Sony Xperia V: Water-resistant, dustproof, and makes the fastest connections

Just to test the Sony Xperia V, I dipped it in a glass half- filled with water for half a second, or maybe a second. Being a bit paranoid, I did not want to get the loaner unit busted.

It survived.

I guess such experimenting comes with the territory, as Sony Xperia V claims to be water-resistant and dustproof — I guess that calls for a little reckless testing, right?

I also took it with me to the gym. I made a few calls, which I would not normally do on a regular day, with the Xperia V.

As I was in the gym, I was a bit drenched in sweat so I figured (as that is also as close as I would get to water, not being a swimmer) that using the cell phone under sweaty conditions would be another test of “water- resistance.” I have to say that the Xperia V is still working wonderfully.

My curiosity about water resistance satisfied, I moved on to take the Xperia V for a test run.

IT’S GOT STAMINA

Sony says that the Xperia V is the country’s first water-resistant LTE smartphone. Because of the 4G/LTE connection, the company promises that data connection will be much faster.

The Sony Xperia V is also equipped with a stamina mode, which makes its battery life even more efficient.

I was told that the stamina mode shuts down all apps that are running in the background when the phone is not in use, thus lengthening battery life and increasing standby time by up to four times more. Normally, we think that by pressing the sleep button we are conserving the phone battery. But, what actually happens is that if there are apps which we used before we put the cellphone to sleep still running, thus faster draining the battery life. 

In stamina mode, Sony Xperia V shuts down all background apps automatically, including temporarily disabling data traffic and WiFi, so that you don’t worry about phone batteries draining too fast. Calls, messaging functions and notifications will still work, though. When the screen is touched again, all functions turn back on.

Neat.

 â€œBattery Stamina Mode is easy to use and offers more savings than other similar power saving apps today,” explained Patrick Larraga, head of Mobile Business of Sony Philippines. “There are actually no comparable apps on Google Play since they cannot change the Android system. Battery Stamina Mode is achieved via deeper integration into the Android OS. This allows Xperia V users to enjoy more hours with the fastest LTE connection available.”

Of course, there’s also the Sony’s best 13-megapixel HD camera with Exmor R that makes taking photos a snap — and lovely, too.

The Xperia V is one of the first LTE smartphones to launch in the Philippines, enabling a turbo-charged experience of the Internet. The smartphone supports download speeds of up to 100 mbps, perfect for video streaming, online gaming and various downloads in a snap. Users will be able to download apps and huge files in seconds, and enjoy online videos without buffering. As a PlayStation-certified smartphone, the Xperia V further enhances real-time mobile gaming.

“The Xperia V is also the first water- and dust-resistant LTE smartphone to launch worldwide. As our other handset models have shown, water resistance has become a sought-after feature in mobile phones, and Sony has been at the forefront of this trend,” said Larraga. The Xperia V is now the fourth water-resistant handset from Sony, and is rated at IP55/IP57 based on the international-standard IP Rating Scale. 

“Smart is proud to offer a truly unique LTE smartphone in the Philippines, just months after introducing the country’s first commercial LTE service,” said Smart Wireless Consumer division head Emmanuel C. Lorenzana. “With help from our partners at Sony, we are one step closer to bringing the power of next-generation mobile Internet into the hands of even more Filipinos.”

The Xperia V has numerous exciting features including a 13-megapixel fast capture HD camera with Exmor R for mobile. This Sony technology allows users to capture bright still images and video even in low light conditions. With High Dynamic Range, the camera can more accurately capture scenes even against harsh backlight. The Xperia V also supports 1080 full HD video recording for sharper videos. An excellent viewing experience is guaranteed on its 4.3-inch HD Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine 2. 

Through the Walkman application, users can activate Sony’s ClearAudio+ mode and enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard. One can also use it to access music their Facebook friends have liked.

As an NFC (near field communication) device, the Xperia V lets users instantaneously access music and photos across other NFC-enabled Sony devices. This “one-touch” wireless connection works without having to pair with another device. The Xperia V, for example, can stream music wirelessly to an NFC-enabled speaker like the upcoming Sony SRS-BTV5.

The Xperia V is in a class of its own: it’s water-resistant, dust-proof, LTE-enabled, has 13-megapixel Sony camera and a battery Stamina mode — what more can one can ask for?

 I must add that Sony Xperia V gets and makes calls, receives and sends texts and shoots great photos, which are easily uploadable to instagram with its Smart 4G connectivity. That’s taking cell phones one step closer to a rugged and fast-paced future.