Is it worth buying sony xperia xa ultra. Sony Xperia XA Ultra - Specifications
The Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra is a new widescreen phablet with an impressive screen. It belongs to the middle price segment and has good technical characteristics. The smartphone appeared on the market quite recently, but has already won its audience. After several, not the most successful models, the manufacturer decided to take into account all the disadvantages of this device and try to make a device that would look like a premium model, have decent hardware, attract additional features and at the same time would be quite affordable in terms of cost. Let's take a closer look at how they succeeded.
Design and packaging of the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra smartphone
The device looks very stylish and recognizable, like any modern product from Sony. The corporation has been trying for a long time to adhere to one direction in the appearance of its mobile gadgets, and they clearly made the right decision with this. Those who prefer elongated cases with prominent, outlined right angles and sloping side edges, rounded for convenience, minimalism and aristocratic laconicism, especially inherent in business style, will definitely pay attention to the Xperia XA1 Ultra model. The device is available in the following colors:
- black;
- white;
- gold;
- pink.
Also, the product boasts a small thickness and a very large screen area. In general, the dimensions are:
- width - 79 mm;
- length - 165 mm;
- thickness - 8.1 mm.
It seems that with such a size it would be quite problematic to operate it with one hand, but this would only cause difficulty for a fragile girl with a graceful hand. Although, even in this case you can get used to it quite quickly. The device is not slippery at all, it is easy and comfortable to hold. It should also be taken into account that there is a mini-display function that greatly facilitates control.
All parts fit well together, nothing lags behind, there are no backlashes, swaying or rattling. There is an aluminum frame around the case, and there is a reliable protective glass with a 2.5D effect. The edges and surfaces flow very smoothly into each other, which creates a feeling of reliability, integrity and high cost. The back cover is made of high-quality, non-marking, matte plastic. On it you can see the name of the Xperia series in the middle, and in the top corner there is a camera module and a flash. The front part is occupied by the screen itself, wide top and bottom, as well as narrow side frames. On the top frame is the name of the company, a proximity and light sensor, a front camera and a flash for taking photographs in the dark. On the side faces there is a lock button, a rocker for adjusting the volume, and a key for quick access to shooting. All connectors, speakers, control buttons are located in intuitive and accessible places, making it as convenient as possible for the user.
Along with the main product, the buyer is delivered:
- all necessary paper documentation;
- Bluetooth headset (SBH56 speaker);
- convenient case stand;
- charger using fast charging technology.
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra screen specifications
Sony Xperia XA1 has an excellent screen with a large diagonal of 6 inches. It cannot be called frameless, like the Sony model, since small black borders are visible when turned on. The resolution of this model is Full HD - full 1080 pixels. This is quite normal for daily use. You shouldn’t expect anything beyond incredible from the image, but for a mid-priced device everything is very good. As for useful innovations, there are:
- Tempered Corning Gorilla Glass. It protects the device screen from external damage, shocks, and falls. Its rounded edges create a 2.5D three-dimensional effect of the picture.
- Image enhancement technology.
Review of cameras and sound Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
Both camera modules, both the main one and the front one, have high resolution. According to the manufacturer, now even dim light and evening time will not be a hindrance for high-quality photographs. Main characteristics of the selfie camera:
- Wide-angle lens, 23mm with f/2.0 aperture. With its help, you can photograph a large company, and none of your friends will be offended by not being included in the frame.
- Optical image stabilization. Your photos will not be blurry or blurred even in motion.
- Good light sensitivity (up to ISO 6400). The output image is of high quality, with good detail and no noise.
- Resolution 16 megapixels. For a front selfie camera, this is simply an excellent indicator today.
- 1/2.6 inch Exmor RS matrix. It is designed specifically for mobile devices and allows you to take good photos even in a nightclub or in the twilight of an evening city.
- Smart flash. It adjusts itself to the light around it to get the best image.
- Gesture shooting function. To turn it on, simply show your palm at the camera, it will work on a timer.
- Resolution - 23 MP.
- Exmor RS matrix, 1/2.3-inch.
- High sensitivity ISO 6400. Sometimes, thanks to this, photos may not be entirely realistic and too saturated, but such a picture has many fans, so you shouldn’t call it a minus.
- The lens in this case is also wide-angle, 24 mm. Aperture - f/2.0.
- There is a Clear Image zoom with five times magnification.
- Modern SteadyShot technology, which allows you to stabilize the image while shooting video. A very useful innovation for those who like to shoot on the move.
- Hybrid Intelligent Autofocus.
To listen to music in good quality and at high volume, the following technologies are available:
- SmartAmp. It provides brightness, depth and rich bass.
- Clear Audio+. Branded from Sony, it itself adjusts the equalizer and sets the frequency balance, which makes the sound cleaner and clearer, without noise and distortion.
To watch a movie without a headset, you can place the phablet on the stand case. The sound produced by the only speaker located at the bottom of the product is loud, but of poor quality. Many testers noted unnecessary noise and significant distortion in it. Also, criticism was caused when using the ear speaker, due to insufficient volume.
Hardware and operating system Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
The heart of the device is the MediaTek Helio P20 64-bit processor with eight cores, of which:
- 4 operate at a clock speed of 2.3 gigahertz.
- 4 with a frequency of 1.6 GHz.
As for memory, it is quite enough for normal work, but for modern resource-intensive games it is certainly not enough:
- The device has 4 gigabytes of RAM.
- The internal one can be 32 or 64 GB eMMC type. Of these, about ten gigabytes go to software.
The gadget has the Android 7.0 (Nougat) operating system. The user interface is pleasant to the eye, simple and fast, does not slow down and quickly performs all assigned tasks. There are a number of pre-installed applications with a lot of functionality. In addition to the standard ones (Music, Album, News, Video), we can highlight:
- Spotify. Streaming service for listening to music online. Not yet available for use in Russia.
- Movie Creator. For creating short videos, working with video clips, adding various effects.
- AR effect. An augmented reality application that creates instant effects for videos and photos.
- Sound Photo.
- What's New. Similar to the Play Store.
Autonomy Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
In this case, a battery with a capacity of 2700 mAh is responsible for operation without recharging. This is a fairly small figure for a phablet with such a large screen. The manufacturer has not indicated how quickly the device will run down, but the first official tests were a pleasant surprise, showing that under average load with the screen always on, it will work for about ten and a half hours. Among the interesting, useful additional features, I would like to highlight:
- Qnovo Adaptive Charging. This is an adaptive charging technology that regulates the level of current passed during connection to the network. Thus, it protects the battery from excessive wear and allows it to function normally for much longer.
- Quick Charging. The fast charging feature allows you to charge your device in minutes. This is very useful for business and active people who always need to stay in touch.
- STAMINA mode. By restricting access to certain applications and using other tricks, it allows you to reduce battery consumption, thereby extending the overall battery life.
Price, pros and cons of the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra smartphone
Finally, let's look at the pros and cons of the product. The positive aspects include:
- Large, good screen. It's a pleasure to work on, play, and watch videos.
- Mini display function. To reduce the working area, create a mini-copy of the screen, which is convenient to operate with one hand.
- Android 7.0 (Nougat).
- Sufficient battery life.
- Flash and quality of selfie camera.
- Affordable price.
- Oversaturation of colors in the photo from the main camera module.
- Poor sound from speakers.
- Some useless pre-installed applications that cannot be completely removed.
The price of the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra smartphone in Russia starts from 27,000 rubles. A video review of the device is presented below:
Sony follows fashion trends, so it released the Xperia XA Ultra smartphone with a 16 megapixel front camera, equipped with autofocus and flash, and even with a large screen with narrow side frames. Today we will figure out what it is.
Appearance
Sony Xperia XA Ultra is made in the company's corporate style. We have the white version, but there is also black and lemon gold.
As usual, the manufacturer's logo is in the most prominent place - under the earpiece, next to it are proximity/light sensors, a huge front camera lens and a flash. The front camera lens is the same size as the main one. Although I am not afraid that they are spying on me, I still asked myself this question at first.
I didn’t like the implementation of the missed events LED located in the upper left corner. They obviously saved money on it, as there is a halo around it, which doesn’t look the best.
One of the features of the phone is the screen, which is made “without frame”. Essentially, the side of the smartphone acts as a frame—there are no accidental clicks while using the phone. On-screen touch control keys.
On the right side, traditionally for Sony, there are mechanical buttons. In our case, the volume button is located low, but you don’t need to twist your thumb to press it. On the left side, under the flap, there is a slot for microSD memory cards and a tray for two SIM cards in nanoSIM format. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm audio jack and an additional microphone, and at the bottom there is a microUSB port, a microphone and a multimedia speaker.
