Sony Xperia Tipo – A Real Smartphone for a Great Price

The Sony Xperia Tipo is another smallish handset from the Sony family. While it does have some great features there are a few points which may be disappointing to the experienced smartphone user. Top of the list of advantages is the operating system and the good battery life as well as the design.

If these are enough to keep you happy then you might be able to look the less than a sparkling camera and the tiny screen.

Overview One of the main advantages of this handset is the price – it comes in at less than £100.  Not everyone has a large budget for this type of gadget so it is good to know that there is something out there for everyone.

Given the fact that this phone is also equipped with one of the latest – and most popular – versions of Android, it really is a bargain. The operating system means that you can add a wide range of apps to the phone too. The screen measures 3.2 inches, making it one of the smallest for a smartphone.  However, the resolution is not too bad for the model but there may be problems trying to view it outdoors.

The overall design of the phone is one of the contrasts. There are flat sections and curved sections, matte and glossy finishes and it does not stop there. This can often lead to a fussy design but most reviewers have only had good things to stay about the design.  Around the phone, there is a minimum of connections and ports but you do get the essential 3.5 mm headphone jack as well as the micro USB.

Camera

The onboard camera has 3.2 megapixels and is fixed focus. It is fine for those who only want to take the occasional snap. Serious photographers will need something with a little more oomph.  With no autofocus or flash onboard there are a few photo opportunities which will be ruled out.  Choose the right lighting and setting and it should be fine. Video options on the phone are VGA, and this plays well enough on the phone, although when replayed on an HD TV it is not quite right so if this is the intention then another phone might be a better choice.

Power and Memory

The music player is not bad overall.   You get storage of 2GB on board but splash out on a microSD card for an additional 32GB so you can store large amounts of music without too much effort.  Connect with the internet via Wi-Fi, 3G or GPS and browse for a while.
Watch out for the heavier websites as the processor finds them a little difficult, stuttering occasionally.  As the phone is not the fastest, even a moderate user will get two days or more from the battery.

Conclusion

As an entry-level phone this is a good choice.  Try not to think too much about what the phone cannot do and focus on what it can do and you will find that it really does meet the needs of most users.