Sony Unveils New Xperia X Smartphones
by Anton Shilov on February 23, 2016 7:00 PM ESTThis week at Mobile World Congress 2016, Sony has introduced their new high-end Xperia X series smartphones. The new smartphones feature similar designs across the entire series and all sport 5” displays, but each is based on a different SoC and offers slightly different functionality. The Xperia X smartphones represent the company’s new lineup, but it does not seem that Sony plans to position any of them as their flagship handset just now.
The new Sony Xperia X lineup consists of three models — the Xperia XA, the Xperia X and the Xperia X Performance — which are aimed at the entry-level, mid-range, and (quasi) high-end markets respectively. In keeping with a consistent family, all three smartphones look very similar and have a lot in common from design standpoint, along with sharing some technologies and components, but each phone is built around a unique platform.
Xperia XA | Xperia X | Xperia X Performance | |
SoC | MediaTek Helio P10 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.1GHz 4x Cortex A53 @ 2.0GHz ARM Mali-T860MP2 |
QC Snapragon 650 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.4GHz 2x Cortex-A72 @ 1.8GHz Adreno 510 |
QC Snapdragon 820 2x Kryo @ 1.6GHz 2x Kryo @ 2.15GHz Adreno 530 |
RAM | 2 GB LPDDR3 | 3 GB LPDDR3 | 3 GB LPDDR4 |
Storage | 16 GB + microSD | 32 GB + microSD | 32 GB + microSD |
Display | 5" 1280x720 | 5" 1920x1080 | 5" 1920x1080 |
Network | LTE Cat 4 | LTE Cat 6 | LTE Cat 9 |
Dimensions | 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 (mm) | 142.7 x 69.4 x 7.9 (mm) | 144.8 x 71.1 x 7.62 (mm) |
Weight | 137.4 grams | 153 grams | 164.4 grams |
Rear Camera | 13 MP, LED flash | 23 MP, LED flash | |
Front Camera | 8 MP | 13 MP | |
Battery | 2300 mAh | 2620 mAh | 2700 mAh |
OS | Google Android 6.0 Marsmallow | ||
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro-USB | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, micro-USB | |
Additional | - | Fingerprint reader integrated into Power button | |
SIM Size | nano SIM or dual nano SIM | nano SIM | nano SIM |
Sony Xperia X, Sony Xperia XA and Sony Xperia Performance
Starting things off is the Xperia XA. The XA is an entry-level model based on MediaTek’s Helio P10 (MT6755) system-on-chip with a 5-inch 1280x720 in the display. The device features aluminum frame with plastic inlays. It is arguably the most stylish product in the Xperia X family, but is also the least powerful one: it features a rather low-resolution screen, only 2 GB of RAM and only 16 GB of storage. Sony equipped the Xperia XA model with a 13 MP rear camera and a 8 MP front camera, hence, its imaging capabilities should be rather good, even though it does not support the predictive hybrid autofocus technology found on the other X series phones. Meanwhile the device features 2300 mAh battery, which I'd expect to provide decent battery life, keeping in mind the 720p display and Sony’s smart battery management.
Next up, the Xperia X is the mid-range model of the new lineup. It features an aluminum body, a slightly curved 5” display as well as a fingerprint reader integrated into the Power button. The Sony Xperia X is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 650 SoC and is equipped with 3 GB of LPDDR3 memory as well as 32 GB of NAND flash storage. The smartphone has a 5” full-HD display, a 23 MP rear camera as well as a 13 MP front camera, with the rear camera supporting Sony's all-new predictive hybrid autofocus technology, which analyzes dynamic scene and attempts to predict motion of the subject to improve quality of focus. The Xperia X is equipped with 2620 mAh battery. Sony has not released pricing information on any of these at the moment, but the combination of a mainstream SoC along with a 5” 1080p display indicates that the Xperia X5 should not be too expensive.
Finally, the Xperia X Performance will be the most powerful model in the family, and will feature Qualcomm’s forthcoming Snapdragon 820 SoC, putting it into the running for one of the fastest Android-based smartphones available this year. Just like the Xperia X, the higher-end version will feature a 5” display with full-HD resolution, a 23 MP rear camera as well as a 13 MP front camera, the former of which supports Sony's predictive hybrid autofocus technology, and are presumably the same camera modules as used in the Xperia X . The X Performance will also be water-resistant, which will make it slightly larger and heavier than the Xperia X. However, Sony has mentioned that they will only offer the Xperia X Performance Asia, at least initially, so it will not be as widely available as the rest of the X series.
