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Sony Xperia XA review

6.2/10 AVG.
RATING
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Sony Xperia XA
Sony Xperia XA
Sony Xperia XA
Sony Xperia XA
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6.2/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia XA currently has an Informr score of 6.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 17 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Beautiful design
  • Good cameras
  • microSD support

What's bad

  • Tons of bloatware
  • Dim, dull display
  • Small, non-removeable battery
  • Doesn’t perform as well of other phones in its price tier

Looking to add high-end style to the mid-tier market, Sony’s Xperia XA’s invisible bezel design is turning heads. But does it offer an experience that matches it’s looks?

We’ve checked out what reviewers are saying to save you time with this Informr phone summary!

Reviewers loved the design of the XA. From the cleverly hidden screen bezels to the pearlized coloring on the rear cover, reviews agree that Sony has shown that you don’t need high-end materials to design a great looking phone. Android Pit said, “The Sony Xperia XA is beguiling to the touch. It feels pleasantly [matte] and smooth and has an edgeless and gapless design.”

Flipping around to the front treats you to a 5-inch display that wraps neatly to both sides of the phone. Unfortunately, while reviewers loved how Sony minimized the bezels and optimized space usage on the front of the phone, opinions on the display quality of the 720p IPS panel weren’t as good. Alphr noted, “The display on the Xperia can look a little dull compared with even the best budget smartphones.” It’s not all bad, however, as GSM Arena said, “Sunlight legibility is very good for the class.”

Performance reviews are equally mixed. The phone uses an eight-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor capable of up to 2Ghz. Stuff gave the phone a work out and said, “The XA is fairly snappy most of the time, but sooner rather than later you’ll run into a stutter, or an app that takes its time to load.” This lines up with most reviews. Many said while the phone didn’t feel slow, it never felt fast either.

You’ll find 16GB of internal storage on the Xperia XA. After Sony’s bloat, you’re left with roughly 5GB for your own apps. This means that a microSD card will be required for most people. Even though the phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Android Adoptable Storage is not enabled. So even with a card, you’ll be stuck swapping apps to your card manually.

The phone uses a 2,300mAh non-removeable battery to keep things running. Recombu noted, “With regulated use, I just about made it from breakfast to bed on a single charge. If I was less restrained and spent a couple of hours messing around online during my commutes, then I would have to charge the Xperia XA as soon as I got home from work.” Fortunately, reviews also indicate that the include charger can fully charge the battery in 30 mins. While you might have to find a charger throughout the day, you won’t be stuck connected to it for long.

Where the phone shined in reviews was it’s cameras. The 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing camera with wide-angle lens were applauded by all. Android Pit said, “The main camera delivers detailed, high-contrast pictures with bright colors. Only when looking closely can small artifacts be seen around the edges of objects. Even in low light it provides decent results. The Selfie camera is also above average.” Reviewers also loved Sony’s camera app and interface.

In the end, reviews weren’t great. While most loved the design and camera, they weren’t happy with performance or pricing. Alphr summed reviews up well, saying, “In the end, you have to look at the opposition to set the Xperia XA in context, and right now it’s just too strong for this handset to stand out in any meaningful way.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
13+ MP, f/2
Camera
Camera
13+ MP, f/2
2300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


LaptopMedia
LaptopMedia

Xperia XA Ultra will definitely appeal to selfie fans with its 16MP front camera accompanied by an LED flash, Exmor RS sensor, f/2.0 aperture, and even OIS. All this is a significant prerequisite for awesome selfies, even at low light. If you are still wondering whether a 6-inch model is too big, we...

- LaptopMedia Team, LaptopMedia
Android Community
Android Community

The Sony Xperia XA is an ‘OK’ phone that looks great but is simply priced too high for me to recommend it over the alternatives. Listed at $249.99, it’s outperformed by devices checking in at least $50 cheaper that provide double the storage, a more robust design, and a longer list...

- Benjamin Hunting, Android Community
Cnet
Cnet

Despite its dapper design, you should avoid the mediocre Sony Xperia XA. It's too expensive for what you get.

- Andrew Hoyle, Cnet
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

The Xperia XA will primarily catch the attention with its slim line, but the inner values in the form of a fast SoC, bright screen, and expandable storage are also very convincing. It is ultimately the short battery life that ruins the review sample's otherwise decent outcome.

- Andreas Kilian, Notebookcheck
G Style Magazine
G Style Magazine

The Xperia XA is a really good budget phone. If you want to spend less than $300 and get a really good phone then I wouldn’t be mad at you if this phone was your choice. It has a lot going for it. Sturdy design, sleek, curved glass, bezel-less edges, great camera, lightweight. 

- Mike Bitter, G Style Magazine


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia XA user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia XA with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia XA has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Sony Xperia XA's screen size is 5 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a MediaTek MT6755 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP, f/2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2300 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 678 minutes, 485 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia XA Specs

Overview
Release Date April 30, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor MediaTek MT6755 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.473 W/kg
Body: 0.471 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels, f/2
Zoom
5x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, DivX, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 294 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 441 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 485 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 678 minutes
Standby Time Up to 25.1 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Graphite Black, White, Lime Gold, Rose Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.4 x 6.7 x 0.8 cm (5.7 x 2.6 x 0.3 in)
Weight 137 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony F3111, F3113, F3115
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia XA Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia XA
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