How Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Compares To Its Biggest Rivals

Sony has freshly announced the Xperia M4 Aqua handset in India with a price tag of Rs 24,990. The smartphone is water resistant, much like any other Sony flagship, but more importantly, it features hardware specifications to rival most midrange offerings in the market.

But the Japanese manufacturer won't have an easy job on its hands as the likes of the Xiaomi Mi 4 and the Gionee Elife S7 feature the same (or better) hardware. The Xiaomi offering in particular will be a threat for Sony as it packs a significantly improved hardware with a smaller price tag.

So we decided to see how the three fare as far as hardware and pricing is concerned. The results might surprise you.

Brand	Sony Xperia M4 Aqua	Xiaomi Mi 4	Gionee Elife S7
Display	5-inch 720p display	5-inch 1080p display	5.2-inch 1080p display
Thickness	7.3mm	8.9mm	5.5mm
Weight	136 grams	149 grams	126.5 grams
Camera	13MP rear, 5MP front	13MP rear, 8MP front	13MP rear, 8MP front
Processor	Octa core Snapdragon 615	Quad core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801	Octa core 1.7 GHz Mediatek MT6752
RAM	2GB	3GB	2GB
Storage	16GB (microSD support)	64GB (no microSD card slot)	16GB (no microSD card slot)
OS	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop	Android 4.4.3 KitKat	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Battery	2,400 mAh	3,080 mAh	2,750 mAh
Price	Rs 24,990	Rs 21,999	Rs 23,000 (approx)
Connectivity	4G LTE	4G LTE	4G LTE

It's clear from this comparison that the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua could be a disappointment when it hits the markets. The hardware is a big letdown, especially considering the price that it's selling for.

The handset will be available through brick and mortar outlets as well as online retail stores. The only advantage with the M4 Aqua is the IP65/68 certification, which ensures that the device will see no harm when submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for under 30 minutes. Also Sony Xperia M4 Aqua has a premium look and feel to it.

The Xiaomi Mi 4 is no longer an exclusive to Flipkart and can be bought via Snapdeal and Amazon as well. The same applies to the Gionee Elife S7, which can be bought across a wide range of retail outlets in the country.