Sony Xperia L1 – stylish and budget-friendly. Sony Xperia L1 is a good budget smartphone for those who don’t expect much Xperia L1 review
Sony Xperia L1 is a new budget smartphone model, presented completely spontaneously and without any big announcements. The main features of the smartphone: a 5.5-inch display, an updated design concept, its budget orientation, and therefore corresponding characteristics. Despite the name, Xperia L1 can hardly be called an ideological continuation of the Xperia L model.
The appearance of the Sony Ixpelia L1 smartphone, as expected, is made in a single concept with all the new products of 2017. Smooth edges flow smoothly into the sides. The case is made of plastic, there is no metal power button - instead there is an oblong button, like in the Xperia E5. We get an elegant externally, but budget-friendly internally device with a 5.5-inch screen, rather thin side frames, but not the smallest overall dimensions.
Despite the large screen, its resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels may not be enough by today's standards. Xperia L1 received a 4-core MediaTek MT6737T chipset with a frequency of 1.45 GHz and Mali-T720 MP2 video, 2 gigabytes of RAM, an internal storage of 16 GB, which can be expanded with microSD memory cards up to 256 GB, and a battery capacity of 2620 mAh ( Qnovo software feature is also present). The main camera is a module with a 13-megapixel sensor, and the front camera is 5 megapixels; there is no mechanical shutter button. Out of the box, the Android 7.0 system will be pre-installed with proprietary applications Xperia Tips, Xperia Actions, Smart Cleaner and others.
In general, the smartphone came out as a compromise. An interesting, strict design can attract users, but people who are inexperienced with technical stuff will become buyers. But here, too, much will depend on pricing. Going on sale is scheduled for the end of April.
Main technical parameters of Sony Xperia L1:
- Physical dimensions: 151 x 74 x 8.7 mm, 180 grams
- Display technologies: 5.5 inches, 1280 x 720 pixels, 267 ppi
- Main camera: 13-megapixel Exmor RS sensor, f/2.2 lens, autofocus
- Front camera: 8MP Exmor R sensor, 24mm wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture
- Chipset: MediaTek MT673T with 4-core processor up to 1/45 GHz and Mali-T720 MP2 video chip
- RAM: 2 GB
- Internal memory: 16 GB, microSD slot (cards up to 256 GB)
- Battery: 2620 mAh, STAMINA, Qnovo
- Connections: A-GPS and GLONASS, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, USB Type-C 2.0 connector
- Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE cat4
- Audio: Clear Audio+, S-Force Front Surround
- Version for one and two SIM cards nanoSIM format
- Android 7.0 out of the box
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Sony Xperia L1 is an affordable smartphone with a 5.5-inch screen, a fast quad-core processor and a proprietary 13 megapixel camera. It is the combination of high performance and low cost that is emphasized in this popular gadget.
Design and ergonomics
The smartphone has a recognizable and in many ways unique appearance. Strict lines, sharp corners, small roundings at the ends - this is the signature Loop Surface design, which is complemented by thin screen frames. A minimum of details and a maximum of practicality, due to which the smartphone feels very comfortable in the palm of your hand.
The rectangular form factor is complemented by a solid feel. The body is made of pleasant-to-touch plastic and is assembled without gaps or backlash; each component of the shell fits tightly together.
Screen
The 5.5-inch IPS screen has a resolution of 1280 x 720, a pixel density of 267 ppi and an effective oleophobic coating. Moreover, among all the budget gadgets that you can buy in our online store, the Sony Xperia L1 stands out for its truly excellent image quality and wide viewing angles. There are also several advanced features here, such as color temperature adjustment.
Performance
The smartphone will impress with the speed of the 4-core MediaTek MT6737T chipset with 2 GB of RAM. Impressive information processing performance is due to support for pure Android 7.0 Nougat OS and HD screen resolution, which puts little strain on the hardware.
The 16 GB built-in memory can easily be overclocked to 256 GB using a memory card. Despite its budget, Sony Xperia L1 supports wireless interfaces, including Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS and GLONASS.
Cameras
Even in affordable smartphone models, Sony tries to install high-quality photo modules, fortunately they produce them themselves. Therefore, the Sony Xperia L1 will delight you with excellent pictures taken with a 13-megapixel camera with autofocus and a wide-angle 5-megapixel front camera.
Battery life
Thanks to Qnovo's proprietary battery optimization technology and STAMINA energy saving mode, the smartphone's modest 2620 mAh battery shows impressive results for an inexpensive model. At maximum load, the charge indicator will flash red alarmingly only after 7–8 hours of use. A standard load in the form of alternately switching on wireless modules, accessing the Internet and watching videos will drain the battery no earlier than after 12 hours.
