Sony Xperia X Review - Battery Life and Verdict Review
Battery Life and Verdict
Boring, unambitious and overpriced
Sections
- Page 1 Sony Xperia X Review
- Page 2 Performance and Software Review
- Page 3 Camera Review
- Page 4 Battery Life and Verdict Review
Sony Xperia X – Battery Life
Sony claims you’ll get two days of use from the Xperia X. I haven’t. And I’m doubtful whether you will either.
It’s a 2,620mAh cell, which may sound small but is meaty enough to get you through the day. But Sony’s two-day claims are far too optimistic. Yes, you can stretch it out if you enable all the battery-saving modes, but this hampers performance, and isn’t something you’ll want to do all the time.
When compared to other phones on the market, however, the Xperia X is able to keep up. A 45-minute HD stream on Netflix ate through 11%, while a locally stored 1080p episode took it down 8%. I did notice that because the screen is so bright, having it on maximum almost doubled these numbers, so you’re better off keeping brightness to around 60%.
It was a similar story in terms of gaming, with intensive titles (Hitman Sniper, Asphalt 8) using up about 10% per 30-minute play and simpler games (Monument Valley, Dots) about 6-7%.
The Xperia X has Quick Charge 2.0 on board, which will take you from 0-100% in just over an hour when you use a compatible charging block and micro-USB cable. It’s interesting that USB Type-C hasn’t been used here – however, we’re not at a point yet where I can really say this is a negative.
If Sony stopped harping on about getting multiple days from a single charge then I’d be impressed by the stamina of the Xperia X – I haven’t had any issues getting through the day – but don’t make claims you can’t back up.
Should you buy the Sony Xperia X?
With so many fantastic phones out there, the Xperia X is tough to recommend. Especially when I believe it costs far more than it really should.
It’s unambitious in design, mid-range in performance and it takes too much effort to really get the best from the camera. The screen is decent, but it isn’t alone here; there are plenty of handsets out there sporting excellent displays.
The Sony Xperia X fails to offer up anything that sets it apart from the competition, especially considering its price. I’d suggest opting for the LG G5 or the Huawei P9, even last year’s Samsung Galaxy S6. Better still, wait for the Moto G4 Plus, which costs half the price.
Verdict
New name; same old story from Sony. An overpriced, uninspiring phone that under-delivers on many of its claims.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 6
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Camera 7
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Design 6
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Battery Life 7
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Value 4
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Software 7
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Calls & Sound 7
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Screen Quality 8
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
