23.1.2019

I purchased this with low expectations due to previous SONY Phones, I got this to replace a Sony Xperia L that was damaged in a car crash and couldn't get repaired, so Insurance company advised I purchased the equivalent model hence Sony Xperia L2Had a long wait ordered mid-November did not arrive till end of December and then found the Micro SD Memory Slot did not function and would not retain the SD Card. Amazon replaced in a week and so far, new one is working very wellFindings5.5" LCD display - The display is nice and easy to read text and see pictures in most lights I only notice it’s a 720p when put up against a Quad HD equipped Phone.Responsiveness of Touchscreen - my old Xperia L youhad to use your finger and it occasionally was slow to respond and wouldn't work with any stylus or gloves so I am pleased to report the new one is quick and accurate to use and works with stylus for better typing (my fingers are a little big for some of the keyboards that come up when online)Performance/Chipset - I was not expecting much as I have read MediaTek are a cheaper processor and graphic chip set as they did not perform so well but I have found this responsive in normal use and not bad in a few games I have tried.Battery life - The Battery is lasting mainly just around a day but Sony's software to improve the Battery’s performance has only just started to learn my usage patterns and has on Two occasions extended the battery to one and a half days so may improve. The battery is sealed in the phone so user can’t replace my Sony Xperia L had a removable one which means new L2 phone will have a shorter life.Fingerprint Sensor - this sensor is fast and easy to use and easy to set up and use making mobile banking and using the phone for shopping on line or in store more secure.Software Android 7.1.1 Nougat - This is fast and easy to use and doesn't have too much overlaid by Sony and little to no Bloatware some of Sony’s software apps are very good and easy to use I am not sure why but I got my Motorola Moto Z which had the Android 6 Marshmallow operating system(now on Android 8 Oreo) it allowed me to set up the SD Card as system memory (Friends Galaxy S7 edge does too) which Sony doesn't allow. Also must Question why Sony released the Xperia L2 in 2018 with 2016’s release 7.1.1 Nougat when all other phones were using 2017’s Android 8 Oreo and had no plans to upgrade the version of Android to 2017s Android 8 Oreo or 2018s 9 Pie ( I got 3 operating updates with my Nokia 700, Moto X and Moto Z and Motorola/Lenovo do one android update on competing Moto G range so not sure why Sony can’t do one Version update).Sound - Speaker not bad for a bottom Mid-range phone very good when using headphones.Camera - front and back cameras take nice pictures and are easy to use.Build Quality Plastic and glass feels solid easy to hold and looks good has big strips at the top and bottom of screen which dates it, but I like itSummary a Good Entry Model to Smart phones with good build quality (you will want a phone case to protect it) but you can get similar or better specked Samsung and Motorola as well as others with newer software and for less money.ProsScreen Good colours and good and easy to see in most lightsTouchscreen Responsive and arcuateSD Memory card Expansion3.5 headphone jack - Good Sound on Head phonesCamera takes good quality photosResponsive to use with little bloatwareSony provide a Software program for Windows and Mac OS to Back up and Restore phone such as texts Email and programs and transferring things from other phones Sony and other makes e.g. Apple or Samsung. I backed up the faulty Sony Xperia L2 and it restored the settings from that to the replacement I was very impressed as my company Samsung GS6 back up wouldn't load backup to new phone after original died.ConsOut of date version of Android installed when launched and No chance of Sony Updating to newer more secure version.Missing Wi-Fi ACSony Do Not allow SD card to be set to be used as System Memory like other Makes.Battery Life for a 3300mah Battery driving a low power 720p screen and low power chip-set I would expect 2-3 light days use not the 1-1.5 I am getting.Screen only 720p at this price point and slightly lower are using 1080p.Support If you get a hardware fault Sony's Repair company in Kent are the biggest Rip off Merchants going (Photograph every angle of phone possible before sending it to them).

