INTRODUCTION
After the popularity of my last phone review, I have looked in-depth at my latest handset – the Sony Xperia E5. After two years with the trusty EE Kestrel, I finally upgraded to a new model – and overall, I am very pleased. There is intense competition in the £130-200 range when it comes to smartphones. However, for around £140, the Sony Xperia E5 is good value.
KEY FEATURES
First of all, this is of course part of the Sony Xperia range. This is not a brand you would be ashamed of showing off, with in my opinion Sony handsets proving the most attractive Android phones on the market. While the E5 is the budget version in the Xperia range, on appearance, it is difficult to distinguish from its parent models. The camera, as you would expect, is impressive. The rear camera is 13MP, with the front camera offering 5MP resolution. There is 16GB internal storage, which can be supplemented with the use of an SD card. With 1.5GB in RAM, there isn’t much waiting around, the processor is very quick and offers a strong user interface. The Android system runs seamlessly on the phone.
INTERFACE
The E5 follows the interface of the Xperia model. The Android operating system runs, meaning Google runs prominently. The phone can be synchronised with your Google account, which is useful. The Google Play store offers many applications to run. There is easy access to key areas of the phone, with the homescreen editable to make it personal. Following the rest of the Xperia range, it has a fantastic, easy-to-use interface.
INTERNET BROWSING
Since upgrading to the E5, this was certainly one of the areas that I have noticed the biggest improvement in. Internet browsing is both quick and easy. Google Chrome is built in, while there is also a native browser. 4G is enabled, meaning loading times are typically quick. This is definitely one of the key areas of the E5.
COMPETITORS
In many E5 reviews, it is suggested that just for a few pounds extra, you can get the Motorola Moto G. While this is commonly seen as the market leader for the budget smartphone range, there are some drawbacks. Following the iPhone, the Moto G continues to get bigger, and while the E5 is large, it doesn’t get out of control. By all means the Moto G appears to be an impressive phone, but I would take an Xperia over it any day. There are also a range of cheap smartphones coming over from China and Japan. These are both impressive and offer good value. These are likely to come to the fore more in forthcoming years. Of course, Lumia’s, the ever-improving Wileyfox and Huawei offer further choice. Then there is the EE Harrier – the natural successor to the EE Kestrel.
DRAWBACKS
You get a lot for your money, there is no doubt about that. Perhaps the one area that could’ve been improved was battery life. Battery life was supposedly one of the strong points of the phone, however I have found that the battery isn’t too impressive. And while 16GB storage is ample, some phones at this price range offer 32GB – double. Aside from these two concerns, it is a very good choice.
CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a very good phone. The Sony Xperia range is an impressive one, and is highly fashionable too. It is a highly competitive market that this phone is in, but it is a sound choice. A stylish, powerful phone with a strong interface – this is a very good option to take. I hope you’ve found this review helpful.
Rating – 4.5/5
(‘082’)
/MF/
Millicent Faith 