Sony Xperia L4 Review: The Budget Smartphone with Cinematic Display

Sony Xperia L4 (XQ – AD51/XQ – AD52) – 2020 Entry – Level Smartphone with Cinematic Display

Definition

The Sony Xperia L4 (model codes: XQ – AD51/XQ – AD52) is an entry – level Android smartphone unveiled on February 20, 2020, and released on April 28, 2020, belonging to Sony’s budget – oriented Xperia L series. As the successor to the Xperia L3, it was later replaced by the Xperia L5 (unreleased in some regions). It is characterized by a 6.2 – inch 21:9 HD+ display, a triple – rear camera setup, a side – mounted fingerprint sensor, and Android 9.0 Pie, targeting cost – conscious users, first – time smartphone buyers, and those desiring a large screen for media consumption at an affordable price.

Core Identity & Release Context

Launch: Unveiled February 20, 2020; released April 28, 2020; priced at ~€200 (~$220) at launch, competing with entry – level phones like the Samsung Galaxy A01 and Motorola Moto G Power (2020).
Key Differentiator: A 6.2 – inch 21:9 aspect ratio display for a cinematic viewing experience and a triple – rear camera system (a rarity in entry – level phones of 2020).
Market Role: Continued Sony’s Xperia L series legacy, offering a larger screen, more storage, and enhanced camera capabilities compared to its predecessor, while remaining budget – friendly.

Full Technical Specifications

Design & Display

Aspect	Details
Form Factor	Slim slate design with a polycarbonate unibody build, a side – mounted fingerprint sensor for easy access, and a water – repellent coating (not IP – rated).
Display	6.2 – inch HD+ (1680×720) IPS LCD with a 21:9 aspect ratio (295 ppi), Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch resistance, 16M colors, 21:9 multi – window, and one – hand mode; Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine for better color and contrast.
Build & Weight	Dimensions: 159×71×8.7 mm; weight: 178g; color options: Black, Blue, White.
SIM Support	Hybrid dual nano – SIM slots (one for SIM, one for SIM/microSD) — available in dual – SIM and single – SIM variants based 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; ideal for daily tasks and light gaming.
RAM	3GB LPDDR4X (non – expandable) — enough for smooth multitasking with basic apps (social media, messaging, web browsing).
Storage	64GB eMMC 5.1 internal storage, expandable up to 512GB via microSDXC card; about 45GB available to users out of the box.
Software	Launched with Android 9.0 Pie; no official upgrade to Android 10 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	Triple – lens setup: 13MP primary sensor (f/2.2, PDAF, 1080p@30fps video) + 5MP ultrawide sensor (f/2.2, 120° field of view) + 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4, for portrait mode effects).
Front Camera	8MP sensor (f/2.0 aperture, 27mm wide – angle lens), 1080p@30fps video recording, and display flash for low – light selfies.

Connectivity & Battery

Aspect	Specifications
Network	4G LTE Cat.6 (300 Mbps down/50 Mbps up), 3G HSPA+, quad – band GSM/GPRS/EDGE; band support differs by model (XQ – AD51/XQ – AD52).
Wireless	Wi – Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (dual – band), Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP, LE), NFC, GPS + GLONASS, FM radio (RDS).
Ports	USB Type – C 2.0 (charging/data), 3.5 mm headphone jack (standard for 2020 entry – level phones).
Battery	3580 mAh non – removable Li – Ion; Talk time: Up to 17h (3G); Standby: Up to 500h (3G); Music playback: Up to 60h.

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, Clear Audio+, Clear Bass, and xLOUD.

Key Features & Target Audience

Cinematic Display: The 21:9 aspect ratio 6.2 – inch screen offers an immersive viewing experience for movies and shows, appealing to media – loving users.
Triple Camera System: The triple – rear cameras with an ultrawide lens and depth sensor provide versatile photography options, a step up from the dual – camera setup of the Xperia L3.
Ample Storage: 64GB internal storage (expandable up to 512GB) meets the storage needs of entry – level users for apps, photos, and videos.
Durable Display: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 ensures the screen is resistant to scratches, increasing the device’s durability.

Market Reception & Legacy

Commercial Performance: It performed well in emerging markets, where budget – friendly phones with large screens and dual SIM support were highly sought – after.
Entry – Level Innovation: It set a benchmark for entry – level phones by featuring a 21:9 display and a triple – camera system, encouraging competitors to add similar features to their budget offerings.
Successor Transition: It was replaced by the Xperia L5 (2021), which had a better chipset and an improved camera system while keeping the entry – level price point.

Key Limitations

Non – Removable Battery: The 3580 mAh battery was adequate for daily use but non – removable, making replacement difficult when its capacity decreased over time.

No OS Upgrade: It stayed on Android 9.0 Pie, missing out on new Android features and security patches after its release.

Mediocre Camera in Low Light: The rear cameras lacked an LED flash, which affected low – light photography quality.