Sony Xperia tipo dual (ST21i2) Review

You're better off using Swype

Sony has added their own set of apps like PowerSaver, LiveWare manager, TrackID etc.

Misc. Apps
Extra apps include Office Suite, Astro file manager, WhatsApp, NeoReader as well as some entertainment apps like Bollywood Hungama, Astro, CricBuzz, Cosmic numbers, Desimartini, PVR, Stumped etc.

Camera
The 3.2MP camera is devoid of auto-focus, so don’t expect anything great in terms of photography. Landscape shots are still decent, provided there’s good ambient light. However, don’t bother with anything at close quarters as there’s no proper focus. You get standard settings like exposure values, scene modes, geo-tagging etc. There’s no front facing camera, so video calls are out the window.

A standard fare

Video recording maxes out at VGA resolution (640 x 360) and as one would expect, the video quality is strictly average at best.

Not much for close-up shots

Battery Life
The 1500mAh battery will let you power through one full day even with heavy usage. Thanks to the low-res screen, the Xperia tipo dual managed nearly 6 hrs in our video drain test. This is with Wi-Fi ‘off’ and the brightness set to medium. With calls, video, audio and a bit of streaming, you should easily expect a battery life of around 5-5.5 hrs.

Verdict and Price in India
Sony has priced the Xperia tipo dual at Rs.10,500, while the single SIM version retails for a grand less. Looking at just Tier 1 brands, the tipo dual is the best dual-SIM Android option at this price point, although we feel it’s still a bit expensive. It’s very similar to the HTC Explorer in terms of specs, except it’s better thanks to the bigger battery, better display and ICS. If Sony drops the price and manages to place it in the 8K range, it will make a killing.