Sony not only updates its flagship smartphones, but also regularly releases budget phones, one of which is the Xperia L1, which was at MWC 2017 along with the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs. Sony is constantly experimenting with line names and it cannot be said that the smartphone is in any way directly related to, which was released in 2013. It belonged to the middle class of devices, was equipped with a compact screen and a Qualcomm processor. Xperia L1 is a clear budget phone with a 5.5-inch screen.
What is this?
Sony Xperia L1 is a budget Android smartphone with a 5.5-inch screen, a quad-core MediaTek processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal expandable memory and a 13 megapixel main camera.
Why is he interesting?
In almost all respects, the Sony Xperia L1 is a typical budget smartphone; it is equipped with a 5.5-inch screen with a modest resolution of 1280x720, using an IPS matrix. Inside is a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6737T processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage for apps and content. This is small by today's standards, but there is a MicroSD slot and supports up to 256 GB. The main 13-megapixel camera is equipped with autofocus and LED flash, the front module is 5 megapixels. It is powered by a 2620 mAh non-removable battery. There is USB Type-C, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX support, and it runs on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat.
What is in the box?
Sony Xperia L1 comes in a small white cardboard box; in addition to the smartphone, the box contains a USB Type-C cable, a power supply (we received the smartphone without it) and all the necessary pieces of paper:
What does it look like?
The design of the smartphone is made with an eye to the same concept of the latest Sony smartphones called Loop Surface, which implies the absence of sharp corners at the transitions between the side edges, back and front panels, although in this case this is not as pronounced as in more expensive models. The front panel is a familiar Sony rectangle. The frames on the sides of the screen are relatively thin (especially considering the budget smartphone), the top and bottom are much larger. At the same time, there is nothing on the bottom (it is smaller), and on the top there is a logo, an LED indicator, a speaker, sensors and a front camera:
The slot for the external speaker, spoken microphone and symmetrical USB Type-C are located at the bottom end
On the left side there is a plug familiar to Sony smartphones with a tray for SIM and MicroSD:
There are different versions of the smartphone. It looks like what we have in review is just a sample for the Ukrainian market. Under the flap is a separate removable tray for two nano SIM cards, and next to it is a slot for MicroSD. So there is no need to choose between two SIM cards and additional memory:
On the top edge there is an additional microphone and a 3.5 mm headphone jack:
In more advanced models, Sony uses a separate hardware button for the camera. In this case, on the right side there are only hidden volume buttons and a power button slightly lower. They are plastic, like, in fact, the entire body. But they fit well, are moderately tight and press well:
The back cover is made of matte plastic. The white pearlescent color looks very good and the prints on it are not too visible. In the middle is the Xperia logo, just above is the NFC tag. The main camera module is still located in the upper left corner:
The flash in the smartphone is single, it is located under the camera lens:
The smartphone fits very well in the hand thanks to the rounded shape of the ends and is made of materials that are pleasant to the hand, but some sloppiness in the assembly betrays the budget nature of the Sony Xperia L1.
What's wrong with the screen?
The Sony Xperia L1 is equipped with a modest 5.5-inch screen by today's standards and a not so common resolution of 1280x720, which corresponds to a pixel density of 267 ppi. In fact, not everything is so bad; a quite passable IPS matrix is used with normal viewing angles, some oleophobic coating and a good maximum brightness level:
We usually no longer conduct a multi-touch test, because most modern smartphones support up to 10 simultaneous touches. In this case, we decided to check it out. The screen is capable of receiving up to 5 touches, which is quite enough:
The screen lacks proprietary features such as X-Reality, which are found in more advanced models, but there is a utility for adjusting the color temperature:
The brightness reserve and contrast are typical for budget models: 383.012 cd/m2, black field brightness is 0.64 cd/m2, and contrast ratio is 598:1. I was pleasantly surprised by the factory calibration. The color temperature ranges from 7000-8000K with the reference 6500. The excess of blue and the lack of red is within reasonable limits, and the color gamut is close to sRGB:
Comparison with competitors:
How are things going with performance, memory, sound and battery life?
