Sony's new smartphone hits the mark
Design
At
first glance, the Sony Xperia TL doesn’t stand out much from the
typical dark, rectangular slabs flooding today’s Android handset
market. Clad in a buttoned-down all-black color scheme, though, I do
admit the Xperia TL certainly won’t clash with a sharp tuxedo.
Measuring
5.1 inches tall by 2.6 inches long and 0.4 inch thick, the Xperia TL
is practically identical physically to its predecessor, too, the
Xperia Ion (5.2 x 2.7 x 0.4 inches). Both phones are constructed from
darkly hued metal and glass as well, and feature 4.55-inch LCD
screens with the same 1,280x720-pixel resolution.
The
Xperia TL sports Sony's classic curved back.
(Credit:
Brian Bennett/CNET)
The
Xperia TL and Xperia Ion also tip the scales at roughly 5 ounces. The
TL’s 5.1-ounce weight definitely feels more substantial compared
with the Ion’s lighter 4.7 ounce heft. Above the screen sits a
1.3-megapixel camera to snap vanity and self-portrait shots, along
with a thin earpiece and ambient light sensor. You won’t find any
physical controls below the display; instead the Xperia TL relies on
three software buttons spelled out in symbols for back, home, and
recent applications.
All
the Xperia TL's controls are placed on the phone's right side.
(Credit:
Brian Bennett/CNET)
The
only tangible controls run along the Xperia TL’s right edge in the
form of a tiny power key, volume rocker, and camera button. On the
phone’s left edge is a Micro-USB port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack
is placed on top. You’ll see the phone’s main 13-megapixel camera
and LED flash on back. Similar to what you'll find on HTC handsets,
the lens protrudes from the surface slightly, which may annoy those
who prefer it to be flush.
I
do like how Sony adds a bit of design flair here with the back
surface chiseled from anodized aluminum to resist scratches and
dings. The phone’s 1,850mAh battery isn’t removable, however, but
you can add additional memory via a microSD card slot, which is
hidden under a rubber flap.
The
Sony Xperia TL's back is crafted from anodized aluminum, which
resists scratches and dings.
(Credit:
Brian Bennett/CNET)
Display
The Sony Xperia TL uses a large 4.55-inch (1,280x720-pixel) LCD screen, which gets very bright and presents details sharply. Compared with AMOLED screens, such as the ones found on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and MotorolaDroid Razr HD, contrast was low and viewing angles narrow. Sony’s Bravia Engine software setting tried to address some of these issues but just made colors look wildly oversaturated.
The Sony Xperia TL uses a large 4.55-inch (1,280x720-pixel) LCD screen, which gets very bright and presents details sharply. Compared with AMOLED screens, such as the ones found on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and MotorolaDroid Razr HD, contrast was low and viewing angles narrow. Sony’s Bravia Engine software setting tried to address some of these issues but just made colors look wildly oversaturated.
Software
and UI
Thankfully the Xperia TL comes with the modern Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system preloaded. That’s a far cry from the Android 2.3 Gingerbread used by the TL’s predecessor. Of course this isn’t Google’s most recent version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Thankfully the Xperia TL comes with the modern Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system preloaded. That’s a far cry from the Android 2.3 Gingerbread used by the TL’s predecessor. Of course this isn’t Google’s most recent version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean.
The
lock screen is very basic, just a long virtual slider you drag from
left to right along the bottom edge. A digital clock displays the
current time and date in a thin, sophisticated font, but there are no
quick launch icons to jump straight to important phone functions
here. Swiping right though will push the clock to the side in favor
of music playback controls.
The
Xperia TL's lock screen is basic.
(Credit:
Brian Bennett/CNET)
There
are five home screens at your disposal, and you can fill them with
widgets, application shortcuts, and wallpapers as you see fit. By
default the Xperia uses the "Skyfall" theme that has the
iconic James Bond gun-barrel eye view as the main backdrop; 007 sound
effects are loaded, too, for e-mail alerts and ringtones.
Configure
the home screen to your tastes.
(Credit:
Brian Bennett/CNET)
Features
and apps
Thanks to its Android software, the Xperia TL comes equipped with all the skills that qualify it as a true Google device. It connects to all the standard Google apps and services, such as Gmail, Maps, and Navigation. There are also shortcuts to enter the Google Play store for books, music, and movies. You’ll find useful third-party applications as well, like the Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader app, and MobiSystem OfficeSuite for viewing common business document formats. Of course, the entire Android software library is ready for you to download via the Google Play store.
Thanks to its Android software, the Xperia TL comes equipped with all the skills that qualify it as a true Google device. It connects to all the standard Google apps and services, such as Gmail, Maps, and Navigation. There are also shortcuts to enter the Google Play store for books, music, and movies. You’ll find useful third-party applications as well, like the Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader app, and MobiSystem OfficeSuite for viewing common business document formats. Of course, the entire Android software library is ready for you to download via the Google Play store.
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