag utility is available from the menu widgets. The Dell 0RU033 Battery program always gives the possibility to automatically execute one or more actions on the phone when it is close to an NFC chip (count 15 euros for 4 pellets Smart Tag). For example, you can touch a tag placed near the bed to automatically switch to vibrate and / or disable the wireless interfaces.
Smart Tags
The mobile is also PlayStation certified. If the brand will retain its home console or portable, there is really no need to climb curtain smartphone. Forget the Devil May Cry and other Uncharted: it is simply a download kiosk usually limited to a handful of small games with no real added value to the Android Market.
PlayStation Store an empty shell?
In addition, the system is sprinkled with graphical animations rather successful. Thus, the expansion and reduction of the windows operating with an effect reminiscent Aero on Windows 7. When moving quickly to place a widget on the desktop, the thumbnail preview is deformed as if the object was soft, reminiscent Compiz on Linux.
Back to index multimedia
This is especially the multimedia Sony tries to stand out from the competition. First, the video player "Film" includes a library manager can automatically download the cover and the synopsis (in English) on the Gracenote database. A feature usually reserved for HD multimedia boxes.
Playing a video clip on the reader board.
We expected a lot of the DLNA function called Throw. If everything works out for the best with the music, reading our test videos MP4 H264 (which operate locally) remains uncertain. Windows, Media Play manages to receive the audio / video stream without worries. However, on a Samsung TV (40C720), reading results in an error message. Yet this same TV works perfectly with a Lumia 800 with the Nokia DLNA application called "Play On."
Problems with video playback Throw (DLNA)?
A word also about the kiosk Video Unlimited. For the latter, some 1500 films are available for download or rental. For a novelty, it takes about 15 euros to buy or 5 euros in rent (SD in both cases). On the audio side, Music Unlimited boasts 15 million songs. Access to this service is done through basic subscription (fewer titles, 4 € / month) or premium (10 € / month).
Video and Music Unlimited
On multimedia, it is ultimately the audio layer-ear accompanied by a quality that manages to hold its own game! Coupled to the headset, the application produces a Walkman made generally flattering. The Xperia T delivers a rich bass without neglecting the rest of the spectrum. We appreciate it!
Walkman audio player
In addition, the program will not carry less than 8 EQ profiles classified by genre (Pop, Jazz, Soul, etc.). Accompanied by a bass booster. If necessary, each of the 5 curves can be changed manually. This is complemented by various effects "Surround" much less convincing (it quickly returns to the original). It's missing a real remote control with remote volume on the headset so that everything is perfect. Earbud with rubber tips of different sizes: sound convincing, but still no remote deported.
Capture photos and video back to overview
The Xperia T is equipped with a camera sensor Exmor R with a resolution of 13 megapixels. With the default settings, the pictures are slightly overexposed. The advantage is that we gain in brightness when the scene is dimly lit. Disadvantage: the colors are distorted and the result is not realistic. If necessary, the exposure can be adjusted manually. For its part, the white balance tends to pull red when the scene mode is disabled. Other settings are available, but the preview screen is not necessarily the final adjustment. It would have been preferable to propose a more accurate default.
Download photos we made with the Xperia T
The chromatic noise, which is present, is particularly visible on dark solids (see comparison photos). Finally, Sony applies a treatment to smooth the image. The result is convincing when displaying the picture as a whole. However, as soon as zooms, we see that the image is grainy.
Facing Xperia T VS iPhone 4S
What happens in the end? Despite some flaws mentioned above, the Xperia T is still a very good level. In contrast, 13 Megapixels argument is a selling point than anything else. While the Dell 451-10702 is a good "cameraphone", it fails to outperform the tenors (Galaxy S2, 3, 5 and iPhone 4S) yet equipped with 8 megapixel sensor.
Download original video captures
Performance and autonomy back to overview
The Xperia T is equipped with a dual heart Snapdragon Krait S4 type 1.5 GHz. See how does the Sony smartphone to compete. Start with the processor...
LINPAC
Linpack is a benchmark that evaluates the raw power of the processor. The result is expressed in millions of floating point operations per second (MFLOPS). Compared to Benchmark Pi, the main advantage lies in the possibility to test multithreaded (if multiple cores processor). Here, T Xperia heels the One HTC S but failed to reach it. However, the HTC mobile is equipped with an identical SoC (dual S4 @ 1.5 GHz).
