Sony Xperia T

Release

The Xperia T was released in three models; the LT30P is the main international HSPA+ version. Two LTE models were released, the LT30A, and the Sony Xperia TL—an AT&T-branded model for the United States.

The Xperia T was cross-promoted with the then-latest installment in the James Bond film franchise, Skyfall (released by Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures), which features product placement for the device as being James Bond's phone. The AT&T, O2 (United Kingdom), and Canadian models of the Xperia T were bundled with James Bond-themed content, including a Gun barrel sequence wallpaper, special ringtones, behind-the-scenes footage, and geotagged photos from the filming of Skyfall.

Hardware

The design of the Xperia T represents an evolution of the Xperia Ion, with a curved, matte anodized aluminum body, side-mounted buttons, a recessed camera lens, and a circular contact point for near-field communications below the camera. The T features a 4.6-inch 720p LCD display with a "scratch-resistant" coating, a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (Krait), 1 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of expandable storage. The Xperia T also features a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and MHL support.

Software

The Xperia T shipped with Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" with Sony's custom user interface and software, and integrates with in-house services such as Sony Entertainment Network. The Smart Connect app allows actions to be triggered when specific events occur, such as scanning an NFC "SmartTag". The user interface also allows the use of pop-up "small apps".

An update to Android 4.1.2 "Jelly Bean" was released 8 July 2013. An update to Android 4.3 was released in February 2014, introducing a refreshed user interface. The Xperia T was not officially upgraded to Android 4.4 "KitKat".

Reception

The Xperia T received mixed but mostly positive reviews. Ars Technica praised the screen's "crisp" and legible appearance, but found that the Xperia T's performance was underwhelming in comparison to competitors such as the LG Optimus G and iPhone 5. While the camera software was panned for not containing as many additional features, the camera itself was described as having a "decent" quality and adequete low-light performance, but did not handle scenes with bright lights well. Although outperforming Sony's estimates for battery life in regards to video playback (lasting for 6 hours and 15 minutes of video as opposed to estimates of 5), the Xperia T's battery was also considered "insufficient", lasting eight to nine hours in regular use. In conclusion, Ars Technica felt that the Xperia T did not meet their expectations for a product associated with the James Bond franchise, arguing that "given how the phone is calibrated relative to other offerings, the Bond association is at best nonsensical, at worst an insult to the Bond-quality technology legacy."

CNET felt that the Xperia TL was a major improvement over the Xperia Ion, citing its newer Android platform (albeit not using the latest version on-launch), better CPU, "snapping quality" camera, and fast LTE data speeds, but felt that the design of the T lacked "style" in comparison to devices such as the HTC One X, and that the display had low contrast and poor viewing angles in comparison to AMOLED displays such as the Samsung Galaxy S III.