Sony Xperia 10 V Lightweight & Large Battery – Price and Review

The review of Sony Xperia 10 V, among the year’s most impressive flagships, lingers. Thus, exploring Sony Xperia 10 V in the midrange was a natural step. Earlier, it was mentioned that Sony crafts elite smartphones, possibly niche but in a competitive market. In the upper midrange tier, Xperia 10 V costs around $398, a competitive price, it contends with major brands. Some offer even bundle wireless earbuds, enhancing its appeal. Contrasting with Xperia 10 IV, Xperia 10 V boasts a brighter display, stereo speakers, a 48 MP main camera, and remarkable battery life. While compromises exist, delve into the review for details.

Technical Specifications

Sony Xperia 10 V A Pleasant, Compact and Durable Design

When comparing it to the previous year’s model, minimal visual changes are apparent. However, Xperia 10 V retains features that solidify its status in this year’s midrange contenders. Despite slight length and width growth, the Xperia 10 V’s weight has decreased by 2g. This fact is noteworthy, considering its robust battery performance, discussed later.

Elongated Design Language in the Mid-Range

Sony’s elongated design language from its flagships extends to the mid-range, resulting in a narrower yet taller smartphone. With its 6.1-inch screen, Xperia 10 V qualifies as relatively compact. In contrast, it’s 3mm shorter and 5mm narrower than the Samsung Galaxy A54. While the front boasts Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, a rarity in this segment, the sides and back are plastic. This choice is logical for enhanced durability, especially given Xperia 10 V’s IP65/IP68 dust/moisture resistance—matching Xperia flagships. Impressive!

Matte Textured Back and Thoughtful Layout

The back has a gentle matte texture, preventing fingerprints and sliding. The camera island slightly protrudes, less than competitors, minimizing wobbling. Black, green, and lavender purple options exist.

A sturdy plastic frame connects the front and back, exuding thickness and durability. On the right side, solid volume keys align with the familiar lock key/fingerprint reader. At the bottom, a microphone and USB socket reside, while speakers, facing forward, sit above and below the screen. The top houses an extra microphone and the cherished 3.5 mm headphone jack. On the left side, the SIM and memory card tray sits, accessible without a pin and maintaining water protection. In summary, Sony delivers a compact, waterproof body with a timeless design, complemented by diverse color choices. Impressive craftsmanship!

Sony Xperia 10 V with Much Brighter Screen

Unobstructed Design with Enhanced Immersion

Benefiting from Xperia’s elongated design, the screen remains unobstructed, free from piercings or unsightly notches. The producer pays homage to creators without imitating others, resulting in a slightly thicker forehead and chin around the screen this year. Nonetheless, this configuration offers an immersive multimedia experience with unhindered visuals and front-facing speakers. The 82.5% screen-to-body ratio, while not a record-setter, features uniform thickness on all screen edges, creating an organic, quickly adaptable design.

Cinematic Aspect Ratio and Size Considerations

The 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio enhances content consumption and widens shooter angles. Yet, YouTube might present content with black borders or odd zooming. The Xperia 10 V’s compact size, however, may lead to typing errors for those with larger fingers.

OLED Display Advancements

The OLED matrix boasts a remarkable 50% brightness boost since last year, addressing a previous deficiency by ensuring visibility in bright sunlight. Exceptional viewing angles and well-calibrated colors characterize the display, which can be software-adjusted. However, two “buts” arise. Firstly, Xperia 10 V still sticks to a 60Hz refresh rate. In contrast, even budget models like Realme 10 offer 90Hz. This becomes particularly glaring given Xperia’s price point. Secondly, the OLED advantage remains untapped, lacking an always-on screen or even an LED notification light. If these two drawbacks are tolerable, Xperia’s distinctive screen attributes, such as its shape, size, and brightness, might be appealing.

Security Lock of Sony Xperia 10 V

The trademark fingerprint reader, pioneered by Sony, is embedded in the lock key and now dominates mid-range to budget models. This capacitive reader supersedes delicate optical ones beneath the screen, a common trend. The placement is convenient and the reader is speedy and dependable. Yet, a more intuitive design, like Xiaomi’s approach, allowing swiping for notifications, might enhance user experience. This is particularly relevant due to the elongated form factor, which can make reaching the top of the screen challenging. Left-handed users might find it less convenient, given the reader’s right-side location. Notably, face unlock is absent due to security concerns, a point previously addressed by Sony in the Xperia 1 V review.

Sony Xperia 10 V Stereo Speakers

Front-Facing Stereo Speakers and Thoughtful Placement

Impressively, Xperia’s unobstructed screen and front-facing speakers stand out in its design. Sony introduces stereo speakers to the mid-range, unlike competitors that have done so earlier. Positioned smartly, they avoid being covered when using the Xperia 10 V horizontally. Both speakers offer well-balanced audio, masking their size difference. While not the loudest, audio quality remains consistent even at higher volumes, with the back panel resonating at peak levels.

Advanced Wireless Capabilities and Audio Integration

The Xperia 10 V supports numerous wireless audio codecs, perhaps to match Sony’s high-quality wireless headphones, including A2DP, LE, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive—surpassing competitors. Notably, the classic 3.5mm headphone jack, supporting high-quality headphones, also remains intact.

Room for Improvement and Noteworthy Features

Overall, the audio department is satisfactory, except for the vibration motor, which stands out due to its loudness.

