Sony unveiled its next wave of mid-range handsets – the Xperia L2, Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra – this January, and they’re perhaps most notable for featuring a working fingerprint sensor on US models, as well as upgraded specs across the board. And it looks like the Japanese electronics giant could have even bigger things in store for MWC 2018.
For as long as we can remember, Sony has made a habit out of rendering the fingerprint reader useless on its smartphones in the United States, making them an unpopular choice amongst consumers in the region – but its latest mid-to-high-end offerings – the listed above) seem to mark a much-needed turning point.
Announced at CES 2018 on January 8, the Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra feature a 5.2-inch and 6-inch Full HD screen, respectively. They also ship with a Snapdragon 630 processor, instead of MediaTek Helio chipsets like their predecessors, and bundle 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage at the lowest configuration.
These upgraded specs, for our UK readers, are probably the trio’s biggest selling point compared to previous models.
The Xperia L2, on the other hand, was designed to bridge the size gap between the Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra. It ships with the same 5.5-inch 720p display as its predecessor, the Xperia L1, though it’s been treated to an upgrade in RAM and storage – 3GB and 32GB – as well as an improved (on paper) 8-megapixel selfie camera.
Related: Xperia XZ Premium 2
Xperia XA2 and Xperia XA2 Ultra
All three smartphones will go on sale in the UK and US by the end of February 2018, with pricing still a mystery. That said, if they’re appraised the same way as their precursors, the Xperia L2 will be priced at around £170 ($200), the XA2 at approximately £220 ($270) and the XA2 Ultra at roughly £300 ($370).
New Xperia Phones 2018: What’s next?
A new flagship, if the rumour mill is anything to go by.
At MWC, we’re expecting see Sony debut the Xperia XZ Pro, which fans of the Xperia line can think of as the XZ2 Premium.
Gossip is still a bit thin on the ground at the moment, but many of us are expecting to see a significant redesign, with the XZ Pro getting a 5.7-inch 4K OLED screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Internals are sure to be boosted, as well, with the device likely to pack a Snapdragon 835 SoC – though some say a leap the Snapdragon 845 could be on the cards.
It’s due to be unveiled at Sony’s Mobile World Congress press conference, which is set for February 26. We’ll be reporting live from the ground as usual, so check back closer to the time for even more juicy details.
Do you like the sound of either the Xperia L2, Xperia XA2 or Xperia XA2 Ultra? Let us know over on Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
