Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra vs. Xperia XA2 Plus: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra and XA2 Plus were both mid-range contenders offering a premium feel at a reasonable price. But which one reigns supreme? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which phone is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XA2 Plus emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly improved battery life, faster charging (QC3), and a more modern chipset. While the XA1 Ultra boasts a slightly better sunlight display contrast, the XA2 Plus's overall enhancements make it the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra	Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (G3212, G3226)	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G3221, G3212	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G3221, G3212	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G3226	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4493

Launch
Announced	2017, February. Released 2017, May	2018, July. Released 2018, September
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum/plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	165 x 79 x 8.1 mm (6.50 x 3.11 x 0.32 in)	157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM (G3221, G3223)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G3212, G3226)	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	188 g (6.63 oz)	205 g (7.23 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density)	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size	6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53
Chipset	Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 (16 nm)	Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm)
GPU	Mali-T880MP2	Adreno 508
OS	Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 8.0 (Oreo)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF	23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF
Video	1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR

Selfie camera
Features	LED flash	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/2.6", OIS, AF	8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0"
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	10W wired	18W wired, QC3
Stand-by	Up to 658 h (2G) / Up to 708 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 12 h (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	White, Black, Gold, Pink	Silver, Black, Gold, Green
Models	G3226, G3221, G3212, G3223	H4413, H4493, H3413
Price	About 250 EUR	About 240 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 68h	Endurance rating 104h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1579 (nominal), 3.597 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 81dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB
Performance	GeekBench: 3807 (v4.4) GFXBench: 4fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8) GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra

Excellent sunlight display contrast
Good build quality
Decent camera (in good lighting)

Older chipset
Slower charging
Shorter battery life

Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

Significantly longer battery life
Faster charging (QC3)
More modern chipset (Snapdragon 630)
Improved performance

Slightly lower sunlight display contrast (though minimal)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant displays with excellent contrast ratios (1579:1 for XA1 Ultra, 1522:1 for XA2 Plus). The XA1 Ultra edges out the XA2 Plus slightly in sunlight readability (3.597 vs 3.445), making it marginally better for outdoor use. However, the difference is minimal and likely imperceptible to most users.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable between the two devices, both offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is a weakness for both. Specific camera specs are not detailed in the provided data, but reviews suggest the XA2 Plus has slightly improved image processing.

Performance

The XA2 Plus's Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset is a noticeable upgrade over the XA1 Ultra's Mediatek Helio P20. The Snapdragon 630 offers better overall performance, smoother multitasking, and improved efficiency. Expect snappier app launches and a more fluid user experience on the XA2 Plus.

Battery Life

This is where the XA2 Plus truly shines. Its endurance rating of 104h significantly surpasses the XA1 Ultra's 68h. Coupled with 18W fast charging (QC3), the XA2 Plus offers a vastly superior battery experience.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra? Users prioritizing exceptional sunlight readability and are comfortable with older hardware. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XA2 Plus? Anyone seeking longer battery life, faster charging, and a more responsive experience with a modern chipset.