Review: Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra is a big phone that misses the mark. It is the last effort from Sony's design deam before the company changed gears, and it shows. The hefty hardware is simply too much for me, and I suspect it will be too much for many others. The reward for putting up with such a large phone should be obvious and worth it, yet it's not.
The 6-inch screen looks good enough, but the huge bezels give the phone an outdated look that doesn't wear well. I appreciate the solid wireless performance, excellent call quality, and respectable battery life. I wish the phone had stereo speakers to go with its cinema-sized display.
The software works very well. It's not the cleanest build of Android, but it provides just the right mix of options and tools to keep things interesting without getting in the way. The camera app has a limited number of shooting modes and amazingly leaves out portrait/bokeh effects. I wish any of the three cameras did better in low light.
Sony is selling the Xperia XA2 Ultra online for $450. That puts it on the same shelf as the OnePlus 5T and Honor View10 (both closer to $500). If I had to decide between these three, I'd go with either the 5T or the View10, as they are thinner, have modern displays, better cameras, and are easier to use over time.
The XA2 Ultra may powerful, but it is ultra-big, ultra-dated, and ultra-unappealing.
Our Ratings
Best of CES 2018
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Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
