Sony Xperia XA1: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Matt Sayer

Last updated: Jan 5, 2021

Sony's experience in the photography industry gives the Xperia XA1 and its 23MP camera a significant leg up on the competition.

5 inches

Display size

720 x 1280px

32GB

Internal storage

23 MP

Rear camera

2,300 mAh

Battery size

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Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

720 x 1280px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

294 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

23MP

Rear camera aperture size

f/2.0

Video recording

1080p

Front camera megapixels

8MP

Front camera aperture size

f/2.0

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

145mm x 67mm x 8mm

Weight

143g

Connectivity

NFC

Yes

Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n

Network category speed

Category 4

Power, storage and battery

Processor

MT6757

RAM

3GB

Operating system

Android 7

Internal storage

32GB

External storage support

Up to 256GB

Battery capacity

2,300mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

Launch price (RRP)	$399
Launch date	2017-02

Matt Sayer

Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigative reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives.

Where to buy

What's in this guide?

Design
Camera
Performance
Battery
Pricing and availability
Specifications

Smartphone manufacturers tend to put the vast majority of their marketing muscle behind their top-of-the-line handsets, so much so that many people have no idea that brands like Samsung, LG and Sony also produce a whole catalogue of more affordable smartphones in the mid-range and budget sections of the mobile market. These handsets typically pack performance and features commensurate with premium smartphones from just a year or two earlier, and thanks to the relentless pace mobile technology advances at, that's often more than sufficient for the average phone user.

It's in this section of the market that the Sony Xperia XA1 lies. Though it might be the less-powerful sibling of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, it's still a capable handset in its own right thanks to its powerful camera, 3GB of RAM and Android 7.0 operating system. Paired with its accessible price tag, this provides plenty of reason to consider the Sony Xperia XA1 when shopping for your next smartphone.

Design

Boxy design is distinct but may not appeal to everyone
Android 8.0 update brings a slew of handy new features

Sony is one of the few smartphone manufacturers still designing handsets that look distinct rather than conforming to the standard curved, all-screen format currently dominating the industry. The Xperia XA1 is a prime example of this. Though its edges are rounded slightly for a more comfortable grip, its overall style is one of sharp lines and stern uniformity. While this gives the Xperia XA1 a more formidable profile, it's not going to be to everyone's tastes, and may even prove a little awkward to use if you've got smaller hands.
The other design choice likely to divide smartphone buyers is the large bezels on the top and bottom of the phone's face. In a market where borderless screens are fast becoming the norm, leaving so much space unused feels like something of a backwards step.
Still, you do get a reasonable amount of screen to play with on the Xperia XA1 – 5 inches, to be precise. Resolution is admittedly a little on the low side for a mid-range handset, clocking in at 1280 x 720 pixels – technically HD, but not full HD. Sony has used Gorilla Glass to protect the screen though, which is a nice addition for anyone concerned with scratches or the occasional drop.
The Xperia XA1 takes a far more familiar approach on the connectivity front. A 3.5mm audio jack allows you to plug in traditional wired headphones, while support for Bluetooth 4.2 lets you sync up wireless headsets and other Bluetooth devices. The 32GB of onboard storage gives you a decent chunk of space to install apps or store music and videos, and if that's not quite enough you can add as much as 256GB more via a microSD card.
Of course, hardware only tells part of the story. To make use of its various components, the Sony Xperia XA1 ships with Android 7.0, also known as "Nougat". Even better, Sony released an update to Android 8.0 "Oreo" in 2018, granting the Xperia XA1 new features like faster boot-up times, a picture-in-picture multi-tasking mode and more informative notifications that save you from constantly opening up apps to see what's new.

Camera

23MP rear camera provides a significant edge on similarly priced handsets
Wide-angle lenses make group shots easier

Sony's pitch with the Xperia XA1 is very much focused on its camera – specifically, the rear camera. This isn't much of a surprise given that Sony is the manufacturer behind the camera technology used by many competing smartphones, though the company maintains that it keeps the best of its technology for use in its own phones and devices.
It's a bold claim, but one that's supported by the impressive hardware inside the Xperia XA1. At the rear you'll find a 23MP Exmor RS sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, while the front camera packs an 8MP sensor with a 23mm wide-angle lens designed for group selfies. Both cameras make use of Sony's SteadyShot image stabilisation technology to avoid blurry action pictures, and the rear camera boasts a hybrid autofocus feature Sony claims will ensure even the quickest snaps come out clear and sharp.

Performance

Decent hardware places the Xperia XA1 smack bang in the centre of the mid-range pack
Shouldn't have any issues delivering a responsive experience in day-to-day use

Straying from the pack somewhat, Sony has gone with the eight-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor for the Xperia XA1 rather than using one of Qualcomm's more common Snapdragon chips. For the most part, however, the Helio P20 performs similarly to the Snapdragon 625, which places it in good company with mid-range handsets like the Huawei Nova Plus and the Motorola Moto G5 Plus. As you can see in our reviews of the aforementioned handsets, pairing the Snapdragon 625 with 3GB of RAM tends to deliver solid if unremarkable performance, and it's a safe bet that the Xperia XA1 with its Helio P20 processor would achieve the same.
In practice, this should ensure snappy performance in most general tasks, with only the most complex apps or games likely to give the Xperia XA1 any trouble.

Battery

2,300mAh is a little on the low side for a mid-range handset
Quick charging support minimises your downtime

Despite the extra space afforded by its large frame, the Xperia XA1 only packs a 2,300mAh battery. This is notably below average for your typical mid-range smartphone. The Motorola Moto G5 Plus and Huawei Nova Plus, for instance, feature 3,000mAh and 3,340mAh batteries respectively, and other similarly priced handsets rarely dip below 2,500mAh.
To make up for this, Sony has implemented a STAMINA mode that aims to increase battery life by disabling non-critical apps and services. Still, even with STAMINA mode activated there's a chance you may struggle to get a full day of use out of a single charge. On the plus side, the Xperia XA1 supports fast charging via the included quick charger. It also incorporates Qnovo Adaptive Charging, which monitors and adjusts voltage levels while charging to extend the overall lifespan of the Xperia XA1's battery.

Pricing and availability

Price: RRP ~$300
Where to buy: Sony | eBay | Kogan

Compare SIM-only plans for the Sony Xperia XA1

Specifications

Display

Display Size

5 inches

Resolution

720 x 1280px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

294 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

23MP

Rear camera aperture size

f/2.0

Video recording

1080p

Front camera megapixels

8MP

Front camera aperture size

f/2.0

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

145mm x 67mm x 8mm

Weight

143g

Connectivity

NFC

Yes

Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n

Network category speed

Category 4

Power, storage and battery

Processor

MT6757

RAM

3GB

Operating system

Android 7

Internal storage

32GB

External storage support

Up to 256GB

Battery capacity

2,300mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

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Image: Shutterstock

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Sony Xperia XA1: Plans | Pricing | Specs