Otherwise from a shared platform standpoint, all Xperia X smartphones feature Qnovo’s adaptive charging technology as well as Sony’s new smart battery management that promises to stretch battery life to two days. Meanwhile, like other phones launching in this timeframe, all three phones will be shipping with Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. The phones will be available in four colors, including white, graphite black, lime gold and rose gold later this year.
The Xperia X Performance uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 SoC, the company’s most advanced mobile processor today, and though it's not meant to be the company's flagship phone, one could argue it amounts to a second high-end phone for the company. The Xperia X and the Xperia X Performance are also equipped 1/2.3'' Exmor RS mobile sensor with 24 mm wide-angle lens that can shoot in low-light condition, which is also used on the Xperia Z5 handsets, another indicator that the new smartphones belong to the high-end of the market. However, unlike the Z5 Premium, the new models do not feature high resolution displays (either QHD or 4K) - something that has been a distinctive feature of all top-of-the-range smartphones in the recent years.
What is a bit strange is that the Xperia X Performance is not set to be available in the U.S. and Europe, at least initially. As a result, Sony’s newest phone (the Xperia X with the Snapdragon 650) offered in these markets will be clearly less advanced than Sony’s Z5-series products, which are based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and are waterproof. It remains to be seen how the new family of Sony’s smartphones fits in the company’s already dense lineup of handsets. Perhaps, Sony deliberately decided not to offer the Xperia X Performance in the U.S. and Europe so to avoid any possible competition or confusion between its own devices.
Devices will be available in the summer, with prices still to be determined.
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nikon133 - Thursday, February 25, 2016 - link
I had iPhone 3Gs for 4 years and moved to Lumia 920 which I still use, 3 years later. My one is still holding on battery reasonably well - I never had problem going through a day, and with some care (as in, not playing any games) it can go through 2 days with some juice to spare. I'm on a light side of phone use, though... I'll always use tablet/laptop/desktop instead, if I can.I have a "problem" with Android. I don't hate it or anything... but it feels somehow uncomfortable, much as I played with a few Samsungs in our office. Really cannot explain. I can find my way with it with no problem, but I don't... feel... at home with it. iPhone was great back in 2009 when I got it, and Windows Phone 8 kind of clicked with me immediately... to a degree that I was fine with tiles on desktop Win 8. Android just failed to create that feel of comfort.
I wish Sony makes Win phones, too. Shouldn't be hard to bring Windows on these Xpertias.
w1000i - Thursday, February 25, 2016 - link
Go for M9, last week I got it for my brother and with MM 6.0.1 it is so good in every aspect.woofersus - Monday, March 7, 2016 - link
Yep, me too. And my wife, who has the purple camera issue. I keep wanting Sony's phones, and they keep not offering to sell one to me. (I'm on Verizon, and the Z3v was old by the time they offered it) HTC had it made after the M7. Just follow Samsung's and Apple's lead, changing very little and making incremental improvements every year. It should have been easy. Here's hoping they get back on track and offer me something I want to buy next month.NfsNick - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
It's popped up here in Canada on the Sony.ca site so I'm fairly certain it'll be coming to you guys as wellwillis936 - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
I swapped from my M7 to a 6S plus recently. The hardware is much nicer and that's really saying something. Having to use a physical pushbutton for switching apps makes me cringe, text selection sucks, and the menu system is garbage but outside of that it's nice.shabby - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
Funny how the low end xa model is 4mm narrower than the "high end" performance model, the xa actually seems to be the narrowest 5" phone to date, almost no bezels. Why didn't sony continue this to the performance model?tarqsharq - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
Because performance and the battery required to power it requires space?This is why we have shit battery life, people caring about a few mm of thickness.
Maxpower2727 - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
Waterproofing, as the article points out.nerd1 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
XP is now their flagship phone.... which looks really underwhelming.NfsNick - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
IMO, the only things missing for me would be an extra gb of ram and a bump up to 3000mah, but i doubt the phone even needs it with a 5inch 1080p screen.