Sony Mobile presented at the IFA exhibition in Berlin new line Xperia smartphones 2017 model year, which includes the flagship XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, as well as the XA1 Plus.
We managed to get acquainted with all the new products a few days before the exhibition in the Moscow office of Sony Mobile. It is important to note that the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are representatives of the flagship Xperia line and are technologically second only to the XZ Premium. And, in fact, the difference is only in the size and resolution of the display: the XZ1 has a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, while the “compact” has a diagonal of 4.6 inches with HD resolution. Otherwise, if we talk about technology - smartphones are almost identical.
On the general background of the presented new products, the XA1 Plus stands out - a smartphone that represents the middle class of Xperia devices, which are distinguished by a frameless design. XA1 Plus in this line will take a position between XA1 with a five-inch display and XA1 Ultra with a 6-inch one. The XA1 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen, but most importantly, while maintaining a frameless design, Sony was able to install a fingerprint scanner on the side.
We managed to get acquainted with each of the devices separately, so we will give everyone a separate material.
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus will be the new member of the line of mid-range smartphones with bezel-less design. Recall that earlier the company released XA1 with a display diagonal of 5 inches and XA1 Ultra with a diagonal of 6 inches. The new smartphone will find its place just between these two devices, since the screen diagonal of the XA1 Plus was 5.5 inches. The display resolution is Full HD (1080 by 1920 pixels).
Xperia XA1 Plus will receive the largest battery for Sony smartphones, a large Full HD display, a fingerprint scanner will appear here, while the frameless design will remain. At the same time, Sony explains that the flagships cannot yet get rid of the frames due to the fact that smartphones are protected from dust and moisture. The Xperia XA1 Plus also promises the best camera in its class.
Actually, the Xperia XA1 Plus is all "best in class": a large 5.5-inch Full HD display, loud noise from the built-in mono speaker, equalizer and Clear BASS function. Separately, Sony Mobile notes the largest battery for Sony smartphones - its volume will be 3430 mAh. Also, the smartphone will be equipped with STAMINA technologies, Qnovo adaptive charging and supports Quick Charge.
The device is powered by Mediatek MT6757 octa-core processor, also known as Helio P20, with clock frequency 2.3 GHz. Depending on the region, there will be versions with 3 and 4 GB random access memory. Built-in memory will be either 16 or 32 GB, depending on the version. The memory can be expanded using a microSD card. You can install two SIM cards in your smartphone.
As for the camera, it is a 23 megapixel Sony Exmor RS sensor familiar from previous generations and hybrid autofocus. The sensor size is 1/2.3 inch. Such a camera block was previously included in the flagship line and was installed in the Sony Xperia Z5 smartphone, as well as in the XA1 and XA1 Ultra. SteadyShot technology is responsible for image stabilization. The front camera is equipped with an 8MP Exmor R sensor.
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus will be available in three colors: black, blue and gold. The device looks extremely nice and the line of the middle price segment is more and more reminiscent of flagships. This is also played by innovation - the presence of a fingerprint scanner on the side. At the same time, the smartphone continues to be frameless and it is convenient to control it with both two and one hand. Especially worth noting are the polished ends, which shine spectacularly.
Thus, on the one hand, Sony has updated the line of the middle price segment, on the other hand, it has supplemented it with a new device that should definitely find its fans.
Sony has expanded its Xperia lineup with three new smartphones today. The flagship Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact have been in the spotlight, but for those looking for more affordable options, the company has introduced a new model from the mid-range XA series.
The Xperia XA1 Plus can be seen as a hybrid of the XA1 and XA1 Ultra as its design is identical to the two devices announced earlier this year. At first glance, its characteristics are also not very impressive, but new smartphone has a few improvements that some might like.
The main characteristics are as follows:
Xperia XA1 Plus looks like a typical representative of its line: the design is built on the principles of OmniBalance. Although Sony claims that the bezels are quite small, they are still far from the bezel-less style. However, there is little progress in this direction.
The screen size is right in the middle between the 5-inch XA1 and the 6-inch XA1 Ultra. So the device may be suitable for those who have 5 inches is not enough, and 6 is too much. In addition, the 5.5-inch display in the new device has a higher resolution of 1080p. Unfortunately, the LCD panel is used here, but it should be good quality and wide viewing angles.