The back side is covered by a non-removable cover made of white matte plastic. The lid is pleasant to the touch, but still slippery.
It’s not worth talking about the ease of using a smartphone with one hand - it’s still a device with a six-inch screen. Perhaps someone will be saved by the presence of a special mode that reduces the size of the active screen area to four inches. But I don’t know people who use this mode constantly, and not for pampering.
Display
The XA Ultra is equipped with a huge six-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution. As mentioned above, it has virtually no side frames, which is why it looks impressive. The oleophobic coating is of high quality - fingerprints are easily wiped off. There is an automatic brightness adjustment sensor. The phone clearly hasn’t been taken care of before; there are a lot of small scratches on the screen, so it’s difficult to say how good the protective glass is.
The screen looks good outdoors. Even under direct sunlight, the information remains readable, but the picture noticeably loses saturation.
Brightness varies from 524 to 6.65 cd/m². Contrast is 1 in 1029. The color gamut is slightly wider than the sRGB triangle. The temperature is nonlinear - it strongly depends on the brightness of the screen, so its value varies from 9500K to 8000K. The gamma curve is also significantly higher than the reference value. To summarize, we have a screen with high contrast and good saturation, but too cold colors.
For those who prefer manual settings, there are preset Mobile Bravia Engine 2 modes that will make colors even more saturated. If you want to customize the screen for yourself, then this can also be done.
Hardware platform
Sony Xperia XA Ultra is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10) processor. It is made using a 28nm process technology and consists of Cortex-A53 cores that operate at frequencies up to 2 GHz. ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU @ 700 MHz. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, and the built-in memory is 16 GB, expandable up to 200 GB using memory cards.
Benchmark results are not outstanding. In Antutu the scores are at the level of Meizu MX5. The device is suitable as a phone for games, but most likely not all games will run at maximum graphics settings.
If we talk about smooth operation, then everything is excellent. Although Sony's proprietary shell is littered with third-party software, in practice this does not interfere with it.
Yes, the phone runs on the Android 6.0 operating system.
Judge for yourself, the Sony Xperia X I recently tested worked as smoothly as the Xperia XA Ultra.
The set of wireless interfaces is standard - GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS), Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), FM radio and NFC. Even without using the Internet, finding your phone's location takes just seconds.
Working hours
We are used to expecting a long operating time from a large phone, but this is not the case with the Sony Xperia XA Ultra. The capacity of the built-in battery is only 2700 mAh.
If you take your phone off the charger at 9 am and intensively use social services and talk on the phone, then by 10 pm you will need to charge it. At the same time, my active screen time was 3 hours 34 minutes. Thus, there is enough charging for daylight hours, but it will be difficult to achieve more without saving and turning on the STAMINA mode.
Cameras
On the official website, all manufacturers actively praise their creations, some focus on autonomy, some on the shell, and others (like Sony) on cameras. The feature that sets the Sony Xperia XA Ultra apart from others is the 16 MP camera with a 1/2.6-inch matrix, flash, optical stabilization and autofocus. In practice, everything is much more prosaic.
Not all pictures taken with the front camera are sharp. The problem is that autofocus often blurs, especially when the subject is close. With a half-bent arm, most pictures turn out blurry, but if you extend your arm as far as possible, then the chance of getting a bad picture approaches zero. The presence of a front-facing flash should help take night shots, but as a rule we will end up with a blurred subject, since again the autofocus does not cope with its task.
21.5 MP main camera with hybrid autofocus. Allows you to take good quality pictures. It's often difficult to focus when taking macro photos, but this is a problem with many phones. In most cases, the pictures will be of high quality.
I already wrote. Now I’ll test its older brother Sony Xperia XA Ultra. There is a very large 6-inch screen, an advanced front camera and almost the same hardware as in the younger model. It’s a strange combination, but it’s interesting how life is with such a large Sony phone.
Camera for selfies
I'll start with the most important thing. Xperia XA Ultra is the first Sony smartphone with optical stabilization in the camera. Moreover, the stub only works in the selfie camera, which is located in front, and the second camera is devoid of such a useful feature.
The camera module is so obscenely large that you expect amazing quality
The cameras on the phone work slowly: it takes about 5 seconds to take and save photos. This becomes annoying when you want to take a series of pictures, but there is no time to wait for a slow phone.
