Sony Xperia L3 Review: Affordable Smartphone with Great Features

Sony Xperia L3 (I3312/I4312/I4332/I3322) – 2019 Entry – Level Smartphone

Definition

The Sony Xperia L3 (model codes: I3312/I4312/I4332/I3322) is an entry – level Android smartphone unveiled at MWC 2019 on February 25 and released on February 19, 2019, which belongs to Sony’s low – end Xperia L series. Positioned as a budget – friendly device for users seeking a large – screen experience without overspending, it is the successor to the Xperia L2 and was later replaced by the Xperia L4. The Xperia L3 features a 5.7 – inch HD+ display, a dual – rear camera setup, a side – mounted fingerprint sensor, and runs Android 8.1 Oreo, targeting cost – conscious consumers, first – time smartphone users, and those who need a reliable secondary device.

Core Overview

Model	Release Date	Market Positioning	Core Highlights
Sony Xperia L3 (I3312/I4312/I4332/I3322)	February 19, 2019	Entry – level Android smartphone	5.7 – inch HD+ display, dual – rear cameras, side – mounted fingerprint, 3300 mAh battery, Android 8.1 Oreo

Full Technical Specifications

Design & Display

Aspect	Details
Form Factor	Slim slate with a sleek design, fewer borders, and a side – mounted fingerprint sensor for easy access; plastic build with a matte finish on the back to reduce fingerprints.
Display	5.7 – inch HD+ (720×1440) IPS LCD with an 18:9 aspect ratio (282 ppi), Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch resistance, 16M colors, and a screen – to – body ratio of 75.6%.
Build & Weight	Dimensions: 154×72×8.9 mm; weight: 156g; color options: Black, Gold, Silver.
SIM Support	Hybrid dual nano – SIM slots (one for SIM, one for SIM/microSD) — available in both dual – SIM and single – SIM variants depending on the region.

Processor & Performance

Component	Specifications
Chipset	MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) (12nm process) — octa – core 2.0 GHz Cortex – A53 CPU, IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU; suitable for daily tasks and light gaming.
RAM	3GB LPDDR4X (non – expandable) — sufficient for smooth multitasking with basic apps (social media, messaging, web browsing).
Storage	32GB eMMC 5.1 internal storage, expandable up to 512GB via microSDXC card; approximately 20GB available to users out of the box.
Software	Launched with Android 8.1 Oreo; no official upgrade to Android 9 Pie or later versions. Preloaded with Sony apps (Album, Movies, Music with Clear Audio+) and Google Mobile Services (Gmail, Maps, YouTube).

Camera System

Feature	Details
Rear Cameras	Dual – lens setup: 13MP primary sensor (f/2.2 aperture, auto – focus, 1080p@30fps video recording) + 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode effects; no LED flash.
Front Camera	8MP sensor (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm wide – angle lens), 1080p@30fps video recording, display flash for selfies in low light, and portrait selfie effects.

Connectivity & Battery

Aspect	Specifications
Network	4G LTE Cat.6 (300 Mbps down/50 Mbps up), 3G HSPA+, quad – band GSM/GPRS/EDGE; band support varies by model (e.g., I4332 supports additional LTE bands for Asian markets).
Wireless	Wi – Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP, LE), NFC, GPS + GLONASS, Google Cast, and FM radio.
Ports	USB Type – C 2.0 (charging, data transfer, USB Power Delivery support), 3.5mm headphone jack.
Battery	3300 mAh non – removable Li – Ion battery; supports USB Power Delivery for fast charging (charger not included in the box); Endurance rating: 80h; Talk time: Up to 15h (3G); Standby time: Up to 500h (3G).

Sensors & Extras

Sensors: Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, magnetometer, side – mounted fingerprint sensor.
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, single bottom – firing speaker with Smart Amplifier for louder and clearer sound.

Key Features & Target Audience

Large Display on a Budget: The 5.7 – inch HD+ screen offers an immersive viewing experience for media consumption, making it attractive to users who want a big display without flagship pricing.
Dual Camera Capability: The dual – rear camera setup with a depth sensor enables portrait mode effects, a feature not commonly found in entry – level phones of 2019.
Dual SIM Flexibility: Hybrid dual – SIM support caters to users who need separate personal and work numbers or local/international data plans.
Durable Display: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 provides reliable scratch resistance, enhancing the device’s longevity.

Market Reception & Legacy

Commercial Performance: It performed moderately well in emerging markets, where budget – friendly devices with large screens and dual SIM support were in high demand.
Entry – Level Benchmark: It set a standard for entry – level phones by offering features like Gorilla Glass 5, a side – mounted fingerprint sensor, and a dual – camera setup at an affordable price (~€180 at launch).
Successor Transition: It was replaced by the Xperia L4 in 2020, which featured a larger display and an upgraded chipset while maintaining the entry – level positioning.

Key Limitations

Non – Removable Battery: The 3300 mAh battery was sufficient for daily use but non – removable, making it difficult to replace when its capacity degraded over time.

No OS Upgrade: It remained on Android 8.1 Oreo, missing out on newer Android features and security patches after its initial release.

Mediocre Camera Performance: The rear cameras lacked an LED flash, limiting low – light photography capabilities, and the 2MP depth sensor produced average portrait mode effects.