The Sony Xperia L is the latest smartphone to slide inwards at the bottom halt of the Japanese firm's range, launching amongst the mid-range Xperia SP to consummate a trio of handsets headlined past times the Sony Xperia Z.
It's the natural replacement for the Xperia J, which launched at IFA 2012 amongst 007's Sony Xperia T - handsets which behave a potent resemblance to the Xperia L inwards terms of design.
There's no exact Sony Xperia L issue appointment for now, all we've been told is that it volition acquire inwards during the mo quarter of the year. The cost has also been confirmed: £229 SIM free, but we're waiting for the contract prices to plow up.
When nosotros said it borrows blueprint cues from the J too T nosotros weren't kidding, every bit it's hard to nation the trio apart.
Sony has stuck with the same curved bring upward made famous past times the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc on the Xperia L, instead of cladding it inwards the straight-edged, drinking glass complete constitute on the Xperia Z.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 noticeably plastic complete greets you lot when you lot pick upward the handset, but it feels sturdy too at that topographic point was piddling flex inwards the trunk - pregnant the Xperia L doesn't experience likewise cheap.
The curved, soft impact plastic bring upward does hateful the Xperia L sits comfortably inwards the mitt too offers a practiced degree of grip.
It's a good balanced device too although it may aspect chunky at the ends, it's positively slender inwards the middle measurement inwards at 130.6 x 67.1 x 9.98mm.
Something which the Sony Xperia L has borrowed from its high powered blood brother is the distinctive power/lock cardinal located one-half way downwards the correct mitt side of the handset.
Also on the correct side is a book rocker switch too a dedicated photographic idiot box camera key, all of which are tardily to hitting one-handed.
Up transcend there's a 3.5mm headphone jack land on the left is a microUSB port.
The forepart of the Xperia L is dominated past times its 4.3-inch FWVGA display with the touchstone Android keys appearing onscreen instead of below it.
With this is necessitate heed nosotros were disappointed virtually but how much bezel was left nether the screen, with the chunky plastic adding what appears to live unnecessary mass to the phone.
The enshroud itself is a pretty decent offering, specially if the Xperia L does come upward inwards sporting a sub-£200 cost tag, with colours appearing vibrant land text too images aspect pretty sharp.
Of course of report on closer inspection you'll live able to define pixels, but with a decent viewing angle too a bright, 854 x 480 resolution it's hard to error it at this cost point.
On enshroud the activity is provided by Android Jelly Bean, version 4.1.2, with a 1GHz dual-core processor running the exhibit nether the hood.
General navigation is snappy too nosotros were able to motility swiftly through homescreens, of which you lot tin cause got upward to seven, too dive inwards too out of the app listing without likewise much hassle.
The responsive touchscreen agency the Xperia L doesn't cause got problem registering your diverse pokes too prods, which also helps to lift the user experience.
Sony has applied its ain layer of gloss to Jelly Bean, with its a homescreen editor component allowing you lot to rapidly too easily care your widgets, apps too shortcuts every bit good every bit changing the phone's topic too wallpaper - making it that combat to a greater extent than personal. Lovely.
The custom user interface also sees the add-on of the handy quick settings toggles inwards the delineate downwards notification bar, allowing you lot to command things such every bit Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC without having to dive into the total blown menus.
Applications aren't quite every bit speedy though, with most taking a mo or 2 to charge upward with to a greater extent than demanding apps such every bit the photographic idiot box camera sometimes taking fifty-fifty longer to kind themselves out.
We never encountered a drastic delay, but it is a contrast to the relatively fluid app listing too homescreens.
The keyboard is relatively basic but this isn't a bad affair at is allows for good spaced keys too acceptable side past times side give-and-take prediction resulting inwards us typing pretty quickly.
In terms of photographic mightiness Sony has equipped the Xperia L with an impressive 8MP bring upward facing photographic idiot box camera which also boasts a unmarried LED flash, 720p video recording too HDR too panorama modes.
You also acquire a forepart facing VGA character snapper on the forepart of the Xperia L, but it's the offering circular the dorsum which helps the handset stand upward out from the competition.
As we've mentioned the photographic idiot box camera app isn't the quickest which tin live a piddling frustrating, espeically if you're trying to nab a quick pic - with a tardy auto-focus non helping either.
The inclusion of a dedicated photographic idiot box camera cardinal on the correct of the handset agency it easier to access the application too snap photos, every bit you lot don't cause got to mess virtually with the on enshroud shutter.
Pictures were acceptable but nosotros weren't blown away with the quality, although to live fair the Sony Xperia L nosotros were inwards an oddly lit location which likely didn't aid things.
You tin whip the bring upward comprehend of the Xperia L off, but create this carefully every bit the instance is hooked over the transcend too bottom of the device too a abrupt application of creature strength could spell the halt of the plastic case.
The bring upward comprehend is available inwards 3 colours; black, white too red, with the white version of the handset also sporting the same coloured complete on the front.
Under the comprehend you'll notice a microSD slot too a removable 1,750mAh battery. Pop the battery out too there's access to the SIM card slot too.
Sony has squeezed 8GB of internal storage into the Xperia L, although solely 5.5GB is free, hence you lot may live grateful for the microSD option.
As this is a Sony handset it also comes with the firm's diverse bells too whistle inwards terms of pre-installed apps (or bloatware, depending on your views).
There are dedicated Walkman, Album too Movies applications addition Sony's Music too Video unlimited streaming services are also plonked onto the Xperia L.
If you're a fan of gaming hence you'll live pleased to acquire the Xperia L also supports PlayStation games via the PlayStation Mobile app.
Sadly at that topographic point was no content pre-loaded onto the handsets nosotros acquire hands on with, hence nosotros were unable to bear witness out its media capabilities.
We also lacked a spider web connecter which meant nosotros couldn't surf the internet, but nosotros did banking company annotation the Xperia L solely has the Chrome browser - no stock Android offering inwards sight.
Early verdict
The early on signs are positive for the Sony Xperia L which brings a decent gear upward of features to the bottom halt of the marketplace too although it won't live every bit inexpensive every bit the likes of the ZTE Blade 3, Huawei Ascend G330 and Nokia Lumia 520, it volition however register every bit affordable for a lot of people.
Generally it copes with everything pretty good too land at that topographic point is a hint of wearisome downwards every instantly too hence that's expected from cheaper handsets.
We aspect forwards to getting the Sony Xperia L inwards for a total review to regard how good it handles media too the footing broad spider web - we're keeping our fingers crossed.
