Sony expirian xa. Sony Xperia XA1 review - the average between normal and bad

Among the presented flagship solutions of the X-series from Sony in 2016, one of the most interesting was the smartphone Sony Xperia XA. It should be noted that the device does not have the highest performance, but it will find many buyers. Mostly because of its design.

New design

Despite the high performance of the Sony Xperia X Performance, many buyers will prefer the XA-series. All because sony xperia ha It captivates with its design: compact, slim and neat. The 5-inch HD display is hidden behind a protective 2.5D glass. But main feature What the Xperia X and X Performances lack is the lack of side bezels. Such a solution can be found in ZTE Nubia Prague S or in ZTE Blade V Plus, which new Sony reminds me of something. But still, some signs let you know that this is an Xperia. And, despite the plastic back, rounded frame, as well as the usual keys on the side faces, the smartphone does not look like a Z-series. This makes it unique among other devices from Sony.

Technical capabilities

The device runs on a media library platform and, despite the productive Helio P10, it can be called a flagship with an interference fit. In general, the characteristics are quite enough for many everyday tasks: 2 GB of RAM, as well as 16 GB permanent memory, 2300 mAh battery, eight-megapixel front and thirteen-megapixel main cameras. Isn't that enough for comfortable use? In addition, the new product supports the work of two SIM cards - and this is much more important for many consumers. There is also a slot for microSD, with a capacity of up to two hundred gigabytes. It is also important that there are all modern wireless interfaces, including NFC. In addition, LTE support is announced, the advantages of this wireless network every day more and more users appreciate it.

Although the device looks attractive, it is more likely not a flagship, but a line of the middle price segment. On the other hand, the bezel-less 2.5D display creates the feeling of being in the hands of a modern exclusive device. First of all, the smartphone will be of interest to women, especially when it comes to pink design.

We wrote about this smartphone in the news and we talked about it on the radio and all ears buzzed to each other in the editorial office. And finally, he got to us, and we got to writing a review about him. Go.

The Sony Xperia XA is the youngest model in the reborn Xperia family, for which the letter X has now been chosen. We have already written about the main device within the new concept - the Xperia X mid-range smartphone. top level stuffing, but at the same time he flaunts a metal case, a fingerprint scanner and other signs of a flagship. XA is noticeably simpler: with the same diagonal (5 inches), the display here has a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, the system-on-a-chip is MediaTek Helio P10, the main camera is 13-megapixel, there is no fingerprint scanner, and the case is plastic. This is offset by a low price - 22-23 thousand rubles, depending on the number of SIM-cards used. In principle, almost everyone has released similar devices - among the latter, one can recall Huawei P9 lite, and earlier both Samsung and LG resorted to similar tactics.

But in this case, Sony decided not only to simplify its older model as much as possible and sell it cheaper, but also to package it beautifully - the Xperia XA is very different in design from the Xperia X / X Performance. And, I must say, for the better.

⇡ Specifications

	Sony Xperia XA	Sony Xperia X	Sony Xperia M5	LG Xcam	samsung galaxy A5
Display	5 inches, IPS, 1280 × 720 pixels, 294 ppi, capacitive multi-touch		5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 441 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.2 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.2 inches, Super AMOLED, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multi-touch
Protective glass		Yes, manufacturer unknown	Corning Gorilla glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass (version not specified) on both sides
CPU	Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (octa-core ARM Cortex-A53, frequency 2 GHz)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 (dual ARM Cortex-A72, 1.8 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53, 1.4 GHz)	Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (octa-core ARM Cortex-A53, frequency 1.95 GHz)	Mediatek MT6753 (Eight ARM Cortex-A53 Cores, 1.3GHz)	Samsung Exynos 7580 Octa (Eight ARM Cortex-A53 Cores, 1.6GHz)
Graphics controller	ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 700MHz	Adreno 510, 550 MHz	Imagination Technologies PowerVR Rogue G6200, 500 MHz	ARM Mali-T720, 550 MHz	ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 600 MHz
RAM	2 GB	3 GB	3 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Flash memory	16 GB	32/64 GB	16 GB	16 GB	16 GB
Memory card support	There is	There is	There is	There is	There is
Connectors	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack	microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack
SIM cards	One nanoSIM / two nanoSIMs	One nanoSIM / two nanoSIMs	One nano SIM	Two micro SIMs	Two nanoSIMs
Cellular 2G		GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
Cellular 3G	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G	LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20	LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41	LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20	LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20	LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40
WiFi	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.1	4.2	4.1	4.1	4.1
NFC	There is	There is	There is	Not	There is
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Sensors	illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer	Approximation, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass)
The fingerprint scanner	Not	There is	Not	Not	There is
Main camera	13 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording	23 MP, ƒ/2.0, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording	21.2 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording	13 MP, ƒ/2.2, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording; additional camera 5 MP with wide-angle optics	13 MP, ƒ /1.9, autofocus, LED flash, optical stabilization system, Full HD video recording
Front-camera	8 MP, autofocus	13 MP, fixed focus	12.6 MP, autofocus	8 MP, fixed focus	5 MP, fixed focus
Food	Non-removable battery 8.5 Wh (2300mAh, 3.8V)	Non-removable battery 9.96 Wh (2620mAh, 3.8V)	9.88 Wh non-removable battery (2600 mAh, 3.8 V)	9.58 Wh non-removable battery (2520 mAh, 3.8 V)	11.02 Wh (2900 mAh, 3.8 V) non-removable battery
The size	143.6×66.8×7.9mm	142.7×69.2×7.9mm	145×72×7.6mm	147×74×6.9mm	145×71×7.3mm
Weight	138.8 grams	153 grams	143 grams	118 grams	155 grams
Hull protection	No	No	IP65 and IP68 Up to half an hour at a depth of up to 1.5 m	No	No
Operating system		Android 6.0 Marshmallow skin Sony Xperia	Android 5.1 Lollipop, Sony Xperia skin	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, LG Optimus UI skin	Android 5.1 Lollipop, Samsung TouchWiz skin
Current price	RUB 21,990 (single SIM version), RUB 22,990 (dual SIM version)	RUB 39,990 (single SIM version), RUB 40,990 (dual SIM version)	26 990 rubles	24 000 rubles	23 990 rubles

