Sony's new Xperia 1 II flagship smartphone will now be shipping in the United States starting July 24 for $1,199. Pre-orders will start on June 1. However, if you choose to pre-order by June 28, you will also get a free pair of Sony WF-1000XM3 noise-canceling earbuds with your purchase.
Sony to launch New Xperia 1 II phone in the US on July 24 for $1,199
According to The Verge, "A major feature of the Xperia 1 II is its 12-megapixel triple-camera array, which Sony says can shoot up 20 fps in burst mode, make AF/AE calculations up to 60 times per second, and autofocus on the eyes of humans and animals for portrait shots, among other features. The phone also comes with the Photography Pro and Cinematography Pro apps, which give you more manual control over the camera settings for your photos and videos."
The device has an outstanding 4K HDR OLED 6.5-inch screen, and also an aspect ratio of 21:9 which makes it taller than any other smartphone in the market. It's also powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor and comes with a 4,000mAh battery that can support wireless charging. For headphones, it also has a 3.5mm audio jack.
The company has also been planning to develop and release the Xperia Pro, which is a new device that can support mmWave 5G that gives out a faster speed compared to the sub-6Hz 5G. However, it does have a very limited range. The Xperia 1 II will be available in the US but for only 4G networks, while in Europe, it will be sporting 5G.
"The Xperia Pro will also have a micro HDMI cable so that you can connect it to cameras with an HDMI output. That means you can use the Xperia Pro as a monitor for some DSLR cameras and professional camcorders as well as transmit data captured by a camera over the phone's 5G connection, according to Sony." The Verge added.
It is on the pricier side
To give a clearer description and context about this new flagship smartphone's price, $1,299 is the same amount that Samsung is currently charging for their new Galaxy 20 Plus, which puts the Sony Xperia 1 II on the pricier side when it comes to the 5G spectrum.
However, Samsung's Galaxy 20 Ultra costs a bit more, selling at $1,399, but you can always go for a 5G phone for less than what Sony is intending to charge.
The new phone will be working on GSM networks which means that users will have no problem using it with T-Mobile or AT&T, as well as any other wireless carrier like Metro or Cricket. Obviously, this isn't for you if you're using a Verizon for your carrier.