Sony Xperia E3 Review

A bit like Kourtney Kardashian – the Sony Xperia E3 Review

Damage

R3 480

What you need to know

  • 5 inch, IPS capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours
  • KitKat 4.42
  • Qualcomm MSM8926-2 Snapdragon 400
  • Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
  • 4 GB, 1 GB RAM
  • 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera
  • Available in white, black, copper and yellow.

What we think you need to know

The only thing I like more than awesome tech is accessible awesome tech. Packing all the smartphone essentials in a R3 480 package, the Sony Xperia E3 is exactly that.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

The E3 is the Kourtney Kardashian of the Xperia clan – compact, less famous but still every bit as fab as the rest of the family. The E3 has everything you’ve come to expect from the Xperia range – Android KitKat, a long lasting battery and excellent usability thanks to Sony’s awesome bloatware. The phone, while not as slim as its metal counterparts, feels sturdy and durable in its plastic casing. The back case is removable, but the battery is not. My favourite feature is that you can set your favourite app to activate if you shake your device. This novelty amuses me and makes me feel like I’ve got a maraca.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

Of course, at only R3 480 you can expect a few compromises. With only 4GB of internal storage, the E3 tends to lag unless you save your apps on an SD card – something I highly recommend. PlayStation fans should give the E3 a miss – the slower processor means PS4 games are not happening. You can however, play such Android classics as Dots and Angry Birds.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

The screen, while perfectly acceptable, doesn’t stand up to today’s standards. It harkens back to the oft forgotten but legendary Xperia X1. The viewing experience is comfortable, and YouTube still enjoyable, so don’t let that stop you unless you’re a serious mobile gamer. The phone isn’t waterproof either, so the clumsy and the drunk should keep a safe distance.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

With only a 5MP rear camera and a VGA front camera, I strongly advise against purchasing this phone if you like to dabble in photography or are a selfie aficionado. However, as seen below, despite the low megapixels it still takes decent photos, and there is nothing in this world that an Instagram filter can’t fix.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

The Sony Xperia E3 is the perfect smartphone if you’re on a tight budget but want it all. However if you can afford to throw in an extra grand or two I’d recommend you pick the Xperia M2 Aqua, or the even more affordable Huawei P8 Lite.

Sony Xperia E3 Review

So rad

  • I can afford it

Makes us sad

  • The VGA camera does nothing for my skin

Disclaimer: Lauren was sent a review unit for the Sony Xperia E3 Review. It goes back to the brand when we’re done taking selfies. 

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