Xperia x a. Review of the Sony Xperia XA smartphone: modest charm
Stylish design, pleasant and comfortable to hold in your hand, bright and rich screen, fast in operation - does not slow down, decent cameras with a bunch of different settings, powerful flashlight.
Cons
Discharges quickly, very delicate plastic on the back, low volume in the headphones, lack of a fingerprint scanner.
Review
I read a lot of reviews and watched reviews about this smartphone, and finally decided to buy it. The first disadvantage manifested itself literally “without leaving the checkout” - the plastic of the back cover turned out to be so not resistant to scratches that they appeared already in the process of the store employee sticking the film on the screen! Grab your case right away! By the way, if you buy a film for the ENTIRE screen, then due to the rounded edges it will be problematic to stick it yourself without skill, besides, these films are silicone, which complicates the sticking process. During operation, the device proved to be quite worthy, it works clearly and quickly, without freezing. 2GB of RAM is enough for me personally. We were pleased with the cameras, both the main one and the front one; the main one has many settings and additions. I'm pleased with the quality of the photos. The battery is of course rather weak, even despite several energy saving modes, if you actively use it for the whole day, of course the charge will not be enough. I was pleased that the smartphone is not overloaded with various unnecessary applications like other manufacturers, but still out of the declared 16 GB. almost half is occupied by the system. The sound in the headphones is very quiet, if you travel in public transport the volume is sorely insufficient, you don’t even need to turn it on in the subway. To be honest, I didn’t expect this from anyone, but I didn’t expect this from SONY. But the sound quality is ideal, and there are many settings to improve it. There are no complaints about the quality of communication, everything is picked up very clearly and the interlocutor can be heard perfectly well during a conversation. Each device has its pros and cons, but I did not regret at all that I purchased the Sony Xperia XA Dual SIM, although it seems to me that the price is somewhat overpriced for such a smartphone. But this is SONY. Well, in general, if you take it, I think you won’t regret it.
We wrote about this smartphone in the news and, we talked about it on the radio and buzzed each other's ears in the editorial office. And finally he got to us, and we got to write a review about him. Let's go.
Sony Xperia XA is the junior model in the reborn Xperia family, for which the letter X has now been chosen. We have already written about the main device within the framework of the new concept - the mid-price segment smartphone Xperia X. It has on board a filling that is slightly below the top level, but with In this case, it flaunts a metal body, a fingerprint scanner and other signs of a flagship. XA is noticeably simpler: with the same diagonal (5 inches), the display here has a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, the system-on-chip is MediaTek Helio P10, the main camera is 13-megapixel, there is no fingerprint scanner, and the body is plastic. This is compensated by the low price - 22-23 thousand rubles, depending on the number of SIM cards used. In principle, almost everyone has released similar devices - the latest one you can remember is Huawei P9 lite, and earlier both Samsung and LG resorted to similar tactics.
But in this case, Sony decided not only to simplify its older model as much as possible and sell it cheaper, but also to package it beautifully - the Xperia XA is very different in design from the Xperia X / X Performance. And, I must say, for the better.
⇡ Specifications
| Sony Xperia XA | Sony Xperia X | Sony Xperia M5 | LG X cam | Samsung Galaxy A5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5 inches, IPS, 1280 × 720 pixels, 294 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | 5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 441 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | 5.2 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | 5.2 inches, Super AMOLED, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | |
| Safety glass | Yes, manufacturer unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass (version not specified) on both sides | |
| CPU | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 2 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 (two ARM Cortex-A72 cores, 1.8 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.4 GHz) | Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.95 GHz) | Mediatek MT6753 (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.3 GHz) | Samsung Exynos 7580 Octa (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.6 GHz) |
| Graphics controller | ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 700MHz | Adreno 510, 550 MHz | Imagination Technologies PowerVR Rogue G6200, 500 MHz | ARM Mali-T720, 550 MHz | ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 600 MHz |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 GB | 32/64 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | Eat | Eat | Eat | Eat | Eat |
| Connectors | microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack | microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack | microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack | microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack | microUSB, 3.5 mm minijack |
