Sony phones haven’t left a lasting impression for a long time, but the new Xperia 1 II (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is different. It excels in almost every way, with a great camera system, reliable battery life, and a sharp OLED screen. And after removing the headphone jack from its predecessor, the Xperia 1, Sony walked back and returned the 3.5-mm port to its rightful place in this update. How often does that happen?
This is far from a perfect phone, though. Its high price isn’t quite justified (especially in the US, where it will not support 5G networks), and its 4K screen, fantastic as it is, is still too dim outdoors. The Xperia 1 II is also tailored toward photographers and videographers with powerful and granular photo and video apps, but these won’t be appealing to most people. Do I also need to mention the ridiculous name? You’re supposed to say Xperia One Mark Two.
