Sony Xperia M4 Aqua vs Xperia L1: A Detailed Comparison

Looking for a reliable and affordable Android phone from Sony? The Xperia M4 Aqua and L1 were popular budget options. But which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall user experience to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia M4 Aqua edges out the L1 thanks to its octa-core processor and slightly better camera capabilities. While both offer impressive battery life and excellent contrast ratios, the M4 Aqua's performance advantage makes it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia M4 Aqua	Sony Xperia L1

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E2303, E2353	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E2303	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E2353	-

Launch
Announced	2015, March. Released 2015, June	2017, March. Released 2017, June
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	145.5 x 72.6 x 7.3 mm (5.73 x 2.86 x 0.29 in)	151 x 74 x 8.7 mm (5.94 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	136 g (4.80 oz)	180 g (6.35 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	-

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass (> 6H)
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~74.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)	Quad-core 1.45 GHz Cortex-A53
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)	Mediatek MT6737T (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 405	Mali-T720MP2
OS	Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)	Android 7.0 (Nougat)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM (E2306)	16GB 2GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 5.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, AF	13 MP, f/2.2, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP	5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide)
Video	720p	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP	4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio, RDS	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	ANT+	-

Battery
Music play	Up to 64 h 40 min	Up to 63 h
Stand-by	Up to 681 h (2G) / Up to 685 h (3G)	Up to 639 h (2G) / Up to 687 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 12 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 20 min (3G)	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 11 h 30 min (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2400 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2620 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Coral, Silver	Black, White, Pink
Models	E2303, E2353, E2306	G3312, G3311, G3313
Price	About 190 EUR	About 110 EUR
SAR	1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.59 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body)	-

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 63h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 957:1 (nominal), 2.994 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 91dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 83dB
Performance	-	GeekBench: 1890 (v4.4)

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 63h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 957:1 (nominal), 2.994 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 91dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 83dB
Performance	-	GeekBench: 1890 (v4.4)

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

Better Performance (Octa-Core)
Slightly Better Camera
Water Resistant
More Refined Image Processing

Design can feel dated
May lack latest software updates

Sony Xperia L1

Excellent Sunlight Display Visibility
Impressive Battery Life
Affordable Price

Slower Performance (Quad-Core)
Less Detailed Camera
Less Powerful GPU

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 5-inch display with a respectable 720p resolution. The Xperia L1 boasts an exceptional contrast ratio of 957:1 (nominal) and 2.994 in sunlight, making it excellent for outdoor visibility. The M4 Aqua's display is also good, but doesn't quite match the L1's sunlight performance. Color accuracy is generally decent on both.

Camera Comparison

The M4 Aqua generally delivers better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. While both phones have a 13MP main camera, the M4 Aqua's image processing tends to be more refined. The L1's camera is still capable of taking decent photos, but it lacks the M4 Aqua's overall clarity and detail. Both have a front-facing camera around 5MP.

Performance

The Xperia M4 Aqua holds a significant advantage here. Its octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset provides noticeably smoother performance compared to the Xperia L1's quad-core Mediatek MT6737T. Expect faster app loading times and better multitasking on the M4 Aqua. The M4 Aqua's GPU also offers better graphics performance.

Battery Life

Battery life is a strong point for both devices. Both are reported to have endurance ratings of 63 hours, suggesting excellent longevity. Real-world usage will vary, but both should easily last a full day, and potentially longer with moderate use.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is ideal for users who prioritize performance and a slightly better camera experience. The Xperia L1 is a good option for those primarily focused on long battery life and a vibrant display, and who are less concerned with raw processing power.