30.5.2018

Look carefully and slowly, don’t rush, for it’s aching beauty will surely hurt your eyes if you do so. Sony has always been the master of form, of function and has, somehow, always encased its products, containing sophisticated and leading edge kit, within packages that are to die for. This beautiful phone is no exception. It’s like something that has just appeared, jutting from the surface of the moon, left there, and standing, for millennia, by an ancient civilisation and ready to beam a signal, upon being touched, to a planet circling Jupiter. More than this, its lovely tactile nature that one’s hands will never tire of stroking or of holding is like a beautiful shiny pebble that you’ve just found on the beach and even hours later,long after your walk, you’ll take it from your pocket and stroke it some more or just look at it. Upon journeying home it will somehow find its way into your car and in turn on to a nice little surface or niche that you’ll find for it, being quite unable to discard it. All this, and more, will cross your consciousness, as you look at this phone, I promise, and that’s before you switch it on!Of course, it’s not just a pretty face. I would say that it is the perfect size for a mobile phone and although I acknowledge the iconic status of say the iPhone, I can’t think why someone would want to spend a shed load of money on something that is that big and that expensive when for more accessible sums of money one can have one of these.It charges in no time. It has a lovely neat and functional charger that brings to mind my favourite words – just gets on with it. The USB C connector is excellent and easier to navigate than the old micro USB and more than once in a cross-eyed haze I have struggled to locate this because it was the wrong way up – ho hum. Battery life is excellent. I transferred my SIM and my Micro SD card and the little tray accepted these together with another SIM I bought in the shop in our local village for the princely sum of £1 just to try the dual SIM mode. Upon switching it on it loaded up as I worked through some simple questions and was ready for action. Even transferring my old data contacts, photos and so on was easy. I did try the Xperia transfer app but this was asking for a cable to join my old phone with this one and I simply elected for backing up as much as I could to my micro SD card then used Google to back up and restore, from my old phone, and it worked nicely.The screen quality is amazing and of course it’s nicely set off against that black smooth monolithic styling. The size is also perfect for just about anything and even older eyes like mine can make out intricate and detailed tables and maps and things without a problem as well as photos and video.The dual SIM is a really useful addition. One could have one for work and one for just family and friends this is a really useful way of separating oneself from the temptation to be always available to everyone. In addition if one were travelling abroad this too would be very useful as one could simply, for example, buy a local SIM and add it to the phone whilst keeping the ‘home’ SIM in position and active.The fingerprint recognition works absolutely perfectly and all my Apps and Whatsapp were up and running in no time. It’s an Android phone and one can sense Google’s perma-presence which I am not entirely happy with. Sometimes I feel like Jim Carey in that film ever under the watchful gaze of Google and I am keen to limit this but of course this is not the fault of the phone.In use the touch screen is a delight to use. It’s quick and accurate with no lag or hesitation. It’s also easy to use when one is texting or typing and I particularly liked the intelligent soft buttons which change according to what part of a program or App that one is using.There is also a wonderful camera which makes the best use of that screen and the functionality of the phone and the electronics around it. Oh, and I believe you can also make calls with it ! – Joking .I thought that my Samsung A3 Galaxy was all the phone I would ever need after my S3 mini, but the Xperia has moved things along the curve even further. It’s a fabulous phone, a perfect companion on that flight to Jupiter!, well done Sony. Five easy stars from me, with my thanks to Sony and Vine, as always.

30.5.2018

I guess that I have had a mobile phone now since 1994 and that means I have been through a lot of models. This is the first time I have had a Sony smartphone and I have to say that I am impressed. The first thing that you notice is the weight and feel of this in your hand. The phone feels solid but appropriate in weight – what I mean is that it feels really well made but not too heavy. The curved matt back adds something to the quality feel too.The screen was larger than I expected and the dark reflective glass is good enough to shave in when turned off.Being unlocked means that you can use this phone on any network in the UK but you will of course need the latest in small Sims before you can turn it on,in fact this phone takes two sims so it is possible to run two accounts from one phone. Getting a phone as part of a contract is a mugs game and I am totally committed to buying phone outright and just getting a great SIM only deal – it is a big money saver.So this Android phone which as some customisation to Android, is at very least the most popular operating system in the world and the standard choice for most people these days.When you turn on (by holding the power button on the right-hand side of the phone ‘down’ for several seconds), then the surprising thing is the quality of the screen display. I have had much more expensive phones than this but this screen rivals some of the top end models and looks great playing back high res videos from YouTube. Yes, there are better screens, but this gives a very good performance for what is by anyone’s standards a relatively mid-priced phone.Charging is by a USB-C socket in the bottom of the phone (charger supplied) and most importantly a standard headphone socket is fitted in the top. When you touch any button the default setting of a gentle ping to give you positive feedback that you have made a selection really adds to the experience.Going through the set-up phase is delightfully simple.Voice calls sound clear and the hands free function also works well.Because Android have the largest number of Apps, there is almost nothing that you can’t do with this phone.The sound quality through headphones is excellent, my Spotify account delivering quality music did not disappoint. The picture quality from the rear camera is excellent and certainly good enough. My brand new Elephone U PRO is better, but the Sony fares well. The fact is that I have got used to using this phone and am really pleased with it. I have on occasions in this process thought to myself wouldn’t I have been happy with this, despite having paid twice the price for my main phone?I guess that if you have to have the latest and the best then maybe you need a Samsung Galaxy 9 (or perhaps an Elephone U Pro), but if you just want a really well made and excellent mid range phone, then why look any further than this Xperia L2? The loom and feel of this device is a credit to Sony.

