Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)

Overview

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Overview

Review Summary

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Specs

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Sony Xperia XA Ultra unlocked smartphone 16GB Black US Warranty

Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)

7.3

SCORE

/10

Total Reviews

579

Old Reviews

124

Unverified

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16 MP

SECONDARY CAMERA

16384 GB

MEMORY

Micro SD

SD CARD TYPE

Yes

GSM

Review Analysis - 393 recent, verified reviews

Detailed Mode

Display Clarity

display, large, edges, ghosting, xperia

+80%

-20%

" ... Fairly slick, nice screen. ... "

" ... I love the big screen. ... "

" ... The screen is ever so slightly on the cool side. ... "

" ... Love the large screen. ... "

" ... Large screen is super crisp and phone is just amazing. ... "

" ... Phone is great, lovely big screen camera is awesome. ... "

" ... As far as what I like about the phone, the cameras are quite good, the screen looks good enough for me, and it's really big. ... a blue LED for text, red for youtube, etc.) ... "

" ... The screen is huge! ... "

Price

money, worth the money, sony, samsung, reparation

+92%

-8%

" ... I've had mine for a little over a year and its great for the price. ... "

" ... Overall its an ideal phone for its price. ... "

" ... Very good phone, and especially for the price. ... "

" ... With that being said I don't think you will find a better phone at the price. ... "

" ... Nice budget phone. ... "

" ... This is the price you pay for cheap products. ... "

" ... If you are looking for the cheaper phone, but still a high-end phone, I would recommend this one. ... "

Product Reliability

2017, xperia, 2018, xa, samsung

+36%

-64%

" ... I ordered this phone 1 and a half years ago. ... But after a while just got tired of their little upgrades here and there every year. ... Just to let you know this review is 1 and a half years later bought the phone in Sept of 2016 and it is already April 2018. ... "

" ... I have been using this phone for almost 6 months. ... Like others say, it does have a few annoying issues. ... After only 6 months, this is somewhat disappointing. ... Phone was to be shut off and reconnected multiple times before it works. ... "

" ... I bought this phone and within six months it just stop working. ... "

" ... This phone is dead after 6 months. ... "

" ... I've had this for less than a year and I've never had a bigger piece of garbage for a phone in my life. ... "

" ... The phone was great however after a month it started “ghost dialing” it became completely unusable. ... "

" ... Lost the first one and had to replace it with an exact duplicate. ... "

" ... Update: it started to have yellow tint/stain on lcd after 11 months of use. ... "

Camera

selfie, front, 21mp, rear, huawei

+92%

-8%

" ... The camera was great though! ... "

" ... This phone was fast on booth up, fast on apps , great camera. ... "

" ... *camera - OVERALL, I am very happy with the pictures it takes. ... "

" ... Camera is nice, runs nicely. ... "

" ... I like the back camera quite a bit. ... The camera is focusing very fast for me. ... That said the selfie camera is very good! ... "

" ... If you like taking selfies especially. ... The frontal camera is fantastic. ... "

" ... All the reviews raved about how good it's camera is. ... My 45 dollar Huawei Ascend xt2 actually takes better photos. ... Both cameras on the Huawei are better. ... "

" ... Had note 3&2, Huawei made 7 and i like this camera ultra more. ... "

Battery Life

battery life, charge, drains, mah, full charge

+44%

-56%

" ... *battery - with heavy usage, my battery is currently lasting about 12-14 hours before its depleted. ... "

" ... Facing issue with battery need to charge multiple times in day without making any use of phone ... "

" ... Bad Battery, hanging problems. ... "

" ... Very poor battery back up and camera clarity is not that good. ... "

" ... Terrible wxperience super expensive and it heats up battery doesn't last long ... "

" ... So I set up the second phone, and go through all of the updates (which took about two hours). ... "

" ... Battery life is too short, an WiFi dose not work at my work place witch is much needed. ... "

" ... I wish it wasn't like that because I'm scared that it won't charge. ... "

Design

design, sleek, slippery, lime gold, feels

+98%

-2%

" ... Other than that, the camera is nice and I like how thin and sleek looking this phone is ... "

