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Sony Xperia X, X Performance, XA, XA Ultra: What's the difference?

How can you tell the four phones in Sony's Xperia X family apart? With this specs chart and handy guide.

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Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
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Josh Miller

Sony announced pricing and availability for all four (count 'em, four!) phones in its Xperia X range: the midprice X (fully reviewed here), budget XA, upmarket X Performance and large-screen XA Ultra. But what's the difference?

The chart below helps you hunt out details in size, specs and price, but here's a simpler take-away to keep in mind as you read: They're listed from least to most expensive.

Watch this: Sony Xperia X phone is boxy, but nice

Xperia XA: The least expensive of the bunch with entry-level hardware.

Xperia XA Ultra: Sony's hulking 6-inch phone, with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera.

Xperia X: A compact, 5-inch handset that's extremely easy to operate one-handed. It also has a 23-megapixel camera.

Xperia X Performance: The X, but with a faster processor and dust- and water-resistance.

Hardware and specs

Sony Xperia XASony Xperia XA UltraSony Xperia XSony Xperia X Performance
Display size, resolution 5-inch; 1,280x720 pixels6-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels5-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels5-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels
Pixel density 294ppi367ppi443ppi443ppi
Dimensions (Inches) 5.7x2.6x0.31 inches6.5x3.1x0.33 inches5.6x2.7x0.31 in 5.6x2.8x0.33 in
Dimensions (Millimeters) 144x67x7.9mm164.2x79.4x8.4mm143x69x7.7mm143.7x70.5x8.6mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams) 4.8 oz (137.4g)6.70 oz (190g)5.36 oz; 152g5.8 oz; 164.43g
Mobile software Android 6.0 MarshmallowAndroid 6.0 MarshmallowAndroid 6.0 MarshmallowAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow
Camera 13-megapixel21.5-megapixel23-megapixel23-megapixel
Front-facing camera 8-megapixel16-megapixel13-megapixel13-megapixel
Video capture 1080p HD1080p HD1080p HD1080p HD
Processor 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P102GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P101.8GHz six-core Snapdragon 6502.1GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
Storage 16GB16GB32GB32GB
RAM 2GB3GB3GB3GB
Expandable storage 200GB300GB200GB200GB
Battery 2,700mAh (nonremovable)2,700mAh (nonremovable)2,620mAh (nonremovable)2,700mAh (nonremovable)
Fingerprint sensor NoneNonePower button (disabled in US)Power button (disabled in US)
Connector Micro-USBMicro-USBMicro-USBMicro-USB
Special features N/AN/AHardware shutter buttonWater-resistant
Price off-contract (USD) $280$370$550$700
Price (GBP) Converts to £190Converts to £255Converts to £375Converts to £480
Price (AUD) Converts to AU$ 390Converts to AU$515Converts to AU$760Converts to AU$975
Availability July 17July 24June 26July 17