Customer Ratings & Reviews

The price of smartphones these days has seemed to outpace innovation.  My Samsung Galaxy Note 8 cost over $1,000 and nearly two years later (before I had paid it off) I began receiving texts & emails offering me the latest version of the phone.  The frustration is that Samsung wants me to drop another $1,000 for a phone that is nearly identical to the one I already had.  There just aren’t enough new features to justify continuing to spend so much money on the newest flagship smartphones.  And so, I have begun to explore more affordable smartphone options. The Sony Xperia 10 Plus is truly an impressive smartphone that is unlocked and actually affordable (costing less than half of Apple, or Samsung’s flagship phones).  While the form factor blends in with nearly all smartphones these days, it boasts a noticeably larger screen that is actually useful (and does not have any annoying camera notch).  The resolution is 1080p which is more than suitable for its size (and probably saves money when compared to 4K screens that are not truly useful in a handheld size).  The screen is actually larger than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (by 0.10”) allowing convenient multi-tasking most of the time.  Though the tall screen and the multi-tasking are the most bragged about feature, not all apps can be split and the feature is not always intuitive on the fly.  But, watching HD video with a 21:9 ratio is surprisingly immersive. The phone is incredibly easy to set up (from either Android or iOS) and is both quick and responsive.  My favorite feature is the fingerprint sensor which is located perfectly within reach on the right edge of the phone.  It is in a natural location and it works lighting quick to unlock the phone.  The power & volume buttons are located on the right side and are almost overly streamlined with the edge of the phone – making them difficult to find by feeling alone.  Having all of the physical buttons on the right side might also be a slight annoyance to those who are left handed.  And while it can be difficult to reach across the large screen, but luckily there is a shortcut menu that pops out from the side of the screen giving easy access to settings and commonly used apps. Overall, I am truly impressed with this phone.  It is an incredible balance of impressive features and low price.  As it comes with the most recent version of Android (9 pie), it truly does not feel as though you are sacrificing much to get the lower price.  Sony has done an excellent job producing an affordable phone that is feature rich and that can last for years.  It is well worth the price. PROS: + Phone is sold unlocked + Fingerprint sensor is easy to reach and works instantly + Has a 3.5 mm headphone jack (but also has Bluetooth option) + The back of the phone is NOT glass (reduces weight and is less that may break) + Ultra Widescreen:  21:9 aspect ratio + Record HD video in 21:9 + Shortcut menu pops out from either side of the screen making commonly used apps easy to reach + Record audio in stereo + FM Radio + Pedometer built in + 64 gigs of memory built in + Has the ability to have memory added with a MicroSD card + 12 MP rear camera with 8 MP front selfie camera + Light weight for size: 6.35 ounces + NFC options built in + USB C data/charging connection + Great price for an unlocked smartphone CONS: - Tall size can take some time to get used to and can definitely feel oversized when in your pocket - While screen is 1080p it seems to display a warmer image (less color accurate) than higher end phones - Using split screen (or entering this mode) does not work with all apps and is not very intuitive. - You have to double tap to open the shortcut menu (instead of swiping out from the edge which would be more intuitive) - Does not have many case or accessory options available online - Does NOT have wireless charging - Two speakers appear to only play in mono - Bokeh photo effect (portrait with slightly blurred background) is not particularly easy to use