The color gamut of the XA1 Plus is slightly less than other flagships introduced today, it is the standard set of blue, black and gold colors today.
Camera
The smartphone comes with a 23 MP camera on the back, which seems like a pretty impressive resolution. Let me remind you that the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact only have a 19 MP camera, but the XA1 Plus does not have a huge frame rate slow motion, so this advantage does not look too desirable.
The camera is also equipped with autofocus, which works within 0.6 s. In addition, there is a 5x digital zoom. There is an 8MP camera on the front for selfies.
Hardware stuffing
Inside the smartphone is installed MediaTek Helio P20 and 4 GB of RAM. There is only 32 GB of permanent memory, but an additional slot for memory cards saves.
I note that the device has a fairly large (as for Sony) 3430 mAh battery. In the same XA1 Ultra with much large display the battery is only 2700 mAh. As on other smartphones from the Japanese manufacturer, the Stamina energy-saving mode is installed. Supported fast charging using Pump Express+ 2.0 technology.
What's going on in the smartphone market? Double and triple cameras, budget frameless smartphones and a whole scattering of new Chinese brands. But let's digress from this and look at the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus and maybe this "classic" smartphone deserves much more attention.
Characteristics
| Model | Xperia XA1 Plus |
| Year of issue | 2017 |
| Dimensions (WxHxT, mm) | 75 x 155 x 8.7 |
| Weight (g) | 190 |
| Display | IPS 5.5” 1920x1080 |
| Operating system | Android 7.0 |
| CPU | MediaTek MT6757 |
| graphics accelerator | Mali-T880 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Built-in memory | 32 GB |
| Supported networks | GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900), LTE (700, 800, 850, 900, 1500, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2600) |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| WiFi | 802.11a,b,g,n,ac |
| More detailed specifications: | https://www.sonymobile.com/ru/products/phones/xperia-xa1-plus/ |
Design, build and ease of use
From the first look at the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus, it clearly shows the best features of Sony. Three colors are available in Russia: black, gold and blue; in black, this is a strict design with straight lines, which is quite deceptive, because at first glance the smartphone seems more expensive than it really is, but in gold and blue versions, the same smartphone plays with completely different colors, it becomes a more “youthful” option .
 |  |  |
The front side of the smartphone is completely covered protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4 with slightly curved edges, but this effect is enhanced. as the neat curve of the glass turns into a rounded frame. The glass is also equipped with a high-quality oleophobic coating, on which prints remain reluctantly, and wipe off very easily. Above the display is a barely noticeable Sony logo, front camera lens, light sensors, proximity, led indicator notifications and earpiece grille. Below the display is a huge area without functional elements, the keys are on-screen, and only at the very bottom of this area is the microphone grille. 
The back of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is made of pleasant non-slip semi-gloss plastic and, on the one hand, this solution makes the smartphone more grippy, and on the other hand, it collects fingerprints quite easily. which can only be removed with a damp cloth. On the back side there is a necessary minimum of elements: a sufficiently large main camera lens protected from scratches by a small metal rim, a single-color LED flash, an NFC and Xperia logo. 
The side faces are made of metal, which gives the overall rigidity of the structure and the smartphone is not torsion-resistant. On the left side there is a large flap that opens not with the usual paper clip, but manually or with any tool at hand, two Nano-SIM slots and one for installing a MicroSD up to 256 GB are hidden behind the flap. You should immediately say thank you to Sony for the ability to install two SIMs and a memory card, which is now a rarity. 
The right side is occupied by a small volume rocker, a lock key with a built-in fingerprint scanner, and such a unique feature as the shutter key. 
The top edge boasts a 3.5mm mini-jack for connecting headphones and a noise-canceling microphone. On the bottom edge there is only a connector for charging and synchronization USB type C and main speaker grille. 
Speaking about ergonomics, we can immediately say that the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus, without exaggeration, big smartphone for people with a large palm, at the same time, if you understand. that this is your sizer, then you will not feel any problems with the location of the controls. 
Are there any complaints about the assembly? To be honest, there is, the cover of the SIM and MicroSD tray has a slight backlash, of course, it does not hang freely and does not rattle, but when a finger gets on it, it is felt that this element could “sit” more securely. In all other respects, the smartphone is assembled perfectly and the body parts are precisely adjusted to each other; during normal use, there are no squeaks.
