The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the LG Leon and the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. Both aim to deliver a solid Android experience without breaking the bank, but which one comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua edges out the LG Leon thanks to its superior processor, better camera, and water resistance. While the Leon offers a simpler experience, the M4 Aqua provides a more polished and feature-rich package for a similar price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 - H340N | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E2303, E2353 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - H340N | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E2303 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 12 - T-Mobile | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E2353 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, February. Released 2015, April | 2015, March. Released 2015, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 129.9 x 64.9 x 10.9 mm (5.11 x 2.56 x 0.43 in) | 145.5 x 72.6 x 7.3 mm (5.73 x 2.86 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 136 g (4.80 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~218 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.5 inches, 55.8 cm2 (~66.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 | Adreno 405 |
| OS | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop) | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM (E2306) |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP or 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 5 MP |
| Video | - | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 64 h 40 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h (2G) / Up to 505 h (3G) | Up to 681 h (2G) / Up to 685 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 12 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 20 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1900 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2400 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titan, Gold | Black, White, Coral, Silver |
| Models | H324, H340n, H320, LGMS345, H340, H345 | E2303, E2353, E2306 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 1.05 W/kg (head) 0.80 W/kg (body) | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
LG Leon
- Simple and easy to use
- Affordable price
- Decent call quality
- Underpowered processor
- Mediocre camera
- Basic display
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
- Better performance
- Superior camera
- Water resistance
- Improved display
- Can be slightly more expensive
- Software updates can be slow
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 5-inch display, but the Xperia M4 Aqua generally has slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles. The Leon's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy of the M4 Aqua. Resolution is similar, around 720p on both.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia M4 Aqua boasts a superior camera setup. While specific megapixel counts are similar, Sony's image processing and larger sensor generally result in better photos, especially in low light. The Leon's camera is serviceable but struggles in challenging conditions.
Performance
The Xperia M4 Aqua's octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor significantly outperforms the Leon's quad-core Snapdragon 410. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the M4 Aqua. The Leon can feel sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
The Xperia M4 Aqua typically offers slightly better battery life due to its more efficient processor and optimized software. Both phones have around 2400mAh batteries, but the M4 Aqua manages power more effectively.
Buying Guide
The LG Leon is a good choice for users seeking a basic, reliable smartphone for calls, texts, and light browsing. The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is ideal for those who want a more capable camera, better performance, and added features like water resistance, making it a better all-around option.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the LG Leon worth buying in 2024?
The LG Leon is quite dated. Unless you're on an extremely tight budget and only need basic functionality, there are better options available for a similar price.
❓ Does the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua still receive software updates?
Official software updates have largely ceased for the Xperia M4 Aqua. However, it still runs Android and can be used with custom ROMs if you're comfortable with that.
