Sony Xperia M4 Aqua review: The lookalike

3. Display, battery life, connectivity

Display

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is equipped with a pretty simple IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. With a diagonal of 5.0-inches, it sits right between the Z3 Compact with its 4.6-inches and the Z3, which is slightly bigger, at 5.2-inches. Both the M4 Aqua and the Z3 Compact have 720p screens, which is yet another similarity that pits the two devices against one another on the market.

The Z3 Compact does, however, boast a slightly higher ppi rating, as well as a better screen-to-body ratio. Luckily, the M4 Aqua does have the added benefit of Sony's Triluminos display technology and Bravia tech that enhances colors and contrast by clever processing.

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is fitted with an IPS LCD panel with an RGB matrix. It really doesn't look all that impressive on paper, but our test reveal that this is one of the better Sony panel we have ever seen. It has a relatively high maximum brightness.

Blacks are not as deep as we like them, but that's just nitpicking. Viewing angles are also superb, with almost no distortion in the image and only a slight loss of brightness.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
Display test	Black, cd/m²	White, cd/m²	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m²	White, cd/m²	Contrast ratio
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua	0.17	176	1012	0.74	828	1115
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	-	-	-	0.77	725	942
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4	0	201	∞	0	404	∞
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini	0	226	∞	0	432	∞
Samsung Galaxy Alpha	0	228	∞	0	456	∞
Samsung Galaxy A5	0	191	∞	0	398	∞
Samsung Galaxy A7	0	175	∞	0	349	∞
HTC Desire 820	0.18	235	1299	0.45	598	1327
ZTE Blade S6	0.26	248	986	0.46	457	946
Nokia Lumia 830	0.21	223	1087	0.49	533	1078
Nokia Lumia 1020	0	172	∞	0	398	∞
LG G2	0.1	149	1522	0.45	667	1495
Huawei Ascend P7	0.13	101	807	0.79	668	843

Sunlight legibility is good at max brightness, so we are quite happy with the display and its performance.

