Sony offers a range of smartphones catering to different budgets and needs. The Xperia L4 sits firmly in the budget-friendly category, while the Xperia XZ3 represents a higher-end offering from a few years ago. This comparison will help you decide which Sony phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset, superior display, and robust feature set far outweigh the L4's affordability. While the L4 is a decent budget option, the XZ3 provides a significantly better overall experience, especially considering its often-discounted price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 20. Released 2020, April 28 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159 x 71 x 8.7 mm (6.26 x 2.80 x 0.34 in) | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1680 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~295 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 89.8 cm2 (~79.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Dynamic vibration system
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | USB Power Delivery | 18W wired, PD2.0
Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3580 mAh | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | XQ-AD52, XQ-AD51 | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8)
GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia L4
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Compact size
- Underpowered chipset
- Basic camera
- Lower quality display
- Limited features
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
- Excellent OLED display
- Superior camera
- Wireless charging
- Long battery life
- Older model
- Potentially less software support
- May be harder to find new
Display Comparison
The Xperia XZ3 boasts a significantly superior display. While both offer good contrast, the XZ3's OLED panel delivers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better overall image quality compared to the L4's LCD. The XZ3 also likely has a higher resolution, contributing to sharper visuals. Sunlight readability is reported as similar for both.
Camera Comparison
While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the XZ3's camera is expected to be considerably better. The Snapdragon 845 typically pairs with more advanced camera sensors and image processing algorithms. Expect better low-light performance, more detail, and improved video recording quality from the XZ3. The L4's camera is adequate for basic snapshots.
Performance
Performance is where the XZ3 truly shines. The Snapdragon 845 is a flagship-level chipset, offering vastly superior processing power compared to the Helio P22 in the L4. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the XZ3. Gaming performance will also be significantly better.
Battery Life
Both phones are reported to have an endurance rating of 90h, which is exceptional. However, the XZ3's more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (despite being an older model) likely contribute to its impressive battery life. The XZ3 also supports faster wired and wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia L4? Users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability and basic smartphone functionality. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ3? Users seeking a powerful, feature-rich phone with a great camera and display, and who are comfortable with a slightly older device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia L4 good for gaming?
The Xperia L4's chipset is not ideal for demanding games. You may experience lag and reduced graphics settings.
❓ Will the Xperia XZ3 receive software updates?
Sony has likely ended major software updates for the Xperia XZ3. However, security patches may still be available for a limited time.
❓ Which phone has better call quality?
Both phones should offer acceptable call quality. However, the XZ3's potentially better antenna design might provide slightly more reliable reception in weak signal areas.
