Why the Sony Xperia E4 will be the best budget phone of 2015
2015 is looking like a promising year for smartphones; the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 have all been made official, and are packing a hefty punch in the mobile phone market. But not everyone wants to spend over £400 on a phone when you can pick one up at a quarter of the cost.
The Sony Xperia E4 is a much more financially viable handset that keeps up the processing speeds up, and drops the monthly cost down, and is ready to go to battle on the mobile market. So could this new Sony handset be the best budget phone of the year? We think so, and here’s why!
It’s got X appeal!
For a phone that’s approximately the quarter of the price of your average flagship, the Sony Xperia E4 looks fit for a place on the big screen. Coming in a minimalist colour selection of black or white, professional is this handset’s middle name.
It’s moved on from the Sony Xperia E3 by cutting down the rather large bezels which framed the predecessor’s display, and the screen itself has upped a size to 5-inches. In keeping with the Sony smartphone style, we also get a nice smooth and solid build, which will feature a much slimmer waistline compared to the Sony E3.
As you would expect from Sony, the Xperia E4 is a real looker, and is like finding a real gem considering its surprisingly low price tag. So even though you know you’ve only spent a couple quid, it looks like you’ve splashed the cash big time with this handset in your pocket.
Fancy saving some more cash? Why not pick up the Sony Xperia E3 free-of-charge on contract today?
**Fancy comparing the E4 with some other cheap alternatives? **See how it compares in our Xperia E1 vs Xperia E3 battle here!
It’s faster than you might expect
Nobody likes a slow coach, so it’s nice to know that you won’t be left frustrated if you invest your cash in the E4. Thanks to its quad-core 1.3GHz processor, MediaTek chipset and 1GB RAM, speed is definitely in good supply.
The phone also houses an 8GB internal memory which can be topped up to 32GB with the help of a memory card- so there’s no need to worry about running low on space. Also, with a 2300mAh battery in tow, the Xperia phone will keep you going until the cows come home. Or until you go to bed at night at least.
Looking for something with a slightly more premium feel? How about the Sony Xperia Z3?
It’s got a classy Sony Xperia camera
No slouch when it comes to cameras, Sony has a seasoned history in the camera sector. This has been buoyed further by the success of the Xperia Z line-up of smartphones.
And whilst the E4 doesn’t pack a 20+ megapixel lens like its flagship brothers, it does produce some quality snaps with its 5 megapixel rear camera. The front facing lens does its job too, handling all of your selfie stick toting needs with its 2 megapixel rating.
Also, being a Sony smartphone, the E4 also has access to the pool of camera apps that we’ve seen in all other phones in the past including the Xperia E3 and E1.
**Are you a big selfie fan? **Find out what the best selfie apps are here!
Android 4.4 KitKat- with Lollipop 5.0 on the way?
This is a bit of an issue with most budget smartphones; they get built, sold and then they’re left out in the cold whilst other handsets get all kinds of exciting and enjoyable updates. Thankfully, the Xperia E4 is a little more future-proof.
Getting things going with Android 4.4.4 KitKat,the E4 boasts all of the usual Google apps and features such as Google Now, Gmail and Google Hangouts. But don’t worry, we are told that Android Lollipop will be inbound soon enough. Following on from here, Sony will be ensuring that updates make it down to users of the budget Xperia device, so it’s going to be smiles all-round when it comes to software!
Sony Xperia E4 review: Verdict
This Sony Xperia features more than enough to keep even the most tech-hungry user happy, and for a budget phone, you can’t really ask for much more than that. It runs quickly and smoothly, handles photo taking well, and has a competitive list of specs under the hood, making it a top device.
Whilst you won’t be meeting the speeds of a flagship phone, you’ll definitely look the part, and for a price of just £60 sim free, it’s hard to find a similarly priced handset that does the same. So if you’re looking to make a saving, why not try the Xperia E4?