Sony Xperia c4 phone. Sony Xperia C4 series smartphones
Updated and improved mid-range tablet from a well-known manufacturer
Before starting today's acquaintance with the new tablet phone Sony Xperia C4 you can remember last year's products from this series, such as Xperia C3 and Xperia T3. These devices can still be found in stores at a price of 15-16 thousand rubles, which is not so little for models a year ago. Last year's smartphones were good in many ways: extremely large screens, good cameras (the C3 even has an advanced front camera for selfies), sound, battery life, LTE support - they have it all. Only the hardware platform let us down: the weak and backward Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with one gigabyte of RAM is more than a modest filling for tablets of a well-known brand, and even offered at such a high price.
It was all the more surprising and pleasant to learn that this time the choice of the developers of the Sony mobile division fell not on some of the updated modifications of the mid- and low-end Qualcomm SoC (for example, Snapdragon 410 or even 615), but on one of the most productive and interesting modern mid-range platforms - Mediatek MT6752. In combination with the RAM capacity increased to 2 GB, the previously unprepossessing mid-range tablet phone from Sony began to take on completely different colors. Now this is already quite a powerful smartphone of a well-known brand, hardware ready to cope with any difficult tasks, capable, without blushing, of standing on par with the most worthy competitors. We will put some of them into a comparative table to visually demonstrate the updated characteristics of today's test subject and begin a detailed study of all its capabilities.
Key Features of Sony Xperia C4 (Model E5303)
| Sony Xperia C4 | Alcatel OT Idol 3 (5.5) | Lenovo P90 | Meizu M1 Note | Samsung Galaxy A7 | |
| Screen | 5.5″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS | 5.5″, Super AMOLED |
| Permission | 1920×1080, 401 ppi | 1920×1080, 401 ppi | 1920×1080, 401 ppi | 1920×1080, 401 ppi | 1920×1080, 401 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A53) @1.5 GHz | Intel Atom Z3560 (4 x86 cores) @1.83 GHz | Mediatek MT6752 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A53) @1.7 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A53) @1/1.5 GHz | |
| GPU | Mali T760 | Adreno 405 | PowerVR G6430 | Mali T760 | Adreno 405 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16/32 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | — | — | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 5.0 | Google Android 5.0 | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.4 |
| Battery | non-removable, 2600 mAh | non-removable, 2910 mAh | non-removable, 4000 mAh | non-removable, 3140 mAh | non-removable, 2600 mAh |
| Cameras | rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (8 MP) | rear (13 MP, video 1080p), front (5 MP) | rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP) | ||
| Dimensions and weight | 150×77×7.9 mm, 147 g | 153×75×7.4 mm, 141 g | 150×77×8.5 mm, 156 g | 151×75×8.9 mm, 147 g | 151×76×6.3 mm, 141 g |
| average price | T-12502043 | T-12645044 | T-11884491 | T-11883101 | T-11927009 |
| Sony Xperia C4 retail offers | L-12502043-10 | ||||
- SoC MediaTek MT6752 @1.7 GHz, 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53
- GPU Mali-T760 @700 MHz
- Operating system Android 5.0
- Sensory IPS display, 5.5″, 1920×1080, 401 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
- Nano-SIM support
- Supports microSD memory cards up to 128 GB
- 2G communication: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- 3G Communication: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
- Data transmission FDD LTE Cat4 (Bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz), point Wi-Fi access, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
- DLNA, Media Go, MTP, Miracast
- GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
- Camera 13 MP Sony Exmor RS, autofocus, LED flash
- Camera 5 MP Sony Exmor R (front)
- Proximity sensor, lighting sensor, accelerometer, electronic compass
- Li-ion battery 2600 mAh
- Dimensions 150×77×7.9 mm
- Weight 147 g
Equipment
The Sony Xperia C4 smartphone is sold in a very simple-looking flat box made of thin unvarnished cardboard. The packaging of Sony smartphones has always been purely utilitarian in nature and had a nondescript, unattractive appearance, this seems to emphasize the company’s desire to take care of environment, because the box is mainly made from recycled materials using soy ink, etc.
The set of accessories is more than modest; it consists of a compact charger (5 V, 1 A) and a Micro-USB connecting cable; this time they didn’t even include a wired stereo headset.
Appearance and ease of use
The design of the Sony Xperia C4 has become less expressive than its predecessors once had. The Xperia C3 and T3 still bore the features of the OmniBalance design concept, in which a kind of flat frame was soldered into all the side edges. Metal, plastic, transparent, or mirror, but it has always been there, but now the rim as such is completely absent. The body is entirely made of the same type of matte hard plastic, and both the back wall and all the sides are made of it.
