The thing I am wondering about is when the SoCs built A53 cores on _28nm_ process will finally die. Not all A53 cores are "bad" or "outdated". For example, the Snapdragon 625 used in a number of Moto smartphones is using A53 cores built on 14nm process. These phones have performance comparable to the Snapdragon 800 SoCs while having very modest impact on the battery. This is what should be the low-end SoC today. Instead we're being offered 2015 SoC is the low-end SoC in 2017. This is a joke.
This is exactly how I approached looking for a phone late last year. I got the Redmi 4 Prime with the 625 chipset and it's ok for my needs. 3-5 days of battery life is nice. 28nm was an immediate show-stopper for me at the end of 2016, and it's a disgrace that it's still available for sale in a new phone today. That said, I feel like anything other than the high-end of SoCs is garbage conceptually, if not always in practice. Why anyone would want 8 slow cores is beyond me. I think the SD820/821 setup is what the mid-range should've been (2fast+2slow cores), with a 1 fast+1or2 slow cores for the low-end. It just sucks when your only options are flagship vs. garbage in SoCs.
This actually looks rather nice. I have to admit I came in thinking "Oh, awesome, they're trying to squeeze every bit of sales they can out of Sony's former brand", but at that price, it's hard to fault this phone.
The Moto G4 Plus is $174.99 at Best Buy and the G5 Plus is $229 everywhere. I put zero value on a metal shell on a budget smartphone. The money would have been better spent on upgrading to the SD 625.
"On a side note, I did not know Vaio was no longer a Sony brand. Never liked their laptops though."
That's a strange thing to say, as Vaio are/were one of the few able to offer laptops with complete control over the whole product. It's how they managed to put full voltage mobile CPUs in very thing chassis. Hell, the Vaio Z Canvas, which was made after Vaio left full Sony control, was a marvel of engineering.
I agreed. My Vaio S remains one of the best laptops to date. I was really sad when they part ways. I wish Vaio relies on Sony on distribution internationally, as I don't live in the US nor Japan.
The US cell phone market is in a very sad state of affairs. I wish we could see both high and mid-range offerings that work with all US carriers and don't have a ton of bloatware installed. Just stock android, a decent price (I don't mind paying $600-$800 for a device I'll use daily for the next 2-3 years), and decent specs.
Right now you can't really find decent offerings in the US that work on all carriers. Just cheap pieces of crap that have bad cameras, abysmal displays, etc.
Really missing the Nexus branded phones for offering good phones at targeted price points with stock android. I don't feel like we're asking for too much.
The current Moto G (5th Gen) is every bit as capable as the Nexus 4 was at launch with the G having a better camera. It is also as good as the Nexus 5. So, I don't understand exactly what you're looking for. Also, if you're not on CDMA, then phones like the One Plus 3T are outstanding value at $399.
I was going to say I use a 2105 phone and it does everything I want nice and fast. I just don't game on my phone. Not all of us are 18 years old or want to spend $700 every 10 months.
Well, if you have a _high end_ 2015 smartphone, then it is still a passable daily driver for most people. What I was referring to was that in 2015, a low-end Android smartphone had four or eight A53 cores built on 28nm process. Today, two years later(!), we have the same! This is scandalous.
Shouldn't ALL 200-300 dollar smartphones have the level of performance that's at least comparable to the Snapdragon 800 released in 2013? VAIO is saying NO! This is pure greed because there are now several smartphones at the same price point offering better performance (such as Moto G5 Plus or Huawei's Honor 6X)
As long as it has a decent screen, construction, two day battery (I don't consider my phone my BFF) and can handle Gmail, Messaging, Here We Go Maps and news apps smoothly...I'm not really that bothered what SoC it uses.
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Death666Angel - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
Cortex A53 smartphones are becoming quite boring.vladx - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
Well it's a low-end phone and I guess VAIO bets on its name selling well, otherwise there are better devices at this price point.Meteor2 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
One wonders if they will ever die.UtilityMax - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
The thing I am wondering about is when the SoCs built A53 cores on _28nm_ process will finally die. Not all A53 cores are "bad" or "outdated". For example, the Snapdragon 625 used in a number of Moto smartphones is using A53 cores built on 14nm process. These phones have performance comparable to the Snapdragon 800 SoCs while having very modest impact on the battery. This is what should be the low-end SoC today. Instead we're being offered 2015 SoC is the low-end SoC in 2017. This is a joke.hybrid2d4x4 - Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - link
This is exactly how I approached looking for a phone late last year. I got the Redmi 4 Prime with the 625 chipset and it's ok for my needs. 3-5 days of battery life is nice. 28nm was an immediate show-stopper for me at the end of 2016, and it's a disgrace that it's still available for sale in a new phone today.That said, I feel like anything other than the high-end of SoCs is garbage conceptually, if not always in practice. Why anyone would want 8 slow cores is beyond me. I think the SD820/821 setup is what the mid-range should've been (2fast+2slow cores), with a 1 fast+1or2 slow cores for the low-end. It just sucks when your only options are flagship vs. garbage in SoCs.
helvete - Thursday, July 20, 2017 - link
A53 should be enough for everyone!Lehti - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
This actually looks rather nice. I have to admit I came in thinking "Oh, awesome, they're trying to squeeze every bit of sales they can out of Sony's former brand", but at that price, it's hard to fault this phone.Marlin1975 - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
$237 for a 617 based phone, that's to much. You can get a Moto G4 with a 617 for less. Or the Moto G5 Plus with the 625 for about the same price.SquarePeg - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
The Moto G4 Plus is $174.99 at Best Buy and the G5 Plus is $229 everywhere. I put zero value on a metal shell on a budget smartphone. The money would have been better spent on upgrading to the SD 625.Meteor2 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
The G4 is out of production and the G5 uses a slower processor(!). At least the 625 in the bigger phone is as good as A53-based SoCs get.UtilityMax - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
The Moto G5 Plus is using SD625sonicmerlin - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
Buying a phone with only Cortex A53 is basically dooming yourself to 2013 smartphone performance.Diji1 - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
Yes, you'll be doomed as you run all your apps at the same speed as 2013 provided you don't play games. Completely and utterly doomed.Glock24 - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
The SD617 is already old, and if I remember correctly, we prone to overheating.Besides that the design of the phone is boring, and for that price there are better alternatives.
On a side note, I did not know Vaio was no longer a Sony brand. Never liked their laptops though.
Tams80 - Sunday, May 7, 2017 - link
"On a side note, I did not know Vaio was no longer a Sony brand. Never liked their laptops though."That's a strange thing to say, as Vaio are/were one of the few able to offer laptops with complete control over the whole product. It's how they managed to put full voltage mobile CPUs in very thing chassis. Hell, the Vaio Z Canvas, which was made after Vaio left full Sony control, was a marvel of engineering.
mr_tawan - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
I agreed. My Vaio S remains one of the best laptops to date. I was really sad when they part ways. I wish Vaio relies on Sony on distribution internationally, as I don't live in the US nor Japan.eek2121 - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
The US cell phone market is in a very sad state of affairs. I wish we could see both high and mid-range offerings that work with all US carriers and don't have a ton of bloatware installed. Just stock android, a decent price (I don't mind paying $600-$800 for a device I'll use daily for the next 2-3 years), and decent specs.Right now you can't really find decent offerings in the US that work on all carriers. Just cheap pieces of crap that have bad cameras, abysmal displays, etc.
nwrigley - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
Agreed.Really missing the Nexus branded phones for offering good phones at targeted price points with stock android. I don't feel like we're asking for too much.
trivor - Saturday, May 6, 2017 - link
The current Moto G (5th Gen) is every bit as capable as the Nexus 4 was at launch with the G having a better camera. It is also as good as the Nexus 5. So, I don't understand exactly what you're looking for. Also, if you're not on CDMA, then phones like the One Plus 3T are outstanding value at $399.Meteor2 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Have you used a G5? I have. It's slow. It might match the Nexus 5 but that's not saying much; the Nexus 5X is far faster.UtilityMax - Sunday, May 7, 2017 - link
Oneplus phones still offer the same value, though their updates are not as speedy.Tams80 - Sunday, May 7, 2017 - link
Well, it's partly 'your' fault for still using CDMA.jabber - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Shhh you have to realise the USA is a 'developing nation'. They will catch up eventually.UtilityMax - Sunday, May 7, 2017 - link
There are still some options:Google Pixel
OnePlus 3T
The Moto smartphones.
Meteor2 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
OnePlus 3T fits your bill.UtilityMax - Sunday, May 7, 2017 - link
The phones with A53 cores built on 28nm process should die already. This is no longer 2015 folks.Meteor2 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Indeed -- though I understand 28 nm is a very cheap process, with a steep price bump to smaller ones :-/.vladx - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
The process doesn't matter as long as they get the desired performance for this section of the market.jabber - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
I was going to say I use a 2105 phone and it does everything I want nice and fast. I just don't game on my phone. Not all of us are 18 years old or want to spend $700 every 10 months.jabber - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Grrr 2015 phone. It would be nice if this comments section was updated to at least 2008 spec.vladx - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
I know the feeling, I still rock my Honor 8 even though I could afford a 10k Vertu phone.UtilityMax - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Well, if you have a _high end_ 2015 smartphone, then it is still a passable daily driver for most people. What I was referring to was that in 2015, a low-end Android smartphone had four or eight A53 cores built on 28nm process. Today, two years later(!), we have the same! This is scandalous.Shouldn't ALL 200-300 dollar smartphones have the level of performance that's at least comparable to the Snapdragon 800 released in 2013? VAIO is saying NO! This is pure greed because there are now several smartphones at the same price point offering better performance (such as Moto G5 Plus or Huawei's Honor 6X)
jabber - Tuesday, May 9, 2017 - link
As long as it has a decent screen, construction, two day battery (I don't consider my phone my BFF) and can handle Gmail, Messaging, Here We Go Maps and news apps smoothly...I'm not really that bothered what SoC it uses.helvete - Thursday, July 20, 2017 - link
Are people upgrading to this just to refurbish?beginner99 - Monday, May 8, 2017 - link
Huge bottom bezel and on-screen buttons. They should fire all their designers...hybrid2d4x4 - Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - link
Agree.