The Sony Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra smartphones (introduced in early 2017) received an update to the second generation on CES 2018. These devices belong to the entry-level and top-level frameless line of the Japanese brand, and the middle place in the lineup is occupied by the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus, a smartphone that was announced in September 2017 and does not lose its relevance in the new year. 
The appearance of the smartphone continues the development of the proprietary concept of the symmetry of the Loop Surface case and the frameless screen of the Xperia XA line. The protective glass of the display on the wide sides literally rests against the metal frame of the perimeter, and massive inserts remain in the upper and lower parts of the case, which have become a recognizable feature of Sony smartphones. The back panel is made of high-quality and practical matte plastic. Interestingly, visually and tactilely it is difficult to distinguish it from the metal of the side frame, which makes the appearance of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus monolithic.
On the front side of the panel above the screen is a notification indicator, front camera, Sony logo, light sensor and earpiece. Below the screen is a microphone cutout similar to the speaker. On the top there is a mini-jack for connecting headphones and an auxiliary noise-canceling microphone, and on the bottom there is a charging connector. USB Type-C and main speaker. The rear panel is standard: the camera lens is flush with the body, the flash is below, and the NFC icon and the Xperia inscription are applied closer to the center.
On the left side there is only a slot for SIM-cards and memory cards. It is not hybrid, that is, the user does not need to choose between installing a memory card and a second SIM card. The dual nano-SIM tray slides out with the lid, and microSD cards are inserted directly into the case. On the right side is the volume rocker, power button and camera launch. Despite the frameless design, Sony engineers still managed to integrate a fingerprint scanner into the power key. This was partly helped by the variable thickness of the slightly rounded metal frame. The bending of the metal also has a positive effect on the ergonomics of the device. If you take the smartphone with one hand and put your little finger to the bottom for a better grip, the edges of the case do not dig into the skin and allow you to comfortably hold the device even for a long time.
Screen
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus has a 5.5-inch IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. On top - a reliable protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass with smoothly rounded edges, the so-called 2.5D effect. There is a high-quality oleophobic coating, due to which the screen is less dirty, and prints are easier to erase. The viewing angles are close to the maximum, and even with a significant deviation of the device from the line of sight, the picture remains well readable without color distortion. The color rendition of the screen is accurate, with a slight predominance of cold shades. However, the white balance can be adjusted to your liking, for example, if you like the pronounced warmth of the color. The contrast and brightness of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus screen are also at a good level, there will be no problems using the device in direct sunlight - images and texts will remain distinguishable.
Main and front cameras
The main camera of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is the Exmor RS module from the flagship smartphone of the end of 2015, the Sony Xperia Z5. The sensor size is 1/2.3 inches, the resolution is 23 megapixels. The optics used are a fast, 24mm f/2.0 wide-angle lens. The camera has SteadyShot digital image stabilization and hybrid autofocus, which ensures fast focusing even in difficult shooting conditions. Due to the high resolution of the sensor, the smartphone supports the Clear Image Zoom function - a five-fold digital zoom without quality loss. Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a dedicated button to launch the camera on the side of the case. This is a rarity in the smartphone market these days. It takes only 0.6 seconds from pressing a key to being able to tap the shutter button, which reduces the risk of missing interesting shots while waiting for the camera to launch.
The front camera is built on the basis of a proprietary 1/4-inch Sony Exmor R sensor with a resolution of 8 megapixels and fast optics with f/2.0 aperture. There is also a SteadyShot stabilization system for clear shots and a wide-angle lens so that in addition to the portrait itself, sights in the background can be seen in the selfie or the friends of the owner of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus fit.
