Sony Xperia 10 VI smartphone review: Compact, lightweight, waterproof, and with remarkable endurance
A rarity
The Xperia 10 VI is a small and handy smartphone. However, this mid-range mobile phone boasts a very long battery life, which is often a weak point in compact phones. Read the Sony Xperia 10 review to find out if this makes the Sony phone a worthwhile investment.Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Carmen Pol) Published 🇩🇪 🇷🇺 ...
This Xperia 10 VI stands out as a rather unusual mid-range smartphone in today’s market. Sony's mobile phone prioritizes features that are increasingly disappearing from modern devices, such as memory expansion and the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Additionally, the compact design of the Xperia 10 VI is a rarity in the mid-range segment.
The most significant upgrade in the VI model compared to the Xperia 10 from 2023 is the inclusion of a new chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. Sony has also finally improved its software support. Other than that, not much has changed. The Xperia 10 VI is available only with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, priced at $392.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Version | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77.3 % | v8 | 08 / 2024 | Sony Xperia 10 VI SD 6 Gen 1, Adreno 710 | 164 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.10" | 2520x1080 | |
| 86.9 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 04 / 2024 | Nothing Phone (2a) Dimensity 7200, Mali-G610 MP4 | 190 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2412x1084 | |
| 85.9 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Exynos 1380, Mali-G68 MP5 | 209 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2340x1080 | |
| 75.4 % | v8 | 07 / 2024 | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion SD 7s Gen 2, Adreno 710 | 175 g | 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.70" | 2400x1080 | |
| 86.1 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 03 / 2024 | Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G Dimensity 8300-Ultra, Mali-G615 MP6 | 186 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.67" | 2712x1220 | |
| 83.1 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 09 / 2023 | Sony Xperia 10 V SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 159 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.10" | 2520x1080 |
Case - Sony Xperia 10 VI with IP rating
The relatively low price of the Xperia 10 VI doesn't mean it comes with a subpar quality case. Nothing has really changed compared to the predecessor, for better of worse. Thanks to IP68 certification, the Sony phone is both water-resistant and robust, with Gorilla Glass Victus tasked with protecting the front. The matte frame is made out of plastics but, like the back, still leaves a good impression.
At 68 millimeters, the Xperia 10 VI is slim and handy, weighing only 164 grams. In addition to our black version, Sony also offers a blue and white version. The workmanship is decent for a mid-range mobile phone but we cannot say the same about the display to surface ratio. At just 82.5 per cent, the Sony mobile phone is more of an entry-level model.
Connectivity - Xperia 10 VI with 3.5 mm jack
The Xperia 10 VI comes equipped with dual speakers, Bluetooth 5.2, UFS 2.2 built-in storage, and an NFC chip for contactless payments. However, Sony continues to use a USB 2.0 port for its mid-range Xperia, which is rather slow — our tests with an M2.SSD hard drive (Samsung 980 Pro) showed transfer speeds of just 20 MB/s. Additionally, the USB port does not support wired image output. On the plus side, connected data storage devices can be formatted not only with FAT32 but also with exFAT (NTFS file system is not supported, however).
microSD card reader
The microSD cards for the Xperia 10 VI can be formatted with FAT, FAT32, or exFAT. However, in our copy test, the card slot proved to be relatively slow, with average performance in the cross-platform disk test.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Sony smartphone with Android 14
The Xperia 10 VI's operating system is based on Google's Android version 14 and, at the time of testing, on security fixes dated June 2024. The Xperia UI has been used by the manufacturer.
Sustainability
The smartphone is set to receive three major Android updates and four years of security updates. Sony claims that recycled plastics are used in the phone's casing; the extent of that usage isn't clear. The packaging, which is plastic-free, is made out of an "Original Blended Material," described as a paper product derived from fast-growing plants like bamboo or sugar cane with recycled waste paper mixed in.
Communication and GNSS - Sony Xperia 10 VI with 5G
It supports access to fast 5G mobile networks.
