Sony Xperia XA Ultra battery test

The Sony Xperia XA Ultra is powered by a 2,700mAh battery with Qnovo's adaptive charging tech. Qnovo prolongs the battery life measured in charge cycles, but it doesn't magically make the small battery last long when powering the huge screen.

To be fair, the XA Ultra does pretty okay - you can get around 8 hours of web browsing and watching videos. The Endurance rating is 55h, good enough to last two days of moderate usage. This phone helped the Xperia line save face after the somewhat mediocre results of its last two phones.

Even so, large phones are workhorses. Our favorite devices with 5.5" screens and above typically have huge batteries that can go full work day with the screen on (with many bells and whistles turned on, like GPS, tethering and so on). The combo of battery life and big screen is exactly what allows a phablet to replace a desktop on the go.

Talk time

• Meizu m3 note
  48:35h
• vivo Xplay5 Elite
  33:20h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  32:54h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  32:53h
• OnePlus 3
  32:48h
• Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
  31:40h
• Huawei Honor 5X
  29:40h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 active
  29:17h
• vivo V3Max
  28:47h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  28:23h
• Huawei G8
  27:44h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  26:01h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  25:02h
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
  24:32h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
  24:29h
• LeEco Le Max 2
  24:24h
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  24:09h
• Oppo R7s
  24:03h
• Xiaomi Mi 4s
  23:25h
• Motorola Moto X Force
  23:22h
• Meizu PRO 5
  23:10h
• Samsung Galaxy S7
  22:57h
• Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
  22:51h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
  22:32h
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
  22:23h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  22:13h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
  22:02h
• Oppo F1 Plus
  21:07h
• Sony Xperia X Performance
  20:56h
• Huawei Nexus 6P
  20:50h
• HTC 10
  20:42h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  20:40h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
  20:27h
• Motorola Moto G4
  20:21h
• Sony Xperia X
  19:05h
• Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
  18:51h
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  18:31h
• Microsoft Lumia 650
  18:30h
• LG G5
  17:37h
• Sony Xperia Z5
  17:13h
• LG Nexus 5X
  16:57h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
  16:50h
• LG V10
  16:40h
• Meizu m1 metal
  16:02h
• OnePlus X
  15:57h
• Acer Liquid X2
  15:38h
• Huawei P9 lite
  15:20h
• Huawei P9
  14:53h
• Meizu Pro 6
  14:44h
• BlackBerry Priv
  14:40h
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  14:22h
• HTC Desire 820 dual sim
  14:17h
• Nokia Lumia 635
  14:17h
• Motorola Moto G 4G
  14:17h
• HTC Desire 820
  14:17h
• Nokia Lumia Icon
  14:15h
• HTC One (M8)
  14:15h
• Oppo N3
  14:14h
• HTC Desire 510
  14:06h
• Acer Liquid Jade Primo
  13:53h
• Huawei Mate S
  13:53h
• Huawei P8
  13:50h
• Motorola Moto G
  13:41h
• Huawei Ascend P7
  13:36h
• Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo
  13:20h
• Samsung Galaxy Alpha
  13:20h
• Nokia Lumia 630
  13:20h
• Meizu MX5
  13:15h
• Sony Xperia C4 Dual
  13:11h
• HTC Desire 616 dual sim
  13:00h
• Oppo F1
  12:53h
• Oppo R1x
  12:33h
• Xiaomi Redmi 2
  12:33h
• Lenovo Vibe X2
  12:30h
• Sony Xperia E1
  12:30h
• Apple iPhone 6
  12:23h
• Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
  12:18h
• Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM
  12:15h
• HTC One E9+
  12:07h
• BlackBerry Leap
  12:05h
• Apple iPhone SE
  11:56h
• Motorola Moto G (2nd gen)
  11:49h
• Microsoft Lumia 550
  11:40h
• Gionee Elife S5.5
  11:32h
• Sony Xperia E5
  11:29h
• Nokia X
  11:13h
• HTC One A9
  11:12h
• Sony Xperia E4g
  11:07h
• Sony Xperia E4
  11:07h
• Meizu MX3
  11:02h
• Apple iPhone 5s
  10:46h
• Nokia XL
  10:45h
• Sony Xperia XA
  10:27h
• Apple iPhone 5c
  10:18h
• LG Nexus 5
  10:01h
• Lenovo S90 Sisley
  10:00h
• HTC One mini 2
  09:58h
• Oppo R5
  9:45h
• Apple iPhone 6s
  9:41h
• Gionee Elife S5.1
  8:55h
• Microsoft Lumia 950
  8:25h

Let's look at the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016), for example, a 6" phone with an AMOLED screen. It lasts 70% longer for web browsing and more than doubles the video playback time. The Xiaomi Mi Max, a 6.4" slab, gets close to 20 hours of browsing (!!) and again double the video playback of the Xperia. The Oppo R7 Plus, another 6" AMOLED, doesn't do too hot on the web browsing test, but still, gets almost 11 hours. And video playback is stellar.