| SIM cards | One nanoSIM/two nanoSIM | One nanoSIM/two nanoSIM | One nanoSIM | Two microSIM | Two nanoSIM |
| Cellular connection 2G | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz |
| Cellular 4G | LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 | LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 | LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s): bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | LTE Cat. 6 (up to 300 Mbit/s): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| NFC | Eat | Eat | Eat | No | Eat |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) |
Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer |
Proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass) |
| Fingerprint scanner | No | Eat | No | No | Eat |
| Main camera | 13 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording | 23 MP, ƒ/2.0, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording | 21.2 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording | 13 MP, ƒ /2.2, hybrid autofocus, LED flash, Full HD video recording; additional 5 MP camera with wide-angle optics | 13 MP, ƒ /1.9, autofocus, LED flash, optical stabilization system, Full HD video recording |
| Front camera | 8 MP, autofocus | 13 MP, fixed focus | 12.6 MP, autofocus | 8 MP, fixed focus | 5 MP, fixed focus |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery 8.5 Wh (2300 mAh, 3.8 V) |
Non-removable battery 9.96 Wh (2620 mAh, 3.8 V) |
Non-removable battery 9.88 Wh (2600 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable 9.58 Wh battery (2520 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery 11.02 Wh (2900 mAh, 3.8 V) |
| Size | 143.6 × 66.8 × 7.9 mm | 142.7 × 69.2 × 7.9 mm | 145 × 72 × 7.6 mm | 147 × 74 × 6.9 mm | 145 × 71 × 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 138.8 grams | 153 grams | 143 grams | 118 grams | 155 grams |
| Housing protection | No | No | IP65 and IP68 Up to half an hour at a depth of 1.5 m |
No | No |
| operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Sony Xperia shell | Android 5.1 Lollipop, Sony Xperia shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, LG Optimus UI shell | Android 5.1 Lollipop, Samsung TouchWiz shell | |
| Current price | 21,990 rubles (version with one SIM card), 22,990 rubles (version with two SIM cards) | 39,990 rubles (version with one SIM card), 40,990 rubles (version with two SIM cards) | 26,990 rubles | 24,000 rubles | 23,990 rubles |
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Sony Xperia XA - information about the filling according to the CPU Z application |
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⇡ Appearance and ergonomics
In some ways, the Sony Xperia XA resembles the Samsung Galaxy S6 / S7 edge, only “with a human face”, without curved edges and a display “floating” on them. But the effect is similar - the complete absence of frames around the screen makes the gadget visually light. The display is already small - five inches, and the fact that it doesn’t take up too much space to place it in the body seems to take us back to the days of small “one-handed” smartphones.
In addition, the Sony Xperia XA is made of plastic - this will certainly turn some people away from buying - we are already getting used to the fact that not only flagships are made of metal, but also devices in the low and mid-price categories. But the plastic case weighs less - the XA weighs only 138.8 grams. This, of course, is not this year’s absolute record holder Xiaomi Mi5 with its 118 grams, but in fact we are dealing with a very light and compact smartphone. By the way, as a result, it also seems thin and airy, as I noted above, but this is already an illusion: the body thickness is 7.9 millimeters - like the Xperia X and more than many competitors. But using the gadget is very pleasant - this is precisely why the public at MWC 2016 fell in love with it.
The Xperia XA is available in four colors: graphite black, white, signature gold lime color and the now standard rose gold. As you can see from the photographs, we had graphite black - and this is perhaps the least impressive design of the device.
Sony Xperia XA, top edge: mini-jack (3.5 mm) for headphones or a headset and a second microphone
The device is given additional charm by the recently branded round power button. This is another advantage of the Xperia XA, which grows out of its disadvantage - the absence of a fingerprint scanner, which is standard for Sony, is built into the gadget activation button, made it possible to install a round key. Because of it, the button turned out to be long, but here it is not - and the designers returned to the round key that was loved by many.
The Sony Xperia XA smartphone, which appeared in 2016, is the youngest device in the line, and accordingly, the most affordable in price. It has relatively good hardware and an attractive frameless design, but is completely devoid of protection from water and dust. If you try hard, you can find it for 310 USD. This is the minimum cost and is current at the time of this review.
There are a total of 5 modifications of this smartphone. The differences lie in the number of SIM cards, as well as in the frequency range of 4G networks. This review will discuss the dual-SIM model Sony Xperia XA (F3112), which is relevant for the domestic market. Let's see what this smartphone is like and whether it's worth spending at least $310 on it.
Specifications Sony Xperia XA (F3112)
For the most part, the characteristics are average; only the memory capacity and battery capacity do not fit into the general concept.
