Sony Xperia T3 Smartphone Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The Sony Xperia T3 is a smartphone with a 5.3-inch HD (1280 x 720) touchscreen that runs the Android 4.4 “KitKat” operating system, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. It has 1 GiB of RAM and 8 GiB storage space, an 8 MP main camera, and a 1.1 MP frontal camera. Let’s take a good look at it.

We already reviewed the predecessor of the Xperia T3, the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra Dual, which has a six-inch screen.

Figure 1 shows the box of the Sony Xperia T3.

Figure 1: box

Inside the box, besides the smartphone, we found a wall charger, USB cable, headphones, and user manual.

Figure 2: accessories

Figure 3 reveals the Sony Xperia T3. There are no physical buttons in the front, just the camera at its top. The side borders are very thin, and the screen occupies almost all the front of the smartphone.

Figure 3: the Sony Xperia T3

[nextpage title=”Overall Look”]

The Sony Xperia T3 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8928) processor, the same chip found in the Xperia T2 Ultra Dual. It has four Cortex-A7 cores, running at 1.4 GHz, and an Adreno 305 GPU. It has 1 GiB of RAM and 8 GiB of internal storage.

The 5.3-inch IPS LCD screen has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It has the same resolution and a smaller screen than the T2 Ultra Dual (which has a six-inch screen), being more comfortable to carry and use.

Figure 4 shows the back side of the device. The back panel is not removable, and you can see the openings for the camera, LED flash, and the speaker.

Figure 4: back side

Figure 5 unveils the top of the Xperia T3, where you will find the earphone connector.

Figure 5: right side

At the right side of the smartphone is the power button, volume adjust buttons, and camera shutter.

Figure 6: right side

In Figure 7, you see the open cover that shows the slots for the micro-SIM chip and the microSD card (up to 32 GiB).

Figure 7: trays for micro-SIM chips

At the left side of the phone, there is only the MicroUSB/charger connector.

Figure 8: left side

There are no buttons or connectors at the bottom of the smartphone, only the opening for attaching a strap, and the microphone.

Figure 9: bottom

[nextpage title=”Using the Xperia T3″]

Using the Xperia T3 smartphone is a very pleasant experience. The big and clear screen makes it excellent for web browsing, watching movies, etc. The screen, smaller than on its predecessor, the Xperia T2 Ultra Dual, makes it easier and more comfortable to carry around, while keeping the good screen area for web browsing.

While the screen is big, the phone is very thin and light. It is only 0.28 (7 mm) thick, and weighs only 5.22 oz (148 g), which makes it comfortable to hold. It is also comfortable to talk, unlike seven-inch “phablets”.

The quad core 1.4 GHz CPU is fast and gives an excellent usage experience.

The screen resolution is good for the size of the screen, although a Full HD (1920 x 1080) screen could offer a better experience.

The Android 4.4 operating system is easy to use and intuitive. Figure 10 shows the initial screen when you turn the Xperia T3 on for the first time.

Figure 10: main screen

Pressing the icon with nine dots, you enter the list of applications, shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13. The Xperia T3 comes with several preinstalled apps and games.

Figure 11: list of applications

Figure 12: list of applications

Figure 13: list of applications

You can install new applications using the Google Play Store, which has thousands of applications and games available.

The smartphone uses a 2,500 mAh lithium battery, which lasted more than eight hours watching videos at YouTube, which is an excellent autonomy. According to the manufacturer, it can last up to 639 hours (26 days) in standby and up to 12 hours of talking time in a GSM network.

The 8 Mpixel main camera is decent, but not as good as the one available on the Xperia T2 Ultra Dual, which is a 13 Mpixel model. You can check the quality of unedited photos taken with the device by clicking here and here.

It can also record videos at Full HD, with video stabilization and HDR.

The front camera (for video chats and “selfies”) has 1.1 Mpixel resolution.

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the Sony Xperia T3 include:

• Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.0 x 0.28 inches (150 x 76 x 7 mm)
• Weight: 5.2 ounces (148 grams)
• Display: 5.3″, 1280 x 720, IPS touchscreen
• Operating System: Android 4.4 (“KitKat”)
• Main Processor (CPU): Qualcomm MSM8928 Snapdragon 400, 1.4 GHz, four Cortex-A7 cores
• Graphics Processor (GPU): Adreno 305, embedded in the CPU
• RAM: 1 GiB
• Storage: 8 GiB
• Memory Card Slot: Yes, MicroSD
• GPS: Yes
• FM Radio: Yes
• Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
• SIM slots: One micro-SIM
• Networks: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, 4G LTE 800/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz
• Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g/n, dual band
• Bluetooth:  Yes, 4.0
• Rear camera: 8 Mpixel
• Front camera: 1.1 Mpixel
• Flash: Yes
• Battery talk time: 12 h
• Battery: 3.7 V, 2,500 mAh Li Ion, not removable
• More information: https://www.sonymobile.com
• Average prince in the U.S.*: USD 400.00

* Researched at Amazon.com on the day we published this review.

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The Sony Xperia T3 is an excellent mid-range smartphone if you want a big (but not too big) screen. Its main problem is that its price is closer to high-end smartphones (which the Xperia T3 is not; it should have at least a better camera and a full-HD screen to be considered a high-end one) than to mid-range devices, such as the Motorola Moto G, which has, except for the size, similar specifications and a far lower price.

Strong Points

• Big screen (but not too big)
• Excellent battery time
• Light and slim
• Good performance
• Frontal camera for video callings
• Memory card slot
• Supports 4G LTE networks

Weak Points

• Overpriced
• Could feature a Full HD screen
• Camera with lower resolution than its predecessor