Would you buy Sony's latest compact phone?

Sony / NTT DoCoMo

TL;DR

• 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.

Would you buy the Sony Xperia Ace II?

1699 votes

Yes

59%

No

30%

Undecided

11%

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