Sony Xperia M4 Aqua review: The lookalike

12 May 2015
The Xperia M4 Aqua is Sony’s take on what a mid-ranger should look like. And for the first time in a while a mid-ranger has got us excited. It has all the right specs coupled with a thin profile and premium looks, all bundled up into a €299 phone...

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  • AnonD-431353
  • 98P
  • 19 Aug 2015

uniqezor, 18 Aug 2015Got it for 2 weeks this is my key findings: - Battery do... moreForgot to add the following:

- Overheating issues (when gaming with wifi or data on), almost untouchable, gets hot near the camera area & on all the front screen
- Lacks root & unlocked bootloader (i wasn't a lucky one!)
- Xperia UI looks & feels nice but stock Android feel is better (using "M Launcher")
- The storage problem: From 8GB you only have 1.4GB avaliable, since the system has a whopping 4GB
- Ram usage: Out of 2GB you have around 400 to 800MB avaliable for usage (my previous Wiko Rainbow had 1GB with 300 to 650MB)
- Sony could had more "cool" stuff like "knock-to-wake" & some other stuff to make it more easy to use

    • u
    • uniqezor
    • 98P
    • 18 Aug 2015

    Got it for 2 weeks this is my key findings:

    - Battery doesn't last 81h (its around 65h) on moderate-to-hardcore usage
    - Awesome underwater experience
    - Really feels premium, the build quality is really awesome (i've tried the flagships Samsung S6, iPhone 6+, LG G4 & previously Samsung S5)
    - The screen is quite sharp if you have a lower or other mid-range but the brightness is disappointing (my ex-Wiko Rainbow had 2x more brightness)
    - Feels nice to use 4G, the "speed bump" from a regular 3G smartphone
    - The camera is better then said by GSMarena
    - The later OTA update (current version .2.99) makes the smartphone a slower but more stable (Antutu scores lowered from 30-33k to 26-28k)
    - Gaming isn't a issue (Mediatek vs Qualcomm ftw), all games run nice (untill now)
    - The touch isn't quite responsive as other smartphones i've tried, like Moto G or E (2nd & 1st Gen), Wiko Rainbow, Huawei P8 lite or Alcatel Pop C7
    - Sound is awesome with phones but speakers are really low, unipressive with 3 speakers (2 high on front panel and 1 low on the bottom)
    - Mic quality is Average/Good but the noise cancelation is really good
    - Front Facing is better then most of mid-range i've tried
    - The screen is quite sharp, the GSMarena standards are too high since ~62% of the Android market has low-to-mid-end smartphones
    - It takes ages to charge with stock USB charger, however, quick-charge works like a charm and its 2-3x faster to charge
    - Sony stock phones are quite good
    - Sony's enhanced audio is also quite good, the bass gets louder but balanced

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      • milana
      • vV5
      • 16 Aug 2015

      Its works perfectly fine..and i started to like this phone..actually im buying this phone in a first place jist bcoz i dont have enough money to buy iphone..haha..but after using it for few months now..i think its amazing..btw im from malaysia..and i dont have those many problem that u guys talking about..it bcame hot somtimes but its ok i think..its a great phone for those who have small budget like me..hehehe

        • j
        • jay.e
        • 7Xs
        • 14 Aug 2015

        AnonD-425817, 05 Aug 2015dont buy aqua m4 at any cost. useless, frustrating phone, i... moreIm facing the same issue.. The anti theft doesnt recognized the google credentials that i provided during the registration process. What would be the right thing to do? Im planning to bring the handset to sony service center.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • 7Xs
          • 14 Aug 2015

          AnonD-425817, 05 Aug 2015dont buy aqua m4 at any cost. useless, frustrating phone, i... moreIm facing the same issue.. The anti theft doesnt recognized the google credentials that i provided during the registration process. What would be the right thing to do? Im planning to bring the handset to sony service center.

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            • AnonD-131044
            • vbK
            • 09 Aug 2015

            pls. tall me about this phone
            Is it OTG Supported or Not.....

