Sony Xperia L3 vs Xiaomi Redmi 9A: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the Sony Xperia L3 and the Xiaomi Redmi 9A. Both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but which one comes out on top?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia L3 boasts a significantly better display and potentially longer battery life, while the Redmi 9A offers a more modern chipset and generally better value. The L3's contrast ratio is a major advantage, but the Redmi 9A's price point makes it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia L3	Xiaomi Redmi 9A

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 - International
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - I3312, I4312	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 29 - I3322	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India

Launch
Announced	2019, February. Released 2019, February	2020, June 30. Released 2020, July 07
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	154 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.06 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)	164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.35 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	156 g (5.50 oz)	196 g (6.91 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	-
Resolution	720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)
Size	5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~75.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	PowerVR GE8320
OS	Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR
Single	-	13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity

Battery
Charging	USB Power Delivery	10W wired
Type	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Gold, Silver	Carbon Gray (Midnight Black), Sky Blue (Sea Blue), Ocean Green (Nature Green)
Models	I3312, I4312, I4332, I3322	M2006C3LG, M2006C3LI, M2006C3LC, M2004C3L
Price	About 230 EUR	€ 64.30 / $ 56.50 / £ 95.56
SAR	-	0.90 W/kg (head) 0.65 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.40 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.9dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB	-
Battery life	Endurance rating 80h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 81dB	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 78894 (v7) GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Sony Xperia L3

Excellent contrast ratio display
Potentially longer battery life
Sony's image processing

Older chipset
May lack modern features
Charging speed likely slow

Xiaomi Redmi 9A

More modern chipset (Helio G25)
Better value for money
Reliable everyday performance

Less impressive display
Potentially shorter battery life
10W charging is slow

Display Comparison

The Xperia L3's standout feature is its exceptional contrast ratio of 1818:1, promising deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Redmi 9A's display is adequate but lacks the same level of visual pop. Resolution and size are likely similar, but the L3's contrast gives it a clear edge in image quality.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is likely comparable given both phones are in the budget category. Both offer photo and video capabilities, but image quality will depend heavily on lighting conditions and software processing. The Xperia L3 might have slightly better image processing due to Sony's expertise, but the Redmi 9A could offer more features.

Performance

The Redmi 9A's Mediatek Helio G25, while still entry-level, offers a slightly more modern architecture than the L3's Helio P22. Expect marginally smoother performance in everyday tasks and potentially better gaming capabilities on the Redmi 9A. However, both phones are unlikely to handle demanding games or multitasking flawlessly.

Battery Life

The Xperia L3 claims an impressive 80-hour endurance rating, suggesting exceptional battery life. The Redmi 9A's battery capacity is likely similar, but the less efficient chipset could result in shorter real-world usage. This is a key area where the L3 potentially shines.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia L3 is ideal for users prioritizing a high-quality display and a potentially longer battery life, even if it means sacrificing some processing power. The Xiaomi Redmi 9A is perfect for those seeking the best possible value, a more recent chipset, and a reliable everyday smartphone experience.