There was a time when Sony did not use MediaTek processors in its smartphones, only Qualcomm. Times are changing, it is necessary to somehow reduce the cost of public sector employees, and now the company uses MediaTek regularly. In this case, it is a modest 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6737T, which is complemented by 2 GB of RAM. Using 1280x720 has a positive effect on smooth operation. The interface works without any problems, just like most lightweight applications. The camera application, gallery, photos and heavy games take a long time to launch, although already in the process of using the brakes there are practically no brakes observed:
The built-in memory is only 16 GB, of which a little less than 10 GB is available, but this is not a problem: the MicroSD slot is separate, so you can easily add more, cards up to 256 GB are supported. In terms of music, there are no revelations: there is a proprietary Clear Audio+ function, the sound in the headphones is acceptable, there is an FM tuner.
Many manufacturers save on wireless interfaces in their budget models (and some in the middle class). Fortunately, this does not concern Sony; the smartphone has dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS (A-GPS supported) and GLONASS. Even on the balcony, the smartphone quickly finds the location:
The Sony Xperia L1 has a 2620 mAh battery and supports adaptive Qnovo. The capacity is modest by today's standards, but battery life is average thanks to the low screen resolution and modest processor. The smartphone lasts a full day without any problems, and with less active use you can get one and a half days. Plus there are proprietary STAMINA energy saving modes.
For those who want to know more
Inside the smartphone is a 64-bit MediaTek MT6737T processor, which includes 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores at 1.45 GHz and a Mali-T720 MP2 graphics accelerator with a frequency of up to 600 MHz. It is manufactured using a 28 nm process technology (as far as I remember, the company is already curtailing the production of such processors). The amount of RAM is 2 GB, the results in synthetic tests are very modest, as one would expect:
What about the firmware and interface?
One of the clear advantages of Sony smartphones (including the Xperia L1) is the use of the current version of Android and fairly prompt updates. The smartphone out of the box runs on Android 7.0 Nougat OS and during its use a small update has already arrived over the air, apparently the Security Update. The shell is very close to stock Android and differs mainly visually and with some additional applications from Sony. There is a separate application menu with search, various sorting and a list of recommendations (can be called by swiping down on the home screen), the notification panel and switches are standard, it is possible to edit them. Widgets, folders and various themes are supported:
In addition to the brakes in the camera and gallery (which is still a problem with weak hardware), the traditional nuance of Sony smartphones remains: rebooting the smartphone when changing/removing/installing a SIM card, which is not critical. The rest of the shell is comfortable and pleasant.
How are things going with the camera?
The smartphone has a 13 megapixel main camera with an f/2.2 aperture, autofocus and a single LED flash, and can shoot video in FullHD 30 frames per second. The front camera is wide-angle, 24 mm EGF, 5 MP, f/2.2 aperture. The proprietary application is simple and intuitive, there are automatic and manual modes plus video:
The main camera takes very good photos, especially considering that this is a budget model:
Bottom line
Despite its belonging to the budget segment, the Sony Xperia L1 is a pleasant smartphone in many aspects. It fits very well in the hand and is made with an eye to the general concept of modern Sony smartphones, so if you like older models, then this one will be pleasant. The only thing is that the build quality is really budget-friendly (although the test sample may have some features). The smartphone has a very good main camera and screen calibration by the standards of its category. Those who like to use two SIM cards may find it interesting due to the use of separate slots for SIM cards and a memory card, which is not very common these days. Separately, it is worth noting the current version of Android with a convenient and not too cumbersome custom shell, which is very close to stock Android and fairly prompt updates. The main problem of the Sony Xperia L1 may be its price tag, because Sony smartphones have never been cheap, and the competition from the Chinese is really great.
5 reasons to buy Sony Xperia L1:
- Convenient design;
- current version of Android with a convenient shell;
- good display calibration;
- separate slots for 2xSIM and MicroSD;
- decent camera (taking into account competitors).
2 reasons not to buy Sony Xperia L1:
- low productivity;
- not the best build.
Sony Xperia L1 quad-core smartphone with a large 5.5-inch screen in an elegant case with support for two SIM cards and high-speed 4G Internet. The new product runs on the latest version of the Android operating system, is equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, expandable up to 256 GB by installing a microSD memory card.
Basic characteristics of Sony Xperia L1: 2 SIM cards with support for high-speed 4G-LTE networks, 5.5-inch HD screen, Android 7.0 Nougat operating system, 4-core MediaTek MT6737T processor, 2620 mAh battery, main 13 MP camera, 16 GB built-in memory and 2 GB RAM .