Design
Appearance is the calling card of this device. It looks elegant and attractive, your hands are drawn to touch it. Due to the not very huge screen and very modest side frames, the body turned out to be quite narrow.
As a result, it is easy to hold and convenient to operate with one hand. The neat rounding at the ends of the rear panel is also repeated by the front part: this is facilitated by rounded 2.5D glass.
The buyer is free to choose between classic and modern body colors: black and white, or lime gold and rose gold. On the right side there are controls: buttons for volume control, camera launch and a round power button.
On the left side edge there is a flap under which separate slots for a flash drive and a SIM card are hidden. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top edge, the MicroUSB port is on the bottom.
The body is made of matte plastic: a disappointment for those who are used to metal smartphones from Sony. However, there is nothing wrong with plastic, plus the device, in addition to its compactness, boasts a modest weight: 138.8 g.
The assembly is generally not bad, but if you pick too hard, you can find a gap between the display and the frames - an excellent place for collecting dust. Dimensions: 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm.
CPU
The smartphone uses a fairly powerful 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10 processor with a Mali-T860 MP2 graphics chip. The system-on-chip consists of 8 Cortex-A53 cores; at maximum loads, the frequency can reach 2 GHz. As a result, the device's performance level is more than sufficient for solving trivial tasks and for entertainment. The AntuTu synthetic performance test gives the hardware a score of 48 thousand points, which is average.
Under prolonged intense loads, significant heating of the case is observed, in the area of the NFC tag. In most cases, this does not cause a decrease in productivity, but it does not reduce the discomfort in the hand.
Memory
RAM 2 GB – I would like more in such a device. But this volume is enough to ensure good performance when launching several applications and while working with them. The volume of the built-in storage is also not the most impressive - 16 GB, of which approximately 10 GB is available. However, support for memory cards with a capacity of up to 200 GB expands the possibilities for installing games and storing multimedia content.
Autonomous operation
The capacity of the non-removable battery installed in the device is 2300 mAh. Not enough, but besides battery capacity, optimization is important, which, apparently, is completely absent from the Xperia XA. Taking into account the energy-efficient OS and processor, as well as the low screen resolution, during normal use the device will be discharged before evening. In video viewing mode at the maximum display brightness level, the battery lasts a maximum of 4 hours. In 3D games under the same conditions, the smartphone is discharged in 2 hours.
The activated Stamina mode in this particular device barely noticeably affects battery life for the better (by 10 percent). And Ultra Stamina turns the smartphone almost into a regular dialer, so significant battery savings in this case do not bring much joy.
Camera
The main 13-megapixel photo module Exmor RS IMX-258, with an individual pixel size of 1.12 microns, has an f/2.0 aperture, complemented by a single flash. SteadyShot technology stabilizes the picture in shaking conditions. Of course, nothing better than optical stabilization has yet been invented, but it’s better with SteadyShot than without it. Phase detection autofocus with subject tracking can significantly reduce the number of blurry shots. Focusing will take no more than a second, even in poor lighting.
The physical camera launch button also acts as a shutter release, and focusing is performed when pressed incompletely. The camera interface is the same as in previous Xperias. There are different modes, including HDR and some manual settings. The quality of the resulting photographs is pleasing, however, it greatly depends on the shooting conditions.
The capabilities of the photomodule are most fully revealed in good lighting conditions. The pictures are detailed, with a decent dynamic range even without HDR, and with correct color rendition. If there is a significant lack of light, the active noise reduction is activated, which causes a loss of detail. Handheld Twilight mode partially improves the situation.
Video shooting is done in FullHD, at 30 FPS. The quality of the videos is decent, but nothing extraordinary. The 8-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture allows you to take very good, detailed pictures. The lens is wide-angle, so several people can easily fit into the frame. But the main thing is the presence of full autofocus.
Display
Sony Xperia XA is equipped with a 5-inch display with an IPS matrix. Many will be surprised by the screen resolution: only HD (1280 x 720), at such and such a price. However, there is nothing wrong with this. With a pixel density of 294 ppi, the image is clear, with smooth lines of the interface and fonts. In addition, if there were a FullHD matrix, the charge level would probably melt before our eyes. The maximum brightness level is normal, the image remains readable in the sun.
Viewing angles are good, but when tilted at 30 degrees or more, the image fades a little and colors may be distorted. Multitouch is designed for 4 touches. Mobile BRAVIA Engine technology is supported, due to which, when viewing multimedia, the picture visually appears more contrasting, rich, with natural black color. There is a “fly in the ointment”: there is no oleophobic layer, the finger has difficulty sliding across the glass, and fingerprints are collected instantly.
