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Sony Xperia Pro
Sony Xperia Pro
Sony Xperia Pro
Sony Xperia Pro
...


5/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia Pro currently has an Informr score of 5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 2 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

The phone offers an interesting proposition with the ability to stream video over 5G, double as 4K HDR video monitor, and more. But whether the price is worth it to you will largely be a matter of your budget and how serious you are about videography.

What's good

  • Built for utility
  • Live broadcast over 5G
  • Professional-level video monitors

What's bad

  • The price limits its already niche specs
  • Android 10

The Sony Xperia Pro is aimed at professional videographers, photographers, and other creatives. But it comes at a price that is one of the highest we’ve ever seen. What does that price get you?

Design

It’s surprisingly simple in its design. Reviewers called it utilitarian, which makes sense given it’s meant to be a professional tool. Two things that make it stand out are the dedicated shutter button and the micro HDMI. These allow you to snap pictures without tapping on screens or even use the phone as a video monitor for other cameras.

Display

The Xperia Pro offers a 4K screen -- still somewhat rare in mobile phones. That 4K resolution is displayed on 6.5 inches of screen space, so it’s ultra-sharp. Reviewers noted it was also plenty bright for easy outdoor shooting.

Performance

With the ability to stream 4K video and be used as a portable HDR monitor, the Sony Xperia Pro is no slouch. Moving that level of video requires some decent processing power. It can even send video and images across the 5G network at snappy speeds. Reviewers didn’t have a lot to offer otherwise as the phone is mostly meant for creatives. But there was little complaint about basic day-to-day tasks.

Software & Storage

The phone includes 512GB of storage -- which would be a lot for a regular phone. However, when recording 4K video, that can fill up surprisingly quick. Fortunately, 5G support makes it easy to offload footage to cloud storage if needed. Software left the reviewers disappointed though. The Xperia ships with Android 10 and they weren’t sure how often to expect updates to the phone.

Cameras

Sony Xperia Pro excels most with its 4K video, but the cameras are also very capable. 12 MP ultra-wide lens and a 3x telephoto give it a lot of extra flexibility for photographers capturing stills and reviewers found the results were solid.

Battery Life

Reviewers had very little to say in terms of battery life. Most agreed that battery life would vary greatly depending on how you use the phone. Streaming 4K video over 5G, in particular, could drastically change the performance of the battery. However, USB Type-C support and fast charging should help to top off charges between shoots quickly.

Audio

The phone has two front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. It also kept the headphone jack that a lot of the phones out there lack nowadays. This makes it great for listening to audio captured during a shoot or watching a movie or TV show during your downtime.

Specs at a Glance

  • Aluminum chassis
  • 6.5-inch OLED display
  • Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 processor
  • 12GB of RAM
  • Android 10
  • 512GB of storage
  • 12MP, ultra-wide, and 3x telephoto camera
  • 4000mAh battery
  • micro-HDMI

Bottom Line

The Sony Xperia Pro is developed with creatives and professionals in mind. The fact that it is also a phone is a little less than noteworthy. It’s not the sort of smartphone you look for unless you’re looking for something specific and don’t mind paying a premium for it.

However, videographers could find that its HDR 4K monitor ability alone saves a substantial amount of money from purchasing from a separate dedicated display while also offering an ultra-portable design.

Dpreview.com states, “The unique proposition of the Xperia Pro is its combination of features never before integrated into one device, along with functionalities hard to find anywhere else. The device itself is essentially the world's first 4K portable external OLED monitor, displaying 4K 10-bit (via firmware update) feeds with a high brightness and contrast ratio for monitoring of HDR production on-the-go - all without the need for a production team.”

PC Magazine says, “It's essentially the same phone as the Xperia 1 II, with a few changes for the pros.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.84 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.84 GHz
6.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6.5"
12+ MP, f/1.7
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.7
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


PC Magazine
PC Magazine

Sony tries to revolutionize mobile content creation with the Xperia PRO camera companion phone, but its astronomical price, wonky software, and subpar connectivity make it tough to recommend.

- Steven Winkelman, PC Magazine
Cnet
Cnet

At $2,500, the new phone finally gives us a real reason to use 5G. The Xperia Pro is aimed at photographers and videographers looking for a multifaceted tool to streamline their creative workflows.

- Patrick Holland, Cnet


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Sony backs up the Xperia Pro with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia Pro has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
6.5"

The Sony Xperia Pro's screen size is 6.5 inches with 1644 x 3840 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.84 GHz

There is a Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) Octa-core 2.84 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 10 operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.7 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
512 GB

Internal memory is 512 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 1000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4000 mAh battery.

Xperia Pro Specs

Overview
Release Date January 27, 2021
Regions Available USA
Operating System Android 10

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) Octa-core 2.84 GHz
Internal Storage 512 GB
RAM 12 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, 5G
Mobile / Cellular Data
5G, 4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX HD
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 1000 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.7
Zoom
3x optical, 3x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, 2nd camera feature (12 MP, F2.4, Telephoto), 3rd camera feature (12 MP, F2.2, Telephoto), HDR
Video Recording Formats
MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Aperture F2.0, HDR
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology OLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1644 x 3840 pixels
Pixel Density 643 pixels
Size 6.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors
Dimensions [H x W x D] 17 x 7.6 x 1 cm (6.7 x 3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 7.94 ounces
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 2.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
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