Sony Xperia L2 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Sony Xperia L2 is an impressive smartphone that combines sleek design with powerful features. With its glass front and plastic back, it exudes a premium feel that is sure to turn heads. The 5.5-inch IPS LCD display offers vibrant colors and sharp details, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Equipped with a quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM, it ensures smooth performance for multitasking and running apps. The 13MP main camera delivers stunning photos, while the 8MP front-facing camera captures impressive selfies. With a non-removable 3300mAh battery, you can enjoy long hours of usage. Available in black, gold, and pink, the Sony Xperia L2 offers a range of options to suit your style. And with a price tag of around 140 EUR, it provides great value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony Xperia L2 sports a design that exudes simplicity and functionality. With its plastic back and frame, the device is lightweight and easy to handle, weighing just 178g. The dimensions of 150 x 78 x 9.8mm make it slightly bulky but still manageable. The phone features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, offering decent visuals with a pixel density of around 267ppi. The use of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 ensures protection against scratches and minor impacts.

In terms of aesthetics, the Xperia L2 may not stand out as a premium device, but it still offers a sleek design with its slim profile and minimal bezels. The back panel has a smooth plastic texture, which provides a good grip and prevents the phone from slipping out of hand.

The phone's construction and build quality are decent, given its mid-range positioning. While the use of plastic may not give it the same robustness as higher-end devices, the Xperia L2 feels sturdy enough to withstand everyday usage. The finishing touches on the phone are neat, and the buttons and controls are well-placed for easy access.

Overall, the Sony Xperia L2 strikes a balance between affordability and design. It may not have the premium look and feel of flagship smartphones, but it offers a solid build, comfortable grip, and a sleek design that ensures one-handed usability.

Display

The Sony Xperia L2 features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 71.3%, which means there are noticeable bezels surrounding the display. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, providing some level of durability against scratches and minor impacts.

In terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, the Xperia L2's display offers decent performance, although it may not be as vibrant or precise as some higher-end smartphones. The pixel density is around 267 pixels per inch, which is adequate for everyday use, but may not provide the same level of sharpness as higher-resolution displays.

The display brightness is satisfactory for indoor use, but it may struggle a bit under direct sunlight due to its average maximum brightness levels. However, the L2 does not feature any anti-reflective coating, which may affect outdoor visibility further.

There is no mention of HDR or wide color gamut support on the Xperia L2, indicating that it may not offer the enhanced contrast and color range typically associated with HDR technology.

Touch responsiveness is generally accurate and smooth, ensuring a seamless user experience. The display also supports the adaptive brightness feature, which adjusts the screen brightness according to ambient lighting conditions.

Overall, while the Sony Xperia L2's display may not offer the most advanced features or cutting-edge technology found in high-end smartphones, it provides a satisfactory visual experience for everyday use.

Performance

The Sony Xperia L2 is equipped with a Mediatek MT6737T chipset, which features a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and a Mali-T720MP2 GPU. This combination of hardware ensures decent performance for daily tasks and light multitasking. In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Xperia L2 performs reasonably well, although it may not be as powerful as high-end smartphones. It offers smooth app loading speeds and a generally lag-free user experience.

When it comes to gaming capabilities, the Xperia L2 can handle casual games with ease. However, it may struggle with more demanding games that require intensive graphics processing. The Mali-T720MP2 GPU is not as powerful as the GPUs found in flagship smartphones, resulting in lower graphics scores and potentially lower frame rates in gaming. Gaming performance on the Xperia L2 is satisfactory for casual gamers, but it may not provide the best gaming experience for those who prioritize high-end gaming.

In terms of thermal management, the Xperia L2 seems to handle heat reasonably well. It does not tend to overheat during normal usage or during gaming sessions. This is an important aspect for maintaining consistent performance and preventing throttling.

Benchmark tests can provide a deeper insight into the performance metrics of the Xperia L2. In synthetic benchmarks such as AnTuTu and GeekBench, the Xperia L2 achieves scores of around 45,000 and 1,932 respectively. While these scores may not be at the top end of the spectrum, they are respectable for a mid-range smartphone.

Overall, the Sony Xperia L2 offers a satisfactory level of performance for its price range. It may not be the most powerful smartphone on the market, but it delivers smooth user experience, decent CPU performance, and satisfactory gaming capabilities for casual gamers. The system optimization and thermal management contribute to a lag-free performance, ensuring that the device runs smoothly during everyday usage. However, for those who prioritize high-end gaming or require more intensive multitasking, a higher-end smartphone with a more powerful chipset and GPU would be a better choice.

Software and User Interface

The Sony Xperia L2 runs on the Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) operating system, which is a slightly older version of Android. This may be a downside for some users who prefer the latest software updates and features. However, Sony has added its own customization to the software, providing a unique user experience. The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through the various features and settings.

One aspect worth noting is the presence of pre-installed apps on the Xperia L2. While some of these apps can be useful, such as the Sony Music and Album apps, there are also a few unnecessary pre-installed apps that may be considered as bloatware. This can take up valuable storage space and might not be of much use to all users.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall software experience on the Xperia L2 is smooth and responsive. The Mediatek MT6737T chipset and Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU provide decent performance for day-to-day tasks. It may not be the most powerful smartphone in terms of processing power, but it should be sufficient for average usage.

In terms of software updates, it is worth mentioning that the Xperia L2 is not eligible for the latest Android versions beyond Android 7.1.1. This means that users may not have access to the latest features and security patches introduced in newer versions of Android.

Overall, while the Sony Xperia L2 may not have the latest software version or the most powerful hardware, it still offers a user-friendly interface and customization options that make it a decent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with reliable performance.

Camera

The Sony Xperia L2 comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera, offering decent image quality for its price range. The rear camera has a wide aperture of f/2.0, allowing for good low-light sensitivity and the ability to capture detailed shots in various lighting conditions. The camera also features LED flash and HDR capabilities, which help to enhance the dynamic range and bring out more details in both bright and dark areas of the image. In terms of image stabilization, the Xperia L2 does not have optical image stabilization but relies on software-based stabilization to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.

During daylight photography, the Xperia L2 performs well, capturing images with accurate colors and good sharpness. It also handles indoor photography reasonably well, although some noise reduction is applied in low-light situations, which can slightly affect image quality. In outdoor photography, the camera produces vibrant and natural colors, making images visually appealing.

The Xperia L2's camera offers a range of features, including portrait mode for creating bokeh effects, HDR for enhancing dynamic range, and panorama mode for capturing wide-angle shots. There is also a pro mode available for manual control over settings such as ISO and shutter speed. The camera supports video recording in 1080p resolution and offers video stabilization, which helps in reducing shakes and jitters while recording. It also supports slow-motion and time-lapse video recording, allowing users to add creative elements to their videos. Overall, the camera of the Xperia L2 provides a decent photography experience with its range of features and capabilities.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia L2 is equipped with a non-removable Li-Ion 3300 mAh battery, which provides a decent amount of power for everyday use. The battery life of the Xperia L2 is rated as average, with an endurance rating of 65 hours. This means that the phone can last for a full day of moderate usage without needing to be recharged. However, heavy users may find that the battery drains more quickly, especially when using power-intensive applications or playing games. The phone does not support wireless charging, but it does have a USB Type-C 2.0 port for fast charging. The battery performance of the Xperia L2 is generally satisfactory, although some users have reported that the battery drains quickly in standby mode. Overall, the battery of the Sony Xperia L2 offers decent power efficiency and provides a reliable backup for daily use.

Connectivity and Networking

The Sony Xperia L2 offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, ensuring fast data speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading content. The device also features dual SIM card slots, allowing you to use two different phone numbers or switch between networks seamlessly.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Xperia L2 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, providing reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. It also has Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP and LE support, enabling you to easily connect and pair with other compatible devices, such as headphones or speakers.

For convenient file transfer and charging, the Xperia L2 is equipped with a USB Type-C 2.0 port. This allows for faster data transfer speeds and supports fast charging capabilities.

Additionally, the device features NFC technology, which enables quick and easy pairing with other NFC-enabled devices or making contactless payments using services like Google Pay.

The Xperia L2 also comes with GPS and GLONASS support for accurate positioning and navigation. This ensures that you can easily find your way around and use location-based services.

Overall, the Sony Xperia L2 offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, making it a versatile device for staying connected on the go. Whether it's browsing the internet, transferring files, or connecting to other devices, the Xperia L2 has you covered.

Additional Features

• Standout features: The Sony Xperia L2 offers several standout features that make it a compelling choice. With its sleek design and Gorilla Glass 4 protection, the phone is both stylish and durable. It also boasts a large 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, providing vibrant and sharp visuals.


• Water and dust resistance: Unfortunately, the Xperia L2 does not come with any water or dust resistance capabilities. It lacks an IP rating, which means it is not waterproof or dustproof.


• Wireless charging: The Xperia L2 does not support wireless charging. Users will need to rely on traditional charging methods using the included USB Type-C cable.


• Advanced sensors: The phone is equipped with a range of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the user experience by enabling features such as automatic screen rotation, motion gestures, and accurate location tracking.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Sony Xperia L2 is a mid-range smartphone that offers decent features at an affordable price. When comparing it to related devices in the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy A10 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, there are some notable differences and similarities.

In terms of specifications, the Xperia L2 falls slightly behind its competitors. It features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, which is lower than the Full HD+ displays found on the Galaxy A10 and Redmi Note 7. However, it does come with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection, providing some durability.

Performance-wise, the Xperia L2 is equipped with a Mediatek MT6737T chipset and a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. While it may not be as powerful as the Exynos 7884 processor found in the Galaxy A10 or the Snapdragon 660 processor in the Redmi Note 7, it still delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Xperia L2 features a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. While it may not offer the same level of detail and image quality as the 13MP + 2MP dual-camera setup on the Redmi Note 7, it still captures decent photos and videos.

One area where the Xperia L2 stands out is its battery life. With a 3300 mAh non-removable battery, it offers an impressive endurance rating of 65 hours, surpassing both the Galaxy A10 and Redmi Note 7 in terms of battery performance.

In terms of pricing, the Xperia L2 is positioned as an affordable option, priced at around 140 EUR. It may not have the same competitive advantage or unique features as some of its competitors, but it offers good value for money considering its price point.

Overall, while the Sony Xperia L2 may not have the highest specifications or the most advanced features compared to its competitors, it still offers a solid mid-range option for those on a budget. Its durable design, decent performance, and impressive battery life make it a viable choice in the competitive smartphone market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sony Xperia L2 offers a decent set of features at an affordable price. With its 5.5-inch IPS LCD display and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection, the phone delivers good visuals and durability. The 13 MP rear camera and 8 MP front camera capture satisfactory photos and videos. Additionally, the device comes with a reliable fingerprint sensor for added security. The battery life is commendable, providing an endurance rating of 65 hours. However, it is important to note that the phone runs on the slightly outdated Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) operating system. Overall, the Sony Xperia L2 is a suitable choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable smartphone with decent performance and features.