Networking capabilities
The smartphone supports 2 SIM, works in 2G, 3G and 4G networks in all major bands. The traditional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 network modules have not gone away. They are complemented by NFC support. Navigation capabilities: GPS, A-GPS and GLONASS. All of the above communications work stably, without any complaints.
Sound
The main speaker grille is located on the bottom edge. The playback volume is average, you can hear perfectly indoors, but in noisy places (subway, etc.) there is a chance of missing a call. As for quality, the sound is clear, with a predominance of high and mid frequencies, without a hint of bass. The sound in the headphones is simply excellent - clean, deep, but the maximum volume reserve is relatively low. There is an additional microphone for noise reduction.
Software part
Initially, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS is installed on the smartphone. The system shell is modified by Sony developers, and the standard list of applications is supplemented by proprietary software from the manufacturer. In general, the system works quite quickly, the interface looks nice, in unison with the design of the case. You can change themes and download new ones. Unless Sony changes its policy in the future, the device will receive the latest versions of the OS.
Individual characteristics
Of all the features of this device, the most interesting feature so far can be considered the minimal side frames. Frameless design is the future, and soon it will no longer be a curiosity.
Pros and cons of Sony Xperia XA
Advantages:
- Attractive design, almost no side frames;
- Good cameras;
- Separate slots for Dual SIM and MicroSD.
Flaws:
- Very poor autonomy;
- There is no oleophobic layer on the glass;
- No fingerprint scanner;
- The case gets noticeably hot.
Who is a smartphone suitable for?
An excellent find for those who do not care about price and autonomy. The main thing is that the smartphone is branded, has good characteristics, looks chic, and you can take excellent selfies using the front camera. The problem with fast discharge is unlikely to be of particular concern to those who are constantly located close to an outlet - at home or in the office. And if you need to go somewhere, it won’t be difficult for women to throw a Power Bank into their purse.
Our review of the Sony Xperia XA smartphone
Buying a Sony Xperia XA can hardly be called a rational decision if your priority is to purchase the most functional device for a reasonable price. You can argue for a long time whether this is a good smartphone or a bad one, but it is clearly designed for a specific target audience. And this audience will be delighted to own it.
An inexpensive smartphone from Sony (22,990 rubles for the Dual version) with an interesting design, LTE, two separate slots for SIM cards, a slot for a memory card - a good gadget for the money...
Characteristics
- Case materials: plastic, metal, glass
- Operating system: Android 6.0
- Network: GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (nanoSIM)
- Screen: IPS LCD, 5”, capacitive, HD, automatic backlight level adjustment
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P10 8-core 64-bit processor
- Graphics system: Mali t860
- RAM: 2 GB
- Data storage memory: 16 GB, microSD memory card slot
- Main camera: 1/3-inch 13-megapixel Sony Exmor RS sensor, LED flash, fullHD video,
- Front camera: 8 MP
- Interfaces: 3.5 mm for headset, NFC
- Navigation: GPS/Glonass (A-GPS support)
- Additionally: FM radio, fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0)
- Features: LTE supported, FM radio, two SIM card slots and one separate microSD slot
- Battery: 2300 mAh, supports fast charging
- Dimensions: 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm
Scope of delivery
- Smartphone
- USB cable
- Charger
Design, construction
The appearance of the device is simply a delight, and that is why the Sony Xperia XA is sure to gain some popularity this summer; the relatively small and inexpensive smartphone has arrived just in time, in the summer, when many want something compact for their shorts pockets. Girls will also like the gadget, the colors “golden lime” and “rose gold” are very popular now, and thanks must be given to Apple - pink, new black and new gray for gadgets, it is simply impossible not to release a device in this color now. At our first glance, it was just such a device.
The smartphone also reminded me of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray; there is something in common in the size and shape of the case.
Although in terms of price it is, of course, not Ray at all, the Sony Xperia XA is already inexpensive at launch and fills a very important niche now, a sort of “budget plus segment” - basic characteristics, but a good design. Therefore, communicating with a smartphone is like walking through a minefield, looking for where the savings are, and finding them.
