The Sony Xperia L that Amóvil was able to review thanks to the loan by Vodafone Spain Foundation, is an ergonomic mid-range smartphone that includes several state of the art features and that is sold at a reasonable price. However, despite running on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), it is inaccessible to blind users.

The phone weighs 137 grams and measures 128.7 x 65 x 9.7 mm. It also features an elegant yet simple design that includes a 4.3-inch TFT multitouch capacitive screen with 16 million colors. Although the resolution is not great (only 480x854 pixels) content is displayed with enough sharpness and contrast.

In addition, this handset comes equipped with NFC and Bluetooth technologies, and includes a 8 megapixels rear camera with autofocus, as well as front-facing VGA camera that allows video-calls. This device is also WiFi-enabled, and provides GPS support.

Accessibility review

Vision

The Xperia L is inaccessible to the blind. While the screen reader does talk these users through most of the content and menus, the handset’s custom virtual keyboard is incompatible with TalkBack. Thus, blind users may be unable to enter text, send messages and even type phone numbers. In addition, some elements in the interface, such as the digital clock, are not properly labeled.

Persons with partial vision, including the color blind, may also have a limited experience with this device. While the font size and style can be customized to meet their needs, this feature only works in some interfaces and menus. It also lacks of zooming and color inversion features.

Hearing

The phone’s user guide provides no information about hearing aid compatibility. However, Amóvil was able to attest its compatibility with some hearing aids both in the microphone and t-coil modes. The Xperia L also allows users to insert a loopset or to connect to the phone through Bluetooth technology. In addition, hearing impaired users who prefer communicating in sign language will be able to make video calls through apps such as Skype or Google Hangouts thanks to the VGA front-facing camera previously mentioned.

Dexterity

The Xperia L includes some features that make it somewhat suitable for users with poor manual dexterity. Besides being lightweight, easy to grip and including a voice recognition feature, its compatibility with some personal assistants available for Android devices, such as Sherpa, may improve these users experience.

Comprehension

The Xperia L includes standardized icons and symbols, and an option to customize the phone book and to arrange the home screen elements as needed. It also provides text thus suitable for people with limited comprehension skills.

For more details about accessibility features in this device, please see Amóvil's full accessibility report.