The smartphone can simultaneously install two Nano-Sim format SIM cards, and supports high-speed Internet. For the Xperia L1 user, 16 GB of internal memory is available; if you need more memory on the phone, you can install a microSD memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 256 GB. With Smart Cleane technology, your smartphone can think and help you, ensuring optimal performance and energy efficiency. The Smart Cleane feature on the Sony Xperia L 1 will constantly analyze how you use your smartphone and, if necessary, disable unnecessary applications, clear the cache, or perform other actions.
- For more detailed reviews of the characteristics of Ixperia L1, see below.
- If you know something about the pros and cons of the Xperia L1 Dual or you have additional information and useful tips for the smartphone, then please share by adding your review below.
- Thank you for your responsiveness, additional information and useful tips!
Specifications Sony Xperia L1. Features of Sony Xperia L 1.
- Number of SIM cards: 2 SIM cards
- SIM card type: Nano-SIM
- Operating system: Android 7.0 Nougat
- Processor: 4 core 1.45 GHz / MediaTek MT6737T
- Graphics accelerator: Mali 720-MP2
- Display: 5.5 inches / IPS / HD 1280 x 720 pixel / multi-touch up to 4 fingers / slide input
- Main camera: 13 MP / LED flash / hybrid autofocus
- Front camera: 5 MP/ wide-angle lens with F2.0 aperture
- Video recording: 4K 3840 x 2160 pixels / Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Battery: 2620 mAh
- RAM: 2 GB
- Built-in memory: 16 GB
- Memory card: microSD with a maximum capacity of up to 256 GB
- Navigation: GPS/ A-GPS/ GLONASS
- Sensors: accelerometer/proximity/gyroscope
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Wi-Fi: yes
- 4G LTE: supports
- NFC: yes
- DLNA: yes
- USB Type-C: yes
- Smart Cleaner: to ensure optimal smartphone performance
- Music player: yes
- Audio jack: 3.5mm
- Size: (W.H.T.) 74 x 151 mm x 8.7 mm
- Weight: 180 grams
Review of the main characteristics of the budget Sony Xperia L1 - appearance, screen, hardware, software features, autonomy, pros and cons, price.
Sony Corporation regularly tries not only to update its flagship products, but also pays attention to the budget line. At the end of March, at the MWC 2017 exhibition, the Sony Xperia L1 was presented, the review of which is devoted to this material. The Japanese offered buyers a good price-quality combination with average capabilities, a recognizable design, two good cameras and the new Android 7.0 Nougat OS.
Design and delivery kit of the Sony Xperia L1 smartphone
The buyer has a choice of three color options for the new product:
- a strict, black gadget will emphasize the seriousness and business acumen of the owner;
- white - suitable for charming business women and those who love more delicate classics;
- pink Sony Xperia L1 will be a real find for girls who know a lot about fashion and style.
- height - 151 mm;
- width - 74 mm;
- thickness - 8.7 mm;
- weight - 180 grams.
On the front panel, around the screen, the side frames are small and unnoticeable, but the top and bottom ones catch the eye and amaze with their hugeness. At the top, above the display, are located:
- logo;
- proximity and light sensor;
- front-camera;
- speaker
Only the cover with the SIM and MicroSD tray was moved to the left side. The tray of the new Sony Xperia L1 Dual is designed for 2 nano-format SIM cards. At the bottom end you can see a slot for an external speaker, a USB Type-C input and a conversational microphone. On the top there is a standard (3.5 mm) headphone jack and an additional microphone. On the back panel in the middle we see the name of the series, and in the upper right corner there is a small camera module and a flash below it. Nothing extra, everything is simple and tasteful. On the negative side, a number of users have already noted in their reviews a feeling of general sloppiness in the assembly.
The device arrives to the buyer in a white cardboard box with the name of the series and the manufacturing company, which in addition to the smartphone contains:
- Charger;
- USB Type-C cable;
- all necessary paper documentation (warranty and user instructions).
Sony Xperia L1 display
As for a budget model, the screen in this case is really good. Its main parameters are as follows:
- diagonal is 5.5 inches;
- HD resolution - 1280x720 pixels.
- Brightness reserve - 383.012 cd/m2
- Black field - 0.64 cd/m2
- Contrast - 598:1
- Color temperature 7000–8000K
Sony Xperia L1 - Performance Specifications
The heart of the gadget is the 64-bit MediaTek MT6737T processor. It has four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, each clocked at 1.45 GHz. A dual-core Mali-T720 MP2 graphics accelerator is also built in, the maximum frequency of which is 600 MHz. This is enough for simple games, but the Sony Xperia L1 won’t be able to handle modern resource-intensive applications, and even if it does run them, the sluggish gameplay will clearly not be enjoyable.