Sony Xperia C4 has fewer chopped features: very few rounded corners and the flat back cover is more than compensated for by the noticeably rounded sides. With a large 5.5-inch display, the device has fairly large dimensions, but at the same time it is surprisingly lightweight for its size. Lightweight and slim body with matte, slightly rough surfaces, it is very comfortable and securely held in the hand - it does not slip out and does not collect fingerprints.
The front panel is not symmetrical: due to the lack of hardware buttons at the bottom and the presence of a large front camera window with its own flash at the top, a noticeable imbalance has appeared: the top frame is almost twice as wide as the bottom, which is noticeable when the screen is on.
Just like the Sony Xperia C3, there is an unusually large front camera module on the front panel. A 5-megapixel module with a wide-angle lens is used for better shooting of self-portraits, and for this purpose they even included a separate LED flash. Thus, the device has two built-in flashes: one at the front and one at the back. Also on the front panel there is led indicator events.
There are no hardware buttons under the screen, all the buttons here are virtual, displayed on the screen, so a very narrow strip of free space literally a centimeter wide is left at the bottom.
On the back side, as usual, you can find the main camera window with a single LED flash that can work as a flashlight. The glass covering the camera module is slightly recessed into the body, this protects it from scratches that inevitably occur when it comes into contact with the surfaces on which the smartphone is located.
But the issue with the speaker grille, unfortunately, is not thought out so well: the sound is almost completely blocked when the smartphone is lying on a hard surface with the screen facing up. The call signal may well not be heard; it is one of the most significant disadvantages Sony Xperia C4.
The case has a monolithic structure; there is no removable back cover; side slots are used to install a memory card and SIM card. The location of the slots on the sides of Sony smartphones is different every time, it’s impossible to get used to it, there is no consistency in the system of their location. Unlike the Xperia C3, which is similar in all respects, its successor has card slots combined under a single cover, one next to the other. The card slots have a slot-like structure, there are no retractable slides here, the cards must be pushed into the slots using a fingernail, which is not always possible the first time. It should also be noted that the cover here serves only for decorative purposes and is not intended to protect against water and dust.
It is curious that all other controls are clustered on the same edge: the lock, volume and camera buttons are also located here. The buttons have a short, soft stroke and protrude from the body to a sufficient height, but their arrangement is peculiar. It turns out that if you take the smartphone in your right hand, you can’t reach any of the keys - they all end up sandwiched somewhere in the middle of the back of the hand. In any case, to manipulate the buttons, the smartphone will have to be held with both hands, unless the user is left-handed.
A single Micro-USB connector was placed on the opposite side; its location is comfortable: even in a vertical position, standing on some kind of stand, the cable connected to the connector does not interfere with anything, it is convenient. The connector supports connection external devices by OTG.
The audio output for the 3.5 mm headphone minijack has a more traditional location: it is located at the top end of the device, and also does not have any covers or plugs covering it.
Accordingly, the bottom end is not occupied by any of the elements; it is completely empty, except for the small hole of the speaking microphone.
In terms of color variety, the developers did not show originality this time. As in the case of the Sony Xperia C3, three color options for the Xperia C4 are available on the shelves: classic white and black, as well as the greenish “mint” color that has already become familiar to smartphones from the Japanese company.
Screen
The Sony Xperia C4 smartphone is equipped with an IPS touch matrix covered with flat protective glass. The screen dimensions here are exactly the same as those of the Xperia C3, they are 68x121 mm, diagonal - 5.5 inches. But the resolution has been increased to Full HD (1920×1080 pixels); accordingly, the pixel density has also increased to 401 ppi (versus 277 ppi for the Xperia C3). The screen with this large area all this was only beneficial, and in general, this is one of the most noticeable improvements when comparing the Xperia C4 with the Xperia C3.
Most of the side frames are quite wide: the sides from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body are almost 5 mm, top part- 18 mm, but the bottom one is only 10 mm.
To adjust the brightness level, you can use automatic adjustment based on the operation of the ambient light sensor; there is also the possibility of smooth manual adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches. There is a proximity sensor that locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. The smartphone screen can be operated while wearing gloves.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Sony Xperia C4, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Sony Xperia C4 is slightly darker (brightness according to photographs is 108 versus 109 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia C4 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (slightly lower in efficiency than the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.
