Sony Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra announced

Sony has not had a lot of sales success with its Xperia lineup of Android smartphones, especially outside of Japan. That’s not stopping Sony from trying however, as it hopes to win us over with the new devices that are being announced today at Mobile World Congress. So what does Sony have in store for us? Four new phones, two of which we cover in another post. He we focus on the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra, the successors to the previous Xperia XA and XA Ultra phones that were first released in 2016.

Like their predecessors, the Xperia XA1 has a 5-inch display while the Xperia XA1 Ultra has a big 6-inch screen. Both have edge-to-edge displays, again much like the previous phones, but still have large top and bottom bezels. Both of the Xperia XA1 models also have 23MP rear cameras for people who are serious about their mobile photography. They will also ship with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at the specs and features for these new Sony phones.

Sony Xperia XA1 design, specs and features

Based on just the press renders, the design of the Xperia XA1 will differ very little from the Xperia XA, with its slim case and display that is almost, but not quite, curved at the edges. The 5-inch display in the new phone will support 720p HD resolutions. Inside, there will be a MediaTek Helio P20 octa-core processor. It will also have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, with a microSD card slot to add up to 256GB of additional storage. It will also include a 2300mAh battery.

The big stand out feature on the Xperia XA1 is its 23MP rear camera, well above the 13MP camera in the Xperia XA. The camera will include features such as an ISO6400 sensor for low-light photography, a 24mm wide-angle F2.0 lens and more. The phone also has an 8MP front-facing camera.

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra design, specs and features

Like its little brother, the Xperia XA1 Ultra doesn’t look that much different in terms of design, compared to the older XA Ultra. The big 6-inch screen supports full HD 1920×1080 resolutions. Inside is the same MediaTek Helio P20 octa-core processor, but this phone will have 4GB of RAM. Sony will release versions with 32GB and 64GB of onboard storage, with a microSD card to add up to 256GB of additional storage. It will also include a larger 2700mAh battery.

The Xperia XA1 Ultra will have the same 23MP rear camera that the smaller XA1 phone has, but the Ultra model is going after the big selfie audience with its huge 16MP front-facing camera. It includes features like Optical Image Stabilization and a front-facing LED flash, along with an ISO6400 sensor for both low-light photography and video. We will have lots more information about both the Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra when we get some hands-on time with both phones.

Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra pricing and release details

When they go on sale, consumers will be able to purchase the new Xperia XA1 phones in a variety of colors; White, Black, Pink and Gold. The unlocked Xperia XA1 will go on sale first in late April or early May in the US for the price of $299.99. It will be available to purchase at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, B&H Photo and others. Sony plans to launch the larger Xperia XA1 Ultra sometime in late spring 2017, but it has yet to reveal its price tag. There’s no word yet if any US wireless carriers will sell either one of these phones, but don’t hold your breath as they have typically bypassed many of Sony’s previous phones.

Make sure to stay tuned to Android Authority for more details and impressions of the Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra, along with updates on the release dates and pricing for both phones as they are revealed. In the meantime, what are your first-hand thoughts on these new Xperia XA1 phones? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!