Sony Xperia XA - information about the filling according to the CPU Z application

⇡ Appearance and ergonomics

In some ways, the Sony Xperia XA resembles the Samsung Galaxy S6 / S7 edge, only “with a human face”, without curved edges and a display “floating” on them. But the effect is similar - the complete absence of frames around the screen makes the gadget visually light. The display is already small - five inches, and the fact that too much space is not spent on placing it in the case seems to return us to the days of small "one-handed" smartphones.

In addition, the Sony Xperia XA is made of plastic - this will certainly turn someone away from buying it - we are already getting used to the fact that not only flagships are made of metal, but also devices of the lower and middle price categories. But the plastic case weighs less - the weight of the XA is only 138.8 grams. This, of course, is not the absolute champion of this year Xiaomi Mi5 with its 118 grams, but in fact we are dealing with a very light and compact smartphone. By the way, as a result, it also seems to be thin, airy, as I noted above, but this is already an illusion: the thickness of the case is 7.9 millimeters - like the Xperia X and more than many competitors. But it is very pleasant to use the gadget - that is why the audience at MWC 2016 fell in love with it.

The Xperia XA is available in four colors: Graphite Black, White, Signature Lime Gold and the now-standard rose gold. We had, as you can see from the photographs, graphite black - and this is perhaps the least spectacular performance of the device.

Sony Xperia XA, top: mini-jack (3.5 mm) for headphones or headset and a second microphone

An additional charm to the device is given by the not so long ago branded round power button. This is another advantage of the Xperia XA, which grows out of its drawback - the absence of a fingerprint scanner, which is standard for Sony, is built into the gadget's activation button, made it possible to put a round key. Because of it, the button turned out to be long, but here it is not - and the designers returned to the round key that many loved.

The Sony Xperia XA smartphone, which appeared in 2016, is the youngest device in the line, and, accordingly, the most affordable. It has a relatively good filling, an attractive frameless design, but is completely devoid of protection against water and dust. If you try hard, you can find it for 310 USD. This is the minimum cost, and is current at the time of this review.

In total there are 5 modifications of this smartphone. The differences are in the number of SIM cards, as well as in the frequency range of 4G networks. This review will discuss the dual SIM model Sony Xperia XA (F3112), which is relevant for the domestic market. Let's see what this smartphone is all about and whether it's worth spending a minimum of $310 on it.

Specifications Sony Xperia XA (F3112)

For the most part, this is an average performance, only the memory and battery capacity do not fit into the general concept.

Design

Appearance - business card this apparatus. It looks elegant and attractive, hands are reaching out to feel it. Due to not the most huge screen and very modest side frames, the case turned out to be quite narrow.

As a result, it is easy to hold and conveniently operate with one hand. The neat rounding at the ends from the rear panel repeats the front part: this is facilitated by rounded 2.5D glass.

The buyer is free to choose between classic and modern body colors: black and white, or gold lime and pink gold. On the right side face are the controls: buttons to adjust the volume, start the camera and a round power button.

On the left side edge there is a cap, under which separate slots for a flash drive and a SIM card are hidden. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top edge, the MicroUSB port is on the bottom.

The case is made of matte plastic: a disappointment for those who are used to metal smartphones from Sony. However, there is nothing wrong with plastic, plus the device, in addition to being compact, boasts a modest weight: 138.8 g.

The assembly is generally not bad, but if you really find fault, you can find a gap between the display and the frames - a great place to collect dust. Dimensions: 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm.

CPU

The smartphone uses a fairly powerful 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10 processor, with a Mali-T860 MP2 graphics chip. The system on a chip consists of 8 Cortex-A53 cores, at maximum loads, the frequency can reach 2 GHz. As a result, the performance level of the device is more than sufficient for both trivial tasks and entertainment. AntuTu's synthetic performance test gives the hardware a score of 48,000 points, which is average.

With prolonged intense loads, there is a significant heating of the case, in the area of ​​​​the NFC tag. In most cases, this is not the cause of a drop in performance, but the discomfort in the hand does not decrease from this.

Memory

RAM 2 GB - I would like more in such a device. But this volume is enough to ensure good performance when running several applications, and while working with them. The amount of built-in storage is also not the most impressive - 16 GB, of which about 10 GB are available. However, support for memory cards up to 200 GB expands the possibilities for installing games and storing multimedia content.

Offline work

The capacity of the non-removable battery installed in the device is 2300 mAh. Not much, but apart from the battery capacity, optimization is important, which, apparently, the Xperia XA is completely absent. Taking into account the energy-efficient OS and processor, as well as the low screen resolution, in normal use, the device is discharged before evening. In video playback mode at the maximum brightness level of the display, the battery lasts a maximum of 4 hours. In 3D games under the same conditions, the smartphone is discharged in 2 hours.

The activated Stamina mode specifically in this device barely noticeably affects autonomy for the better (10% percent). And Ultra Stamina turns the smartphone almost into an ordinary dialer, so significant battery savings in this case does not bring much joy.

