Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 09-07-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

I was extremely excited when I was asked to review the Sony Xperia10, Xperia10Plus and Xperia L3 smartphones for a few weeks.

Sony has always been synonymous with great products, from the Walkman to the Play Station, which has captivated customers across the globe.

While many consumers are drawn to the big three mobile brands which include Apple, Samsung and Huawei, Sony’s Xperia range is feature packed and boasts some wonderful devices that competes with the best.

Starting with the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, while the phones never quite make it into the top tier that does not stop the company innovating.

While the 10 fits comfortably in the hand, I prefer the bigger 10 Plus with its 6.5 screen. The device is quire long, but slimmer. The screen itself measures 6.5 inches across the diagonal and has a resolution of 1,080 by 2,520 pixels (422 ppi).

It offers a 21:9 aspect ratio, and this means delivering movies made for cinema full screen, without black bars taking up sections of the screen so that the appropriate aspect ratio can be squeezed in (so-called ‘letterboxing’).

The 10 Plus features a dual camera on the back with a 12MP main module (1/2.8” sensor) and an 8MP telephoto camera. The phone can record 4K videos and features SteadyShot (electronic stabilization). The 8MP selfie camera is identical to the one on the Xperia 1.

The Sony Xperia 10 is more compact with a 6.0” screen, but still with a 21:9 aspect ratio and the same 1080p+ resolution. This means the phone is only 68mm wide.

Its 13+5MP dual camera loses the telephoto module, the second unit is just a depth sensor. The phone can still do 4K video recording and features SteadyShot. The 8MP selfie camera makes another appearance.

Overall, the 10 and 10 Plus are wonderful devices. I loved the idea that the fingerprint sensor, volume rockers and power were all on one side, however it might be awkward for left-handed users. I was also a bit disappointed that the both devices does not have wireless charging, but that does not detract from them from being great devices.

The Xperia 10 Plus retails for R8 999 and the Xperia 10 for R6 499 and comes in black and navy. 

Sony Xperia L3.

The Sony Xperia L3 is a no-nonsense affordable phone that fits comfortably in the hand.

It features a notch-free 5.7-inch 720 x 1440 screen, an all-plastic build and a capable enough but entry-level MediaTek Helio P22 chipset powered by a massive 3,300mAh battery.

The device uses Sony’s own Xperia Adaptive Charging, which monitors power consumption as your battery charges, and ensures that your battery is not overworked. This means that your battery is less likely to lose capacity over time due to over-exertion.

The Xperia L3 has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC flash storage, which can be expanded up to a further 512GB via microSD.

Despite being an entry-level smartphone, the Xperia L3 offers users a dual camera set-up using 13MP and 2MP lenses and even allows you to use Bokeh effect to blur out the background behind your subject.

The Xperia L3 also features a powerful 8MP front camera, which captures awesome selfies, while offering features such as selfie mode, skin brightness, face sharpening, and Bokeh effect.

Like the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, the fingerprint sensor, volume rockers and power were all on one side.

The L3 features most things you would want in a smartphone at the fraction of the cost of the bigger rivals.

The Sony Xperia L3 is available in black and retails for R4,499