Display
The big screen, especially with the advent of “frameless”, will not surprise anyone, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus has large display 5.5 ″ diagonal located from edge to edge, it’s a pity that from the right to the left edge, and above and below it there are a lot of free space, but it would be much cooler without it. But back to the display - this is good IPS-matrix with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, i.e. FullHD, and the pixel density is 401 PPI. There is no air gap between the display and the glass, and this, paired with thin frames (left and right), creates a pleasant effect. 
The color rendition of the matrix is close to natural and, which is clearly evident, the initially warm color temperature of the display, however, the color rendition can be easily adjusted in the display settings.
 |  |
Viewing angles are maximum. The brightness adjustment range is wide and you can easily choose the mode for both night reading and bright sunny days, and adaptive brightness control works correctly. 
Camera
The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus main camera module comes from the 2015 flagship Sony Xperia Z5. This is a Sony Exmor RS module with a maximum shooting resolution of 23 megapixels, f / 2.0 aperture, hybrid autofocus and SteadyShot stabilization system. In general, if you believe the manufacturer's website, then the quality of the photos taken on the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus should be at the highest level. From my own experience, I will say that automation does not always select the correct white balance, especially in the evening. Sample photos can be seen below. 
Despite good photo capabilities, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus shoots video poorly. The maximum possible mode is FullHD 30fps, which is not impressive at all. To demonstrate the video capabilities, we shot a couple of stories.
The Exmor R front camera can shoot at a maximum resolution of 8MP and is equipped with a wide-angle lens with f/2.0 aperture. There are no complaints about the quality of the photo, it is more than enough for Instagram. 
To additional features cameras should include AR effects, that is, augmented reality. There are a lot of shooting plots and with the help of them you can even “walk” dinosaurs in the middle of the park. 
Performance
The hardware part of the smartphone is as follows: eight-core MediaTek Helio P20 MT6757 processor, Mali-T880 graphics accelerator, 4 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of internal memory. This bundle ensures the speed and stability of work when performing everyday tasks, no serious “freezes” were found during three weeks of operation. Particularly well felt that RAM with plenty, Sony Xperia XA1 Plus can keep a lot of applications and tabs in the browser in the background. Below are the results of passing popular benchmarks.
 |  |
But if you need a smartphone for heavy games, then the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is not the best choice and everyone's favorite World of Tanks Blitz work stably only at low graphics settings, other serious projects at medium ones. 
Software
Works Sony Xperia XA1 Plus on Android Nougat 7.0 with Sony's proprietary shell. By the way, software Sony is as close to stock Android as possible, which means we get high speed and not overloaded operating system. Separately, it is worth noting that very soon this smartphone should receive a fresh android version Oreo 8.0.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
autonomy
One of the features of the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is, until recently, the most capacious Li-Pol battery in the line with a capacity of 3430 mAh, which allows it to easily live one day from early morning to late evening on a single charge. If this is not enough for you, then there is the STAMINA power saving mode, which implies disabling GPS, background data synchronization, sound and image enhancements, and if you really want to stretch the charge of your smartphone for two days, the Ultra STAMINA mode is provided, which limits the range of possible for application launch.
 |  |
 |  |
Sony takes care of the batteries of its smartphones and has developed Qnovo adaptive charging technology. Thanks to this technology, the smartphone analyzes at what time it is put on a long charge, for example at night, and limits the current for proper and slow charging. But if you need to recharge quickly, then the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus also supports MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0 fast charging technology, but this will need to be purchased separately Charger Sony Quick Charger UCH12W. 
Sound
The quality of the main speaker does not cause any complaints, even if it is one, but it is loud, and there is no arguing with that, and the only thing it lacks is low frequencies, but what can I say - almost all smartphones lack them.
The speaker is also of high quality, the interlocutor is heard accurately, without distortion.