Camera

The main 13-megapixel Exmor RS IMX-258 photomodule, with a single pixel size of 1.12 microns, has an f / 2.0 aperture, complemented by a single flash. SteadyShot technology stabilizes the image in shaky conditions. Of course, nothing is better than optical stabilization yet, but it's better with SteadyShot than without it. Phase-detection autofocus with subject tracking can significantly reduce the number of blurry shots. It takes less than a second to focus, even in low light.

The physical button for launching the camera also acts as a shutter release, and focusing is performed when pressed halfway. The camera interface is the same as in previous Xperia. There is different modes, including HDR and some manual settings. The quality of the resulting photos pleases, however, strongly depends on the shooting conditions.

The possibilities of the photomodule are most fully revealed in conditions of good lighting. The pictures are detailed, with a decent dynamic range even without HDR, and with the correct color reproduction. In case of a significant lack of light, it turns on active work noise reduction, which is the reason for the loss of detail. Handheld Twilight mode partially improves the situation.

Video recording is done in FullHD, at 30 FPS. The quality of the videos is decent, but nothing extraordinary. 8 megapixel front-camera with f / 2.0 aperture allows you to take very good, detailed pictures. The lens is wide-angle, so several people fit freely in the frame. But the main thing is the presence of a full-fledged autofocus.

Display

The Sony Xperia XA is equipped with a 5-inch IPS display. Many will be surprised by the screen resolution: only HD (1280 x 720), at such and such a price. However, there is nothing wrong with that. With a pixel density of 294 ppi, the image is clear, with smooth interface lines and fonts. In addition, if there was a FullHD matrix, the charge level would probably melt before our eyes. The maximum brightness level is normal, the image remains readable in the sun.

Viewing angles are good, but when tilted at 30 degrees or more, the image fades a little, and colors can be distorted. Multitouch is designed for 4 touches. Mobile BRAVIA Engine technology is supported, due to which, while viewing multimedia, the picture visually seems more contrasting, juicy, with natural black color. Not without a “fly in the ointment”: there is no oleophobic layer, the finger hardly slides on the glass, and prints are collected instantly.

Networking

The smartphone supports 2 SIM, works in 2G, 3G and 4G networks in all major bands. Traditional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 network modules have not gone anywhere. They are complemented by NFC support. Navigation capabilities: GPS, A-GPS and GLONASS. All of the above communications work stably, without any complaints.

Sound

The main speaker grill is located on the bottom edge. The playback volume is average, you can hear it perfectly in the room, in noisy places (subway, etc.) there is a chance to miss a call. As for the quality, the sound is clear, with a predominance of high and medium frequencies, without a hint of bass. In headphones, the sound is simply excellent - clear, deep, but the maximum volume margin is relatively low. There is an additional microphone for noise reduction.

Software part

Initially, Android 6.0 Marshmallow was installed on the smartphone. The system shell has been modified by Sony developers, and the standard list of applications is supplemented with proprietary software from the manufacturer. In general, the system works quite quickly, the interface looks nice, right in unison with the case design. You can change themes and upload new ones. If Sony does not change its policy in the future, the device will receive the latest versions of the OS.

Individual characteristics

Of all the "chips" of this device, the most interesting feature so far can be considered the minimal side frames. Frameless design is the future, and soon it will no longer be a curiosity.

Pros and cons of the Sony Xperia XA

Advantages:

• Attractive design, almost no side frames;
• Good cameras;
• Separate slots for Dual SIM and MicroSD.

Flaws:

• Very weak autonomy;
• No oleophobic layer on glass;
• No fingerprint scanner;
• The case gets warm.

Who is a smartphone for?

An excellent find for those who do not care about price and autonomy. The main thing is that the smartphone is branded, with good characteristics, looks chic, and excellent selfies are obtained on the front camera. The problem with a fast discharge is unlikely to be of particular concern to those who are constantly close to the outlet - at home or in the office. And if you need to go somewhere, it will not be difficult for women to throw Power Bank into their purse.

Our review of the Sony Xperia XA smartphone

Buying a Sony Xperia XA can hardly be called a rational decision if the priority is to purchase the most functional device for a reasonable price. You can argue for a long time whether this is a good smartphone or a bad one, but it is clearly designed for a specific target audience. And that audience will be thrilled to own it.

Simplified and cheaper modification of the new season, but not without a twist

Sony is releasing four new smartphones this year: Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XA and Xperia XA Ultra. The basis of the line is the balanced flagship Xperia X and its advanced modification X Performance. We already got acquainted with the Xperia X model in the previous review, and will soon consider the older version in detail. For now, let's turn to the younger version. The Sony Xperia XA model described today may well be called a simplified modification of the Xperia X smartphone. They have a lot in common, and in some ways this cheaper and more modest version may turn out to be even more interesting than its older brother in the new line.

Key Features of Sony Xperia XA (Model F3112)

• SoC MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755), 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @2.0 GHz
• GPU ARM Mali-T860 MP2 @700 MHz
• operating room android system 6.0
• Touchscreen display IPS 5″, 1280 × 720, 293 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, inner memory 16 GB
• SIM cards: Nano-SIM (1 or 2 pcs.)
• Map support microSD memory up to 200 GB
• GSM networks 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• WCDMA networks 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
• LTE networks FDD Band 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20
• Wi-Fi 802.11n/ac with MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct
• DLNA, Miracast
• Bluetooth 4.1 LE A2DP, apt-X, NFC
• USB 2.0, OTG
• GPS/A-GPS, Glonass
• Direction, proximity, lighting sensors, accelerometer, geomagnetic
• Camera 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera 8 MP, f/2.0
• Battery 2300 mAh
• Dimensions 144×67×7.9 mm
• Weight 135 g

Appearance and usability

In terms of dimensions, the five-inch models Xperia X and Xperia XA are almost the same, and in shape too. Here, the continuity of the design is obvious, it has been passed down from generation to generation in one way or another since the Xperia Z, and now all this is reproduced in the updated Xperia X / XA family, but adjusted for modern realities.

