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Black Friday hasn't even arrived yet, but the deals have already been raining down on us for the past few days. If you've been looking for a mid-range smartphone with a big screen, you may want to consider the Xperia XA Ultra. At $179.99, this is the lowest price we've ever seen for the XA Ultra.The XA Ultra sports a 6.0" 1080p IPS LCD, a MediaTek Helio P10, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage with microSD expansion, a 21.5MP rear camera, a 16MP selfie-shooter, and a 2700mAh battery. It's currently on Android 7.0 Nougat, and it's unlocked for GSM carriers.Only the black colors from both Amazon and B&H are available at this $179.99 price. Sony recently lowered the MSRP from $299.99 to $249.99, and this is an opportunity to get the XA Ultra for even less than that. Shipping is free from both retailers. Check the source links to see the listings.Source: Amazon, B&H
Prime Day may have come and gone, but that doesn't mean that the deals have stopped rolling in. The Sony Xperia XA Ultra can be had for $199.99 from both Amazon and B&H, which is a total savings of $100.For $200, you're getting a 6" FHD IPS LCD display, a MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, 16GB of storage, 3GB of RAM, 21.5MP/16MP cameras, and a 2,700mAh battery. Plus, this phone just recently got Nougat, if that sweetens the deal any for you. And it is unlocked for use on GSM carriers in the U.S.It is definitely worth noting that only the black version is on sale for $199.99 on Amazon, while B&H has both the black and lime gold (blech) editions for $200. So if you were hoping for the white model, I'm sorry to disappoint you. As usual, hit up the source links below to get started.Source: Amazon, B&H
The 30-hour event known as Prime Day has officially kicked off, and we have a list of ten Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks that will be included at different times during the sale. For the uninitiated, the sales on Prime Day are staggered, the better to consistently pull your attention throughout the day. So most of the items that will be included haven't yet gone on sale. But, worry not, as with this list you'll be prepared.This isn't going to be an all-inclusive list, as there might be deals that aren't listed yet, and we've intentionally excluded a few devices that are just a bit too potato, but it's a good place to start. Unfortunately, until a deal goes up, we don't know the exact price it will be. So, the best way to approach this list might be to consider the individual items, and if anything strikes your fancy, to check back in when that item goes on sale and see if the price is right.The bigger highlights include the Galaxy Tab S2 (which is up now, gogogo!) a Galaxy S8 kit with a VR headset and wireless charger (also now, hurry!), and both the Xperia XA Ultra and its less superlative cousin the XA. There are also a ton of BLU phones, and a cheap Lenovo Tab 3 7. Most things won't be on sale until tomorrow, though, and even then in limited quantities and just for a narrow window. You'll have to be fast. Keep in mind if you are viewing this post long after the publication date, some of these items may have already sold out, or the deals may have expired.The full list of time-sensitive sales, including times those items will go on sale, is below:
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- Xperia Blog also posted that Nougat is rolling out to the normal Xperia XA as well. This includes the F3111, F3113, F3115, F4112, and F3116 models.
Not to be forgotten to the passing of time, it appears that the Sony Xperia XA Ultra has started receiving a substantial update. Nougat is finally coming to the year-old phone, and not a moment too soon, either.
Unlocked phones are great. You can take them to whichever carrier you desire, you usually have greater control over software modification, and you don't have to deal with contracts. Amazon seems to think so, too; as a result, it's running an "Amazon Unlocked Phone Event" that starts today, with discounts on Sony Xperia, LeEco, Lenovo, ASUS, and Coolpad smartphones.The discounts range from $40 on the lower-priced devices to $125 on the more expensive ones, but they're all pretty solid price reductions. You've probably heard of most of these phones, like the LeEco Le Pro3 and Le S3, as well as the Tango-equipped Phab2 Pro.Here's the full list:
Those looking for a mid-range, unlocked phone with impressive style and a big screen could do worse than the Xperia XA Ultra. Though it's using a MediaTek processor and its 6-inch screen is only 1080p, Sony's industrial design remains as sexy as ever, and it's compatible with all the standard US GSM bands. Normally the phone goes for over $300, but today only B&H Photo is selling it for just $229.99 in white, black, or pea-puke green "Lime Gold."
