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Would you buy Sony's latest compact phone?
- Sony has unveiled its latest compact phone, the Xperia Ace II.
- It’s one of the few compact Android phones from a major brand, although it’s aimed at budget buyers.
- It will be available in Japan on May 28 for about $202.
If you’re looking for a new small Android phone from a major brand, you’ve finally found it — although whether or not you like it is another story. GSMArena reports that Sony has introduced the Xperia Ace II, a relatively compact 5.5-inch phone currently destined for Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo.
True to previous leaks, this isn’t a resurrection of the Xperia Compact line so much as the latest entry in the Sony budget catalog. It runs on a modest Helio P35 chipset with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, a 13MP rear camera (with a 2MP depth sensor) and an 8MP selfie shooter. Like many Sony phones, the fingerprint sensor is built into the power button rather than the “HD+” display. The Ace II does have a few advantages over higher-end phones, though, including a 4,500mAh battery and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Related: Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact review
Sony will sell the compact device through NTT DoCoMo on May 28 for JPY 22,000, or about $202. It’s not clear if or when the Xperia Ace II will be available in other countries.
The Ace II won’t really compete with the iPhone 12 mini — that’s a flagship-class phone stuffed into a small form factor. It may be a viable alternative if you find phones like the Google Pixel 4a too large or expensive, though. If nothing else, it shows that Sony is still committed to compact phones on a basic level.
Would you buy the Xperia Ace II if it were offered in your country? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments.