Sony Xperia L3 vs. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we pit a budget-friendly contender, the Sony Xperia L3, against a premium powerhouse, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max. This comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which device is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 11 Pro Max unequivocally wins this comparison. While the Xperia L3 offers impressive battery life for its price, the iPhone's superior performance, camera quality, display technology, and overall ecosystem make it the clear champion, albeit at a significantly higher cost.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia L3	Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - I3312, I4312, I4332	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - I3312, I4312	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2218
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE 1.6 Gbps DL, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 29 - I3322	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2161, A2220

Launch
Announced	2019, February. Released 2019, February	2019, September 10
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2019, September 20

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame
Dimensions	154 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.06 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)	158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight	156 g (5.50 oz)	226 g (7.97 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 4m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)	1242 x 2688 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size	5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~75.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm)	Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OS	Android 8.0 (Oreo)	iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	NVMe

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single	-	13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Triple	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	Lightning, USB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support

Battery
Charging	USB Power Delivery	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Type	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3969 mAh, non-removable (15.04 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Black, Gold, Silver	Matte Space Gray, Matte Silver, Matte Gold, Matte Midnight Green
Models	I3312, I4312, I4332, I3322	A2218, A2161, A2220, iPhone12,5
Price	About 230 EUR	$ 233.00 / C$ 369.75 / £ 226.95 / € 249.00
SAR	-	1.16 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.95 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)

Pricing
256GB 4GB RAM	-	$ 874.46
512GB 4GB RAM	-	$ 1,004.31
64GB 4GB RAM	-	$ 435.00
RENEWED	-	$ 485.00

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.9dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB	Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -81.5dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 80h	Endurance rating 102h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 81dB	-25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 78894 (v7) GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 459713 (v7), 536883 (v8) GeekBench: 13870 (v4.4), 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -91.9dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB	Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -81.5dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 80h	Endurance rating 102h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal)	820 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 81dB	-25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 78894 (v7) GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 459713 (v7), 536883 (v8) GeekBench: 13870 (v4.4), 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia L3

Excellent battery life
Affordable price
Decent camera for the price
USB Power Delivery charging

Lower performance
Less vibrant display
Outdated chipset
Plastic build quality

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Exceptional performance (A13 Bionic)
Premium camera system
Vibrant and bright display
Wireless charging (Qi)
Robust build quality
Seamless iOS ecosystem

High price
Limited customization compared to Android
No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 11 Pro Max boasts a significantly superior display. Its 820 nits max brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, while the 'infinite' contrast ratio delivers stunning visuals. The Xperia L3's 1818:1 contrast ratio is respectable, but pales in comparison. The iPhone's OLED technology also provides richer colors and deeper blacks.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 11 Pro Max's camera system is a major selling point. Its advanced image processing, multiple lenses, and superior low-light performance consistently deliver exceptional photos and videos. The Xperia L3's camera is adequate for casual snapshots, but lacks the detail, dynamic range, and features of the iPhone.

Performance

The Apple A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 Pro Max is a beast, offering unparalleled performance compared to the Mediatek Helio P22 in the Xperia L3. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is seamless, and demanding games run flawlessly on the iPhone. The Xperia L3, while capable for everyday tasks, will struggle with more intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both devices offer impressive endurance ratings (80h and 102h respectively). While the Xperia L3's endurance is remarkable for its price point, the iPhone 11 Pro Max's larger battery capacity and efficient chip contribute to its slightly longer battery life.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia L3 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize long battery life and a decent camera for basic photography. The Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max is for users who demand top-tier performance, a premium camera system, a vibrant display, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia L3 a good phone for basic use?

Yes, the Xperia L3 is a capable phone for everyday tasks like calling, texting, browsing the web, and social media, especially considering its affordable price.

❓ Is the iPhone 11 Pro Max still worth buying in [current year]?

Absolutely. Despite being a few years old, the iPhone 11 Pro Max still offers excellent performance, a fantastic camera, and a premium experience. It remains a viable option, especially if you can find it at a discounted price.

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The iPhone 11 Pro Max will receive longer software updates and security patches from Apple compared to the Xperia L3, which has likely reached the end of its support cycle.