USB-C HDMI support - Why has this been disabled?

[Bloodhoundje]

I recently bought the XZ2 Compact and have been enjoying my phone so far. 

As Steam released it's BETA streaming client and steam controller support under android this enabled alot of new options for gaming. Just when I was getting excited for gaming on the go on my phone through VPN + Inhome, I got hit by immense dissapointment when I found out that Sony decided to disable the HDMI support through USB-C. 

My plan was to buy the Sony MP-CL1A pico projector (https://www.sony.com/electronics/projector/mp-cl1a), connect my phone through HDMI, connect my steam controller over bluetooth and I would have an amazing gaming platform on the go.

Sony stated in another message here on the board that the removal of HDMI has been a design choice. I would like to hear the reason why Sony has actually put effort into removing a feature that is available on the SOC by default. Every other phone with this SOC supports usb-c  to HDMI and it is even a part of the USB-C protocol...

Miracast is not a viable replacement for HDMI, it is slow and only usefull when giving a powerpoint presentation.

So please Sony, it would be greatly appreciated by the entire community if you enable this standard feature on the XZ2 compact. Enabling this is a software change, not a hardware change. When this feature is supported I will instantly buy the pico projector to use with my phone. 

Stating this this change is by design while knowing that this does not change anything to the hardware layout or appearance on the phone simply means that this "design" change is purely based on forcing your end users to use miracast and earn extra money over sold miracast devices.

Currently not having this feature made me decided not to buy another Sony smartphone in the future.

I hope that someone at Sony could give us an actual answer with better reasoning than "it is by design".

[cryss]

Well, on other devices with the same chipset (sd845... Samsung s9 for one example) it is possible, so it is not a restriction of the chipset itself. 

[Jonas]

Hi again @cryss and sorry for the late reply. I have been out of office due to being sick.

Oh, I see. There could of course be other hardware limitations as well even if the chipset supports it.

I'll see what I can find out!

[cryss]

Highly appreciated... 

Would be interesting to know what the real reasons behind this cut are and if there is any way around that. 

[Jonas]

@cryss, you're very welcome!

You can still use a Chromecast, but that requires Wi-Fi so if you want to use it in a cabin or somewhere there is no Internet connection, HDMI/MHL is the only way that I know about so I understand the concern.

[cryss]

Yes, exactly.... Chromecast is not an option to be honest. 

Just makes no sense to cut down a feature. 

[Jonas]

Hi again @cryss,

We’re sorry. Although we understand the question you have regarding this specification detail, the company has taken the decision not to disclose this information.

That is all the information I was able to get and I understand it's a very lackluster answer.

I'm sorry that I'm not able to provide a better answer to your question.

[cryss]

Thanks, Jonas! Appreciate the effort but in fact it is really more than a bummer not even giving out information to solve the problem is one of the reasons why sony is at the end of the smartphone food chain...

Be honest and straight with the customers or they'll bite you ... Sony seems to not even learn it the hard way... 

Thank you again. 

[Jonas]

Hi again @cryss,

No problem and I understand you completely.

I wish there was more that I could do, but I'm afraid that I have reached the end of the road regarding this.

Take care!

[dkoch1903]

Hi,

Since the Xperia XZ2 Compact just received Android 10 which includes the new Desktop Mode, does the XZ2 Compact provides USB to HDMI, now?

Thanks in advance.

[dkoch1903]

...and if it supports usb-c to hdmi now, can you switch between desktop mode and mirror mode?

Many thanks in advance.