Sony Xperia XA1 Plus review

Synthetic benchmarks

The Xperia XA1 Plus is powered by the same chipset as the other two XA1s this year - the Mediatek Helio P20. It's built on a 16nm fabrication process, so it should be power-efficient while providing adequate performance thanks to an octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU in a 4x2.3Ghz + 4x1.6GHz configuration. The GPU is a Mali-T880MP2, and RAM on our unit is 4GB, though there are 3GB versions too.

We ran the usual set of benchmarks on the XA1 Plus and here are the results, starting with GeekBench. In the single-core portion of the benchmark the XA1 Plus inches ahead of the Ultra, the two of them narrowly topping this chart of mid-tier devices with P20s, S625s, Exynos 78x0s, and a Kirin 658 thrown in for good measure. Oh, and the Nokia that can't quite keep up with the rest, with only a Snapdragon 430 at the helm.

GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  901
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  897
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  888
• Sony Xperia XA1
  887
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  877
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  868
• Moto G5S Plus
  843
• Huawei P10 lite
  834
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  824
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  734
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  731
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  665

In the multi-core chart the S625, represented by the Moto G5S Plus and the Mi A1/Mi 5X (pretty much the same phone), takes a clear lead in front of the P20s. The Xperia XA1 Plus and the Ultra come next, followed closely by an Exynos 7870-packing Galaxy J7 (2017). Oddly, the Mi Max 2 isn't faring too well here, despite its S625 chip, so not all S625s implementations are equally well executed.

GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi A1
  4292
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  4225
• Moto G5S Plus
  4193
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  3807
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  3783
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  3779
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  3667
• Sony Xperia XA1
  3611
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  3509
• Huawei P10 lite
  3344
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  2841
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  2445

The same can be said about the P20s, if you look at the Antutu scores - seemingly identical configurations like the Xperia XA1 Plus and Ultra post very different numbers, the Ultra clearly having the upper hand. In fact, the Plus only manages to beat the Nokia 6 (S430) and the Galaxy J5 (2017) and J7 (2017), the Galaxies featuring Exynos 7870 tickers.

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  64983
• Huawei nova plus
  64680
• Moto G5S Plus
  64554
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  63548
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  61762
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  61616
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  61020
• Huawei P10 lite
  60895
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  60767
• Sony Xperia XA1
  60707
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  57996
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  57902
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  55657
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  47495
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  46822
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  46400

The Plus pulls ahead of the Ultra in Basemark OS II 2.0, the second benchmark we use for judging overall performance. Here, the XA1 Plu ranks towards the middle of the pack, with results being more varied between devices - putting more emphasis on memory and storage performance reveals more differences in fine tuning.

Basemark OS 2.0

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  1417
• Sony Xperia XA1
  1351
• Huawei P10 lite
  1284
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  1262
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  1246
• Huawei nova plus
  1215
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  1198
• Moto G5S Plus
  1176
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  1163
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  1107
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  1050
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  1038
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  497
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  379
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  349

Look at those Basemark X numbers and let's talk about consistency. In this graphics-only benchmark, the six Snapdragon 625 devices are within a little over 1% of difference. The three Xperias exhibit a similar behavior, but the Galaxy J7 Max (itself packing a P20) is a few hundred points behind - Sony's squeezing a smidgeon more out of the Mali-T880 MP2 GPU than Samsung.

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  14619
• Huawei nova plus
  10524
• Moto G5S Plus
  10488
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  10482
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  10472
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  10446
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  10403
• Sony Xperia XA1
  9714
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  9598
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  9543
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  9034
• Huawei P10 lite
  7588
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  7516
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  5489
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  5258

In the OpenGL 3.1-based Basemark ES 3.1 the Xperia XA1 Plus clocks in virtually the same score as its bros, and here the Galaxy J7 Max is keeping up better. The higher-end Galaxies A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) rule in this benchmark, though the A7 is oddly behind the A5 despite similar specs. The Snapdragon 625 devices are struggling to compete with their P20 peers under this particular load.

Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  259
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  229
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  192
• Sony Xperia XA1
  191
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  191
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  187
• Huawei P10 lite
  145
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  138
• Huawei nova plus
  138
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  138
• Moto G5S Plus
  137
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  136
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  100
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  93
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  93

And finally, some GFXBenching. Looking at the offscreen scores (rendered at 1080p regardless of actual display resolution), it becomes evident that the Galaxy A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) have the most raw power at their disposal, but the XA1 Plus still manages about a third of their framerates. And since most phones here have 1080p displays anyway, the picture doesn't change much into onscreen testing. Well, if you don't count the Xperia XA1 proper, which storms to the top thanks to its 720p resolution

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  15
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  14
• Huawei nova plus
  9.9
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  9.9
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  9.9
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  9.8
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  9.8
• Moto G5S Plus
  9.8
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  9.6
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  9.6
• Sony Xperia XA1
  9.6
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  9
• Huawei P10 lite
  7.8
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  7.1
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  5.1
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  5.1

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Sony Xperia XA1
  19
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  15
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  15
• Moto G5S Plus
  10
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  10
• Huawei nova plus
  10
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  10
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  10
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  9.9
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  9.7
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  9.7
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  9.7
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  8.9
• Huawei P10 lite
  8.4
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  7
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  5.1

GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  5.2
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  5.2
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  4
• Sony Xperia XA1
  3.7
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  3.7
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  3.7
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  3.5
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  3.5
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  3.5
• Moto G5S Plus
  3.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  3.4
• Huawei nova plus
  3.4
• Huawei P10 lite
  2.8
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  2.5
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  1.9
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  1.9

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Sony Xperia XA1
  7.9
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
  5.2
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
  5.2
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max
  4
• Sony Xperia XA1 Plus
  4
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  4
• Moto G5S Plus
  3.8
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
  3.8
• Huawei nova plus
  3.7
• Xiaomi Mi 5X
  3.5
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  3.5
• Xiaomi Mi A1
  3.5
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  3.4
• Huawei P10 lite
  3
• Nokia 6 (Global version)
  2.5
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  1.9

A predictable showing by the Xperia XA1 Plus overall - the smartphone falls in line with previously tested Xperias with the same chipset and also proves to non-believers that Mediatek can indeed make a proper midrange SoC. The Snapdragon 625 is slightly more powerful in multi-core CPU usage, but the XA1 Plus' P20 is superior in single-core applications and has a minor edge in graphics. If you want the ultimate performance in this class, the Exynos 7880 is the way to go, but the Plus and its P20 appear unfazed by the Exynos 7870 devices.