Not much has changed: the corners have become slightly more rounded, the sides have become smoother and more rounded, the front panels have acquired 2.5D glass with sloping edges, which is why all new Sony smartphones have become more streamlined and smooth.

But there are also differences between the XA and X versions: the most noticeable of them are on the front and rear panels. As for the back side, everything is prosaic here: the cheaper Xperia XA model has a cheaper case, which received not metal as the back wall, like the Xperia X, but plastic imitating metal.

But with the front side, everything is not so obvious, and here, oddly enough, it is the simplified Xperia XA model that wins. The fact is that this novelty has the same notorious “frameless” design, when the thickness of the frame around the display is minimized. In Xperia XA, the width of the frame on the sides is no more than a millimeter, it is almost invisible. The older model Xperia X does not have such a “frameless” effect, its frame width is quite familiar, and this is surprising.

As for the quality of materials, assembly, in this regard, the Xperia XA is up to the mark, although a couple of annoying moments can be mentioned. The first is a weak grease-repellent coating on the front glass of the screen. It really is covered with fingerprints very quickly, but it is rubbed off badly, which is why the smartphone sometimes looks sloppy.

The second point is related to the sidewalls. The side faces of the Xperia XA case are covered for some reason with metal (or metallized) plates, very reminiscent of smooth metal and very slippery. Other surfaces of the smartphone as a whole are not slippery, but the side edges suffer from this drawback. And this is wrong: because of them, the device is constantly trying to slip out of the hands.

In terms of the distribution of elements on the body, the Xperia XA is familiar. Cards are inserted into the side slot on the left, and here we can highlight the second (after the "frameless" display, which the older model lacks) the positive difference between Xperia XA and Xperia X. The fact is that it has two card slots under the cover, and not one hybrid, as in the Xperia X. That is, in the Xperia XA you can simultaneously insert two SIM cards and another microSD memory card, and for this you do not have to remove one of the SIM cards, which is good news.

Under SIM-cards there are two equivalent compartments for Nano-SIM cards. Hot-swap is not provided: Sony smartphones always reboot themselves as soon as the cover of the corresponding slots is opened. The pleasant moment is that in Japanese smartphones, the SIM tray does not need to be squeezed out with a paper clip, it can be easily removed after picking it up with a fingernail.

Mechanical buttons are located on the opposite, right side face of the case. Unlike older models, there is no fingerprint scanner inscribed in the power button. And the button itself is different in shape: it is not elongated, but round, as in previous Xperia Z models even before the appearance of fingerprint sensors in them.

The front panel received all the proper elements, including led indicator events, a shining dot above the screen in case of charging or missed messages.

In the lower part under the screen, Sony has long had no touch buttons, only virtual ones on the screen. And in this regard, it can be noted that quite a lot of completely free, unoccupied space is left under the screen.

On the back of the case there is nothing but a camera window with a flash. The camera module does not protrude beyond the surface, the flash is implemented by one LED, not too bright.

The main speaker is brought to the bottom end, next to the Micro-USB connector located in the center and supporting the connection of third-party devices in USB OTG (USB Host) mode. Between them you can see a small hole in the speaking microphone.

The second microphone, for the noise reduction system, is located on the upper end, next to the headphone audio output.

Like the Xperia X, our hero of the review did not receive protection against water and dust; in the new family, only the most advanced Xperia X Performance has it. As for the colors of the case, here the buyer has a choice of four colors: white, black (“graphite black”), lemon (“lime gold”) and copper-pink (“rose gold”). These colors will be present in one way or another in all modern Sony models.

Screen

The smartphone is equipped touch screen IPS with trendy 2.5D glass with sloping edges. The physical dimensions of the display are 62 × 110 mm, the diagonal is 5 inches. The size is exactly the same as the Xperia X, but the resolution is half that, only 1280x720, and the dot density is 293 ppi. But the frame around the screen, unlike the Xperia X, is so thin that it is difficult to measure. However, despite the thin frame and rounded edges of the glass, there are no accidental touches of the screen, the lack of a frame does not cause discomfort.

The display brightness is automatically adjusted based on a light sensor. There is also a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to handle 10 simultaneous touches - however, the standard AnTuTu test could not adequately cope with this screen. Support for working with the screen with gloves, unlike the Xperia X, the smartphone in question does not. And of course, the wet-finger feature is a thing of the past, since Sony's new smartphones are not water-resistant.

Detailed examination using measuring instruments held by the editor of the sections "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than the screen of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia XA, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the right, then they can be distinguished by size):

Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still darker (its brightness in the photo is 103 versus 111 for the Nexus 7). Tripling reflected objects in Sony screen Xperia XA is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (it is also a touch sensor) and the matrix surface (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of borders (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better with strong external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (not very effective, noticeably worse than Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed more easily, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

With manual brightness control and with a white field displayed in full screen, its maximum value was about 550 cd/m², and the minimum was 3.6 cd/m². The maximum value is very high, and given the excellent anti-reflective properties, in bright daylight and even in direct sunlight, the image on the screen should be clearly visible. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works by light sensor (it is located to the left of the logo on the front panel). AT automatic mode as the ambient light conditions change, the brightness of the screen both increases and decreases. This function depends on the brightness adjustment. If it is at a minimum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 4.7 cd / m² (dark), in an artificially lit office (about 400 lux) it sets it to 37 cd / m² (it could have been brighter), in bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a slightly cloudy day outdoors - about 10,000 lux) increases to 460 cd/m² (sufficient). If the brightness slider is at half the scale, then the screen brightness for the three conditions above is as follows: 44, 160 and 550 cd/m² (suitable values). If the brightness control is set to maximum - 180, 310, 600 cd / m² (the first two values ​​are too high). Everything looks good, but the problem is that in very bright light (on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more), the brightness of the backlight is greatly underestimated. As shown third party programs, this is due to a light sensor that is not working properly. As a result, it cannot be argued that the auto-brightness function works adequately. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This screen uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without color inversion (except for the very darkest when deviated along one diagonal) and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here is a photograph in which the same images are displayed on the Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia XA screens, while the brightness of the screens is initially set to about 200 cd / m² (white field in full screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K Perpendicular to the plane of the screens is a white field:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

