Sony Xperia f 31 12. Graphite black color Sony Xperia XA Dual and other external qualities

A simplified and cheaper modification of the new season, but not without a twist

Sony is launching four new smartphones this year: Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XA and Xperia XA Ultra. The basis of the line is the balanced flagship Xperia X and its advanced modification X Performance. We already got acquainted with the Xperia X model in the previous review, and very soon we will look at the older version in detail. For now, let's turn to the younger version. Model described today Sony Xperia The XA may well be called a simplified modification of the Xperia X smartphone. They have a lot in common, and in some ways this cheaper and more modest version may turn out to be even more interesting than its older brother in the new line.

Key features of Sony Xperia XA (model F3112)

• SoC MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755), 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @2.0 GHz
• GPU ARM Mali-T860 MP2 @700 MHz
• Operating system Android 6.0
• Touchscreen IPS 5″, 1280×720, 293 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, inner memory 16 GB
• SIM cards: Nano-SIM (1 or 2 pcs.)
• Supports microSD memory cards up to 200 GB
• GSM networks 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz networks
• LTE networks FDD Band 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20
• Wi-Fi 802.11n/ac with MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct
• DLNA, Miracast
• Bluetooth 4.1 LE A2DP, apt-X, NFC
• USB 2.0, OTG
• GPS/A-GPS, Glonass
• Direction, proximity, lighting sensors, accelerometer, geomagnetic
• Camera 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera 8 MP, f/2.0
• Battery 2300 mAh
• Dimensions 144x67x7.9 mm
• Weight 135 g

Appearance and ease of use

In terms of dimensions, the five-inch models Xperia X and Xperia XA are almost identical, and in shape too. Here the continuity of design is obvious, it has been passed on to one degree or another from generation to generation since the days of the Xperia Z, and now all this has been reproduced in the updated Xperia X/XA family, but with adjustments to modern realities.

Little has changed: the corners in the plan have become a little more rounded, the sides have become smoother and more rounded, the front panels have acquired 2.5D glass with sloping edges, making all new Sony smartphones more streamlined and smooth.

But there are differences between the XA and X versions: the most noticeable of them are on the front and rear panels. As for the back side, everything is prosaic: the cheaper Xperia XA model has a cheaper body, which has not metal as the back wall, like the Xperia X, but plastic that imitates metal.

But with the front side, everything is not so obvious, and here, oddly enough, it is the simplified Xperia XA model that wins. The fact is that this new product has the same notorious “frameless” design, when the thickness of the frame around the display is reduced to a minimum. In the Xperia XA, the width of the frame on the sides is no more than a millimeter, it is almost invisible. The older model Xperia X does not have such a “frameless” effect; its frame width is quite familiar, and this is surprising.

As for the quality of materials and assembly, in this regard the Xperia XA is at the proper level, although a couple of annoying points can be mentioned. The first is a weak grease-repellent coating on the front glass of the screen. It really gets covered with fingerprints very quickly and doesn’t wipe off well, which sometimes makes the smartphone look sloppy.

The second point is related to the sidewalls. For some reason, the side edges of the Xperia XA body are covered with metal (or metallized) plates, very reminiscent of smooth metal and very slippery. The other surfaces of the smartphone are generally not slippery, but the side edges suffer from this drawback. And this is wrong: because of them, the device constantly tries to slip out of your hands.

In terms of the distribution of elements on the body of the Xperia XA, everything is familiar. Cards are inserted into the side slot on the left, and here we can highlight the second (after the “frameless” display, which the older model lacks) positive Xperia difference XA from Xperia X. The fact is that under the cover there are two card slots, and not one hybrid, as in the Xperia X. That is, in the Xperia XA you can simultaneously insert two SIM cards and another microSD memory card, and for This means you won’t have to remove one of the SIM cards, which is good news.

