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The Sony Xperia XA is a slim, good-looking phone that has some high-end charm at a reasonably affordable price.
Slim lines and a relatively small screen make the XA easy to handle too, unlike some of the bigger, more expensive Xperias.
At £229/US$279/AU$389 the Sony Xperia XA is affordable compared to the rest of the Xperia X lineup, but in the wider Android and smartphone world it's not such a bargain.
It looks reasonably premium but delve deeper and the cracks start to show. Battery life is poor, there's no fingerprint scanner, no higher-grade speaker, and no Full HD display.
Who's it for?
If you're looking for a smartphone with an eye-catching bezel-less display that doesn't break the bank, the Xperia XA will suit - but beauty is only surface deep.
For casual users who don't want to play any intensive games or handle large files on their phone, the Xperia XA will do the job - but if you need more grunt from your mobile you'll want to look elsewhere.
Should I buy it?
A cute little phone with a big battery life problem and no other chart-topping features to make you forget that, the Sony Xperia XA is ultimately disappointing.
There's now a lot of competition in this affordable mid-range area, and the Moto E4 Plus and Moto G5 really show it up, with better performance in most areas and a lower price.
Battery stamina is the only flat-out bad part of the phone, but Sony lags behind in too many areas.
Competition
We've put together a few of the phones you may also want to look at before buying the Xperia XA.
Sony Xperia X
Released alongside the Xperia XA, the Xperia X offers a slightly higher spec but doesn't have such a fascinating design and comes with a much heftier price tag.
Take a look at the Sony Xperia X to see if you like the rest of the Sony range, but you may be the better off sticking with the Xperia XA or the phone just below this if you're looking for a more budget device.
- Read our Sony Xperia X review
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
It's only avaliable in some markets at the moment, but if you can get it it's worth looking at the Xperia XA Ultra as well.
We gave it four stars out of five and praised it for a sturdy design, a great selfie camera and a phenomenal price for what you're getting. Battery life was again a bit of an issue, but that's already a problem with the Xperia XA.
- Read our Sony Xperia XA Ultra review
Lenovo P2
The biggest complaint about the Xperia XA has to be the battery life, and you won't get that problem with the Lenovo P2. It offers at least two days from a single charge, but it doesn't come with the beautiful edge-to-edge display of the Xperia XA.
That said, it's around a similar price at £199 (about $250, AU$330) so it's worth taking a look at before you make your decision.
- Read our Lenovo P2 review
First reviewed: July 2016