Within a home Wi-Fi network, the mid-range phone only supports Wi-Fi 5, which, when paired with our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, delivers average transfer rates of over 600 Mbps. While these speeds are adequate for everyday use, we would have expected Wi-Fi 6 at this price point in 2024.
| Networking | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
The Sony mobile phone is equipped with single-band GNSS. To assess its positioning accuracy in practice, we recorded a route in parallel with the Garmin Venu 2 for comparison. The detailed route showed one or two inaccuracies, which is not uncommon in this price range.
Phone features and voice quality - Sony smartphone with dual SIM
The dual SIM Xperia 10 VI supports both a physical nanoSIM card and eSIM integration. It also offers VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling capabilities. The voice quality is consistently good, with clear audio reported by our conversation partner, although some ambient noise is still perceptible.
Cameras - Xperia 10 VI with dual main camera
The 8 MP selfie camera from the previous generation remains unchanged. Its photo quality is adequate, though exposure and sharpness could be better balanced. It supports Full HD video recording at 30 FPS.
The focal point of the rear camera unit is a 1/2.0 inch OIS-enabled sensor with 48 MPix resolution. In daylight, the Xperia 10 VI takes good pictures, although the images lose a lot of their crispness towards the edges. The color reproduction is good according to our assessment.
Compared to the Xperia 10 V, a telephoto lens is no longer available leaving the user no choice but to use digital zoom. Resulting in lower quality for zoomed-in images. Furthermore, the relatively tiny 1/4-inch sensor of the 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera is a letdown.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
WeitwinkelWeitwinkelUltraweitwinkelLow LightZoom 5x
Accessories and warranty - Xperia smartphone without power adapter
A power adapter, a protective cover, or a pre-applied display film are included in the delivery package. The Xperia 10 VI also comes without any USB-C cable or SIM tool.
In the US, Sony provides a 24-month warranty on its smartphones.
Input devices & operation - Xperia 10 VI without face unlock
Inputs via the 6.1-inch 60 Hz OLED display are registered accurately, but UI effects/transitions and scrolling are noticeably less fluid compared to competitors with higher refresh rates of 90 Hz or more. The vibration motor (ERM) also feels imprecise and does not really make for a great typing experience.
The fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button can be unreliable and somewhat slow at times. Biometric authentication via 2D facial recognition using the front camera is not available.
Display - Sony phone with OLED
At first glance, there are no noticeable changes in the display department. It continues to feature a 6.1-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of just 60 Hz, just as its predecessor does.
The maximum brightness we measured is just over 1,000 cd/m² which is slightly higher than that of the Xperia 10 V. This holds true for both the realistic APL18 test (1,063 cd/m²) and HDR content playback (990 cd/m²).
The Sony smartphone uses PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to control brightness, operating at a low frequency of 240 Hz. However, the fluctuation of 18.5 percent is relatively low for a 60 Hz panel.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 97 %
Center on Battery: 1010 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 1.3 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
98.1% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.3
| Sony Xperia 10 VI OLED, 2520x1080, 6.1" | Nothing Phone (2a) AMOLED, 2412x1084, 6.7" | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Super AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.6" | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion P-OLED, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G AMOLED, 2712x1220, 6.7" | Sony Xperia 10 V OLED, 2520x1080, 6.1" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -11% | -39% | 1% | -1% | -7% | |
| Brightness middle | 1010 | 1033 2% | 904 -10% | 1213 20% | 1034 2% | 933 -8% |
| Brightness | 1012 | 1042 3% | 912 -10% | 1190 18% | 1035 2% | 944 -7% |
| Brightness Distribution | 97 | 96 -1% | 97 0% | 93 -4% | 96 -1% | 97 0% |
| Black Level * | ||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1 | 1.6 -60% | 2.1 -110% | 1.36 -36% | 1.1 -10% | 1.1 -10% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.1 | 2.5 -19% | 2.8 -33% | 2.3 -10% | 1.9 10% | 1.7 19% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.3 | 1.2 8% | 2.2 -69% | 1.1 15% | 1.4 -8% | 1.8 -38% |
| Gamma | 2.3 96% | 2.07 106% | 2.1 105% | 2.254 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.29 96% |
| CCT | 6539 99% | 6482 100% | 6478 100% | 6624 98% | 6674 97% | 6611 98% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 240 Hz Amplitude: 18.52 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 240 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 240 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Our analysis using a spectrometer and CalMAN software reveals very low average Delta-E deviations from the sRGB color space. Additionally, users have the option of adjusting the white balance and choosing between the two color profiles available in the settings.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.14 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.543 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 11 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 3.64 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.478 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 2.165 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 11 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
The Xperia 10 VI performs well outdoors, handling direct sunlight without major issues, though direct sunlight should still be avoided. The maximum brightness will be limited to 662 cd/m² when adjusting the brightness manually, making it rather uncomfortable to use the phone outside of shade. The viewing angles of the OLED display are very stable.
