Skip to main content
Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
My six year old LG V30's battery was failing so it was time to get a new phone. I specifically picked this phone because I wanted a headphone jack, a Micro SD card slot, and good cameras. I have reasons for wanting expandable storage and a wired headphone jack and don't want to write an essay on that here. The phone worked great for the first few hours and paired with my 2013 Audi just fine. But after two system updates, one of which was the Android 14 update, it will no longer pair with my car for the hands free functionality.
Additionally, it keeps saying that the Wi-Fi connection has "no internet", even when in the same room as the router. It's the only device in my house having this particular issue and it's extra infuriating because I've moved the Sim card back into my old phone (I needed something that actually works as a phone in my car) and Wi-Fi is the only way it can connect to the internet. Even giving it a static IP address - which is obviously not a great solution for all Wi-Fi networks - didn't fix the problem.
I have spent at least 10-15 hours trying to fix both of these issues and have tried numerous recommendations found online, including updating the software in my car to the latest version (which I had to pay to do) and nothing has fixed either issue. This includes at least two system resets (one with settings/app restore and one without) as well as a system recovery using the Xperia Companion software that downloads the phone's system software and reapplies it (which also resets everything like a factory reset). From what I've seen on Reddit, I am not the only person having these problems.
So now I have to make a decision about whether to just return it and stop wasting time on it (while still needing a new phone), or wait and see if they can issue a system update which fixes the problems without causing new problems before my return window expires on 1/31/24. If they can't fix the issues before my return window expires, I still don't know what to get as a replacement phone. The combination of Micro SD slot, headphone jack, wireless charging, good cameras, and waterproofing are hard to find on any new phone these days, let alone an upper-tier Android phone.
I really wanted to love this phone, but it has been a huge disappointment and an exercise in frustration.
Hey Sony: The greatest hardware in the world means nothing if the software is terrible and makes the hardware unusable!
Update 1: I gave up on this phone and I'm returning it. Preordered a Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB to match the 1TB MicroSD card I have. It still won't be the same amount of storage though as the system software and apps will be using some of that 1TB with the Samsung whereas the app and system usage was on the built-in storage for the Sony and my old phone. Since I'm also losing the headphone jack, I'm hoping the USB-C to headphone adapters I ordered will work with high-bitrate FLACs and the Sennheiser Momentum 2 headphones that have inline controls and a mic for calls...
Update 2: The Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB did not have the same Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues out of the box. It just worked. The USB-C to headphone adapters seem to work fine with the inline controls and mic as well. Made sure to pick adapters with high-bitrate support, one with charging plus headphone jack, one with just the headphone jack.
Additionally, it keeps saying that the Wi-Fi connection has "no internet", even when in the same room as the router. It's the only device in my house having this particular issue and it's extra infuriating because I've moved the Sim card back into my old phone (I needed something that actually works as a phone in my car) and Wi-Fi is the only way it can connect to the internet. Even giving it a static IP address - which is obviously not a great solution for all Wi-Fi networks - didn't fix the problem.
I have spent at least 10-15 hours trying to fix both of these issues and have tried numerous recommendations found online, including updating the software in my car to the latest version (which I had to pay to do) and nothing has fixed either issue. This includes at least two system resets (one with settings/app restore and one without) as well as a system recovery using the Xperia Companion software that downloads the phone's system software and reapplies it (which also resets everything like a factory reset). From what I've seen on Reddit, I am not the only person having these problems.
So now I have to make a decision about whether to just return it and stop wasting time on it (while still needing a new phone), or wait and see if they can issue a system update which fixes the problems without causing new problems before my return window expires on 1/31/24. If they can't fix the issues before my return window expires, I still don't know what to get as a replacement phone. The combination of Micro SD slot, headphone jack, wireless charging, good cameras, and waterproofing are hard to find on any new phone these days, let alone an upper-tier Android phone.
I really wanted to love this phone, but it has been a huge disappointment and an exercise in frustration.
Hey Sony: The greatest hardware in the world means nothing if the software is terrible and makes the hardware unusable!
Update 1: I gave up on this phone and I'm returning it. Preordered a Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB to match the 1TB MicroSD card I have. It still won't be the same amount of storage though as the system software and apps will be using some of that 1TB with the Samsung whereas the app and system usage was on the built-in storage for the Sony and my old phone. Since I'm also losing the headphone jack, I'm hoping the USB-C to headphone adapters I ordered will work with high-bitrate FLACs and the Sennheiser Momentum 2 headphones that have inline controls and a mic for calls...
Update 2: The Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB did not have the same Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues out of the box. It just worked. The USB-C to headphone adapters seem to work fine with the inline controls and mic as well. Made sure to pick adapters with high-bitrate support, one with charging plus headphone jack, one with just the headphone jack.