              • L
              • Leo
              • uuj
              • 07 Aug 2015

              My M4 is very very good phne it is realy waterprof and never hanging

                • L
                • Leo
                • uuj
                • 07 Aug 2015

                Abhishek, 17 Jul 2015First Day of phone today, and it got hanged and is over hea... moreE5 E7 any mobile phone for samsung never taking out the batterry but sony not hanging probelm i m instl 70 apps

                  • D
                  • AnonD-425817
                  • vbQ
                  • 05 Aug 2015

                  dont buy aqua m4 at any cost. useless, frustrating phone, i just on its anti theft protection after which it got locked once i removed sim and re-inserted and then even my google credentials are not able to unlock this, then i approach to customer service centre. they formatted the phone and afeter 4-5 days it developed problem in its speaker, now i have given to sony under docket no 15072706681 on 27/7/2015 purchased on 28/6/2015

                    • D
                    • AnonD-356659
                    • utf
                    • 04 Aug 2015

                    SIR,


                    I would like to let you know my experience [worst] with both Sony product & your customer support.


                    Here is the story.
                    I have bought m4 aqua on 15.07.2015 from mobile zone ernakulam kochi. From the very second day, I am facing below mentioned issues.


                    1. Handset is getting overheated when it reaches 50% while charging and switched off.
                    2. It is asking me to choose the SIM everytime to make the call though I had set the BSNL as the default SIM.
                    3. Even though the handset is having 13 MB camera, it is not at all worth and the images captured are very low quality as well.
                    4. We had contacted Sony regional support for getting the refund, reporting the aforementioned issue. They have conveyed that they don't have any authority to process / initiate the refund.


                    With respect to the above concerns and poor customer experience, I am planning to file a petition in customer court. Just wanted to infor you the same before doing the same.
                    regards
                    gangadharan g
                    8547054288

                      • D
                      • AnonD-416603
                      • rJ9
                      • 02 Aug 2015

                      meet, 15 Jun 2015plz frnd help me i am buy this phone ?No...

                        • D
                        • AnonD-416603
                        • rJ9
                        • 02 Aug 2015

                        My m4 aqua automatic switch off

                          • a
                          • anu
                          • Hkt
                          • 31 Jul 2015

                          rahul, 15 Jul 2015m4 is very superb All are telling mobile se getting heat s that Right what

                            • n
                            • nice
                            • bCg
                            • 30 Jul 2015

                            plz dont buy this phone..I purchased this phone before one month. till then my phone lives in service centre..
                            he he ... ringtone abruptly missing..

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 7kx
                              • 29 Jul 2015

                              had a very bad experience with Sony M4 aqua, it is one of the worst handset with brand such as Sony in Indian mobile market, here are the some bad experience
                              1- huge heating problem
                              2- Micro SIM insertion and take out is very difficult
                              3- Battery charging issue (Handset abruptly stopped charging)
                              4- Call drop and hang up

                              Even Sony customer care is not accepting the replacement , recommending to never think of getting this handset.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 3bi
                                • 28 Jul 2015

                                Rahool....., 30 Jun 2015Hey guys, Please suggest phone from M4 aqua & Xperia... morec4 its way better

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-421550
                                  • Tf3
                                  • 26 Jul 2015

                                  Mine works perfectly fine, I didnt encounter any of your issues.

                                  The ONLY real problem tho is that this device gets quite hot after a while.

                                    • B
                                    • Bunty
                                    • 2SE
                                    • 24 Jul 2015

                                    Anonymous, 23 Jun 2015Worth less phone it's overheating Bad response of Sony mobile or dont chose any one guys this mobile in any type of.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-419123
                                      • HsF
                                      • 19 Jul 2015

                                      Had a horrible experience with M4 Aqua. Bought it trusting the Sony brand, and within 4 hours of usage experienced the following:

                                      - Phone abruptly restarted 4 times without any reason
                                      - During calls, the other side couldn't hear what was being spoken from my side
                                      - After charging, phone switched off abruptly and couldn't restart at all.

                                      We immediately replaced the phone, and bought a Samsung A5. May be this particular unit was a problem, but clearly this kind of quality is not expected from a brand like Sony. Not at all recommended!

                                        • p
                                        • pugaz
                                        • vGk
                                        • 18 Jul 2015

                                        give me feedback m4 aqua