Performance - Xperia 10 VI with Qualcomm SoC
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 used in the mid-range Xperia does not always deliver a smooth user experience. In single-core performance tests, the smartphone matches the level of its predecessor. It struggles to compete against more powerful mid-range devices, such as the Poco X6 Pro, and even the Exynos 1380 as found in the Galaxy A35 sometimes offers significantly better performance. The Xperia 10 VI is equipped with the Adreno 710 GPU which delivers a noticeable improvement over the Xperia 10 V, but the graphics performance is still relatively modest overall.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1267 - 75143, n=146, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (7236 - 8191, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| Geekbench ML | |
| 0.6 TensorFlow Lite CPU | |
| Average of class Smartphone (246 - 1342, n=34, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 () | |
| 0.6 TensorFlow Lite GPU | |
| Average of class Smartphone (123 - 1478, n=33, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 () | |
| 0.6 TensorFlow Lite NNAPI | |
| Average of class Smartphone (186 - 3410, n=29, last 2 years) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 () | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
3DMark: Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | Steel Nomad Light Score
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G (Chrome 122.0.6261.64) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=164, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (69.6 - 88.2, n=3) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Chrome 116) | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) (Firefox 124.2.0) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Chrome 126) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G (Chrome 122.0.6261.64) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) (Chrome 123.0.6312.99) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (62.5 - 86.6, n=3) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Chrome 116) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Chrome 126) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G (Chrome 122.0.6261.64) | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) (Firefox 124.2.0) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 271, n=155, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (70 - 95, n=3) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Chrome 126) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Chrome 116) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G (Chrome 122.0.6261.64) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Chrome 116) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (24583 - 32436, n=3) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Chrome 126) | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) (Firefox 124.2.0) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) (Firefox 124.2.0) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (1188 - 1786, n=3) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V (Chrome 116) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI (Chrome 126) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (Chrome 123.0.6312.100) | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (Chrome 126) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G (Chrome 122.0.6261.64) | |
* ... smaller is better
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | Nothing Phone (2a) | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | Sony Xperia 10 V | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 3% | -52% | -8% | 172% | -47% | -34% | 39% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 963.31 | 1028.37 7% | 529.32 -45% | 967.8 0% | 3824.7 297% | 444.54 -54% | 728 ? -24% | 1867 ? 94% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 876.95 | 952 9% | 270 -69% | 800.5 -9% | 3642.57 315% | 438.02 -50% | 527 ? -40% | 1451 ? 65% |
| Random Read 4KB | 289.03 | 273.19 -5% | 244.24 -15% | 281.5 -3% | 355.7 23% | 175.72 -39% | 191.7 ? -34% | 279 ? -3% |
| Random Write 4KB | 306.61 | 311.8 2% | 62.59 -80% | 241.4 -21% | 467.74 53% | 165.15 -46% | 185.8 ? -39% | 311 ? 1% |
Emissions - Sony mobile phone stays quite cool
Temperature
The phone does not really get all that warm, as is characteristic of mid-range models. By employing 3DMark stress testing, we confirmed that internal heat dissipation is effective enough here, with the Qualcomm SoC maintaining consistent performance even during extended load periods.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 46.2 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.6 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 V | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Fusion | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI | |
Speakers
The stereo speakers deliver fairly linear mids and just a bit of bass during our tests. The trebles are present but could benefit from a more consistent profile overall.
