Along with Alpha 1, Sony also announced the Xperia Pro, which they claim is the world’s first smartphone with dedicated HDMI input.
HDMI input
It is something that people have wanted to see for a long time and finally, we have a phone with HDMI input. If only Apple could do that with their phones. Being able to use a smartphone as a monitor makes a lot of sense. Yes, you can monitor images beforehand on a smartphone, but only wirelessly or through a multitude of conversion boxes.
Having a wired solution makes a lot of sense, since most modern smartphones have very bright and accurate color screens. This makes them very suitable for use with smaller size cameras.
We saw this being demonstrated for the first time at IBC 2019, where Sony was displaying an Xperia 1 connected directly to a Sony VENICE.
Having an HDMI input allows users to improve their workflow by connecting the phone to a Sony Alpha camera or any other HDMI device. This allows you to not only use the Xperia Pro as a monitor, but also to enable a 5G data link so you can stream video in real time. To do this, you need to have a compatible third-party live streaming app.
The Xperia PRO’s 6.5-inch high-quality 4K OLED monitor allows you to monitor images through pre-installed External Monitor host application software.
This software has a screen lock function, screen brightness adjustment, zoom features, adjustable grid lines and much more.
Video and snapshots
Xperia PRO uses the same imaging technology as Xperia 1 II. According to Sony, the phone was developed with the help of Alpha camera engineers. Xperia PRO integrates technology such as real-time AF on humans and animals. It also has an interface with a variety of manual controls and has the ability to record up to 20 fps with autofocus / automatic exposure calculations 60 times per second and RAW support.
Based on the experience of Sony digital cinema camera engineers, For video, Xperia PRO offers appearance color management presets, 21: 9, 4K HDR movie recording at 24, 30, 60 and 120fps in slow motion and an intelligent wind filter system. The 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED screen features a 21: 9 CinemaWide aspect ratio and supports the BT.2020 color space.
5G mmWave and 5G Sub-6
The Xperia Pro supports 5G mmWave and 5G Sub-6 for high speed data transfer and the phone is designed to optimize signal reception.
The Xperia PRO features a 360-degree antenna design, which covers all four sides of the device. This 360-degree antenna produces the most effective way to capture high bandwidth 5G mm wave signals. In addition, the low dielectric constant material used in the Xperia PRO chassis allows radio waves to pass more easily. Together, these technologies help ensure an optimized 5G signal strength connection, regardless of how the user is holding the device or where it is positioned.
The Network Visualizer feature developed for the Xperia PRO provides an easy-to-understand view of the signal direction, communication method and device communication speed to help camera operators at the location find the best spot for live streams. This feature shows the reception of the current signal, indicates the direction of the 5G signal being received and provides communication throughput and histogram. A shortcut button is located on the side of the Xperia PRO, which can be assigned to launch a frequently used feature, including the Network Visualizer.
Other features
The Xperia PRO combines water and dust resistance with an IP65 / 68 rating. It has Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front for protection.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G mobile platform and the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF system allow users to play, capture, cross-task and connect at 5G multi-gigabit speeds. There is an improved performance of a CPU and GPU 25% faster than in the previous Xperia model.
The phone has a 4,000mAh battery and is compatible with the optional UCH32C fast charger. It also has two technologies to keep your battery healthy for longer. Battery Care prevents the phone from being overcharged, while Xperia Adaptive Charging monitors the phone while it charges to ensure that the battery is not overcharged.
Pricing and availability
The new Xperia PRO 5G will be available for purchase and shipping to customers on January 26, 2021 and will sell for approximately $ 2,499.99 USD. Customers can purchase Xperia PRO from a select group of Sony authorized dealers in North America.
