Okay, yes, 2018 has only just begun — but it’s not our fault that Sony dropped some of the ugliest new phones on us since … their last ugly phone in 2017. According to Evan Blass (@evleaks on Twitter), Sony will be “refreshing” their low- to mid-range phones (Xperia XA1, XA Ultra, and L) by debuting the Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, and L2 at CES next week.
Blass elaborated on the leak with a post on Venturebeat. The biggest improvement to the XA2 and XA2 Ultra is inside, where the unsightly handsets ditched Mediatek systems-on-chip in favor of Qualcomm Snapdragon 630s. The XA2’s display also grew a little, up to 5.2 inches from the 5.0-inch XA1. The XA2 will also feature the same 1080p, full HD display as the XA2 Ultra (though the Ultra has a 6.0″ display).
The Ultra will feature 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage, whereas the XA2 will be touting 3 GB of memory and 32 GB of storage. Both ugly duckings will feature 21 MP rear cameras, but the XA2 has a single 7 MP selfie shooter. Alternatively, the XA2 Ultra has dual 15 MP front-facing cameras. As long as you don’t get the phone in the shot, everything should look beautiful.
The L2 has largely been kept under wraps, but it’s too bad the same can’t be said of the XA2 and XA2 Ultra’s massive bezels. However, with a boost in the quality of internals, it’s possible we shouldn’t judge these books by their covers. If you’ll be bringing bezels back in 2018, look out for these Xperia devices on Amazon or Best Buy as a limited release in the US in the near future — at least, that’s how the Xperia XA1 release cycle panned out last year.
Are you the type to prefer function over form? Maybe these phones are for you. Let us know how you feel about them in the comments below.
Hot Deal: Set up a secure second phone number and keep your real contact details hidden with a yearly subscription to Hushed Private Phone Line for Android/iOS, 83%–91% off. It’s a perfect second-line solution for making calls and sending texts related to work, dating, Craigslist sales, and other scenarios where you wouldn’t want to give out your primary phone number.
“Hey there, just a heads-up: We’re part of the Amazon affiliate program, so when you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission. But don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps us keep the lights on. Thanks for your support!”