Sony

Sony Xperia XA1: Pros and Cons

Android OS v7.0 (Nougat)
Mediatek Helio P20 MT6757
Mali-T880 MP2
3 GB / 32 GB
5 inch (720 x 1280 px)
22 MP, 5488 x 4008 px, autofocus

Sony announced the launch of the Xperia XA1 smartphone in 2017. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5 inch IPS display, Mediatek Helio P20 MT6757 SoC, and 3 GB of RAM. It comes with Android OS v7.0 (Nougat) out of the box, and a Li-Po 2300 mAh, non-removable battery. The IPS display panel has good color accuracy. It can display a wide range of colors, this makes visuals look more lifelike and vivid This smartphone has a single camera on the back (22 MP, 5488 x 4008 px, autofocus). Is this phone a good value for its price? My review aims to answer that question by the end.

Table of Contents

This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Sony Xperia XA1 smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.

Sony Xperia XA1 / 1

Sony Xperia XA1 specifications

BrandSony
NameXperia XA1
ModelXPXA1
Release date2017

Weight, dimensions, colors

Weight5.04 oz
Dimensions5.71 x 2.64 x 0.31 inch
Colorsblack, gold, pink, white
SIM typeNano SIM

The weight of Sony Xperia XA1 is about 5.04 oz with battery. This is average for smartphones of the same size. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a small chipcard for a subscriber identity module (SIM).

Sony Xperia XA1 / 1

System, chipset, performance

OS versionAndroid OS v7.0 (Nougat)
SoCMediatek Helio P20 MT6757
CPUOcta-core, Quad-core 2.3 GHz Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53
GPUMali-T880 MP2

The Sony Xperia XA1 comes with Android OS v7.0 (Nougat) out of the box. Google has integrated many services with Android. These include Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Drive. It's a powerful Mediatek Helio P20 MT6757 octa-core processor. It can handle complex tasks and run many applications. Many mobile devices use ARM Mali GPUs. They are well known for their good performance and power efficiency.

Sony Xperia XA1 / 2

Display type, size, resolution

Display typeIPS
Screen size5 inch
Resolution720 x 1280 px
Multitouch supportyes

The 5 inch IPS display has better features. These include optimal viewing angles, color accuracy, and unchanging color reproduction. The 5 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner.

Sony Xperia XA1 / 3

Memory, storage

RAM3 GB
Internal storage32 GB
Memory card slotmicroSD

The smartphone has 3 GB of RAM. It can run many apps at once without much lag or slowness. Having more RAM alone does not guarantee better performance. Generally, a smartphone should have a minimum of 32 GB of internal storage. The Xperia XA1 has 32 GB. You can expand the internal storage (32 GB) with a compatible microSD card.

Sony Xperia XA1 / 4

Cameras, flash

Main camera22 MP, 5488 x 4008 px, autofocus
FlashLED
Selfie camera8 MP

The single camera can be enough for many smartphone users. It depends on their photography needs and preferences. The Xperia XA1 does not have optical image stabilization (OIS).

Sony Xperia XA1 / 5

Connectivity, network, wireless

GSM 2G bands850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Network coverage2G / 3G / 4G
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetoothv4.2, A2DP
GPSA-GPS, GLONASS
NFCyes
FM radioyes
USBUSB Type-C
Headphone3.5 mm jack

The Sony Xperia XA1 supports 4G/LTE networks. This phone like all modern smartphones, is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The Xperia XA1 smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. This phone has a built-in GPS. This phone is NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Sony Xperia XA1 / 6

Battery type, capacity, charger

TypeLi-Po 2300 mAh, non-removable

The Li-Po 2300 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery is a light-weight, rechargeable battery. The battery of Xperia XA1 isn't removable without voiding the warranty.

Features, sensors, specials

Sensorsaccelerometer, fingerprint, light, proximity
SpecialsCorning Gorilla Glass, Dual SIM, Fast charging, Sony Exmor RS

Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The accelerometer provides information about the smartphone's movement in three axes. These are X (horizontal), Y (vertical), and Z (depth). The Xperia XA1 phone has a fingerprint scanner. The light sensor detects the level of light in the environment. Dual SIM is great for businesses. They want to give staff a device with separate numbers and bills for personal and business use.

The fast charging technology comes in handy when you need quick juice on your device. Gorilla Glass is very scratch resistant. It reduces the likelihood of everyday scratches and abrasions.

Verdict, pros and cons

Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this Sony phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.

Pros

  • microSD slot
  • Dual SIM support
  • Corning Gorilla Glass shield

Cons

  • limited-size screen
  • single camera setup
  • no OIS function
  • no 5G support
  • low-capacity battery
  • no digital compass
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Lucas Bradley I'm Lucas Bradley, the founder of the Phone42.com site. I love technology, especially smartphones, and I've been working with tech stuff for more than 20 years. This means I've seen a lot of changes and have learned a bunch about what makes a good phone. On Phone42.com, I look at all kinds of phones. They can be from big, well-known companies or new ones trying to make their mark. I want to help people understand what's new and cool in the world of smartphones, in a way that's easy to get.
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