Performance
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is powered by a 64-bit octa-core MediaTek helio P20 processor. Four fast cores operate at a frequency of 2.3 GHz, energy efficient - 1.6 GHz. The chip is manufactured using the 16 nm process technology. The amount of RAM is 4 GB. For those who prefer to evaluate the performance of devices with dry numbers, according to the AnTuTu 6 synthetic benchmark, the smartphone scores more than 55,000 points. In practice, the operation of the device corresponds to the best representatives of the middle class - smooth and fast operation of the operating system, instant launch of applications and switching between them, the ability to run most games with maximum graphics settings. Reduce quality visual effects to medium values will only be necessary in the most demanding games. At the same time, the power of the device and the optimal choice of components do not force you to compromise on the operating time without recharging.
autonomy
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus uses a 3430 mAh non-removable battery, one of the highest in the lineup. The network connection is via a symmetrical USB Type-C connector, and there is also support for MediaTek Pump Express technology, which provides accelerated charging. Traditionally, Sony uses proprietary power saving and battery life extension modes. STAMINA allows you to reduce power consumption during the days of the most active use of the smartphone and with a significant decrease in charge, Ultra STAMINA prolongs work in critical situations when the minimum functionality of the device is enough. In addition, there is a "Battery care" mode, which provides gentle charging of the smartphone according to user scenarios. If you put the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus on charge for a long time (for example, overnight), the battery charge will be maintained at 90%, and the missing 10% will be added before the alarm is set. As for the battery capacity and autonomy, it all depends on the scenarios of the owner, but in general, the smartphone has a very good duration on a single charge and can last up to a day and a half without significant restrictions on use.
Specifications Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
Operating system: Android Nougat (Xperia UI)
Screen: IPS, 5.5 inches, Full HD (1080p)
Protective glass: 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor: MediaTek helio P20 64-bit octa-core
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 32 GB
Memory card support: separate microSD slot up to 256 GB
Primary camera: Exmor RS 23 MP, hybrid autofocus, f/2.0 wide-angle lens
Front camera: Exmor R 8 MP, f/2.0 wide-angle lens
Audio: 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 4.2, aptX/A2DP
Mobile connection: two nano-SIM, 2G/3G/4G (cat.6)
Wireless connections: A-GNSS, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC
Connector: USB Type-C
Battery: 3430 mAh, fast charging MediaTek Pump Express
Fingerprint scanner: in the side power button
Body colors: black, blue, gold
Dimensions: 155 x 75 x 8.7mm
Weight: 190 g.
Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, offered colors, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 75 mm (millimeters) 7.5 cm (centimeters) 0.25ft 2.95in |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 155 mm (millimeters) 15.5 cm (centimeters) 0.51 ft 6.1in |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 8.7 mm (millimeters) 0.87 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft 0.34in |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 189 g (grams) 0.42 lbs 6.67oz |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape. | 101.14 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6.14 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black Golden Blue |
| Housing materials The materials used to make the body of the device. | Aluminium alloy Polycarbonate |
SIM card
A 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 referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced 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 short 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 to provide more speed and spectral efficiency with W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as 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 development of technologies is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 700 MHz Class 13 LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) |
Mobile technology and data rates
Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) integrates all the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | MediaTek Helio P20 (MT6757) |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor. | 16 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | 4x 2.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Processor size The capacity (bits) of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and buses for data. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors. | 64 bit |
| Instruction set architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv8-A |
| Level 1 cache (L1) The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and 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) |
| L2 cache L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity to allow caching 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 them in L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory. | 2048 KB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel. | 8 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2300 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 commonly used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, and more. | ARM Mali-T880 MP2 |
| Number of cores GPU Like the CPU, the GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical calculations of different applications. | 2 |
| GPU clock speed Speed is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 900 MHz (megahertz) |
| The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in the RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 3 GB (gigabytes) 4 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR4X |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means more high speeds data transmission. | dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its speed, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data. | 1600 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for 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 image quality of information directly depends. | IPS |
| Diagonal On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5.5in 139.7 mm (millimeters) 13.97 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.7in 68.49 mm (millimeters) 6.85 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.79in 121.76 mm (millimeters) 12.18 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 horizontally and vertically on the screen. More a high resolution means sharper 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 shown on the screen in clearer detail. | 401ppi (pixels per inch) 157ppm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen footprint The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device. | 71.97% (percentage) |
| Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen. | Capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 4 2.5D curved glass screen |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that can be recognized by the mobile device.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for photo and video shooting.
