Sony's Xperia XZ4 Compact isn't dead after all, but you still can't have it

Initially, the device was expected to arrive alongside the flagship we now know as the Xperia 1. But shortly after its design leaked, rumors began floating around about a potential cancelation. MWC 2019 arrived and Sony failed to announce the smartphone, thus suggesting the rumors were true, but today the brand has introduced a new device in Japan dubbed the Xperia Ace which looks just like the Xperia XZ4 Compact.

Like last year’s Xperia XZ2 Compact, the Xperia Ace arrives equipped with a small 5-inch display that sports an 18:9 aspect ratio and a Full-HD+ (2160 x 1080p) resolution. Unsurprisingly – this is Sony, after all – the panel is paired with thick bezels both above and below which house an 8-megapixel selfie camera and front-facing stereo speakers. Taking a quick peek at the rear, Sony has opted for a rather simplistic look and just one camera positioned in the top corner. The latter boasts a 12-megapixel resolution and is paired with an LED flash, although it's unclear at this point what kind of images it produces.

Regarding the internal aspect, the Xperia Ace isn’t equipped with Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 855 as was expected from the Xperia XZ4 Compact. Instead, Sony has once again used the mid-range Snapdragon 630 that can already be found inside the Xperia 10 and Xperia XA2 series. This chipset has also been used previously inside Motorola’s Moto X4 and Moto G6 Plus. 

Rounding out the Xperia Ace’s package is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable internal storage. The smartphone also includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a small 2,700mAh battery.

Unfortunately, the Sony Xperia Ace is currently exclusive to Japanese carrier Docomo and probably won’t be released internationally. At the moment, it’s available to purchase locally in Black, White, and Purple and costs JPY 48,600, which translates into $444.