As for the quality of selfies, everything is fine during the day, but if there is not enough light, problems begin. According to the manufacturer, you can turn on the flash, but I don’t like this function, the flash overexposes faces and the result is an unnatural picture. In addition, the camera begins to think a lot, takes a long time to focus, there are a lot of defects and blurry photos that are embarrassing to share on Instagram.
In my opinion, this is a strange approach, because selfies are taken not only in the summer on the beach, but also at night, in the evenings, because summer does not last forever. The girls will get into the limousine, open a bottle of champagne, open up the Xperia XA Ultra and start a photo shoot, but the phone will be dead! The photos are blurry, the phone doesn’t focus properly in the dark, and what’s a party without likes on social networks?!
High-quality selfies are obtained only during the day in sunny weather.
It turned out that at night even the ancient iPhone 6 Plus with its terrible front camera takes better and faster pictures. A measly 1.2 megapixels versus 16 from Sony. And while shooting, the phone heats up wildly, like a small heater.
Second camera
The main camera is 21 megapixels, its characteristics are inferior, the module is simpler. Sony boasts of a focusing system, but tests have shown that the phone is not as fast as the older Xperia X. It will be difficult to take a sharp photo of a moving child or a passing car.
You can switch to manual shooting mode, I noticed that in this case the phone takes better pictures. But the quality is still average; for the same 30 thousand you can buy a device with much more outstanding capabilities: LG G4, Galaxy S6, iPhone 6 finally. Sony, as usual, has problems with the camera as soon as the sun goes out. It's sad to look at the purple soil in the park.
Huge screen without frames
The Xperia XA was Sony's first frameless smartphone, the XA Ultra is the same thing, only much bigger. 6 inches, Full HD resolution, bright colors, but color reproduction is inaccurate. Quality was sacrificed for the sake of “let’s have a fancy picture.”
The screen is bright, everything is clearly visible on the street.
Unlike the Xperia XA, an oleophobic coating is present here; white balance adjustment via a manual profile also works, but it is of little use.
As many as 6 inches without frames, where else can you find such a screen? Frame
The case is non-separable, but the back panel moves slightly when you press it in the center. It seems like a small thing, but the phone could have been assembled more tightly. There is an aluminum frame on the sides and polycarbonate on the back.
There is no protection from water, so the Sony Xperia XA Ultra will not replace a boat oar on a river.
The smartphone comes in three colors: black, silver and gold. Under different lighting it looks different: in some places it turns yellow, in others it turns mustard, a beautiful color. I think girls will like this option.
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (5.5"), Sony Xperia XA Ultra (6"), Apple iPhone 6 plus (5.5") Moreover, girls won’t be intimidated by its size; the phone weighs a lot, but the big thing won’t get lost in a bag.
If you are tired of operating with one hand, then the interface can be “shrinked” to 5 inches, then it will become more comfortable to type messages. There are no errors or typos when using such a “frameless” monster, it is convenient to use.
Sounds
The phone has one speaker, it is located at the bottom end. The place is uncomfortable; during games you immediately cover it with your palm. It’s a pity that they didn’t make stereo sound and front speakers, the phone would have replaced a small speaker like a . But the speaker sounds loud and clear, the melodies are clearly audible on the street.
Very beautiful phone The sound volume in the headphones is not the highest; Sony is protecting your ears and doesn’t want you to go deaf. If you use headphones with good noise isolation, then you won’t have to complain about insufficient volume. And yes, there are no headphones included. Therefore, if you want to listen to the built-in radio, you need a headset.
Power
You expect no less outstanding performance from a healthy phone; Sony once had the Xperia Z Ultra, which was a top-end device. XA Ultra is quite average; Chinese smartphones, which are sold here at 10 thousand cheaper, will have the same filling.
The menu works smoothly and without lag, but in games it feels like the phone is straining with all its might. Considering that the processor is the same as in the Xperia XA, but the resolution is higher, this is not surprising. The phone dials up to 50 thousand “parrots” in AnTuTu. The figure is above average, but gamers need more power.
Cameras do not protrude from the front or back The phone has a microSD slot, and it will definitely come in handy. Of the 16 GB of built-in memory from the factory, 6 GB is occupied by the system, leaving not much space left. I installed a few games and took photos, and soon the phone demanded a memory card.
The shell works smoothly, there are design themes, and a bunch of applications from Sony as a welcome bonus. For example, you can listen to music for free on Google Music for 3 months. The phone has backup; the Sony application helps you save old messages, contacts, applications and phone settings to a memory card or upload to a Sony server. Synchronization works both manually and automatically while the phone is charging.