With manual brightness control and when the white field was displayed in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 520 cd/m², the minimum was 9 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high, and, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors will be at a good level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. In stock automatic adjustment brightness by the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot to the left of the indicator). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. This function is dependent on brightness adjustment. If it is at a minimum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 9 cd/m² (normal), in illuminated conditions artificial light office (approximately 400 lux) sets to 260 cd/m² (slightly more than sufficient), in a very bright environment (corresponding to the lighting of a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 520 cd/m² (up to maximum, which is what is needed). If the brightness slider is at half scale, then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 40, 440 and 520 cd/m² (the average value is very high). If the brightness control is set to maximum - 250, 480, 520 cd/m² (the first two values are too high). As a result, the auto-brightness function is more or less adequate. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.
This smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which Sony screens Xperia C4 and Nexus 7 display the same images, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field across the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera is forced to switch to 6500 K. The white field is perpendicular to the screens:
We note good uniformity of brightness and color tone white field. And a test picture:
Color reproduction is good and colors are rich on both screens. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed very much on both screens, but the contrast on the Sony Xperia C4 has decreased to a greater extent due to greater black bleaching and a significant decrease in brightness. And a white field:
The brightness of the screens at an angle decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Sony Xperia C4 the drop in brightness is noticeably greater. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a purple tint or remains almost neutral gray. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):
And from another angle:
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is average, since in several places the black is slightly brightened:
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 780:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 24 ms (13 ms on + 11 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 37 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The power function fit exponent is 2.08, which is lower than the standard value of 2.2, so the image is slightly brightened. In this case, the real gamma curve noticeably deviates from the power-law dependence:
According to hardware tests, this smartphone has some kind of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness depending on the nature of the displayed image, but visually its detrimental effect is not revealed.
Color gamut is close to sRGB:
The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:
As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is acceptable, since the color temperature, although noticeably higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there is no color balance of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
This smartphone has the ability to adjust the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors. That's what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we significantly reduced ΔE on white and brought the white point a little closer to 6500 K. However, the balance of gray shades underwent catastrophic changes for the worse. It can be stated that the function is implemented for show and does not actually work. There is one more functionality implemented for unknown reasons, traditional for many mobile phones. Sony devices- switch to mode Mobile Bravia Engine 2. In this mode, saturation and contour sharpening are software enhanced, and there are fewer distinguishable gradations of shades in the area of saturated colors. There are also Extreme brightness mode, in which the color contrast is further enhanced. Let's show alternately (you need to click on the pictures) all three modes on the test image:
Switch off:
Let's summarize. The screen has a high maximum brightness and has good anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include a fairly effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and an acceptable color balance. Among the significant disadvantages we will attribute low black stability to the deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high.
Sound
In terms of sound, the Xperia C4 smartphone is unremarkable. There is one main speaker, the sound it produces is quite loud, but ringing and squeaky - low frequencies practically unnoticed. But the main problem is that the sound of the device lying on the table becomes almost inaudible - the small grille located on the back of the smartphone is completely blocked by the hard surface, muffling the sound. In headphones the situation is noticeably better: the sound is bright, thick, rich, although there is not an abundance of bass here. At the maximum volume level, the sound remains clear, without wheezing or impurities. In conversational dynamics, the voice of the interlocutor, the intonation and timbre of a familiar voice remain recognizable, the voices sound natural and natural.
To play music, the device uses its own proprietary player, traditionally called a Walkman. The player has a wealth of options for additional software enhancements, including an equalizer with multiple presets, Clear Phase, Clear Bass and Clear Stereo technologies combined into a comprehensive ClearAudio+ system, as well as xLoud volume enhancement technology and even virtual surround sound. Control of most settings is available if the comprehensive ClearAudio+ function is turned off, otherwise all settings will be adjusted automatically.
There is an FM radio in the smartphone, but it cannot record programs and will not work without connected as external antenna headphones. Recording telephone conversations using standard means is also not provided.
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Camera
Sony Xperia C4 is equipped with two digital camera modules with a resolution of 13 and 5 megapixels. The front-facing 5-megapixel Exmor R module is equipped with a wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus, and it has its own flash. The front camera, like the main one, can operate in manual and automatic shooting control modes. HDR mode is supported, there is a SteadyShot electronic stabilization function, and the camera can recognize a smile. In Style Portrait mode, you can add retouching to your own image. The camera records video with a maximum resolution of 1920×1080.
