The Sony Xperia L2 and Xperia 10 III represent distinct approaches to the budget and lower-midrange smartphone market. The L2, an older model, prioritizes exceptional battery endurance, while the 10 III brings 5G connectivity and a more modern chipset to the table. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value for today's user.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Sony Xperia 10 III is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 690 chipset delivers significantly improved performance and 5G capabilities, coupled with a brighter display and faster charging. While the L2 boasts impressive battery life, the 10 III’s efficiency and modern features outweigh this advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - H3311, H4311, H4331 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3311, H4311 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4331 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, January. Released 2018, January | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, June 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 150 x 78 x 9.8 mm (5.91 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, 1B colors, HDR |
| | - | Triluminos display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6737T (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | UFS |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", AF | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 54mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Pink | Black, White, Blue, Pink |
| Models | H4311, H3311, H4331, H3321 | SO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SO |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.0dB / Crosstalk -89.7dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 65h
| Endurance rating 137h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1130:1 (nominal), 2.266 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 91dB
|
-28.2 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 45023 (v7)
GeekBench: 1932 (v4.4) |
AnTuTu: 286216 (v8)
GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia L2
- Exceptional battery endurance (65h)
- Lower price point (likely)
- Functional display for basic use
- Outdated chipset and slow performance
- Poor camera performance (expected)
- No 5G connectivity
Sony Xperia 10 III
- Significantly faster performance with Snapdragon 690
- 5G connectivity for future-proofed data speeds
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Shorter battery life than the L2 (though still excellent)
- Higher price point
- Charging speed is moderate (21W)
Display Comparison
The Xperia 10 III’s display is a clear upgrade. While the L2’s contrast ratio is respectable at 1130:1 (nominal) and 2.266 in sunlight, the 10 III boasts a measured peak brightness of 559 nits, making it far more visible outdoors. The 10 III also claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a true black level, likely due to its OLED panel (though this isn't explicitly stated in the data, it's a common feature at this price point). The L2’s display, while functional, will struggle in bright environments. The 10 III’s panel offers a significantly improved viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the context data provides limited detail for a meaningful comparison. Given the L2’s age and positioning, it likely features a less sophisticated image sensor and processing pipeline. The 10 III, benefiting from a newer chipset and potentially larger sensor (though not specified), will likely deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to quantify the difference, but the 10 III is expected to perform better.
Performance
The chipset difference is substantial. The Xperia L2’s Mediatek MT6737T (28nm) and quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU are showing their age. The Xperia 10 III’s Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm) with its octa-core configuration (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) provides a dramatic performance boost. The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 690 also translates to better power efficiency, contributing to the 10 III’s longer overall endurance despite a potentially smaller battery capacity. Users requiring multitasking, gaming, or demanding applications will find the 10 III far more capable.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the L2 shines, achieving an endurance rating of 65 hours. However, the Xperia 10 III dramatically surpasses this with a 137-hour endurance rating. This isn’t solely about battery capacity; the Snapdragon 690’s efficiency plays a crucial role. The 10 III also supports 21W wired charging with PD and QC, offering significantly faster charging speeds than the L2, which lacks these features. While the L2 excels in longevity, the 10 III provides a better balance of endurance and convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia L2 if your absolute priority is maximizing battery life above all else, and you primarily need a phone for basic communication and light tasks. You’re willing to sacrifice performance and modern features for multi-day usage. Buy the Sony Xperia 10 III if you value a responsive user experience, 5G connectivity, a brighter and more usable display, and faster charging, even if it means slightly less extreme battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 690 in the Xperia 10 III powerful enough for modern games?
The Snapdragon 690 is a capable mid-range chipset. While it won't deliver flagship-level gaming performance, it can handle most popular titles at medium settings. Expect playable frame rates in games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, though you may need to adjust graphics settings for optimal performance.
❓ How much faster is the charging on the Xperia 10 III compared to the Xperia L2?
The Xperia 10 III supports 21W wired charging with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge (QC), while the Xperia L2 lacks fast charging support. This means the 10 III can charge significantly faster, potentially going from 0-100% in around 2-3 hours, whereas the L2 could take upwards of 4-5 hours.
❓ Will the 5G connectivity on the Xperia 10 III actually make a difference in my daily use?
The benefit of 5G depends on your location and carrier. If you live in an area with 5G coverage and have a 5G data plan, you'll experience significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G LTE. This is particularly noticeable when streaming high-resolution video, downloading large files, or playing online games.
