Sony Xperia XA2 Plus vs Xperia 1: A Clash of Generations

Sony has a long history of producing compelling smartphones, and the Xperia XA2 Plus and Xperia 1 represent different eras of their design philosophy. The XA2 Plus was a mid-range champion focused on battery life, while the Xperia 1 aimed for a premium experience with a flagship processor and a unique display. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 is the clear winner overall. While the XA2 Plus boasts incredible battery life, the Xperia 1’s superior performance, stunning display, and more advanced camera system make it the better choice for most users, despite its shorter endurance. It's a flagship versus a solid mid-ranger.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XA2 Plus Sony Xperia 1
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H44131, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4493-
Launch
Announced2018, July. Released 2018, September2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 30
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in)167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight205 g (7.23 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 508Adreno 640
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo)Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF-
Triple-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR4K@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSilver, Black, Gold, GreenBlack, Gray, Purple, White
ModelsH4413, H4493, H3413J8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03L
PriceAbout 240 EURAbout 500 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB
Battery life Endurance rating 104h Endurance rating 79h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8) GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Affordable price
  • Good sunlight display performance

  • Outdated chipset
  • Mediocre camera
  • Lower screen resolution
  • Plastic build

Sony Xperia 1

  • Flagship performance
  • Stunning OLED display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Premium design
  • 21:9 aspect ratio

  • Shorter battery life compared to XA2 Plus
  • Higher price
  • Larger size

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1’s display is a significant upgrade. Its OLED panel offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a stunning 'infinite' contrast ratio. The 665 nits max brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The XA2 Plus has a respectable LCD display with a good contrast ratio (1522:1 nominal, 3.445 in sunlight), but it lacks the punch and vibrancy of the OLED panel. The Xperia 1 also features a 21:9 aspect ratio, offering a unique cinematic viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 1’s camera system is more versatile and capable. While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Xperia 1’s hardware and image processing are far superior, offering better low-light performance, dynamic range, and overall image quality. The XA2 Plus camera is decent for casual snapshots, but it doesn't compete with the Xperia 1's flagship-level capabilities.

Performance

The Xperia 1’s Snapdragon 855 chipset is a powerhouse compared to the XA2 Plus’s Snapdragon 630. The 855 offers significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking. Gaming performance is dramatically improved on the Xperia 1. The XA2 Plus is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding applications and games.

Battery Life

The XA2 Plus shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 104 hours is exceptional, significantly outperforming the Xperia 1’s 79 hours. However, the Xperia 1’s battery is larger, and the difference in endurance is less pronounced when considering real-world usage patterns.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Xperia XA2 Plus? Budget-conscious users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a compact form factor. Who should buy the Sony Xperia 1? Users seeking a premium Android experience with a vibrant display, powerful performance, and a versatile camera system, willing to pay a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 worth the extra cost over the XA2 Plus?
Yes, if you value performance, a premium display, and a better camera. The Xperia 1 offers a significantly improved user experience.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia 1 is far superior for gaming due to its powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset and better cooling system.