Sony Xperia L3 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Sony Xperia L3 offered a compelling budget option, but the Samsung Galaxy A54 has raised the bar. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the winner.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the Xperia L3 boasts impressive endurance ratings, the A54's superior performance, brighter display, and more modern features make it a significantly better overall package, justifying its higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia L3 Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - I3312, I4312, I4332HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - I3312, I43121, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 29 - I332225, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2019, February. Released 2019, February2023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions154 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.06 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight156 g (5.50 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~75.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1-
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
ChargingUSB Power Delivery25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, SilverLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsI3312, I4312, I4332, I3322SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 230 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -91.9dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 80h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 81dB -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 78894 (v7) GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia L3

  • Exceptional battery life (80h endurance)
  • High contrast ratio display (1818:1)
  • Compact size
  • USB Power Delivery

  • Outdated chipset (Helio P22)
  • Lower screen brightness
  • Less powerful camera
  • Slower performance

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Powerful processor (Exynos 1380)
  • Bright and vibrant display (980 nits)
  • Excellent camera system
  • Modern design
  • Good battery life (119h endurance)

  • Slightly higher price
  • 25W charging (could be faster)
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A54's display is a clear winner. Its 980 nits max brightness provides excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, a feature the Xperia L3 lacks. The 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests superior color accuracy and deeper blacks compared to the L3's 1818:1 ratio. The A54 likely also features a higher resolution and more vibrant color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A54 is expected to deliver superior image quality. Samsung's image processing is generally well-regarded, and the A54's hardware is likely more advanced, resulting in better detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The L3's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is significantly more powerful than the Mediatek Helio P22 in the Xperia L3. The A54's 5nm process and Cortex-A78 cores offer a substantial performance boost for multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications. The L3 will feel sluggish in comparison.

Battery Life

Both phones have impressive endurance ratings, with the Galaxy A54 slightly edging out the L3. However, the A54's active use score of 11:15h suggests it can handle more intensive tasks without significant battery drain. The L3's 80h endurance rating is likely based on very light usage.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia L3 is a good choice for users on a very tight budget who prioritize exceptional battery life above all else. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is ideal for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a great display, capable camera, and solid performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia L3 still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you absolutely prioritize battery life above all else and are on a very limited budget. Otherwise, the Galaxy A54 offers a much better overall experience.
❓ Does the Galaxy A54 have expandable storage?
No, the Galaxy A54 does not offer expandable storage via microSD card.