The colors are saturated on both screens, the color balance is noticeably different. Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens, and on the Sony Xperia XA, the contrast decreased to a greater extent due to more black highlights and a greater drop in brightness, and there were also signs of inverting dark shades. And the white box:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased, but in the case of the Sony Xperia XA, the brightness drop is slightly greater. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly and acquires a purple or reddish tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:

It can be seen that the curved edges refract the light from the black field illuminated at the corners, which does not look very good. Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 970:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 15 ms (7.5 ms on + 7.5 ms off). The transition between 25% and 75% grayscale (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 25 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with an equal interval according to the numerical value of the shade of gray did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.63, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power dependence:

Due to the presence of dynamic adjustment of the brightness of the backlight in accordance with the nature of the displayed image (brightness tends to decrease on dark images), the obtained dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output almost full screen. For this reason, a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing black light at angles - we carried out when displaying special patterns with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in full screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since it reduces the visibility of gradations in the shadows in the case of dark images. In addition, this dynamic adjustment, when displaying any image other than a white field in full screen, significantly lowers the brightness, which impairs readability in bright light, and constantly adjusting the brightness can be very annoying.

The color gamut is slightly different from sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components to each other:

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is acceptable, since the color temperature is even higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the color temperature and ΔE change little from shade to shade - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance does not matter much there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This smartphone has the ability to correct the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.

What we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. on the charts above. As a result, we improved the balance on the white field, but the spread of values ​​on dark shades grew catastrophically. In fact, it makes no sense to engage in correction in this case. In the settings, you can choose one of three correction profiles.

The photos above are for option Switch off. Note that the correction only works in Sony applications- when viewing images and, apparently, in a video player. Here's what happens if you choose a profile Extreme brightness mode:

The color contrast increases, nothing remains of the naturalness of the colors. In mode Mobile Bravia Engine 2 nothing terrible happens to the image - on the contrary, contour sharpening is turned off:

Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is very wide, anti-glare properties are excellent, which allows you to comfortably use your smartphone both on a sunny day on the beach and in complete darkness. It is possible to use the auto-brightness mode, but be prepared for the fact that in very bright ambient light conditions this function will make the screen unreadable due to a strong reduction in backlight brightness. The advantages include the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, high contrast, good black field uniformity, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and an acceptable color balance. The disadvantages are an ineffective oleophobic coating, low black stability to the deviation of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen plane, as well as dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness that cannot be switched off. And the curved edges of the outer glass do not add comfort, since they glare all the time, and in the dark they tend to light up. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices (and the most important thing is the visibility of information in a wide range of external conditions), the screen quality can be considered high.

Sound

The Xperia XA sounds less interesting than the Xperia X, the sound of the main speaker is rather simple here. For a call signal, this high, piercing, monophonic high-frequency sound is enough, but for listening to melodies, neither the width of the frequency spectrum, nor the depth and brightness of the sound, nor, in general, even the volume reserve is enough. The sound is certainly more interesting in headphones, everything is pretty good here, but there are fewer settings than the flagships. There is an automatic optimization of all sound parameters using the integrated ClearAudio + function, but if you turn it off, then from manual settings you can find only an equalizer with preset values ​​​​and surround sound emulation, which few people use at all.

There are no complaints about the spoken speaker and microphone: the intonation and timbre of a familiar voice remain recognizable, there is practically no noise, the sound is clear, although it is also not at all saturated and bright. The sensitivity of the microphones is normal, the voice is recorded cleanly on the recorder and is clearly distinguishable during playback, the noise reduction system copes with its tasks adequately.

There is an FM radio in the smartphone; there is no automatic recording of telephone conversations from the line using standard tools.

Camera

Smartphone Sony Xperia XA is equipped with two cameras with a resolution of 13 and 8 megapixels. This, of course, is not 23 and 13 megapixels, like the older Xperia X, but still not bad. The front camera here has an 8-megapixel sensor with an Exmor R matrix for mobile devices and a wide-angle lens (88 °) with an f / 2.0 aperture without autofocus and its own flash. Here, as for the main camera, automatic and manual control modes are supported, you can use HDR and even add animation effects using the creative AR effect mode. The front camera produces high-quality pictures, with good sharpness and color reproduction, for a selfie level it is quite decent.

The main camera is equipped with a 13-megapixel 1/3-inch Exmor RS sensor for mobile devices and a 24mm f/2.0 wide-angle G Lens with fast hybrid autofocus. The maximum sensitivity is manually set to ISO 3200, but ISO 12800 is declared in the official settings.

All new Sony smartphones, as before, received SteadyShot stabilization with Intelligent Active Mode, which ensures smooth shooting without distortion. And of course, Sony is practically the only manufacturer that still installs a separate hardware camera control button in its smartphones.

AT manual mode everything is exactly the same as in older models: you can set the sensitivity, white balance, change the type of focus. There is a five-fold digital zoom, carried out using Clear Image scaling technology. Additional modes are also present, including those downloaded separately - panoramic, photo with sound, Sticker Creator, face in the image - everything is in place. One of the most unusual is the familiar augmented reality mode called AR effect, which allows you to combine real shots with animation.

