Sony Xperia TL Pro Reviews

It took Sony half a year to get the Xperia Ion from its CES reveal to retail shelves. By the time it arrived, it was outdated, not least because it shipped with Android Gingerbread. Does the TL suffer the same fate? Not quite, considering this Xperia made its public debut just two months ago, and was announced with ICS. So, we have to commend Sony for at least getting it out to market in a timely fashion -- the lack of Jelly Bean notwithstanding. When you review its specs on paper -- 720p display, 1.5GHz dual-core S4, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage and 13.1-megapixel rear camera -- the TL would seem to be a high-end phone, a device fit to compete against the Galaxy S III and One X on AT&T's lineup. But where Samsung's handset crams in a multitude of sharing functions and HTC's sports a gorgeous screen and innovative unibody design, the Xperia TL falls a bit short. With a display prone to washout, a derivative chassis and middling battery life, the TL fails to meet the expectations we'd have for phones in this class.

WIth the Xperia TL, Sony comes close to delivering its best phone. Most of the TL's features perform consistently well, which is not something that can always be said of Sony's devices. My biggest gripe is the hardware. It just doesn't work well for me and I found the TL frustrating and difficult to manage. You may not care about the buttons so much, nor have any problems with them. I did. More importantly, though, the TL's screen looks great, the battery performs well, it hooks onto AT&T's network, and phone calls sound really good. The user interface is easily managed and the Bond thematic material is a bit of a bonus if you care about that sort of thing. The camera does a really good job, and the option to use Sony's Music and Movies Unlimited services are nice features. If you're a Sony fan, or a Bond fan, or are looking for something a bit off the beaten path, the Xperia TL is an interesting, if fitful, choice.

Sony made a gorgeous phone that seemingly has the potential to be the device that finally delivers its elusive home run hit. That potential is sadly wasted on a device that has just enough frustrations to be another link in a chain of disappointments. The Xperia TL has an incredible camera, marvelous hardware, and better than expected software, but the total package - the oomph that makes a device an all-around pleasure to own - is absent from the device. The screen can look amazing at times, but the viewing angles are limited and it frequently looks washed-out. The software is much improved and thankfully makes very little intrusion to Android, but it sadly comes with a dated version of Android with no signs of a refresh in sight. There's plenty to love about the Sony Xperia TL, but unless you are someone who heavily favors form over function, there's just too much about this phone to dislike.

No. Not unless Sony fixes its software (or you can). We've seen phones with the exact same processor, RAM, and resolution perform extremely well, so there's nowhere to look for the gaps in performance but that Sony skin. If there were just stock Jelly Bean here with a few augmentations (like Album and Music Unlimited), you'd stand in line for the TL. As is, it's a great piece of hardware that will probably be largely forgotten. That said, this is a phone that is just begging to be rooted and have some clean software put on it. For the DIY geek-types, this sweet hardware for $100 is a great deal if you can get it running the modded software you want (like stock Android 4.2, or CyanogenMod). I have few doubts that such a thing would have make the phone a great device, but we review phones as they come out of the box, so the rating stands.

Early this year when AT&T and Sony announced plans to sell the Xperia Ion, I had high expectations. Sadly that phone’s camera, outdated software, and sluggish processor kept it from achieving high marks, despite a low price. Now Sony has come roaring back with the sequel, the Xperia TL. At just $99.99, the device offers the modern Android 4.0 OS, Snapdragon S4 CPU, and a camera capable of snapping quality images. You also get swift 4G LTE access and long battery life as part of the deal. Still, the Xperia TL’s sober design doesn’t exactly have looks to thrill. If you’re not a Bond fan or dedicated to the Sony brand, I suggest getting the $99.99 HTC One X, which offers the same level of performance and more style, though less battery life and slightly better camera. Otherwise, the Sony Xperia TL is a very technologically shrewd purchase that even Q would agree to.

Part of being a world famous secret agent, James Bond will surely appreciate that he’s finally given a smartphone for his missions – as opposed to the dummy phones of yesterday, though, the Ericsson concept phone in Tomorrow Never Dies was an interesting one. Also, when you take into account the modern hardware and attractive price point of $99.99 that’s attached with the Sony Xperia TL, it has the appeal to make even Bond call it his daily driver. Frankly, it might not be the shiniest thing from Sony’s stable, but regardless of that, it’s still compelling enough to give it a license to kill.