The main rear camera is equipped with a 13-megapixel Sony Exmor RS module for mobile devices and also has its own single-section LED flash. There is autofocus, and subjectively it’s quite fast. By default, the camera shoots in automatic mode, in which all settings are adjusted automatically; for independent control, you need to set the camera to manual mode.
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In addition, the settings traditionally contain a lot of additional modes, including entertainment ones, such as, for example, an augmented reality mode called AR effect, which makes it possible to combine real pictures with animation. It turns out quite funny, but gnomes and dinosaurs have already become boring for several years. And although the range of features was significantly expanded, new themes turned out to be paid.
The camera can shoot video in a maximum resolution of 1920×1080; examples of videos are presented below.
- Video No. 1 (26 MB, 1920×1080, 30 fps)
- Video No. 2 (48 MB, 1920×1080, 30 fps)
- Video No. 3 (19 MB, 1920×1080, 30 fps)
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Good sharpness across almost the entire field of the frame. |
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The camera copes well with macro photography. |
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Noise in the shadows is almost unnoticeable. |
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For a smartphone camera, and not a flagship one, the level of photography is quite high. |
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Good detail without software spoiling the images. |
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Good sharpness across the field and plans. |
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Detail in the foregrounds is particularly good. |
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Sometimes you can find small areas of blur, but they are more like a banal blur. |
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The foliage on the field and on the plans is well worked out. |
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The text is well done. |
Recently, Sony has been trying to maintain its brand, but also does not forget about the division of lines. For a smartphone that is not the most budget-friendly, but also not a flagship one, the camera chosen is not the best, but quite good. The pictures seem to be about to catch up with the flagship Z3, but the camera seems to be deliberately keeping its distance. Sharpness is good, but not great. The detailing is not bad, but lacks in places. Dynamic range moderate, but could have been wider. The noise reduction works well, but sometimes its work is noticeable. In general, “good, but not great” can be said about many parameters of the camera and, accordingly, about the entire camera as a whole. Of course, it is good for its segment and will cope with various scenarios.
Telephone and communications
The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also supports LTE networks used in Russia (Cat4, up to 150/50 Mbit/s). With a SIM card from the domestic operator Beeline, the smartphone in practice confidently finds and works with LTE network. Rest networking opportunities also at its best: support for NFC technology is available, both Wi-Fi bands are supported (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, DLNA, Media Go, MTP, Miracast, a mode for connecting external devices to USB port(USB Host, USB OTG).
The navigation module supports both GPS and the domestic Glonass system; there are no complaints about the speed of operation; during a cold start, the first satellites are detected within a couple of tens of seconds.
OS and software
The fifth version is used as the operating system software platform Google Android LolliPop, and in connection with this, Sony’s own proprietary shell installed on top has noticeably changed. Unlike many other alternative user interfaces, all the innovations that appeared with the advent of Android 5.0 are almost completely preserved here.
Present in abundance Material elements Design, interactive pop-up information tiles have appeared, the own notification shade and the menu of recently used programs have been changed to the standard ones from LolliPop. The ability to create guest accounts, store and restore a backup in a Google account has been added, even the standard energy-saving mode included in the fifth version of Android by default has moved here, and this despite the fact that the proprietary Stamina mode from Sony itself has remained in place.
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Also, with the arrival of the fifth version of Android, there is finally an easy way to set time limits for notifications (the “do not disturb” mode, which appeared in the fifth version of Android in the “alerts” section). Previously, to set a Sony smartphone daily automatic transition for silent night mode, I had to create such a mode myself through the proprietary Smart Connect application. Now, you can literally make your smartphone “silence” at night with just a couple of clicks. But at the same time, both Smart Connect and Stamina’s own energy-saving mode have not disappeared, that is, it turns out that some things can now be done in a smartphone in two different ways.
In general, it must be admitted that modified for the fifth version Android native Sony's user interface began to look and function much more comfortably, and the changes only benefited it.
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Performance
Unlike the Xperia C3, the Sony Xperia C4 hardware platform has undergone significant changes for the better, now it is based on an eight-core MediaTek MT6752 single-chip system (SoC). This powerful SoC is configured with eight full-fledged processor cores and uses powerful Cortex-A53 cores. This 64-bit platform is made using a 28 nm process technology, the maximum core frequency reaches 1.7 GHz. The modern and productive Mali-T760 video accelerator is responsible for graphics processing here. The amount of RAM is a decent 2 GB, and about 9 GB of the nominally designated 16 GB of internal memory for the user’s needs is available in the device. To expand the memory capacity, there is also a slot for microSD cards, and it even supports connecting flash drives in OTG mode.