13.8.2019

The L2 at the time of purchase was Sony's base model. It was not bought for myself but for an older member of the family who's a bit of a technophobe; so there wasn't any point buying an all singing all dancing phone for someone who mainly wants to make phone call, send texts, read emails, if not necessarily send them, Whatsapp other more remote members of the family, and take reasonable snapshots at 8 to 13 megapixel. This phone does all of these, the screen is clear and of lower resolution than the higher end phones but isn't unduly blocky and the icons appear at a size an older person would appreciate.This phone to some may appear expensive for the specification,

19.6.2018

We got this phone for our daughter as her first smartphone. We’re normally iPhone users but were reluctant to spend that much money on a youngest so this is a nice compromise. Because it’s a SIM free phone it means you are not tied to a network. So we were able to go into the Carphone Warehouse and have the choice of all the available SIMs and network plans for a pay as you go phone. It takes a nano SIM but when you buy a SIM you get all three sizes so we popped out the smallest nano size. It was a bit difficult fitting the SIM in position 1. There is a position 2 if you want to add a second SIM to copy over data or to have two different accounts (work and personal)

23.7.2018

The Xperia L2 is considered Sony's budget offering for 2018. It's built to look stylish and impressive at a glance for a fraction of the price of higher tier alternatives. This is mostly achieved. The plastic backing does a respectable job of mimicking metal apart from when you allow it to become covered in fingerprints. Everything from the bezel to the buttons is designed with minimalist chic in mind. By accident rather than a test, I dropped mine and it survived unscathed.In theory the 720p screen should be disappointing in 2018 but in practice I wouldn't know it's 720p. The display is sharp and vibrant and really quite flawless when reading emails or browsing the net. I never found myself wishing for better.

24.9.2018

*Edited update 13/10/18Its taken me a while to get round to reviewing this item as I needed time to adjust to the device.This is my first smartphone, though I've watched everyone use them for years; it was a steep learning curve negotiating all the features and settings – like all other companies Sony don't provide proper manuals – even the online one isn't downloadable. It was, however, reasonably easy to set up.Like everyone else, there are features I don't use and some that don't work properly – I gave up on the fingerprint recognition feature after finding it erratic.The product loses one star immediately as the flimsy plastic tray that holds the sim and SD card doesn`t connect properly

21.3.2019

Despite the near-budget price (dropped since the L3 came out) this has the touch and feel of a much more expensive phone, and if you like something different grab one while they're still around -- a square cornered phone, in a world of generic curves! No one notices Apple phones any more, so if you like to make a statement...Full of Sony apps that can't be uninstalled, but you can deactivate them to prevent them constantly updating and consuming all the memory. Most you won't ever use, beyond seeing what they do, just once. And disable background data use, so they won't use up all your data allowance every time you connect (another bad feature of Apple phones...)Can't fault it otherwise.

26.10.2019

Absolutely chuffed I found your store on here. A reconditioned phone with a year's warranty is brilliant considering I still have a year on my contract and kinda dropped my contract phone in the bath... Oops.Phone is as new, can't complain about it at all, and normally I always find something to complain about, even delivery was faster than expected as came a day early, which was great as I was going on holiday so had my new phone to use whilst away (and the pack of harribo you put in pleased my child)I've recommended you to friends and family and when my contract is up I'll be going on payg and getting from you guys again.Thanks!!

10.11.2018

I have had quite a few smartphones, nokia 820, iphone4 , 3 samsungs, one of which was not fit for purpose, but this Sony is amazing ! A super bright clear display, its fast, battery life is what it should be ie 35 to 40% left at the end of a busy day. lots of useful built in apps not samsung this and samsung that, that a good choice of loud alarm sounds etc etc. And of course the dual SIM functionality speaks for itself. It was actually a few £ cheaper than the single SIM version ! Whats not to like? Above all else I actually LIKE using it whereas all the others were hard work for various reasons. 10/10 Sony !

25.6.2018

My wife was quite pleased with this Sony Xperia phone. The display is nice and clear which makes it easy to read unlike some displays which are very dark. The Sony Xperia L2 is a 5, 5" HD device With 13 MP in main camera and 8MP super wide angle camera (120 degree). It comes with a fingerprint sensor which to be honist I did struggle with when I tried it out. However my wife had no problem with it. Some of the settings (especially the noise volumes) are a little tricky to figure out. However all in all this is a pretty good phone by Sony.

9.12.2018

this is a really good mobile phone so I don't understand why people complain about there is nothing wrong with this mobile it's fast really responsive the fingerprint scanner work really well the sound quality is excellent nice sharp displays spring good battery life the camera is good games on the phone ok good keyboard nothing bad to say about this phone recommend if you want a good phone at a good price

27.11.2019

I liked the phone because it had a nice big screen. Fingerprint scanner seems to be a bit too sensitive, trying to read something when you haven't even put your finger down on it. However it does work, Battery life is not bad - 2 days for optimal use, 3 days on little use and 1 day if you use it constantly. I have to say it is better than my iPhone 5S.

24.2.2020

I like the fingerprint access to the phone and the clear screen. I have to charge up every day which I was hoping not to do but I still like the phone. The only other thing was that the start up instruction were in Spanish so I had to get on my laptop to get some in English. However I do like the look and feel of the phone.

17.7.2018

Phone is great. Data transfer from my old Xperia was a nightmare. Too many new and unexplained options open up on the new phone and 3rd party products desperate to get in on the act. (eg Outlook for Android) Should have been easy - I've done Xperia - Xperia transfers before but this one was a pig.

Sony Xperia L2 - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail