The Sony Xperia 10 II is an affordable Android smartphone with a waterproof design and an OLED display. These kinds of features are not standard in this price segment. You can read whether the phone is a buying tip in this Sony Xperia 10 II review.
Sony Xperia 10 II
MSRP € 369,-Colors Black and white
OS Android 10
Screen 6 inch OLED (2520 x 1080) 60Hz
Processor 2GHz octa-core (Snapdragon 665)
RAM 4GB
Storage 128GB (expandable)
Battery 3,600mAh
Camera 12.8 megapixel (rear), 8 megapixel (front)
Connectivity 4G (LTE), Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5, NFC, GPS
Format 15.7 x 6.9 x 0.82 cm
Weight 151 grams
Other Waterproof and dustproof
Website www.sony.nl 8 Score 80
- Pros
- User-friendly software
- Good oled screen
- Handy, waterproof design
- Negatives
- Slow charger included
- Weaker processor
Sony offers the Xperia 10 II (369 euros) as a cheaper version of the Xperia 1 II, which costs a staggering 1199 euros. This is of course reflected in the specifications, but little has been done to the design. I'm happy with that, because in my opinion the device looks nice and sleek and lies comfortably in the hand. Thanks to rubbers and a cover for the card slot, the Xperia 10 II is certified (fresh) water and dustproof. That is a distinguishing feature for this type of smartphone. The fingerprint scanner in the power button – on the right side – works fine but is slightly less accurate than a traditional scanner. Due to the housing of glass and plastic, the smartphone does not feel very premium, but it is sturdy and nice and light.
Sony Xperia 10 II screen
The Xperia 10 II's screen stands out for several reasons. First of all, because of the 21:9 ratio, which makes the display narrower and longer than almost all other phone screens. The elongated screen makes the Xperia 10 II relatively manageable and means there is more vertical space for text. You can also watch movies without disturbing black edges. The screen measures 6 inches, which is relatively small in 2020. The smartphone is therefore more handy than most competitors. Those who find the average modern phone too large, can therefore consider the Xperia 10 II.
The OLED panel is also special, which is better and therefore more expensive than an LCD screen. Many midrange smartphones use an LCD screen. The display of the Xperia 10 II looks colorful and is more energy efficient. The full HD resolution delivers sharp images.
Specifications
I am less enthusiastic about the processor used. The Snapdragon 665 chip is more than a year old, not very powerful and is therefore mainly in smartphones of two hundred euros. The Xperia 10 II is smooth enough but slower than direct competitors. The working memory (4 GB) and storage memory (128 GB) are of average size. You can increase the storage memory with a micro SD card.
With the three cameras on the back (normal, wide-angle and twice zoom) you can take great photos and videos during the day. The camera obviously does less well in the dark. The Xperia 10 II doesn't win awards with its cameras, but it does a good job. The same goes for the battery life. The built-in 3600 mAh battery will last you at least a long day. Charging is via USB-C and can be done with a maximum of 18W. In the box, however, is a much slower 7.5W plug. Why is unclear, but I suspect it has to do with the cost. The Xperia 10 II does not support 5G internet. I don't think that's a problem, but know that there are more and more smartphones in this price segment that are suitable for 5G.
Software
Sony supplies the Xperia 10 II with Android 10 and puts its light shell over it. It hardly deviates and is therefore pleasant to use. There are a handful of apps pre-installed, but compared to the more expensive Xperia 1 II and phones from brands like Samsung and Huawei, it's not that bad. The smartphone will receive updates for two years, which is average in this price segment. Competing Android One devices receive three years of updates.
Conclusion: Buy Sony Xperia 10 II?
The Sony Xperia 10 II is especially worth considering if you're looking for an affordable, relatively compact smartphone that can withstand water and dust. The device has no obvious drawbacks and performs well in all areas. For this money, however, I would have expected a faster processor and more powerful plug. Competing phones like the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G and Motorola Moto G 5G Plus offer better specs and 5G connectivity for the same money, but are larger and not water and dustproof.
