Mid-range Sony Xperia XA1 Plus launches in the US, fans of large bezels rejoice

by Florin Troaca

Oct 19, 2017, 9:30 AM

Mid-range Sony Xperia XA1 Plus launches in the US, fans of large bezels rejoice

Shortly after releasing the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact inthe US,Sony is now bringing another new (but cheaper) smartphone stateside. We'retalking about the Xperia XA1 Plus, a mid-range handset with a 5.5-inch 1080pscreen and an unmistakable Sony design - large top and bottom bezelsincluded.

As of today, the unlocked Sony Xperia XA1 Plus can bepre-ordered through Amazon, which acts as one of Sony's official USdistribution channels. The new smartphone is offered for $379.99 (in gold,black, or blue), comes with US warranty, and will be shipped on October 23.Like most unlocked Sony handsets, this one isn't compatible with Verizon andSprint, but you can use it on any GSM/LTE network, including AT&T,T-Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, and so on.

Powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor, the SonyXperia XA1 Plus is made out of aluminum and glass, featuring a 23 MP rearcamera, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of expandable storage space, and a quite large 3430mAh battery. While the device has a fingerprint scanner embedded in its sidepower button, this is disabled in the US. Thanks, Sony! Anyhow, you cantake a closer look at the new phone by checking out our Xperia XA1 Plushands-on from last month - video included.

Unlike the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact, which runAndroid 8 Oreo out of the box, the XA1 Plus comes with Android 7 Nougatpre-installed. Of course, Sony will update the handset to Oreo, but we don'tknow if it's going to do it before the end of 2017 (probably not). So, anyone here planning to buy this new Xperia?

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus

View more + 9 images

source: Amazon

Related phones

View Full specs

Display 5.5 inches
1920 x 1080 pixels

Camera 23 MP (Single camera)
8 MP front

Hardware MediaTek Helio P20, 3GB RAM

Storage 32GB, microSDXC

Battery 3430 mAh

OS Android 8.0 Oreo

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22 Comments

22. pt020

Posts: 189; Member since: Apr 08, 2014

Fans of large bezels buy iPhone 8,the king of bezels.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 5:32 AM 0

20. cireyaj15

Posts: 41; Member since: Jan 06, 2014

THE AUTHOR IS A ONE BIG BITTER DIPSHIITAKE TOWARDS SONY JUST LIKE ANY AUTHOR THIS SITE HAVE.

posted on Oct 20, 2017, 7:46 PM 0

19. Rexperia

Posts: 136; Member since: Sep 28, 2012

Shame on u PA.. I used to like this website before, i have no idea what sony did to you guys. As a tech website you're supposed to be fair when you review the device but it seems that you always give a bad review no matter what xperia phone is, grow up guys.

posted on Oct 20, 2017, 2:41 AM 0

15. medtxa

Posts: 1655; Member since: Jun 02, 2014

Nougat fan enjoy, pfft.

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 3:41 PM 0

7. PhoneInQuestion

Posts: 496; Member since: Aug 20, 2017

Considering Florin T. and co. need their free access to Apple's boring ass events the iPhone isn't for fans of larger bezels...

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:00 AM 0

9. PhoneInQuestion

Posts: 496; Member since: Aug 20, 2017

The iPhone is still the gaudiest looking slab on the market right now, at least the larger bezel XPERIA has contrast. What do the iPhone 7/7S and 6/6S series differentiate? Lack of headphone jack? Dollar store ugly antennae bands?

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:05 AM 0

6. Ezio2710

Posts: 548; Member since: Aug 22, 2015

Then apple fanboys will definitely enjoy

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:53 AM 6

5. Feanor

Posts: 1448; Member since: Jun 20, 2012

It has become a bit tedious reading an article about a Sony phone and always having the bezel issue mentioned. Often only this and nothing else actually. There must be other phone characteristics that play some role in using a phone other than judging its bezels, right? I mean, I buy a phone for phone calls, internet browsing, listening to music, making pictures. I don't buy it to admire its bezels or its lack thereof. Seriously, please stop it, it's getting boring.

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:50 AM 5

8. libra89

Posts: 2349; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Yeah, I'm also bored of the bezel talk. Is it really so bad to have something to hold on to?

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:04 AM 0

18. GoTstan

Posts: 386; Member since: Jul 25, 2015

And to make matters worse, the bezel-less trend just kicked off this year! The talk these days though you would think the switch was made 3yrs ago. 2017, the year smartphones functionality took a far backseat to fashion. Imo, get rid of the glass backs. Who asked for the phones to be built with materials guaranteed to crack? Keep the 3.5mm jack. And to my dismay, no flagships have removable batteries anymore, that's some BS. Bring back the removable battery! The note 4 has the feature and it's far from an ugly device. And lastly, we don't need razor thin phones, make them a bit thicker so you can put a bigger battery in it! The Samsung S active line has the right idea. I digress......

posted on Oct 20, 2017, 1:33 AM 1

11. Lumberjack

Posts: 306; Member since: May 04, 2017

Yes... And XA1+ is shorter than Moto X4, Moto Z2 Play and i8+. XZ1c is shorter than A3 and i8. XZP is shorter than i8+.

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:12 AM 1

12. libra89

Posts: 2349; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Yeah the shortness is another reason why I enjoy the XZ1C. The size of the A3 is still great to me but the XZ1C is even more awesome.

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:40 AM 0

4. dubaiboy78

Posts: 465; Member since: Sep 19, 2014

Poor iphonearena!!! Lolol

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:44 AM 0

2. Madmax

Posts: 110; Member since: Aug 19, 2016

lol..

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:39 AM 0

1. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

"fans of large bezels rejoice" Well, if there is a fanbase of large bezels, then the biggest one is definitely the Apple fanbase.:)

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:35 AM 24

3. worldpeace

Posts: 3135; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

True that. i8+ 67% screen-to-body ratio Xperia XA1 Plus 72% screen-to-body ratio

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 9:44 AM 4

10. Florin.T

Posts: 318; Member since: Dec 16, 2013

Perhaps to the surprise of many, we're quite aware of the fact that the current iPhone lineup looks dated, too: https://www.phonearena.com/news/With-the-iPhone-8-Apple-surrenders-design-leadership-to-Samsung_id98786

posted on Oct 19, 2017, 10:09 AM 2

13. mahima

Posts: 746; Member since: Nov 20, 2014

yep...but "fans of large bezels rejoice" will never be the headline of an iphone... sad this is a midrange device while iphone actually asked for a premium price