Well, here, take the materials. The back cover is made of plastic, fingers do not slip, but scratches are clearly visible, I accidentally put it in my pocket with the keys, and hello, there are several at the bottom. The inserts on the ends are made of metal, under the flap there are full-fledged two slots for nanoSIM and one slot for microSD - there is no need to cut anything off or go to any tricks, it’s nice. The familiar cool button on the right, but there is no fingerprint sensor, the volume rocker could have been made longer - but there is a camera button.
The speaker at the bottom is loud in a quiet room, but somewhere outside you can miss a call, the microUSB connector has no plugs, and on the back there is an NFC area, flash and camera. There is no protection from water, nor from dust, so be careful on the beaches. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top end, so take care of the device in the rain, drops can easily get inside during a call.
Device dimensions - 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm. So why is design good? As you know, this is always a very subjective question, some people like it, some don't, but I can try to explain why people like XA. Firstly, there is a screen without frames and glass with rounded ends, for many this is already a kind of marker - something new and interesting. Secondly, the smartphone has a minimum of decorations and Sony applications - but the wallpapers and icons are well chosen. Thirdly, it seems like a budget device, but here you have Xperia Care, and Sony Xperia Store, and Xperia Lounge - a person feels care and a certain exclusivity from the first minutes. It's funny to you, but are there such services in other smartphones in this price category? Then, here you can really get a discount on a speaker or accessories; the Lounge is worth a look. I also tried the service for transferring data from Xperia to Xperia, it doesn’t work very well with applications, not all of them were installed, but dragging photos, videos and contacts helps.
Another thing I noticed is that the Sony Xperia XA is completely flat! There is no camera protruding, no buttons protruding (only on the side), and therefore it is convenient to use, convenient to put in and take out of your pocket, comfortable to hold in your hand during a conversation - your finger clings to the rough back part and does not slip. It also seems like a trifle, but you know, it’s the little things that make up the impression of a thing.
The Sony Xperia XA has a wonderful design, there are no questions at all, and this is a big plus of the device among other gadgets in this price category.
Display
As soon as I removed the film, I noticed that the glass did not have an oleophobic coating, my finger stumbled, it is most convenient to perform some operations by pressing a fingernail or even a stylus to the screen. Please note that films or glasses for XA are still crooked, that is, they cover the front part and leave the ends open, it looks terrible, it is better not to buy anything than to buy something like this. And keep in mind one more thing: the lack of an oleophobic coating affects not only when simply moving through the menu, but also when entering from keyboards that support swipe, you cannot quickly move your finger. The difference with any smartphone that has a coating is obvious - even if it’s a well-worn iPhone 6S Plus, where it’s almost worn off and fingerprints appear instantly. Fingerprints on the Sony Xperia XA are also clearly visible on both the front and back, so a device in white, gold or pink will look best and neatest.
The diagonal of the IPS display is 5 inches, the resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels, the rounded ends have a positive effect on the impression - the light indicator on top seems to float in the air, the display seems to have no frames, formally they still exist, albeit almost invisible. I believe that many will rush to buy the Sony Xperia XA, having licked their lips at the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, of course, there are more functions, completely different characteristics, but the glass is also rounded! “So it’s almost the same!” - I’m quoting here the consumer thoughts I overheard in the store. It’s both funny and sad, and the price encourages you to buy. Of course, it’s not the same at all - I would advise you to try working with the screen on samples in showrooms before purchasing.
So, the screen characteristics are not the best, but the display size is small, so during normal use the HD resolution is not noticeable. Although, if you look closely at the clock, the icons... In general, it’s better not to look at anything and just use the device. Although when viewed from the side the screen fades.
I don’t know if this is Sony’s design work or a common thing for Android, but the calendar has very funny pictures for each month, it’s cool and intelligently drawn. The music player has its own design, its own wallpaper, themes, several applications, but, like the Z5 series, it has taken a course towards reducing third-party software - few utilities, pure Android, a minimum of “improvers”, many people like it.
I believe that oleophobic coating in 2016 is necessary for a device at any price point.
Modifications and performance
Let me remind you that the two main modifications, XA (F3111) and XA Dual (F3112), use nanoSIM; in the version with two SIM cards, you can use two cards and a microSD memory card without dancing with a tambourine, separate slots. I personally like the Dual version better, and the price difference is small.
Android 6.0 operating system, MediaTek Helio P10 processor, Mali t860 is responsible for graphics, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory - it’s better to immediately count on a microSD card. Sony doesn't forget to include a radio, which some people really like. The default music formats supported are MP3, 3GPP, MP4, SMF, WAV, OTA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, ASF. Profile Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi MIMO, NFC,
LTE is supported, with MegaFon everything worked as expected.
