Sony launches Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra

Sony has launched the latest version of its mid-range Xperia XA smartphones dubbed the XA2 and the XA2 Ultra. Although the bezels on the sides are still ultra-thin, they remain relatively chunky at either end. On the plus side, however, not only do the fingerprint sensors now work in the US too, they have now been moved to a more ergonomic position on the rear of each device.

Both the XA2 and the XA2 Ultra are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, which is an octa-core design with its four higher-performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz. The XA2 Ultra picks up 4GB of RAM whereas the smaller XA2 has to make do with a still reasonable 3GB of RAM. Both devices pack 1080p displays with the XA2 boasting a higher pixel density thanks to its 5.2-inch LCD, but the XA2 Ultra still packing a “Retina-class” display at 6-inches. Batteries are 3,300 mAh for the XA2 and 3,580 mAh for the XA2 Ultra with both supporting Qnovo Adaptive charging for prolonging battery health.

In addition to improved audio from the speakers of the XA2 models with a new technology Sony is calling SmartAmp, both devices feature enhanced selfie-taking capabilities. The XA2 opts for a single 120-degree wide-angle 8 MP lens while the XA2 Ultra gains a second front-facing lens that has both a 16 MP resolution, OIS and its own flash.

The Sony Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra will be available in various markets globally starting in early February. The XA2 will come in Silver, Black, Blue and Pink finishes with the XA2 Ultra dropping the Pink option in favor of a gold hue. Pricing is yet to be officially announced, but expect to part with between US$300 and US$400 if their predecessors are any guide.