The Sony Xperia L originally launched as a mid-range handset, but heavy discounts since mean it's now more of a rival for the popular Motorola Moto G.
And it may suprise you to discover that the Xperia L runs the Moto G surprisingly close. The build quality is similar, with a solidity and sense of style that belies its low price. The design is more attractive, with a concave, rubbery rear that sits comfortably in the hand, and the power, volume and camera buttons all feel solid and positive in use.
The L is reasonably well specified, too, comparing well with other phones at this price. You get a large 4.3in display that looks crisp and clean and lacks the grainy quality of some cheap phones.
It runs Android 4.2 beneath Sony's customary skin, and it has 8GB of storage and a microSD slot for expanding it. There's also a user-replaceable 1,700mAh battery and an 8-megapixel camera capable of capturing 720p video.
