Unlocked smartphones are becoming more and more popular, with MVNOs rising up everywhere and offering some compelling deals if you bring your own phone with you, it’s not hard to see why we’re turning on to the idea of unlocked devices. Of course, the problem with unlocked devices is that they’re often very expensive, at least compared to the deal the carriers want to think you’re getting on contract. Needless to say, selling unlocked smartphones seems to be working well for Google and the Nexus line. So, will it work for Sony and the Xperia M?
Sony is now selling their latest budget-minded handset in the US on their website, for just $249.99 unlocked. For $250 though, just what do you get? Let’s take a look at the specs:
- 4-inch 854 x 480 Display
- 1 Ghz Snapdragon Dual-Core CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of internal storage with microSD support
- WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 Etc
- 1,700 mAh Battery
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
On paper, the Xperia M doesn’t sound like much at all but, there is room for devices like these on the market. After all, at just $250 this could tide you over until you upgrade or make a great first-smartphone for someone you know. With the recent price-drop of the Nexus 4 however, Sony’s Xperia M starts to look pretty old, pretty quickly. Of course, Sony can’t control Google’s pricing and they’ll also want to turn a profit on the Xperia M. As we recently discovered in our review of the Xperia SP, Sony can make quality affordable smartphones. Here’s hoping that the display here is a little better, though.
Android 4.1 doesn’t sound all that great either but, Sony have a pretty decent track record with updates so an update to 4.3 could be coming but, don’t hold out for anything more than that. Overall though, Sony’s Xperia M isn’t a device meant for those with Galaxy S3s or HTC One Xs, rather it’s a device for those on a budget and those not looking to be tied to a contract. Sure, this is not an especially fast phone, nor does it have too good a display but, for $250 it’s more than good enough, especially from a top-tier manufacturer like Sony.