8 things you could buy instead of Sony’s $2,500 phone

Sony has just launched the Xperia Pro, almost a year after it first announced its intention to bring the smartphone to the US. It certainly seems like an interesting offering that has HDMI input support so you can use the phone as a 4K monitor for your camera or camcorder.

It’s a great idea for photographers and videographers, while the ability to live stream the camera’s content through your phone is also very good. There’s only one small problem: it costs $ 2,500.

Great Phones That Don’t Cost $ 2,500: The best Android phones you can buy

While it’s not the most expensive phone we’ve seen, it certainly ranks among the most expensive mainstream phones we’ve seen in the US. It certainly doesn’t help that the phone ships with last year’s flagship silicon and an outdated version of Android.

With that in mind, here are a few things you could (and probably should) buy instead of the Sony Xperia Pro.

A Galaxy Z Fold 2 (with modification)

If you don’t mind spending a ton of money on a phone but want something that stands out from the crowd, then the Galaxy Z Fold 2 might be for you. For $ 2,000, you can get a tablet-sized screen that fits in your pocket.

With the company, you can also fold the device into an L-shape in the laptop style (see above), with apps supporting this orientation via a so-called flex mode function. This allows you to do, for example, selfies, hands-free video calls, or watch YouTube without holding the device.

Connected: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Review – The Only Folding Phone to Buy

For many, it might be a little easier to justify spending a ton of money on the innovative foldable Samsung than on the niche features of the Xperia Pro. And you can always spend the leftover change on accessories for the Fold 2, e.g. B. for a case, real wireless earbuds or even a monitor (the phone also supports Dex).

A fully updated 13-inch Macbook Pro with an M1 chip

Apple launched its first computers powered by internal silicon late last year, and the 13-inch Macbook Pro is the most powerful. For the price of Sony’s super-expensive phone, you could instead get a fully updated MacBook Pro model with an M1 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD for $ 2,300.

There isn’t much of a difference between the Pro and Air models (see above). So you could potentially save a few bucks by buying a fitted Air for $ 2,049 instead.

Do you want an Apple laptop? Here are the best that you can buy right now

Don’t need a new laptop but want a desktop Mac? Then the new Mac Mini also comes with Apple silicon, and you can buy three basic models with change. Otherwise, you could get a fully updated model (16GB / 2TB) with Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for just under $ 2,200.

Whatever you choose, you get a super fast platform that offers a great multimedia editing experience. And you can always opt for a basic Mac or MacBook M1 and spend the difference on a camera and other accessories.

Two Xperia 1 IIs

Not interested in the Xperia Pro but still loving Sony phones? Why buy two Xperia 1 II phones instead of one? This way you can share the love with a friend!

The Xperia 1 II costs around $ 1,200. Sure, you don’t get that HDMI input or that much RAM / storage, but the early 2020 flagship still has a lot in common with the new device.

Our verdict: Sony Xperia 1 II Review – A Sony phone I’d love to keep in my pocket

That means a 4K HDR OLED screen, the same Snapdragon 865 processor as the Xperia Pro, a triple 12MP rear camera trio and a 4,000 mAh battery. And yes, the phone has a 3.5mm connector and an IP68 rating. In addition, it includes the wireless charging that is missing in the Pro.

Three Galaxy S21

The $ 800 Galaxy S21 obviously doesn’t have these fancy HDMI features or a 4K screen. However, you do get an FHD + 120Hz OLED screen, the latest and greatest flagship processor, and other expected extras like wireless charging, IP68 water / dust resistance, and DeX support.

Samsung is also bringing a flexible rear camera setup to the table that has useful features such as Director’s View, Single Take, 8K recording and Super Steady video recording.

You could get three S21 models for the price of the Xperia Pro, or if you really want to give it your all, you could get two S21 Ultras instead. The Ultra model offers a higher resolution screen, a larger battery, a glass back and two telephoto cameras for much better zoom performance.

Five PS5s (or one from Scalper)

Still want to give Sony some money? Well, you can buy five drive PS5s for $ 2,500. Alternatively, you can buy six digital-only models for the money.

Of course, finding five PS5s in stock could be a problem with ongoing inventory shortages, but at $ 2,500 you could technically be paying the ridiculous premium charged by Scalper.

Read more: Sony PS5 Review – A nice, quick upgrade from last generation

Don’t want to bother with PS5 scalpers but still want a next generation console? Then you could have five Xbox Series X consoles or eight Series S consoles instead.

11.5 years of Premium Netflix

The top-end subscription to Netflix is ​​$ 18 per month and you can stream on up to four devices at the same time, 4K support, as well as HDR content.

Instead of spending $ 2,500 on the Xperia phone, you could get a whopping 138 months (or 11.5 years) of premium Netflix instead. With the move to 8K recently, we’re assuming this top-end option will continue to feature 8K content in these 11.5 years!

45 Raspberry Pi 4 4 GB models

The Raspberry Pi single-board computer sparked a kind of computer revolution when it was introduced years ago, and the Pi 4 marks a massive upgrade for the series. Thanks to the updated SoC, Gigabit Ethernet support, two USB 3.0 ports (in addition to two USB 2.0 ports), USB-C for power supply and support for two 4K monitors, you get a significant performance boost.

In other words, this device has the features that serve as a lightweight desktop PC. Aspiring hobbyists could buy 45 Raspberry Pi 4 models with 4GB of RAM instead of the Xperia Pro.

More coverage: Raspberry Pi 400 Test – The perfect starter computer for young tech learners

Alternatively, you can purchase 25 Raspberry Pi 400 desktop kits for a more complete desktop experience. The Pi 400 is the 4 GB Raspberry Pi 4 in a keyboard. The $ 100 desktop kit option includes a power adapter, mouse, HDMI cable, beginner’s guide, and a pre-installed microSD card. That’s enough to power a computer lab in an underfunded school, albeit without monitors.

416 Big Mac meals

You could also spend $ 2,500 on fast food if you really want to. We are not here to judge.

If you’re looking to make bad life decisions, you could theoretically buy 416 Big Mac meals at $ 6 each. Those meals would come with fries and a drink too, though you could increase your Big Mac quota to 625 if you just opted for the burger.

Either way, you get what you pay for, which probably can’t be said for the Xperia Pro.

---

What else would you buy instead of the $ 2,500 Xperia Pro? A top-notch Sony camera? A killer 4K TV? A used car ?!

Or do you think the phone is worth the asking price? Let us know in the comments!

Or, if you’re really really into the Xperia Pro, click the link below to get one of your own.