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Sony Xperia XA Ultra review

6.8/10 AVG.
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Sony Xperia XA Ultra
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
...


6.8/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia XA Ultra currently has an Informr score of 6.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 4 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Amazing front-facing camera
  • microSD support
  • Large, bright display
  • Premium design

What's bad

  • Not powerful enough for gaming
  • Weak, slow-charging battery

With the Xperia XA Ultra, Sony is diving headfirst into the mid-tier phablet market. But a large screen doesn’t mean much if the hardware can’t keep up.

Reviews of this whopper of a phone are rolling in. Let’s see what they have to say!

Cramming a 6-inch display into a phone is not easy. However, reviewers loved Sony’s design. They noted that the metal frame added a sturdy feel while the plastic back felt upscale and provided extra grip. Indian Express declared, “I liked the overall design and feel of the phone. It gives you the confidence you would expect from a Sony phone. Everything from the power button to the flap that holds the dual-SIM slots have been crafted to last and it shows.”

Flip the phone over and you’re greeted by a 6-inch 1080p IPS display. Reviewers raved over the lack of side bezels--a feature rare even on flagship phones. Reviews of the screen itself are equally positive. Android Pit noted, “For multimedia, the XA Ultra screen is above average, the viewing angles are really good. However, sometimes the experience with the white balance is not satisfactory.”

Pushing all those pixels, you’ll find a 2GHz octa-core MediaTek processor paired with 3GB of RAM. GSM Arena summed up performance reviews, saying, “The Sony Xperia XA Ultra handles apps and daily tasks smoothly, but it isn't the phone for serious gaming.”

While the screen is ideal for watching movies, you might have trouble fitting movies on the phone along with your apps and games with the 16GB of storage provided. Fortunately, microSD support makes adding space easy and affordable.

The phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Sony’s additions are minimal, though reviews did note a handful of apps that you cannot uninstall.

Sony’s 21MP rear camera and 16MP front-facing selfie shooter thrilled reviewers. Phone Arena noted that the rear camera “[Offered] a great level of detail, mostly correct white balance, and little visible noise or other visual aberrations.” Both cameras offer optical image stabilization, an LED flash and autofocus. The rear camera also features hybrid focus. GSM Arena dubbed the front-facing camera “the most impressive selfie cam Sony has ever made.”

Battery life didn’t receive the same treatment. With a 2,700mAh battery, the phone offers less power than some newer 5-inch phones. Despite this, it still lasted a day for most reviewers--if only just. Phone Arena noted, “Not only is the battery small at just 2,700mAh, but in our own experience, it is capped at about a day of usage.” Reviewers were also critical of charge times, with a full charge taking more than 2 hours.

Overall, apart from battery issues, reviewers had no problem recommending the phone. Indian Express summed up opinions well, saying, “The Xperia XA Ultra seems a value buy for those who consider the camera, screen and battery as their main priorities. There might be other phones that do better on sheer performance in this range, but they would have had to cut corners on the other three fronts.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6"
21+ MP, f/2.2
Camera
Camera
21+ MP, f/2.2
2700 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


The Indian Express
The Indian Express

Sony Xperia XA Ultra aimed at those who are looking for premium specifications and features in the mid range.

- Nandagopal Rajan, The Indian Express
AndroidPIT
AndroidPIT

This smartphone is designed for those who really want to get all the potential that a front camera can offer.

- Camila Rinaldi, AndroidPIT
GSMArena
GSMArena

The Xperia XA Ultra looks to be a much better value than what you could expect on paper. Sony, there's no shame in having a great mid-ranger. The Sony Xperia XA Ultra is great, so please get it a matching chunk of that Xperia X advertising budget. It deserves it!

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

Devices as large as these are certainly not our cup of tea, but credit where credit's due: for lovers of humongous smartphones, the Xperia XA Ultra is a great offer at a reasonable price.

- Chris P., PhoneArena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia XA Ultra user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia XA Ultra with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia XA Ultra has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
6"

The Sony Xperia XA Ultra's screen size is 6 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a MediaTek MT6755 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
21+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 21+ MP, f/2.2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 16+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 20 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2700mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2700 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 796 minutes, 470 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia XA Ultra Specs

Overview
Release Date June 30, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor MediaTek MT6755 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.27 W/kg
Body: 0.37 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 20 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
21+ Megapixels, f/2.2
Zoom
5x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, DivX, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Auto focus, ISO, Front camera flash
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 367 pixels
Size 6 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2700 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 497 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 470 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 796 minutes
Standby Time Up to 29.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Graphite Black, White, Lime Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 16.4 x 7.9 x 0.8 cm (6.5 x 3.1 x 0.3 in)
Weight 202 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony F3211, F3213, F3215
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia XA Ultra Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia XA Ultra
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