Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra Comprehensive Review & Price Guide

Design and Build Quality

The Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra incorporates an aesthetic blend of premium materials to craft a visually appealing and ergonomic device. With dimensions of 165 x 79 x 8.1 mm and a weight of 188 grams, it provides a substantial feel in hand while maintaining a slim profile. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure durability against scratches and minor impacts. This glass is complemented by a plastic back and a sturdy aluminum/plastic frame, offering a balance between strength and weight reduction. The device is available in various colors, including White, Black, Gold, and Pink, to cater to different stylistic preferences. The attention to detail in its construction is evident in the seamless integration of components, providing users with a refined and sophisticated smartphone experience.

Display

The Xperia XA1 Ultra boasts a large 6.0-inch IPS LCD display, which is perfect for media consumption and browsing. The screen offers a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 367 ppi. This ensures that images are sharp and vibrant, with excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 76.1% allows for an immersive viewing experience, making it ideal for video playback and gaming. The protection of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 adds an additional layer of durability, reducing the risk of damage from everyday use.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Xperia XA1 Ultra is powered by the Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 chipset built on the 16 nm process technology. The octa-core CPU is configured with 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 cores and 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, which strike a balance between performance and power efficiency. The Mali-T880MP2 GPU handles graphic tasks, ensuring smooth gameplay and multimedia experiences.

The device initially shipped with Android 7.0 (Nougat) but is upgradeable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), allowing users to take advantage of the latest features and security updates. Sony’s UI overlay offers a clean and intuitive user interface that provides additional customization options and access to Sony's suite of applications.

Camera

The camera setup on the Xperia XA1 Ultra is one of its standout features. The rear camera is a powerful 23 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and a 24mm wide lens. It boasts Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) for rapid focusing and is equipped with features such as LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes. The camera is capable of recording videos at 1080p resolution with stereo sound, providing clear audio-visual capture.

The front-facing camera is a 16 MP sensor, designed for superb selfies and video calls. It features an f/2.0 aperture and a 23mm wide lens, with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Autofocus (AF), making it one of the best in its category during its release. The inclusion of an LED flash ensures bright and clear selfies, even in low-light conditions.

Storage and Memory

The Xperia XA1 Ultra caters to different users’ storage needs by offering two variants: 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, both coupled with 4GB of RAM. This amount of RAM ensures that the device can handle multitasking efficiently. Additionally, the presence of a dedicated microSDXC card slot allows for storage expansion, accommodating cards up to a significant capacity, which is ideal for users who keep extensive media libraries or applications.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a non-removable 2700 mAh Li-Ion battery. While its capacity may seem modest given the large display size, the efficient Helio P20 processor and Sony’s battery optimization features contribute to a respectable endurance rating of 68 hours. On a full charge, the device provides up to 13 hours of talk time on 2G and up to 12 hours on 3G networks. The handset also supports 10W wired charging, ensuring that users can quickly recharge their devices to maintain productivity throughout the day.

Connectivity

The Xperia XA1 Ultra supports a comprehensive range of connectivity options. For cellular networks, it offers GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, supporting various global bands which include 2G, 3G, and 4G. For wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, and Wi-Fi Direct are available, allowing fast internet access and data transfer. Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP and aptX provides a stable connection for wireless peripherals.

This smartphone also features GPS with GLONASS for precise location tracking, essential for navigation and location-based services. The inclusion of NFC technology allows for wireless transactions and data exchange. For port connectivity, the device uses a USB Type-C 2.0 port, supporting OTG for connecting external devices.

Additional Features

Additional hardware features include essential sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the user experience by offering features like auto-rotate, detection of face proximity during calls, and basic navigation through the compass.

The device also retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of audio peripherals. It comes equipped with FM radio capabilities, providing users with access to live radio broadcasts without relying on an internet connection.

Market Availability and Reception

Announced in February 2017 and released in May of the same year, the Xperia XA1 Ultra quickly gained attention in the mid-range segment, appealing to users who favored large displays and robust camera systems without venturing into the premium price territory. Priced at around 250 EUR, it offered a competitive package with a well-rounded feature set.

The reception of the Xperia XA1 Ultra was generally positive, particularly praised for its camera performance, display quality, and design aesthetics. However, some critiques were leveled at its battery life and performance compared to other devices in the same segment. Overall, it provided a compelling option for technology enthusiasts and regular smartphone users alike, seeking a balance of performance, aesthetics, and camera capabilities.