Sony Xperia X review: smartphone photography at its best

Another stunner from Sony, with not one, but two formidable cameras.

It seems that the Xperia Z range’s reign has come to an end, having paved the way for a new series of flagships. The first instalment of which has been dubbed Sony Xperia X.

This state-of-the-art device continues and reinvigorates the svelte legacy left by the Z line, in the form of another glass and metal marvel with killer specs to boot. Let’s take a closer look at what Sony has achieved with the Xperia X.

Design

Keeping in touch with previous high-tier Sony handsets, the Xperia X takes on a premium and downright classy approach.

The device is clad in a metal and glass body, complete with Sony’s signature omni-balance design, meaning the handset is perfectly weighted, achieving a level of balance not even the Karate Kid is capable of. Soft, plastic edges add a little extra comfort on top.

Display

The front of the handset houses a beautiful 5-inch IPS HD display. While it ‘only’ offers 1080p output, the screen is clear, crisp and has fantastic colour reproduction.

The display packs in 441 pixels per inch, which is maximised through Sony’s TRILUMINOS and X-Reality screen tech – the very same that’s used in Sony’s epic Bravia Televisions.

Power

Inside the device beats the heart of a hexa-core Snapdragon 650, and a generous helping of 3GB RAM. Sony Xperia X isn’t as powerful as HTC 10 and LG G5, both of which have more advanced processors, though this combination does offer a snappy and fluid user experience, and will handle most tasks and apps with ease.

On top of the processing power is a slimmed down version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with a near stock offering. In other words, there’s less manufacturer input, and more Google goodness.

All of which is powered by a 2620mAh battery that Sony claims can offer up to two days battery life. Presumably, that’s less likely to be true if you’re glued to your Xperia X all day, devouring power-hungry content, but seemingly not unreasonable for moderate use.

Camera

The Xperia X really excels when it comes to imaging, as if often the case with Sony smartphones.

Starting with the front-facing camera, Sony has added a wide angle F2.0 Exmor RS 13MP unit. This camera offers amazing lowlight capabilities and a wide field of vision… so when you’re busting some shapes on the dance floor, and want to take the obligatory drunken selfie, it’s perfect.

The rear of the handset features the more advanced of the two snappers, amounting to a 23MP Exmor RS wide-angle G lens module (wow, that’s a mouthful), that’s ready to capture all of your magic moments in superb quality.

This rear-facing camera essentially offers all of Sony’s imaging wizardry, which includes superior low-light capture, 5x clear image zoom and Full HD video recording.

Connectivity & Sensors

Inside Sony Xperia X, you’ll find the usual connectivity options, such as GPS+, Bluetooth v4.2, Google Cast support and NFC. This handset also boasts a fingerprint scanner, conveniently built in to the power button, allowing you to access content more quickly and securely.

Extras

With 32GB of internal storage as standard, there’s ample room for your apps, music and video files. And if it isn’t, the option to expand via a micro SD gives you another 200GB to play with. Sony Xperia X also sports stereo speakers, housed intuitively on the front, and supports clear audio+. In addition, PS4 Remote Play opens up the power to play your favourite PlayStation games on your mobile.

Handset displayed is not Sony Xperia X

Verdict

So there you have it, the best of Sony; the graceful, powerful and capable Xperia X.

It really is beautiful, yet elegantly simply design, with enough horsepower and technical nous to keep even the most demanding users satisfied.

If you’re looking for a classy and functional device that’s big on photography, then look no further than the Sony Xperia X, its one X-cellent mobile phone.