Pro -Relatively inexpensive -Excellent battery life -64 GB internal storage -MicroSD slot -More RAM and newer CPU generation than regular X10 -2x optical zoom on rear camera -21:9 display -USB C connector -Hi-def Bluetooth audio codecs (aptx HD, LDAC) Con -LCD display instead of OLED -No wireless charging -Can't remove SD card without pulling SIM card -USB 2.0 connection -Not really "120 fps" video capture -Extra phone height can be problematic for some pockets TL/DR The Xperia 10 Plus is a great alternative to the much pricier unlocked "flagship" phones that typically cost $300+ more. The internal hardware is better than average, if not top-of-the-line, with a strong, efficient CPU, 4GB RAM, 64 GB internal storage, and microSD slot ( whereas the regular Xperia 10 is only 3GB RAM and a weaker A53 only CPU ). The 21:9 display aspect is great for some media or for scrolling long pages. Unfortunately the screen is only LCD, not OLED, and there's no wireless charging. But if you're okay with that, have the pocket space, and want a phone with great battery life and without manufacturer bloatware, the 10 Plus is an affordable option. In Detail The big marketing point of the new Xperia models is the 21:9 display. To those who don't know, this is the same aspect ratio most widescreen movies are shot ( 2.35 ). Sony claims Netflix has lots of 21:9 media available, which they do, and it's nice to watch movies without letterbox bars, if you watch a lot of media on your phone. Part of this partnership appears to be the inability to uninstall the Netflix application on the phone. The display ratio also helps in some productivity tasks. In portrait orientation you can view long documents or web pages easier and the popup keyboard takes up less relative space. It's also handy for split-screen usage. Thankfully, there's no notch in the display at top, Sony just made a slightly larger bezel to totally cover the front camera and speaker. The other three edges have very small bezels, which looks quite nice. The thin bezel at the bottom does mean the three control soft buttons are quite close to the edge, and I found myself accidentally hitting them a lot. Sony leaves this running very close to pure Android 9 OS, which is nice, and they don't take up a lot of space with bloatware apps that you can't uninstall. If you're tired of Samsung, LG, HTC, and others with their heavy-handed interface changes and non-removeable applications, you'll appreciate the Xperia. Powering the 10 Plus is a Snapdragon 636. This isn't premium processor, but it's definitely at the top of the mid-range stack. It's a newer generation CPU that mixes four A73 cores with four A53 cores for better efficiency and uses a slightly upgraded Adreno 509 graphics processor ( the regular Xperia 10 uses the A53-only Snapdragon 630 with Adreno 508 ). This 636 is not only more powerful than the 630, it's also more power efficient and generates less relative heat. Given the larger battery in the 10 Plus ( 3000 mAh to 2870 mAh ) the 10 Plus has incredible battery life. Even after a full day of streaming hi-def audio ( the phone has aptX HD, LDAC, and other hi-def Bluetooth codecs ), heavy web browsing, and downloading new applications, the battery was still at 60%. I can easily get two days use on a single charge. The phone also has a battery care feature that limits how fast the battery charges ( typically the slower a battery charges, the better the charge quality and the longer the charge lasts ). This also limits how long the battery stays at 100% charge while still plugged in, which helps extend total battery lifespan. Sadly, the phone does not have wireless charging and the phone exterior does not have the contacts to get it in an aftermarket case. The connector for charging and data is USB type-C, which is nice, but the phone itself can only transfer at USB 2.0 speeds. The phone exterior itself is a basic plastic/polymer. Some people complain this isn't "premium" since it's not metal and glass, but it's saves manufacturing costs and my phone is always in a protective case anyway. The SIM and microSD slot are both under the same cover on the top right edge. However, pulling the cover to get to the SD card also removes the SIM card, so you can't swap out your SD card without powering down the phone. The camera lens protrudes on the back, a design I don't like since it makes the lenses easier to scratch. The camera itself is fine, but I don't really use a phone camera much. It can capture pictures in 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9 as well as 4K/30 and 1080/60 video. The camera does have a 2x optical zoom, which is much appreciated, but it's claims for 120fps slow motion video are greatly exaggerated. It just captures video at the normal rate, either 30 or 60 fps, and then slows the framerate down in playback. All considered, the lack of wireless charging and OLED display are my biggest gripes. Nokia's Lumia devices have had those features in the same price range for years, so it's unfortunate Sony decided to save those as features for their premium phones only. But for performance, battery life, and usability, there's not much to complain about in the $450 range. If you have the extra pocket space for the extra tall phone, the 10 Plus is definitely the better option than the regular 10 and a very good option overall.