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Based on the testing results, the Sony Xperia C4 platform showed expectedly high results; the platform used in the smartphone has repeatedly proven its leading position in the mid-segment among popular SoCs. This 64-bit platform demonstrates very good results, much higher than the usual average level. The performance of smartphones based on the new generation MediaTek platforms is already approaching flagship levels. SoC MediaTek MT6752 is not designed for use in expensive top-end smartphones; it is intended for mid-class devices, however, its power, including the performance of the Mali-T760 video subsystem, will be enough for a long time to perform any tasks, including demanding games. At the moment, the MediaTek MT6752 platform is perhaps the most interesting solution for the mid-range, since smartphones on it are cheaper than the competing Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, and are significantly ahead of it in terms of performance.
Testing in latest versions comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:
All the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the most latest versions popular benchmarks, we have summarized them in tables for convenience. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions benchmarks, so many worthy and current models- due to the fact that they once went through an “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.
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Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark,GFXBenchmark, and Bonsai Benchmark:
When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).
| Sony Xperia C4 (Mediatek MT6752) |
Alcatel OT Idol 3 5.5 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 615) |
Lenovo P90 (Intel Atom Z3560) |
Meizu M1 Note (Mediatek MT6752) |
Samsung Galaxy A7 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 615) |
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| 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme (more is better) |
6766 | 5281 | Maxed out! | 6517 | 5373 |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited (more is better) |
10530 | 7423 | 14543 | 10606 | 7700 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) | 16 fps | 15 fps | 26 fps | 15 fps | 14 fps |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) | 15 fps | 14 fps | 27 fps | 15 fps | 15 fps |
| Bonsai Benchmark | 3549 (51 fps) | 1844 (26 fps) | 3641 (52 fps) | 3318 (47 fps) | 1946 (28 fps) |
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
Thermal photographs
Below is a thermal image of the rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:
It can be seen that the heating is clearly localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 42 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees). Such heating cannot be called insignificant.
Playing video
To test omnivorousness when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, for example subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.
According to the testing results, the subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are necessary for full playback of most of the most common multimedia files on the network. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player Does not officially support AC3 audio format.
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Standard video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after installing an alternative custom audio codec; The standard player does not have this setting
Tested video output features Alexey Kudryavtsev.
We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: Resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are summarized in the table:
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems related to the playback of the corresponding files.
According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The exception is files with 60 fps, in which a couple of frames are always skipped. Apparently, the screen refresh rate is slightly lower than the typical 60Hz. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - all shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights - which is what is required for correct playback of typical video files.
Battery life
The non-removable battery installed in the Sony Xperia C4 does not have a much larger capacity than that of the Xperia C3, only 2600 mAh. Increased screen resolution and a much more powerful platform have done their job: time Xperia works C4 in offline modes did not increase, but even decreased slightly, which is quite justified. However, it is also worth considering that the test for reading e-books was carried out in auto-scrolling mode, and this also takes up some of the energy. As a result, the smartphone cannot boast of a record battery life; it is at an average level, not higher. It is also worth noting that testing was carried out without using any energy-saving functions, and Sony smartphones have several options for them.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Video mode | 3D Game Mode | |
| Sony Xperia C4 | 2600 mAh | 11:30 am | 9:00 a.m. | 4:00 am |
| Sony Xperia C3 | 2500 mAh | 14:30 | 9:00 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. |
| Sony Xperia T3 | 2500 mAh | 15:20 | 8 a.m. 20 p.m. | 4:00 am |
| Alcatel OT Idol 3 (5.5) | 2910 mAh | 17:00 | 8:30 a.m. | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Lenovo P90 | 4000 mAh | 16:00 | 13:00 | 4 hours 40 minutes |
| Meizu M1 Note | 3140 mAh | 16:40 | 13:20 | 4 hours 45 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy A7 | 2600 mAh | 22:10 | 12:00 pm | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| HTC Desire 820 | 2600 mAh | 13:00 | 7:40 a.m. | 4 hours 10 minutes |
| Honor 6 Plus | 3600 mAh | 20:00 | 10:00 am | 4 hours 30 minutes |
Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme, in auto-scroll mode) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted about 11.5 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and when continuously watching videos from YouTube V high quality(HQ) with the same brightness level through home network The Wi-Fi device lasted 9 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone worked for 4 hours. Time fully charged is about 3 hours.
