Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra vs Motorola G Pure: A Budget Showdown

Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely compromise on features? The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra and the Motorola G Pure are both contenders in the budget market, but they offer very different experiences. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one comes out on top.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XA2 Ultra, despite its age, still holds a significant advantage thanks to its superior chipset, display, and exceptional battery life. The Motorola G Pure offers a more modern software experience and potentially better availability, but falls short in key performance areas. The XA2 Ultra is the clear winner for performance and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra Motorola G Pure
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - H3213, H4213, H4233HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3213, H42131, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat13 600/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2018, January. Released 2018, February2021, October 07
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 14
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions163 x 80 x 9.5 mm (6.42 x 3.15 x 0.37 in)167.4 x 75.6 x 8.8 mm (6.59 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM
Weight221 g (7.80 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
 -Water-repellent design
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 4-
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density)720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm)Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)
GPUAdreno 508PowerVR GE8320
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie)Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM
 -eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
Dual-13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/2.6", OIS, AF 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0"-
Features-HDR
Single-5 MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm
Video1080p@30ps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesNo
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted)
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC310W wired
TypeLi-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, Black, Blue, GoldDeep Indigo
ModelsH4213, H4233, H3213, H3223XT-2163-4, XT2163-4, XT2163-6, XT2163-1, XT2163-2
PriceAbout 260 EUR$ 63.99 / C$ 123.00
Tests
Audio quality Noise -67.7dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 100h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1562:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight)-
Loudspeaker Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 80dB-
Performance AnTuTu: 89110 (v7) GeekBench: 4198 (v4.4) GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

  • Exceptional Battery Life (100h)
  • Superior Chipset (Snapdragon 630)
  • Excellent Display Contrast
  • Refined Camera (Likely)
  • Compact Design

  • Older Device (Software Updates Limited)
  • Potentially Slower Charging (QC3)
  • Availability May Be Limited

Motorola G Pure

  • Very Affordable
  • Clean Android Experience
  • Readily Available
  • Larger Screen (Likely)

  • Weaker Chipset (Helio G25)
  • Subpar Display
  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Slow Charging (10W)

Display Comparison

The Xperia XA2 Ultra boasts a significantly better display. Its contrast ratio of 1562:1 (nominal) and impressive 3.445 sunlight readability are far superior to the G Pure's likely standard LCD panel. While the G Pure may have a larger screen, the XA2 Ultra's quality is the deciding factor.

Camera Comparison

While specific camera specs are not fully detailed, the XA2 Ultra likely offers a more refined camera experience due to Sony's image processing expertise. The G Pure's camera is expected to be adequate for casual snapshots, but won't compete with the XA2 Ultra's potential for better image quality and features.

Performance

Here, the XA2 Ultra shines. The Snapdragon 630 is a more powerful chipset than the Helio G25 in the G Pure. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a generally more responsive user experience on the Xperia. The G Pure will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding apps or games.

Battery Life

The Xperia XA2 Ultra's 100h endurance rating is astonishing and a major selling point. This vastly surpasses the G Pure's likely shorter battery life, even with its larger battery capacity, due to the less efficient chipset.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra? Users prioritizing battery life, a vibrant display, and a smoother overall experience, even if it means dealing with an older device. Who should buy the Motorola G Pure? Those seeking a very budget-friendly option with a clean Android experience and readily available support, accepting compromises in performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia XA2 Ultra still worth buying in 2024?
Yes, if battery life and performance are your priorities, the XA2 Ultra remains a surprisingly capable device. However, be aware of limited software updates.
❓ Which phone has the better software experience?
The Motorola G Pure likely offers a cleaner and more up-to-date Android experience, though the XA2 Ultra's UI is generally well-regarded.