| Sensor model | Sony IMX300 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type | |
| Sensor size | 6.17 x 4.55 mm (millimeters) 0.3in |
| Pixel size | 1.118 µm (micrometers) 0.001118 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor | 5.64 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) | 100 - 6400 |
| Diaphragm | f/2 |
| Excerpt The shutter speed (exposure time) indicates the amount of time the camera shutter is open during the shooting process. The longer it is open, the more light reaches the photosensor. Shutter speed is measured in seconds (eg 5, 2, 1) or fractions of a second (eg 1/2, 1/8, 1/8000). | 1 - 1/4000 |
| Focal length | 4.22 mm (millimeters) 23.82 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile cameras are LED and Xenon flashes. LED-flashes give softer light and, unlike brighter xenon ones, are also used for video filming. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras on mobile devices is their resolution, which shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically in an image. | 5520 x 4140 pixels 22.85 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by 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 movies with maximum resolution. Some of the main standard shooting and video playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
| Specifications Information about other software and hardware features associated with the main camera to improve its functionality. | autofocus Burst shooting digital zoom Digital Image Stabilization geo tags panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode |
| hybrid autofocus |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the screen of the device and are used mainly for video calls, gesture recognition, etc.
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photocell used in the camera of the device. | Sony IMX219PQ Exmor R |
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take pictures. The sensor, as well as the optics, is one of the main factors in the quality of a 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 a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer higher image quality despite lower resolution. | 3.67 x 2.76 mm (millimeters) 0.18in |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels to be used per unit area, thus increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality when high levels light sensitivity (ISO). | 1.124 µm (micrometers) 0.001124 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the size of the device's photo sensor. The number shown is the ratio of the diagonals of a full-frame sensor (43.3mm) to that of a specific device. | 9.42 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) ISO values determine the light sensitivity level 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 is larger. | f/2 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal lengths are also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 2.46 mm (millimeters) 23.18 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the secondary camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum resolution supported when shooting video with the optional 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 optional camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Locating
Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, making it easier to discover and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.2 |
| Specifications Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols to provide more fast exchange data, power savings, improved device discovery, and more. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) DIP (Device ID Profile) GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access 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) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Mobile devices support various audio file formats and codecs that store and encode/decode digital audio data, respectively.
| Audio file formats/codecs A list of some of the main audio file formats and codecs that are standardly supported by the device. | AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) AAC+ / aacPlus / HE-AAC v1 AMR / AMR-NB / GSM-AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate, .amr, .3ga) AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband, .awb) aptX / apt-X eAAC+ / aacPlus v2 / HE-AAC v2 FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec, .flac) M4A (MPEG-4 Audio, .m4a) MIDI MP3 (MPEG-2 Audio Layer II, .mp3) OGG (.ogg, .ogv, .oga, .ogx, .spx, .opus) WMA( Windows Media Audio, .wma) WAV (Waveform Audio File Format, .wav, .wave) LDAC DSEE HX DSD |
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 in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.
| Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours. | 3430 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| A type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used in mobile devices. | Li-polymer (Li-polymer) |
| Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, maintained output power, control over the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology. | MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0 |
| Specifications Information about some additional features of the device's battery. | fast charging Fixed |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when held mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible value The SAR 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 following the 1998 ICNIRP guidelines. | 0.65 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum allowed SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard was established by the CENELEC committee in accordance with ICNIRP guidelines from 1998 and IEC standards. | 1.07 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
| Head SAR (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 US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are controlled by the CTIA and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 1.19 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest acceptable SAR value in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA controls whether mobile devices comply with this standard. | 0.54 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
Sony developers cannot stop there, striving to continue to occupy a leading position in the global market. With his Sony Xperia XA1 Plus, which carried over some features from the Xperia Z5 and Xperia XA1. Enlarging the display, upgrading the camera and much more - everything that may be of interest to potential consumers.
Body and screen design
The minimal size of the side frames around the display has become one of the recognizable advantages of the latest Sony models. For Sony Xperia XA1 Plus inherent:
- rectangular monoblock body;
- touch screen with a size of 5.5 inches;
- glass material - Full HD display is designed to cover the entire sRGB color spectrum;
- there is a sensor for determining the fingerprints of the owner;
- matte back cover material - plastic;
- the proposed colors of the device: gold, black and blue, in some countries - pink.
What's under the lid?