For SIM cards there are two equivalent compartments for Nano-SIM cards. Hot swapping is not provided: Sony smartphones always reboot themselves as soon as the cover of the corresponding slots is opened. A nice thing is that in Japanese smartphones the tray for SIM cards does not need to be squeezed out using a paperclip; it can be easily removed after picking it up with a fingernail.

Mechanical buttons are located on the opposite, right side of the case. Unlike older models, there is no fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button. And the button itself is different in shape: it is not elongated, but round, as in previous Xperia Z models even before the appearance of fingerprint sensors in them.

The front panel has all the right elements, including an LED event indicator that shines a dot above the screen in case of charging or missed messages.

Sony no longer has the lower part under the screen. touch buttons, only virtual on the screen. And in this regard, it can be noted that quite a lot of completely free, unoccupied space is left under the screen.

There is nothing on the back of the case except a camera window with a flash. The camera module does not protrude beyond the surface, the flash is implemented with a single LED, not too bright.

The main speaker is located at the bottom end, next to the Micro-USB connector, located in the center and supporting connection third party devices in USB OTG (USB Host) mode. Between them you can see a small hole for the speaking microphone.

The second microphone, for the noise reduction system, is located at the top end, next to the audio output for headphones.

Like the Xperia X, our review hero did not receive protection from water and dust; in the new family, only the most advanced Xperia X Performance has it. As for the colors of the case, here the buyer has a choice of four colors: white, black (“graphite black”), lemon (“golden lime”) and copper-pink (“rose gold”). These colors will be present to one degree or another in everyone. modern models Sony.

Screen

The smartphone is equipped touch screen IPS with fashionable 2.5D glass with sloping edges. The physical dimensions of the display are 62x110 mm, diagonal - 5 inches. The size is exactly the same as the Xperia X, but the resolution is half the size, only 1280x720, and the pixel density is 293 ppi. But the frame around the screen, unlike the Xperia X, is so thin that it’s difficult to measure. However, despite the thin frame and rounded edges of the glass, there is no trace of accidental touches on the screen, and the absence of a frame does not cause discomfort.

The display brightness is automatically adjusted based on the light sensor. There is also a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches - however, the standard AnTuTu test could not adequately cope with this screen. Unlike the Xperia X, the smartphone in question does not support working with the screen while wearing gloves. And of course, the function of working with wet fingers is a thing of the past, since new Sony smartphones are not protected from water.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens of both devices (Sony Xperia XA, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the right; then they can be distinguished by size):

Both screens are dark, but the Sony screen is still darker (its brightness in the photo is 103 versus 111 for the Nexus 7). The tripling of reflected objects in the Sony Xperia XA screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (also known as the touch sensor) and the surface of the matrix (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to smaller number boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better under strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (not very effective, noticeably worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, its maximum value was about 550 cd/m², and the minimum was 3.6 cd/m². The maximum value is very high, and, given the excellent anti-glare properties, in bright daylight and even in direct sunlight, the image on the screen should be clearly visible. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the logo on the front panel). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. This function is dependent on brightness adjustment. If it is at a minimum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 4.7 cd/m² (a bit dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets it to 37 cd/m² (it could have been brighter), in bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a slightly cloudy day outdoors - about 10,000 lux) increases to 460 cd/m² (sufficient). If the brightness slider is at half scale, then the screen brightness for the three conditions above is as follows: 44, 160 and 550 cd/m² (suitable values). If the brightness control is set to maximum - 180, 310, 600 cd/m² (the first two values ​​are too high). Everything looks good, but the problem is that in very bright light (on a clear day outside, but without direct sunlight- 20,000 lux or a little more) the brightness of the backlight is greatly reduced. As third-party programs have shown, this is due to a light sensor that is not working correctly. As a result, it cannot be said that the auto-brightness function works adequately. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This screen uses a matrix IPS type. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades (except for the very, very dark ones when deviating along one diagonal) and without significant color shifts even with large deviations of the view from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 and Sony Xperia XA, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (over a white field in the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K .Perpendicular to the plane of the screens is a white field:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

