Review: Sony Xperia Ion for AT&T
Apps
AT&T didn't go overboard with pre-installed bloatware on the Ion. Sure, there are a handful of AT&T-branded apps, such as Navigator, Live TV, and MyAccount, but many of them can be deleted. The more interesting apps are the ones included by Sony, such as Music Unlimited and TimeScape. As always the Google Play Store is where you can find anything else you might need.
Bluetooth
The Ion supports a typical set of Bluetooth profiles. I was able to use the Ion with my car's Bluetooth system easily. Phone calls that I conducted through my car (and through regular Bluetooth headsets) were clear and free of interference, but suffered severely from a lack of volume. It was hard to hear conversations. The stereo Bluetooth performance was quite good, and music sounded excellent when channeled through a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones I have.
Clock
As with all Android phones, pressing the lock button wakes up the display. The lock screen offers a sizable digital clock, but it's darned near impossible to see thanks to the hair-thin font used. If you have a dark lock screen, it's visible. If you pick a bright or colorful lock screen wallpaper, you'll never be able to read the time — especially outside.
GPS
Google Maps and AT&T Navigator make the Ion a solid go-to device for getting around town. The Ion's GPS powers always pegged my location accurately to within about 10 feet, and only took a few seconds. The phone has enough processor and network oomph under the hood that the Ion was able to deliver real-time turn-by-turn navigation without falling behind.
Hands-On: Sony Xperia Ion
Sony Xperia ion