On the seventh version of the Android operating system, the new smartphone is equipped with a modern MediaTek chipset - Helio P20, designed to operate at frequencies up to 2.3 GHz. The Mali accelerator, which has proven itself in previous models, is responsible for the graphic part. To maintain speed performance, the device has a built-in memory of 32 GB (expandable up to 256 GB with a separate microSD card, there is a slot) and 3 gigabytes of RAM. This contributes to the launch of LTE (Cat. 6 or Cat. 4), NFC, familiar Bluetooth (4.2) and Wi-Fi networks. With apt X support is feasible wireless transmission sound without significant loss.
Fans of using their smartphone as an audio player will be satisfied - there is a USB Type-C connector. The Xperia XA1 Plus also features Smart Amp and Clear Audio+ apps.
Considering that the battery is designed for a capacity of 3430 mAh, manufacturers have installed quite powerful video cameras with advanced features on the new smartphone. The main camera is 23MP with 1/2.3” Exmor RS. The focus power is f/2.0. The LED flash supports hybrid autofocus, while Steady Shot stabilization and 5x Clear Image Zoom ensure personal quality for photos and videos.
More modest indicators of the front camera - 8 megapixels do not mean worse quality, because the presence of an Exmor RS sensor and a 23 mm lens compensate for everything else.
For the gadget, manufacturers have provided another advantage - the ability to quickly recharge: adaptive QNOVO and patented proprietary technology.
conclusions
Solid design, balanced hardware and battery software solutions put the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus at the forefront of the global ranking of related products.
One of the three smartphones presented at IFA 2017. A model of the middle segment with the usual, at first glance, characteristics, but a number of small but nice chips and features.
Specifications
| Specifications | |
| Dimensions (edit) | 155 x 75 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 189 grams |
| Housing materials | Plastic lid, aluminum edges |
| Screen diagonal | 5.5 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920 x 1080 dots |
| Matrix type | IPS |
| Protective covering | Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Oleophobic coating | There is |
| Net | 2G: 850/900/1800/1900 3G: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 4G: b3/b7/b20/b38 LTE cat.6 Dual SIM, non-hybrid slot |
| Platform | MediaTek MT6757 Helio P20 |
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex A53 and 4x1.6 GHz Cortex A53) |
| video accelerator | Mali-T880MP2 |
| Inner memory | 32 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, separate |
| WiFi | Yes, b/g/n, dual band |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | There is |
| Main camera | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, phase detection autofocus, LED flash |
| Front-camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, 23mm, autofocus |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, compass |
| Battery | 3430 mAh |
| Price | 20 000 rubles |
Equipment
- Smartphone
- Charger
- PC connection cable (also part of the charger)
Appearance and materials
In terms of design, we have a typical Sony Style: sharp corners, strict appearance, large bezels at the top and bottom. The smartphone is sold in four colors: pink, gold, blue and black. It was the latter that I had on the test.
Back cover made of matte practical plastic. In the black version, streaks and prints are noticeable at a certain angle, I will allow myself to assume that all this is not visible on lighter cases.
The top and bottom ends are also plastic, but the side faces are made of aluminum.
Control elements, assembly
Above the display you can see the peephole of the front camera, light and proximity sensors, earpiece mesh, and a light indicator.
On the right side are the power button, volume rocker and camera key. A fingerprint scanner is inscribed in the button, so it is slightly recessed into the body. Placing the scanner on the side saves space under the screen and simplifies the unlocking process, because the finger immediately rests on the scanner, but if you need to see information from the lock screen, this will be problematic, because when you touch the display immediately unlocks.
On the left is a tray for two nano-SIM-cards and a slot for a memory card. Important: the slot and the tray are not combined, now you rarely see this.
On the bottom end there is a Type C port and an external speaker, and on the top end there is a minijack and a second microphone.
For a month of use, I did not have any problems with the assembly, the device does not creak, does not play, there are no gaps.
Dimensions
I always want to call the design of Sony smartphones strict and light. Based on the renders and photographs, one gets the feeling that the devices are thin and light. Unfortunately, these descriptions have nothing to do with XA1 Plus. The smartphone is thick and heavy, while it is completely incomprehensible what this is connected with, pay attention to the competitors from the table, each of them is thinner and lighter, while the XA1 Plus has the smallest battery capacity. After the same XZ1 XA1 Plus feels very different. I know that there are people who like to feel the heaviness of a smartphone in their hands, but I am not one of them, so I will attribute the dimensions to the shortcomings of the model.