Autonomy
The battery for a 6-inch unit is unexpectedly small, only 2700 mAh. The operating time is very dependent on the load. So, in camera mode the phone died in 2 hours, the screen almost never turned off during this time. If you play for 30 minutes a day, surf the Internet for 3 hours, listen to music, then the charge is enough for a day. I think that for a phone of this size you need a 4000-5000 mAh battery so as not to worry about battery life.
For a healthy 6-inch phone, the Sony Xperia XA Ultra is surprisingly comfortable Connection
The phone comes with either one SIM card or two; in any case, it will have LTE, NFC support, as well as microUSB 2.0 with support for external storage. You can connect a flash drive or some other disk via an adapter.
Opinion
Sony Xperia XA Ultra costs 27,990 rubles. As a cool selfie phone, the model did not live up to my expectations; in terms of performance, it also cannot boast of anything. Sony produces camera modules for almost all manufacturers, but has not been able to update its own software for many years now.
I liked the phone for its rare combination of size and screen diagonal. The display is huge and there are no frames, it looks very impressive. Watching YouTube, surfing social networks, typing on the big screen is very convenient. A big and beautiful giant, but with flaws.
Did not like
- camera quality
- working hours
- no fingerprint scanner
Liked
- huge screen with narrow frames
- comfortable shell
- good ergonomics
- loud speaker
Characteristics
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 79.4 mm (millimeters) 7.94 cm (centimeters) 0.26 ft (feet) 3.13 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 164.2 mm (millimeters) 16.42 cm (centimeters) 0.54 ft (feet) 6.46 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 8.4 mm (millimeters) 0.84 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.33 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 202 g (grams) 0.45 lbs 7.13 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 109.51 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6.65 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Golden White Black |
| Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body. | Metal Plastic |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz (F3213) |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 850 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz (F3213) LTE 800 MHz (F3211; F3212) LTE 900 MHz (F3211; F3212; F3215; F3216) LTE 1800 MHz (F3211; F3212; F3215; F3216) LTE 1900 MHz (F3211; F3213; F3212) LTE 2100 MHz (F3211; F3212; F3215; F3216) LTE 700 MHz (B12) (F3213) LTE 700 MHz Class 13 (F3213) LTE 700 MHz Class 17 (F3213) LTE 700 MHz (B28) (F3213; F3215; F3216) LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) (F3215; F3216) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) (F3215; F3216) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) (F3215; F3216) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) (F3215; F3216) |
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755) |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | 4x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 64 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv8-A |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 256 kB + 256 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 8 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2000 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc. | ARM Mali-T860 MP2 |
| Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications. | 2 |
| GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 700 MHz (megahertz) |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 3 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates. | Single channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 933 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | IPS |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 6 in (inches) 152.4 mm (millimeters) 15.24 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.94 in (inches) 74.72 mm (millimeters) 7.47 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 5.23 in (inches) 132.83 mm (millimeters) 13.28 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 367 ppi (pixels per inch) 144 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 76.37% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance |
| Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 Minimum pencil hardness >9H |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.
| Sensor model | Sony IMX230 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type | |
| Sensor size | 5.99 x 4.5 mm (millimeters) 0.29 in (inches) |
| Pixel size | 1.127 µm (micrometers) 0.001127 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor | 5.78 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) | 100 - 6400 |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 5312 x 3984 pixels 21.16 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode Macro mode |
| Sensor size - 1/2.4" Hybrid autofocus |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera. | Sony IMX234 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution. | 5.95 x 3.35 mm (millimeters) 0.27 in (inches) |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels. | 1.12 µm (micrometers) 0.00112 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device. | 6.34 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) ISO indicators determine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity and vice versa - higher values mean higher light sensitivity, i.e. better ability of the sensor to work in low light conditions. | 100 - 6400 |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger. | f/2.2 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 3.5 mm (millimeters) 22.18 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera. | 5312 x 2988 pixels 15.87 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Angle of view - 88° Autofocus Optical image stabilization |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.1 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol) AVDTP (Audio/Video Distribution Transport Protocol) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) BNEP (Bluetooth Network Encapsulation Protocol) DIP (Device ID Profile) GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) GOEP (Generic Object Exchange Profile) HDP (Health Device Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) LE (Low Energy) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) SAP/SIM/rSAP (SIM Access Profile) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 2700 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 13 h (hours) 780 min (minutes) 0.5 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 558 h (hours) 33480 min (minutes) 23.3 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 12 h (hours) 720 min (minutes) 0.5 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 708 h (hours) 42480 min (minutes) 29.5 days |
| 4G latency 4G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 4G network. | 671 h (hours) 40260 min (minutes) 28 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Fast charging Fixed |
| Quick Charger UCH12 |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device close to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the guidelines of ICNIRP 1998. | 0.718 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards. | 0.426 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 1.27 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard. | 0.37 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
additional characteristics
Some devices have characteristics that do not fall into the above categories, but it is important to point them out.