As for memory, everything is also very unimpressive:
- 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM.
- 16 GB ROM (about 10 GB data storage available). Of course, it’s enough for a small number of photos and music, but you can’t count on more.
Camera and sound in the Sony Xperia L1 smartphone
The device contains two photomodules:
- Basic at 13 MP. It has an f/2.2 aperture, autofocus and a single LED flash. The module can shoot video in FullHD resolution, 30 fps. ISO 3200. There is a 3x Clear Image zoom.
- Frontal. Five megapixel wide-angle selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture and 24mm equivalent focal length.
The sound of the product is quite pleasant without noise or distortion; everything can be heard well in headphones and a wireless headset. There is a branded Clear Audio+ and FM tuner, stereo recording is possible. The following audio formats are supported: LPCM, FLAC, ALAC, DSD.
Interface and software of the Sony Xperia L1 smartphone
The new Android 7.0 Nougat OS with periodic updates on which the device runs is an absolute plus of the Sony Xperia L1. The shell contains some additional applications from the manufacturer. A separate application menu with a list of recommendations, various sorting and search looks good. It is possible to edit standard switches and the notification panel. Various themes are supported for the appearance of the desktop, folders and widgets.
Autonomy Sony Xperia L1
The Li-Ion battery, non-removable, with a capacity of only 2620 mAh in standard, not too loaded mode, allows you to use the device for about a day. But when running something more serious, games, videos or constant Internet surfing, the new product will last barely half a day, despite the proprietary STAMINA power saving mode.
Among the interesting additions, I would like to highlight the Qnovo adaptive charging support technology; according to the manufacturers, it will prevent premature battery wear.
Sony Xperia L1 Dual: overview of wireless interfaces, network
Communication with devices is carried out using:
- Bluetooth technology version 4.2;
- USB Type-C cable;
- NFC module;
- dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.
The installed LTE Cat.4 modem provides the following speeds:
- downloads up to 150 Mbit/sec;
- data transfer up to 50 Mbit/s.
Additional features and accessories Sony Xperia L1
Pleasant additional features include the implementation of software settings:
- Actions. With its help, parameters are changed, adapting to the usage scenario. For example, in the “good night” mode, the brightness is automatically reduced, the “do not disturb” status is turned on, and uninterrupted charging is ensured.
- Xperia Tips. This is a personal assistant who gives advice to the owner and remembers his main actions.
- Smart Cleaner. Using this function, the new product analyzes the frequency of used applications, disables unnecessary ones that the owner does not access, and clears the cache. This improves product performance.
For those who want to expand their capabilities and ease of use, the product is available for sale on the manufacturer’s website:
- Xperia Ear. The headset is a personal assistant with voice control.
- Bluetooth headset with speaker SBH56. It allows you to communicate handsfree and activate the camera remotely.
- Charging dock DK60 with USB Type-C connector and charging function.
- Stereo Bluetooth headset SBH54 with music player, radio, notification display, HD Voice function.
- SmartBand 2 bracelet with a heart rate monitor, fitness tracker, and the ability to measure loads.
- Stereo Bluetooth headphones SBH70 with noise cancellation and water resistance.
- Mono Bluetooth MBH20 with A2DP support and the ability to use with tablets.
Pros and cons of Sony Xperia L1
Speaking about the positive aspects of this model, it is worth dwelling on:
- minimalist and nice classic design;
- convenient design, all the keys are at hand, and the phone itself is pleasant and comfortable to hold;
- current new version of Android with regular updates and a convenient shell;
- separate slots for memory card and SIM;
- a good main camera that allows you to take beautiful photos and shoot good video;
- affordable price;
- decent display calibration.
- low productivity, which is not surprising for a public sector employee of this level;
- The build quality is not very good, it seems that the model was assembled somehow carelessly and all the parts do not fit perfectly.
Sony Xperia L1 Dual - price and video review
Considering all the characteristics, the new operating system, the familiar and attractive appearance, as well as the pricing policy, the device will undoubtedly find its buyer. Time will tell how good he will be at his job. At the time of review, the Sony Xperia L1 and the Sony Xperia L1 Dual version had already gone on sale and were enjoying considerable popularity, as stated by analysts from the manufacturer.
The price of Sony Xperia L1 in Russia is 12,500 rubles. As for the Sony Xperia L1 Dual, the price of this model is slightly higher - 14,490 rubles.
For more details and details about the new product, watch the video review:
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