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Sony Xperia Pro review: A versatile 5G phone that s not for you
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. Listen - 09:05
The Sony Xperia Pro can be used as an external field monitor for a dedicated camera. It can show a live video preview from the camera s HDMI output. Patrick Holland/CNET
At $2,500, the Sony Xperia Pro is so much more than a phone
The device has HDMI input that lets you use it as a field monitor for a standalone camera and even broadcast a live video signal to a platform like YouTube. Listen - 05:37
Here s the Sony Xperia Pro mounted on a Sony A7S III mirrorless camera. An HDMI cable allows you to use the Pro s 4K display as a field monitor. Patrick Holland/CNET
Over the past few years, with phones like the Xperia 1 II (read as one mark two ) and the Xperia 5 II, Sony s moved away from mainstream appeal and aimed itself at photo and video enthusiasts. The new Sony Xperia Pro is the most extreme example of this move to date. The $2,500 phone (which converts roughly to £1,830 or AU$3,250) isn t meant to compete with the likes of the iPhone 12 Pro Max or the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Its HDMI input transforms it from a phone into several other devices for phot