Bottom line
As a result, we have a smartphone that, in appearance and positioning, is a direct descendant of the Sony Xperia C3, and this is exactly the case when all the changes, without exception, were beneficial. From a modest and unremarkable tablet phone with a weak hardware component, the level of which was partly justified only by a famous brand, the smartphone has turned into a truly interesting mobile device in all respects with powerful filling, an excellent set of network modules, a good screen, sound, camera and autonomy. True, the rather high price in the region of 22 thousand rubles and above does not allow this worthy device to compete on equal terms with such competitors as the Meizu M1 Note and Alcatel OT Idol3 - they turn out to be much cheaper than the hero of the review.
A stylish smartphone with average technical parameters and exactly the same price is the Sony C4. Feedback from owners about this device, its specifications and software components will be discussed in the proposed material. The cost of the phone today is also given.
Who is this device aimed at?
The mid-level solution is the Sony S4. Price, technical parameters and software components indicate this. This gadget can be described as a device with a large diagonal touch screen, average hardware specifications, good autonomy and a relatively recent version of the system software. This is an excellent solution for those who need inexpensive smartphone average level for every day. It is in this case that the Sony C4 can fully reveal its potential.
Appearance, ergonomics
Monoblock with touch input- this is Sony S4. Reviews highlight the large screen diagonal in this device. The familiar control panel in in this case placed on the bottom of the display. At the top there is the manufacturer's logo and a speaker. The front camera, its backlight and the eyes of the sensor elements are also displayed here. On the right side of the gadget there are buttons for locking, camera control and volume control.
On its opposite side there is a wired MicroUSB port. On top there is only an audio port. At the bottom you can only find a hole for the speaking microphone. At the back is the main camera, its backlight and a loud speaker. The back cover and side edges are made of plastic with a matte finish. The ergonomics of the device are well thought out; it is not difficult to operate it with one hand.
CPU
The mid-range processor MT6752 with 8 computing modules (True8Core technology) is used in the Sony C4. The characteristics of this chip, of course, do not reach the flagship CPUs, but the solutions entry level can Each of its modules is based on the fairly recent A53 architecture and supports 64-bit software.
Among other features of this central processor CorePilot technology needs to be highlighted. Its essence boils down to the fact that chip frequencies are reduced or increased dynamically depending on the level of complexity of the problem being solved, the temperature of the processor and its heat dissipation. The maximum frequency can reach in this case 1.7 GHz. This processor solution is perfect for software that is optimized for multi-threaded tasks. But the same cannot be said about single- and dual-threaded applications. Still, the frequency of 1.7 GHz will manifest itself in this case. Otherwise, this smartphone can run any software that is available for the Android platform. But the latest and most demanding 3D games will not run on it at maximum settings.
Graphics card
The Sony S4 smartphone is equipped with a Mali-T760 graphics accelerator. It can’t boast of outstanding performance, but it certainly doesn’t care for the rear. That is, this is a mid-level solution. Its main feature is that it supports displays with a resolution of 1920x1080. Moreover, this is the kind of screen used in this device; in this case, it copes perfectly with displaying and processing graphic information.
Display
The Sony S4 phone boasts a 5.5-inch screen, the matrix of which is made using IPS technology. Its viewing angles are simply excellent, color rendition is not satisfactory. The display resolution, as noted earlier, is 1920 x 1080, which is excellent today. That is, the pixel density is 401 ppi, which is an excellent value for a mid-level smartphone. A single pixel in this case without special means difficult to notice. In general, the screen in this case is beyond praise.
Memory
2 GB random access memory and 16 GB of built-in storage capacity - this is exactly the memory subsystem in the Sony Xperia S4. About half of the RAM (that is, 1 GB) is occupied after launching the gadget system applications, and the rest is allocated to solve user problems. About 4 GB of the integrated space is occupied by system software, and the rest can be used by the user for installing application software or storing personal files(photo, video or various documents, For example).
In most cases, the specified volumes should be sufficient for comfortable work on a smartphone. But for more advanced users this may not be enough. In this case, you can install an additional drive with a maximum capacity of 128 GB. This is certainly enough even for the most demanding owners. In order not to lose the most valuable data if your phone breaks down, it is recommended to use some cloud service to store copies of it.
Autonomy
Built-in non-removable capacity battery equal to 2600 mAh in Sony S4. Characteristics of the hardware of this device allow you to count on 2-3 days of work from one charge. But this value is valid for the average load level on the device. As the load increases, this value will decrease to 1 day.
