Sony Xperia 10ii Review: Stiff Competition
Purchase Price: $364
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Product Specs +
- 6.0 inch 1080p by 2520p
- 457ppi
- Full HD OLED display
- Snapdragon 665
- 4GB of RAM
- 128 GB of storage
- 3600 mAH battery
- Android 10
Camera Specs +
Rear Cameras
- 12 MP F/2.0 Main wide
- 8 MP F/2.4, Telephoto
- 8 MP, F/2.2, Ultrawide
Selfie Cameras
- 8 MP F/2.0
Video
- Shoots 4k at up to 30 FPS
The Sony Xperia 10 ii is for all intents and purposes a fleshed out evolution of last year's first generation phone. Whereas the Xperia 10 was a test of new waters for Sony with the 21:9 aspect ratio screen, this Mk ii generation is an art form of refinement. From the first moment the phone touched my fingertips to the third hour where the rear glass left a cool imprint on my palm, I knew I felt an instant bond with the design. This just feels like a well built device especially when you factor in that it costs $364. With a plastic frame housing a corning gorilla glass 6 protected glass back, the mid-end offering from Sony gives off a distinct feel in the hand thanks to its slim width. When Sony transitioned over to the 21:9 aspect ratio in 2019, one secondary benefit to the longer phone’s new shape was the narrower grip required to hold it. This is even more noticeable when upgrading from a 16:9 phone or even an 18:9 phone.
Enjoyable media experience
One thing that has not changed since last generation’s 10 is the excellent viewing experience provided by Sony’s cinematic display. Still at Full HD resolution, the screen is just as enjoyable to watch videos and play games on as its predecessor. That’s thanks to the compact elongating of the screen which results in an abundant compression of pixels. 457 pixels per inch to be exact. That number is very high for a phone in the $300-$400 range. I’ve used phones that cost hundreds more with less pixel density. What that means for the majority of our eyes is that when consuming media on the Xperia 10 ii, the image you’re seeing appears extremely sharp. Since this is an OLED panel as well, the color reproduction bodes especially well for darker shades and blacks during films.
Definitely Some Qualms
I will make the bold claim that the panel on the Xperia 10 ii is one of, if not the best screens in this price point to date. However, that’s really the only thing that this phone does competitively. Running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, the $364 10 ii shares the same chipset as the $249 TCL 10L. The path into the consumer’s pockets are further muddied with the new Google Pixel 4a which beats the Snapdragon 665 performance with a Snapdragon 730G. Not only is the processor and camera better, the 4a also undercuts the Xperia 10 ii in starting MSRP with a $349 price tag. To top all of that off, nothing can exceed the raw processing power of Apple’s flagship A13 Bionic chip inside the $399 iPhone SE.
While 4 GB of ram and 128 GB of memory that also includes expandable microSD storage is nice to have, it might not be enough to convince consumers with a tight budget to lean towards this phone. When you’re looking to buy a phone in this price range you’re looking to get the most out of your money. That means you want as good as you can get in as many categories as you can get out of it. The combination of a Snapdragon 665 with 4 GB of ram just doesn’t handle enough tasks smoothly for this market the phone sells in. Navigating through Android 10, especially through the process of opening apps, produces noticeable lag. To find a good game to play on the 10 ii requires selective curating in order to experience one without frame dropping. That’s a lot to sacrifice when Sony’s competitors are breathing down their neck offering those exact things they aren’t providing.
On the bright side, Sony has done a terrific job of outlasting the competition in this mid-tier price point. By that I mean literally outlasting the other phones in the market. The Xperia 10 ii has a 3,600 mAh battery that impressed me with its consistent results. I was able to make it at least 12 hrs a day with my intensive use scenarios pushing 4-5 hrs of Screen on Time, thus allowing me to only charge the phone from the comfort of my nightstand during the evenings. While I wish I was able to plop the phone onto my Pixel Stand to wirelessly charge, I understand why Sony excluded Qi charging capabilities to hit the price point. This is most certainly not a deal breaker by any means, yet it is responsible as a consumer to remember that Apple does offer Qi Charging on the iPhone SE 2020 for only $30-ish more.