Compared to Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Screen
The smartphone uses a high-quality display: it has good viewing angles, no air gap, color reproduction is close to natural, the brightness range is above average. I liked the good oleophobic coating and high screen resolution. Automatic brightness is too aggressive, you have to manually tweak it.
Separately, I note the small side frames around the display, it feels like the glass is slightly bent at the edges, just a little bit, but the perception of the frames is completely different because of this.
But the upper and lower frames, traditionally for Sony, are large. Some may not like it, but I did not feel much discomfort during use.
Despite the large diagonal, the smartphone has a rather large interface, I would attribute this to the shortcomings of the model, but, fortunately, you can change the scaling and size of elements in the settings.
Sony traditionally delights with the ability to fine-tune the display. You can change the white balance yourself and choose from three color presets.
Operating system
Smartphone works under Android 7.0 and proprietary shell Xperia UI. Sony has plans to update it to 8.0, but so far the current firmware works on the "seven".
The Xperia UI changes the stock Android interface very neatly without changing the look of it too much. I like this approach. Recently, we have released detailed overview Xperia UI, be sure to read it if you want to know more about the smartphone.
Performance
The performance of the device, in my opinion, is the second weak point of the smartphone (after the dimensions). I've tested a number of FHD models running on the Helio P20, and in theory this chipset should support FHD just fine, but the XA1 Plus has a slight stutter when scrolling through the interface. This applies to both desktops and web browsers. third party applications. Let me suggest that the matter is rather a lack of optimization than a lack of power in the Helio P20. By the way, at your request, I am now running an additional test for the speed of RAM. His results are below.
Offline work
As I wrote above, the battery capacity with such a thickness and weight of a smartphone is surprising. However, let's not judge a book by its cover and look at the test results. And they, in general, are not bad: 10 hours in video mode, and 2% of the background discharge per night. Add to this that with everyday use, you can count on 4-5 hours of display on, and we get quite a good picture.
By the way, the smartphone supports fast charging using MediaTek Pump Express + 2.0 technology, the smartphone is fully charged in about 80-85 minutes.
Camera
Daytime shots on a smartphone are not bad, but artificial lighting and night shooting are much harder for him. Keep in mind that shots in this light will either be blurry or noisy. At night, the picture also turns out to be overexposed; manual mode decrease brightness.
Video shooting is common for this price segment, but the selfie camera pleased with the presence of autofocus. Sample pictures are below.
Wireless interfaces
But in terms of wireless interfaces, Sony can only be praised. Firstly, the smartphone supports the aptX codec, secondly, it has separate slots for a memory card and SIM cards, and thirdly, it has a full-fledged NFC module, which is rare for this price segment.
Conclusion
I had no complaints about the quality of speech transmission, you and your interlocutor hear each other perfectly. The external speaker is mono, but at the same time loud enough, you are unlikely to miss an incoming call or notification.
In retail for the Xperia XA1 Plus, they ask for 20 thousand rubles. For this money, the device turned out to be somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, it has many advantages: good time work, Type C port, NFC support, aptX wireless codec, high-quality display, separate slots for SIM cards and memory cards. On the other hand, there are also enough shortcomings: a thick and heavy body, average performance, not such a good camera.
In the sub-20K segment, the XA1 Plus has many competitors from Chinese companies, including conventional smartphones and newfangled full-screen ones. True, half of them do not have a Type C port and almost no one has an NFC module.
But the Chinese are not the only competitors for the XA1 Plus. Separately, it is worth highlighting Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 is a strong Korean opponent. J7 2017 also has an NFC module, better camera, and of the minuses, one can single out perhaps a microUSB port. And even on the trump card XA1 Plus, a separate slot for SIM and microSD, Samsung answers the same.
And what is the result? If you need a bunch of NFC + Type C + a separate slot + almost stock Android, while the dimensions and camera do not play a key role, then you should look towards the XA1 Plus. As soon as priorities shift, strong competitors immediately appear in the form of Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and Meizu.