One battery charge will last the shortest time when running some demanding game on the gadget (for example, Asphalt 8 or GTA). In this case, you can count on a maximum of 6 hours of work. After which you will have to put the device on charge. If you use your smartphone to a minimum, you can confidently count on 4 days of work. From the point of view of autonomy, this gadget cannot boast of anything remarkable. But nothing bad can be said about him either.
Cameras
Cameras are definitely among the strengths of the Sony S4. The overview of the main parameters is truly impressive. Its sensor is 13 megapixels. There is an autofocus system, image stabilization, HDR mode and LED backlight. All this together allows you to get excellent photos in almost any situation.
The only criticism that arises is the shooting with bad level illumination But even in this case, by varying the settings, you can achieve acceptable quality. This camera can record video in Full HD quality or 1920 x 1080. In this case, the image will be updated 30 times per second. The front camera has a 5 megapixel sensor and it also has a backlight system. This allows you to take selfies of excellent quality. Well, for video calls its capabilities are more than enough.
Interfaces
All the necessary basic interfaces are available in the Sony C4. A review of its specifications indicates support for the following methods of transmitting and receiving data:
There is a single-SIM version of this gadget, and with support for two SIM cards, which is called “Sony S4 Dual”. Both the first and second modifications support all currently existing GSM networks.
One of the main methods of transmitting information is Wi-Fi.
This device also has Bluetooth for exchanging data with similar devices.
To determine location and perform navigation, there are GPS and GLONASS (in this case, one transmitter can work with 2 systems at once) and A-GPS.
For synchronization with a computer, the device is equipped with a MicroUSB port. It also provides battery charging.
For withdrawal sound signal There is a standard 3.5 mm audio port.
Software
Sony Xperia S4 operates under the most common software platform at the moment - Android. Its version in this case is 5.0. There is no exact information yet regarding the availability of updates to 5.1 or 6.0. But even this version is quite enough to run most existing applications. The list of pre-installed software in this case includes the following:
Social clients.
Programs integrated into the operating system.
A set of utilities from the Google developer company.
Do you like taking selfies? U Sony There's great news for you: the bright and cute Xperia C4 smartphones take great pictures with its 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera. In addition, the smartphone has an excellent rear camera, a powerful processor, a large bright screen and impressively clear sound.
Your self-portraits will get a lot of likes!
The front camera of the Xperia C4 and C4 Dual smartphones is based on a matrix with a resolution of 5 megapixels and is equipped with a 25 mm wide-angle lens. The whole friendly group of friends will fit in the frame! And a single selfie will turn out to be original and high-quality even in the dark - the front LED flash will softly illuminate your face during a night walk or party.
Film yourself and the world around you
Not only the front, but also the main camera of the C4 smartphone deserves attention: it has a resolution of 13 megapixels and a light-sensitive lens, so it takes clear and bright pictures even in dim lighting. The camera supports HDR shooting, SteadyShot video stabilization technology and an intelligent auto mode that instantly assesses conditions and selects the best shooting settings.
Have fun and create masterpieces with Sony apps
The C4 series smartphones offer a lot of possibilities for creative processing of your photos: filters and artistic effects, apps for retouching selfies, creating fun photo collages, and much more. You can always download new apps without leaving shooting mode.
