Sony Xperia ZL Smartphone vs iPhone 11: Who Wins?

Choosing between two smartphones from different eras can feel like comparing a classic car to a modern SUV. The Sony Xperia ZL launched in 2013 as a powerhouse Android phone with a stunning Full HD display. The Apple iPhone 11 arrived in 2019 with a dual camera system, powerful A13 Bionic chip, and long battery life.

Both phones have loyal fan bases. Both deliver a unique experience. But which one gives you the best value today? This post breaks down every major feature side by side.

You will learn about display quality, camera performance, battery life, software support, and much more. By the end, you will have a clear picture of which phone fits your needs. Let’s dive into this head to head comparison.

Key Takeaways

• The iPhone 11 is the clear winner for performance. Its Apple A13 Bionic chip delivers speeds that the Xperia ZL’s Snapdragon S4 Pro cannot match. The gap in processing power is massive because of the six year difference between these devices.
• The Sony Xperia ZL offers a higher resolution display. Its 5.0 inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) screen has a pixel density of 441 ppi, while the iPhone 11’s 6.1 inch Liquid Retina display sits at 326 ppi. Sharper text and icons go to the Sony phone.
• Camera quality favors the iPhone 11 by a wide margin. It has a dual 12 MP system with Night Mode, optical image stabilization, and 4K video recording at 60fps. The Xperia ZL has a single 13 MP camera with basic HDR and 1080p video only.
• The iPhone 11 has much better battery life. Its 3110 mAh battery supports wireless charging and achieves an endurance rating of 94 hours. The Xperia ZL’s 2370 mAh battery only reaches a 44 hour endurance rating.
• The Sony Xperia ZL supports expandable storage with a microSD card slot. The iPhone 11 does not have this feature. You must choose your storage at purchase: 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB.
• Software support goes to the iPhone 11 completely. Apple still provides iOS updates for the iPhone 11. The Xperia ZL maxed out at Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which is severely outdated and a security risk.

Sony Xperia ZL: A Quick Overview

Last update on 2026-07-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

The Sony Xperia ZL hit the market in March 2013. It was one of Sony’s flagship smartphones at the time. The phone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with a quad core 1.5 GHz Krait processor and Adreno 320 GPU.

It features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. A microSD card slot lets you expand that storage. The phone shipped with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and later received an update to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The body measures 131.6 x 69.3 x 9.8 mm and weighs 151 grams. It feels compact in your hand compared to modern phones. The build quality is solid, though it lacks water or dust resistance.

Pros:

• High resolution 1080p display at 441 ppi
• MicroSD card slot for expandable storage
• Compact and lightweight design at 151 grams
• Infrared port for remote control functionality
• 3.5mm headphone jack included
• FM radio built in

Cons:

• No water or dust resistance rating
• Outdated software with no further updates
• Battery capacity is small at only 2370 mAh
• Single rear camera with no optical stabilization
• Very slow processor by current standards
• Limited app compatibility due to old Android version

Apple iPhone 11: A Quick Overview

Last update on 2026-07-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

The Apple iPhone 11 launched in September 2019. Apple designed it as a mainstream flagship with premium features at a lower price than the Pro models. The phone uses the Apple A13 Bionic chip built on a 7nm process.

It packs 4 GB of RAM and comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options. The phone runs iOS 13 out of the box and still receives regular updates from Apple.

The body measures 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm and weighs 194 grams. It has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance up to 2 meters for 30 minutes. The 7000 series aluminum frame adds durability. Apple Pay integration comes standard.

Pros:

• Powerful A13 Bionic chip handles any task with ease
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Dual 12 MP camera with Night Mode and 4K video
• Wireless charging support with Qi standard
• Face ID biometric security is fast and accurate
• Still receives iOS software updates

Cons:

• No microSD card slot for storage expansion
• No 3.5mm headphone jack
• Lower pixel density at 326 ppi compared to some rivals
• LCD display instead of OLED
• Heavier at 194 grams
• Lightning port instead of USB C

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia ZL has a 5.0 inch TFT display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. This gives it a pixel density of 441 ppi. Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 enhances color and contrast. The display produces a contrast ratio of 1294:1.