| additional characteristics Information about other device characteristics. | F3211 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.718 W/kg; body - 0.426 W/kg F3211 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.270 W/kg; body - 0.370 W/kg F3212 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.718 W/kg; body - 0.426 W/kg F3212 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.270 W/kg; body - 0.370 W/kg F3213 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.718 W/kg; body - 0.437 W/kg F3213 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.200 W/kg; body - 0.850 W/kg F3215 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.718 W/kg; body - 0.432 W/kg F3215 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.200 W/kg; body - 0.370 W/kg F3216 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.718 W/kg; body - 0.432 W/kg F3216 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.200 W/kg; body - 0.370 W/kg |
(prices on the day the review was published).
Key features of Sony Xperia XA Ultra
| Screen | S-IPS, 6", 1080x1920, multi-touch 10 touches, Mobile Bravia engine 2 |
| Iron | 2 GHz, Mediatek Helio P10 (MT6755), 64-bit, 8 cores Cortex-A53, Mali-T860 MP2 |
| Memory | RAM 3 GB, ROM 16 GB, Micro-SD up to 200 GB |
| Mobile Internet | LTE cat.4 150/50 Mbit/s HSDPA 42.2 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps EDGE |
| Mobile networks | LTE Bands 1-3,5,7,8,20 UMTS 850, 900, 1900, 2100 GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
| Battery | Li-Ion, 2700 mAh, fast charging |
| Dimensions | 164 x 79 x 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 202 g |
| Camera | 21.5 MP, 1/2.4", f/2.2, flash, autofocus, Sony Exmor RS IMX-230, hybrid AF front: 16 MP, 1/2.6, f/2.0, flash, autofocus, Sony Exmor RS IMX-234, optical stabilization |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| OS | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
A powerful phablet with a super-sophisticated front camera. You can't deny Sony's originality. Do you know many front cameras with autofocus, flash and optical stabilization?
But what kind of originality is there? Rather, competent adherence to fashion. People love to take pictures with landmarks in the background. Previously, in order to get a portrait of your loved one against the backdrop of the Trevi Fountain, you had to call someone for help. Now - help yourself - decent front-facing cameras allow you to take pictures that you are not ashamed to post on Instagram-Telegram.
Frankly, there is one weak point - the battery. Which is really a shame. Since taking selfies means traveling. Traveling means a large battery is vital. But no, screw it up. So external batteries are our everything.
On a small note - there is no finger sensor. I would like more flash memory. Slippery.
Everything else is great. Great looks with thin bezels. Bright high quality screen. Hardware - well, not a flagship, but I don’t understand at all why greater performance might be needed. For reading books, watching videos, browsing websites, the Sony Xperia XA Ultra is very good. Well, for making selfies in industrial quantities, of course, too.
Equipment
Modestly. Charger, Micro-USB cable, some papers.
Appearance
| Weight | 202 g |
| Size | 164 x 79 x 8.4 mm |
| Protection | No |
Bandura, of course. Like all other smartphones with a screen of the same diagonal. If you want six inches, come to terms with the weight and size.
Three body color options - white, black, gold.
A distinctive feature is the super-thin frames on the sides of the screen, which made the smartphone quite narrow. Inexpensive smartphones with a similar diagonal are usually about five millimeters wider. Still, of course, it’s too wide... But you have to pay for the phabletism, there’s no escape.
The bezel is metal, the back cover is plastic. The plastic is very nice, matte. Apparently quite durable. Although I did not conduct stress tests and did not carry the Ultra with keys in one pocket.
The body is not removable. Cards are placed in a special tray, which is pushed into a slot on the left edge. The card tray is human, no either-or. Two SIM cards (alas, Nano-SIM) and one memory card can be installed simultaneously without any problems.
