Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra specs comparison: let's see how much punch do Sony's new budget-friendly phones pack

The Sony Xperia XA1 (left) and the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra (right)
Sony's new Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra have broken cover today and they seem like two very interesting smartphones. Both the XA1 and XA1 Ultra aim to entice consumers who are looking for a more budget-friendly handset, but in order to find out if they truly are a viable option, we need to match them against phones with similar characteristics and price ranges.
As Sony's new mid-range models differ in size, performance and price, we'll divide this comparison into two sections, starting with the smaller Xperia XA1. Let's dig in!
Sony Xperia XA1 vs Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) vs HTC U Play
A battle of upper mid rangers
First, it's worth pointing out that the Xperia XA1 has a 5-inch display, which it slightly smaller than the ones you'll find on the Galaxy A5 and HTC U Play (respectively 5.2" and 5.15"). Unfortunately, Sony has opted to stick with a 720p screen on the XA1, while the A5 and U Play boast Full HD (1080p) resolutions. Another trait of the device that doesn't inspire too much confidence is its 2300 mAh battery, although Sony is famous for providing excellent battery optimization.However, not every characteristic of the Xperia XA1 is underwhelming. Its MediaTek Helio P20 chipset is the most powerful of the bunch, and even though more megapixels don't always guarantee the superiority of a camera, XA1's main snapper looks really good on paper. Combine that with the lowest asking price among the three, and suddenly the XA1 looks much more alluring.
You can pick up the rest of the differences between the trio in the table below, but as the list is quite large, make sure that you don't forget to see how the XA1 Ultra fares against its competitors.
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|
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Sony Xperia XA1 | Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) | HTC U Play |
Design
Dimensions | ||
---|---|---|
5.71 x 2.64 x 0.31 inches 145 x 67 x 8 mm |
5.75 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9 mm |
5.75 x 2.87 x 0.31 inches 145.99 x 72.9 x 7.99 mm |
Weight | ||
5.04 oz (143.0 g) | 5.61 oz (159.0 g) | 5.11 oz (145.0 g) |
Materials | ||
Back: Glass Frame: Metal |
Back: Glass Frame: Aluminum |
|
Resistance | ||
Water, Dust; IP68 | ||
Biometrics | ||
Fingerprint (touch) | Fingerprint (touch) | |
Features | ||
Touch sensitive control keys | Touch sensitive control keys | |
Keys | ||
Right: Volume control, Lock/Unlock key | Left: Volume control; Right: Lock/Unlock key | Right: Volume control, Lock/Unlock key |
Colors | ||
Black, Gold, Pink, White | Black sky, Gold sand, Blue mist, Peach cloud | Black, Pink, Blue, White |
Display
Size | ||
---|---|---|
5.0-inch | 5.2-inch | 5.2-inch |
Resolution | ||
1280x720px, 16:9 ratio, 294 PPI | 1920x1080px, 424 PPI | 1920x1080px, 428 PPI |
Technology | ||
IPS LCD | Super AMOLED | S-LCD |
Screen-to-body | ||
70.87 % | 71.51 % | 70.01 % |
Features | ||
Scratch-resistant glass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla Glass), Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla Glass), Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor |
Hardware
System chip | ||
---|---|---|
MediaTek Helio P20 MT6757 | Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880 (14 nm) | MediaTek Helio P10 MT6755 |
Processor | ||
Octa-core 2300 MHz ARM Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 1900 MHz ARM Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 2000 MHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
GPU | ||
Mali-T880 MP2 | Mali-T830 MP3 | Mali-T860 MP2 |
RAM | ||
3GB (LPDDR4) | 3GB (LPDDR3) | 3GB (LPDDR3) |
Internal storage | ||