The iPhone 11 has a 6.1 inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display with 828 x 1792 pixel resolution. Its pixel density is 326 ppi. Apple rates the maximum brightness at 625 nits, and GSMArena measured a contrast ratio of 1505:1.

The Xperia ZL wins on sharpness due to its higher pixel density. But the iPhone 11 wins on size, brightness, and contrast ratio. It also supports True Tone, which adjusts color temperature based on ambient light. For daily use, the iPhone 11’s larger and brighter screen provides a better experience.

Camera Performance

This is where the iPhone 11 dominates completely. It has a dual 12 MP camera setup. The main lens has an f/1.8 aperture with optical image stabilization. The ultrawide lens offers a 120 degree field of view. Night Mode captures excellent low light photos.

The iPhone 11 records 4K video at up to 60fps. It also supports slow motion at 1080p and 240fps. The front camera is 12 MP and records 4K video too.

The Sony Xperia ZL has a single 13 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash. It uses Sony’s Exmor RS sensor, which was impressive in 2013. Video recording tops out at 1080p at 30fps. The front camera is only 2 MP. There is no optical image stabilization. The gap in camera quality between these two phones is enormous.

Performance and Speed

The Apple A13 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 11 is a powerhouse. It has a hexa core CPU with two high performance Lightning cores clocked at 2.65 GHz and four efficiency Thunder cores at 1.8 GHz. The AnTuTu benchmark score reaches approximately 419,453 on version 7.

The Xperia ZL uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro with a quad core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU. The Adreno 320 GPU handles graphics. This chipset was fast in 2013, but it cannot compete with processors released years later.

Modern apps, games, and multitasking run smoothly on the iPhone 11. The Xperia ZL struggles with many current applications. Some apps will not even install on the old Android version it runs. If performance matters to you, the iPhone 11 is the only real choice here.

Battery Life

The iPhone 11 carries a 3110 mAh Li Ion battery. It supports fast charging with PD2.0, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes. Wireless Qi charging is also included. GSMArena rates its endurance at 94 hours, which is excellent.

The Xperia ZL packs a 2370 mAh battery. It delivers up to 10 hours of 2G talk time and up to 13 hours on 3G. Sony’s STAMINA mode helps extend standby time. The endurance rating is 44 hours, which is less than half of the iPhone 11’s score.

The iPhone 11 wins this category by a wide margin. It lasts longer on a single charge, charges faster, and offers wireless charging. The Xperia ZL’s smaller battery and older hardware drain power more quickly under any workload.

Software and Updates

The iPhone 11 launched with iOS 13 and continues to receive Apple’s latest updates. This means you get the newest features, security patches, and app compatibility for years to come. Apple’s track record for software support is one of the best in the industry.

The Sony Xperia ZL started on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. It received updates up to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Sony stopped supporting this phone many years ago. No more security patches arrive for this device.

Running outdated software creates real risks. Many apps on the Google Play Store require a minimum Android version higher than Lollipop. Banking apps, social media platforms, and streaming services may not work at all. The iPhone 11 has a massive advantage in this area.

Build Quality and Design

The Xperia ZL has a plastic body that feels solid in the hand. It weighs 151 grams and measures 9.8 mm thick. The phone uses shatter proof glass on the display. It comes in Black, White, and Red colors. There is no IP rating for water or dust protection.

The iPhone 11 features a glass front and back with a 7000 series aluminum frame. Corning made the glass panels for extra durability. The phone is 8.3 mm thick and weighs 194 grams. It carries an IP68 rating, which protects against water immersion up to 2 meters for 30 minutes.

Apple offers six color options: Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, and White. The iPhone 11 feels more premium and durable than the Xperia ZL. Its water resistance alone makes it a safer choice for everyday carry.

Connectivity Options

The Xperia ZL supports 4G LTE, Wi Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS, and GLONASS. It also includes an infrared port and a stereo FM radio. The microUSB 2.0 port supports MHL TV out for screen mirroring. These were great features in 2013.

The iPhone 11 supports 4G LTE Cat16, Wi Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS. It also includes Ultra Wideband (UWB) for spatial awareness. The Lightning port handles charging and data transfer.

