Believe it or not, there are people who don't like carrying around a huge display in their pocket. It’s for these people that phones like the Sony Xperia tipo exist. It uses a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen on a very pocketable casing. In spite of its small size, however, it still offers surprisingly good build quality. It’s something you can easily carry around most anywhere. However, given its somewhat limited feature-set, you probably won’t.
Its display is, quite frankly, disappointing, and its camera performance leaves a lot to be desired. The displays resolution offering insanely low native resolution and the camera lacking auto-focus and just a 3-megapixel sensor.
Ultimately, people are going to buy the tipo based on two things: size and price. It’s got the size part of the equation mostly right, however, the price is a bit too high considering what you’ll get with it. That is to say, you’ll likely find plenty more bang for your buck with Android-based alternatives from other manufacturers.
Need to Know: Sony Xperia tipo
1. Surprisingly good build quality in a small package. (The Good)
2. Uses Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich by default. (The Good)
3. Camera performance is dismal. (The Bad)
4. Low screen resolution makes it hard to fully enjoy its features. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- TT Gadget Editor, TelecomTigerThe Sony Xperia Tipo dual is a compact smart phone with dual sim functionality in Sony’s Xperia series. It has its own fixed target audience but this phone is much better than others in this price range. Its 800 MHz processor, 3.2 megapixels camera and Android 4.0 version are its main key features t...
- TT Gadget Editor, TelecomTigerThe Sony Xperia Tipo is truly a compact smart phone in Sony’s Xperia series. It has its own fixed target audience but this phone is much better than others in this price range. Its 800 MHz processor, 3.2 megapixels camera and Android 4.0 version are its main key features that gives it edge over its...
- Niall Magennis , TrustedReviewsThe fact that the Sony Xperia Tipo is so small and moderately priced will attract many.
- Chris Martin, Tech AdvisorAlthough the Sony Xperia looks and feels nice, it offers poor performance and little in the way of features. Battery life is good but it means less when the Huawei Ascend G300 outclasses it and costs even less.
- Shilpa, Fone ArenaIt is great indeed to find an Android 4.0 phone at such low-cost from a popular mobile maker.This is Sony’s first attempt at making a dual sim phone and the company has done a pretty good job with the tipo dual. The battery life is decent, but since it is a Dual SIM phone talk time is less than the...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Sony Xperia tipo 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 $179.99. You can compare Xperia tipo prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia tipo user manual here.
Sony backs up the Xperia tipo with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Xperia tipo 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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Sony Xperia tipo Manual (PDF)
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