Sunlight contrast ratio

Nokia 808 PureView
4.698
Samsung Galaxy E7
4.485
Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241
Samsung Galaxy S6
4.124
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
4.033
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
3.997
Apple iPhone 5
3.997
Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895
Apple iPhone 6
3.838
Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
3.799
Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679
Oppo R5
3.678
Samsung Galaxy K zoom
3.675
Nokia Lumia 930
3.567
Apple iPhone 5s
3.565
Samsung Galaxy S5
3.549
Nokia Lumia 735
3.547
Motorola Nexus 6
3.543
Alcatel Idol X+
3.527
Apple iPhone 5c
3.512
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
3.509
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
3.487
LG G Flex2
3.465
YotaPhone 2
3.453
Motorola RAZR MAXX
3.42
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
3.419
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
3.406
Nokia Lumia 925
3.402
Gionee Elife S5.5
3.386
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
3.352
Samsung Omnia W
3.301
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
3.174
Samsung I9000 Galaxy S
3.155
Samsung Ativ S
3.129
Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
3.127
Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
3.118
Nokia N9
3.069
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
3.023
Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97
Samsung Galaxy Premier
2.958
Sony Xperia Z1
2.95
HTC One S
2.901
Lenovo S90 Sisley
2.892
Samsung I8730 Galaxy Express
2.861
BlackBerry Q10
2.856
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
2.832
HTC Desire Eye
2.815
Gionee Elife S5.1
2.812
Samsung Galaxy S II Plus
2.801
BlackBerry Z30
2.79
Meizu MX4 Pro
2.765
Sony Xperia ZR
2.672
Huawei Ascend P1
2.655
Sony Xperia Z3
2.618
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
2.616
Sony Xperia T3
2.609
BlackBerry Passport
2.595
Nokia Lumia 900
2.562
Motorola Moto G 4G
2.546
HTC One Max
2.537
Nokia Lumia 720
2.512
HTC One
2.504
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503
Motorola Moto G
2.477
vivo Xshot
2.465
Sony Xperia Z
2.462
Xiaomi Mi 4
2.424
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
2.422
Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
2.416
LG G Flex
2.407
HTC Desire 820
2.372
HTC One (M8)
2.371
Motorola RAZR i
2.366
Meizu MX4
2.366
Meizu m1 note
2.362
Sony Xperia ZL
2.352
HTC One M9
2.334
HTC One (M8) for Windows
2.291
Oppo Find 7a
2.279
Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272
Apple iPhone 4S
2.269
HTC Desire 600 dual sim
2.262
Nokia Asha 311
2.25
Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234
Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233
LG Nexus 5
2.228
Nokia Lumia 820
2.193
HTC One (E8)
2.185
Oppo N3
2.181
Nokia Lumia 920
2.17
Huawei Honor 6
2.169
HTC One X
2.158
Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML
2.149
LG Aka
2.145
Nokia N8
2.144
Nokia Lumia 620
2.142
Archos 50 Diamond
2.134
Nokia 515
2.134
HTC Desire 500
2.129
Sony Xperia C3 Dual
2.12
Sony Xperia acro S
2.119
Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119
Nokia Lumia 1020
2.103
Oppo Find 5
2.088
Sony Xperia SL
2.078
Nokia Lumia 630
2.056
BlackBerry Z10
2.051
Huawei Ascend Mate7
2.024
Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active
2.022
Apple iPhone 4
2.016
HTC One mini
2.003
Xiaomi Mi 3
2.001
Huawei Ascend P7
1.992
LG G2
1.976
Sony Xperia E4g
1.972
OnePlus One
1.961
Oppo R819
1.957
Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
1.955
Lenovo Vibe X2
1.952
Sony Xperia Z2
1.944
Sony Xperia E3
1.943
Nokia Lumia 1320
1.941
HTC One mini 2
1.94
Samsung Galaxy Camera
1.938
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
1.935
Sony Xperia J
1.932
Acer CloudMobile S500
1.931
ZTE Blade S6
1.927
LG Nexus 4
1.926
LG G Pro 2
1.922
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3
1.913
Nokia Asha 308
1.911
HTC Butterfly 2
1.905
Sony Xperia T
1.894
Nokia Lumia 830
1.887
HTC Desire X
1.878
HTC Butterfly
1.873
HTC Windows Phone 8X
1.873
HTC Butterfly S
1.867
Huawei Ascend P6
1.865
Huawei Ascend Mate
1.845
LG G2 mini
1.838
LG G3
1.82
Nokia Lumia 1520
1.813
HTC Desire 616 dual sim
1.797
Sony Xperia V
1.792
HTC Desire 816
1.783
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
1.772
HTC Desire 700 dual sim
1.769
Sony Xperia U
1.758
Meizu MX3
1.754
LG Optimus G
1.753
Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
1.74
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
1.735
Acer Liquid Jade S
1.734
Sony Xperia SP
1.733
Oppo Find 7
1.691
LG Optimus 4X HD
1.691
HTC One V
1.685
BlackBerry Q5
1.682
LG Optimus Vu
1.68
Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675
Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.9
1.672
LG Optimus GJ
1.666
LG Optimus 3D Max
1.658
HTC Desire V
1.646
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
1.632
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
1.622
Jolla Jolla
1.605
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
1.578
Sony Xperia go
1.577
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 I8160
1.566
Samsung Galaxy Core
1.563
LG Optimus G Pro
1.552
Motorola Moto E
1.545
LG Optimus 3D
1.542
Nokia Asha 302
1.537
Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
1.507
BlackBerry Curve 9320
1.488
Sony Xperia M
1.473
Oppo N1
1.47
Sony Xperia E4
1.467
Meizu MX 4-core
1.462
Nokia Lumia 610
1.432
Samsung Galaxy S Duos
1.4
Sony Xperia M2
1.393
Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
1.393
Microsoft Lumia 535
1.393
Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
1.38
Sony Xperia E1
1.372
Nokia Lumia 625
1.371
Gigabyte GSmart G1355
1.361
Sony Xperia L
1.351
Xiaomi Redmi 1S
1.35
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8
1.35
HTC Desire 510
1.34
Sony Xperia M2 Aqua
1.331
Sony Xperia miro
1.324
Samsung I9082 Galaxy Grand
1.321
Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
1.315
Xiaomi Redmi 2
1.311
HTC Desire C
1.3
Nokia X
1.291
Sony Xperia C
1.283
Nokia Asha 503
1.281
Nokia Asha 501
1.27
LG Optimus L7
1.269
Nokia Lumia 510
1.268
Samsung Galaxy Fame
1.245
LG Optimus L9
1.227
Meizu MX
1.221
Samsung Galaxy Young
1.22
Sony Xperia E
1.215
Nokia XL
1.204
Sony Xperia E dual
1.203
Asus Memo Pad 7 ME176C
1.198
Samsung Galaxy Pocket
1.18
Nokia Asha 305
1.178
Nokia Asha 306
1.175
Sony Xperia neo L
1.169
Sony Xperia tipo
1.166
Nokia Lumia 520
1.161
Samsung S6802 Galaxy Ace Duos
1.148
Samsung Galaxy mini 2
1.114

