Sony Xperia XA2 review

A solid Sony smartphone that plays it safe

Reviews
By Andrew Williams
published

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Verdict

The Sony Xperia XA2 is a solid phone that, like most other Sony devices, has not switched quickly to the trends of the moment.

It doesn't have an 18:9 display, instead using a more conventional 16:9 aspect ratio, and shares camera tech with its predecessor.

However, its performance is rock-solid and despite being thicker than most it's easy to handle and scores fairly high on the plain likability factor.

Who's this for?

The Sony Xperia XA2 is for people who like Sony's phones and don't want to spend a huge amount on a new mobile. An appreciation of Sony's design is needed as the XA2 has few stand-out features.

Should you buy it?

You get slightly better value with a Moto, or Huawei phone in this class, but if you're into the way Sony makes phones we can think of few reasons to hold off buying an Xperia XA2.

If you're not sold on Sony the following three phones are strong alternatives.

Samsung Galaxy A5

The closest Samsung rival to the XA2 is the Galaxy A5. It has a slightly higher-end design, with glass on the rear rather than plastic. And its camera fares a little better in low-light conditions. It’s also water resistant, slimmer and has an OLED screen rather than an LCD.

Don’t put too much weight on the OLED factor, though, as the XA2’s colors can be made to look very punchy.

Moto G5S

If you want to save a little more money, the Moto G5S is a good option. It has an all-aluminum frame, very simple software and a good, if slightly laggy, camera. As with other Moto G phones, value is the main draw. It simply costs less, and that matters.

Huawei P Smart

One of the best early lower-cost 18:9 screen phones, the Huawei P Smart has a more “current” look than the Xperia XA2.

It has a few performance blips and the camera doesn’t produce quite as punchy-looking shots. However, it also seems to be slightly cheaper at the time of writing.

First reviewed: February 2018

Andrew Williams
Andrew Williams

Andrew is a freelance journalist and has been writing and editing for some of the UK's top tech and lifestyle publications including TrustedReviews, Stuff, T3, TechRadar, Lifehacker and others.