The Sony Xperia L2 and XZ Premium represent distinct points in Sony’s smartphone strategy. The L2 aimed for affordability and long battery life, while the XZ Premium was a no-compromise flagship boasting cutting-edge technology. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, helping you determine which best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and a premium experience, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 835 chipset and superior display justify the higher price. However, the Xperia L2 remains a compelling option for those seeking maximum battery life and a functional smartphone experience on a tight budget.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - G8142 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - H3311, H4311, H4331 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G8141, G8142 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3311, H4311 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G8141, G8142 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4331 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, January. Released 2018, January | 2017, February 27. Released 2017, June 18 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum/plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 150 x 78 x 9.8 mm (5.91 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm (6.14 x 3.03 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM (G8141)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G8142) |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~807 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.46 inches, 82.2 cm2 (~68.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| | - | Runs at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases
Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6737T (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", AF | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", predictive PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted, region dependent), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3230 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Pink | Luminous Chrome, Deepsea Black, Bronze Pink, Rosso |
| Models | H4311, H3311, H4331, H3321 | G8142, G8141, SO-04K, SO-04J |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.0dB / Crosstalk -89.7dB |
Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 65h
| Endurance rating 72h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1130:1 (nominal), 2.266 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1238:1 (nominal), 2.877 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 91dB
|
Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 45023 (v7)
GeekBench: 1932 (v4.4) |
GeekBench: 5460 (v4.4), 1603 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia L2
- Exceptional battery endurance (65h)
- More affordable price point
- Functional and reliable for basic tasks
- Significantly slower performance
- Lower quality display
- Limited camera capabilities
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 835
- Superior display quality and brightness
- Faster charging with Quick Charge 3.0
- Higher price
- Slightly lower battery endurance (72h)
- Potential for thermal throttling under extreme load
Display Comparison
Both the Xperia L2 and XZ Premium utilize displays with similar contrast ratios – 1130:1 (nominal) and 1238:1 (nominal) respectively. However, the XZ Premium’s 2.877 sunlight contrast ratio significantly outperforms the L2’s 2.266, indicating superior visibility in bright outdoor conditions. While both offer a 'Photo/Video' display mode, the XZ Premium benefits from the processing power of the Snapdragon 835 to deliver more accurate color reproduction and dynamic range. The L2’s display, while adequate, is likely to appear less vibrant and detailed in comparison.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo/Video' capabilities, but the underlying hardware and image processing differ greatly. While specific sensor details are missing, the XZ Premium’s Snapdragon 835 ISP (Image Signal Processor) enables advanced features like SteadyShot video stabilization and superior low-light performance. The L2’s Mediatek chipset lacks the same level of image processing prowess. The XZ Premium’s camera system likely includes a larger sensor and wider aperture, resulting in sharper images with better dynamic range. The L2’s camera is adequate for casual snapshots, but won’t compete with the XZ Premium’s image quality.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The Xperia XZ Premium’s Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835, built on a 10nm process, features an octa-core CPU (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) and a significantly more powerful GPU. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a far superior gaming experience. In contrast, the Xperia L2’s Mediatek MT6737T (28nm) with its quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU is geared towards basic tasks. The 10nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 835 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Xperia XZ Premium boasts a slightly higher endurance rating of 72 hours compared to the L2’s 65 hours. However, this difference is less pronounced than the performance disparity. The XZ Premium also supports 18W Quick Charge 3.0, allowing for significantly faster charging speeds. While the L2 offers respectable battery life, the XZ Premium’s combination of endurance and fast charging provides a more convenient user experience. The Snapdragon 835’s power efficiency also contributes to the XZ Premium’s battery performance despite its more demanding components.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia L2 if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone primarily for basic communication, light social media, and media consumption, and battery life is your absolute top priority. Buy the Sony Xperia XZ Premium if you prefer a fast, responsive device capable of demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and photography, and you value a premium display and faster charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Mediatek MT6737T in the Xperia L2 sufficient for modern apps like WhatsApp and Facebook?
Yes, the Mediatek MT6737T is capable of running basic applications like WhatsApp and Facebook without significant issues. However, expect slower loading times and potential lag when multitasking or using more demanding apps. It's best suited for users with light smartphone usage.
❓ Does the Xperia XZ Premium's Snapdragon 835 still hold up for gaming in 2024?
While not the latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 835 in the Xperia XZ Premium remains a capable gaming chip in 2024. It can handle most popular mobile games at medium to high settings. However, very demanding titles may require reduced graphics settings to maintain a smooth frame rate. Thermal throttling could occur during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the battery life of the Xperia L2 compare to other phones in its price range?
The Xperia L2’s 65-hour endurance rating was quite competitive for its time and price range. It consistently outperformed many other budget smartphones released around the same period. However, newer budget phones with optimized software and larger batteries may offer comparable or even slightly better battery life today.