Special thanks for the sticker on the back cover, which clearly explains which side and where to put the cards. Comfortable.
Boring details
Above the screen is a large, very large camera peephole. There's a front flash nearby. On the other side of the logo are sensors and an LED. Above the logo is a speaker, where would we be without it?
There is nothing under the screen, the android buttons are on the screen.
At the back there is a camera with a flash (alas, in the corner). And a label indicating where NFC is.
On top is a 3.5mm audio output and a noise-canceling microphone.
Bottom - microphone, Micro-USB, speaker. The speaker, like the camera, is not located very well. Small. And sometimes, when you hold your smartphone horizontally, you completely cover it with your finger.
On the right side of the button. Volume rocker, traditional Sony round power button. Plus a separate button for the camera.
On the left is a card tray hidden behind a huge plug.
Internals (iron)
| AnTuTu | 46073 (v5.7.1) |
| AnTuTu | 50210 (v6.2.1) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio P10 MT6755 |
| Cores | 8 x Cortex-A53, 2 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-T860 MP2 |
| RAM (free) | 3 GB (1.3 GB) |
| ROM (free) | 16 GB (7 GB) |
| Micro-SD | Up to 200 GB |
I don’t have the slightest complaint about the speed of the smartphone. The processor is fast. And, honestly, the wallet is more than enough RAM. Who needs 4-6 GB of RAM in smartphones and why is a mystery to me.
But there could be more flash memory. Fortunately, the results of the cameras’ vital activity are also written safely to the memory card. But with software this number does not work. Thick toys are persistently placed exclusively in internal memory. Considering that the smartphone is quite good for gaming, you must admit that this is a bit of a shame.
Well, the traditional Android ban on “third-party applications” writing to a memory card outside the directory allocated to them has not gone away. And at the same time, there is no “native” file manager on the smartphone. So whatever you decide to write to the memory card will have to be written from the computer.
Sensors Unfortunately for Pokemon Go fans, there is no gyroscope. Only compass, accelerometer, illumination and proximity.
Communication with the outside world
Everything that is there works as it should and without problems. Hurray, comrades. As usual, there is nothing to write in this section of the review.
Screen
The screen is bright, with an excellent oleophobic coating and sufficient resolution. What else is needed for complete happiness? I wouldn't mind the possibility of working with gloves. Alas, she is gone.
Light 2.5D rounding to the edges.
Accidental clicks due to very thin margins along the edges sometimes happen, but rarely. When I tested the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, I remember that I suffered greatly from such random clicks. This was not the case here.
It is unknown what the screen is covered with. Obviously, if there was a piece of Gorilla Glass here, they would have said so. But there is clearly a protective coating; the screen does not get scratched from close glances.
Operating system and other software
Android from the latest - 6.0 Marshmallow. Plus a proprietary shell plus, of course, a variety of proprietary software, which, as usual, no one ever uses.
A little bug - the Facebook client and SwiftKey keyboard are pre-installed. And it is impossible to remove them.
Battery
The battery capacity for such dimensions, and even taking into account the not very cold processor, is quite modest, 2700 mAh. The battery test results are, as expected, so-so. 106% of the standard.
In general, the battery tests turned out strange. After the first measurements, I felt that the results were somehow... not very good. Well, not really - not really. What to do. I looked. There seem to be no predatory processes eating up the battery.
I finished a series of tests, fed the data to my script, he calculated everything, I grabbed my head. 47% of the standard! Trash and fuss! Eight hours of music, less than five hours of screen time without load, etc. It doesn't happen like that! Marriage?
No, not marriage. However, I never found the culprit. But after resetting to factory settings, everything magically became as it should. 106% is, of course, not a magical result. But it fits perfectly into my ideas about what and how it should be in this world.
Sony Xperia XA Ultra as a flashlight
As a flashlight, the main flash is a bit dull, and the beam is too wide. You can find a cat in the room, but lighting your own path to a bright future in the darkness is problematic.
The front flash in constant light mode is slightly dimmer than the main one (30 versus 40 lux from half a meter).
Sony Xperia XA Ultra as a photo and video camera
Both cameras have autofocus and flash, the front one also has optical stabilization.
The quality of pictures from the front camera is, of course, very impressive in some places (although the eyes often turn out completely crazy). So if you cannot imagine your life without the daily perpetuation of your loved one and at the same time do not accept the use of monopods, then, of course,