In fact, Sony did almost everything perfectly, I would have worked a little on the dimensions and performance (I would have taken the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625), and an excellent device would have come out. Especially for geeks who appreciate all these little things like NFC, Type C and separate slots.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Pros: + 1080p display + 4GB of RAM + Good cameras at 23 and 8mp. + 2 sim - cards and a place for a memory card in one tray. + Sufficiently capacious, 3430 mAh battery. Enough for a day of active use with 80-85 percent display brightness. + Classic strict Sonkovskiy design. + Very convenient for working on the Internet. Large bright screen, all applications load quickly. No slowdowns were observed. + Relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages: - Quite heavy - The sensor at the edges of the screen does not always respond the first time. - Slim back plastic panel. Be sure to get a cover, otherwise it will be quickly scratched. - Of the built-in 32 GB, only 9 GB is occupied by the system, plus about 1-2 GB of default applications that cannot be deleted. As a result, about 21-22 GB remains for everything else. - As a gaming device, not so much. Most games, of course, run, but, for example, Remote play with PS4 will not work. Or the recently released Final Fantasy 15. The game just doesn't support this smartphone, although it passes the system requirements.
Comment: +- 5.5 inches. Big enough. But this is a matter of taste. To some, such a “shovel” may seem uncomfortable. +- Not the most powerful processor, but the price-quality ratio is very good. + - Android 8.0 (became available on 03/16/18), but 7.0 will be preinstalled, so you will have to update. + - The camera, although 23 mp, but only in a ratio of 4: 3. If you want 16:9, then be content with only 20mp. The situation is similar with the front. 8mp - 4:3 or 5mp - 16:9. + - C grade speaker. + - Not the most convenient fingerprint scanner. If your finger is even slightly wet, or if you suddenly cut yourself or scratched your skin, you will not be able to unlock it. Of course, you can add a few prints, but this usually does not save. You have to unlock it with a password. And if you do not have a branded case, then to turn on the smartphone, you will need to press the power button, and after that, once again bring your finger to the scanner to unlock it. Xperia XA1 Plus is a mid-range smartphone with a large FullHD display, good cameras, a capacious battery and a very good hardware. If you want a high-quality device, but you are simply not able to spend 50 or more thousand rubles on a flagship, then I definitely recommend it for purchase.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Advantages: 1. The undoubted main advantage is the sound. Over the years, I have had time to evaluate the sound of various manufacturers, and Sony definitely keeps the brand in this aspect. 2. Nice bright screen. Nothing "floats", is not smeared, the picture is juicy and clear even in bright daylight 3. Camera. Probably, there are smartphones with a better camera. But there are no complaints about both the main and the front. Bonus - a hardware button for easier shooting and quick access to the camera, as in older models. 4. The case is very pleasant to the touch. While I liked the textured back on the old ZL to help with grip, on the XA1+ the back is smooth and tends to slip in wet hands. 5. Nimble stuffing, Android 8.0 6. Pleasant glass. And by the way, not scratched, even lying in a pouch with keys.
Disadvantages: 1. Battery. Even with the vaunted "Stamina", with active use of the Internet and the player in the background, the battery starts to feel sad and discharged. However, enough for a day. Yes, these are the realities modern smartphones on Android, and it's hard to call it a minus of a particular model. 2. The sides of the screen are not always as convenient as they are beautiful. The screen is rounded on the sides and often you have to "get to the pixel", for example, when dragging shortcuts on the desktop to different screens. Perhaps it's just a matter of habit. Or maybe a stupid pursuit of fashion. 3. Again, it is difficult to call this a minus of a particular model, but the antenna (rarely!) Loses the signal literally out of the blue. So far, there have been no problems in conversations or Internet connection, but still.
Comment: Having tried various Android devices for several years, from the budget vaunted Xiaomi to the benchmark Samsung, I returned to Sony and was not disappointed. The XA1+ delivers everything that a typical flagship model promises, but it doesn't cost as much as a bar of gold. Well, the sound. I will take the liberty of saying that Sony gives the best sound quality on the market.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Pros: Beautiful case, very comfortable, no side bezels, screen colors, nothing superfluous in programs, print work is flawless and for me is in convenient place, communication and the Internet keeps excellent, two were installed at once system updates, contacts from the old Samsung transferred easily Xperia software Transfer, but it needs to be installed on both phones, this is for those who are not in the subject. I tested the game Asphalt on the phone, just with a bang at maximum speed, again the screen is impressive.