32GB, available to use: 24 GB | 32GB, available to use: 23.1 GB | 32GB, available to use: 22.8 GB |
Storage expansion | ||
microSDXC up to 256 GB | microSDXC up to 256 GB | microSDXC up to 2000 GB |
OS | ||
Android (8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat) | Android (8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat, 6.0 Marshmallow) | Android (7.0 Nougat), HTC Sense UI |
Battery
Capacity | ||
---|---|---|
2300 mAh | 3000 mAh | 2500 mAh |
Type | ||
Li - Ion | Li - Ion | Li - Ion |
Charging | ||
MediaTek Pump Express | Fast charging | Fast charging |
Camera
Rear | ||
---|---|---|
Single camera | Single camera | Single camera |
Main camera | ||
23 MP (Laser and PDAF) Aperture size: F2.0 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/2.3" |
16 MP (Autofocus, CMOS image sensor) Aperture size: F1.9 Focal length: 27 mm |
16 MP (OIS, PDAF, BSI sensor) Aperture size: F2.0 Focal length: 28 mm Pixel size: 1 μm |
Flash | ||
LED | LED | Dual LED |
Video recording | ||
1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps) EIS, Video calling, Video sharing | 1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps) Video calling, Video sharing | 1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps) Hyperlapse, Picture-taking during video recording, Video calling, Video sharing |
Front | ||
8 MP (Autofocus), Video capture: 1920x1080 (Full HD) | 16 MP | 16 MP (Wide Angle, Autofocus, HDR), Video capture: 1920x1080 (Full HD) |
Connectivity & Features
Bluetooth | ||
---|---|---|
4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
WLAN | ||
802.11 a,b,g,n,dual-band Wi-Fi Direct | 802.11 a,b,g,n,ac,dual-band Wi-Fi Direct | 802.11 a,b,g,n,ac,dual-band Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot |
USB | ||
Type-C, USB 2.0 | Type-C, USB 2.0 | Type-C, USB 2.0 |
Location | ||
GPS, A-GPS, Glonass | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass |
Sensors | ||
Accelerometer, Hall (for flip covers) | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Hall (for flip covers), Barometer | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass |
Other | ||
NFC, Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync | NFC, ANT+, UMA (Wi-Fi Calling), Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync | NFC, Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync |
Multimedia
Headphones | ||
---|---|---|
3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack | No 3.5mm jack |
Speakers | ||
Earpiece, Loudspeaker | Earpiece, Loudspeaker | Earpiece, Loudspeaker |
Features | ||
Album art cover, Background playback | Album art cover, Background playback | Album art cover, Background playback |
Screen mirroring | ||
Wireless screen share | Wireless screen share | DLNA,Wireless screen share |
Radio | ||
FM | FM | |
Additional microphone(s) | ||
Noise cancellation | Noise cancellation |
Cellular
4G (FDD) | ||
---|---|---|
Bands 2(1900), 4(AWS-1), 5(850), 7(2600), 12(700 a), 13(700 c), 17(700 b), 28(700 APT), 29(700 d) | Bands 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(AWS-1), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 17(700 b), 20(800 DD), 28(700 APT) | Bands 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800 DD), 28(700 APT) |
4G (TDD) | ||
Bands 38(2600), 40(2300), 41(2600+) | Bands 38(2600), 40(2300) | |
3G | ||
Bands 5(850), 8(900), 4(1700/2100), 2(1900), 1(2100) | Bands 5(850), 8(900), 4(1700/2100), 2(1900), 1(2100) | Bands 5(850), 8(900), 2(1900), 1(2100) |
Data Speed | ||
LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS | LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSPA | LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s |
Dual SIM | ||
Yes | ||
SIM type | ||
Nano SIM | Nano SIM | Nano SIM |
Regulatory Approval
FCC approval | ||
---|---|---|
Date approved: Aug 16, 2017 FCC ID value: PY7-98591H | Date approved: Dec 06, 2016 FCC ID value: A3LSMA520F | |
Measured SAR | ||