The next important point is the sound quality in the headphones, and here it is worth moving away from the marketing features described on the official website. Let me just say that the sound quality is up to the mark and comparable to competitors, but even if a dedicated amplifier is not listed in the specifications, the sound volume in the headphones is higher than most smartphones in this price category.
 |  |
Wireless interfaces
This device supports all LTE frequencies available in Russia, and also supports LTE Cat. 6 or cat. 4, the data transfer rate in these networks is up to 300 Mbps and 150 Mbps, respectively. Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac is supported. Next wireless interface, which we are interested in is NFC, because NFC is successfully used in almost all Sony devices for quick synchronization. It is also worth noting the excellent work with Android Pay without any failure. As for Bluetooth, the version 4.2 module is used with the ability to connect wireless headsets using the artX codec, which transmits sound High Quality without wires.
Fingerprint scanner
The fingerprint scanner, as I said earlier, is combined with the lock key, and I used to think that this is not very convenient, and due to the small area it will not always work. I admit I was wrong, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus fingerprint scanner is conveniently located, remembers up to five fingers and works very quickly. What we can still work on is to add gestures to the scanner, by the way, it would be very convenient to scroll through articles in the browser or photos in the gallery.
conclusions
The smartphone market is currently undergoing significant and rapid changes, and against the backdrop of most modern smartphones The Sony Xperia XA1 Plus looks exactly like a "classic" device, but this does not make it worse. The Xperia XA1 Plus is a well-balanced device with a recognizable elegant design. so beloved by Sony fans. Simply put, if you are looking at a smartphone from the middle price category, then paying attention to the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus is definitely worth it, but it has enough competitors.
Smartphone Sony Xperia XA1 Plus – new model middle price segment, which organically fits into the lineup XA1-series and occupies a middle position there. The company's new trend is for the middle niche to get the look and feel of the same concept as the current flagships, as well as some hardware and software features from the previous generation's top devices. Therefore, the Xperia XA1 Plus is a strong competitor in its niche, offering good technical stuffing and will be of particular interest to those who like bigger smartphones.
Appearance, screen, some features
The design of the XA1 Plus is practically no different from its counterparts in the line - Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra. The concept is completely familiar to us. Therefore, when choosing an average from Sony, the user will focus on the dimensions of the device. By the way, the new items are 155 x 75 x 8.7 mm.
The only noticeable difference is a slight thickening of the side faces. Xperia XA1 Plus was the first mid-range smartphone with a fingerprint scanner, and it took a little more space to integrate it. Despite this, the side bezels around the 5.5-inch Full HD screen are practically absent, as in previous models in the series. Although the former borderless effect is slightly blurred. The frame of the case is metal, and the matte back cover is plastic. There are three color options to choose from: black, gold and blue. A pink version has also been released, but it won't be available in all markets.
The display is covered with 2.5D Gorilla Glass with a lyophobic coating. The matrix itself is traditionally of high quality with excellent color reproduction, high brightness and contrast.
I would like to note that behind the plug on the left edge there is a tray with compartments for two SIM cards at once and a separate slot for a microSD memory card. This means that you don't have to choose between expanding the memory or using another operator. Everything is available at once. The location of buttons, connectors and microphones is standard. There is a connector on the end USB Type-C and a mono speaker that produces a fairly loud sound.
Camera and technical parameters
The main camera is a 23-megapixel module with fast hybrid autofocus and quick launch, which was previously installed in the Xperia Z5 series. With it, you can take great pictures, but the camera algorithms are not an unimportant factor. After the device goes on sale, it will be possible to get acquainted with the quality of photos and videos and already draw some conclusions. Front camera 8 megapixels with wide-angle lens and stabilization as in Xperia XA1.
For the middle segment of their smartphone models, Sony has chosen chipsets from MediaTek and this model has a Helio P20 chipset with 8 cores and Mali-T880MP2 video. The amount of memory is 4 GB of RAM and a 32 GB drive, which, as already mentioned, can be easily expanded using a memory card up to 256 GB. Another novelty is expressive in that it received a 3430 mAh battery - the largest volume among.
More detailed specifications:
- Dimensions: 155 x 75 x 8.7mm, 190g
- Screen parameters: 5.5 inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, IPS, Dynamic Contrast Enhancer, 2.5D glass, Gorilla Glass
- Primary Camera: 23MP, 1/2.3” Exmor RS, f/2.0, LED Flash, Hybrid AF, Steady Shot, 5x Clear Image Zoom
- Front camera: 8 MP, 1/4”, f/2.0 Exmor RS sensor, autofocus
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6757 Helio P20, 8 cores, 64 bits, frequency up to 2.3 GHz.
