Sony, when announcing the Xperia 1, also hinted at a mid-range phone, Sony Xperia XZ4 Compact. But it didn't show up...at all. Even when two other new phones showed up, the Xperia 10 and the Xperia 10 Plus, this phone didn't see the light of day. That is, until now. A very similar device dubbed the Sony Xperia Ace is now available in Japan.

Sony Xperia Ace Overview

The Sony Xperia Ace, as Sony promised, is a compact phone. Well, compact in the sense that it still has a small footprint and decent hardware. But of course, this looks nothing like a 2019 phone...or even 2018 for that matter.Because, what you get is a small 5" screen, with the huge bezels, top, and bottom. The display is Full HD resolution with 18:9 aspect ratio. But the large bezels house Sony's dual speakers, which are well-known in the smartphone world. However, the Sony Xperia Ace features single cameras, both front, and back. The rear camera is a 12 MP sensor whereas the front is an 8 MP one. So, I guess cameras are not a strong suit.Internally, it runs on the Snapdragon 630 alongside 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. The storage is expandable via microSD card. However, the battery is pretty flimsy at 2700 mAh and there's no word on Fast Charging. But despite its 2016 - 2017 looks, it has NFC, USB-C, and water-and-dust resistance as well. In addition, there's a fingerprint sensor on the right side.

Pricing and Availability

The phone is not available anywhere else, except for Japan. And that, too, is courtesy of the company's network Docomo. But even if it was available, I doubt it would be anyone's favorite at a price tag of JPY 48,600, which is equivalent to over $440. Because, well, there are better devices, for cheaper. For instance, the Google Pixel 3A. Maybe, it would be more affordable if it was launched globally. But that, is only a guess, after all.