Deal: Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact now costs $449, regular XZ1 starts at $499

Released in the US less than half a year ago, Sony's Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact were initially pretty expensive, being sold for $699.99 and $599.99, respectively. As of this week, though, both smartphones are available for under $500. 

At this very moment, you can buy the Sony Xperia XZ1 for $499 if you're getting it from Amazon. However, only the Moonlight Blue variant of the handset is available at this price, although the other color versions - Black, Warm Silver, and Venus Pink - aren't much more expensive at $539. 

If you want to get an Xperia XZ1 Compact - pictured above - this currently costs $449.99 regardless of color (Black, Twilight Pink, Lagoon Blue). The phone is available at this price via Amazon and Best Buy. 

Both the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact are sold unlocked, being compatible with GSM/LTE carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. The handsets have many common features, including Android 8 Oreo, water-resistant bodies, Snapdragon 835 processors, and 19 MP rear cameras with super-slow-motion (960 fps). The main difference between the two phones is that the Xperia XZ1 sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display, while the XZ1 Compact, true to its name, has a 4.6-inch 720p screen. The XZ1 also comes with more storage space - 64 GB vs. the 32 GB found on the Compact. 

Next week, at MWC 2018, Sony will announce new smartphones, likely including at least one new high-end model, so there's a reason why the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are now cheaper than ever. Nevertheless, these remain nice handsets, and if you want to buy any of them right now, you can do it via the source links below. 

sources: Amazon (Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact), Best Buy (XZ1 Compact)