Colors are rich on both screens, and the color balance is noticeably different. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, and on the Sony Xperia XA the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to a greater brightening of blacks and a greater drop in brightness, and there are also signs of inversion of dark shades. And a white field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens decreased noticeably, but in the case of the Sony Xperia XA the drop in brightness is slightly greater. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a purple or reddish tint. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:

It can be seen that the curved edges refract light from the black field illuminated at the corners, which does not look very good. The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 970:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 15 ms (7.5 ms on + 7.5 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 25 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.63, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates greatly from the power law:

Due to the presence of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the output image (in dark images, the brightness tends to decrease), the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential output of shades of gray almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such non-disabled brightness correction does nothing but harm, since it reduces the visibility of gradations in the shadows in the case of dark images. In addition, this dynamic adjustment when displaying any image other than a white field on the entire screen significantly reduces the brightness, which impairs readability in bright light, and the constant adjustment of brightness can be very annoying.

The color gamut is slightly different from sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is acceptable, since the color temperature, although higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered for a consumer device good indicator. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This smartphone has the ability to adjust the color balance by adjusting the intensities of the three primary colors.

That's what we tried to do, the result is data signed as Corr. in the graphs above. As a result, we improved the balance on the white field, but the spread of values ​​was dark shades has grown catastrophically. In fact, to engage in correction in in this case doesn't make sense. In the settings you can choose one of three correction profiles.

The photos above are taken for option Switch off. Note that the correction only works in Sony applications - when viewing images and, apparently, in the video player. This is what happens if you select a profile Extreme brightness mode:

The color contrast increases, nothing remains of the naturalness of the colors. In mode Mobile Bravia Engine 2 Nothing bad happens to the image - on the contrary, contour sharpening is disabled:

Let's summarize. The brightness adjustment range of this screen is very wide, the anti-glare properties are excellent, which allows you to comfortably use the smartphone both on a sunny day on the beach and in complete darkness. It is acceptable to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, but you need to be prepared for the fact that in very high ambient light conditions this function will make the screen unreadable due to a strong decrease in the brightness of the backlight. The advantages include the absence of an air gap in the screen layers and flicker, high contrast, good uniformity of the black field, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and acceptable color balance. The disadvantages are an ineffective oleophobic coating, low black stability to gaze deviation from perpendicular to the screen plane, as well as non-switchable dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness. And the curved edges of the outer glass do not add comfort, since they glare all the time and tend to glow in the dark. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices (and the most important thing is the visibility of information in a wide range of external conditions), the quality of the screen can be considered high.

Sound

The Xperia XA sounds less interesting than the Xperia X; the sound of the main speaker here is quite simple. For a call signal, this high, piercing, monochromatic high-frequency sound is quite enough, but for listening to melodies there is not enough width of the frequency spectrum, or depth and brightness of the sound, or, in general, even a volume reserve. The sound in headphones is certainly more interesting; overall, everything is pretty good, but there are fewer settings than in flagships. There is automatic optimization of all sound parameters using the complex ClearAudio+ function, but if you turn it off, then from manual settings you can only find an equalizer with preset values ​​and surround sound emulation, which few people use at all.

TO conversational dynamics and there are no complaints about the microphone: the intonation and timbre of a familiar voice remain recognizable, there is practically no noise, the sound is clear, although also not at all saturated or bright. The sensitivity of the microphones is normal, the voice is recorded clearly on the recorder and is clearly distinguishable when played back, the noise reduction system copes with its tasks adequately.

There is an FM radio in the smartphone, automatic recording telephone conversations from the line using regular funds not provided.

Camera

The Sony Xperia XA smartphone is equipped with two cameras with a resolution of 13 and 8 megapixels. This, of course, is not 23 and 13 megapixels, like the older Xperia X, but still not bad. The front camera here has an 8-megapixel sensor with an Exmor R matrix for mobile devices and a wide-angle lens (88°) with an f/2.0 aperture without autofocus and its own flash. Here, as for the main camera, automatic and manual control modes are supported, you can use HDR and even add animation effects using the creative AR effect mode. Pictures front-camera produces high-quality images, with good sharpness and color rendition, quite decent for selfie level.

The main camera features a 13-megapixel 1/3-inch Exmor RS mobile sensor and a 24mm f/2.0 wide-angle G Lens with fast hybrid autofocus. The maximum light sensitivity is manually set to ISO 3200, but in official settings ISO 12800 declared.

All new Sony smartphones, as before, received SteadyShot stabilization with Intelligent Active Mode, which ensures smooth shooting without distortion. And of course, Sony is practically the only manufacturer that still installs a separate hardware camera control button in its smartphones.

IN manual mode everything is exactly the same as with older models: you can set sensitivity, white balance, change the focus type. There is a five-fold digital zoom using Clear Image zoom technology. Additional modes are also present, including those downloaded separately - panoramic, photo with sound, Sticker Creator, face in the image - everything is in place. One of the most unusual is the familiar augmented reality mode called AR effect, which makes it possible to combine real photographs with animation.

By the way, unlike older models, camera control is not transferred to third-party applications via the Camera2 API, and recording in RAW is also not supported.

The camera cannot shoot video in 4K (since even the older Xperia X model does not do this), maximum resolution is 1920x1080. True, on the Xperia X you can shoot at 60 fps, but this is not even possible here. The SteadyShot stabilization function is noticeable when shooting on the move, and the image really becomes smooth. The camera copes with video shooting on the whole decently: the image is bright, without noticeable artifacts, with good color rendition, although a bit loose and with undistinguished detail. The sound is recorded with high quality; Sony traditionally pays a lot of attention to the noise reduction system in its cameras.

• Video No. 1 (35 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps, H.264, AAC)
• Video No. 2 (23 MB, 1920×1080 @30 fps, H.264, AAC)

	Good sharpness across the field and plans. On the left there is a noticeable area of ​​blur.
	Sometimes the camera has slight problems with white balance.
	The camera copes well with macro photography.
	As the shot is removed, the sharpness drops very smoothly.
	Good sharpness in distant shots.
	The text is well done.
	Good detail in close-ups.

Sony Xperia XA	Apple iPhone 6Plus

The camera turned out to be quite good. The software processing is not very noticeable, and shortcomings such as not very accurate white balance and the out-of-focus zone on the left can be forgiven for the good sharpness in the field and in the plans in the rest of the frame. So the camera can handle most situations.

Telephone and communications

Sony Xperia XA operates in most bands of 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA networks, and also has support for LTE Cat.4 with theoretical maximum speed up to 150 Mbit/s for downloading. The smartphone supports all three most common domestic operators LTE FDD bands (B3, B7 and B20). The connection speed in 4G networks and work with cellular networks of Russian operators in general do not give rise to any complaints from the Sony Xperia XA: the smartphone instantly reconnects after a break, does not lose connection in areas of poor reception, and produces the highest possible speeds in 4G in test areas where competitors demonstrate much worse results. In terms of communication capabilities, Sony smartphones are always at their best; this is one of their advantages.

The device also has support for Bluetooth 4.1 LE, NFC, supports two Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, DLNA and Miracast, you can organize wireless point access via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. The Micro-USB connector supports the USB 2.0 specification and connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. NFC module demonstrates compatibility with the Mifare Classic protocol required for successful work applications "" with the Troika transport card.

The navigation module works with GPS (A-GPS) and Glonass without the support of the Chinese Beidou. There are no complaints about the operating speed of the navigation module; the first satellites are detected during a cold start within the first seconds. The smartphone is equipped with a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the compass of navigation programs operates.

The smartphone supports dual SIM cards as standard Dual SIM Dual Standby. There is only one radio module, so there can only be one active conversation. A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G/4G networks, but only one of the cards can work in this mode at the same time (the second will only work in 2G). The choice between two SIM cards for making calls, sending SMS, etc. can be done in advance or immediately before the connection.

OS and software

Xperia XA is based on Android platform 6.0 with its own shell, it is exactly the same as the older model Xperia X. Compared to previous generations, only the external appearance has changed: the icons are completely redrawn, the themes change depending on the color of the case.

The internal structure, the location of menu sections, the organization of desktops, etc. - everything remains the same except for the little things. The standard keyboard has changed: now it is replaced by SwiftKey, it is installed by default. Mini-applications have completely disappeared - apparently few people used them. The pull-out menu in the section has also been removed installed programs. For those accustomed to the proprietary interface of Sony smartphones, such changes are unlikely to seem catastrophic; the interface has become a little simpler and more intuitive.

Performance

For the hardware of its cheaper XA series smartphones, Sony chose products from Taiwanese MediaTek, while the more expensive Xperia X uses Qualcomm Snapdragon. The Sony Xperia XA is powered by the MT6755 SoC, also known as the Helio P10. The Helio P10 configuration includes a 64-bit eight-core True8Core ARM Cortex-A53 processor operating at 2 GHz and graphics ARM processor Mali-T860 operating at 700 MHz.

Volume random access memory smartphone is 2 GB, the volume of built-in flash memory is 16 GB, of which about 11 GB are initially available to the user for his needs. This volume can be increased using microSD cards, and unlike older models of the X series, here you do not have to remove one of the SIM cards for this; all three cards are installed in the device at the same time. It is also possible to connect to the port USB external flash drives in OTG mode. MicroSD cards are supported up to 200GB in capacity, and in practice our 128GB Transcend Premium microSDXC UHS-1 test card was reliably recognized by the device.

Judging by comparative table with test data from other current mobile platforms, we can state that the new SoC MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10) is noticeably ahead in all respects of the mid-range MT6753, which was extremely popular among manufacturers last season, and even the once flagship MediaTek MT6795 is already no better than our heroine . That is, today’s average level of mobile platforms turns out to be better in their capabilities than the top level of last year, which is good news.

Most of all, the Helio P10's results are close to another fresh mid-level platform - HiSilicon Kirin 650. Only here the graphics are slightly better, and in complex and specialized browser tests there is absolute parity between them.

It is interesting to compare the performance of the Xperia XA with the older model Xperia X. That one is also built not on the top Qualcomm platform, but on a mid-level SoC. However, its results in all tests are noticeably higher, both in general and in specialized ones, including graphics, which allows us to evaluate the Helio P10 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 650/652 as solutions of different levels. And if we call the MediaTek MT6755 and HiSilicon Kirin 650 platforms mid-level, then for higher in all respects, but still not flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 650/652, we will have to add some sub-flagship level, which is above average, but below top-end. In any case, the Xperia X turns out to be more productive in all tests than the Xperia XA, which is quite logical for the older and more expensive model in the line.

Based on the testing results, we can confidently say that the Helio P10’s level is not top-end, but rather average. At the same time, for all modern tasks, the capabilities of this SoC should be more than enough at the moment. It can also cope with demanding games so far: World of Tanks can be played comfortably at maximum fps; heavier games do not run at such high fps, but also do not show the slightest lag.

Testing in the latest versions of comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image of the rear surface, obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program (the lighter, the higher the temperature):

Heating is clearly localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 41 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is the average heating in this test for modern smartphones.

Playing video

To test omnivorousness when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, for example subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.

According to the testing results, the test subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are needed to fully play most of the most common multimedia files on the network, in this case, audio files. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 sound format.

