Sony released three new, cheaper Android smartphones this spring. The Sony Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus and Xperia L3 make striking Sony features just a little more affordable.
Sony Xperia 10 official: midrange
Sony recently announced the Xperia 1, a pricey new top model of nearly a thousand euros. The manufacturer also comes with three more affordable models. The Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are middle class, and the direct successors of the Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra that are expected in early 2018.
For 349 euros you get the Xperia 10 in house. It has a big 6-inch screen with a resolution of 2160 by 1080 pixels. Like the Xperia 1, the image has a ratio of 21 by 9. That makes it slightly longer than most smartphone screens. It is the same aspect ratio as many films.
The Xperia 10 is also equipped with a dual camera of 13 and 8 megapixels at the back. With the second lens, you can add a bokeh effect to your photos. The device can film at 4K resolution and also has optical image stabilization. The most important specifications at a glance:
- 6-inch screen with a resolution of 2160 by 1080 pixels
- 13 + 8-megapixel camera on the back, an 8-megapixel camera in front
- Snapdragon 630 chipset with 3GB RAM
- 64GB of storage space built-in, expandable with a memory card
- Runs on Android 9.0 (Pie)
- Battery capacity 2870 mAh, with 18-watt Quick Charge 3.0 charger
Xperia 10 Plus: bigger with a better camera
Sony charges 429 euros for the Xperia 10 Plus. It has a larger screen of 6.5 inches, with the same full HD resolution. The 10 Plus also has a smoother Snapdragon 636 chip, 4GB memory and a camera with 2x optical zoom.
Both smartphones are immediately available in the United States from today. They have dual-SIM support, so you can be reached with two numbers at the same time. If you order the Xperia 10 or 10 Plus in the first month, you will also receive a free 64GB memory card.
Xperia L3: entry model with outdated software
The absolute entry-level model is the Sony Xperia L3. The device also has a large 5.7-inch screen, but with a slightly lower resolution of 1570 by 720 pixels. The Xperia L3 is powered by a MediaTek MT6762 chipset with four cores, 3GB of memory and 32GB of storage space. Behind are a 13-megapixel camera and a depth sensor of 2 megapixels for portrait photos. In front is a selfie camera of 8 megapixels. The device has a 3300 mAh battery and a fingerprint scanner.
Remarkably enough, the Xperia L3 runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo), a version of Android, which is now half a year old. Although Sony is usually pretty good with updates, the cheap L-series often lags behind. The Xperia L2, which appeared more than a year ago, is still running on Android 7.1 (Nougat). So the question remains whether the Xperia L3 will ever be updated to Android Pie.
Sony gives the Xperia L3 a suggested price of 199 euros. This makes the device the same in difficult waters. For the same money, you also buy the Nokia 4.2, Motorola Moto G7 Power or the Huawei P Smart (2019). They all offer better hardware and newer software at a lower price.