Sony has brought two new handsets to the line-up; the Xperia X and the Xperia XA. The Xperia X is a mid-range handset
featuring the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor; a chip that sits right in the middle on performance benchmarks.
Along with 3GB RAM, it should be a decent performer for most intermediate users. The device has a curved glass display and
rounded
frame that is a stark design change from the current monolithic Xperia
aesthetics. The 5.0-inch 1080p panel is plenty for a
mid-range device, with the only disappointment being the rather low 2,620mAh battery.
The
XA is technically below the X but aesthetically much nicer. With an
edge-to-edge display that appears almost bezel-less, it caught
our eye big time at MWC. Powered by a Mediatek P10 processor and
2GB RAM, this sits at the lower end of the mid-range but should still
be a capable handset. Battery capacity is a little lower at 2,300mAh,
while the screen resolution has also been decreased to 720p. It’s
worth noting that both of these devices feature new battery technology
brought across by Qnovo, which allows the cells to charge much more
dynamically, avoiding damage and prolonging the life of the battery by
“up to twice as much”.
They also come equipped with photography in mind; with the X featuring
the same 23 megapixel Exmor sensor found in the Z5, while the front
camera is a ridiculous 13 megapixels. The rear sensor features an allnew
Predictive Hybrid Autofocus, developed in close collaboration with
Sony’s Alpha camera engineers, that lets the user predictively capture
action before it’s happened to avoid blur in fast moving shots.
Pre-orders are available now, with the Xperia X priced at a rather high
£529, while the XA goes for a more affordable £249.