Linpack multi thread (the largest result is best)
GeekBench 2
Geekbench 2 performs several tests on the processor (integer and floating point) as well as memory. It delivers an overall score that we take in our chart, as well as individual scores for each test. This time, Xperia slightly above the T HTC S. One the leading trio remains dominated by two quad-core (4 Nexus and Galaxy S3), as well as the iPhone 5.
Geekbench 2 (the largest result is best)
Quadrant
Quadrant is a benchmark that performs a series of five consecutive tests for evaluating the CPU power, speed, memory, input / output as well as the performance of the 2D and 3D display. In the end benchmark, we obtain an overall score. Quadrant also displays the scores for each test. Attention, the overall score is not obtained by simple addition of scores in each event. This time, Xperia T tops the ranking, even managing to outperform quad core. The Apple iPhone is not represented: This test is not available in iOS.
SunSpider
Web site with SunSpider, the authors of the benchmark JavaScript HTML rendering engine Webkit (Safari, Chrome ...). Here, Qualcomm processors not seem to be favored. With the A6 with iOS 6, iPhone 5 Apple trumps to all competitors. It is closely followed by the Razr i has its intel X86 SoC. The Xperia T stands between S and HTC One Optimus 4X HD (Tegra 3).
SunSpider (the lesser the better)
GL Benchmark (Off Screen)
GL Benchmark evaluates the performance of the graphics terminal. Part GPU Snapdragon S4 is provided by an Adreno 225. Not surprisingly, the Xperia T plays an equal footing with the Motorola Razr HD and the Asus Padfone, these two terminals are equipped with the same processor. Different definition of the Padfone is not taken into account insofar as we opted to test GL Benckmark Off Screen. The difference between these three terminals Nexus 4 (Adreno 320) and iPhone 5 is very important.
Autonomy
Our test of independence does not really honor the Xperia T. It is far from HTC One S which offered a power / autonomy amazing. Should we blame the overlay of Sony or the screen? Difficult to know. One could argue that the resolution of the Xperia T is greater than the S HTC One, but the battery of 1850 mAh, 1650 mAh side against HTC should largely compensate for this difference. And what if we compare the best mobile Xperia T? The Razr HD Xperia T exceeds more than 5 hours of video playback.
Autonomy support (uses video)
However, it is necessary to differentiate the test of practical use. Paradoxically, in typical use, the Xperia T is doing pretty well. After 11 hours of operation without loads (standby), the mobile still about 90% Dell 312-0917 Battery. Finally, with moderate use, you can count into the two days between charges, which is still in a high end smartphone. In addition, to improve these scores, Sony provides a utility for saving energy. The tool provides off data traffic when the screen is off. What further improve a standby that was already pretty good?
Back to top Conclusion
James Bond marketing campaign aside, this Xperia T does not offer special features compared to other smartphones of the brand. Sony delivers a mobile builds on the strengths - but also a few gaps - other mobile Xperia upscale. Among the positives, we appreciate the finish and design effort (even if it will not necessarily unanimity). On components, dual processor clocked at heart S4 1.5 Ghz is a choice of reason. The power delivered is an excellent system flexibility, and allows you to indulge in heavy activities (web, games, video capture) without fear of possible slowdowns and other jerks. We also appreciate the measurements and the fineness of the HD screen (1280 x 720 pixels).
Finally, even if the camera 13 megapixel not widen the gap with market best smartphones (iPhone 5, Galaxy S3), quality photo, or video capture are still at a very good level. Side multimedia software enhancements made by Sony are numerous in the area of video and audio playback. Despite this, only the Walkman branded music player manages to stand out. The Galaxy S3 maintains a wide lead in video playback with DivX certification, DLNA and its module which shows much more convincing than Xperia T. Another regret: it will take for the first quarter of 2013 have Jelly Bean while the Galaxy S3, or ghostly Nexus 4 are already equipped.
In the list of other positives, Sony does not forget the micro SD slot and USB compatible MHL output (HDMI USB via optional adapter). Finally, the Xperia T is a good smartphone that combines functionality and finish. However, excluding pack operator, unless refractory Samsung, or the design of its spearhead, he may prefer the Galaxy S3 sold about 30 Euros less.
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