Sony Xperia 1 II gains Xperia Pro-like external monitor support
Recognition: David Imel / Android Authority
- Sony has released a new Android 11 update for its Xperia 1 II.
- The update offers a number of features that were unique to the Xperia Pro.
- This includes the ability to use the phone as a Sony Alpha camera monitor.
Sony launched the Xperia Pro as a professional photographer aid and intelligent external video monitor. Now this aspect of the phone doesn’t seem to be clear anymore. Sony has released an Android 11 update for the Xperia 1 II that allows it to offer similar external surveillance smarts as the Pro.
Per Reddit post (h / t: XDA) allows users to use this feature to connect their phone to a supported Sony Alpha camera as a connected monitor.
The Xperia Pro is unique in that it also has an HDMI Type-D input. However, this omission does not limit the Xperia 1 II. The phone can seemingly bypass this obstacle with a USB-C to HDMI cable.
Great for users, a nightmare for the Xperia Pro?
For users, it’s great that Sony is updating its current flagship with the unique features of its most expensive smartphone. However, the update calls into question the very purpose of the Xperia Pro. Aside from the HDMI port and key combination, the Xperia Pro and Xperia 1 II are barely separated by the $ 1,500 price difference. If you really need 5G mmWave support, you can get a cheaper smartphone.
It is unclear whether the update for the Xperia 1 II will provide live streaming capabilities for recorded camera content. For some, this will likely be a minor mistake anyway.
XDA believes the feature will be available for the Xperia 5 II in due course. This would sweeten an already sugary deal. However, there is still no evidence of this. According to comments on the Reddit post, the update for the Xperia 1 II has yet to be rolled out in the US.
Android Authority Readers found it hard to justify having previously spent $ 2,500 on the Xperia Pro. It is now likely that Sony’s update will make this suggestion even more difficult.
If you’ve received the new update for the Sony Xperia 1 II, let us know in the comments.