Camera Thoughts
Shot on Sony Xperia 10ii
Shot on Apple iPhone SE
So that ultimately leaves Sony with its legacy name brand association for high quality cameras to sell consumers on the Xperia 10 ii. Sadly, unlike the flagship Xperia 1 ii which seems to have finally gotten the best of both worlds from Sony’s departments, the 10 ii was marred with mediocre results. Triple cameras occupy the left rear corner of the glass back. A 12 MP, f/2.0 wide sensor covers our bases, an 8 MP, f/2.4 telephoto sensor supplies the depth capturing while another 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor lets us capture more of a landscape.
Shot on Sony Xperia 10ii
While the photos were often detailed, I personally did not like the color tone in which Sony reproduces. Recognizing exposure also seems to be troubling for the 10 ii in automatic mode. For example, when I have a subject in the foreground, I would personally expose for the subject in the foreground which a phone like the iPhone SE does instantly. Sony’s 10 ii seems to target the background in most cases. These aren’t unsalvageable photos in the least bit, as a quick session in Lightroom will make them just as presentable for your Instagram as other phones in this range. Yet I do like to stress that while manual mode is available on basically all phones nowadays, most average phone consumers use their mobile device for quick capture. They’re looking to get a solid frame for their social media or personal library with as little hassle as possible. I can always expose what I’m targeting manually, but if the iPhone SE or Pixel 4a can do it in one quick press of the shutter button while the Xperia 10 ii takes me 2-3 minutes and multiple attempts, some people may find that deterring. Oftentimes in life a moment flies by with little window for composition and I found myself also frustrated with the slow shutter. There is a legitimate delay between pressing the shutter button and actually capturing the image. It’s extremely noticeable when taking photos side by side with the iPhone SE.
Shot on Apple iPhone SE
Hard to Get
Sony doesn’t sell the Xperia 10 ii in the USA which is a disappointment, yet not without precedence. I’ve imported other Xperia models to use here with the T-Mobile network and while this phone does have some compatible bands with the uncarrier, I did struggle using this as a reliable communicator. I’m no stranger to how unlocked phones and bands work as most of our phones reviewed at The Sypnotix are international variants. While other phones with the same bands performed fine in my location, this particular Xperia did not, regardless of how I configured the APNs or troubleshoot.
When you factor all of this together, it’s hard for me to recommend the Xperia 10 ii to anyone other than Sony diehards. There are just better overall packages on the market that offer fuller experiences. This phone has absolutely one of the best media consumption experiences in the $300-$400 price range, yet the processor is what hampers the most important aspect of a phone. For around $100 less you can get the TCL 10L which has the same processor and gives this phone a pretty good run for the money. Actually, it slams the Xperia 10 ii to the mat in terms of value per processing power. Then for around the same price, the iPhone SE and Pixel 4a both handedly triumph over Sony when it comes to user experience. I actually do like the Xperia 10 ii and while it’s not a bad phone, I just can’t fathom picking this in a crowded field no matter how much of a Sony homer I am. We’re getting closer every year to finally peaking with these mid-range Sony phones and I’m hoping a processor bump in the Mk iii next year will finally push Sony over the hump.
We’re giving away a Sony Xperia 10ii to one lucky reader. If you’re interested, visit this link to learn more. [This giveaway is now closed.]
Shot on Sony Xperia 10ii
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Alex
Caught in between the conundrum of his fascination with retro and the future, Alex has a very unique taste in technology. Never one to follow trends like his millennial peers yet constantly desiring to get ahead of the curve, he sees technology like he does his other love: comic books. Always looking for the best value or a hidden gem, his collector mindset reflects on some of his favorite gadgets: the Moto X (2015), HTC U11 and the Google Pixelbook. If there’s a good tech deal out there, Alex is on the hunt!