Key Specs
Processor: Qualcomm MDM9215M / APQ8064, Quad-core @ 1.5 GHzStorage - Internal: 16Gb
Storage - External: Up to 32Gb via MicroSD
RAM: 2Gb
Battery: 2370 mAh
Camera: 13 Megapixels
Camera - Front: 2.2 Megapixels
First Impressions
I've already reviewed the Xperia Z which I had high hopes for, but was ultimately quite disappointed with. However, most of my issues with the Z had directly to do with the inconvenience of the hardware's waterproof design, coupled with the large, clumsy phone body with sharp glass edges that made me feel like I was either about to drop it, and/or actually wanted to drop it.
Due to that, I stayed positive about the ZL that I received in the mail a couple days ago. The device, which is ~$100 cheaper than the Xperia Z retains all of the same internal specs and the same screen, while replacing the body of the device with a regular, textured rubberized plastic phone backing. The ports aren't covered with fiddly little glass caps, and the size of the device is slightly reduced, all while adding a dedicated camera button, a slightly larger battery, and support for the T-Mobile HSPA+ network (a must, for me -- possibly not important at all for you).
In short, this is the phone that I thought the Z was going to be. Due to the hardware "compromises" this cheaper device is actually much more of what I want from a phone, and I'm very pleased with it.
Yes, the back is "plastic" and yes, people are having a negative reaction to that lately. But it's miles more comfortable to hold than the Xperia Z and at the same time, much more premium in the hand than a Galaxy SIII so I don't think there's a real complaint to be had here. I also love having normal, unencumbered access to the headphone jack and USB port. Things you take for granted, until they're taken away.
What's a "PlayNow™?"
My complaints about Sony's version of Android running at this pixel density are already documented, and hold true for the ZL too, but after using the ZL as a primary device for a couple days, my new complaint is focused on Sony's exclusive, built-in apps. What a waste! What the heck is a "PlayNow" and why is it's blurry little low-res icon sitting amongst my other pre-installs? I launched it and the first time, it crashed. The second time, it timed out with an annoying blank screen, and the third time it finally loaded up an unimpressive-looking HTML interface seems to have been coded about five years ago, and populated with a bunch of throw-away game trials and media I'd never heard of, with preview images at the incorrect resolution for the ZL's pixel density. This is not the way for Sony to make money. Where is the effort that could have been spent on this? Why bother including this at all, if it's so utterly abandoned?
The same story holds true for Sony's much-vaunted "PSM" Android app, which was originally intended to let us sign into our Playstation Network accounts and buy original PS1 games, as well as exclusive new titles tailored to Sony's high-end hardware. Does anybody remember this promise? Well, it might have died, but the app remains.
I logged in to find that none of the purchases I made on my PSP (even of PS1 games) were available to download. Fine; I understand that. But I don't understand why none of the PS1 games I purchased on other Xperia phones were available to download either. They were all mysteriously missing from the market and from my download menu, where they used to live. Surely this hardware, which is leagues above that old Xperia hardware should be able to play the games, right? Have they just been removed entirely? Even after I purchased them? Needless to say, I wasn't happy about that.
However, those are all things I could have brought up in my Xperia Z review as well, and really have nothing to do with the hardware or everyday user experience. I wish I could single-handedly convince Sony to either put real work and weight behind these software efforts, but the truth is I'm more than happy with the regular Google Play store game offerings, and I guess I'll just ignore Sony's apps like everyone else does. I'll just say that they'd have a real customer in me if they'd ever really support one of these attempts of theirs.
The Specs
These are last-generation specs, which is a little bit frustrating. Why is Sony launching a device now that features a quad-core 1.5Ghz processor, 2 gigs of ram, and an Antutu benchmark of 16,954? This device is not significantly more powerful than the Galaxy SIII that you've had in your pocket for a year, which scores a 16,301 on Antutu's test. However, it is significantly less powerful than the Galaxy S4 that is about to launch in a month or so. Furthermore, the OS's frame rate and overall fluidity of interaction on Sony's Z and ZL stutter a great deal more than what I've seen in other build's of Jellybean, even on significantly less powerful devices.
Final Thoughts
For me, the supposedly cheaper hardware of the ZL is a huge improvement over the all-glass, uncomfortable construction of the Z. Comfort matters in a mobile design. It's why I keep going back to my Galaxy SIII even though the interface is butt-ugly and the phone feels like it was made out of milk jugs. Sony's Xperia ZL is the first Xperia device I would recommend to anyone in a long while, and I give it higher marks than the Z purely on that basis. However in many ways the specs make it a last-generation Android phone, possibly launching too late to be relevant to many who will be considering it in the coming two months.
Rating
Build Quality: 8/10
Screen: 9/10
Camera: 9/10
Processor Power: 9/10
Battery: 5/10
OS / Software: 7/10