" ... Looks different has great performance. ... "

" ... I had forgotten how much I like the fit and finish with the Sony hardware design. ... You will need a case or cover with this one. ... "

" ... Stylish and classy, still trying to learn how to operate some of the features. ... "

" ... Otherwise, its a beautiful phone. ... "

" ... It is so fast and has a luxurious design. ... I love my lime gold. ... It looks stunning. ... "

" ... Beautiful phone aesthetically, however beauty is skin deep, and the functionality of the phone is far below what I would expect for $300. ... "

Apps

android, sony, xperia, google, internal memory

+38%

-62%

" ... Most apps work okay, but instagram, Photoshop, facebook and other programs that require more RAM run horribly. ... Often times I would take a photo or two, and then I'll check my photo app, there's no photos there. ... "

" ... Very problematic if I really need to make a phone call or use the GPS app. ... "

" ... All my contacts, apps, files stored in the phone . ... "

" ... An app not working properly, or whatever. ... Even though my memory card is virtually empty, I'm out of space and have to delete an old app if I want to download something new. ... As it stands, I only have 13 downloaded apps on this thing. ... -Cannot save most apps or download Spotify playlists to SD card. ... "

" ... But the problem is the Battery is not quite good for browsing some play apps. ... "

" ... With the frequent updates, I find myself reluctant to update as much to conserve data, but the issue is now I'm getting the "process has stopped" error and sometimes it doesn't go away or let me choose to shut down the system or wait to fix so your phone gets stuck there with no way to get off. ... "

" ... Until just recently with the latest android os update,. ... "

Software Platform

android, apps, google, xperia, updates

+42%

-58%

" ... nonexistent tech support and updates. ... "

" ... Google "sony xa touchscreen ghost". ... "

" ... Inability to remove, customize, or change settings for all of the bloatware and proprietary garbage. ... An app not working properly, or whatever. ... Update 9/2018: ... As it stands, I only have 13 downloaded apps on this thing. ... "

" ... Until just recently with the latest android os update,. ... "

" ... the whole reason i got an unlockphone is to avoid the carriers bloatware. ... this one is sony bloatware (i cant even uninstall spotify). ... "

" ... But, you will have to be vigilant about the updates turning stuff back on. ... bloatware is useful, but much of it I don't use. ... E) It doesn't run on the Windows Mobile 10OS. ... I despise the iOS and Android platforms, the former is vastly overrated and expensive, the latter is infested with Google spy tech. ... I disabled as much of Android functions and replaced them with the Microsoft versions, (yep they are only marginally better at not spying on you). ... I have been using Windows phones for years, and really hate Google so this was a tough decision to go to an android phone. ... Android OS is not as intuitive as Windows Phone 10. ... "

" ... Since then, Sony has pushed an over-the-air update to Android Marshmellow, which makes it a lot harder to do this. ... "

Marketplace

shipped, looks, jp CAT, warehouse, posting

+78%

-22%

" ... I cant respond to those texts or receive pictures from that number. ... "

" ... Amazon, however, stepped up immediately and was kind enough to replace the phone. ... "

" ... Got my phone within two day . ... "

" ... This phone is a great value for ~$200 via Amazon Warehouse deals. ... "

" ... It's everything I expected. ... "

" ... Bought mine used from JP mobile here on amazon. ... It looks as if its brand new. ... "

Charging

battery, charging, full charge, sony, hrs

+27%

-73%

" ... Facing issue with battery need to charge multiple times in day without making any use of phone ... "

" ... The first one overheated while charging after only a month and a half of use, cracking the screen near the camera. ... "

" ... The touch pad is dead and the charger went out. ... "

" ... The only thing that is bothering me is that when I bought it the charging port was already loose. ... I wish it wasn't like that because I'm scared that it won't charge. ... I'm really scared that the phone will stop charging because the charging port is loose. ... "

" ... It also doesn't include a fast charger, just a crappy one. ... "

" ... And she won't hold a charge for nothing. ... "

