If you’re considering buying an Xperia phone, there are a few things to remember. First, Sony has a long history of manufacturing quality devices. They might not be the most glamorous brand, but they’re worth considering if you want to invest in a device that will see you through the next year or two.
They have a wide spectrum of phones in all price ranges, so there’s something for everyone. But we feel that the Xperia L is their best offering. So if you’re not convinced, we’ll walk you through this model’s major advantages and disadvantages. But, first, here’s what we think makes it a compelling buy:
Sony Xperia L: Display
We all know Sony likes to use Bravia technology in its products, and the Xperia L boasts one of the best displays they have ever made. The 4.3-inch screen packs a pixel density of 327 PPI thanks to new Clearblack technology. It also has Sony’s “Triluminos” technology, which boosts color saturation, brightness, and contrast levels, resulting in the ultimate display you can get on any phone.
There is also the option of the larger 5-inch screen, which doesn’t have the same resolution or clarity but looks great nonetheless. The Full HD display is a great option for games and movies alike.
Sony Xperia L: Premium build and look
The Xperia L is one of Sony’s premium smartphones. It is built out of premium materials such as Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and has a carbon fiber design that gives it a premium look.
This phone also has an aluminum frame, which helps to keep it light and slim. This also makes it very good to hold, especially because of how slim the overall phone is. The Xperia L weighs just 130 grams, making it one of the lightest phones we have seen recently.
Sony Xperia L: Performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor powers the Xperia L with 2GB of RAM. This is paired with the current version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and runs on the Adreno 330 GPU, which is more than enough to power through the day-to-day. In addition, both versions of the phone can accept a microSD card of up to 64GB, which will help you store more movies, games, apps, and others for convenient access later.
Xperia Active UI
One of the best things about this phone is its pre-installed Sony user interface, known as Xperia UI or Active UI, which comes with some pretty nifty features. The main one we love is Smart Notice. This app gives you information on the weather, local time, and other things like traffic updates. It also tries to provide helpful suggestions based on your daily habits.
Sony Entertainment Network
There is a wide range of services for entertainment, communications, and online support offered by Sony. For example, you can download free games, movies, and music from the PlayNow store (which isn’t very large) or the Google Play store, which is available via Sony’s Xperia Launcher. You can also use this Xperia launcher as an alternative to the default one if you’re not a fan of it.
Sony Xperia L: Superior audio quality
The Xperia L has been specially designed to offer superior audio quality in both the speaker and headphone departments. So you have your choice of the front-facing stereo speakers, which are quite loud and clear, or the Sony Xperia headset, designed to provide you with a listening experience that blows away all other phones.
Sony Xperia L: High-quality camera
The 13MP rear camera on this phone is one of the best we have seen recently. It has a Sony Exmor RS sensor combined with Optical Image Stabilization that allows for superior photos even when you’re on the move. The Carl Zeiss lens also helps to improve photo quality by reducing noise and increasing clarity and contrast levels. You can also enable SteadyShot if you want to shoot videos without shakiness.
Sony Xperia L: Battery life
The Xperia L features a 2330 mAh battery that can last you more than a day’s use. In addition, it has a pretty efficient processor, and it doesn’t have to run at full capacity too often, so this should translate into longer battery life.
Sony Xperia L: Design
Sony phones are known for their sleek designs and premium look and feel. Their designs are usually clean and minimalistic; these traits are also reflected in the Xperia L. The all-black design is subtle but appealing simultaneously, with just a small silver band around the edges to bring out its personality. It looks great from every angle too!
Sony Xperia L: Dual-SIM functionality.
Dual-SIM functionality has become increasingly popular in recent years. If you travel a lot or have more than one phone, having a dual-SIM phone can be quite convenient. This is an advantage that not many other phones offer. The choice between the 4.3-inch and 5-inch screens depends on your preference and needs. The 4.3-inch screen provides a very good display, while the 5-inch display is great if you want to use your phone for movies and games.
Sony Xperia L: Disadvantages
- Size: The Sony Xperia L is a large phone, making it hard to use with one hand. On the other hand, it has a very compact design, but it’s not pocket-friendly. This is probably the most noticeable disadvantage of the Xperia L.
- Battery life: This phone gets hot very quickly, so don’t use it for long periods with your hands on the bottom of the phone because you can burn them quite easily. The 2330 mAh battery is also not good enough to see you through a full day, especially if you’re using this smartphone as your main device or keeping it plugged in all day long.
- Camera: The Xperia L has a fantastic rear camera, but the front-facing camera doesn’t cut it. The 1.1MP front-facing shooter lacks clarity and isn’t useful for much other than video calling or Skype/Hangouts.
- No 4G LTE: This phone is not a high-end flagship, so it doesn’t have 4G LTE capabilities, which is unfortunate. However, if you’re looking for a phone that’s good for browsing the web and using social media apps like Twitter and Facebook on the go, this should be more than enough.
- No NFC and no Bluetooth 4.0: Although Sony did not include these features in their smartphones, we don’t consider this a disadvantage because this phone is not meant to compete with flagships. Also, most people will hardly even notice the absence of these two features since they are quite minor.
Is Sony Xperia better than Samsung?
The Sony Xperia and the Samsung Galaxy
are both excellent smartphones, but is one better than the other?
The answer is subjective; one company could be better for you than the other, depending on your personal preferences. For example, if you use many social media apps, then Samsung has more options than Sony to fill that need. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia is a fantastic choice if you value your mobile device’s high-quality camera and long battery life.
Conclusion
The Xperia L is an excellent device with many great features, although some of them are hard to see. While it doesn’t have complete specs or premium materials, it does have a lot of other great things that other phones don’t have. The Xperia L is made for consumers who are constantly on the move and need a phone that can last them a long time. It’s great as a secondary or even a primary phone if you’re not looking for anything too fancy.
The reasonably priced phone is the phone’s greatest selling point. You can purchase the unlocked Sony Xperia L through Sony’s shop for $299.99, contract-free. With pre-paid plans from carriers including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile, the cost drops to roughly $229. For more options, check out our guide to the best smartphones with the best cameras.
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