By the way, unlike older models, here camera control is not transferred to third-party applications via the Camera2 API, RAW recording is also not supported.

The camera cannot shoot video in 4K (since even the older Xperia X does not), the maximum resolution is 1920 × 1080. True, on the Xperia X you can shoot at 60 fps, but there is not even that. The operation of the SteadyShot stabilization function is very noticeable when shooting on the move, the image really becomes smooth. On the whole, the camera copes with shooting video with dignity: the image is bright, without noticeable artifacts, with good color reproduction, although loose and with poor detail. The sound is recorded with high quality, Sony traditionally pays a lot of attention to the noise reduction system in its cameras.

• Movie #1 (35 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Movie #2 (23 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps, H.264, AAC)

	Good field and plan sharpness. On the left is a blur zone.
	Sometimes the camera has little problems with white balance.
	The camera does a good job with macro photography.
	With the removal of the plan, the sharpness drops very smoothly.
	Good long-range sharpness.
	The text is well done.
	Good close-up detail.

Sony Xperia XA	Apple iPhone 6 Plus

The camera is pretty good. Software processing not very striking, and shortcomings like a not very accurate white balance and a blur zone on the left can be forgiven for good sharpness across the field and according to the plans in the rest of the frame. So the camera is able to handle most situations.

Telephone part and communications

Sony Xperia XA operates on most bands of 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA networks, and also supports LTE Cat.4 with a theoretical maximum download speed of up to 150 Mbps. The smartphone supports all three of the most common LTE FDD bands among domestic operators (B3, B7 and B20). Connection speed in 4G networks and work with cellular networks Russian operators in general, the Sony Xperia XA does not cause any complaints: the smartphone instantly reconnects after a break, does not lose connection in areas of poor reception, gives the highest speeds in 4G in test areas where competitors show much worse results. In terms of communication capabilities, Sony smartphones are always on top, this is one of their advantages.

The device also supports Bluetooth 4.1 LE, NFC, supports two Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, DLNA and Miracast, you can organize a wireless access point through channels WiFi or Bluetooth. The Micro-USB connector supports the USB 2.0 specification and the connection of external devices in USB OTG mode. NFC module demonstrates compatibility with the Mifare Classic protocol, which is necessary for the successful operation of the "" application with the Troika transport card.

The navigation module works with GPS (A-GPS) and Glonass without the support of the Chinese Beidou. There are no complaints about the speed of the navigation module, the first satellites are detected during a cold start within the first seconds. The smartphone is equipped with a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the compass of navigation programs functions.

The smartphone provides work with two SIM-cards according to the Dual standard SIM Dual Standby. There is only one radio module, so there can only be one active conversation. A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G / 4G networks, however, only one of the cards can work in this mode at the same time (the second one will work only in 2G). The choice between two SIM cards for making a call, sending SMS, etc. can be made in advance or immediately before the connection.

OS and software

Xperia XA is based on Android platform 6.0 with its own shell, here it is exactly the same as the older model Xperia X. Compared to previous generations, only the external representation has changed: the icons are completely redrawn, the themes change depending on the color of the case.

The internal structure, the location of the menu sections, the organization of desktops, etc. - everything remains the same except for the little things. The regular keyboard has changed: now SwiftKey has come in its place, it is installed by default. Mini-applications have completely disappeared - apparently, few people used them. The pull-down menu in the section has also been removed. installed programs. Accustomed to the proprietary interface of Sony smartphones, such changes are unlikely to seem catastrophic, the interface has become a little simpler and more intuitive.

Performance

Sony has chosen Taiwanese MediaTek for the hardware of its cheaper XA series smartphones, while the more expensive Xperia X uses Qualcomm Snapdragon. The Sony Xperia XA has the SoC MT6755, also known as the Helio P10. The Helio P10 is configured with a 64-bit octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 2 GHz and a graphics ARM processor Mali-T860 operating at 700 MHz.

Volume random access memory smartphone is 2 GB, the amount of built-in flash memory is 16 GB, of which about 11 GB are initially available to the user for his needs. This volume can be increased with microSD cards, and unlike the older models of the X series, here you don't have to remove one of the SIM cards for this, all three cards are installed in the device at the same time. It is also possible to connect to USB port external flash drives in OTG mode. microSD cards are supported up to 200 GB, in practice our test transcend map Premium microSDXC UHS-1 with a capacity of 128 GB was confidently recognized by the device.

Judging by the comparison table with the test data of other current mobile platforms, we can state that the new SoC MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10) is noticeably ahead in all respects of the mid-range MT6753, extremely popular with manufacturers last season, and even the once-flagship MediaTek MT6795 is already in nothing no better than our heroine. That is, the current average level of mobile platforms in terms of its capabilities turns out to be better than the top level of last year, which cannot but rejoice.

Most of all, Helio P10 is close in results to another fresh mid-range platform - HiSilicon Kirin 650. Only here the graphics are slightly better, and absolute parity is observed between them in complex and specialized browser tests.

It is interesting to compare the performance of the Xperia XA with the older model Xperia X. That one is also not built on the top Qualcomm platform, but on a mid-range SoC. However, its results in all tests are noticeably higher, both in general and specialized ones, including graphics, which allows us to evaluate Helio P10 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 650/652 as solutions of different levels. And if we call the MediaTek MT6755 and HiSilicon Kirin 650 platforms mid-level, then for higher in all respects, but still not the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 650/652, we will have to add some sub-flagship level, which is above average, but below the top. In any case, the Xperia X turns out to be more productive than the Xperia XA in all tests, which is quite logical for the older and more expensive model in the line.