Web browsing

• Asus Zenfone Max ZC550KL
  20:22h
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  19:25h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  15:11h
• Sony Xperia Z5
  14:35h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
  13:32h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  13:26h
• Apple iPhone SE
  12:55h
• Meizu PRO 5
  12:51h
• Acer Liquid X2
  12:39h
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
  12:21h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  12:18h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 active
  12:08h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  11:55h
• Huawei P9 lite
  11:51h
• Meizu m1 metal
  11:33h
• Meizu m3 note
  11:33h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  11:20h
• Motorola Moto G4
  11:18h
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
  10:50h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
  10:50h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  10:46h
• vivo V3Max
  10:31h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
  10:12h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
  10:09h
• Huawei Honor 5X
  10:00h
• Huawei G8
  10:00h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  9:52h
• Huawei Mate S
  9:43h
• Sony Xperia X
  9:34h
• Samsung Galaxy S7
  9:34h
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  9:32h
• Xiaomi Mi 4s
  9:30h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
  9:29h
• Motorola Moto X Force
  9:29h
• Huawei P9
  9:15h
• Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
  9:10h
• HTC 10
  9:08h
• Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
  8:46h
• Huawei Nexus 6P
  8:35h
• LG Nexus 5X
  8:32h
• LeEco Le Max 2
  8:22h
• vivo Xplay5 Elite
  8:20h
• LG V10
  8:20h
• BlackBerry Priv
  8:20h
• Oppo F1 Plus
  8:17h
• Oppo R7s
  8:07h
• OnePlus 3
  8:03h
• Microsoft Lumia 650
  7:57h
• Oppo F1
  7:55h
• Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe ZE551ML
  7:52h
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  7:50h
• ZTE nubia Z9 mini
  7:44h
• Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL
  7:43h
• Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
  7:42h
• Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
  7:42h
• Sony Xperia E5
  7:38h
• BlackBerry Leap
  7:37h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  7:36h
• Meizu Pro 6
  7:36h
• Samsung Galaxy A3 Duos
  7:36h
• Samsung Galaxy A3
  7:36h
• LG G5
  7:35h
• HTC One M9
  7:31h
• Acer Liquid Jade Primo
  7:30h
• Microsoft Lumia 950
  7:29h
• Sony Xperia X Performance
  7:23h
• Oppo R7
  7:22h
• Archos 50 Diamond
  7:20h
• Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual
  7:15h
• Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
  7:15h
• Huawei Ascend P7
  7:13h
• Samsung ATIV SE
  7:12h
• Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen)
  7:11h
• Oppo Find 7a
  7:09h
• Sony Xperia C4 Dual
  7:05h
• Gionee Elife S5.1
  7:04h
• ZTE Blade S6
  7:01h
• Lenovo S90 Sisley
  7:00h
• Microsoft Lumia 550
  6:55h
• Xiaomi Redmi 1S
  6:54h
• Motorola Moto X Style
  6:49h
• Motorola Moto G (2nd gen)
  6:37h
• HTC One mini 2
  06:33h
• OnePlus X
  6:32h
• LG G3
  6:29h
• Yota YotaPhone 2
  6:23h
• Xiaomi Mi Note
  6:19h
• LG G Flex2
  6:16h
• Lenovo K3 Note
  5:56h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  5:53h
• Xiaomi Redmi 2
  5:41h
• HTC Desire 616 dual sim
  5:24h
• HTC One A9
  5:22h
• Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM
  5:21h
• Sony Xperia XA
  5:20h
• Gionee Elife S5.5
  5:10h
• Oppo Find 7
  5:02h
• Nokia Lumia 930
  4:57h
• Nokia X
  4:55h
• Acer Liquid Jade S
  4:54h
• Oppo R5
  4:05h

