What's good
- Incredibly thin and light
- Fairly sharp screen with good color reproduction
- Long battery life
What's bad
- Slow performance when using more intensive apps
- Poor viewing angles on screen
- A bit too tall for easy one-handed use
The Xperia T3 is Sony's answer to the booming mid-range smartphone market. While it doesn't share the high end specs of the Xperia Z2 flagship, it is incredibly thin at 0.3 inches and weighs a scant 148 grams. While slim, it unfortunately veers into the "too tall" category at 5.9 inches, most of which is due to very large top and bottom bezel around the display. While reviewers describe the phone as easy to grip, they add that the added height makes it difficult to use one-handed.
Taking up most of the 5.9 inches is the T3's 5.3-inch display. It offers a 720p resolution and a pixel density of 277ppi. While it might not qualify as retina, experts describe it as "adequately sharp" without any noticeable pixilation. As well, they praise the overall color reproduction though the Times of India states, "colors tend to be warmer than they actually are." Viewing angles, unfortunately, are not the T3's strong suit as critics discovered that colors quickly appear washed out.
In order to minimize the phone costs, Sony has opted for lower end specs for the T3. While the 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM were generally zippy enough for experts during normal use, they ran into latency issues when trying to use more processor-intensive apps like 3D games. However, they add that it is powerful enough to easily playback 1080p videos and more casual games. Internal storage is limited to 8GB though it can be expanded to up to 32GB via the microSD slot. The one standout piece of hardware is the T3's battery. At 2,500mAh the battery might not be that large, but due to the lower end display and processor it was able to provide reviewers with up to 11 hours of very heavy use and over a day of moderate use.
Photo quality with the 8MP rear camera didn't wow critics but it didn't necessarily disappoint either. Indian Express states, "The 8MP camera is good, but there is no way you can compare it with the Z2." Others add that the low light pictures were very blurry as the camera couldn't focus properly.
In comparison to other smartphones in the same market, reviewers have a hard time recommending the Xperia T3. NDTV says, "The two things going for the Sony Xperia T3 are its great battery lie and decent camera…but…it just isn't compelling enough for us to recommend."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360One area where Sony fails miserably is with the pricing of the Xperia T3. At Rs. 27,990, even the limited period offer of a bundled SmartBand and premium case is not enticing enough. The two things going for the Sony Xperia T3 are its great battery life and decent camera performance, but nothing els...
- Sandra Vogel, Beta NewsSony's handsets always seem to be a bit chalk and cheese. If you are a fan of the whole Sony ecosystem then the range of apps dedicated to the company's wares will have clear appeal. For those not so loyal, there are still goodies to be had, but the array of apps seems to lack cohesion. Elsewhere, S...
- The Lowdown Team, The LowdownThe Huawei P8 might not be as sexy as Samsung or some of the other premier smartphones, but having spent some time with it, we don’t think it’s too far behind the big boys. It’s got some really imaginative features (some almost too imaginative, maybe), and both the front and rear c...
- Sofian Nouira, Digital VersusLooking at specs only, the Sony Xperia T3 is too expensive for a low-cost phone. All the same, it would be a shame not to give it a chance, because it has a lot going for it, and not a lot going against it. Between its quality display, great camera (for stills), overall speedy navigation and thin bo...
- Andre Reinhardt, NotebookcheckThere are several points that make Sony's Xperia T3 Style appealing. Firstly, we very much liked the screen with its exemplary brightness. Then, the smartphone scored with its build, including the metal bezel. The operating speed and gaming performance also proved good, and the message LED in the re...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Sony Xperia T3 prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Sony's suggested retail price is $399.99. You can compare Xperia T3 prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia T3 user manual here.
Sony backs up the Xperia T3 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Xperia T3 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Ask the Community
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Sony Xperia T3 Manual (PDF)
Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.