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Showing posts with the label Retro Tech

The Sony Xperia S Today: Is It Still Usable, and What to Do With an Old Phone

Short answer: the Sony Xperia S was a striking phone in its day, but as a daily driver in 2026 it is well past it, no security updates and too slow for modern apps. That does not mean it is junk, though. An old Android phone like it makes an excellent dedicated device for one job. Here is an honest look back and the best ways to give it a second life. The Xperia S in its time The Xperia S stood out with its transparent light bar, a sharp 720p display when that was premium, and a 12 MP camera that punched above its class. It was one of the phones that defined Sony's design language. As a piece of tech history it is genuinely likeable, which is exactly why people hang on to old models like it. Should you still use it as a main phone? Honestly, no. An old phone like this has real drawbacks today: No security updates, so it is risky for banking, email or anything sensitive. Too slow for current apps, which assume far more RAM and power. Aged battery that likely holds lit...