Disadvantages: The phone has no disadvantages, this is a real flagship, no matter what they say, the only thing you can complain about is that there is no possibility speed dial, I could not bind my favorite numbers to numbers, but there is a similar option with smart dialing, I need to try it.
Comment: I figured out both cameras in a day, the photos are very high quality, if you understand how the settings work, the sound in the headphones is excellent, but to listen to flac files you will need to download another player, and who needs a voice recorder, it is not in the programs and will need download very high quality from Sony - Audio Recorder. In comments about the phone, people write a lot of stupid things, apparently many have crooked hands and many simply don’t need to have such smartphones, buy something cheaper and easier, for example LG. And yet, maybe someone will be interested to hear about nano sim, on all new phones, the nests for nano sims have become even smaller than they were before and it will be necessary to carefully trim both sims, with my old nano sim I had to do this or maybe I just don’t know that new nano sims are already releasing smaller in size I will check this information later.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Artem Sokolov
Pros: Compared to my old one samsung note 2, which served me faithfully for 5 years. Gorgeous screen, battery (more than a day with active use), appearance (especially black), there are no unnecessary standard applications. Android, in my opinion, is more interesting than Samsung's. Communication, catches where the old bodies did not catch.
Cons: This is debatable. The camera lacks optical stabilization, the hand trembles a little and the photo is smeared in the same way in motion. And so, compared to my former samsung note 2, the pictures are juicy and better. The fingerprint scanner does not always scan the finger. I'll try to redo it, if anything I'll change the review. The sensor does not always respond to the bend of the screen. The sound volume is quieter than the old phone, the quality is just as good.
Comment: I do not consider the disadvantages to be significant, I was satisfied with the purchase. I will supplement the review with pictures from this phone.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Artyom Zakrin
Pros: Looking forward to Android 8.0 by 2018; Two slots for Sim-cards and separately for micro SD; Good Full HD image; Good camera 24mm f2.0; Capacious battery; Fast charging function; Good sound; The presence of a fingerprint scanner.
Disadvantages: Slippery body; The screen is quite scratched; Lack of a simple case and headphones; Judging by the indicators, it does not catch the connection well; There are slowdowns; Bright screen at minimum backlight; Bright bottom keys that are NOT built into the bottom band of the case.
Commentary: And now about everything. Two phones were purchased, so the review is shared by two users. For December, 2017 Android 7.0. In the future, an update to 8.0 is promised. Let's hope. It's good that you don't have to choose between Sim and SD cards. RAM is actually 3.7 GB. Usually free 1.0-1.5 GB. The screen is good, but not great. The white balance cannot be adjusted normally, only by three colors, which will not give much sense. You have to get used to BB. The contrast is good, the colors are pleasant, viewing photos is a pleasure. The 1920x1080 resolution does its job. But scratches on both phones appear with a bang. The camera is a separate big topic. It is very, very good. "Together with the processing algorithms, you will end up with nice photos. Shutter speeds from 1/4000s to 1s, ISO 50-1600. The flash light is moderately soft. The batteries last for the whole active day. After switching from 4000mAh, we thought it would be not enough, but everything is fine. For the PumpExpress + mode, you need to buy a special charger. Vibration by 3 out of 5. Sony stepped forward in sound. As a sacrifice to moisture resistance, the speaker became loud. There is an equalizer. You will be glad to have a fingerprint scanner! Try to take at least a minimal case early . The case is not grippy, the 5.5" dimensions tend to slip out of the hand. Also, remove all stickers immediately, otherwise traces will remain later. In large cities, communication for 1-2 divisions is 4x. Rarely there are 3 divisions. 4G is stable. Voice communication is not the best. Rarely, but software freezes are already slipping, including those associated with communication, and so programs / games work quickly. And here is the main disadvantage: the bottom three keys are on the screen, not on the case. Everything would be fine, but their brightness is not reduced programmatically and they must be called separately in full-screen mode of some program / game. At night, with a dim screen, three bright "spotlights" will gouge into your eyes.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Vitaly Penkov
Pros: Display, speaker volume, autonomy. Camera.
Cons: Haven't found one yet.