M4 Aqua battery life

Sony has put a 2,400mAh battery inside the Xperia M4 Aqua, which is smaller than both the Xperia Z3 Compact and the Z3 flagship. The Snapdragon 615 should be more power-efficient than the more powerful 800 series in the other devices, so battery life might not be so dependent on battery capacity alone.

We ran our battery test with the battery-saving STAMINA mode off. But, even without the extra help, the handset scored a whopping overall endurance rating of 81 hours. This is quite impressive and surpasses the M2 Aqua by a good ten hours. It is even up to par with the Xperia Z3, which boasts a rating of 85 hours. Still, however, it is hard to get anywhere near the Z3 Compact and its outrageous 101 hours. If you are keen on battery life, the M4 Aqua definitely doesn't disappoint, but the Z3 Compact is undoubtedly even better.

Our pre-production unit did have some problems with endurance, but, everything seems to be cleared up now. Since then, standby time has doubled and so has browsing time. The bundled chrome browser now performs wonderfully, as expected.

The battery pack itself is not user-removable, which seems to be the common case with a lot of current devices. At least, the M4 Aqua has a good reason for not breaking the tight seal on the back, seeing how the device is meant to feel at home in water.

Regardless of the battery life we'll get, you can always rely on the Power Saver - now part of the settings menu. It helps you extend your battery life by toggling things like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth screen brightness, auto sync and background data on and off automatically, as soon as the battery charge falls below a certain user-defined threshold. You can also choose to automatically turn Wi-Fi off if there is no known Wi-Fi network in range or switch off mobile data when the screen is off, and more.

Our proprietary score also includes a standby battery draw test, which is not featured in our battery test scorecard but is calculated in the total endurance rating.

Our battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you want to learn more about it.

Connectivity

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua comes in single and dual SIM flavors. Both the M4 Aqua and the M4 Aqua Dual offer quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA support. LTE support is also present, courtesy of the Snapdragon 615 SoC except for one of the submodels (E2312) of the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Dual, which is 3G only.

Local connectivity features dial-band Wi-Fi b/g/n and Wi-Fi Direct. There is also support for Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP. Satellite navigation is also a given, with additional A-GPS and GLONASS support. The Xperia M4 Aqua also has an FM radio with RDS. It doesn't offer an IR port, but it does come with NFC.

There is a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data connections and now, thanks to special coating, it is no longer covered by a flap. Media transfer mode is supported for accessing the phone's built-in memory and microSD card over the USB cable. USB host functionality is also present.

The microUSB port doesn't have any TV-out functionality, unlike the Z3 Compact, which supports MHL, but if you own a compatible HDTV, you can output your phone's screen wirelessly via the Miracast protocol or Sony's Xperia Connectivity Throw option.

The app also lets you share your media over DLNA by creating a media server, as well as connect to a PlayStation DUALSHOCK 3 (or 4) wireless controller.

Next Page » 4. User interface

3. Display, battery life, connectivity

Reviews Sony Xperia M4 Aqua reviewPage 3