Head: 0.55 W/kg Body: 1.10 W/kg Simultaneous Transmission: 1.59 W/kg Wireless Router: 1.39 W/kg |
Head: 0.30 W/kg Body: 0.55 W/kg Simultaneous Transmission: 1.59 W/kg Wireless Router: 1.09 W/kg |
Buyers information
MSRP | ||
---|---|---|
$ 299 | $ 440 | |
In The Box | ||
Charger, microUSB cable and user documentation |
Availability
Officially announced | ||
---|---|---|
Feb 27, 2017 | Jan 02, 2017 | Jan 12, 2017 |
See the full
Sony Xperia XA1 vs Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) vs HTC U Play specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) vs LG V20
Big phones fight it out in a specs showdown
In its presentation, Sony didn't reveal an exact release date or price for the XA1 Ultra, but said that we can expect the handset sometime this summer. Despite that, if we take the $299.99 price from the smaller XA1 variant and add $100 to $150, we can make a fairly accurate estimation that the device will probably cost around $400 to $450. At this range, its leading mainstream big-screen adversaries seem to be the Samsung Galaxy A9 and LG's high-end V20 model. This might make the XA1 Ultra a bit of a tough sell, as for a little extra cash, one can opt to go for the V20 and its top-notch hardware.Still, the XA1 Ultra does does sport some pretty decent specifications. This large 6-inch phablet sports the same MediaTek Helio P20 chipset as the smaller XA1, but boasts 4 GB of ram and 64 GB of internal storage. It's 23 MP main camera looks very solid, but the front selfie cam truly stands out with its 16 megapixels, Optical Image Stabilization and high ISO numbers for photo and video.
Let's see how these devices differ in terms of their specs, and feel free to also share your thoughts about how much specs affect your buying decisions.
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Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) | LG V20 |
Design
Dimensions | ||
---|---|---|
6.50 x 3.11 x 0.32 inches 165 x 79 x 8.1 mm |
6.37 x 3.19 x 0.29 inches 161.7 x 80.9 x 7.4 mm |
6.29 x 3.07 x 0.30 inches 159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6 mm |
Weight | ||
6.63 oz (188.0 g) | 7.05 oz (200.0 g) | 6.14 oz (174.0 g) |
Materials | ||
Frame: Aluminum | Frame: Metal | Back: Aluminum |
Resistance | ||
Shock; MIL-STD-810 certified | ||
Biometrics | ||
Fingerprint (touch) | Fingerprint (touch) | |
Features | ||
Touch sensitive control keys | ||
Keys | ||
Right: Volume control, Camera shutter, Lock/Unlock key | Left: Volume control; Right: Lock/Unlock key | Left: Volume control; Back: Lock/Unlock key |
Colors | ||
Black, Gold, Pink, White | Pearl white, Midnight black, Champagne gold, Pink | Gray, Silver, Pink |
Display
Size | ||
---|---|---|
6.0-inch | 6.0-inch | 5.7-inch |
Resolution | ||
1920x1080px, 16:9 ratio, 367 PPI | 1920x1080px, 367 PPI | 2560x1440px, 513 PPI |
Technology | ||
Super AMOLED | IPS LCD | |
Screen-to-body | ||
76.10 % | 75.70 % | 72.40 % |
Colors | ||
16 777 216 | ||
Features | ||
Scratch-resistant glass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla Glass 4), Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor |
Additional display | ||
160 x1040 px, Touch screen: Yes, Capacitive |
Hardware
System chip | ||
---|---|---|
MediaTek Helio P20 MT6757 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 8976 (28 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 (14 nm) |
Processor | ||
Octa-core 2300 MHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
Octa-core 1800 MHz ARM Cortex-A72 and ARM Cortex-A53 |
Quad-core 2150 MHz Kryo |
GPU | ||
Mali-T880 MP2 | Adreno 510 | Adreno 530 |
RAM | ||
4GB (LPDDR4) | 3GB (LPDDR3) | 4GB (LPDDR4) |
Internal storage | ||
32GB, available to use: 24 GB | 32GB | 64GB, available to use: 50 GB |
Storage expansion | ||
microSDXC up to 256 GB | microSDXC up to 128 GB | microSDXC up to 2000 GB |
OS | ||
Android (8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat) | Android (6.0 Marshmallow, 5.1 Lollipop) | Android (8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat), LG UX UI |