The iPhone 11 has faster wireless standards and more satellite positioning systems. The Xperia ZL has a few extras the iPhone lacks, like the infrared port and FM radio. But overall, the iPhone 11 offers faster and more modern connectivity.

Storage and Memory

The Xperia ZL comes with 16 GB of internal storage and 2 GB of RAM. A dedicated microSD card slot lets you add more storage with microSDXC cards. This is a real advantage for users who store lots of music, photos, and videos on their devices.

The iPhone 11 offers 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB storage options with 4 GB of RAM. There is no microSD card slot. You pick your storage size at purchase and cannot change it later.

The iPhone 11 has much more base storage and RAM. Its NVMe flash storage is also significantly faster than the eMMC storage in the Xperia ZL. While expandable storage is a nice feature, the iPhone’s generous storage options and faster read/write speeds give it the practical edge.

Audio and Media Features

The Xperia ZL includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single loudspeaker. It supports Sony’s xLOUD audio technology. The FM radio lets you listen to local stations without an internet connection. Audio quality tests show noise levels at negative 88.2 dB and crosstalk at negative 88.9 dB.

The iPhone 11 has stereo speakers but no headphone jack. You need a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter or wireless headphones. Audio quality tests show noise at negative 94.2 dB. The stereo speaker setup delivers a wider and fuller soundstage than the Xperia ZL’s single speaker.

If you value the headphone jack and FM radio, the Xperia ZL wins. If you prefer better speaker quality and cleaner audio output, the iPhone 11 is the better choice.

Price and Value

The Sony Xperia ZL is a discontinued phone. You can find it on Amazon as a used or renewed device for a very low price. Its value as a daily driver is limited because of outdated software and aging hardware. It works best as a backup phone or a collectible item.

The iPhone 11 is available as a renewed device on Amazon at affordable prices. It still runs the latest iOS software and handles modern apps with ease. The price to performance ratio is excellent because you get a capable phone that will serve you for several more years.

For anyone who needs a phone for daily use in 2026, the iPhone 11 delivers far better value. The Xperia ZL simply cannot keep up with modern demands.

Final Verdict: Sony Xperia ZL vs iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 wins this comparison in almost every category. It has a faster processor, better cameras, longer battery life, modern software support, water resistance, and wireless charging. The six year gap between these phones makes a significant difference.

The Sony Xperia ZL was a great phone in 2013. It still has some appealing features like the microSD card slot, headphone jack, infrared port, and FM radio. Its higher pixel density display is also noteworthy. But these advantages cannot overcome its outdated software and aging hardware.

If you need a reliable smartphone today, the iPhone 11 is the clear winner. It remains a solid daily driver with excellent performance and continued software support from Apple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sony Xperia ZL still worth buying?

The Sony Xperia ZL is not a good choice for a primary phone today. Its software is outdated, and many modern apps will not run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. However, it can work as a basic backup phone or a media player if you already own one.

Does the iPhone 11 still get software updates?

Yes, Apple continues to provide iOS updates for the iPhone 11. This means you receive new features, bug fixes, and security patches. Apple typically supports iPhones for five to six years after launch, and the iPhone 11 still falls within that window.

Which phone has a better camera for photos?

The iPhone 11 has a significantly better camera system. It offers dual 12 MP lenses, Night Mode, optical image stabilization, and 4K video at 60fps. The Xperia ZL’s 13 MP single camera produces decent photos in good light but falls short in low light and video quality.

Can the Sony Xperia ZL run modern apps like Instagram or TikTok?

Most modern apps require Android 8.0 or higher. The Xperia ZL runs Android 5.1.1 at best. Many popular apps have dropped support for this version. You may find older versions of some apps through third party sources, but this creates security risks.

Which phone has better battery life?

The iPhone 11 has much better battery life. Its 3110 mAh battery achieves a 94 hour endurance rating. The Xperia ZL’s 2370 mAh battery manages only a 44 hour endurance rating. The iPhone 11 also supports fast charging and wireless charging, which the Xperia ZL does not offer.