Format	Container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Standard video player
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280×720, 24fps, AAC	plays normally	plays normally
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280×720, 24fps, AC3		The video plays fine, there is no sound
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24fps, AAC	plays normally	plays normally
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24fps, AC3	The video plays fine, there is no sound	The video plays fine, there is no sound

Further testing of video playback was performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.

MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, we are in this smartphone We didn’t find it, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices) Red marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the corresponding files.

According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. Note the atypically high screen refresh rate of approximately 67-68 Hz. As a result, in the case of files with 60 fps, 7-8 frames per second are output with an increased duration. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 (720p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 (all gradations of shades are displayed in shadows and highlights), which is required for correct playback of typical video files.

Battery life

Capacity non-removable battery, installed in the Sony Xperia XA, is small by modern standards 2300 mAh. And we must admit that Sony did not think through the issue of power consumption of its device well enough - apparently relying on the assurances of the MediaTek developers that the new technical process and new platform Overall they have become much more economical. MediaTek always makes similar claims, but the problem is still there: the Sony Xperia XA demonstrated poor battery life results, there’s no other way to put it. It's clear that Sony is counting on the power of its Stamina power-saving modes, but without them, the smartphone performs barely satisfactorily in all standard tests.

Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme, with auto-scrolling) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted more than 9.5 hours until completely discharged. When continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level through the home Wi-Fi network The device did not even last up to 8 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone operates for 2.5-3 hours.

The smartphone is charged from its own network charger in approximately 1 hour 40-50 minutes with a current of 1 A at a voltage of 5 V. Wireless charging the device does not support.

Bottom line

Many people liked the price of the Xperia XA: the device is sold at the time of writing the review for 22 thousand rubles, and they are asking a thousand more for a dual-SIM modification of the same model. What can I say? For Sony's level, this may be a low price, and it is significantly lower than the same Xperia X, offered for 40-41 thousand. However, in the same price category is, for example, the no less interesting model Huawei P9 lite, which does not add anything to the price for the dual-SIM modification - they are all dual-SIM. And a Huawei smartphone with similar characteristics costs 20 thousand, not 23, that is, 3 thousand cheaper than the hero of the review. What is this, payment for more famous brand? But with a price of up to 20 thousand, you can count many other interesting devices. However, for loyal connoisseurs of the Sony brand Xperia smartphone XA may seem interesting offer, it all depends on your own wallet, and not the wallet of an abstract user. Objective disadvantages of the new Sony model: water protection is removed, battery life is low, the sound is simple. The rest is at a decent level: screen, platform, communication capabilities, cameras in general are at least good. And yet I can’t help but think that the model is a little overrated.

"Fotosklad.ru"

Considering modern market smartphones, you can see that manufacturers very often copy each other, which is why few of them have their own unique style. This cannot be said about Sony, which does not follow anyone, but strives to follow its own path in choosing technical and design solutions, sometimes controversial, but always original.

We received a Sony smartphone for review latest generation, medium size and medium price segment, which can attract the attention of not only fans of this brand, but also ordinary users.

To begin with, we note that it stands out among the mass of competitors in appearance, and that’s where we’ll start the review.

Appearance and Controls

The main design motifs here were inherited from the previous model - XA1.

The first thing that catches your eye about the Sony Xperia XA2 is that it does not have rounded corners, like most modern smartphones, but sharp ones, so to speak. This may seem inconvenient, but we like this solution for its originality.

Sony did something quite clever: the right and left edges of the body are rounded and metallic, making the phone very pleasant to hold in your hands. At the same time, the back cover is made of plastic, and the top and bottom surfaces are flat, both of which are simpler from a technological point of view.

The display, in fact, has no frames on the front and back edges, however, the panels at the top and bottom are quite massive, and one can predict that such a design in the future, with the spread of frameless models, may seem archaic.

Despite the record-breaking battery capacity, the smartphone is quite thick, let's hope that this is due to the desire to increase the strength of the phone.