Opening hours
The battery capacity is 2300 mAh, among the features it is stated to work for two days, the Sony Xperia XA has the familiar STAMINA and Ultra STAMINA modes, the first disables only some features (GPS, vibration, regular synchronization is disabled, etc.), the second simply turns off connecting to the network in all ways, telephone, SMS and a number of the most necessary programs work, although I would argue with some. For example, you can definitely do without a radio. Both functions can be enabled independently, and in order to achieve two days of work, you will have to do this; in simple mode it is not possible. The smartphone works for a day under normal load, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on; if you want more, learn to use the standard energy-saving functions, reduce the backlight. You know everything yourself.
The kit comes with a regular charger; using the UCH12 power supply, you can enjoy the benefits of fast charging - 10 minutes of connection to the network, 5.5 hours of operation. Convenient if you are somewhere in the city, but then you will have to fork out for UCH12. Quick Charge 3.0 (Class A) technologies from Qualcomm and Pump Express+ 2.0 from MediaTek are supported; charging works not only with X, XA, but also with the Z5, Z3 series. The price of the charger in Russia is still unknown.
Cameras
Front camera 8 MP, main 13 MP Sony Exmor RS, LED flash. There is support for HDR, hybrid autofocus, some functions like five-fold Clear Image zoom came here from the Sony Xperia Z5 - but it’s better to do without zooming. It’s not clear why the device doesn’t remember the set parameters; let’s say, I chose manual settings, maximum resolution, took a few pictures, went to the menu, then started the camera again, and there it was in auto mode again. And you constantly have to go into the settings, switch between 13 MP and square frames and 9 MP and pictures with a normal aspect ratio. In general, this has been the case at Sony for a long time - and also, if you start the camera from a button, you can’t change the settings as you wish. 
The video looks like this.
The front camera is 8 MP, wide-angle, with autofocus, several people can fit into the frame.
In the additional menu you can install various applications for the camera, but keep in mind that this is not a flagship, and some add-ons will work slowly.
I liked the speed of autofocus and camera launch.
Conclusions
Prices so far are as follows: 21,990 rubles for the version with one SIM card, 22,990 rubles for DualSIM, not bad.
The vibration is felt in your pocket, the reception quality seemed worse to me than with the same SIM card in the iPhone 6S Plus, but, of course, the devices cannot be compared, different prices, different worlds.
A simple question, is it possible to live with the Sony Xperia XA after the flagship expensive devices? Eh, if only they had added an oleophobic coating, there would have been no questions at all - this is my biggest complaint against the company. The smartphone called XA is beautiful, fast, has a good camera, and “empty” Android will appeal to those who are used to setting everything up themselves. It’s good that the DualSIM version has two slots, and it’s good that they didn’t forget about the slot for memory cards. I advise owners to immediately find a suitable film or glass; the UCH12 charger will also come in handy.
To answer the question above, it’s quite possible to live with XA.
Smartphone Sony Xperia X (F5122) - review
I am often reproached for the fact that I, as a fan of smartphones with large displays, very rarely review smartphones with a diagonal of up to 5". This is true, they are not particularly interesting to me, especially since smartphones with a small diagonal are usually also quite puny, and in almost all components: platform, sound, camera, battery, and so on. And there are users who are very annoyed by this approach of manufacturers, because they need a good, powerful smartphone, but with a small display, and the choice in this segment is with such. The requirements are very, very small. In this review, we will look at one of these options - a small smartphone that actually has flagship characteristics. This is the Sony Xperia X - a phone with a 5" diagonal.
Display: 5", 1920×1080, FullHD, 2.5D, IPS, 441 PPI
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 650
GPU: Adreno 510
RAM: 3 GB
Flash memory: 32 (64 for Dual SIM) GB
Memory card: microSD up to 200 GB
Fingerprint scanner: No
IR port: There is
Net: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS, HDSPA/HSUPA, LTE
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
Camera: 23 megapixels, predictive autofocus, flash
Front camera: 13 megapixels
Ports: microUSB, audio jack
Navigation: GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS
SIM card: nanoSIM
Battery: 2620 mAh, non-removable
Dimensions: 143 × 69 × 7.9 mm
Weight: 153 g
Additionally: proximity, light, pressure sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass
Case colors: black, silver, gold, rose gold
Price: 36-41 thousand rubles on Yandex.Market There is also a Dual SIM version, which has 64 GB of internal memory. This is what the body color options look like.