I fell in love with this smartphone at first sight - thin, with a large bright screen, separate button cameras... In general, everything is as I like. I decided to purchase this miracle for my own use. In principle, I am not disappointed, because every gadget has its pros and cons; there is no ideal one. First of all, I want to note the quality of the screen. It is beyond praise - the brightness is excellent, the color rendition is excellent, the viewing angles are maximum. But here lies the fly in the ointment - the oleophobic coating. No, it even seems to be there, but of such terrible quality that you can’t look at it without tears. It collects fingerprints instantly, and even erasing them results in a whole story. The screen still looks kind of smudged. Although maybe I need to wash my hands more often? I don’t know, but there were no such problems with other smartphones. The sound is loud enough, does not wheeze or squeak. But even here Sony found something to distinguish themselves - you just have to put the smartphone with the screen up and you can safely miss the call. In this case, the only thing that can save you is a case that at least slightly lifts the smartphone. There were also problems with calls. The fact is that sometimes people tell me that they hear me quietly, as if from a pipe... For a long time I could not understand what was wrong, because after a reboot everything became normal. In general, to rid your gadget of this ailment, you just need to disable the recognition of “Ok, Google” from any application, this is located somewhere in the settings Google Now. It’s strange, however, to have a smartphone with an operating system from Google and not enjoy all the benefits. Maybe they will fix it with the next firmware. By the way, this is not my first smartphone that has problems due to Google services. That's all with critical remarks, you can live with the rest. Love the dedicated camera button! It's just incredibly convenient, but you get used to it very quickly. Then it is very difficult to switch to taking photographs from a button on the screen. In terms of photo quality, I am completely satisfied with the Xperia C4. I didn’t expect anything supernatural from the camera, but compared to Asus Zenfone 2 Sony's photographs are simply amazing. There is, however, a small nuance in this - in super auto mode the photos turn out soapy, but if you just switch to manual mode and do not change any settings, then everything becomes fine. It’s strange, of course :) I somehow decided to use the front camera with a flash...And why didn’t anyone warn me that I would go blind for a while? :) I didn’t use it again, I had enough experiments for a lifetime. I can’t understand Sony’s policy regarding only one thing - battery capacity. When other manufacturers install a 3000mAh battery with exactly the same characteristics, Sony installs a 2500mAh battery. Where is the logic? The vaunted Stamina does not suit me, since I pay money to always receive all notifications and use the Internet, and not turn off all this on the device. If you don’t play with your smartphone, the battery lasts for about 3-4 hours with the screen on. If you use your smartphone to its fullest, the maximum is 1.5 hours, and sometimes even less. And yes, be prepared for it to get hot. It gets very hot. In my opinion, it can even fry scrambled eggs :) In general, if you are prepared for all the disadvantages, then the smartphone is a pleasure. It is powerful, beautiful, has a good camera, a great display, is well built, and is awaiting an update to Android 6.0. No matter what, I am completely satisfied with the purchase, because I knew what to prepare for.
Today the Japanese officially presented new smartphone Sony Xperia C4 is a bright and powerful device that continues the work of its predecessor. The popularity of selfies is growing among mobile device users, and last year Sony introduced the Xperia C3 model, which received a powerful front camera. For many reasons, the model became very popular and in 2015 it was decided to release its successor, which became the Sony Xperia C4! Although to a greater extent the new selfie phone is a spiritual successor, since only the ideology and focus on selfies has remained unchanged, in all other respects the Xperia C4 is superior to the C3 and many competitors in its mid-price niche.
There will be two versions on the market: Sony Xperia C4 (E5303, E5353, E5306) and Sony Xperia C4 Dual (E5333, E5363, E5343). It’s a pity that the price and exact release date of the smartphone in our area have not yet been announced, but tentatively, it will appear on store shelves in early summer. Now you can move on to more detailed review appearance and technical characteristics Xperia C4, and believe me, there is something to praise the device for.
Externally, the device turned out to be more rounded, its body is made of plastic, and back cover has a rough coating. The dimensions are also pleasing: 150.3 x 77.4 x 7.9 mm and weight 147 grams, with a large 5.5-inch display. The frames have become noticeably thinner, especially the bottom one (due to the offset of the screen). The smartphone looks compact and monolithic, despite its not small size, it fits perfectly in the hand. The phone will be sold in three colors: white, black and mint.
First of all, I’d like to talk about the phone’s cameras, in particular the front sensor. At the top above the screen is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with Exmor R sensor and soft LED flash, and a 25mm wide-angle lens for more capture. The camera has HDR mode, autofocus and SteadyShot image stabilization technology, which will allow you to record video without shaking, even in motion. There are also new applications for the camera “Portrait in Style” and “AR Masks”, which will make your selfies even more interesting and unusual. The main camera is 13 Megapixels with an Exmor RS matrix, with all the same features.
Most of the front surface of the Sony Xperia C4 is occupied by a 5.5-inch IPS screen with high Full HD resolution - an excellent indicator for a mid-price phone. It uses Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology to achieve even greater image clarity and contrast, increasing color saturation. On such a display you can conveniently view all content.
The hardware is also impressive. Xperia S4 is built on the new 64-bit MediaTek processor MT6752 with 8 Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of 1.7 GHz and a Mali T-760MP2 video accelerator. This pebble has proven itself in terms of performance and energy efficiency. The phone also has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage space. internal memory, which can be expanded using microSD cards up to 128 GB. The battery capacity is 2600 mAh, which should be enough to ensure good battery life. There is a single speaker on the rear panel that produces loud and clear sound.
Brief Xperia specifications C4:
Promo images and videos:
