Sony Xperia M2 is a sleek, affordable 4.8-inch Android phone
Phones
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If you've been hoping to get your hands on one of the beautifully styled Sony Xperia phones, but can't quite afford the top end Z2, cast your eyes over the much more affordable M2.
Like the Z range, the M2 has an all glass front and back, has curved edges, a dedicated camera button, and the same silvery power button on the side.
Doesn't have the aluminum edge of a Z2 but it's very similar to the older Xperia Z. This purple color won't be to everyone's taste but it definitely stands out in a crowd.
Unlike the Xperia Z phones, the M2 isn't waterproof, even though some of its ports are covered by a plastic flap.
If you introduce this guy to water, you'll just be left with a wet, expensive, functionally useless piece of glass and plastic.
The 4.8 inch display has a 960x540 resolution, which is very disappointing, as its far below the full HD of it's siblings and lower even from the considerably cheaper Motorola Moto G, Icons, text and images all lack the character you find on higher resolution panels, ?
? ? both brightness and color reproduction on task.
It's running on the now really rather old android jellybean another big disappointment from this phone.
Sony has heavily skinned the interface so it looks especially identical to the Xperia gen two, but even so there's no excuse for such old software onboard even with an affordable price tag.
Powering the phone is a 1.2 gigahertz processor.
It's the same chip you'll find in the Moto G. Didn't exactly blow me away with its performance.
But it's at least capable of handling everyday tasks like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram without much trouble.
Gaming was playable, but the frame rates dropped in more tense moments so it won't keep dedicated mobile gamers happy.
Around the back is an 8 megapixel camera which although a big step down from the 20 megapixel [INAUDIBLE] camera in the Z1 and Z2.
It is capable of capturing some decent Facebook snaps, so long as you're in good light.
Although the Sony Xperia M2 has a more affordable price than its flagship sibling and its glass design looks pretty good, it's far from perfect.
Its low resolution display seriously lets it down, as does its outdated version of Android.
For not much more money you can pick up the older Xperia Z, which has a better camera.
It's full HD screen and it's waterproof.
Alternatively, save yourself a packet and go for the Motorola Moto G.
I'm Andrew Hoyle for CNET.
And this is a Sony Xperia M2.
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