The Xperia 1 II is Sony at its best. Borrowing tech and expertise from the company's other divisions has helped create a truly capable flagship phone - albeit one with more niche appeal than its major rivals. Gamers, spec junkies and film fans will all find something to like here, while photographers will appreciate just how close a phone can get to matching a dedicated camera for speed and flexibility. It even brings back fan favourites missing from the Xperia 1, like wireless charging and the headphone jack. A 4K HDR display and DSLR-sourced camera smarts don't come cheap, of course. Mainstream alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy S20+ cost a lot less, compete closely in terms of performance, and have it beat for camera image quality in certain scenarios. However, opt for a pre-order and you'll bag a free pair of WH-1000XM3 noise cancellers and a three month Tidal subscription, while some network deals undercut a top spec Galaxy or iPhone by as much as £20. If your most-used Android apps are Lightroom and Premiere Rush, you won't find another phone that better caters to your skills out of the box.
4K HDR that fits in your pocket; Pro-level stills and video recording apps; 5G and CPU grunt to match the best phones;
Size can be hard to handle, even with software help; Photos more muted than rivals when shooting in Auto; Pricey;