The Sony Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II have gained an exciting feature in their latest software updates

Little separates the Xperia 1 II from the Xperia PRO, with the latter effectively a professional version of the former. One of the big differences between the two devices is the Xperia PRO's HDMI port, which allows the device to act as an external display for a professional camera.

However, the Xperia 1 II does not need an HDMI port for this functionality. As u/shenfan0613 has posted on Reddit, the device's Android 11 update allows it to be used as an external monitor too. While the tutorial image does not detail how to connect an Xperia 1 II to a camera, a Sony Xperia Taiwan YouTube video confirms that this is possible over USB Type-C.

Hence, it should soon be possible to connect all Xperia 1 II variants to a Sony camera via a USB Type-C to HDMI dongle. Moreover, a ZV-1 firmware press release confirms that Sony has enabled this feature on the Xperia 5 II, also.

Overall, it is good to see Sony bring some more professional camera technology to its consumer smartphones. The company has distinguished the Xperia PRO from the Xperia 1 II in more areas than its HDMI port though, making it more versatile as a monitor than any of its consumer devices.

Purchase the Sony Xperia 1 II on Amazon