Video playback

• Samsung Galaxy S7 active
  20:54h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
  20:08h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  18:36h
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
  18:18h
• Meizu PRO 5
  18:02h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  17:50h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
  16:54h
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  16:42h
• Asus Zenfone Max ZC550KL
  15:40h
• Motorola Moto X Force
  15:07h
• Samsung Galaxy S7
  14:50h
• Apple iPhone SE
  14:17h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  14:14h
• Oppo R7s
  14:05h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  13:53h
• OnePlus 3
  13:15h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  13:08h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  13:04h
• Acer Liquid Jade Primo
  12:53h
• vivo Xplay5 Elite
  12:51h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  12:45h
• Acer Liquid X2
  12:42h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  12:21h
• Oppo F1 Plus
  12:13h
• Motorola Moto X Play
  12:06h
• Huawei Mate S
  11:26h
• Meizu m3 note
  11:18h
• Huawei P9 lite
  10:58h
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  10:47h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
  10:38h
• Xiaomi Mi 4s
  10:35h
• LG G5
  10:21h
• Huawei G8
  10:20h
• Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
  10:17h
• Huawei Nexus 6P
  9:59h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
  9:57h
• Meizu Pro 6
  9:57h
• Sony Xperia X
  9:56h
• vivo V3Max
  9:48h
• Motorola Moto G4
  9:40h
• Huawei Honor 5X
  9:16h
• Oppo F1
  9:14h
• Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
  9:13h
• Huawei P9
  8:46h
• HTC 10
  8:42h
• Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe ZE551ML
  8:34h
• HTC One A9
  8:33h
• Sony Xperia X Performance
  8:18h
• LeEco Le Max 2
  8:15h
• Meizu m1 metal
  8:11h
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  7:59h
• Sony Xperia C5 Ultra Dual
  7:58h
• Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
  7:58h
• Sony Xperia Z5
  7:53h
• Sony Xperia Z3+
  7:46h
• Yota YotaPhone 2
  7:41h
• Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen)
  7:31h
• Lenovo S90 Sisley
  7:30h
• LG V10
  7:30h
• Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
  7:29h
• Motorola Moto G 4G
  7:27h
• Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
  7:24h
• LG G4
  7:23h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
  7:14h
• ZTE nubia Z9
  7:11h
• HTC Desire 820 dual sim
  7:10h
• HTC Desire 820
  7:10h
• Microsoft Lumia 650
  7:09h
• Sony Xperia XA
  7:08h
• ZTE nubia Z9 mini
  7:02h
• HTC One E9+
  7:00h
• Xiaomi Mi 4
  7:00h
• OnePlus X
  6:55h
• Lenovo K3 Note
  6:55h
• Sony Xperia E5
  6:45h
• Xiaomi Redmi 1S
  6:42h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
  6:37h
• BlackBerry Priv
  6:33h
• Xiaomi Mi Note
  6:32h
• Motorola Moto E
  6:31h
• Motorola Moto E Dual SIM
  6:31h
• Nokia XL
  6:28h
• Meizu m2 note
  6:27h
• LG Nexus 5X
  6:25h
• Gionee Elife S5.1
  6:06h
• Motorola Moto G (2nd gen)
  6:05h
• HTC One mini 2
  06:05h
• Gionee Elife S5.5
  6:02h
• Sony Xperia E4g
  6:00h
• Oppo Find 7
  5:58h
• Nokia Lumia 930
  5:48h
• Lenovo Vibe Shot
  5:40h
• Sony Xperia C4 Dual
  5:39h
• Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM
  5:27h
• Oppo R5
  5:27h
• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
  5:23h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  5:18h
• HTC Desire 616 dual sim
  5:15h
• Lenovo Vibe X2
  5:09h
• Microsoft Lumia 550
  5:05h
• Acer Liquid Jade S
  4:31h

You may think we're being too hard on Sony, but the company had built an image of great battery life. The Xperia Z5 Compact (which incidentally has the same 2,700mAh battery capacity as the XA Ultra), and thanks to its smaller screen it easily outlasts the XA Ultra. The big Xperia Z5 was even better. Even the Xperia T2 Ultra, 2014's predecessor to the XA Ultra, knocked it out of the park with 96h endurance.

We really like the Sony Xperia XA Ultra - its build, its screen, especially its cameras. But we do begrudge needing a battery pack for all day events. It doesn't help that some markets don't get a quick charger in the retail box.