On the right edge, in addition to the volume rocker and the power and lock key, the smartphone has a “branded” camera power and shooting button.

It cannot be called useless, even if this solution migrated from older models and reminds us of the company’s past.

Also, the focus on shooting emphasizes that the front and rear camera are highlighted by design with additional edging, which is why they appear larger than they actually are.

The Sony Xperia XA2 can accommodate two SIM cards, or a SIM card and a memory card. Moreover, both trays are located in the same compartment and can be opened without any “clips” or keys. Many thanks to Sony engineers for this.

The smartphone display has a good oleophobic coating, but the back surface is not equipped with it; greasy stains appear on it and are difficult to completely wipe off.

The case of the smartphone in question does not have any water protection.

Fingerprint scanner

The fingerprint scanner on the Sony Xperia XA2 is designed as a separate surface under the camera.

Of course, this solution is not the most elegant from a design point of view, but functionally there are no complaints. Plus, if the sensor breaks, you only need to replace it, not the front button like on more expensive models.

The scanner works quite quickly, but there are not enough stars in the sky: starting the smartphone from standby mode takes approximately 1.5 seconds.

Equipment

Having unpacked the box with the Sony Xperia XA2 smartphone, we will see a charger with a separate USB cable, documentation and a warranty card. No headphones included.

Operating system and software shell

The smartphone uses the operating version Android systems 8.0, with Sony's own shell.

As mentioned, at the bottom of the screen there are navigation buttons that can be removed using the settings.

There is a separate application menu with classic horizontal scrolling, the ability to create folders and custom arrangement of icons.

The quick notification curtain and the running applications screen are very similar to the native ones on Android.

There is a function for dual display of applications (available, however, not for all programs).

Security settings include a Smart Lock feature that allows you to assign devices, faces, and even voices to unlock.

The interface speed is very good. There are no lags or slowdowns.

The smartphone comes from the factory with pre-installed applications for watching videos, listening to music, and antivirus.

Platform and performance

When developing this smartphone, Sony was clearly guided by the principle of reasonable sufficiency in relation to its “stuffing”. The model is not top-end, so the platform based on the mid-price processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 looks quite appropriate here, promising sufficient performance in most applications coupled with energy efficiency.

The video chip used is Adreno 508, which has a frequency of 850 MHz, which is 200 MHz more than the Adreno 506. This affects performance in games, and it is this difference that can be felt when comparing the Sony Xperia XA2 with last year's smartphones on Qualcomm Snapdragon 625.

GeekBench 4 test

Antutu program test

The amount of RAM 3 GB may seem small only if you run many “heavy” applications at the same time, which is unlikely to happen in everyday life.

Perhaps weakness Sony Xperia XA2 - permanent memory capacity - 32 gigabytes. Here the manufacturer did not provide a choice, and some may find it too small. However, it is possible to install an additional MicroSD memory card.

Display

The screen of the smartphone in question has an average diagonal by today's standards - 5.2 inches with a resolution of 1920X1080. Thus, the “classic” aspect ratio of 16:9 is applied. To be honest, we don’t see this as a particular inconvenience, since most films and videos are shown in this format. Although someone may say: “But the Chinese already have an 18:9 screen for 10 thousand,” we believe that until all video content has adapted to the “elongated” screen, it is too early to consider this a disadvantage.

In our opinion, FullHD is more than enough for this display size; text and pictures look as detailed as possible on it.

When you first turn it on, you may feel like there is not enough color saturation on the screen. The fact is that by default, the settings for increasing saturation and contrast are disabled in the menu.

In addition, like other Sony smartphones, the picture on the display turns cold (this can also be corrected in the settings).

The smartphone has on-screen buttons that disappear when necessary.

The display of the Sony Xperia XA2 stands out for its brightness, despite the fact that it is made using LCD technology (rather than OLED), it is easy to read even in bright sunlight, which is a definite advantage.