The Xperia X line is decent, but considerably behind competitors from Samsung and LG this year, with prices that border on the astronomical for their features. So what happens when you price your flagship phones too high and nobody buys them? Discounts, baby. Best Buy is already offering the mid-range Xperia X and flagship Xperia X Performance for considerably less than retail, and as unlocked GSM phones, too - no carrier shenanigans to be seen.
If you're in the market for a phablet with an amazing selfie cam (God, I hate myself for using those terms), you'd better check out the Sony Xperia XA Ultra. The 16MP camera up front has a higher resolution than most smartphone rear-facing cameras do. Now, you can pick one up on Amazon for under $300 with a free 64GB Sony microSD card.The XA Ultra (which I'll be referring to as the Ultra from now on) is a very strange Xperia. It's got a 6-inch 1080p display, almost no side bezels, a MediaTek processor, an OIS-equipped 16MP front-facing camera with flash, a 21MP rear-facing camera (with no OIS, oddly), a tiny 2700mAh battery, and no water resistance.But if selfies are your life, the Ultra is probably one of the best phones you can get. You get nice, high-res photos with less blur and more functionality at night, and a huge display to view them on. In addition, you can use the included 64GB microSD card to store more of those magnificent pictures of yourself.Currently, only the Lime Gold model is available, and there's no Prime shipping. However, considering that the Ultra retails for 9.99 (and is currently 9.99 on Amazon), this is a pretty nice deal. Keep in mind is that this listing does include a US warranty.Source: Amazon
With Android 7.0 now officially rolling out to devices, you might wonder which non-Nexus phones will see the update some day. Sony has released a list of devices it intends to update to Nougat at some point in the not too distant future. The gist: if you've got a Sony phone from 2015 or 2016, you'll probably get the Nougat update.
The more premium Xperia X phones aren't that great, to be honest. The budget end of the spectrum seems easier to justify, though. The Xperia XA Ultra just launched in the US recently and it's already on sale through Amazon for $312. It's usually $370.The Xperia XA Ultra might appeal to you a bit more because it's not just a differently specced version of the Xperia X. This device has a huge 6-inch 1080p borderless display and a 16MP front-facing camera. Around back is a 21MP camera and inside is a MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage.Unfortunately, the only version of this phone on sale is the black one. The gold and white are still almost $60 more expensive. It's unlocked and compatible with North American GSM/LTE networks.Source: Amazon
Sony Xperia X, X Performance, XA, and XA Ultra are beginning to arrive at US retailers for pre-order
For Xperia fans in the US, getting the phones is not as straightforward as it is for other major brands like Samsung or HTC because you won't be buying them through a carrier. That means interested buyers need to look to electronics retailers. Well, the search is almost over for the newly-released Xperia X series in the US.It's worth making clear that you can't take these home just yet. Some retailers will allow you to put in a pre-order, others just have placeholder, out of stock listings. Below is the release day pricing along with links to each retailer's listing.
Sony has long been (rightly) criticized for ignoring the US market, opting to release phones here very late or not at all. In the case of the Marshmallow-powered Xperia X series, it's just a little late. These devices were announced at Mobile World Congress a few months ago with only vague talk about a US release, but now all four models are coming to the US in waves. It starts today with pre-orders for the Xperia X.The four devices, from most to least premium, are the X Performance, X, XA Ultra, and XA. Let's go over each one briefly since MWC was a few months ago.[EMBED_YT]https://youtu.be/f4yj8h1d-uA[/EMBED_YT]The X Performance is Sony's top-of-the-line flagship with a Snapdragon 820, 3GB of RAM, 23MP camera, 2700mAh battery, 32GB of storage with microSD card slot, and a water-resistant metal frame. Oddly, Sony chose to go with a 5-inch 1080p LCD for this device, which is less impressive on paper than the competition. This phone will be priced at $699.99 and comes with a free 128GB microSD card when it launches on July 17th.The X is a step down from the flagship space with a Snapdragon 650, 3GB of RAM, 23MP camera, 32GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and a glass/metal case without water-resistance. This phone too has a 5-inch 1080p LCD, but the battery drops slightly to 2620mAh. This phone is available for pre-order today for $549.99 (and a free 128GB microSD) at Amazon, B&H, Best Buy, and Reagan Wireless. However, most of these listings aren't live yet.
Even though Sony hasn't released the Xperia X, XA, or X Performance yet, it's still busy announcing new phones in the range. The latest to be unveiled is the Xperia XA Ultra, a phone with a curved glass screen and a 16MP front-facing camera.