Along with the high-end Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs, Sony today introduced a couple of more mid-range handsets.
The Xperia XA1 boasts a 5-inch 1280x720 display that Sony describes as “borderless edge-to-edge.” It’s also packing a 23-megapixel rear camera with 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile image sensor and 24mm wide angle lens. Around front, there’s an 8-megapixel camera with 23mm wide angle lens.
Powering the Xperia XA1 is a combination of an octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 2300mAh battery. There’s up to 32GB of storage built-in and a microSD slot so that you can add more storage if you’d like.
Sony says that the Xperia XA1 will launch in spring 2017 with Android Nougat in tow.
And then there’s the Xperia XA1 Ultra, which is an amped up version of the XA1. The XA1 Ultra packs a larger 6-inch 1920x1080 display with the same “borderless edge-to-edge” design as its smaller sibling, as well as the same 23-megapixel rear camera. Around front of the XA1 Ultra is a 16-megapixel camera with 23mm wide angle lens with optical image stabilization.
The same octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor that’s in the XA1 is also in the XA1 Ultra, but the Ultra model offers a bit more RAM (4GB), a bit more storage (up to 64GB), and a microSD slot if you need even more storage. There’s also a larger battery (2700mAh) to help power the XA1 Ultra’s bigger, higher-res display.
Like the Xperia XA1, the Xperia XA1 Ultra will launch this spring with Android Nougat.
While the specs of the Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra may not be as high-end as Sony’s new Xperia XZ phones, the XA1 phones do have attractive, clean designs that include edge-to-edge screens, which are good to see in the mid-range market. Plus, the XA1 Ultra’s 6-inch screen is a welcome sight for folks that want a large smartphone, as many big phones stick to the 5.5-inch and 5.7-inch screen sizes.
