Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, L2 hands-on review

08 January 2018
Xperias, reimagined. Sony is stepping into the new year with a brand new yet recognizably Sony design for its XA-series of midrangers, now into their third generation.

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The XA2 Ultra looks like the successor to the LG G4 that LG never produced.
The funny thing is that these phones have a big advantage if Sony promotes it - the A53 isn't affected by the recently discovered vulnerabilities. Sticking to the older chipset means that these phones are safe out of the box.

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    • AnonD-664474
    • t7X
    • 08 Jan 2018

    Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018Front design is nice, but the back fingerprint is something... moreYou do have a point, but Sony wouldn't make the phones' sides as thin as they are if they put the fingerprint scanner on the side. It also wouldn't work in the US.

    Now, not only does it save space for more screen and being fully enabled in the US, but also is now always-active (no need to press it to work, just tap on it for it to work).

    Besides, I'd rather have a back fingerprint scanner that is working in all regions than side fingerprint scanner that is only working in selected regions.

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      • AnonD-664474
      • t7X
      • 08 Jan 2018

      AnonD-311835, 08 Jan 2018to be honest with you guys, these phones are sexy especiall... moreYes, but for me, it is the XA2. Anyway they have the same design, just different size.
      I don't know about the fuss with bezels when on specsheet, their STB Ratios are basically just about the same level as on the Galaxy A8 and A8+ 2018.

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        • AnonD-664474
        • t7X
        • 08 Jan 2018

        AnonD-11851, 08 Jan 2018Ouch! Why sony moved the fps to the back? It's too ugly. Si... moreBecause they want to fully enable the sensor in all regions (side-mounted fingerprint scanners are disabled in the US).
        For me, it does look nice and I don't mind it. For one, it is now always-active (no need to press, just tap it and it works) and now people will no longer need to struggle enabling it in the US.

        And bezels? I don't know about you, but on specsheet, the STB Ratio is about the same level as, say Galaxy A8 and A8+ 2018. But against the two, the XA2 and XA2 Ultra have significantly larger batteries and run on Android Oreo (not only is more future proof, also it brings better battery optimization; see why the XZ1 with 2700mAh battery gets a 82h Endurance Rating).

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          • AnonD-664474
          • t7X
          • 08 Jan 2018

          Alex, 08 Jan 2018Why, what's wrong with that sentence? I'm still using a 201... moreHe bought a fake Sony phone or he probably used a Chinese phone that easily broke on him/her, and assumes that Sony is the same lol.

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            • AnonD-664474
            • t7X
            • 08 Jan 2018

            Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018There is enough space on those huge front besels for front ... moreThese are all mid rangers. Not so many phones have this feature.
            Galaxy A8 and A8+ 2018 also have large enough bezels to pack dual front stereo speakers or front fingerprint scanner; neither is actually done on both.

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              • Anonymous
              • Yde
              • 08 Jan 2018

              There is enough space on those huge front besels for front fps or at least put them on side. Although with those huge besels speakers could be as big as axon 7 at least.

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                • Alex
                • 0w7
                • 08 Jan 2018

                Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018Sony and quality in the same sentence? Hahahahha. Good stuf... moreWhy, what's wrong with that sentence? I'm still using a 2013 Xperia, and it's still smooth as a butter. How many "quality" phones did you had to change since 2013?

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                  • AnonD-311835
                  • nTU
                  • 08 Jan 2018

                  to be honest with you guys, these phones are sexy especially the XA2 ultra daayymnn!!

                    AnonD-690051, 08 Jan 2018still looks like brick. still cant beat xiaomi which have b... moreIs pre-installed spyware considered a feature too?
                    This phone isn't good, but Xiaomi is definitley worse.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • pWQ
                      • 08 Jan 2018

                      Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018How immature when people are blinded with cheap price. We'r... moreSony and quality in the same sentence? Hahahahha. Good stuff, I see you have an amazing sense of humor. Keep it up, man! :-)

                        AnonD-635604, 08 Jan 2018It's not a flagship :)3It surely beats any other midranger offerings in cameras department.

                        Batteries big....certainly over 100 hr endurance each...
                        Nice internal specs.
                        If prices as leaked 450, 350, 200...great stuff!

                        And they look great, bezels reduced just the right amount to 75-76 % screen to body ratio, curved front and back, fp scanner tho on back but very inconspicious, thick enough for good hold....

                        Awaiting MWC to see the flagship :-)




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                          • Anonymous
                          • 7Xe
                          • 08 Jan 2018

                          good job, sony!

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                            • AnonD-11851
                            • 6uy
                            • 08 Jan 2018

                            Ouch! Why sony moved the fps to the back? It's too ugly. Side fps is Better for me. Oh and look at the bezels. Ahaha!

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                              • AnonD-635604
                              • KZ8
                              • 08 Jan 2018

                              Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018the camera will fail again. every year same story. mehIt's not a flagship :)3

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • XMF
                                • 08 Jan 2018

                                Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018Yeah how immature when they price their low end phones as f... moreHow immature when people are blinded with cheap price. We're talking quality here

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                                  • AnonD-635604
                                  • KZ8
                                  • 08 Jan 2018

                                  Anonymous, 08 Jan 2018It all looks good but have to wait for the price. Sony norm... moreYou know Sony right? The price will be lower .

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • m5k
                                    • 08 Jan 2018

                                    Hris, 08 Jan 2018FHD screen, smaller bazels, solid and premium design, 23 MP... moreIt all looks good but have to wait for the price. Sony normally price themselves out of the game. After a year then the price becomes competitive.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • IVT
                                      • 08 Jan 2018

                                      Front design is nice, but the back fingerprint is something like China phone. I don't like back fingerprint sensor. The side fingerprint is the best!

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                                        • Surficial
                                        • g8B
                                        • 08 Jan 2018

                                        Like the evolution of the omnibalance shape here, as well as the reduced bezels. Scanner at the back beats no scanner at all.

                                        Do they have double tap to wake?