You can connect headphones through a low-noise 3.5 mm jack (SNR: 80.3 dBFS) or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The device supports a broad selection of audio codecs.
Sony Xperia 10 VI audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 79% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 34% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 58% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.9% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 79% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 34% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 58% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Runtimes - Xperia 10 VI with bags of stamina
Power consumption
The power consumption of the Xperia 10 VI is discreetly low both under load and in idle mode. However, fast charging is still not a strong suit for this Sony mid-range model. It supports a maximum of 30 watts for wired charging, and the 5,000 mAh battery does not offer wireless charging capabilities.
| Off / Standby |   0.03 / 0.16 Watt |
| Idle |  0.62 / 0.94 / 0.97 Watt |
| Load |
3.36 / 8.54 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Sony Xperia 10 VI 5000 mAh | Nothing Phone (2a) 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A35 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro 5G 5000 mAh | Sony Xperia 10 V 5000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -55% | -71% | -51% | -93% | -2% | -163% | -55% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.62 | 0.81 -31% | 0.89 -44% | 1 -61% | 1.11 -79% | 0.56 10% | 1.017 ? -64% | 0.885 ? -43% |
| Idle Average * | 0.94 | 2.01 -114% | 1.99 -112% | 1.3 -38% | 1.14 -21% | 0.91 3% | 3.86 ? -311% | 1.451 ? -54% |
| Idle Maximum * | 0.97 | 2.07 -113% | 2.14 -121% | 1.9 -96% | 1.16 -20% | 0.98 -1% | 3.91 ? -303% | 1.608 ? -66% |
| Load Average * | 3.36 | 4.16 -24% | 4.57 -36% | 5.1 -52% | 12.33 -267% | 5.34 -59% | 7.63 ? -127% | 6.55 ? -95% |
| Load Maximum * | 8.54 | 7.91 7% | 12.31 -44% | 9.4 -10% | 15.34 -80% | 5.46 36% | 9.59 ? -12% | 9.92 ? -16% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
With a display brightness of 150 cd/m2, the Sony Xperia demonstrated a remarkable battery life of about 20 hours in our Wi-Fi Web surfing test. The predecessor delivers nearly the same results, for reference.
Pros
Cons
Verdict on the Sony Xperia 10 VI
Sony is consistent with its Xperia 10 series meaning the 6th generation model doesn't stray too far away from the ideals and the overall profile of the Xperia 10 V while getting some welcome upgrades in the form of an improved Snapdragon SoC and extended software support. However, the Qualcomm chipset doesn't truly impress in everyday life with its performance. In the mid-range category, the Poco X6 Pro offers significantly better performance. Additionally, the low refresh rate of the otherwise good OLED panel feels outdated.
Wide display bezels like those seen on the Xperia 10 VI are no longer OK for a mid-range smartphone.
The Xperia 10 VI stands out thanks to its built-in audio jack and microSD support, offering unique features in this price range. These, combined with its impressive battery life and great speakers, create a well-rounded package. If longer updates and better performance are the priorities for you, the Galaxy A55 is a compelling alternative to the Xperia 10 VI.
Price and availability
The Sony Xperia 10 VI is available for $392 at the time of writing from a variety of vendors, including Amazon as well as directly from Sony.
Sony Xperia 10 VI
- 08/06/2024 v8
Marcus Herbrich
Total Sustainability Score: Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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