" ... The battery is also on the smaller side at 2700 mAh, it should get you through a day of use, charging the battery is also slow as Sony gave this phone Quick Charge 2.0 -- but the charger is sold separately and not released in the states yet. ... "

Screen Protection

glass, protectors, edges, since the screen, oh

+29%

-71%

" ... The screen kept blacking out on me during a call . ... "

" ... Screen was so delicate that the bottom corner chipped off after an accidental drop (in 11/2017) while in protective casing. ... "

" ... It was lying at the bottom of the box and cracked. ... ALSO, the upper left corner of my screen is off colored. ... "

" ... Also, the screen is getting some sort of discoloration and the case itself kinda pushes in on that same side (never dropped it). ... One minor complaint I have is that if you drag in from the corner, the entire screen will go into multi-window mode and there doesn't seem to be a way to disable that directly through the settings. ... "

" ... Don't bother with any of the screen protectors they have on Amazon, I tried three of the "best" and they were really bad. ... They didn't stick well and none covered the whole screen (despited all of them saying it did). ... "

" ... I'm cutting my losses and going back to my old iPhone 5 with the cracked screen. ... "

" ... * The beveled screen edges makes it near impossible to find a good screen protector. ... Every screen protector on the market leaves about 1/16" around all edges of the phone-- more than even the bevel requires. ... Since the screen curves very slightly, tempered glass protectors tend to pull away after a day or so. ... Oh, and this doesn't have a gorilla glass screen. ... "

Memory

memory, 16gb, ram, internal, whack

+50%

-50%

" ... Even though there's 3 gb of ram, the CPU is so old and slow, nothing gets done. ... My old Moto G4 had none of these problems and it had 2gb of ram and a similar CPU. ... "

" ... 16GB is waay to little for the average person. ... Memory is too cheap to justify such skimping. ... "

" ... Why does this thing even have expandable storage if it's basically unusable? ... "

" ... 16GB is not enough storage for all the apps I want to download. ... "

" ... My number 1 complaint, as with most users of this phone, is the lack of storage. ... "

" ... - 16 GB's is a joke. ... "

Storage

card, apps, memory, internal memory, microsd

+56%

-44%

" ... Micro SD cards, battery duration and camera quality (with no flash) are also good for me. ... "

" ... You can add a micro SD card which works great but you cannot download to it directly. ... "

" ... it will hold up to a 200GB memory card which is plenty of space. ... "

" ... I recommend buying this phone and additional SD card with it. ... "

" ... And a 64gb SD card also. ... "

" ... I purchased a 128G microSD card ($40 Samsung card on amazon) and it gives me plenty of the space to store my pictures. ... "

Fit

screen, edges, slippery, protectors, molded

+83%

-17%

" ... I didn't think it would be that big and I was worried but she said it fits nicely in her hand. ... "

" ... nice phone , get the clear cover to keep it from slipping out of your hands . ... "

" ... This case fit like a good fitting glove. ... "

" ... Now I have a case on it, just to add a little extra grip. ... "

" ... Great huge screen excellent resolution and edges fit. ... "

" ... It can be slippery, so I put a case on it, now it fits perfectly in my hand. ... "

Size

love the size, large, phablets, larger size, knowing

+94%

-6%

" ... I love the size, style, etc. ... "

" ... It is the same size as iPhone 7 Plus but its display is bigger in size! ... "

" ... Large phone, great quality ... "

" ... It's a solid phone with a nice bit of weight to it, which is nice because it gives it that 'premium' feel at a not so premium price point. ... "

" ... You have no issues knowing you have a phone in your hand with this larger size cell. ... "

" ... I have always loved large phablets. ... "

Build Quality

slippery, build quality, wrapping, sleek, scratch

+81%

-19%

" ... You will need a case or cover with this one. ... "

" ... This is the price you pay for cheap products. ... "

" ... B) Build quality is very good. ... "

" ... I've never had a problem with my phones miracasting, it's rock solid. ... "

" ... It's a solid phone with a nice bit of weight to it, which is nice because it gives it that 'premium' feel at a not so premium price point. ... Now I have a case on it, just to add a little extra grip. ... Build Quality: 10/10 ... "