There are also several more modifications of the Xperia X. These are the cheaper Xperia XA (weaker platform, worse specifications and HD display), the more powerful Xperia X Performance on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, which has protection from dust and water, and the hefty Xperia XA Ultra with a display 6 "FullHD on MediaTek MT6755. Scope of delivery The packaging is a strict white box with a bright Sony inscription and a barely noticeable Xperia X inscription. 
The equipment is extremely ascetic: smartphone, power adapter, USB-microUSB cable. 
On the other hand, what else is needed there? A headset? All these bundled headsets are usually of very low quality, and almost no one uses them. At the same time, they increase the cost of the kit. So what the hell? Another thing is that, for example, Apple equips iPhones with really high-quality Earpods, and so many people use them. Power adapter - 5V and 1.5A. 
By the way, this smartphone supports fast charging according to the Qualcom QuickCharge 3.0 standard, but for it you will have to buy a UCH12 adapter from Sony. Appearance and features
The design of the Sony Xperia X is traditional and expected. Sony generally does not indulge users with variety in design, and the Xperia X is no exception. The body is made of painted aluminum alloy, the display is covered with tempered glass with rounded edges. The ends are slightly rounded, but it is quite convenient to take the phone from the table with one hand, and it also fits very well and is grippy in the hand. 
There are inconspicuous plastic inserts for antennas only at the bottom end; the back cover also does not contain any plastic inserts - it is made of aluminum alloy. The camera eye is located in the upper left corner, and this is an unfortunate position, because during shooting the eye can accidentally be closed with a finger, which Happened to me several times. 
What’s interesting is that this smartphone has no holes for the speaker at all. Right side from bottom to top: camera call button (I warmly welcome such things), volume rocker and power button. 
I didn't like the movement of the buttons at all. Well, okay - the camera, in any case, it requires a long press so that there are no accidental triggers. The volume rocker is inconveniently located, has an extremely small and very indistinct movement. The power button is even stranger. At first I thought that it, like the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, had a built-in fingerprint scanner, which is why the button became so inconvenient (and in older Xperia models it was done very well), but there is no scanner here, and the button is creepy uncomfortable in itself: not only does it not rise above the surface, but it is also slightly recessed. Why this was done is completely incomprehensible to me personally. The top end is an audio output and a second microphone for noise reduction 
The left end is the insert plug for the SIM card and memory card. 
Well, the bottom end has a microUSB output and a microphone. 
Well, here's the Xperia X next to the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Lenovo Note 5. 
The smartphone looks good, but, let’s say, without any zest, the materials and assembly are, as expected, of very high quality. The control buttons here are traditionally on-screen, and they are also quite large, so they occupy a considerable part of the screen area.
I also really don’t like the fact that here, as in other Sony smartphones, you cannot swap “Return” and “List of running applications”, and in principle, no combination can be used to call up the “Menu”. On the one hand, this is experienceable, but very inconvenient. It’s fine when the buttons are located on the bottom panel and cannot be reconfigured (although, for example, HTC’s are reconfigured), but since they are already on-screen, why can’t they be reconfigured? For example, I am very used to the fact that “Return” is on the right. Actually, almost all smartphones have it on the right, and only Sony has it on the left - and this cannot be changed. Annoying. However, Sony users probably quickly get used to this and don’t like it when the return is on the right. (But for right-handers, return by definition should be on the right, because this button is much more often used than calling up running applications.) Display
Display on an IPS matrix, made using OGS technology. Very good image quality, good brightness margin. In direct sunlight, like the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, the image is very clearly visible. There is an effective anti-glare filter and a high-quality oleophobic coating. Good viewing angles, however, with strong deviations, the white color noticeably loses in brightness and at the same time also acquires an unpleasant dirty appearance. pinkish tint. The same thing happens when the adaptive adjustment greatly reduces the brightness (or you lower it yourself) - the white color acquires this tint. I tried to show it in the photo - I took it at an angle. It seems clear that it is not white. And next to it in comparison is OnePlus 3, whose white color does not change at this angle. 
That is, in general, the display is of very high quality, but there is one feature that I did not like. Device operation
Android 6.0.1 is installed here, but, as usual with Sony, it uses its own shell and its own system applications. Main desktop.
Applications installed on the system.
Quick switches. They are edited.
Editing quick switches.
Lock window.
