56 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 72
Because Sony has addressed all the complaints
reviewers had about the first Xperia 1, I’m inclined to
believe it wants to appeal to the mainstream again.
When you’re not selling many smartphones, surely
the business goal is to sell more – and that’s why I
still think the Xperia 1 II will only have a chance of
succeeding if it comes in under £800.
Unfair as it may seem, if the Xperia 1 II costs a
grand, it will be seen as an enthusiast’s device. iPhones
can cost over £1,000, sure, but also the best iPhone
right now is the £729 iPhone 11. Not many people
are going to walk into Carphone Warehouse to buy
an iPhone and then decide to spend £300 more on a
niche, tall Sony phone.
I really like the look of the Xperia 1 II, to the point
that I am considering buying one myself. But for
Sony’s sake (and my wallet’s), I really hope the price
is right, otherwise the world will forget about Xperia
again until the Mark 3 rolls around.