According to the results of testing, we can say with confidence that the level of Helio P10 is not top-end, but a confident average. At the same time, for all modern tasks, the capabilities of this SoC at the moment should be more than enough. It manages even demanding games so far: You can comfortably play World of Tanks at maximum fps, heavier games do not run at such high fps, but also do not show the slightest delay.

Testing in the latest versions of AnTuTu and GeekBench 3 comprehensive benchmarks:

For convenience, we have summarized all the results obtained by us when testing a smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks in tables. Several other devices from various segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within a single comparison, it is impossible to present the results from different versions benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in 3DMark gaming tests, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (due to which the speed can rise above 60 fps).

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for evaluating the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowances for the fact that the results in them depend significantly on the browser in which they are launched, so that the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this possibility is available when testing not always. In the case of Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

thermal images

Below is a thermal image of the back surface, obtained after 10 minutes of running a battery test in the GFXBenchmark program (the lighter, the higher the temperature):

Heating is clearly localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 41 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is the average heating in this test for modern smartphones.

Video playback

To test the "omnivorous" when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also, don't expect mobile device decoding of everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.

According to the test results, the test subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are needed for the full playback of most of the most common multimedia files on the network, in this case, sound ones. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings in it and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 audio format.

Format	container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Regular video player
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280×720, 24fps, AAC	plays normally	plays normally
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280×720, 24fps, AC3		video plays fine, no sound
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24fps, AAC	plays normally	plays normally
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24fps, AC3	video plays fine, no sound	video plays fine, no sound

Further testing of video playback performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.

We did not find an MHL interface, as well as Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methodology for testing video signal playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices) Red marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the respective files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of video files playback on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) to be displayed with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. We note an atypically high screen refresh rate of approximately 67-68 Hz. As a result, in the case of files with 60 fps, 7-8 frames per second are output with an increased duration. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 (720p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in its original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 (all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and in the highlights), which is required for the correct playback of typical video files.

Battery Life

The capacity of the non-removable battery installed in the Sony Xperia XA is 2300 mAh, which is small by modern standards. And we must admit that Sony did not think through the issue of the power consumption of their device well enough - apparently, relying on the assurances of MediaTek developers that the new process technology and the new platform as a whole have become much more economical. MediaTek always claims this, but things are still there: Sony Xperia XA showed poor results battery life, not to say otherwise. It's clear that Sony is counting on the capabilities of its Stamina power-saving modes, but without them, in all standard tests, the smartphone performs hardly satisfactorily.

Continuous reading in the Moon + Reader program (with a standard, light theme, with auto scrolling) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd / m²) lasted more than 9.5 hours to a full discharge. When continuously watching videos from Youtube in high quality(720p) with the same brightness level through home network Wi-Fi device did not last even up to 8 hours. In the 3D-games mode, the smartphone functions for 2.5-3 hours.

The smartphone is charged from its own network charger for approximately 1 hour 40-50 minutes with a current of 1 A at a voltage of 5 V. Wireless charging device is not supported.

Outcome

Many liked the price of Xperia XA: the device is sold at the time of writing the review for 22 thousand rubles, and they ask for a thousand more for a two-term modification of the same model. What can I say? For the level of Sony, this may be a low price, and it is significantly lower than that of the same Xperia X, offered for 40-41 thousand. However, in the same price category is, for example, no less interesting model Huawei P9 lite, which does not add anything to the price for a two-SIM modification - they are all dual-SIM. And worth it Huawei smartphone with similar characteristics 20 thousand, not 23, that is, 3 thousand cheaper than the hero of the review. Is this a payment for a more famous brand? But with a price of up to 20 thousand, you can count a lot of other interesting devices. However, for true connoisseurs of the Sony brand, the Xperia XA smartphone may seem like an interesting offer, it all depends on your own wallet, and not the wallet of an abstract user. Objective disadvantages of the new Sony models: water protection is removed, autonomy is low, the sound is simple. The rest is at a decent level: screen, platform, communication capabilities, cameras in general are at least good. And yet, the thought that the model is a little overrated does not leave.

The Sony Xperia XA is a new, affordable 5-inch Android smartphone that aims to grab your attention with its efficient appearance, and a futuristic display.

Smartphone Sony Xperia XA — Reviews

The Xperia XA is powered by the Helio P10 system chip, which is often used in even more affordable Chinese phones. It doesn't boast performance, a groundbreaking camera, or ultra-long battery life. Apart from the unusual inductive edge-to-edge display, this is the most ordinary android phone, which at first glance does not stand out in any particular way.

Is it true? And is it worth paying attention to the Sony Xperia XA?

Sony Xperia XA bundle

In the box you will find:

• Sony Xperia XA;
• Charger;
• Micro USB to USB cable;
• Manual.

Design

The edge-to-edge screen looks impressive and cool, and the design is exquisite.

The Sony Xperia XA is quite a beautiful phone, and the cool edge-to-edge screen is its main feature to stand out from the competition. The smartphone narrows slightly towards the edges of the screen, which makes it more compact. In addition, this type of construction makes the side bezel almost invisible.

The smartphone comes in four fresh colors: white, black, lime gold and rose gold.

The frame and back cover of the Xperia XA is made of plastic, but in our opinion, this is good, because unlike the newfangled glass surfaces, it leaves less fingerprints.

Unfortunately, the Xperia XA does not have a fingerprint scanner. This option has become the de facto security standard for our phones, so it's a shame that Sony decided not to include a fingerprint scanner on their XA.

In addition, this smartphone does not have any water protection.

Xperia XA display

The 5-inch, 720 x 1280-pixel display on the Xperia XA isn't the worst, but there's a bit of pixelation visible at that resolution, and as a result, the image doesn't look perfectly sharp. In addition, the colors are cold and oversaturated, and not very well balanced.

