Sony Xperia XA1 Series: 23MP Mid-Range Smartphones

Sony Xperia XA1 Series (2017): Mid-Range Phones with 23MP Cameras & Slim Designs

The Sony Xperia XA1 Series (XA1, XA1 Ultra, XA1 Plus) is a lineup of mid-range Android smartphones announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 in Barcelona and released globally in April 2017. Positioned as the successors to the Xperia XA Series, the lineup targets cost-conscious users seeking a balance of sleek design, solid camera performance, and everyday usability. All models share a 23MP rear camera with Sony’s Exmor RS sensor and a signature “slim waist” unibody design, while differing in display size, battery capacity, and premium features like dual front cameras (XA1 Ultra only).

Core Identifiers & Model Differentiation

Feature	Xperia XA1 (G3121/G3123)	Xperia XA1 Ultra (G3221/G3223)	Xperia XA1 Plus (G3421/G3423)
Positioning	Entry-mid range (compact)	Mid-range (large-screen)	Mid-range (battery-focused)
Launch Price	~$299 USD	~$399 USD	~$349 USD
Color Options	Black, White, Gold, Pink	Black, White, Gold, Blue	Black, White, Gold
Key Differentiator	Compact 5.0-inch display	6.0-inch display + dual front cameras	5.5-inch display + 3430mAh large battery

Technical Specifications (By Model)

1. Sony Xperia XA1 (G3121/G3123)

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 7.0 Nougat (launch); upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo
Chipset	MediaTek Helio P20 (MT6757)
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.3GHz Cortex-A53 + 4×1.6GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	Mali-T880 MP2
Memory & Storage	3GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB eMMC 5.1 storage; microSDXC expandable up to 256GB
Display	5.0-inch IPS LCD; 720×1280 (HD) resolution; 294 ppi; Triluminos Display; X-Reality Engine; scratch-resistant glass
Design & Build	Unibody polycarbonate; slim waist design; dimensions: 145×70×8.5mm; weight: 143g; no water resistance

Camera System

Component	Details
Rear Camera	23MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor; f/2.0 aperture; 24mm focal length; PDAF; LED flash; 4K video recording at 30fps; 1080p slow-motion at 120fps
Front Camera	8MP Exmor R CMOS sensor; f/2.2 aperture; 1080p video recording at 30fps

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	2300mAh non-removable Li-Ion; 10W charging; talk time: up to 14h (2G)/12h (3G); standby time: up to 450h
Network	4G LTE Cat.6; Dual-SIM (G3123 only, dual-standby); 2G GSM/3G HSPA+
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.2; USB Type-C 2.0; 3.5mm headphone jack; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou

2. Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra (G3221/G3223)

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 7.0 Nougat (launch); upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo
Chipset	MediaTek Helio P20 (MT6757)
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.3GHz Cortex-A53 + 4×1.6GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	Mali-T880 MP2
Memory & Storage	4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB/64GB eMMC 5.1 storage; microSDXC expandable up to 256GB
Display	6.0-inch IPS LCD; 1080×1920 (FHD) resolution; 367 ppi; Triluminos Display; X-Reality Engine; scratch-resistant glass
Design & Build	Unibody polycarbonate; slim waist design; dimensions: 165×79×8.5mm; weight: 181g; no water resistance

Camera System

Component	Details
Rear Camera	23MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor; f/2.0 aperture; 24mm focal length; PDAF; LED flash; 4K video recording at 30fps; 1080p slow-motion at 120fps
Front Cameras (Dual)	Primary: 16MP Exmor R (f/2.0, 24mm, PDAF, 1080p video); Secondary: 8MP Exmor R (f/2.4, 120° ultrawide, group selfies)

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	2700mAh non-removable Li-Ion; 10W charging; talk time: up to 16h (2G)/14h (3G); standby time: up to 400h
Network	4G LTE Cat.6; Dual-SIM (G3223 only, dual-standby); 2G GSM/3G HSPA+
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.2; USB Type-C 2.0; 3.5mm headphone jack; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou

3. Sony Xperia XA1 Plus (G3421/G3423)

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 7.0 Nougat (launch); upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo
Chipset	MediaTek Helio P20 (MT6757)
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.3GHz Cortex-A53 + 4×1.6GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	Mali-T880 MP2
Memory & Storage	3GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB eMMC 5.1 storage; microSDXC expandable up to 256GB
Display	5.5-inch IPS LCD; 720×1280 (HD) resolution; 267 ppi; Triluminos Display; X-Reality Engine; scratch-resistant glass
Design & Build	Unibody polycarbonate; slim waist design; dimensions: 153×76×8.7mm; weight: 157g; no water resistance

Camera System

Component	Details
Rear Camera	23MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor; f/2.0 aperture; 24mm focal length; PDAF; LED flash; 4K video recording at 30fps; 1080p slow-motion at 120fps
Front Camera	8MP Exmor R CMOS sensor; f/2.2 aperture; 1080p video recording at 30fps

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	3430mAh non-removable Li-Ion; 10W charging; talk time: up to 22h (2G)/18h (3G); standby time: up to 600h
Network	4G LTE Cat.6; Dual-SIM (G3423 only, dual-standby); 2G GSM/3G HSPA+
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.2; USB Type-C 2.0; 3.5mm headphone jack; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou

Core Features & Shared Innovations

23MP Exmor RS Rear Camera: All models feature Sony’s flagship-grade sensor, delivering sharp 4K video and detailed daylight photos—rare for mid-range phones in 2017.
Slim Waist Unibody Design: The curved polycarbonate body with a tapered “slim waist” improves grip and gives the series a premium look, despite the plastic build.
Triluminos & X-Reality Engine: Sony’s display technologies enhance color accuracy and contrast for better multimedia and gaming experiences.
Expandable Storage: MicroSD support up to 256GB addresses the limited base storage of entry-mid range models.

Market Reception & Legacy

Legacy: The XA1 Series solidified Sony’s mid-range strategy of offering flagship camera tech at accessible prices. It paved the way for later Xperia A-series models, which continued to prioritize camera performance and slim designs for budget-conscious consumers.

Strengths: Reviewers praised the series for its impressive 23MP camera performance, sleek design, and affordable pricing. The XA1 Ultra’s dual front cameras were a standout for group selfies, while the XA1 Plus’s large battery appealed to power users.

Criticisms: Common drawbacks included the lack of water resistance, HD (not FHD) displays on the XA1 and XA1 Plus, and limited OS updates (only one major upgrade to Android Oreo). The MediaTek Helio P20 chipset also struggled with heavy gaming.