" ... this phone is so sleek it's slippery. ... "

Controls

button, buttons, turning, slap, reversed

-100%

" ... Sometimes it won't register and other times it presses random buttons repeatedly on it's own. ... "

" ... None of the navigation buttons would work sometimes. ... "

" ... I then tried to use the dedicated camera button on the side of the phone and it didn't work. ... "

" ... Sonys infuriating AVLS which cannot be turned off, adjusted, or changed in any way. ... Terrible button placement. ... A few weeks after writing this review, the volume limiter has disappeared after a random software update. ... It now often has problems recognizing buttons on Bluetooth devices while listening to music, which also necessitates a restart. ... "

" ... Most of them triggered the volume and power buttons so you press them by accident. ... Another thing that bothered me was that I could only wake the phone with the power button which is clunky if you have a case on. ... "

" ... but sometimes when I'm in camera mode and setting up for a shot, the on-screen shutter button just disappears. ... I have to fiddle with it for a minute, or leave camera mode and return, to get the on-screen button back. ... "

" ... I keep missing calls and texts because the volume has shut down accidentally. ... I also miss the tactile nature of the iPhone Home button and the slider button for turning the whole thing on and off. ... "

Display Size

size, bigger, large, screen is huge, inch

+100%

" ... I love the big screen. ... "

" ... Love the large screen. ... "

" ... Large screen is super crisp and phone is just amazing. ... "

" ... It is the same size as iPhone 7 Plus but its display is bigger in size! ... "

" ... The screen is huge! ... "

" ... Pros: Gorgeous phone overall, the six inch display is amazing. ... "

Device Compatibility

connect, bluetooth, apps, zenfone, relatives

+27%

-73%

" ... It now often has problems recognizing buttons on Bluetooth devices while listening to music, which also necessitates a restart. ... "

" ... Hard to pair the ps4 controller to it. ... It is possible to pair it but I could only get my blue ps4 controller to pair. ... "

" ... The Miracast doesn't work. ... My Nexus 5 and my relatives Alcatel worked right out of the box with all three different Miracast dongles. ... "

" ... Attempting to connect the phone call option in the Bluetooth setting don't work. ... "

" ... It dies with in 10 minutes with no apps or WiFi or Bluetooth or brightness on. ... "

" ... * Difficulty in linking with my computer to transfer data. ... Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. ... "

Overall performance

slow, processor, storage, graphics, fill

+93%

-7%

" ... Phones overall performance is smooth and fast. ... "

" ... i like the screen and the overall speed. ... "

" ... really fast, and so far no problem. ... "

" ... Fast Octacore processor. ... "

" ... It's a good smartphone, so fast, and the resolution is very high. ... "

" ... Fast processing, Great reception almost anywhere, Fantastic display, but camera, way too slow for me . ... it was super fast. ... "

" ... This will fill up your phone fast. ... "

Returns

returning, requested, loaner, filed, examining

+14%

-86%

" ... Now I cannot get a replacement. ... "

" ... I finally decided that I had made a horrible mistake. ... "

" ... I haven't found a solution online, and I can not return the item anymore. ... "

" ... When buying it- check it first thing and return it or have it changed. ... "

" ... I had it two weeks and had to return it because it had to many negatives. ... "

" ... I'm returning this. ... "

Comfort

hand, feels, slippery, overly, screen

+86%

-14%

" ... I didn't think it would be that big and I was worried but she said it fits nicely in her hand. ... "

" ... i would Recommend this to people like myself who have huge hands. ... "

" ... nice phone , get the clear cover to keep it from slipping out of your hands . ... "

" ... There's a neat feature to minimize the screen for one hand usage. ... "

" ... It's fast, smooth, and big enough for my huge hands not to feel like I'm using a phone made for Barbie. ... "

" ... The phone feels great in both hands, not overly bulky either. ... "

Lagging

lag, freezes, unchecked, keystrokes, slow

+23%

-77%

" ... The major #1 problem with this phone is lag. ... Oh yeah, lag. ... "

" ... And it was slow too . ... "