As usual, there are a wide variety of themes available for download and installation.
Talk mode.
The sound quality during calls is good, noise reduction works effectively. I was afraid that due to the aluminum body with almost no plastic inserts, the level would be worse than that of other smartphones, but this was not noticeable in test conversations. The only thing is that when I measured the Wi-Fi level in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, it showed a level slightly higher than the Xperia X. However, slightly higher. Wi-Fi and mobile Internet speed tests showed quite normal speed (in comparison with the same Samsung Galaxy S7 edge).
I listened to HiRes (FLAC) sound in headphones. Sennheiser CX 2.00G in-ear headphones are very good: the sound is clear, spacious, excellent detail, good, but, for my taste, harsh and sometimes downright cutting high (for certain compositions).
Full-size headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are also very good: the sound is quite spacious, clear, good bass and decent highs. In the audio settings there is an option DSEE HX, which should improve the quality of playback of compressed files. Yes, it works. Not that they turn into HiRes Audio, but there is a clear improvement in detail, although the sound does take on a slightly metallic tint. There is also a ClearAudio+ option, which does not work in conjunction with DSEE HX - also interesting: the playback quality does improve for most tracks. Video The system performance is enough to play even 4K videos. 
Games 3D games play smoothly and quickly.
For tanks, FPS is kept almost at the maximum - 59-60.
Epic Citadel performance test.
Connected devices have traditionally been the strength of Sony smartphones.
Smart memory cleaning mode.
There are two energy saving modes: the proprietary STAMINA, which really significantly increases battery life, and the ultra-saving Ultra STAMINA mode.
Here are the apps available in Ultra STAMINA mode.
This is what a desktop looks like with Ultra STAMINA mode enabled.
The manufacturer promises that in this mode the smartphone will last up to 20 days. I tested it and got 16 days of intermittent use. Camera Camera interface.
Photo settings.
Video settings.
It uses a 1/2.3" Exmor RS matrix with a 24mm equivalent lens with f/2.0 aperture. The camera is launched by either a long press on a separate dedicated button or a long press on the power button when the display is off. Examples of pictures. (All clickable, opens in full size.) Indoors. 
On the street. 
Well, in poor lighting conditions. 
In the dark. 
Example video.
In my opinion, the camera is wonderful. Excellent autofocus - really very fast and tenacious. Didn't miss at all in normal lighting conditions. In some reviews I saw complaints that in insufficient lighting conditions it did not focus well - nothing like that happened to me. The focus only drifted when shooting at night in situations where my mirrorless camera also screwed up with focus. The pictures are very clear, with excellent detail. The colors are rich, but at the same time natural. The camera hardly missed a beat with white balance. The video turns out to be of good quality, and I liked how the stabilizer works there: from the video you can see that the picture is stabilized. Of course, this is not such a good stabilizer as in cameras, but this is not a camera, but a small smartphone. Overall, I was impressed with the camera. System and performance CPU-Z data.
AnTuTu test.
In the comparison table, the smartphone is in 22nd place, next to the iPhone 6.
Geekbench 3 tests.
Well, the general index according to PCMark.
The smartphone is really powerful and fast, there are no problems with performance here. Battery life My battery life tests. (STAMINA mode is off.) Internet. The brightness is set to a comfortable 40%, wireless networks are turned on, and the page in the browser is refreshed every 30 seconds. 10 hours 40 minutes. Video. Wireless communications are disabled, the player's brightness is set to a comfortable level of 10 (15 in total), and the MX Player plays a video series in a loop. 9 hours 45 minutes. I expected it to be a couple of hours longer. The PCMark synthetic test returned 10 hours 1 minute. But here I expected it to be a couple of hours less.
However, the smartphone practically does not survive the two days without recharging practically promised by the manufacturer during normal use. It lasts for one day even under very heavy load (10 hours according to PCMark is quite a lot). Two days - only with not too active use and with the STAMINA mode turned on. In general, the autonomy indicators for the given characteristics and battery capacity are quite normal. Observations during operation and conclusions During testing I did not find any problems. When running 3D games or heavily system-loading applications, slight heating was observed in the chipset area. In general, I liked the smartphone. For those who need a small, but powerful and high-quality smartphone, this is a good option, and in almost all respects: performance, display, sound, camera, battery life. Price - yes, the price is high, I don’t argue. Actually, Sony smartphones have always been expensive. But a high-quality and powerful smartphone will not be cheap by definition.