Sony Xperia neo L Review

Name: Sony Xperia neo L Review
Item: Sony Xperia neo L
Rating: 6
Author: Victor H.

Posted: 20 Jul 2012, 09:18 , posted by Victor H.

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Tags: Android -Android + Sony -Sony +

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Introduction:

The Sony Xperia neo L is the latest Android handset by the Japanese phone maker and it tries to strike the right balance between price and functionality. The Xperia neo L builds up on the success of the neo series, but this time adds a bigger screen, a slightly different build and design. Is it worth your time and money? We’ll take a look at all the details before answering that.

Design:

The Xperia neo L is a typical phone from the neo series. If you’ve seen one, you’d instantly know that this phone belongs to the family - it comes with the typical slightly elongated body with four physical keys at the bottom. It’s a matter of taste, but we appreciate having those buttons, giving us a physical sense of stability and certainty that you’ve pressed a button that capacitive keys can’t give.


The Sony Xperia neo L itself is the very embodiment of the cheap plasticky feel in a handset

The Xperia neo L itself is the very embodiment of the cheap plasticky feel in a handset. Coming in a choice of either white or black glossy plastic, in either case you’d find smudges all over the handset after just a couple of minutes using it. The whole body is tightly put together, though, with no moving parts, which is good.


	Android buttons	Front-facing camera

The device is also not among the thinnest at 0.48 inches (12.2mm) and it feels a bit bulky, tipping the scales at 4.64 ounces (131.5g).


microUSB port (left)	Power and volume keys (right)	3.5mm jack (top)

Bottom	Back	Rear camera
The sides of the Sony Xperia neo L

Screen:

The handset features a spacious 4-inch LED-backlit LCD screen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Bravia technology makes colors punchier, and more pleasing to the eye. We’re happy with the size of the display and the pixel density is above what other peer phones have, but we wish there was some sort of oleophobic coating. Without it, the screen becomes a big mess of smudges after swiping and touching it a few times. Get a cloth ready at all times. There is also the grippy feeling that you get on cheaper displays, so you feel like your finger doesn’t slide smoothly but kind of jumps over the screen every once in a while.

In terms of viewing angles and sunlight legibility, the LCD screen is pretty mediocre - tilting the display washes out the colors slightly, nothing too dramatic, but again far from the best displays out there.

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Interface, Functionality, Internet and Connectivity

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PhoneArena rating:

6 Good

User rating:

7 Good

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16 Comments

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posted on 20 Jul 2012, 09:40 7

1. neutralguy (Posts: 1152; Member since: 30 Apr 2012)

i don't get why there are things listed in "CONS" that are not listed in other devices.

>Plasticky, very cheap feel
>Screen lacks oleophobic coating, looks like a mess after a while

Samsung phones always comes with these kinds of things. "SG.Ace2"

Anyways, great review. Hoping for a little higher score but the performance is somewhat a big down factor.

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 09:44 3

2. lonestrider (Posts: 88; Member since: 31 Mar 2012)

Xperia sola, U, and P is way better than this one... Very weird...

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 09:51 6

3. hunted (Posts: 403; Member since: 21 Sep 2011)

i bet this phone is better than ace 2 except processor.

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 10:25 1

4. jackhammeR (Posts: 1548; Member since: 17 Oct 2011)

plastic looks like in old monte. Not good

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 10:51 5

5. spiderpig2894 (Posts: 597; Member since: 10 Jan 2012)

looking at the video. the performance is quite acceptable

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 11:00 8

6. loken (Posts: 462; Member since: 09 May 2012)

What the heck is oleophobic coating and why do you always put them on sony devices reviews?????????? also you should have reviewed the white model .. becausee the white one looks gorgeous and also by the way samsung phones dont get plasticy feel on con...
Phonearena must hate Sony..

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 11:51 2

7. DawsonLee (Posts: 26; Member since: 03 Apr 2012)

Must be one of the worse and peculiar decision by Sony to even consider releasing this phone, certainly the new NXT series offer more for the similar price (correct me if i'm wrong)

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 13:11 1

8. smallworld (Posts: 517; Member since: 13 Jul 2012)

This phone is for Asia.

posted on 20 Jul 2012, 14:47 4

9. OptimusOne (Posts: 694; Member since: 22 May 2012)

ICS should at least grant it a 7 right?

posted on 27 Jul 2012, 06:56

10. yce_marvel (Posts: 2; Member since: 27 Jul 2012)

would you please be kind to tell me if this xperia has noise shield or dedicated mic, and if the camera menu has white balance options...thank you!

posted on 31 Jul 2012, 23:58

11. bimito (Posts: 1; Member since: 31 Jul 2012)

well i think it is quite a good mobile and im gonna buy it TODAY!!!!!!!

it not so costly - only 999dhs
has gud features and ICS OS !!!!!!!!!

i would give it a 9 rating

posted on 09 Aug 2012, 11:26

12. npe25oct (Posts: 1; Member since: 09 Aug 2012)

This phone is just terrible. It's firstly slow, secondly crashed without a reason, thirdly hard to reboot... Maybe more and so far I've been using this for 3 weeks and really wanted to sell it after 1 week... Who's going to buy, I guess not :(

posted on 14 Aug 2012, 06:31

13. sat12345 (Posts: 1; Member since: 14 Aug 2012)

hi i newly buy neo mobile .but i dont know how to download songs r videos .can anybody plz guide me how to download plz.my no 8380010484 u give miss call i call u...im frm pune

posted on 14 Aug 2012, 23:37

14. nitin1127 (Posts: 1; Member since: 14 Aug 2012)

I have never seen such a worst cell in my life...... once fallen mob display gone...... very worst mob....... any planning to buy change your mind....

posted on 21 Sep 2012, 04:35

15. midhunt353 (Posts: 1; Member since: 21 Sep 2012)

pls help me.im using this phone.its a good one.bt i dnt no how to zoom camera is there any option for zooming

posted on 16 Dec 2012, 06:53

16. sanjaypuri (Posts: 1; Member since: 16 Dec 2012)

pls any plans to buy this phone. think twice before wasting your hard earned money on this s**t piece. the touch stops working in a week and camera clarity is pathetic. highly dissapointed on buying it.after sales service poor

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Sony Xperia neo L

OS: Android 4.0.4
view full specs

PhoneArena rating:

6Good

Display	4.0 inches, 480 x 854 pixels (245 ppi) TFT
Camera	5 megapixels
Hardware	Qualcomm Snapdragon S2, Single core, 1000 MHz, Scorpion processor 0.5 GB
Size	4.76 x 2.41 x 0.48 inches (121 x 61.1 x 12.2 mm) 4.64 oz (132 g)
Battery	1500 mAh, 7.88 hours talk time