Unveiling the Sony Xperia Sola Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Sony Xperia sola

The Sony Xperia sola, announced in March 2012 and released in May 2012, is a discontinued smartphone known for its unique floating touch technology. This allowed users to navigate the screen without actually touching it, a fascinating feature at the time of its release. As a mid-range smartphone option, it gained attention for its design and functionality.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 116 x 59 x 9.9 mm and a weight of 107 g, the Xperia sola was compact and lightweight. This made it convenient to carry around, and its design was appreciated for its simplicity and practicality. The device used a mini SIM card and was offered in three colors: Black, White, and Red, catering to different aesthetic preferences.

Display Features

The Xperia sola featured a 3.7-inch LED-backlit LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, providing a pixel density of approximately 265 ppi. This screen was scratch-resistant, which added durability to the device. Although the screen-to-body ratio was around 55.1%, it offered good visibility and vibrancy for everyday tasks and media consumption.

Performance and Hardware

Powered by the NovaThor U8500 chipset, the Xperia sola employed a dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU. While equipped with 512MB of RAM, which might seem minimal by today's standards, at the time it was sufficient for running basic applications and a moderately modern Android experience. The device came with an internal storage of 8GB, with 5GB available for users, and it supported expandable storage via a dedicated microSDHC card slot.

Software and User Interface

The Xperia sola initially ran Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and was upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The software experience was enhanced by Sony's custom user interface, which was designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Despite being outdated now, the operating system at that time supported a wide array of applications and features suitable for standard smartphone use.

Camera Capabilities

Equipped with a single 5 MP autofocus main camera, the Xperia sola offered basic photography features. It included options like LED flash and panorama capture, and could record videos at 720p@30fps. While it lacked a front-facing camera, the rear camera was satisfactory for taking simple snapshots and videos in well-lit conditions.

Sound and Audio Features

The device featured a loudspeaker and a standard 3.5mm audio jack for private listening. Its sound performance was measured with voice at 60dB, noise at 59dB, and ring tones at 61dB. It also offered a stereo FM radio with RDS for users who enjoyed listening to local radio stations.

Connectivity Options

The Sony Xperia sola supported various connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with A-GPS support, and NFC. For data transfer, it provided a microUSB 2.0 with USB On-The-Go (OTG) support, allowing functionality like connecting USB peripherals directly to the device.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Xperia sola was equipped with essential sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, thus enhancing overall user interaction with various apps and features. It also had an innovative floating touch technology that set it apart by allowing users to interact with the screen without physically touching it, an interesting precursor to modern gesture controls.

Battery Life

The smartphone housed a non-removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery. It offered up to 470 hours on standby in 2G networks and up to 475 hours in 3G. Talk time was up to 6 hours on 2G and up to 5 hours on 3G, and it could provide up to 40 hours of music playback, a decent performance for its time.

Network and Communication

The Xperia sola supported GSM and HSPA networks, with 2G bands including GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and 3G bands with HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100. It provided speed with HSPA data rates at 14.4/5.76 Mbps. These features ensured good network connectivity for voice calls and data services.

Price and Market Position

At launch, the Xperia sola was priced around 120 EUR, positioning it in the mid-range market segment. This pricing made it accessible to a broader audience, appealing to users seeking affordability without compromising essential smartphone functions.

Conclusion

The Sony Xperia sola was a noteworthy release during its time, offering a blend of unique features like floating touch performance, practical design, and fundamental smartphone functionalities. Despite being discontinued, its legacy lies in its innovative approach to user interaction and its role in the progression of smartphone technology. Its introduction helped pave the way for further advancements in touchless and gesture-based technology, influencing the design and functionality approaches in modern mobile devices.