- Graphics Chip: Mali T880MP2
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 32 GB, memory card up to 256 GB
- Wired and wireless connections: GPS and GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C 2.0, NFC
- Audio: SmartAmp, Clear Audio+
- Battery: 3430 mAh, fast charging MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0, Smart Stamina 3.0, Qnovo, Battery Care
- System version (out of the box): Android 7.0 Nougat
- Network: GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G), LTE
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus- another representative of the XA line of smartphones, which are distinguished by improved camera modules and a relatively low price. It occupies an intermediate position between Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra.
They fixed it there, corrected it, played a little with the hardware and got a new smartphone - let's get to know it and find out what's what.
Sony Xperia XA1 Plus video review
Thanks to TOLOKA coworking for the shooting room:
Design and materials
Sony, it seems to me, have found their ideal and are trying to stick to the standard during appearance their smartphones. Is he good? Is it right for you? Here you just need to personally look and feel.
The frames at the top and bottom of the smartphone have already become the brand's hallmark of the manufacturer - they are wide. Few in the market now ready for such a bold design. Yes, due to this Sony phones recognizable. Yes, you get used to the limits. But! Why can't the on-screen navigation buttons be moved down, which decently take up space on the screen for themselves, if we have such a useless wide frame at the bottom?
Symmetry is always good, becauseSymmetry is an important component in human ideas about beauty. But I want it to be not only beautiful, but also practical.
The frame around the perimeter of the smartphone is metal. Back panel made of pleasant matte pleasant plastic with a bevel under the metal, but it's still plastic, which oh how easily scratched. For a week of careful use of the device on the back cover has already managed to form scuffs. Why? From what? No idea, but as they say - what is, is.
The smartphone is quite thick. Me Xperia XA1 Plusafter that, at first it seemed like a huge brick. Such a specific smartphone for specific boys. It will definitely be felt in your pocket, do not even doubt it.
Layout of elements
Now about the location of the elements. On the front panel above the screen there is a notification indicator, front-camera, Sony logo, light sensor and earpiece. Under the screen - only a microphone.
On the top side you will find a mini-jack for headphones and an auxiliary microphone, on the bottom - a port for USB charging Type C and speaker.
On the left side there is a slot for SIM cards and a memory card - not a hybrid one, so there will be no problem choosing between a second SIM card and additional memory.
On the right side there is a volume rocker, a power button with a fingerprint scanner hidden in it, and yes, a camera launch button is also in place.
On the back, everything is no frills. Camera, flash, Xperia logo and NFC icon.
Fingerprint scanner
We waited! Mid-budget model from Sony, so what? Yes, they did install a fingerprint scanner here, and what a one! Works really very quickly, without delays and errors.
Screen Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
The smartphone has a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of Full HD 1920x1080 pixels. It is bright and contrasting. Viewing angles are good and I generally like the color reproduction.
If you are not satisfied with the white balance or the brightness level, then all this can be corrected in the settings, no problem. I'm a fan of night modes and set up warmer colors on each device. In such vile weather, you really want warmth, well, at least on the screen of a smartphone ...
The screen is covered with Corning glassGorilla glass. The oleophobic coating is good - the surface almost does not get dirty, you can forget about films, everything is fine anyway. The junction of the glass with the body has a smooth rounding and due to this, the side frames seem smaller than they actually are.You look at Sony, they will soon completely abandon them and be frameless-frameless smartphones! Or was it me dreaming?
cameras
Camera in Sony Xperia XA1 Plus enrolled straight from last year's flagship.Resolution as much as 23 megapixels! Yes, and with an image sensorExmor RS and optics with aperture f/2.0 . It also supports 5x lossless Clear Image Zoom and Steadyshot for image stabilization.I am very pleased with the speed of launching the camera - less than a second. And the camera app is simple and intuitive. Both the schoolboy and your grandmother will figure it out.
As for the quality of the pictures - dThe detailing of the photo is really excellent in good lighting.Noises? Yes, if you are photographing in low light conditions, then you will not get away from the noise.
On the official website, I was convinced that in low light conditions the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus produces powerful photos, but either I’m a handyman and I don’t know how to take pictures, or the manufacturer’s marketing is slightly exaggerating. To know? Well, it didn't work for me personally.