Battery
Capacity | ||
---|---|---|
2700 mAh | 4000 mAh | 3200 mAh |
Type | ||
Li - Ion | ||
Charging | ||
MediaTek Pump Express | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 | Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 |
Camera
Rear | ||
---|---|---|
Single camera | Single camera | Dual camera |
Main camera | ||
23 MP (Laser and PDAF) Aperture size: F2.0 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/2.3" |
13 MP (OIS, Autofocus) Aperture size: F1.9 |
16 MP (OIS, Laser autofocus) Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 29 mm Sensor size: 1/2.8" |
Second camera | ||
8 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.4 Focal Length: 12 mm Sensor size: 1/3.2" |
||
Flash | ||
LED | Dual LED | Dual LED |
Video recording | ||
Yes HDR, Object tracking, EIS, Video calling, Video sharing | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) (30 fps) Video calling | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) (30 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (120 fps) Continuous autofocus, Object tracking, EIS, Video calling, Video sharing |
Front | ||
16 MP (OIS, Autofocus, Flash), Video capture: 1920x1080 (Full HD) | 8 MP | 5 MP (Wide Angle) |
Connectivity & Features
Bluetooth | ||
---|---|---|
4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
WLAN | ||
802.11 a,b,g,n,dual-band Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot |
Yes | 802.11 a,b,g,n,ac,dual-band |
USB | ||
Type-C, USB 2.0 | microUSB, USB 2.0 | Type-C, USB 2.0 |
Location | ||
GPS, A-GPS, Glonass | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass |
Sensors | ||
Accelerometer, Compass, Hall (for flip covers) | Accelerometer, Compass, Hall (for flip covers) | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass |
Other | ||
NFC, Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync | NFC, ANT+, Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync | NFC, UMA (Wi-Fi Calling), Infrared, Tethering, Computer sync, OTA sync |
Multimedia
Headphones | ||
---|---|---|
3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
Speakers | ||
Earpiece, Loudspeaker | Earpiece, Loudspeaker | Earpiece, Loudspeaker |
Features | ||
Album art cover, Background playback | Album art cover, Background playback | 32-Bit DAC, aptX-HD |
Screen mirroring | ||
Wireless screen share | Wireless screen share | DLNA,Wireless screen share,SlimPort |
Additional microphone(s) | ||
Noise cancellation, Video recording | Noise cancellation, Video recording |
Cellular
4G (FDD) | ||
---|---|---|
Bands 2(1900), 4(AWS-1), 5(850), 7(2600), 12(700 a), 13(700 c), 17(700 b), 28(700 APT), 29(700 d) | Bands 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900) | Bands 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(AWS-1), 5(850), 7(2600), 12(700 a), 13(700 c), 17(700 b), 20(800 DD), 25(1900+) |
4G (TDD) | ||
Bands 38(2600), 39(1900+), 40(2300), 41(2600+) | ||
3G | ||
Bands 5(850), 8(900), 4(1700/2100), 2(1900), 1(2100) | Bands 5(850), 8(900), 2(1900), 1(2100) | Bands 5(850), 8(900), 2(1900), 1(2100) |
Data Speed | ||
LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s | LTE-A, HSPA, HSUPA | LTE-A Cat 12 (600/100 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS |
Dual SIM | ||
Yes | ||
SIM type | ||
Nano SIM | ||
HD Voice | ||
Yes | ||
VoLTE | ||
Yes |
Phone Features
Notifications | ||
---|---|---|
Haptic feedback | ||
Other features | ||
Voice dialing, Voice commands, Voice recording |
Buyers information
In The Box | ||
---|---|---|
Charger, USB Type-C cable for charging and user documentation |
Availability
Officially announced | ||
---|---|---|
Feb 27, 2017 | Dec 23, 2015 | Sep 06, 2016 |
See the full
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) vs LG V20 specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
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