Phenomenal Battery Life: A Unique Selling Point

Improved Battery Longevity in a Compact Frame

As highlighted in the introduction, the midrange competition necessitates a unique selling point. For Sony Xperia 10 V, this comes through its remarkable battery life. Despite unchanged performance and battery capacity from the previous year, battery life has improved—a feat made more impressive considering the Li-Po 5000 mAh battery’s presence in a compact, lightweight frame. Sony proudly dubs it the “best-in-class battery in the world’s lightest body,” and this time, it’s an accurate claim.

Unprecedented Battery Performance

What does this battery deliver? The previous model managed stable operation for two days under average load, while this year’s version extends that to three days. Notably, Xperia 10 V drains merely 2% during tasks that would consume 6-11% on other devices. GSMarena’s durability test awarded it an impressive 175-hour rating—the highest not just in the midrange segment but among smartphones tested this year. This includes military-grade rugged phones and this year’s more energy-efficient flagship models. An exceptionally outstanding performance!

Charging Considerations and Software Support

Possibly due to the impressive battery life, Sony omitted including a charger. The package lacks even a cable. This minimalism might be attributed to Japanese environmental concerns. Nonetheless, using chargers from other brands posed no issues. Although Sony doesn’t officially state the supported charging speed, it likely matches last year’s 21W. Competitors tend to outpace this rate. With the Nothing Power (45W) charger, around 30% charged in half an hour, while a full battery took less than two hours. Sony also offers extensive software support for prolonged battery life—an environmentally conscious gesture that users will appreciate. Kudos for green ethics and phenomenal battery performance!

Sony Xperia 10 V  Performance

Underwhelming Choice of Processor

Sony Xperia 10 V persists with the same processor as last year, which previously fell short for its price. This year’s utilization appears even more perplexing, raising questions about Sony’s intent. The device employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, identical to that in the POCO X5, available for 120 euros less. Competitors offer superior performance at this price point.

The decision becomes even more perplexing considering that the two-year-old Sony Xperia 10 III supported 4k video recording and featured a newer USB version, whereas this processor cannot. Omitting synthetic performance measurements, the daily operation is noteworthy. Animations exhibit frame drops, affecting regular tasks and gaming. The absence of a fast refresh rate compounds the issue. Apps open with slight delays, though they function acceptably once launched. Additionally, expect slightly slower GPS performance.

Memory Card Support Offers Storage Flexibility

While performance lacks praise, a silver lining emerges in memory card support. With only a single 128GB internal storage variant, this offers a budget-friendly way to extend storage

Sony Xperia 10 V Interface: A Blend of Practicality and Customization

Conservative Yet Practical Interface

Xperia’s interface is positively conservative, blending pure Android 13 with practical Xperia additions. Most included elements are useful, spanning screen and battery adjustments, among a few others. While not as comprehensive as flagships, it suffices.

Enhanced Functionality and Customization

The Xperia’s prominent side menu offers convenient access to shortcuts, multi-window mode, and pop-ups. Its functionality surpasses other interfaces, allowing customized swipes for various functions. For instance, swiping down can be assigned as the Back function, proving remarkably convenient.

Dual App Usage and Software Support

Considering the elongated format, Xperia enables convenient dual app usage, albeit occasionally hindered by subpar performance. Software support duration remains unclear, as Sony lacks a strong track record. Sony representatives are encouraged to provide additional insight for inclusion in the review.

Improved Main Camera and Post-Processing

Sony deserves credit for providing three genuine optical-size cameras—ultra-wide-angle, optically stabilized wide-angle, and a 2x zoom. Although the 48 MP main sensor prompts a question regarding the purpose of a 2x zoom, it’s commendable to avoid redundant unusable cameras. This year, both the main camera and post-processing have improved significantly, offering the best middle-class performance by Sony. However, growth potential remains against competitors.

Current model employs a Sony IMX582 sensor, larger than last year’s main camera, but the other two are SK hynix Hi-847 and Hi-846 sensors with narrow apertures. An eagerly awaited mid-range smartphone with proprietary sensors to stay ahead in the competition is still anticipated from Sony.

Sony Xperia 10 V Camera Features

48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/2″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS main camera

8 MP, f/2.2, 54mm, 1/4.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom camera

8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm ultra-wide-angle camera

8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm selfie camera

Comparison with Samsung Galaxy A54, Google Pixel 7a, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G & POCO X5 Pro

Samsung Galaxy A54 features a 120Hz refresh screen, water protection, and longer software support. Sony excels in body design and battery life.

Google Pixel 7a likely outperforms Xperia 10 V in camera, refresh rate, performance, and wireless charging.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G excels in screen, performance, package, and wired charging. Sony counters with water resistance and battery life.

POCO X5 Pro offers comparable pricing, superior screen, performance, and charging, while Sony emphasizes water resistance and battery life.

Price of Sony Xperia 10 V

Highlights include a compact, attractive IP65/IP68 design, competitive screen brightness, phenomenal battery life, unobstructed screen, front-facing stereo speakers, and advanced camera post-processing with an optical zoom camera. Sony Xperia 10 V is available at a price of US $398.

Review of Sony Xperia 10 V Conclusion

This phone surprises across various facets. Notably, it boasts a pleasing, compact design with IP65/IP68 protection. Enhanced camera post-processing sets new mid-range standards. However, the standout feature remains its extraordinary battery, further amplified by the device’s compactness.

Unusually, Sony defies norms, coupling size and battery capacity. Yet, compromises exist. The 60Hz refresh rate, especially at this price, contrasts with industry trends. Additionally, its performance aligns more with budget devices. Enduring these downsides, Sony Xperia 10 V stands as a highly functional mid-range contender.