Battery and autonomy

The battery capacity is 3300 mAh, although, looking at its weight and thickness, one would think that it is 4000. The available volume is quite enough; with inactive use, sometimes half the charge remains by the evening. The model is clearly intended for office and city life, and not for hiking and traveling (this is indicated by appearance and lack of moisture protection), and in normal use this battery volume is quite enough.

The smartphone comes with a standard charger. Charger with Quick Charge function must be purchased separately.

Connectors and communication protocols

Processor, display, thickness - all this indicates price category Sony phone Xperia XA2, but what the manufacturer did not skimp on was USB connector- available here modern Type-C, which is of course more convenient than the old Micro USB.

Another advantage of the phone is Bluetooth version 5, which has a range of up to 200 meters and a speed of up to 6.25 MB/s.

The headphone jack is in place; it fits comfortably into the body of this phone.

NFC is present in the phone, which is expected for a modern smartphone.

Camera

Photography

The first thing that catches your eye when considering the characteristics Sony cameras Xperia XA2 has the number of megapixels of the main camera - 23, which is clearly excessive for this size of the module.

The main camera is equipped with phase detection autofocus and a single LED flash.

The main camera uses an f/2.0 lens with an equivalent focal length of 24mm. On paper, these are good characteristics for this matrix size, but it is clear that it is simply impossible to achieve ideal optical quality in this format. In good lighting, the detail in the images is quite good.

At the edges, detail decreases due to the fact that the lens design is simplified. However, for modern social networks and this will be quite enough applications.

As soon as the illumination drops, the sensitivity increases and “noise” creeps into the picture - graininess caused by the need to amplify the signal from the image sensor - matrix.

Autofocus speed is not satisfactory, pictures are taken almost instantly. It is possible to specify the focus point on the phone screen.

The front camera has more modest characteristics - 8 megapixels (no more is needed), and the ability to switch between 120 and 80 degree modes.

For selfie lovers, this choice of viewing angle will be very useful.

Sample pictures

Video shooting

Video shooting in this smartphone is implemented using separate modes. If you simply switch to video mode from taking photos, the videos will be recorded in FullHD resolution - 1920x1080 30 frames per second. There is also a high-speed shooting mode with a frequency of 120 frames per second and a resolution of 1280x720.

The 4K mode is provided as a separate application within the camera application.

Overall, what you expect from a Sony smartphone camera good quality video, and it's here. 4K is real, its video resolution is higher than FullHD, and given the same frame rate, it’s worth using it. The picture in all modes is pleasing to the eye, the compression is reasonable.

Video examples can be downloaded from the archive link.

conclusions

Looking at the Sony smartphone we reviewed, you wonder who it is intended for. On the one hand, the stark black design tells us that it could be suitable for a business person, but this is not a flagship and it has a number of not the most modern features. On the other hand, the emphasis on selfies tells us that this is a device for the 2010s generation, but why then does it resemble past models and mercilessly exploit Sony's old reputation.

In our opinion, buying a Sony Xperia XA2 is a controversial choice, but everyone decides for themselves.

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 processor Helio P10, with 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 built-in storage capacity 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

Capacity non-removable battery installed in the device is 2300 mAh. Not enough, but in addition to 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 the autonomy 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 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 SIMs and 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 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 has been modified by Sony developers, and the standard list of applications has been supplemented 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 latest versions OS.

Individual characteristics

Of all the “chips” of this device, the most interesting feature For now, the side frames can be considered minimal. 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, with 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 reasonable money. You can argue for a long time whether this is a good smartphone or a bad one, but it is clearly designed for a certain target audience. And this audience will be delighted to own it.

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.

Minuses

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 showed itself literally “without leaving the cash register” - plastic back cover It turned out to be so not resistant to scratches that they appeared while the employee in the store was 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 there will not be enough charge. I was pleased that the smartphone is not overloaded with various unnecessary applications like other manufacturers, but still from 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 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.