" ... Randomly freezes or refuses to turn on. ... Today, I restarted the phone, and nothing. ... The phone has finally rebooted. ... It constantly freezes up while on my home network, necessitating a restart every few hours. ... "

" ... Another issue I've been running into, more recently after having the phone for a while, is lag. ... If you have too many apps open at once, or even sometimes for no reason at all, the phone will lag. ... "

" ... It will unchecked itself automatically. ... "

" ... So i just turn it off and restart it but its still the same . ... "

" ... It freezes constantly and it's slow and overheats. ... "

Sound Quality

speaker, nothing, whisper, scree, screaming

+45%

-55%

" ... I get to work, where I listen to my bluetooth headset the entire shift to drown out the awful music they pipe through the building. ... So I get to spend my entire day having Motorhead and Danzig gently whispering to me while still hearing all of the noises I'm trying to drown out. ... I really shouldn't have to do all of this crap just so I can listen to music at the volume I want. ... "

" ... one that does not produce any sound! ... the sound would appear only when pressing hard on the scree. ... "

" ... Nothing on speaker, and nothing louder than a faint whisper on earpiece. ... "

Bluetooth

CAT call, treblab, stamina, paring, mercy

-100%

" ... When I first got it, it had Bluetooth issues and still does from time to time. ... "

" ... Bluetooth doesn't work no gyroscope so no VR. ... "

" ... The volume limiter is now randomly back, but only when connected to my new MPOW Bluetooth speaker. ... It now often has problems recognizing buttons on Bluetooth devices while listening to music, which also necessitates a restart. ... -Bluetooth, even when not connected, will drain the battery pretty quickly. ... "

" ... Bluetooth is not better tha that either and Sony software gets all of your memory! ... "

" ... She won't stay connected with her boyfriend's Bluetooth radio, she has no stamina, as her energy drains rapidly when you take her off charge. ... "

" ... After paring Bluetooth with my Treblab headphone, Ford SYNC, and Toyota Entune the phone call connection will not work. ... Attempting to connect the phone call option in the Bluetooth setting don't work. ... "

Network

wifi calling, network, shielded, sar, indispensable

+18%

-82%

" ... it keep loosing wifi connection and would not connect until restart. ... "

" ... The problem is that it does not have wifi calling, and that feature is really important for me because in my apartment there is a very poor signal and the wifi callings are indispensable. ... "

" ... Where I cannot usually get a signal or a poor signal with my previous phone, this phone gets it. ... (T-Mobile network). ... "

Picture Quality

pictures, video quality, image, sharp, screen

+90%

-10%

" ... The picture of clarity, reach out realistically ... "

" ... Pictures taken at the max resolution look well defined and sharp. ... "

" ... Color contrast ratios are great, the brightness level is awesome, but it can also get dim for use at night without compromising image quality. ... "

" ... The pictures are great. ... "

" ... The pictures are awesome. ... "

Headphones

headphone jack, come with headphones, wonderful, receive, microphone

+30%

-70%

" ... Now when you unplug the headphone jack it thinks it's plugged into a headset and you can't hear people on the handset when they call. ... Also, the headphone jack only works on the left side now. ... "

" ... Headphone jack on the top :-) loud bottom edge speaker. ... "

" ... * When I tried to plug in a headphone or microphone, the jack was too large. ... "

" ... also, mine didn't come with headphones either ... "

Wifi

network, calling, wi fi, signal, wifi calling

+10%

-90%

" ... it keep loosing wifi connection and would not connect until restart. ... "

" ... Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can't be used at the same time. ... "

" ... *wifi - without reason or warning, sometimes the wifi refuses to work. ... "

" ... Now, in addition to those issues, this thing won't work properly with wifi. ... "

" ... you can serf the Enet using WIFI put this phone doesn't have WIFI calling ! ... "

" ... Wifi and mobile data got very flaky after 5 months. ... "

" ... The problem is that it does not have wifi calling, and that feature is really important for me because in my apartment there is a very poor signal and the wifi callings are indispensable. ... "

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Specifications

Calling

GSM: Yes

Sim Type: Nano SIM

Camera

Secondary Camera: 16 MP