But there are also good points, the display is quite bright and well readable even in direct sunlight. Viewing angles are not bad either.

Interface and functionality

Like all Sony phones, Xperia XA features functionality and unobtrusive custom graphics. The device runs on the top Android 6.0 Marshmallow, while current version OS from Google.

The interface, when solving everyday tasks, mostly works smoothly, but when loading new applications, it can freeze. A similar problem occurs when running heavy applications and games.

There are some confusing features in the interface of this model from Sony: the display unlocks when you touch and move the animation depicted on it to the side or up, but when you swipe up, the display displays a frame of sliding animation to the side, not up. Moving an app shortcut to the home bar is also tricky: you first need to move the icon to a hard-to-reach area on the top of the screen, and only then place it on the home screen. It takes some time to open the necessary applications, such as dialer and message options, so for a second you have to see a blank screen.

AT Sony smartphone Xperia XA has a notification and vibration feature. True, it vibrates very strangely, this vibration is too intense, which is very annoying.

We're not big screen fans. Sony keyboards: she uses in her smartphones on-screen keyboard SwiftKey, which is not as convenient to work with as on keyboards installed in Apple or Samsung. It takes more time to type, and typos often occur.

On a positive note, the Xperia XA allows you to change settings through Sony's "What's New" app. In the application you will find original skins of various themes and new styles of products adapted for Sony, namely video games and films. Very few of these topics are available for free download, however, the cost of paid is only a few dollars.

Processor, performance and memory

The Xperia XA is powered by the budget MediaTek Helio P10 system chip. It is an octa-core chip with 8 low power Cortex A53 cores and 2GB LPDDR3 RAM.

Basically, a smartphone is fast enough for everyday use, but more difficult tasks and large documents cause it to hang. Some applications, such as dialer options and messaging, take an annoying delay to open.

Benchmark showed that in most tests, the Xperia XA lags behind the results of smartphones with a Snapdragon 808 processor, like the Nexus 5X.

The graphics card in XA is the Mali T-860 MP2 GPU, operating at speeds up to 700 MHz. Again, this is not the ideal phone for gaming. However, most simple games on the phone work just fine. In addition, even more graphically demanding games can be run on it, albeit at a slightly lower than ideal frame rate.

The size of the built-in memory in the Sony Xperia XA is 16 GB, of which about 10 GB is available to the end user. Fortunately, you can expand this memory by adding microSD card.

Internet and connections

Of all the possible browsers, only Chrome is pre-installed on the Xperia XA, and this is quite enough. Chrome makes it easy to sync your bookmarks across all your devices, it has a handy touch interface with maps and an always helpful reminder to close open incognito tabs.

In Europe, Xperia XA supports all major LTE 4G bands. In terms of other connections, the smartphone has WiFi B/G/N as well as Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC support.

cameras

The Sony Xperia XA comes with a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. Its rear camera features an F/2.0 lens and a 1/3-inch sensor, which is smaller than many popular phones in the same price range.

In the lower right corner of the smartphone is a two-stage shutter button. If you press and hold it for a second, the camera application will start, but the launch process itself is rather slow.

In the application itself, there are options for auto photo (Superior Auto), manual photo, video and effects section, which can be switched by swiping up and down the screen. Interestingly, basic options such as HDR are only available in manual mode.

Image quality

You don't have to be an expert to see that pictures taken with the camera on the Xperia XA smartphone come out bad.

Even under near-ideal conditions, with plenty of light, images are not best quality because the smartphone's camera is unable to capture shadows and highlights to create a properly balanced image. Details are fuzzy, and generally not sharp. Of course, things get even worse in low light conditions, with images often blurry and details hard to see.

The built-in LED flash adds a cool, greenish tint to the image, so at night, when using the flash, the image quality becomes even worse.

Video quality

All things considered, it's no surprise that the Xperia XA doesn't offer 4K video recording. The device still records video at 1080p, 30 frames per second with a bit rate of around 17Mbps.

Video quality on the Sony Xperia XA at ​​1080p is not very good. Colors are mostly rendered beautifully, but the emphasis is on the bottom edge. The video lacks dynamics and, in low light, the brightness of the image at the edges is reduced. In addition, in the absence of stabilization, the video is shaky.

Sound quality

At the bottom of the smartphone is a small speaker. The sound quality received through this speaker is below average: everything sounds too quiet, even at maximum volume, there is no depth in low frequencies as well as sound clarity.

Call quality in Sony Xperia XA

Call quality on the Xperia XA is below average. The speaker transmits the sound of voices with some distortion and periodic extraneous noise. However, everything is not so scary, and you will still be able to understand the callers, although not very clearly. From good points the speaker is quite loud.

The microphone in the XA is also weak. During testing, other subscribers heard us too quietly and not very clearly.

Battery life

Xperia smartphone The XA is equipped with a 2,300 mAh battery. With medium intensity, the battery lasts for a day, but with more intensive use, you will not have enough for the rest of the working day, so it's better to carry it with you Charger. It takes two hours to fully charge from 0 to 100%.

Outcome

To sum up, the Sony Xperia XA is nothing more than a pretty, inexpensive smartphone without any extraordinary specs.

Aside from its good looks and decent performance enough for most everyday tasks, this smartphone has nothing to brag about: the colors on the displays are oversaturated and not clear enough; when performing heavier tasks, the smartphone freezes; The quality of the camera is also not encouraging; battery life is below average.

At $280, the Xperia XA has a lot of strong competition. So, 5.2 inch Google Nexus 5X, 5.5 inch LG G4, sold at about the same price, have best performance than the Sony Xperia XA, so we would not recommend this smartphone.